The Gallery at 1 East 53rd Street was abuzz last night at the opening of Imaginations Taking Shape. The young artists, their families and friends, teachers, and STUDIO artists filled the gallery to capacity. For most students, this was the first time their work was framed and on display and their excitement was palpable. The young artists demonstrate that imagination and experimentation with shapes, composition, color, texture, and layering combine to produce expressive works of art that will surely delight you. The exhibition is on view until Friday, February 10, 2012. Don’t miss it!

Make sure you stop by STUDIO's Gallery @ 1 East 53rd Street next Tuesday at 5pm for the opening reception of Imaginations Taking Shape. This exhibition presents collages created by students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade in New York City public schools, Head Starts and day care centers. Here you can see how a kindergartener portrays an underwater scene - covering the entire surface with torn shapes of different shades of blue and using contrasting yellows, pinks and greens to depict the floating sea life. Two fifth-grade students have carefully cut their own hand-painted paper to create a collage depicting the intricate and whimsical body of an insect.