Lincoln Middle School Students Hosted An Art Exhibit 'Our Testimony'

Press release from Kansas City Public Schools:

November 8, 2021

Students in Harold Smith's art class hosted an art exhibit at Lincoln Middle School last week, drawing on works in "Testimony: African American Artists Collective."

The student showcase, called "Our Testimony," explores the emotions, memories and values of the Lincoln Middle School artists, said eighth grader Gabriella Morris.

"These paintings are our hearts and souls," Gabriella said.

Eighth grader Arianna Rodriguez chose to paint a woman of color whose experiences haven't been represented by the art community.

"Their beauty isn't always appreciated in the world," she explained.

The exhibit is also a middle school time capsule with paintings of anime, a PlayStation controller, the movie "Venom" and a box of Honey Cheerios.

"That's what I ate this morning," said eighth grader and cereal artist Koen Tenjack. "It's my masterpiece."

As for Mr. Smith, the art teacher, he's retiring in January. His work will be on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art through March 27, 2022.

This press release was produced by Kansas City Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.