Work by Celina Marquis Kelly will soon be on exhibit at NWC”s West Hartford campus.

By James Drzewiecki, Northwest Catholic High School 

Northwest Catholic arts teacher Celina Marquis Kelly will soon open an exhibition at the school that reflects her deep connection to summers spent in Cape Saint Mary, Nova Scotia, Canada. This exhibition serves as a culmination of her journey toward earning a Master of Education in Art Teacher Education from Central Connecticut State University.

“Documenting Nova Scotia has always been a deeply personal topic, something my mom and I would connect on,” said Marquis Kelly. “She would help me as I first learned to paint; help me come up with ideas for compositions, teach me new painting techniques, and give me feedback. We were always reliving our memories by painting scenes of our favorite place.”

Marquis Kelly’s mother, who battled various illnesses, passed away in 2009. Since then, Marquis Kelly has felt an even stronger connection to Cape Saint Mary, where she has been drawn to capture the area’s beauty.

“When my daughter joined the family in 2022, I felt that same feeling and instinct she must have had – a need to pass on our home to the next generation and really appreciate the place for how special it is,” said Marquis Kelly. “This project, titled Harboring Memories, has helped me connect with my cherished memories and the person I miss the most.”

Marquis Kelly knew from her freshman year at Northwest Catholic that the arts were her calling, not just a career.

“I loved the immersive feeling I would get when going into art class – the feeling of falling into the rhythm of a painting, the mental break creating would provide,” said Marquis Kelly.

She earned her bachelor of arts in fine/studio arts from Central Connecticut State University in 2011. After graduating, she worked as a studio arts educator at the New Britain Museum of American Art, helping expand the education department in 2013 with the development of a teen portfolio class.

“When I came back to the Northwest campus as a teacher 11 years ago, I knew I wanted to pass that immersive passion on to my students,” said Marquis Kelly.

The opening reception will be held Jan. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Viewing hours for the exhibition will be Jan. 21, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and Jan. 25, from 1 to 3 p.m. All other visits will be by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact [email protected].

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