The Museum gratefully acknowledges our SPONSORS AND PARTNERS PRESENTING SPONSOR The Darrell Fund Endowment
ARTISTIC SPONSOR Strong-Cuevas Foundation
PATRON SPONSORS TD Charitable Foundation, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation RBC Wealth Management, The Laura B. Vogler Foundation EXHIBITION CATALOGUE SPONSOR Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics Thank you to the school districts, administrators, teachers, and most of all the students who have made this year’s exhibition a success. Your unwavering dedication to this annual initiative has made Long Island’s Best one of the most prestigious opportunities for young artists on Long Island.
Prizes and awards generously provided by Christopher Renzo Bianchi and the Bianchi Family Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Awards Frank J. Sposato, Jeffrey Sposato, and Peter F. Cohen Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize Robin T. Hadley Third Place, The Hadley Prize Donors to the 2017 Celebrate Achievement Benefit Celebrate Achievement Best In Show Award The Law Offices of Andrew Presberg Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Awards Christine Machtay Donald and Gloria Horn Scholarship Award and Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Huntington Fine Arts Joseph Mack Achievement Awards and Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mentions The thalo.com Artist Community Grumbacher Visitors Choice Award Vanessa Caldas-Martin, Michelle Donnelly and Caitlin Suarez Stepping Stone Award
Additional Thank Yous Jurors: Lisa Chalif, Curator, The Heckscher Museum of Art, and Artist Robyn Cooper Christopher Belletti, Long Island's Best Documentary Filmmaker Andreas Rentsch, Exhibition Catalogue Photographer Mitchells for supporting the next generation of Long Island artists. Select works of art from Long Island's Best 2019 will be on view May 21 through June 23 in Mitchells' store windows, 270 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743. The Heckscher Museum of Art receives generous support from the Town of Huntington.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION Now in its 23rd year, Long Island’s Best is a hallmark of the Museum’s educational programming. This initiative is the only juried exhibition for Long Island high school students that provides the opportunity to exhibit in a museum. The Heckscher Museum encourages students to think outside the box as they work in a broad range of media, styles, and subjects. Students are challenged to select artwork on view in the Museum as the inspiration for their own work, making creative connections with the generations who have come before them. This year, 57 public and private schools submitted students’ artwork for jurying. 359 entries were received and Curator Lisa Chalif and guest juror, artist Robyn Cooper selected 80 pieces for display in the galleries.
ARTIST STATEMENTS The Museum recognizes that in order to succeed, students must learn how to effectively write and speak about their artwork. Each student has written an artist statement describing their inspiration and artistic process. An image of the Inspiration Artwork is provided to deepen visual connections.
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics, all exhibiting students and their teachers will receive this Long Island's Best 2019 exhibition catalogue, featuring images of all works in the exhibition, artist statements, and Inspiration Artwork.
DIGITAL DISPLAY In recognition of all participating students that were not selected for exhibition, the Museum is happy to have a digital display that enables us to highlight 125 submitted works of art! Above (top to bottom): Jurors Robyn Cooper (left) and Lisa Chalif, Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics (left) and Joy Weiner, Heckscher Museum Director of Education & Public Programs, at the 2019 Long Island’s Best Opening Reception. On the cover: Grace Connors, Grace and Sammy, Acrylic, oil pastel, and fabric on masonite. Division Avenue High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan.
VISITING THE MUSEUM Students found inspiration in artwork on view in the Museum during the 2018-2019 school year. Through close observation and discussion, students learned to make connections between artwork on view and their own experiences.
INSPIRATION ARTWORK Each young artist selected a work of art in one of the following exhibitions to inspire their original work of art for Long Island’s Best. An image of this Inspiration Artwork is provided with the Artist Statement to deepen visual connections.
Long Island Biennial 2018 With a record-breaking number of entries from artists living in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, this juried exhibition featured 51 works of art in a broad range of styles, techniques, and subject matter.
The Tile Club
Nicholas Alberti, Wired #7, 2017 [detail], Acrylic on canvas. Lent by the Artist.
Organized by the Chazen Museum of Art, The Tile Club featured tiles, drawings, sculpture, and prints documenting the life and times of this 19th-century artist society. The group met weekly to discuss art and paint ceramic tiles and also took trips to Long Island and up the Hudson River.
Rivera and Beyond This exhibition featured Latin American art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection, including masterworks by Fernando Botero, Roberto Matta, Diego Rivera, Francisco Zuniga, and more!
The Heckscher Collects Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Bazurto, 1991 [detail], Oil on canvas. Collection of Joan & Milton Bagley.
Students were among the first to see the most recent additions to the Museum's ever-growing Permanent Collection! This exhibition featured many never-before-seen works of art and presented a lively range of paintings, prints, and photography.
Surface Tension
Ellen Carey, Dings & Shadows, 2013 [detail], Color Photogram (EC200). Gift of the Artist.
This Permanant Collection exhibition encompassed early modernist works influenced by Cubism through the age of Abstract Expressionism. It explored the many ways artists of the 20th Century embraced, challenged, and ultimately redefined the concepts of space and surface in art.
CONGRATULATIONS LONG ISLAND’S Kaitlyn Abtey, Hauppauge HS* Cecilia Acosta, Our Lady of Mercy Academy* Jonah Anastos, Huntington HS* - Achievement Award in Digital Art Aqsa Ansari, Hicksville HS Lilyana Barling, Harborfields HS Hailey Barshak, Long Beach HS* Grace Bayer, Wellington C. Mepham HS Nina Bennardo, Harborfields HS - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Jeanna Boltz, Half Hollow Hills HS East Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award Milagros Buschfrers, North Shore HS Gianna Campanaro, East Rockaway HS Kaylie Carey, Brentwood HS Alexandria Casella, Oceanside HS Melanie Cerrato, Uniondale HS Ziqian Chen, Syosset HS Alexander Chin, Half Hollow Hills HS West Honorable Mention / Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Grace Connors, Division Avenue HS* - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Mackenzie Damon, Sayville HS* - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Julie Debrosse, Elmont Memorial HS Nicholas DeSimone, Sachem HS North Sophia DiGiovanni, Centereach HS* Bryan Dilone, Long Beach HS* Kristina Dolan, Patchogue-Medford HS Nadia Ernest, Valley Stream Central HS Anjolie Falbo, West Islip HS Rachel Ferrara, Northport HS Frank Festa, W. T. Clarke HS* Caitlin Fracasso, Our Lady of Mercy Academy* Emily Fuchs, Division Avenue HS - Honorable Mention Xiuya Gang, Cold Spring Harbor HS* Rebecca Geiger, Syosset HS Courtney Gerard, Bellport HS - Donald & Gloria Horn Scholarship Award Ciara Gonzalez, Brentwood HS - Honorable Mention Elizabeth Gordin, Half Hollow Hills HS East* Julianna Goyzueta, W. T. Clarke HS* - Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Fernando Gutierrez, Brentwood HS Emma Hargraves, Patchogue-Medford HS* Kaitlyn Herlihy, John F. Kennedy HS* Honorable Mention / Joseph Mack Achievement Award Elissa Heydemann, Oceanside HS* Gianna Jaronczyk, Wellington C. Mepham HS - Honorable Mention Anna Laimo, Half Hollow Hills HS East* Nyah Laurent, Valley Stream Central HS - Honorable Mention
BEST 2019 EXHIBITING ARTISTS! Vivienne LaVertu, Huntington HS - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Zoe Lennea-Toedter, Bay Shore HS Charles Mandell, Long Beach HS* Reiko Matrisciano, Our Lady of Mercy Academy Gavin Mazzola, Harborfields HS* - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Andrew McKenzie, Huntington HS Achievement Award in Ceramics / Stepping Stone Award Meghan Monahan, Iris Wolfson HS FOURTH PLACE PRIZE / Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Christopher J. Morales Mendez, Riverhead HS* Christina Mui, Valley Stream Central HS - Celebrate Achievement BEST IN SHOW Lily Newman, Miller Place HS - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award James Norton, St. Anthony's HS Eloni Peralta, Elmont Memorial HS* - Achievement Award in Photography Amanda Piecora, Miller Place HS Kenya Pinos, Valley Stream North HS* Morgan Polete, Long Beach HS* Jhana Prue, Long Beach HS Taylor Rampulla, East Rockaway HS Stephanie Renna, Smithtown Christian School* SECOND PLACE, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize Abraham Rodriguez, Huntington HS Manuella Romero, Manhasset HS* THIRD PLACE, The Hadley Prize / Joseph Mack Achievement Award Karina Sandoval, Elmont Memorial HS* - Achievement Award in Interpretation Arianna Schaden, South Side HS Jacob Siegelbaum, Centereach HS Maria Slavnova, Bellport HS* - Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award Alexa Splendorio, Huntington HS - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Lisa Steinberg, General Douglas MacArthur HS Lillian Su, Half Hollow Hills HS West - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Carol Sung, New Hyde Park Memorial HS Matthew Tepper, Oyster Bay HS* Gury Umanzor, Bellport HS* - Cozza Family Photography Award Gianna Valente, John F. Kennedy HS - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Anna Vig, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK HS* Angelina Vincenzi, Smithtown HS West Tamar Yaari, Northport HS - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Muhtady Zaman, Hicksville HS - Joseph Mack Achievement Award Vicky Zhang, Division Avenue HS - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Katie Zimmermann, Newfield HS Albert Zinser, West Babylon HS* *Works of art selected to be on view May 21 through June 23, 2019 in Mitchells’ store windows, 270 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
Kaitlyn Abtey, Kalos Dew, Digital photograph Hauppauge High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Patricia DiMasi-Coppola I was inspired by Marc Josloff’s Geraniums on Window Sill. His dramatic lighting and bold color choice intrigued me. In response, I decided to take a different spin on a similar subject using digital photography. I sought to explore bold colors, textures, and shapes, so I chose a subject that had a distinctive shape. I wanted the colors to resemble that of a kaleidoscope, jarring reds complemented by subtle greens and blues. Succulents have plenty of interesting colors so it was a matter of capturing them at the right angle and in the proper lighting.
