ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) –They’re some of the most talented young artists in the community and now for the first time, they’re inviting you to take a look at and maybe even buy some of their work. It’s a new chapter for Albuquerque Public Schools as they launch their first district-wide Art Mart. “Well, we think it’s important to give those students the opportunity to sell outside of their school community and give them that experience of working with the public and being entrepreneurs on that to becoming entrepreneurs,” said Michelle Sanchez St. Andre, APS Director of Visual Arts.
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The markets actually started five years ago at Albuquerque High School with students. Those have been closed off to the public with students selling their creations during the lunch hour. It grew to four high schools and now the district is hoping all 13 of them get involved.
Organizers are looking for up to 50 students to sell their works to the public. “I tell students, like you should be focused on just putting your artwork out there and you’ll find your people, you’ll find your community, and then from there, should they buy it? Great,” said Rene Palomares, Bilingual Education Fine Arts Resource Teacher.
While they’re still looking for the final team of student vendors, in the past students have sold ceramics, crocheted items soap, photography, and other art. “I think oftentimes when we go to school, we don’t see the value in what we’re doing because it’s so far-fetched at times. We don’t understand the building blocks that it takes to get to the next level. and this is a more kind of immediate why It’s an opportunity to be making work and then understand that, oh, and I get to showcase it or I get to sell it,” said Palomares.
The district is holding its first planning meeting on Art Mart. The main event will open to the public on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center at Louisiana and Comanche.