Student-led art exhibition encouraged young artists to share their work
- The Reston Letter Staff
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Ava-Grace Satterfield, guest writer
The "Celebration of Resiliency" art exhibition, hosted by South Lakes High School senior Anya Crevits, featured more than 100 original works in a variety of media created by 45 South Lakes artists. Celebrating student artists' creativity and resilience, the exhibition took place June 10-12 at the Iranian American Community Center.
The Aryan Art Gallery buzzed with energy as dozens of artworks filled its walls and South Lakes artists proudly shared the creativity, perseverance and dedication behind their pieces with the community.
Partnering with South Lakes art director Marco Rando and Iranian American Community Center art director Roya Chadab, Crevits welcomed her peers to showcase and sell their artwork in a professional exhibition setting, a rare opportunity for emerging artists.
For South Lakes junior Olivia Levey, the exhibition encouraged her to share her photography publicly for the first time despite initial doubts.
"Sometimes you don't think that it's good enough, but [I learned that] it can spark something in somebody else and it can be meaningful to them, no matter how meaningful it was or wasn't to you," she said.
In addition to providing a platform for student artists, the exhibition's theme of resilience encouraged participants to explore deeper meaning in their art. Each piece reflected a personal story of perseverance, whether it addressed a deeply personal subject or represented a project that required overcoming setbacks to complete.
Demonstrating that spirit, participating artists donated 20% of their sales to World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides fresh meals to communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises around the world.
"It's not just an art exhibition, it's a donation toward a good cause," Crevits said.
The exhibition generated $400 in sales, with $80 donated to the organization. Crevits explained why she chose to incorporate philanthropy into the exhibition.
"The [overall] message was that these artists are not only being resilient in selling their work and having their work in an art exhibition, but they're also contributing part of their sales to go to this organization," she said.
The charitable aspect of the exhibition also motivated South Lakes graduate Christopher Vaquerano to sell his artwork.
"I realized that it feels good not just to sell my work because other people get to have it, but also that it gets to go to a good cause," he said.
The opening reception drew a large crowd of community members eager to support emerging artists and their cause. Following remarks by Crevits, Rando and community leaders, Rando invited any artist who wished to speak about their work to address the audience.
Many artists set aside stage fright and stepped to the podium to discuss their art, providing a fitting example of the exhibition's theme as it opened its three-day run.
Among them were several artists whose works reflected deeply personal stories. South Lakes graduate Cole Johnson's acrylic painting, "Family Conversation," took center stage in the exhibition's main room. The scene, depicting a moment in Johnson's family living room, was emotionally challenging to create.
"It's about savoring the present and having something to connect you to moments of childhood that are painful to understand that you're losing," they said. "The most meaningful art comes from really vulnerable places."
South Lakes senior Yolanda Goyone's ceramic vase, "Purity," reflects her definition of being human.
"The inherent human nature to triumph past the harsh exterior of those who inhabit around us is a token of pure resiliency; it's the way that the human soul continues to inhabit within us," she said.
South Lakes junior Olivia Levey enjoys photographing places she visits. "Rolling Ruins" captures a moment of reflection after reaching the summit of a mountain overlooking Incan ruins.
"The hike up there was long and difficult, and as we slowly saw more ruins and everything coming to life, it made me realize how far the Incan tribe had to come to get where they are. I was thinking about how tough their journey must have been," she said.
Christopher Vaquerano, a 2026 South Lakes graduate, plans to study art at Virginia Commonwealth University. "James & Julia" is one of his favorite pieces because it reflects the distinctive artistic style he has developed.
His resilience stems from the "ability to create art authentically without the fear of censorship or conformity," he said.
Following the exhibition's success, Crevits plans to establish a program to support larger exhibitions in the future. Anyone interested in purchasing artwork from the exhibition may contact Crevits at anyapmc2020@gmail.com.
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