Inspiration artwork: Marc Josloff, Geraniums on Window Sill, 2017, Latex on canvas From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Cecilia Acosta
Concept to Completion Applied fashion design Our Lady of Mercy Academy Grade: 11 Art Teacher: Jody Spadaro Stanley William Hayter’s Tropic of Cancer served as my inspiration. I was drawn to the energy of Hayter’s abstract print and his use of black and white. As a fashion design student, I was inspired to design a motif to be incorporated as a pattern on fabric. As I was working on my design, I tried to step inside Hayter’s mind and make random lines and be loose with my movement. I used a combination of mediums to achieve this effect. After I designed the pattern, it was manufactured into an all-over print textile. Finally, I used the fabric to sew my original design of a mid-length satin skirt and matching scarf bodice. I believe this fully demonstrates the process of Concept to Completion.
Inspiration artwork: Stanley William Hayter, Tropic of Cancer, 1949, Engraving, deep bite etching, soft ground etching, roulette, gauffrage (embossing); Trial proof From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Jonah Anastos, 4², Digital art Huntington High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
4² was inspired by Esphyr Slobodkina’s Vortex #2. I was drawn to the complexity of the painting and the artist’s use of color, shape, and line to create a sense of dimension. The many different shapes combine together in harmony and balance. I used this as a starting point for my own work, which is divided into a series of small squares. When creating the composition, I paid close attention to both the variations and similarities between each section. I want the viewer to be able to appreciate each individual square as a singular work of art, but also view the piece as a collective whole. My intent is to appreciate how one box of color, line, or shape relates to the pieces around it. This creates a sense of controlled chaos and areas of push and pull. Achievement Award in Digital Art
Inspiration artwork: Esphyr Slobodkina, Vortex #2, 1991, Oil on masonite From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Aqsa Ansari, Movement, Oil on canvas Hicksville High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas The distortion of the figure, along with the washed-out blues and flesh tones in Klinger-Cooley’s artwork caught my attention as soon as I saw it. The patterns and designs created by the movement of materials inspired me to use water and reflection as a way to create an intricate design. The realistic style of Klinger-Cooley’s figure and how it is seemingly decaying away, further inspired me to capture the realism of a figure whose reflection is altered by the water. In my painting, the movement of the water shows many fragments and reflections created by the figure. The distortion of her shirt creates an abstract pattern that one could almost get lost in.
Inspiration artwork: Anthony Klinger-Cooley, Incubation, 2018 Colored pencil, watercolor From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Lilyana Barling, Textured Obstacle, Digital photograph Harborfields High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Eileen Rottkamp I was inspired by James Siena’s Tanagra. At first, I was intrigued by this print’s warm-toned colors and ambiguous shapes, but also found Siena’s artwork to be confusing. My eyes didn’t know whether to follow the jagged lines or the colorful patterns. After viewing this artwork at the Museum, I was inspired to take a photograph of a texturized, bright and colorful wall that gave me the same feeling as when I first saw Siena’s piece. The patterns of colors and ambiguous lines on the wall created what appeared to be abstract figures. I feel that both Siena’s work and my photograph are a metaphor for my life; I have encountered many confusing walls and obstacles as I look towards the future, along with many tough decisions I need to make. Though these walls may be initially confusing, once the decision, or the artwork, is made, the whole picture comes together to be something truly beautiful.
Inspiration artwork: James Siena, Tanagra, 2006, Lithograph in 9 colors on Arches cover white hand-torn paper From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Hailey Barshak, Sunset Daydream, Digital photograph Long Beach High School, Grade: 9, Art Teacher: Sue Presberg I was inspired by Rachelle Krieger’s Rocks and Rays 13 to create this photograph of a sunset. The swirls at the top of her painting reminded me of clouds, and the strong warm-colored horizontal lines made me think of a shining sun. Living in a beach community greatly influences my work and the white strokes toward the bottom of Krieger’s painting reminded me of white foam on the water. My final photograph embodies nature and how it has the ability to fully capture one’s attention.
Inspiration artwork: Rachelle Krieger, Rocks and Rays 13, 2016 Acrylic and flashe on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Grace Bayer, El Corazón, Ink Wellington C. Mepham High School Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Christine Stevens
El Dorado by Alexis Duque caught my eye as soon as I walked into the Rivera and Beyond exhibition, so I immediately felt inclined to use that newfound inspiration to create my own piece. The canvas was just so complete — full of crowded, yet empty detail; closed off, but still interconnected. A desolate home means a desolate heart. The steam-powered heart featured in my piece is a reaction to El Dorado. I asked myself how someone would feel to see the tragedy that befell their home, even if they had moved on. You can never truly forget such tender memories. The pressure gauges of the heart have been broken by the pressure. The damage is done, destruction has already taken its toll. Still, there is something about the intricacy of pain that is alluring. I wanted the pipes in El Corazón to mimic both the amount of detail that Duque put forth and also show how the sections of the heart are interconnected. My primary goal in creating El Corazón was not simply to imitate El Dorado visually. I feel like my main source of inspiration was the emotion that I felt when I looked at El Dorado: the silent terror I would feel standing before beautiful desolation.
Inspiration artwork: Alexis Duque, El Dorado, 2010, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Nina Bennardo, Cradle, Colored pencil Harborfields High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Eileen Rottkamp In a society where we make connections by invisible telephone wires, one can feel lonely in a world full of people. I was inspired by this concept as seen in Antonio’s Seguí’s painting Antes Supieron Comunicar. I feel that this work shows the individuality of each citizen through a fleeting, chaotic moment in time. The figures appear to be struggling with their own internal dilemmas, worrying about their motivations and destinations and stuck in their own minds. The painting’s fast-paced, repetitive motion and its themes of connection and disconnection made me think of the children’s game Cat’s Cradle. In this game, knots and loops repeat, quickly flipping and twisting around one’s fingers. For a moment in time, two people are connected both figuratively and literally. The game can be played alone as well as with a partner, representing the internal struggles that each person faces. I love the symbolism of a game of Cat’s Cradle; it literally ties us together.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Antonio Seguí, Antes Supieron Comunicar, 2013, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Jeanna Boltz, Life’s Journey, Colored pencil Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade: 9, Art Teacher: Tania Godoy As I looked through the museum, I was drawn to the oil painting Madre y Niño by Alfredo Ramos Martínez that depicts the relationship between a mother and child. Even though the face of the parent is hidden, the artist conveys a strong sense of emotion as she embraces her child. I was immediately reminded of my own life story as a child with my birth mother, in the highly disciplined country of South Korea. Being an adopted child, I always imagined my biological mother’s features and personality, as well as the grief, despair, and embarrassment she must have felt as an unwed mother who had to surrender her child for adoption. My portrait represents myself as an infant with the director of the adoption center, the only connection to my mother. The hands in the background are depicted in black and white to convey the sadness that comes with letting go. The transition to color portrays the hope that comes with latching onto a new life - a life that has taught me not to dwell on the past, but to focus on the positive and make every day count. Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Inspiration artwork: Alfredo Ramos Martínez, Madre y Niño, 1930, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Milagros Buschfrers, Días Perdidos, Tesoros Escondidos,Acrylic on canvas North Shore High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Sara Black-Cano From Colombia to New York, the structures that surrounded artist Alexis Duque inspired him for his highly-detailed architectural painting El Dorado. The artist’s inspiration for this painting was the fabled City of Gold, the mythical golden empire hidden in South America. I was fascinated by this piece as a technical painter and as the descendant of a South American immigrant. My dad is Argentinian, so I chose the historic Santa Catalina monastery in the heart of Buenos Aires as the subject of my artwork. My dad is also an architect, so by emulating both his and Duque’s attention to detail, I captured the elaborate aspects of the structure. Like Duque, I took inspiration from the City of Gold, but I wanted to celebrate its beauty. I used gold paint to add details to my painting, including the archway, cross, and leaves on the trees. I had the opportunity this past summer to return to Argentina and stay with my family. I was extremely unsure of myself at the start of my trip, feeling lost in a different language and a sea of vaguely familiar faces. During my trip, however, I grew closer to my family and I learned so much. The title of my artwork translates to “Lost Days, Hidden Treasures,” which embodies the spirit and identity I gained through my return to Argentina and the creation of this artwork.
