Coconut Grove Arts Festival has helped New World School of the Arts high school students sell their art for about 25 years.
New World’s white tent was bustling with students, teachers and buyers interested in artworks created by about 125 high school students. This festival is the school’s largest fundraiser, raising between $12,000 and $13,000 a year. Students get half the cut of all their sales.
"It gives these students that sense of ownership, that sense of valor, and that sense of validity at the end of the day," says visual arts instructor Carlos Gallostra.
He says the students have produced about 400 paintings for this year’s festival. FabiolaMillan, a senior, has submitted 12 this year. She says she’s sold three to four pieces a year for the last four years. The student work sells for $100 each.
"I was surprised because sometimes you need a little bit of encouragement as an artist, and it's just a great idea to have this exposure," Millan says .
Juan Garcia is also a senior working at the New World tent. He submitted 17 paintings.
"It's a really important experience for an artist to engage in talking directly to the people because you have to be brave and you have to build character and you have to step outside of your studio," he says.
Millan and Garcia both hope to have their own tents at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival some day.
