Fourth Annual "The Art Is in the Streets" Competition Empowers Students

Lorenzo de' Medici's fourth edition of "The Art Is in the Streets" student exhibition returned to Florence in May. This annual event brings together the students of Lorenzo de' Medici, local merchants, and the community in the celebration of art. On Saturday, May 8, 150 pieces of student work transformed Via Faenza, the school campus' main street, into an open air gallery. In the day-long exhibition, the product of many weeks of preparation, students competed in the categories of Painting/ Drawing/Printmaking, Sculpture/ Ceramics/Mosaic, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, Graphic Design, and Photography.

The competition stems from the LdM core value encouraging the empowerment of students, and this year's edition outstandingly illustrated the strength of this principle. The event is a celebration of talented students, who show their work along the streets and in dozens of local businesses. An external panel of experts awarded a prize for each category, and for the first time, an award was given to the best work in a beginner-level course. A special exhibition of large-scale drawings by Ed Smith, Marist College Professor and Art Gallery Director, lent resonance to the award ceremony. Certificates were given to the many students who volunteered their assistance in helping to set up the competition.

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