Inspiration artwork: Alexis Duque, El Dorado, 2010, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Gianna Campanaro, Twins, Colored pencil East Rockaway High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Kelly Cabasso As an artist, I wanted to incorporate the struggles I’ve faced with my health during my life. When I first came into this world, I was born three months early, weighing only two pounds, with major heart defects. However, I wasn’t the only one. My identical twin sister Eva Marie, also suffered. Sadly, her condition was worse than mine, and she passed away only a few weeks after we were born. The doctors didn’t believe I would make it, but I proved them wrong. When I was five years old, I had open heart surgery to correct a hole in my heart. The surgery was a success. Today, I stand as a healthy teenager, who can do anything I dream of. Incubation inspired me to create my own work, Twins. In Cooley’s artist statement, he mentions that incubation can be regarded as life generating in the womb. This has a direct correlation to my piece, as it recognizes the limited time I spent in the womb with my twin sister. For my reference photo, I had an open-box display case, that held a mirror on one of its sides. A classmate climbed into the display and sat in a fetal position, I dressed a long electrical cable around her and the display, which represented the womb, to showcase the umbilical cord. I then edited the photo on Photoshop, to create my color palette, inspired by a three-dimensional ultrasound, with my Prismacolor colored pencils.
Inspiration artwork: Anthony Klinger-Cooley, Incubation, 2018, Colored pencil, watercolor From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Kaylie Carey, Passage to Nowhere, Digital photograph Brentwood High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Kristin Grossi Bill Armstrong’s Untitled (Film Noir #1473) portrays an out of focus figure against a colorful background and gives a feeling of isolation, alienation, and loneliness. After viewing many of his Armstrong’s works, I saw a pattern and found his artwork to be very intriguing. I love photographs that display dark themes, and after viewing his work, I felt a major connection between his piece and my own artmaking. I photographed my friend walking down a hallway in an abandoned building at the Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital. It seemed as if he was walking through an endless hallway with multiple paths to take. I felt that this captured a similar theme of isolation and loneliness as the original.
Inspiration artwork: Bill Armstrong, Untitled (Film Noir #1437), 2012, Type-C print From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Alexandria Casella, The Gap, Pen Oceanside High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Danielle Casquerelli Peter Dicke’s photograph Hope inspired me to create a pen and ink drawing called The Gap. The building in the photograph appears to have architectural texture. I chose to use pen to try and emulate the textured surface. I interpreted the American flag and the photograph’s title as the hope to close the gap between the poor and the wealthy - an ongoing problem in America, where the rich seem to get richer while the poor get poorer. Our country is challenged trying to close this gap in society.
Inspiration artwork: Peter Dicke, Hope, 2018, Photograph From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Melanie Cerrato, Abstracted Urban Spaces, Watercolor Uniondale High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Dalva Yaron
The Review, by Julio Larraz, reminded me of my own Honduran ancestry. I returned from a trip to Comayagua, Honduras a few months ago and looking at Larraz’s artwork made me think back to the nature, animals, and people I encountered while there. My illustration depicts a moment in everyday life from my visit. I used my own photograph as a reference. My painting is open to interpretation, asking the viewer, where is the chicken heading?
Inspiration artwork: Julio Larraz, The Review, 1988, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond: Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Ziqian Chen, New York City Overview, Pen and charcoal Syosset High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Chrysoula Highland As a student who has a passion for architecture, I was immediately drawn to Raymond Germann’s digital photograph, Whitney Museum. Germann’s black and white print uses contrast to emphasize the structure of the building. Inspired by this, I went to the Whitney Museum. Walking down from the top of the exterior stairs of the museum, I was amazed by the overview of New York City. With this image in mind, I created a black and white drawing using pen and charcoal. I used pen because I wanted to show a clear view of the buildings; I also worked with charcoal to emphasize the bold view of the city.
Inspiration artwork: Raymond Germann, Whitney Museum, 2016 Digital photograph From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Alexander Chin, The Game Among Intelligence IronCAD chessboard, 3-D printed chess pieces Half Hollow Hills High School West, Grade: 12 Art Teacher: Jessica Donaldson When looking at Antonio Segui’s work, Antes Supieron Comunicar; I saw a game being played as the people chaotically navigated around buildings. I decided to relate this to a game of chess for a number of reasons. Each figure in the painting has a set objective, much like a chess piece. As I continued to analyze this work of art, I also noticed that the people are depicted twodimensionally, while the building structures are more three-dimensional. In a way, this is also comprable to a chessboard, where the board is twodimensional and the pieces are three-dimensional. Finally, the title Antes Supieron Comunicar translates to “Before they knew how to communicate.” This is comparable to a game of chess in that two people can speak totally different languages, yet the game can still be played fluently. For my artwork, I created an engraved wooden chessboard and pieces with a city theme. I designed the pieces using IronCAD and then printed them with a 3-D printer. Honorable Mention
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Antonio Segui, Antes Supieron Comunicar, 2013, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Grace Connors, Grace and Sammy Acrylic, oil pastel, and fabric on masonite Division Avenue High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan Upon entering the Rivera and Beyond exhibit, I was immediately drawn to the vibrant style and unusual texture of Alfredo Sosabravo’s work, specifically Personaje con Pescado. Although there was no description of the meaning behind this piece, I interpreted it as the fish being on the person’s mind both literally and figuratively. Amused by Sosabravo’s style, I replicated his application while mimicking some of his subject matter in a reflection of myself. Instead of a fish, I substituted my dog, Sammy, onto my head, as when I’m with him my world becomes brighter. The experimental style and familiar subjects made this piece a very enjoyable process to complete. Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Alfredo Sosabravo, Personaje con Pescado, 2004 Oil and collage on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Mackenzie Damon, Sun Bleached, Digital photograph Sayville High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Evan Hammer As a small girl from an even smaller town, the prospect of exploring Europe and gazing upon the Hohensalzburg Fortress on top of a mountain in Salzburg was spectacular. In my exploration, I came upon a window that caused me to pause, as my friends continued on as if nothing were new. I grew captivated by the contrast between the dark grained wood pulling me into the landscape beyond the blurred, sunbleached glass. The view was almost surreal; the history and antiquity displayed in this scene was captivating beyond imagination. My photo and Humberto Calzada’s Times of Unease share a common sense of space. This view gave me the frame through which to see the world; now, I find myself inspired to explore all that I can, and even though that window was sunbleached, it was clear that this moment was life-changing. Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Humberto Calzada, Times of Unease, 1994, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Julie Debrosse, My Hood, Digital photograph Elmont Memorial High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Stella Grenier When I walked into the exhibition The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions, I was immediately drawn to Two Men in Subway. It spoke to me in the sense of how simple yet complex it was in its detail. I wanted to modernize the photo, and show how my generation dresses. During my photography process, I had each of my subjects placed side by side and had one of them cross their arms, while the other hung their hands loosely. From there, I added a double exposure of my neighborhood. It symbolizes my community and how my surroundings look through my eyes. I wanted the photo to represent how as a teen and a minority, my community shines through my identity and artwork. Being a part of something larger than myself has molded me into the person I am and will be in the future. I tried to convey this message through color and high contrast.
