Senior artists at West Essex are showcasing their work for The 10th Annual Advanced Placement Art Students Exhibit at the 1978 Maplewood Arts Center from Dec. 17 to Jan. 21.

By participating in this exhibit, the students get to experience first hand what the art-world is like as an adult. Their artwork is then eligible for feedback, and displayed to be potentially sold into a professional gallery. West Essex students take this opportunity to feel good about their hard work, while also motivated by students from other program’s work. Mr. John Atura, art teacher of fine and performing arts, is to thank for giving a handful of these students such a great opportunity.

“It’s a nice morale boost for the kids halfway through the year before submitting their portfolios in may,” Mr. Atura said.

West Essex AP Studio Art students join with others from Arts High Newark, Columbia High, Elizabeth High School Upper Academy, and Governor Livingston, to show off their work at the Fresh 10.0 exhibit.

“I was able to go and see four of my pieces submitted to the show” said senior Julia Farese, one of the participants from West Essex. “My paintings of water lilies was for sale at the showcase.”

Other students who contributed their work to this event are Nadia Belverio, Blake Chamberlain, Michael Gieger, Priya Ramakrishnan, Michael Sessa, Joseph Ploscowe, Julia Schwartz and Nolan Yezhov, who are all AP art students at West Essex.