CANANDAIGUA, NY — Funny. Touching. Adorable.
These are just a few of the words Ellen Horovitz and Diane Olivet, co-managers of Gallery 32, use to describe the works of art created by third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Canandaigua Elementary School.
The downtown Canandaigua gallery is hosting a show that represents more than 500 student-made envelopes. You know what a drab old envelope looks like, and you might agree they could use a bit of sprucing up.
And that’s where artists like fifth-grader Nicky Robbins and his Canandaigua Elementary School students step in.
A Buffalo Bills fan, Nicky drew a Bills jersey with team colors blue and red lines on the back of his envelope. And on the other side, he drew a Potato Bills logo.
And the Bills win, which always makes Nicky feel nice, but there’s another way to make him happy.
“It’ll feel nice if somebody actually likes it,” Nicky said.
Here’s why this is more than a class project.
Fundraising for the Ontario County Arts Council
The student-created envelopes are on sale for $1 as a fundraiser for the Ontario County Arts Council, which supports the arts in Ontario County.
The show opens Nov. 22 and runs through Nov. 30.
Canandaigua art teacher Courtney Austin said the gallery approached the school with the idea.
“I thought, what a great thing to teach our students how their art can be impactful in the community and make a difference,” Austin said. “They do a lot for us. We’re very fortunate to have them and this opportunity.”
The kids worked hard at it, Austin said, devoting three or four classes to their projects.
Fourth-grader Addison March thought and thought of a theme and then, like a bolt from outer space, it her. The front of her envelope depicts a planet, sun, comet, and stars. The back shows more stars and the moon.
“It took me a whole entire art class just to do the sun,” Addison said. “And then a whole entire other one to color all of the background.”
Canandaigua student artists share their lives
Each of the artworks shows a child’s character and interests, Austin said. Some of those are funny; some of those are more on the serious side. Artwork serves as a journal of who you are as you grow up.
“They truly reflect who they are, right now, at this time,” Austin said. “They’re very authentic.”
And for Nicky, well, the Bills are a big interest of his now and he’s a fan for life.
“It’s always going to be,” Nicky said.
What is Gallery 32 in Canandaigua?
The Ontario County Arts Council’s Gallery 32, which opened earlier this year, showcases community and national artists at the space at 32 S. Main St., Canandaigua.
It’s next door to Finger Lakes Community College’s ArtSpace36, which opened in 2019. The two have their own spaces but share resources and partner on special events.
The younger student artists have the spotlight now, but high school students from Canandaigua and Victor will take centerstage when an exhibit of their works opens Dec. 5.
The We Love Veterans art exhibit will open Feb. 14, 2026.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canandaigua students get creative to help Ontario County arts community. Here’s how.
Reporting by Mike Murphy, Canandaigua Daily Messenger / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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