Inspiration artwork: N. Jay Jaffee, Two Men in Subway, NYC, 1952 (printed 1997) Selenium-toned silver gelatin print From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Nicholas DeSimone, Wake of the Goose, Digital art Sachem High School North, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Kara Tolmie The inspiration for my piece came from Richard Anuskiewicz’s Temple of Ochre. I appreciated his use of space and how the lines gave the illusion of movement and depth. Later that day, I was eating near the pond outside the museum and I noticed a goose in the water. As I watched the goose, I couldn’t help but to be amazed by how similar the ripple movement of the bird on the water was to the concentric lines I had just seen in Richard Anuskiewicz’s Temple of Ochre inside the museum.
Inspiration artwork: Richard Anuskiewicz, Temple of Ochre, 1982 Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Sophia DiGiovanni, Blur, Digital photograph Centereach High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Monica Holland While looking at artwork in The Heckscher Museum of Art, Flicker by Robert Richenburg inspired me. While looking at the painting, I instantly thought of lights and abstract art. This inspired me to try and use Richenburg’s work to create my own work of art. Being a photographer, I decided to create a Bokeh image using Christmas lights. To create this effect, I put the settings of my camera at a low f-stop and ISO. I made sure that the brighter colors were more noticeable in the foreground of the picture and the muted colors faded into the background. The irregular placement of the colorful dots adds movement so the viewer’s eyes are constantly moving around the picture.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Richenburg, Flicker, 1949, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Bryan Dilone, Fall Leaves, Digital photograph Long Beach High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Sue Presberg The abstract shapes in James Siena’s print Tanagra inspired me to capture an autumn scene. The leaves fill the composition of my photograph, vibrant colored ones contrasting greatly against those that have dried out. I feel that my image can be viewed as symoblic of society. Most people are not so different from one another, but there can always be one person that stands out from the rest, represented by the singular red leaf. Today, difference is valued.
Inspiration artwork: James Siena, Tanagra, 2006, Lithograph in 9 colors on Arches cover white hand-torn paper From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Kristina Dolan, Geo Girl, Digital photograph Patchogue-Medford High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Amy Cunningham I was inspired by Elaine de Kooning’s use of a limited color palette and simple shapes. I appreciate how de Kooning played with the negative space between abstract shapes and what appear to be “holes” in her background. For my artwork, I cut cardboard and paper shapes, layering and arranging them to create a unique design. I repeated three colors and three different shapes, with gaps left in between them to expose a model hidden behind.
Inspiration artwork: Elaine de Kooning, Black Mountain #6, 1948 Enamel on paper mounted on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Nadia Ernest, Undertow, Colored pencil Valley Stream Central High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Mario Bakalov Alisa Shea’s watercolor Tired of Winning struck me first because of its beautifully detailed painting. On first glance I thought it was a photograph. Upon further inspection, I marveled at the ability and workmanship. I didn’t even see the underlying meaning of the piece until I read the artist’s statement. This struck me viscerally, especially with the controversial border wall impeding our government and Trump’s documented misogyny. Tired of Winning inspired me to make a political piece about the wave of women of color that are speaking out against injustice. This piece represents America, and hopefully the will of the people during the next election cycle, a tide against what America could potentially become under the current administration of Donald J. Trump, a country without the vibrant cultures that make up this nation. My hope with this piece is to show the fight and power of both diversity and women. America, the melting pot of all nations, would not be what it is today without diversity. I hope it can inspire women of color to have a voice and speak out against inequality and injustice in politics. Unlike Shea, I am not tired or fatigued with the current state of the government. In fact, I am just getting started.
Inspiration artwork: Alisa Shea, Tired of Winning, 2018, Watercolor on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Anjolie Falbo, Underground, Colored pencil West Islip High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Annette Musteric
One of the things I loved about Optimo by Michael Lenson, was that it is filled with so much meticulous detail that it is impossible to see everything with a passing glance. I’m no exception to this, and because I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses, I also managed to see things that weren’t actually there. Amongst other things, I managed to see a half-man, half-rat creature. Thus, I was inspired by the painting to create something of my own using the creature I had seen. The artist’s paintings are often inspired by societal issues so I decided to touch upon them as well. Therefore, it only seemed natural to put the creature into a polluted environment that matched the theme. I was also influenced by the colors: blurs of vibrant cool colors contrasted to rustic dark ones; I knew I wanted to use them to enhance the viewer’s feeling of my artwork.
Inspiration artwork: Michael Lenson, Optimo, c. 1960s, Acrylic on Masonite From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Rachel Ferrara, The Opposite of War, Acrylic on canvas Northport High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Anthony Klinger-Cooley I found inspiration in Alexis Duque’s El Dorado, which translates to “City of Gold.” The painting ironically depicts a broken-down, over-crowded building. In my artwork, I chose to portray a person painting, while the area around him is meant to feel dangerous and war-like. The painting beside him acts like a beacon of light, clearing the dark storm clouds. The subject’s expression is defiant and impassive, as though the act of creating protects him from the surrounding danger.
Inspiration artwork: Alexis Duque, El Dorado, 2010, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond: Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Frank Festa, Bingo, Colored pencil W.T. Clarke High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Jane Pawlowski The piece that inspired me was Flicker created by Robert Richenburg. The artist captured more vibrant colors in the foreground than the background. This technique was what initially drew me to the piece. As I looked at it closer, I was instantly reminded of a bingo board. I decided to incorporate vibrant colors to represent the pieces in the game and allow the background to take on the shape and feeling of the board.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Richenburg, Flicker, 1949, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Caitlin Fracasso, Raven Family, Ink Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Jody Spadaro Agustín Cardenas’ sculpture, La Familia, interested me because of its abstract depiction of a family using basic shapes and forms. I feel that the lack of detail in the sculpture creates a sense of mystery. The family members seem to be protecting and supporting one another from harm’s way. I decided to interpret this idea as a family of ravens in my own drawing. Although ravens may often be perceived as a symbol of death and misfortune, they are fiercely protective of their flock. When under attack, they shield themselves from a predator by grouping together to protect their kin. Similar to Cardenas’ portrayal of a family, the group of ravens in my work expresses mystery as well as protection and family connection.
Inspiration artwork: Agustín Cardenas, La Familia, 1991, Bronze From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Emily Fuchs, Fantastical Escape, Oil on canvas Division Avenue High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan I was inspired by Vicente Hernández’s Abur! Señores y hasta la vista and the images of escapism that it presents. In particular, the dramatic, luminous sky caught my attention as it immediately provoked a sense of hope and transcendence in me. Under the stress of my everyday life and pursuit for success, I too find a need for an escape. As opposed to the dirigible depicted in Hernández’s painting, I used meditation to represent my release from the schoolwork-induced stress that many high school students like me experience. Just as the people in Hernández’s painting are leaving their previous world behind in search of a better life, there are times in my life when I would like to escape my own world, pull myself up from the stress that chains me down, and transcend. Honorable Mention Inspiration artwork: Vicente Hernández, Abur! Señores y hasta la vista, 2003 Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Xiuya Gang, (Concrete Forest), Digital photograph Cold Spring Harbor High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Laura Cirino Visiting the Museum, I was inspired by both Dings & Shadows by Ellen Carey and Brooklyn Bridge and Freedom Tower by Joe Constantino. Ellen Carey captures spectrums of light and creates an abstract image using vibrant hues, while Joe Constantino is best known for his black and white photography. In his work, Brooklyn Bridge and Freedom Tower, he uses light, contrast, and geometry in an urban setting to capture a dreamlike landscape. When I was in Hong Kong during Christmas, I was inspired by the city’s architecture and it reminded me of Constantino’s photography. I took out my camera and captured the view outside my bedroom window. It caught my attention because the view in Hong Kong is very special. The buildings create an interesting visual effect and form a geometric pattern because they are extremely close to one another. The density of the urban landscape made me feel like I was living in a forest of buildings. I believe the spectrum of light adds more to the dreamlike feeling and creates an abstract tone just like Ellen Carey and Joe Constantino’s works.
