East Lansing student art helps local businesses

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What started as a high school art project has morphed into a community-wide campaign. 

Local art teachers, art commissioners and businesses have banded together to display student artwork in East Lansing shops. On Jan. 26, the first of three art exhibitions began, displaying art pieces in 15 restaurants to promote businesses.

East Lansing High School teacher Jacqueline Carroll started this project with her digital photography students. Students wrote about what they’ve been focusing on to keep them strong during the pandemic. For some, it is music and art, while others have focused on sports and family. 

“Initially, I believed that this campaign was going to simply exist in my Google classroom,” she said.  Carroll said she was contacted by East Lansing art commissioner and teacher Wendy Sylvester, who wanted to stimuklate  the downtown economy with art. With financial support from the high school parent council, the East Lansing Educational Foundation and the city, the school received enough funds to print three shows that will run through July. 

East Lansing High alumna AJ Kirkland said it makes him proud of his school to see that teachers are helping their students and the community. 

“It’s so good to see familiar faces again. It makes me smile when I’m grabbing food from the market,” he said. “I think that this is a really great cause and I hope people can come out to see the reflection of students’ emotions.”

 The art being displayed around the city is a part of a photography campaign for East Lansing Family Strong. Carroll said that these images will be taken down and replaced with artwork by elementary school students on March 1. 

Julie Oslund, manager of Pitaya, which is displaying the art, said the clothing store likes to partner with the community and show support any way it can.

“If it wasn’t for the community coming out for us, we wouldn’t exist. To be able to help kids pursue their passion, it’s just like supporting the people who have supported us all along,” she said. 

Caroll said she hopes the artwork inspires people to go to small businesses and make purchases so that downtown businesses are not decimated. The full show will be displayed on the lower level of the M.A.C. parking garage downtown from March 1-April 16. 

“See the faces, be inspired and then support your community,” she said.

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