Madison Reporter

East High students in Madison have embarked on a creative endeavor, collaborating with local business All Comfort Services to showcase Latinx art. Under the guidance of Spanish Language Arts teacher Barbara Davis, sophomores engaged in an immersive project as part of their Belleza y Estética unit.

Students like Ximena Salmeron recreated iconic artworks such as Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Warrior.” Reflecting on her experience, Salmeron shared, “It was a little hard at first, but I got the hang of it.” These student artworks are now displayed at All Comfort Services, providing them a broader audience.

The project involved more than painting; students utilized AI to simulate interviews with renowned Latinx artists, offering insights into their lives and creative processes. This hands-on approach aimed to prepare students for Advanced Placement exams while avoiding conventional research pitfalls. Davis emphasized the value of this method: “Researching on the internet is not very exciting and prompts students to copy and paste material, which I wanted to avoid.”

A chance encounter between Davis and an employee from All Comfort Services led to this unique partnership. The company not only exhibits the student art but also uses images and artist information for client thank-you cards, with extra copies provided for students.

Davis expressed her enthusiasm about the initiative: “Every year I look for ways to showcase Latinx contributions, and this project is extra special because it's the first time students’ work is on display outside the school.” She highlighted its importance in validating both cultural heritage and individual talents among her students.