Jump Start Biennial, “Growth,” September 25-November 6, 2021

Jump Start Biennial, Growth 
September 25-November 6, 2021

The Jump Start program provides in-person instruction by well trained and highly effective teaching artists to middle and high school students who show a strong ability and interest in the visual arts, regardless of their ability to pay. Jump Start also guides these students along their college and career path through our Jump Start Extension program.

Each year, about 40 students actively participate in Jump Start. They receive support as they work toward making their dreams a reality. All participants receive individual mentorship and have the opportunity to attend Development Days at no cost. Tuition scholarships and supplies are awarded to all high school students who qualify for free or reduced lunches and college students earn gift cards in return for volunteering. In response to the financial uncertainty caused by COVID, 100% of Jump Start students received full scholarships covering tuition, fees, and supplies for both online and in-person programs during 2020.

Every two years, Buffalo Arts Studio celebrates our student artists with an extensive exhibition. Jump Start Students, Jump Start Extension students, and Education Director Jayne Hughes work together to develop a title, select the artwork, curate the exhibition, and promote these emerging artists. For the 2021 biennial exhibition, the Jump Start team chose Growth as the title of the exhibition. Much of the artwork in this exhibition was made in isolation due to COVID-19 and the deep desire for personal connection is clearly evident. Nearly two-thirds of the artwork is figurative, including many self-portraits. Students found great inspiration in their peers and many told us that their artistic practice served as an escape from the stress in their lives, helping them process the unexpected reality of life during a pandemic. Many also felt proud of their accomplishments. They saw the growth that inspired the exhibition’s title, both in their own work and the work of their beloved peers. They deserve to be proud. Growth is the largest Jump Start exhibition to date, including over 100 artworks in a wide range of media including charcoal, pastel, acrylic, oil, multimedia, digital media, ceramic, and even bronze.

This is a dynamic group of emerging artists whose skills will continue to grow. Visitors can learn more about these students and follow them on social media by visiting their portraits outside of Suite 506 and scanning the QR code in the lower right corner.

Jump Start Students

Sophia Bensch (Buffalo, NY) attends City Honors High School

Faith Danahy (Buffalo, NY) attends Hutchinson Central Technical High School

Lucenzo Deeb (Kenmore, NY) attends Kenmore West High School

Serenity Degraffenried (Cheektowaga, NY) attends Cleveland Hill High School

Sarah Durkin (Elma, NY) attends Iroquois High School

Carly Glashauser (Hamburg, NY) attends Hamburg High School

Gaia Godinho (Kenmore, NY) attends Kenmore West High School

Eva Hernandez (WIlliamsville, NY) attends Williamsville East High School

Elijah Jones (Buffalo, NY) attends Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts

Sadiki Kashindi (Buffalo, NY) attends Native American Magnet School, PS #19

Keira Kilinskas (East Amherst, NY) attends Williamsville North High School

Grace Lewonka (Hamburg, NY) attends Hamburg High School

Annmarie Morgan (Buffalo, NY) attends Emerson School of Hospitality

Eli Neglia (Buffalo, NY) attends Buffalo Seminary

Margaret O’Brien (Cheektowaga, NY) attends Cleveland Hill High School

Emma Pfordresher (Town of Amherst, NY) attends Amherst High School

Liliana Schmid (Buffalo, NY) attends Buffalo Seminary

Renee Tasevski (Tonawanda, NY) attends Tonawanda Middle School

Kendall Wood (Clarence, NY) attends Canisius High School

Audrey Zhu-Fang (WIlliamsville, NY) attends Williamsville East High School

Daria Zulqarnain (Buffalo, NY) attends Frederick Law Olmsted, PS #156

Jump Start Extension

Isabella Amarante (Buffalo, NY) studying at SUNY Buffalo

Helen Beckley-Forest (Buffalo, NY) studying at Pratt Institute

Buyinza Buchanan (Buffalo, NY) graduated from SUNY Fredonia

Nicholas Delfino (Buffalo, NY) graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College

Lucy Detrich (Tonawanda, NY) studying at Cleveland Institute of Art

Kai Ellsworth (Grand Island, NY) graduated from SUNY Fredonia

Molly Lonigan (Lockport, NY) studying at Villa Maria College

Shanti Morrissey (Buffalo, NY) studying at Cornell University

Gradi Ntampuhwe (Buffalo, NY) graduated from SUNY Buffalo

Cameron Osborne (Clarence, NY) studying at SUNY Buffalo

Emily Peca (Clarence, NY) attends the Savannah College of Art and Design

Emily Quartley (Town of Amherst, NY) graduated from SUNY Buffalo

Ruth Silverschatz (Buffalo, NY) graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College

Rachael Struble (Williamsville, NY) graduated from Sheridan College

Isaac Vazquez (Buffalo, NY) studying at Daemen College

Jordan Willis (Buffalo, NY) graduated from SUNY Fredonia

Exhibition catalog available here.

Press Release available here.