This story was originally posted on April 22, 2025

Boswell High School student artists are taking center stage in a groundbreaking Fort Worth exhibition that bridges the worlds of traditional and emerging media arts.

The New Age Media – New Learning (NAMNAL) Exhibition, on display April 12 – May 12 at The Pool Near Southside Artspace, features the work of 22 Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD students whose creations reflect three years of exploration in STEAM, artistic entrepreneurship, and technological innovation.

“This is cutting-edge work that bridges traditional and non-traditional art forms while creating an authentic synergy between secondary and tertiary education,” said DJ Perera, the Boswell art teacher, who has led the NAMNAL initiative at Boswell. “We’re not just making art, we’re preparing students for careers in creative industries.”

The exhibition is presented in partnership with Arts Fort Worth, Texas Christian University College of Fine Arts, and the University of Texas at Dallas Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. It represents an unprecedented collaboration between public education and higher education institutions to promote youth voices in Fort Worth’s evolving art landscape.

“It was really cool showing my work and seeing the growth of NAMNAL from past years finally coming together in this exhibition,” Ziara Ferrer, a Boswell student artist, said. “NAMNAL also exposed me to new instructors and showed me that art resources are accessible in Fort Worth to support me in my passion.”

Now in its third year, NAMNAL challenges students to create artwork that responds to contemporary artistic questions, including the role of artificial intelligence in creativity. Students were also introduced to new instructional partnerships, professional artistic practices, and gallery installation processes, all with the goal of inspiring their growth as emerging artists and entrepreneurs.

“The exhibition pushed my videography skills since I had to create a specific timelapse film for the show,” Ethan Thanphirom, a Boswell student artist, said. “Twenty hours of work went into editing my film. NAMNAL opened my eyes to how the little things matter when it comes to installing an intriguing show that included AI.”

The exhibit opened with a public reception on April 12, featuring remarks from project leaders and students. A panel discussion featuring NAMNAL artists and program partners will be held later in May.

“The NAMNAL experience made me realize that all the work I spent on my art over the past years was meant for something,” Kyler Anderson said. “To show my work in a gallery has made me realize that this is truly the beginning of my creative journey.”

The EMS ISD Education Foundation played a key role in supporting this initiative through multi-year grant funding.

“You have certainly helped inspire students to reach their potential, and for that we are so grateful,” said Ally Surface, executive director of the Foundation. “We celebrate the arts culture and the meaningful place it holds in society.”

Gallery hours for the NAMNAL Exhibition are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 pm, or by appointment.

More information about the exhibition is available at www.artsfortworth.org.