Big dreams don’t just come to life for Philly’s young and bright minds on television shows like “Abbott Elementary.” Those experiences — and the teachers usually responsible for these life-long memories — exist in schools around us.

Take teacher Shaunia Bronson’s Henry Houston Elementary art class, for example.

Last Friday, May 2, many months of students’ work culminated in an art showcase at Our House Culture Center, where loved ones of the students and community members alike filled the space in support.

Students loaded walls and tables with their arts and crafts, from mixed media works to handcrafted jewelry. Auction sheets allowed attendees to bid and take home their works.

Bronson hosted a show last year in partnership with the Germantown Art & Sound team, but went at it this year with support from parents of students and some community leaders. She says students wanted another one, so in true Philly teacher spirit, she did what it took to bring it back to life.

“It’s go hard or go home,” Bronson said, when it comes to her students. “I saw the spark in them and I wanted them to capitalize on that spark.”

Her students also felt the love and support of their teacher, particularly through the personalized awards that Bronson gave every student in attendance.

Thirteen-year-old seventh grader Sanaa Bin Parker said her teacher is both funny and encouraging, making a perfect recipe for an art instructor.

Bin Parker displayed depictions of the alleged real-life Betty Boop, Esther Jones, who was also known as Baby Esther. The seventh grader says she learned about the historical figure on TikTok and wanted to bring her to the forefront.

“The fact that she is Black but they just switched in a cartoon to how she wasn’t Black anymore,” stuck out to Bin Parker about the performer’s story.

GIH wants to note, for historical accuracy, that in 1934, a white performer named Helen Kane also sued the creator of Betty Boop, Max Fleischer, for copying her “boop-oop-a-doop” singing style, which the cartoon was most known for aside from her distinct curls and short dress. While Esther Jones didn’t testify or participate in the trial, a screen test of her was presented, ultimately convincing the judge that Kane had also copied her style, leading to her losing the case. 

This lore has become one of the more popular examples of how Black cultural innovation has often been taken and then discredited.

13-year-old Bin Parker sends advice to other young people looking to hone their craft, telling them to stick to it and trust the process. She said, “I went from scribbles to actual people and things. So just try your best.”

Bin Parker was awarded the Good Vibrations and Artistic Rizz award for her “shiny” personality and “amazing” work, according to Bronson.

“She’s taught me the way of art,” said 12-year-old Carmelo Smith, about Bronson. “Everything from how to sell my art to having interviews like this to talk about it.”

Smith, also a seventh grader, drew from his personal interests for his artwork. He put together different portrayals of characters and scenes from his favorite manga series, Blue Lock. He had various pieces on display that took him three weeks altogether to complete. He says his longest piece took about 22 hours altogether.

His efforts this year earned him the Peak Performance award from Bronson.

The seventh-grade artist says he’s proud of his artwork, as he pushed himself to go into more detail than ever with some of his pieces on display.

Fourth grader and 10-year-old Dorian Hancock-Jaffe took a more imaginative approach, turning his love for nature into different colorful landscapes with magical elements like twin moons & suns and dragons. The details and pops of color landed him the Bronson’s Basquiat award.

This was his first showcase, and though he was nervous, he was also excited. “It’s a nice opportunity to show what I can do,” said the fourth grader.

Germantown neighbors Lisa Jo Epstein and Stephayne Watts were also in attendance, repping the Community Action Team (CAT) for Art Forward Engaging NW Philly and inviting showcase attendees to ask questions about art.

Watts said these kinds of activations and opportunities for young people are important. As a former student of the Philly school district, she knows the power these opportunities have.

“I would have been a very different person had it not been for the arts,” Watts said.

“Art, creative expression, and cultural organizing in any way are central to creating opportunities for people to flex the muscles of their imagination,” said Epstein.

She said art is crucial because it teaches people to “think outside the box,” which she called an essential life skill. The CAT member also notes that more funding for the arts in schools opens more avenues for youth to explore and reflect on what’s meaningful to them and “visibilize what’s within.”

Bronson says that while it would be great to have more funding for things like this, which she said she financed at about 85% of, she says it’s important to know that there are people who will make it happen for students regardless, and “from the muscle.”

“We have to back these students,” Bronson said, leading into her final thoughts. “This is not a request. This is a demand. You have to support the younger generation. They’re looking at us like, what are y’all going to do? And the best thing we can give them right now is our support.”

Bronson’s students are grateful to her for being with them and their classmates on this journey and hope to see it again for a third year.