Long Island's Best Taps Five Huntington Artists
Five exceptional Huntington High School artists have had their work selected for display at the 17th annual Long Island' Best Young Artists exhibit at the Heckscher Museum of Art. The show runs through April 21.
Huntington students Andrea Cerini, Brian McConnell, Julianna Barca, Ben Nikodem and Nina Flores are among a select group of 80 teenagers from Nassau and Suffolk to have their works chosen for display at this year's exhibition. Teachers from more than three dozen Long Island public and private high schools nominated the work of 288 gifted students.
This marks the sixth Long Island's Best Young Artists exhibit after extensive renovations to the 93-year old Heckscher Museum were completed in 2008. Ms. Cerini and Mr. McConnell are students in graphic arts teacher Kasmira Mohanty's class. The three other talented Huntington teenagers either currently are or have been students in teacher Kristin Singer's class.
"I'm so thankful and honored to have been selected, especially as a junior, as the competing students from around the island are definitely very talented," Ms. Barca said. "My piece, a self-portrait, incorporated aspects of Robert Anshutz's piece Portrait of Rebecca Whelan. Finding specific elements in another's work helps you develop further your own style; there are always things you like and dislike, things you connect with or feel no connection to. I took a lot of visual inspiration from Anshutz, but also kept in mind the emotion of the artist and subject."
Ms. Barca will be sitting for the AP Studio Art exam this spring. Her artwork on display at the Heckscher Museum is sure to garner plenty of attention. "I used a lot of different techniques in my piece; pencil drawing, watercolor/gauche, dye and paper cut to get the final result," the teenager said. "Some techniques were completely new to me, others I had learned over years in the Drawing and Painting course track. It took a lot of trial and error, tedious working and encouragement from Ms. Singer to finish it! It was completely worth it. Having a piece shown in a museum gallery is something I believe every artist aspires to accomplish. It's an extremely satisfying and rewarding opportunity that not many can experience. I'm so proud of everyone who got in from our school district. We little artists are mighty!"
Ms. Cerini is equally thrilled to have been selected to display her work. "Growing up in Huntington, I have always loved going to Heckscher Park and the Heckscher Museum of Art," she said. "I feel honored to be a part of this year's exhibition."
Each year museum educators work in partnership with art teachers from participating schools as students find inspiration in artwork on view at the Heckscher Museum during the school year. Students learn to make connections between the museum's artwork and their own experiences and then create an original work of art for submission.
An opening reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, April 6 from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Exhibiting artists, friends, family, teachers and administrators from participating school districts are invited to attend. The awards ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. New this year is a closing celebration and concert on Sunday, April 21 from 3-5 p.m.
According to its website, The Heckscher Museum of Art was founded in 1920 by industrialist August Heckscher. The collection is devoted to 19th and 20th century European and American art. In addition, the Museum owns and maintains the Dove/Torr cottage, the home of famed American artist Arthur Dove and his artist-wife Helen Torr. Visit www.heckscher.org or call 351-3250 for more information.