Students share their art with the whole world

Courtesy image/Saint Joseph Elementary

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From the exhibit ?My Mini Me!? from Saint Joseph Elementary School — grade 2

OGDEN – When you think of art exhibits you would think of going to museums, libraries or to an exposition center, but not for the students at Saint Joseph Elementary School in Ogden. Their artwork is displayed using the student’s first initial and a number through an online art gallery called Artsonia. This is a unique, safe and exciting educational opportunity for the students to share their art work with everyone, even with their relatives who live far away. The artwork also can be purchased through the website.

This effort started out with an Internet search to get ideas for teaching art to youngsters, "but then we decided to join it and display our students’ work online," said Nalani Gannon, who, together with Kim Stucke, is in charge of the art classes at St. Joseph Elementary.

"It turned out to be an incredible program and it’s nice because the artwork that you download onto the website is there forever," said Gannon, referring to the fact that even students who have left the school have their artwork exhibited on the Web gallery. "Their work stays there. You don’t have to worry to save all those art pieces, they are all there forever – years and years along the road, they will be still there. It’s like an artistic archive."

At the end of the school year students and family members can get a memory book in which they can put all the school year’s art projects in one volume.

"It’s beautiful and the school receives 15 percent of what the parents order through Artsonia," said Gannon.

Having their work on display has encouraged the students, she said, adding that their enthusiasm and the quality of their work has increased because they know their pieces are going to be exhibited.

"They take pride in their own work because all their family can see it, even, for example, the grandma that lives in New Jersey can see them and get them," said Gannon.

Parents are notified when their child has a new piece of art posted on the website, "so they can see what their children do in the art class," said Gannon.

Family members, friends, teachers, and the actual creator of the pieces can leave as many comments as they want on the web page.

Since the school year started in August, more than 2,000 pieces of art from Saint Joseph have been posted on the website, making this school the top in Utah for posting art. The Saint Joseph Artsonia web link has had more than 8,000 visits.

"Art is good for kids because for them to have a class that allows them to able to be creative and to show that side of them, it’s good," said Gannon.

The story of Artsonia began with a dream that artwork created by kids everywhere could be shared and enjoyed by everyone. The website showcases millions of pieces of kids’ artwork from all over the world.