They signed contracts, curated their pieces and stood proudly by their work at a formal opening ceremony — but these aren’t typical gallery professionals. These fifth and sixth graders from the Hawlemont and Mohawk Trail Regional school districts are the latest featured artists at Salmon Falls Gallery in Buckland, where the focus is on treating young creators with the same respect as seasoned masters.
Under the direction of Summer Litchfield, director of the gallery, the student showcase highlights the work of West County’s youngest artists. The exhibit, which features a variety of mediums from traditional painting to clay sculpture, remains open to the community through April 26.
This is the second year that Salmon Falls Gallery has shown local fifth- and sixth-grade student artwork. Litchfield said that it was more difficult to coordinate this year, but hopes to continue showcasing student artwork “as long as there’s interest.”
“[The students] absolutely love it,” Litchfield said. “I treat them as I would any other artist that was here, the only difference being that we don’t sell their work … they love the opportunity to come in, show their friends and family and have their art on the wall.”
Lily LaFleur, a sixth-grade student at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, created the work “Otters.” According to her father, Gabriel LaFleur, Lily loved the experience, and it was an opportunity to bring her family together for the opening ceremony on March 14.
“She really feels good to put her work up there, she’s proud of her work,” Gabriel LaFleur said. “It was really nice to have her whole family there at [the opening].”
Litchfield said that she loves having children’s artwork in the gallery, as they haven’t yet been told what should or shouldn’t be art at this point in their lives. For this particular showcase, students could have painted, drawn, made sculptures out of clay, or — as a few sixth-grade boys suggested — used trash to make art.
Litchfield noted that while many professional artists use recycled materials, none of the boys who suggested the trash sculptures ultimately submitted a piece. For the director, the focus remains on the experience of the students interacting with art and making something meaningful to them.
“I’m open to all different types of artwork; it doesn’t even need to be done within the school system,” Litchfield said. “It can be something that’s done at home. I just really wanted them to have as much freedom as they could.”
Jack Hendrick, a sixth grader at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary school, submitted his artwork to the gallery, creating the piece “Who’s a good boy.” His mother, Liz Greene, said she saw a difference in her son when he began working on this project.
“What stood out most for us was how intentional he became,” Greene said. “He was thoughtful about contrast, choosing to move from cool to warm, and using loose brushstrokes to counterbalance the precision of his drawing … [he’s] much more comfortable with the boundaries of an equation rather than a canvas.”
Greene also made a point to mention how positive an impact Litchfield made throughout the entire process, saying that she created a warm, inviting environment. “For many kids … it is a singular experience that can change how they see their own potential,” Greene said.
Now in her third year as director, Litchfield is working to reshape the gallery’s public image — specifically regarding who feels welcome there. While Salmon Falls is a high-end space, she wants to dismantle the idea that it is only for buyers. She said that she does not care “if you come in and buy anything,” emphasizing that the gallery’s true value lies in showcasing local talent for the entire community to enjoy.
If students are hesitant to have their work displayed in the gallery, Litchfield said it’s a great opportunity for them to see what life is like for an artist.
“[I want them] to just have fun with it, it’s not supposed to be a stressful thing,” Litchfield said. “Kids were welcome to submit one piece or multiple pieces … it was just a fun opportunity, something for them to go outside of the box with what you would normally be able to do in fifth and sixth grade.”
