Huntington Reaps Top Honors at LI Media Arts Shows
Huntington High School art students demonstrated their collective prowess by capturing 15 “Best in Show” awards at last week’s Long Island Media Arts show at Five Towns College in Dix Hills.
The awesome performance was nothing short of breathtaking considering the competition attracted 500 entries from 29 high schools. The Huntington students are enrolled in courses taught by Pam Piffard (photography), Heather Swan (video and animation) and Kasmira Mohanty (computer graphics).
“Congratulations to our talented media arts students and their innovative teachers,” said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. Huntington School Board member Christine Bene and PTA President Anne Connell were also in attendance at the prestigious show.
In the photography category, Huntington High School students collected an almost astonishing 10 Best in Show awards, including two each by Eva Prior, Rebecca Lader and Cody Jacobs, respectively. Ben Kitzen, E.J. Connell, Tyler Moore and Dante Corrocher also earned top honors.
Huntington’s graphic artists shined, too, as Louie Contino, James Okula and Eric Guardado walked off with Best in Show honors.
Not to be left behind were Huntington’s budding filmmakers. In the competition’s video and animation category, Jesse Sheridan won a Best in Show award for his outstanding film as did members of a class rotoscope project. The group included Marc Acevedo, Ryan Ackerman, Peter Beach, Andy Bene, Tom Corrao, Jake Goldsztejn, John Gonzalez, David Lillienstein, Annie Lodge, Mike Marchetta, Tyler Robbins and Matt Rubin.
More than one judge commented that the Huntington students’ artwork was “blowing everyone else’s out of the water.” Several judges remarked that some of the Huntington entries were of college level quality.
Many of the Huntington teenagers received individual praise from the event’s judges. “I love your use of lighting and color,” one judge wrote about Ms. Prior’s work. Mr. Kitzen was told, “You have a great sense of composition and your subject matter is very interesting.”
One judge told Mr. Connell, “You have an excellent sense of movement in your photos.” Ms. Lader’s work sparkled, as usual. A judge wrote that the Huntington student’s photos reminded her of ones taken on America’s Next Top Model.
Mr. Sheridan’s video was a smash hit. A judge told him: “You have real talent and should consider a career in advertising and commercials.” A Five Towns College official said the teenager’s video was the best he saw all day.
The class rotoscope, which was represented at the show by Messrs. Bene, Corrao, Lillienstein and Ackerman, was praised for being a “monumental task” that “was completed with skill, precision” and was “completed seamlessly.”
Many of the event’s judges commented on the professional quality of the Huntington students’ submissions and told the teenagers they had “great teachers.”
Huntington photographers Jenny Dietz and Kelsey Cosgrove, graphic artists David Reiss and Justin LoScalzo and video students David Rosenberg, John Jenne, David Lillienstein (individual and group entries), Sarah Casey and Paul Mazzotta also had well-regarded works on display. Judges told Ms. Cosgrove: “You break the rules in a good way.” Suffice it to say she left the show smiling.
“I am so proud of all my students,” Ms. Piffard said. “When we are recognized for all our hard work at competitions it reinforces the value of the art program at Huntington High School. The competitions allow students to feel proud of their work. Having a total stranger comment on the high quality of their pieces is invaluable.”
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