Warwick resident Gabriele Savard, a Pilgrim High senior, first approached Paul Carpentier, co-owner of TinTown Studio in Cranston, last September and asked him to be her mentor for her senior project. The studio is also co-owned by Dennis DelSignore.

“I accepted and for the last five months we have been meeting every other week to coordinate and plan out many logistical necessities involved in putting together an art show,” said Carpentier.

Between Savard and Carpentier they collected 22 works from 17 young artists. Primarily from the Warwick school district, and original works from students from Cranston, East Greenwich, Lincoln and North Kingstown. Their show, on April 29, was titled “Artists Gone Wild – An Animal Art Show.” Also, included in the art show were Cranston High School East student artists, Delia Maguire, age 15, and Brittney Bidwell, age 18.

All proceeds received from the sale of work are being donated to the Warwick Animal Shelter. The total collected from the sale of art was $900.

“Thank you so much to everyone who came. It was a great weekend and the animals will appreciate it all so much,” said Savard.

“I have had a deep love for animals for as long as I can remember,” said Savard. “When I had to decide what to do for my senior project, I knew I wanted to somehow involve animals. And that's when the idea for this art show came about.”

Savard wanted to get the Warwick Animal Shelter involved too because her family acquired both of their dogs there and were so grateful. 

“So, all the money raised from this show will go straight to the Warwick Animal Shelter to help out all of those wonderful pets up for adoption there. This show is just a fun way to bring the community together and raise money for the shelter. Thank you so much for coming today and showing support for my senior project and the Warwick Animal Shelter,” said Savard.

Carpentier first knew Savard when he taught alongside her mother at Glen Hills Elementary School in Cranston.

“Julie Driscoll, now the Director of Early Childhood in our district, and I developed a friendship; her then-9-year-old daughter is now a graduating senior,” said Carpentier.

During their times meeting, Carpentier led Savard through the several processes necessary to undertake to open an exhibit in a small gallery.

From establishing the main objectives of exhibition to establishing her criteria for selecting works to creating and hanging the works.

“I instructed and allowed her to experience the role of gallery director and coordinator,” said Carpentier.

TinTown Studio was very happy to be part of the journey of this project, and the 22 young artists who had the experience of exhibiting their work in a professional space at an early age also gained experience.

This was a collaboration for New Hope Art Gallery, which is a nonprofit gallery with a mission “To bring art to all people and all people to art.”