Westford Academy hosted its annual district-wide art show on May 8, 2025 to celebrate the artworks of students from K-12. The art show is a collaborative event where students have the opportunity to showcase their artwork to friends and family.
The Westford District Art show is one of the biggest nights of the year for the art department according to Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Coordinator Andrea Mejia. Seniors Ani Masterson, Zoe Seiger, Natalie LaCoste, Rebecca Ward, Izzy O’Hearn, Andrew Mejia, and Keerthi Isanaka helped to arrange the showcase as part of their senior capstone project.
According to the organizers of the showcase, holding the event was important because it created a feeling of community and sparked enlightening conversations among the viewers about the art pieces.
“We just hope that people will look at the artwork and have conversations about [the art], and celebrate the work of our students,” Andrea Mejia said.
Immediately after entering the school, visitors were given a brochure containing a map of the gallery. They were then met with a display of collaborative and individual artwork by students from grades K-5. On the ceilings, there were garlands created from colored paper airplanes and vibrant origami flowers.
In the bell lobby, there was a small coloring station for young children to interact with and enjoy creating their own art. The seniors also arranged for the WA jazz band to perform on the stairwell above the bell lobby, creating a friendly and light atmosphere for everybody to enjoy. Near the music room, there was a face-painting station that was popular among young visitors as well.
The hallway leading to the flag lobby was filled with art pieces created by middle schoolers. The art show also featured family portraits along with some prints for sale.
In the flag lobby, there was a wide variety of artworks by high schoolers, including digital art and photography in the hallways. Additionally displays of charcoal, paint, and various other mediums were showcased in the area.
The seniors working chose the exhibit to be their capstone project for a variety of reasons, including their own passion for art and because organizing the showcase would allow them to learn important life skills.
“I was looking to gain some organizational and planning skills,” Isanaka said.
The seniors were excited to see the children’s joyous reactions when they saw their artwork on display.
“A lot of the little kids who come in and they [were] looking for their artwork and they [were] so excited to see it, along with their parents, who want to see their children’s artwork,” Masterson said. “Everyone [was] just so happy.”
