The ArtCentre of Plano will feature Plano ISD’s Advanced Placement student projects for the month of April.
Advanced Placement, known colloquially as AP, are college-level courses offered at local high schools with College Board curriculum.
“The AP Studio Art Senior Exhibition represents the culmination of a year-long creative journey for graduating seniors enrolled in AP Art and Design. Throughout the year, students develop individual inquiry questions—guiding ideas that drive the direction of their artistic exploration,” Plano East Senior High School art teacher Alexandria Thornley said. “These inquiries become the foundation for a sustained body of work, and each student builds a cohesive portfolio that demonstrates practice, experimentation, and revision. The artwork on display reflects months of sketching, research, critique, and refinement as students push beyond their comfort zones to develop an authentic artistic voice.”
The art exhibition provides an opportunity for the students to see their art on display and get community feedback.
“For many of these seniors, this year marks a pivotal moment in their artistic development,” Thornley said. “The growing annual participation highlights both the strength of our visual arts programs and the drive of students who push their creative boundaries. This year, 137 students have stepped up to the challenge, and we are eager to see how their unique visions will shape the future of the art world.”
A closing reception and award presentation will take place at the culmination of the exhibit on April 30 at 5:30 p.m.
“The Plano ISD Advanced Placement Art exhibition is always one of our most popular. The students create outstanding pieces that would make a statement in any quality art collection,” ArtCentre Executive Director Suzy Jones said. “This exhibition also highlights the excellence on the fine arts program in Plano ISD. The ArtCentre and Plano ISD are extremely grateful to Texas Health Plano for its generous support of this exhibition.”
The exhibit also serves as a partnership between business, art and education, as the exhibit is sponsored by Texas Health Plano.
“Texas Health Plano is pleased to support the PISD Senior Art Exhibit. As you will see at the exhibition, we are fortunate to have many extremely talented students in our schools and exemplary art teachers,” Texas Health Plano Director of Community Relations Mary Jo Dean said. “Research shows that exposure to the Arts can help teens develop many positive skills and capacities that are valued by leaders and employers, such as persistence, collaboration, creative thinking, problem solving, motivation, and problem solving. In addition, studies demonstrate that Arts exposure can improve a teenager’s confidence and academic performance. Art can move, heal, inspire, and connect people. Art is an important part of our kid’s lives.”
The exhibit can be viewed from April 9 to April 30 at the ArtCentre of Plano, located at 902 E. 16th St., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