Inspiration artwork: Ellen Carey, Dings & Shadows, 2013, Color photogram (EC200) Joe Constantino, Brooklyn Bridge and Freedom Tower, 2016, Solarized digital print From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Rebecca Geiger, Justice, Oil on canvas Syosset High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Chrysoula Highland I was inspired by the painting Nemesis by Guillermo Meza and its mysterious aura. Meza uses an untraditional depiction of the winged Greek Goddess of justice, Nemesis. I found the piece to be somewhat spiritual: the halolike forms behind her head reminded me of a portrait of the Madonna. I, too, aimed to depict Nemesis in a different light, while keeping true to the religious atmosphere surrounding Meza’s work. I decided to take another stance on justice – one in which Justice is not blind, but all-seeing and allknowing and with many eyes.
Inspiration artwork: Guillermo Meza, Nemesis, 1982, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Courtney Gerard, Yellowstone Digital photograph printed on vellum, gold leafing Bellport High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Suzette Fandale Beth Atkinson’s Buttermilk Falls immediately reminded me of a photograph I took on a recent vacation to Yellowstone National Park. Beth Atkinson’s artwork is focused on nature, which inspired me to create a piece that captures nature’s beauty. I applied gold leafing to my work to enhance the natural tones of the image. Atkinson’s artwork and my photograph are similar in that we both emphasized the movement of water. Overall, the serenity and beauty in my image allowed me to form a deeper connection to nature and the piece itself. Donald & Gloria Horn Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Beth Atkinson, Buttermilk Falls, 2017, Woodcut on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Ciara Gonzalez, Window Pane Mixed media (found objects, wood, glass, wire, paint, plaster, and paper) Brentwood High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Nicholas Groudas I was fascinated by Christopher Lauto’s Throne Room. What drew my attention to this piece was the carpet, particularly the large design at the center of it. I was inspired by the pattern within the carpet with its various circles, arches, and colors. I admired his use of pattern and wanted to emulate it in an abstract way. My piece incorporates different patterns throughout, along with bits of inspiration from Throne Room. My work is a mixed media sculpture involving found objects, plaster, paper, glass, wood, paint, and wire. Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Christopher Lauto, Throne Room, 2018 Linoleum print with digital color From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Elizabeth Gordin, Good For The Sole, Digital photograph Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Allyson Uttendorfer After viewing Ellen Carey’s Dings & Shadows, I was inspired to use the darkroom as a backdrop for a photoshoot. The artist used a similar technique to one I experienced during my years as a photography student: the photogram. This is a process in which objects are placed onto light sensitive paper and exposed, capturing layers of opacity and the contours of the items. For my artwork, I used a contact proofer, a vital tool when creating a darkroom print. This glass surface allowed me to create a reflection of my friend’s shoes. Similar to Carey, I integrated rich saturated colors and textures with the use of a single light source shining through colored glass jars. My subject was seated on the darkroom floor and her white shoes created the canvas on which the light refracted. Subtle shadows add pattern to the soles of the shoes. The subject appears on both sides of a border, between a world right-side up and a world where everything feels upside down.
Inspiration artwork: Ellen Carey, Dings & Shadows, 2013, Color photogram From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Julianna Goyzueta, Tunnel Vision, Digital photograph W.T. Clarke High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Jane Pawlowski My favorite piece of artwork was Times of Unease by Humberto Calzada. I wanted my piece to capture the depth in the painting that initially captivated me. The longer I stare at the painting, the further my eye gazes. What I found most intriguing was the horizon line. Once I see past the last doorway, I don’t know what lies ahead. In my photograph, my gaze works in a similar way. My eyes follow the walkway as it extends into the water. Once the path ends, my gaze follows the same direction - past the marshes and trees, between the two mountains, and into the distance. Like Calzada’s painting, I can clearly see what is up close, but I can’t see what lies further in the distance. Although the idea seems very cliché, it holds significant meaning to me. There are moments when my mind is overwhelmed with negative thoughts. When trapped in that headspace, I lose the ability to see all the good things I have or may have in the future. Instead, I remain focused on negativity and nothing else. Although we cannot always see what lies ahead, we should keep going and living our lives in order to find out. The beauty in life is the fact that we never know what the future holds. Just because I can’t physically see what lies ahead doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t wait to find out what the future has in store for me.
Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Humberto Calzada, Times of Unease, 1994, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond: Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Fernando Gutierrez, My American Perspective, Pen Brentwood High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Kristin Grossi When browsing through the artwork at the museum, I came across Origin by Anna Prikazchikova. Visually, it immediately caught my attention since her work features an intricate black and white design and my art reflects that as well. Both of our works have similarities on the surface, but I also felt a connection to her work after reading the object label. It is how and why she created her piece that inspired me. Prikazchikova writes that even though her design is usually preconceived, most of the piece is free cut in a meditative process. When I am creating my black and white illustrations, I am drawing spontaneously, not necessarily planning anything out beforehand. Even though she is cutting from paper and I am using a Sharpie marker, the mental process is still comparable. Her title, Origin, and her reflection on how a person’s identity is created and altered influenced me to think about the places where we all come from and how we are intertwined with one another. My work also reflects on the connections of people, our world, and the reasons why we are always searching for something more.
Inspiration artwork: Anna Prikazchikova, Origin, 2016, Hand cut paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Emma Hargraves, Intensity, Digital photograph Patchogue-Medford High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Amy Cunningham My artwork was inspired by Tanagra by James Siena. I was intrigued by the print’s abstract style as well as the artist’s use of color and “visual algorithms” to construct seemingly random designs. Siena’s focus on pattern and lines inspired me to capture the unique abstract patterns of a paint and oil mixture through photography. I enjoyed the process of mixing different mediums to build my own abstractions and used a similar warm color scheme of the analogous colors of red, orange, and yellow.
Inspiration artwork: James Siena, Tanagra, 2006, Lithograph in 9 colors on Arches cover white hand-torn paper From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Kaitlyn Herlihy, Ceci n’est pas un pupitre,, Digital photograph John F. Kennedy High School, Grade: 11 , Art Teacher: Mark Booth I was inspired by Joe Constantino’s photograph, At the Station, and the way he used one-point perspective to pull the viewer into the artwork. I took this photograph of desks at my school, all of which lead back to a vanishing point at the end of the leading lines. Like Constantino, I strove to highlight the geometry of the subject. Honorable Mention
Joseph Mack Achievement Award
Inspiration artwork: Joe Constantino, At the Station, 2001 (printed 2009) Black and white negative scanned, enhanced and printed digitally using Photoshop From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Elissa Heydemann, The Infinite Decay, Digital photograph Oceanside High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Nanci Nigro The painting by Carlos Mérida entitled Las Plañideras inspired me to create a photograph that symbolizes life’s experiences and stages. The shape and color of the abstract figures in the painting reminded me of matches. I arranged matches to create my own interpretation of the different stages of life. As we grow up, each stage is burned away and the remains of our existence grows shorter. The simplicity of each match’s posture from completely straight to hunched over also reflects how life can decay in a physical manner as our strength and body crumbles to ash. The pop of red signifies the remaining beauty of life, despite its eventual fade into the black tones of death.
Inspiration artwork: Carlos Mérida, Las Plañideras,1962, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Gianna Jaronczyk, City Lights Copic marker, white gel pen, and black fineliner Wellington C. Mepham High School Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Talon Bidermann When I first looked at the piece Flicker by Robert Richenburg, I immediately thought it looked like the lights in a city. I see New York and urban cities bustling with life and excitement, so I tried to mimic that in my piece. Richenburg’s inspiration for Flicker was New York’s jazz scene at the time. With that influence in mind, I wanted to utilize the same thought process Richenburg implemented. City Lights shows a more modern take of the city and how people live there. I wanted to stay within the same color scheme as Flicker by using the colored lights in the apartment windows to represent the dots in Richenburg’s piece. Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Robert Richenburg, Flicker, 1949, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Anna Laimo, Digestion, Acrylic on canvas Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Kim Norris I feel that the figure in Anthony Klinger-Cooley’s Incubation appears to be in a state of metamorphosis or digestion. Blue-gray cells begin to appear under the skin and dissolve into the floor. My piece, Digestion, depicts the human figure after being dissolved into a liquid substance of vibrant color. Bright blue cells maintain the original position of the figure while it is being engulfed into a liquid. As Klinger-Cooley stated, “[Incubation] can also refer to the act of keeping an infant in conditions favorable to growth and development.” In my piece, the colorful substance represents amniotic fluid that surrounds a developing fetus. Without the support of a mother, a fetus will be slowly digested back into the body. Klinger-Cooley states that his piece “is meant to be a commentary of the artist’s personal struggle with paternal identification.” My artwork complements that idea, but from the perspective of a life form in another stage of development.
