Fifth-annual Art Show at White Plains library to showcase work of Commercial Art

The Art Show will be on exhibit through the end of May 2025

For Dustin Sloat, this year’s Art Show by the Commercial Art program at White Plains Public Library is a first. A junior at Ardsley High School, Dustin has never seen his artwork displayed in public, but his creations will be among those from students at the Center for Career Services on exhibit this spring.

“I think it will be great to get other people to notice what we can do,” said Sloat, a first-year student in the Commercial Art program. “It’s important to get feedback on your work. The insight of other people can really help you grow as an artist.”

The students and instructor Damian Powers installed the Art Show on Tuesday, April 1, displaying approximately 100 pieces of artwork in the library’s gallery, which is located on the second floor of the building. The exhibit will remain open to all during the library’s operating hours through the end of May.

The items on display include public service announcement posters, food truck logos, cereal box designs, still life sketches, and colorful examples of character development. Mr. Powers said the merger of commercial and fine art makes this Art Show unique.

“This showcases all of their creativity, which I think is pretty cool,” he said.

Mr. Powers also said the art represents the various techniques the students have learned while completing a variety of projects in the classroom throughout the school year.

“This is an honor to have our work out here,” said senior Manny Opare Otu, a senior who attends Alexander Hamilton High School. “They may not be able to see how much work I put in, but I definitely put a lot of time in on this.”

The Art Show provides the public a glimpse at the high-quality, creative work produced by Commercial Art students on a regular basis, which Powers believes reflects positively on both the program and the students.

“This is great exposure for the students and for the program, to have their work out in the world,” Mr. Powers said. “I think this also gives them a sense of ownership of their work. This allows them to get their foot in the door, in a sense, and get them into the flow of having their great work seen in public.”