By Pat Wongkit
Northport Community Learning Center

We had our second annual Gallery Night at Northport Community Learning Center in December. There were 55 young artists from Northport Apartments who contributed their work. Artists ages 6–17 shared works that paid homage to their home countries — from Afghanistan to Guinea to Thailand — as well as reproductions of works from Picasso, Bearden and Basquiat.

We had oil paintings of African masks, Afghanistan flags and symbols, button trees, sunsets and abstractions. A total of 111 pieces were on display, and 63 paintings were sold to Northside residents, including teachers, alders and other community leaders. Total sales amounted to $1,586. The children became professional artists for the night.

Gallery Night was a culmination of hard work by our students over the last year, including their projects from our summer program. They were celebrated for all the schoolwork and other activities they have participated in throughout the year. Once again, the kids here at Northport created an event that united the community.

We would like to thank everyone who attended and volunteered for the beautiful evening.