Inspiration artwork: Anthony Klinger-Cooley, Incubation, 2018, Colored pencil, watercolor From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Nyah Laurent, 3 Faces, Chalk pastel Valley Stream Central High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Mario Bakalov I was inspired by Elizabeth Heaton’s Conjoined. Looking at the piece, I saw two twins standing back to back. My idea was to show different sides of myself in a self-portrait. The Japanese say that we have three faces. The first face is show to the world. This is the face that welcomes new people, presents during class, and gives people an impression of who we are. The second face is the face we show with our family and close friends. This might be the one in which we are most comfortable and truly embodies our personality. The third face is the face you never show anyone. This face reveals our deepest, darkest fears - the insecurities we do not share. The face in the cell phone represents the face I show to the world, the online world; carefully curated to show my best side, what I want people to see. While the face on the left is the face I show to my family and friends, who know the good and the bad; the real me. The third face, the one that the Japanese say we never show anyone is the one looking away. It isn’t as clear as the others because it is a part of me that I hide from others and would rather not acknowledge. Yet it is still a part of me.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Elizabeth Heaton, Conjoined, 2017 Pastel and water on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Vivienne LaVertu, Rediscovered, Colored pencil Huntington High School, Grade: 10 Art Teacher: Kristin Singer My work, Rediscovered, was inspired by Holly Hunt’s Somebunny, a work from her series, Abandoned Beauties. Her photograph reminded me of a local news story from last year about abandonment and rediscovery. Decades after bald eagles disappeared on Long Island because of habitat loss, hunting, and the use of pesticides, a pair of eagles returned to Long Island at Mill Pond in Centerport, building a home in an abandoned osprey’s nest. As word of the eagles’ return spread, birdwatchers, naturalists, and curious bystanders gathered to watch in awe these birds of prey. I loved how the community was brought together by their collective rediscovery of these beautiful, majestic birds. In my work, I decided to illustrate the community’s enthusiasm for the eagles’ return to Long Island. The bold colors and strong sunlight work to capture the wonder of their joyful homecoming. Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Holly Hunt, Somebunny, 2017, Photography From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Zoe Lennea-Toedter, Verde No.1, Digital photograph Bay Shore High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Margaret Schultz
Autorretrato by Sylvia Ordonez stood out to me from all of the other pieces of art because the artist really makes the viewer look at the painting as if it’s a mirror image. The plants and fruit in the background inspired me to find a place to photograph where inanimate life would be located, which led me to a greenhouse. I was immediately drawn to the little details the artist used to capture her self-portrait, particularly the clothing. One of my goals was to bring the features of her clothing to life with my camera. The model’s face has been obscured in my work, allowing the image to feel relatable to anyone.
Inspiration artwork: Sylvia Ordonez, Autorretrato (Self Portrait), 1991, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Charles Mandell, Grand Central Speed, Digital photograph Long Beach High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Sue Presberg Esteban Vicente’s painting Interior Landscape inspired me to photograph an evening scene of Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The long-exposure light streaks from a passing bus parallel the wide, colorful brush strokes in Vicente’s piece. I also was inspired by the artist’s juxtaposition of warm and cool tones and chose to balance warm and cool in my photograph with yellow taxis, bright lights, and buildings layered against the dark night sky. It took a lot of experimentation in order to capture what I was envisioning, but I was persistent; I wanted to translate the serenity and simplicity of Vicente’s painting into something more bustling and urban. New York City was the perfect place to bring my idea to life.
Inspiration artwork: Esteban Vicente, Interior Landscape, 1987 Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Reiko Matrisciano, Axolotls, Ink Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Jody Spadaro I am often drawn to nature and its abstract forms. Alex Ferrone’s use of color and texture to represent the land and sea in Form II inspired me to create a pen and ink drawing of my pet axolotls, representing my own love of nature. This artwork is very special to me because I have watched and nurtured my axolotls as they have grown from two centimeters to nine inches. They have a unique look, with their frilly gills and cartoon-like smiles. Inspired by the textures in Ferrone’s photograph, I created layers of texture and color in my drawing.
Inspiration artwork: Alex Ferrone, Form II, 2018, Photograph - dye sublimation on aluminum From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Gavin Mazzola, Intuition, Acrylic on canvas Harborfields High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Elizabeth DeVaney Stanley William Hayter’s Tropic of Cancer is a mid-century abstract expressionist engraving which I was drawn to because of its contradicting sense of serenity and chaos. For my painting, I was influenced by this abstract expressionist style as well as tachisme and other forms of lyrical abstraction. Artists such as Hans Hartung and Jackson Pollock served as additional inspiration. I focused on creating the same feeling that Hayter achieved in Tropic of Cancer by using a soft grey background and introducing a mindless array of lines. Nothing in this piece was intentional, rather, it was all Intuition. Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Stanley William Hayter, Tropic of Cancer, 1949, Engraving, deep bite etching, soft ground etching, roulette, gauffrage (embossing); Trial proof From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Andrew McKenzie, Society, Ceramic Huntington High School, Grade: 10 Art Teacher: Ayallah Jeddah While viewing The Tile Club exhibition, I found The Sea Serpent as Seen by the Marine by Arthur Quartley to be simply mesmerizing. The dark colors and shades of charcoal convey emotions of power, gloom and exhilarating fear. I was inspired by how the perspective and shading gives the appearance of the serpent coiling in an intricate, fluid motion. In my artwork, my goal was to channel the powerful emotions of the sea serpent. I wanted to portray complex movements to project a sense of power. In Society, dark colors instill feelings of powerful primordial forces clashing, and the movements of tendrils entangle two mysterious distinct sides of nature. The colors and connections of the piece are reflections of internal conflict and duality of man. The enchanting and poignant vision of Quartley’s piece truly inspired me, and I hope that my sculpture is evocative of the serpent. Achievement Award in Ceramics
Stepping Stone Award
Inspiration artwork: Arthur Quartley, The Sea Serpent as Seen by the Marine, 1880, Charcoal and gouache on paper From the exhibition: The Tile Club Camaraderie and American Plein-Air Painting
Meghan Monahan, Famous Telephones: Höch, Kosuth, Dalí, Mixed media (plaster objects, acrylic, and found objects attached to canvas) Iris Wolfson High School, Grade: 12 Art Teacher: Nicole Scerra Christa Maiwald’s Famous Cakes series inspired me to create this fun work of art, Famous Telephones. Maiwald uses her imagination to explore the relationship between objects and people. I was initially drawn to her work because of the esoteric knowledge needed for a viewer to fully understand it. One would have to know the artist and, in this case, sculptor Richard Serra, to understand the choices she made in depicting the cake. I was inspired by this creative theme and imagined what a telephone would look like if it were based on an artist’s style. I picked the artists Hannah Höch, Joseph Kosuth, and Salvador Dalí because they are artists from different art movements and they each have a very distinct style. Similar to Maiwald, I enjoy using a variety of materials to bring my vision to life. In addition to paint and canvas, I made my work three-dimensional by including found objects and plaster.
Fourth Place Prize Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Inspiration artwork: Christa Maiwald, Famous Cakes: Devil’s Food Cake for Richard Serra, 2018, Hand embroidery on cotton fabric, soap, wooden shelf From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Christopher J. Morales Mendez, ANTIGUA GUATEMALA, Wool fiber Riverhead High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Debbie Cantalupo I was inspired by artist Diego Rivera because his artwork is beautiful and reminds me of my country. One of Rivera’s quotes that I admire is “as an artist, I have always tried to be faithful to my vision of life.” For this artwork, I aimed to create a work of art that everyone can connect with. I worked from a photograph and used wool and a needle to create my final image.
