Return to Headlines

Roosevelt Middle School Holds Diversity Art Gallery Opening

WEST ORANGE, NJ – Excitement filled the air at Roosevelt Middle School on Feb. 20 as students and staff proudly hosted the opening of the Diversity Art Gallery.

The process began about a year ago when art teacher Janis Oliver approached Principal Lionel Hush and Vice Principal Olivia Betances about restoring the gallery area.

“The actual restoration began last year,” she said.

“In designing the gallery, all I really hoped for was to create a vibrant, inclusive space to showcase student art and to celebrate the beauty of RMS’s student diversity. I wanted a space where we could embrace and celebrate our differences through art. The gallery’s mission is to provide a platform for Roosevelt students to visually express themselves through art, and to provide a safe environment to do so. The gallery would not have been possible without the help and creativity of Kristy Lopez and the support of Principal Lionel Hush and Vice Principal Olivia Betances.”

The gallery opened on Feb. 20 with Superintendent Hayden Moore in attendance to cut the ribbon. Seventh and eighth grade students began working on themed artwork in recognition of Black History Month. The gallery is now a permanent space where themed projects will cycle in and out throughout the year.

Art teacher Kristy Lopez explained, “For the launch of the Grand Reopening, administration and the art department agreed that this current exhibition would be on display for 3–4 weeks, so March 21 will be the last day for this Black History Month Display, including artwork by Featured Artist Kiara Barnett. Subsequent artists will be featured as the installations change. Eighth grade artists created “The Influential Black American Portraits in Micrography, and seventh grade artists painted “Dear Passion” illustrations. The Community Curtain, an interactive activity the day of the opening, will remain on display until June, when school is over.”

Featured Artist Kiara Barnett is an eighth grade student that has studied with Ms. Oliver for the past two years. She has always had a passion for art and loves all art forms: painting, drawing, and sculpture. Her favorite medium is marker rendering. In her spare time, Kiara loves to watch K-Drama, listen to music, and read romance books.

Lopez continued, “We aim to continue displaying the beauty of the diversity of our school. We look forward to spotlighting works of art that respond to the themes that prompt our inclusion, such as Women's History, Autism Awareness, Holocaust Remembrance, Asian Pacific Islander Awareness, LGBTQ+ Pride, Latino Heritage, etc. Every English Language Arts class participated in identifying well-known figures, appreciated the decisions in the details, read vulnerable passages and poems, and participated in diversifying our community curtain with uplifting messages of unity, togetherness, and hope. We witnessed fine motor skills at work in tying our messages up to the ribbons, and we witnessed social emotional skills strengthen as friends from different classes walked near each other, talked about the works, and pointed out their message on the Community Curtain."

Oliver added, “The community curtain will remain for the remainder of the school year, where messages will continue to be added to the hanging strands. The art will grow and change as the year goes by. The idea of having an interactive art piece that everyone that entered the space could be a part of was very important to me. It is a way that we can connect with one another. I think the idea of a collaborative piece is quite powerful and dynamic. This year's theme is “Unity in Diversity.” Each year the theme will change, but the framework of a collaborative art installation that everyone can be a part of will remain in that space.”

In addition to Superintendent Moore, councilperson Susan Scarpa, BOE VP Maria Vera, local arts advocate and Love and Unity Fest organizer Carl Brister (who was inspired by the gallery as the Life Christian Church prepared its own art installation), parents, students, and community members attended the opening.

"I think that the gallery opening went well. The responses I received have been very positive. I hoped it had some impact and highlighted the rich diversity and talent that truly makes Roosevelt so beautiful and amazing. After 29 years of teaching here (and being a former Roosevelt student as well) there’s no place I would rather teach. This place is magical, and the gallery is just a snapshot of that magic," concluded Oliver.

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE RMS DIVERSITY ART GALLERY HERE.

READ MORE ABOUT THE GALLERY HERE

RMS