LYNN — Painter Bob Ross once said, “talent is a pursued interest. Anything you’re willing to practice, you can do.”

Students from all 27 of Lynn Public Schools have been practicing their art all school year, and now, their talent is displayed for all to see at the All-City Art Exhibit.

Wednesday night saw families and friends gather at LynnArts, viewing projects from students in Pre-K all the way up to seniors in high school.

Dr. Patty Klibansky, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction of Art, Theater, and Dance, said that she and the district’s art teachers have been planning the event since October. This year marks the 20th anniversary.

“These are the top artists in the schools,” Klibansky said about the art on the walls.

In the schools’ art curriculum, Klibansky said they focus on positive, and real-world messages and values to create lively pieces.

“We like to use those values in our lessons to engage students, like lessons about unity and peace and positive messages and values that students can learn from making art,” Klibansky said.

Each art teacher chooses the students who will be featured in the exhibit, and the art is hung by theme, rather than grade or school.

“We’ll have a Pre-K portrait next to a senior’s portrait, so you can see the growth,” Klibansky said.

Laura MacCarthy, Art Teacher at Ford Elementary, said that this year, she chose the featured students based off of their confidence about their art.

“I wanted them to be confident and to be able to speak about their art,” MacCarthy said.

As the school year goes on, MacCarthy said she keeps “the best of the best” artwork of each project to showcase at the exhibit.

Michelle Kollie, fourth-grade student at Callahan Elementary, said she’s never seen herself as much of a drawer, but art is her favorite subject.

“I just felt so proud,” Kollie said when she first saw her art hanging up at the exhibit.

Kollie said when she’s creating art, it quiets her mind, and lets her express whatever she’s feeling onto the medium with which she’s working.

“(People) can express their feelings while making (art) and they can feel happy about it,” Kollie said.

Her piece featured numerous drawn numbers in all shapes and sizes, with a colorful sea of watercolor laid over the top. 

“I just (drew) some random numbers overlapping and made my image from my thought,” Kollie said.

he All-City Art Exhibit is on display at LynnArts March today and Friday from noon to 3 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.