Inspiration artwork: Diego Rivera, The Girl from Janitzio, 1949 Watercolor on rice paper From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Christina Mui, Yuk Fun Mui, White charcoal Valley Stream Central High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Mario Bakalov I actually got to see Mario Bakalov’s painting Louise Esposito in progress over the past year, even before I visited the Long Island Biennial exhibition. Looking at the detail, technique, and expression of that piece always made me think of my grandmother, Yuk Fun. She is eighty-nine years old and still full of life. I decided to work with white charcoal on black paper so that I could fully capture the detail and intricacies of her face. Just like in Louise Esposito, I wanted to show my grandmother smiling and laughing, because despite her age she still loves to be silly and have fun with her family. She has seen so much in her life and made so many sacrifices, but her spirit and humanity reflect youthfulness, and I wanted to capture that in my drawing. I wanted to create something that would show my appreciation for her and all that she has done for me and my family. Celebrate Achievement Best in Show
Inspiration artwork: Mario Bakalov, Louise Esposito, 2018, Watercolor From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Lily Newman, Green Light, Oil pastel Miller Place High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Jeff Corbett I was inspired by Christopher Harold Parrott’s charcoal illustration Imperial Pathways. The first thing I noticed about this work of art was how it establishes a narrative through multiple panels. This inspired me to create my own artwork that tells a story. In my drawing, much like in Parrott’s, I used multiple images so that the viewer can see relationships between them. Green Light is about the relationship we have with the technology around us. I created an image of a person holding a cell phone in one panel and having adverted eyes in the others to show our dependence on technology. The subject appears distracted and disconnected with her environment, staring at the green, unnatural light source when she’s not fixated on her phone. Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Christopher Harold Parrott, Imperial Pathways 2017, Charcoal on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
James Norton, La Porta, Graphite and chalk pastel St. Anthony’s High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Christopher Lauto A door symbolizes a passageway or transition from one place to another. When I look at a door it reminds me of how life presents opportunities and possibilities. A transition from one event to another, or even how events may transcend me. The artwork that inspired me was ShadLines, by Donna Corvi. The tree reminds me of how branches grow and change with time. As the branches reach for the sky, so do life’s opportunities. The work I created is inspired by the same concept of endless limits. My drawing illustrates that with age and decay we are given choices in life, but we shouldn’t let it stop us from seeing what’s on the other side - with life comes a risk and leap into the unknown.
Inspiration artwork: Donna Corvi, ShadLines, 2017, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Eloni Peralta, Piano, Digital photograph Elmont Memorial High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Stella Grenier I was inspired by Joe Constantino’s At the Station because I am drawn to early to mid-20th century artwork. I’ve always been interested in movement, line, and architecture, as well as foreground and background relationships. All these aspects combined with Constantino’s amazing sense of perspective inspired me to create my piece. Art and music are very important parts of my life and I wanted to incorporate both of those aspects of myself. The artist was also a musician, which led me back to this theme as well. Being a musician, I am constantly surrounded by beautiful instruments including my favorite, the piano. My photograph looks beyond the keys, and into the architecture of the beautiful instrument. Achievement Award in Photography
Inspiration artwork: Joe Constantino, At the Station, 2001 (printed 2009) Black and white negative, scanned, enhanced and printed digitally using Photoshop From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Amanda Piecora, Sunlit Orchids, Oil on canvas Miller Place High School, Grade: 11 Art Teacher: Jeff Corbett I was originally drawn to the intense light and shadows in Marc Josloff’s Geraniums on Window Sill and how the artist captured the serenity of the environment. I felt peaceful and was inspired to create my image of orchids. In contrast to the strong, sunlit silhouettes in Marc Josloff’s painting, I instead chose to have sunlight shine through the petals and illuminate the room. In this way, I was able to explore both color and transparency.
Inspiration artwork: Marc Josloff, Geraniums on Window Sill, 2017, Latex on canvas From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Kenya Pinos, Heritage, Digital photograph Valley Stream North High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Allan Nafte While viewing The Girl from Janitzio by Diego Rivera, I was intrigued by the artist’s way of highlighting the theme of indigenous culture in Mexico. The piece reminded me of my experience on a trip to Ecuador. While visiting, I went to La Cara del Inca (Face of the Inca). In order to actually see La Cara del Inca, we had to walk through alleyways in the mountains. As we were on our way, I noticed that it was not just a pathway, but that there were actually groups of people living in the mountains. In relation to The Girl from Janitzio, I aimed to represent the preservation of culture by having the serape wrapped around the woman. The importance of using the serape for carrying materials was intriguing to me because people are still using them today. The idea that that this method is still utilized, and its connection to a painting from 1949, is truly fascinating to me.
Inspiration artwork: Diego Rivera, The Girl from Janitzio, 1949, Watercolor on rice paper From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Morgan Polete, Moody Monday, Digital photograph Long Beach High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Sue Presberg Amy Worth’s oil painting Orient Ice was my inspiration. Her painting shows a tranquil day using visible brush strokes and earthy tones. Our compositions illustrate different moods, however they both capture the spontaniety of the world around us. The day I took this photograph, everything in my life seemed to be crumbling down. Dreading the rest of the day, I placed my head on my car window. When I looked up, a sudden urge to capture the moment kicked in. Many photographs that I take are impulsive, and they often end up being my best work.
Inspiration artwork: Amy Worth, Orient Ice, 2018, Oil on board From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Jhana Prue, Adrift, Watercolor on paper Long Beach High School, Grade: 10 Art Teacher: AnnMarie Pulice I have always been someone who lives inside my own head. As I develop my artistic skills, I am grateful that I can bring these thoughts to the surface and onto the pages of my sketchbooks. I often use watercolor in my art, usually with graphite or white gouache for finishing touches. For this painting, I was inspired by the level of detail in Alexis Duque’s painting El Dorado as well as the many stories the viewer can imagine in response to the image. In Adrift, I imagined a little town where everyone knows one another. I created people with personalities and roles in this place. I imagined that at the center of the town there is a mysterious power source that keeps everything alive. The colors used in the artwork The Great Journey by Antonia Guzmán inspired my color choices. Her use of deep, rich blues served as the perfect accent color to make things pop in my finished watercolor painting. Inspiration artwork: Alexis Duque, El Dorado, 2010, Acrylic on canvas (left) Antonia Guzmán, The Great Journey, 2004, Acrylic on canvas (right) From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Taylor Rampulla, I Pray That You’ll Be Just Fine, Pencil East Rockaway High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Kelly Cabasso I was initially drawn to At The Station, because of Constantino’s use of perspective. I wanted to create a piece that would be challenging and force me out of my comfort zone. I normally work in watercolor so using pencil to create this piece pushed me past my boundaries. The intricate lines and detail in Constantino’s photograph inspired me to recreate his sense of perspective, but using a church as my focus instead. The freedom expressed in Constantino’s piece influenced me to juxtapose it to being trapped. Religion is something I struggle with especially being in the LGBT community. When I was young, my family would bring me to church, and I felt out of place and trapped. This eventually lead to feeling resentment towards the Catholic church. I sought to embody this emotion through perspective with the pews inside the building. My art gave me the opportunity to face my personal challenges with religion and as an artist experimenting with different materials.
Inspiration artwork: Joe Constantino, At the Station, 2001 (printed 2009) Black and white negative, scanned, enhanced and printed digitally using Photoshop From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Stephanie Renna, Awakened, Paper sculpture Smithtown Christian School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: James Roselle In addition to art, I really enjoy reading because it allows me to create in my mind my own settings and even what the characters look like. The painting by Arthur Quartley, Rocky Shore, reminded me of the typical aftermath of a shipwreck with large boulders and waves crashing on the shore. In the piece that I created, I incorporated a kraken as the cause of the shipwreck, bringing my book to life. With the advance of technology, reading is becoming a lost art. Hopefully, my sculpture will rekindle the desire for someone to want to read and use their imagination, making that book come alive! Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize
Inspiration artwork: Arthur Quartley, Rocky Shore, 1879 Painted and glazed ceramic tile From the exhibition: The Tile Club: Camaraderie and American Plein-Air Painting
Abraham Rodriguez, Muted Emotions, Digital art Huntington High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty My inspiration for Muted Emotions was Richard Gardiner’s Veritas Praevalebit. I was intrigued by Gardiner’s use of a distinct political leader in his piece and how he portrayed him screaming information that is untrue. His use of bold, eyecatching colors combined with a simplistic square format also drew me further into the piece. I interpreted Gardiner’s painting as the expression of the feeling of being screamed at by an individual who is inappropriately using social media and news platforms. As a result, my piece utilizes a simple television floating in a deserted wasteland with a man trapped inside. This is to convey a sense of being emotionally imprisoned by forces beyond our control. The image also conveys a feeling that, despite vocal protests, the average citizen in today’s society is not being heard. Their efforts become a silent scream. The seagulls represent the elite, always hovering above, waiting to scavenge from the less fortunate who have so little. I selected a desert wasteland for the environment and omitted bright colors to create a sense of hopelessness. This is to say that if we continue on our current path, all that we will be left with is a world void of humanity.
