All City Student Art Show on display in Lynn

She said she loved that the pieces in the show ranged from the ancient art of basket weaving from Ingalls School students to the more pop art stylings of students at the Sisson and Tracy Elementary schools. The latter students created ceramic replicas of pop culture food items such as a pair of donuts in their parchment paper protectors sitting on a Dunkin Donuts napkin, a box of McDonald’s french fries and a taco complete with packets of salsa.

“This art takes people to a place where they have to stop and look,” Wilhelm said. “It’s necessary.”

State Rep. Steven Walsh couldn’t have agreed with Wilhelm more.

Speaking to a crowd of city and state officials, art teachers and art lovers during the unveiling of the mural, Walsh said art is the most important thing when it comes to the quality of life in any community and it’s been a struggle for Lynn, until now.

Walsh, who has championed arts and culture on the state level, applauded Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, the School Administration, and the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation for supporting arts in the downtown area and in the schools.

Kennedy said she overheard someone give what she thought was a perfect description of the downtown renaissance.

“We have momentum, you can almost feel it, it’s almost tangible … now let’s keep it going,” she said.

The mural is the result of more than two years worth of work but it’s still not complete. Walsh said a fundraising effort will soon begin to finish the top portion of the piece.

Created by local artists David Fichter, Yetti Frenkel and Joshua Winer, the piece also includes mosaics created in collaboration with students in three middle schools and three high schools.

“It is the history of being an immigrant, urban and artistic community,” Walsh said.

Inside Lynn Arts, student pieces include Mesoamerican clay whistles/animal figures from Lynn Classical art teacher Patty Klibansky’s classes, character masks from Marshall Middle School eighth graders, a wall of water color paintings and dozens of three-dimensional pieces.

State Rep. Donald Wong stood looking for a long time at a group of photographs and self-portraits done by Klibansky’s 10th grade students.

“How did they get the colors so bright, so clear?” he wondered. “They’re great.”

Xiomara Gutierrez was beside herself with excitement as her daughter, Katherine Zuniga, pointed out the Cherokee-inspired woven basket she created.

“It’s really exciting,” Gutierrez said. “I think the show is good motivation for them to keep going with their art.”

Zuniga said she already had a love for the arts.

“I like to make bracelets and necklaces,” she said. “I love anything where I can work with my hands.”

Around the corner The Lynn Museum featured the music of Tony Gallo and the artistic renderings of shoes done by the Public School students of art teacher Monica Mitchell.

Across the street RawArts also opened its doors showing off its 2012 exhibit, which was themed “How Do You Frame Yourself.”

“This was a great night,” said Lynn Public Schools Fine Arts Director Joseph Picano. “As you go through the exhibit you’ll see spectacular things, there are heights we couldn’t reach before. It’s probably the finest show we’ve had.”

Chris Stevens can be reached at cstevens@itemlive.com