Seven Huntington Artists at Long Island’s Best Exhibit

Seven Huntington High School student-artists will have pieces on display at the Heckscher Museum of Art’s Long Island’s Best Young Artists exhibition this spring.

Huntington’s Hazel Carranza Montoya, Cadence Dondero, Bella Duke, Anya Goleski, Jay Hoff Isabell, Emma Mortensen and Carolina E. Ramos Saravia are among the top Long Island artists whose work will be displayed at the exhibit, which is now in its 30th year. The show will run from March 29 through May 3. The formal opening of the exhibition will coincide with the award ceremony on Saturday, March 28 from 12-6 p.m.

This year, 63 public and private schools submitted students’ artwork for jurying. 402 entries were received, and Consulting Curator Meredith A. Brown and guest juror Aaron Feltman, a Huntington High School graduate, selected 84 for display.

With seven artists tapped, Huntington tied for the most students selected per school district with Hicksville High School. “We couldn’t be prouder of our students’ creativity and hard work,” District Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Robert J. Wottawa II said.

“Long Island’s Best has been a hallmark of the Museum’s educational programming for three decades, showcasing the outstanding work of over 2,000 high school students from across Long Island,” according to the Heckscher Museum. “What began as an annual exhibition of outstanding student work has become a lasting tradition; one that recognizes excellence while nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers. Long Island’s Best continues to be the only juried exhibition for Long Island high school students that provides the opportunity to exhibit in a museum. The Heckscher encourages students to think outside the box as they work in a broad range of media, styles, and subjects.”

Participants in the Long Island’s Best initiative choose a work of art in the Heckscher Museum’s collection as the starting point for their own creative process. The teenagers then interpret the respective pieces through their own art. “The quality of the artwork is exceptional and delivers a professional-level show,” exhibit organizers said.

Each of the pieces in the exhibit is accompanied by an artist’s statement, which explains “the thought process and artistic journey from conception to completion,” according to organizers.

“A thumbnail image of the artwork on view in the museum that inspired the student work is also featured.”

The seven Huntington artists are studying with high school art teachers Kasmira Mohanty, Kristin Singer and Ayallah Jeddah.

“Congratulations to our amazing staff for all their hard work in knowing and preparing our students to be the best versions of themselves as people and artists,” Huntington Superintendent Beth McCoy said.

Huntington Class of 2016 member Aaron Feltman ( PAFA, BFA/ RISD,MFA, and current adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz, (https://aaronfeltman.weebly.com/) judged this year’s exhibition.

The Heckscher Museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 12-5 p.m. Admission is free, compliments of a grant from Bank of America.

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 (631) 351-3250 for more information.