Inspiration artwork: Richard Gardiner, Veritas Praevalebit, 2017, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Manuella Romero, Cartagena, Oil on canvas Manhasset High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Michael Sansone When I first viewed Julio Larraz’s painting, its imagery instantly transported me to Cartagena, Colombia, a location that I have visited countless times due to my own Colombian heritage. The architecture made me nostalgic for the beautiful markets along narrow streets, with vendors sitting on the ground, longing for eager tourists to make a purchase. This inspired me to paint Mochilas Guayu, which are bags handmade by Colombia’s most prominent native group, the Guayu indians. As I looked more closely at Larraz’s painting, however I noted its grim message. Ominous canons tower over the woman, creating a subtle disruption of peace. This made me think of the guerrilla groups in Colombia that have used violence to spread communist messages for the past 50 years. In the media, this violence is often depicted, attempting to overpower the beauty of the country which my ancestors have called home for centuries. In my painting, I chose to make the Mochilas Guayu the focal point, filling my canvas with lush colors and geometric patterns. However, when you look more closely, you will see toy soldiers who ominously seem to fight among the bags.
Third Place, The Hadley Prize Joseph Mack Achievement Award Inspiration artwork: Julio Larraz, The Review, 1988, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Karina Sandoval, Tierra Firme, Digital photograph Elmont Memorial High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Stella Grenier After seeing El Dorado by Alexis Duque and reading about its depiction of overpopulated metropolises within developing countries, I was immediately reminded of Mexico. Mexico is a nation where poverty and wealth coexist within the same streets. Mexico City alone is home to over 8 million people due to the promise of new opportunities and the dream for prosperity that so many people share. The stacked, run-down and empty buildings in Duque’s painting reminded me of the towns where my parents were raised. I tried to capture the congestion of Naucalpan, one of the hugely neglected towns that surrounds the wealthier areas of the city. Through this, I also wanted to highlight the loneliness in these towns. There are millions of people surrounding each other, yet at times the streets are blanketed by a mournful silence. I took this photograph from the roof of my house in Mexico so I could fully show how, like in Duque’s painting, people are forced to live in stacked houses to accommodate the fast growing population. Since Mexico City is built on a mountain, that allowed me to make it look like these houses are quite literally built on top of each other.
Achievement Award in Interpretation Inspiration artwork: Alexis Duque, El Dorado, 2010, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Arianna Schaden, Around the Wood, Acrylic on wood South Side High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Paul Sementelli When I first saw The Tile Club, I was immediately inspired to create something similar. The use of wood and shapes was something that specifically stood out to me in the creative process. George Henry Boughton’s Mary Anderson as Pauline used wood as an unconventional surface to create an ominous portrait. My own project took on a similar format and subject matter. Also, when I began this work of art, I was reminded of the art I saw in Florence, Italy, specifically, the Storie della vita di Cristo di san Francesco: Stimmate di San Francisco from the Accademia in Florence. I was intrigued by the composition of the “tiles”. The subject matter in my piece was developed by the places I have traveled. The bottom right portrait depicts my travels in Florence when I visited the Academia. The other tiles feature significant monuments throughout Europe.
Inspiration artwork: George Henry Boughton, Mary Anderson as Pauline, ca. 1883 Oil on wood panel From the exhibition: The Tile Club: Camaraderie and American Plein-Air Painting
Jacob Siegelbaum, My Father Mixed media (metal wiring, modeling clay, and acrylic) Centereach High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Monica Holland I was inspired by Vicente Esteban’s piece when I constructed My Father. Esteban’s color palette varies from warm to cold, with contrasting shades that express a somber or depressive state. Over the last few months, I have garnered this state of mind with the death of my father. My piece shows the figure of a robust man, overshadowing a figure of his own future. The larger figure represents the image of my father that I will always remember, while masking that image’s end, by standing confidently in front of it. My father’s future was stripped from him while he spent months in a hospital. He once was an impenetrable force, but wound up broken and beaten, lying helpless on a bed at the mercy of his own body. I watched a day of progress, as he stood up to use the bathroom, turn two days later to plummeting regression; first his voice, then his mind. I woke the next day wondering where my father had gone. Each day since, a quiet discomfort settled in. I started to realize that I wouldn’t see my best friend ever again. I chose to make this piece to cope with my father’s passing, and in hopes that I can have it displayed, so that my father and I can attend one last art show together.
Inspiration artwork: Esteban Vicente, Interior Landscape, 1987, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Maria Slavnova
Shades of the City Digital art Bellport High School Grade: 10 Art Teacher: Brandon Payne I was inspired by Raymond Germann’s Whitney Museum. Visually, I was fascinated by this photograph’s shapes, composition, and the atmosphere created by the geometric construction of the building. I wanted to create a digital painting that reflects the abstract quality of the silhouette of the building. This was achieved by composing an isolated cityscape similar to that of the photograph. I used a gradation of cool colors to add depth and perspective to the environment of my piece. Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Inspiration artwork: Raymond Germann, Whitney Museum, 2016 Digital photograph From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Alexa Splendorio, Embodiment, Ceramic Huntington High School, Grade: 10 Art Teacher: Ayallah Jeddah I was drawn to the geometric shapes and color scheme of Esphyr Slobodkina’s Vortex #2. The abstract nature of this piece and its repeating shapes inspired me to create my abstract sculpture, Embodiment. I sculpted an unusual form with various geometric shapes and textures projecting out in space. The simple color palette I chose allows the bold lines of my piece to stand out and emphasizes the connection with my inspiration. Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Esphyr Slobodkina, Vortex #2, 1991, Oil on masonite From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Lisa Steinberg, Surgical Building / Bedroom, Ceramic General Douglas MacArthur High School Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Lynn Spinnato Paul Mele’s photograph of a room in the abandoned Kings Park Psychiatric Center sparks feelings of loneliness and confinement in its viewers. If you look deeper into it, however, you might see the light leaking through the window as a glimmer of hope in the distance. It reminds me of a chance at freedom from the captivity of the dark and dreary environment of the asylum. It was this idea that inspired me to create a series of three bowls that stack inside of each other. They are cracked and broken like the asylum to show just a hint of light seeping through the crevices. It is reminiscent of the hope that shines through the window in the photograph.
Inspiration artwork: Paul Mele, Surgical Building / Bedroom, 2017, Pigment print From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Lillian Su, Corporis Umbra, Digital photograph Half Hollow Hills High School West Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Jennifer Ievolo My photograph is part of a series focusing on light on the human form. I was inspired by the simplicity and mystery of Untitled (Film Noir #1437) by Bill Armstrong. Armstrong’s work feels eerie and intriguing due to its blurred effect and lack of contextual information as to where the figure might be. In my work, I focused on the torso of the figure and purposely eliminated the limbs and head, creating a simplified and somewhat distorted figure. My hope is that viewers approach my piece with curiosity, longing for closure and more information, just like I did when looking at Armstrong’s work. Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Bill Armstrong, Untitled (Film Noir #1437), 2012, Type-C print From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Carol Sung, Flashing Back, Colored pencil and watercolor New Hyde Park Memorial High School Grade: 12 Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti Kasmira Mohanty’s artwork Amelia expresses her interest in exploring the intricacies of human beings. She connected her memory with portraiture to tell a story. Amelia is about her experience with a group of struggling people in the city. Drinking and creating wall art, Mohanty describes their smell, language, gesture, and mood through the black and white tones and scraped textures of her work. Her color palette establishes a dark mood and the cloudy strokes give a nostalgic feeling. Also interested in studying and expressing the details and complexity of human beings, I was inspired to create a piece that was able to tell a story from what I have experienced. Using dark colors and harsh strokes in this self-portrait, I aimed to express the feelings of being trapped and helpless that I remember from my darkest times.
Inspiration artwork: Kasmira Mohanty, Amelia, 2016, Solarplate print From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Matthew Tepper, Hudson Yards, Photography, digital art Oyster Bay High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Scott Boris Joe Constantino’s unique use of reflection in his photograph, Building Gradation and Reflections, inspired my artwork. I connected with Constantino’s piece because I have a strong passion for urban architecture and the process in which skyscrapers are constructed. I was also drawn to the glass reflections and its high contrast color scheme. I took this photograph at Hudson Yards, an emerging neighborhood in Manhattan. Like Constantino, I chose to focus on repetition and reflection and I modified the color scheme of the urban landscape.
Inspiration artwork: Joe Constantino, Building Gradation and Reflections, 2016 Solarized digital color print From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
Gury Umanzor, Sit with me, Digital photograph Bellport High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Suzette Fandale The title of Alfonso A. Ossorio’s work, Forest Picnic, and study of art brut (the raw expression of a vision or emotions, outside of traditional art) is what inspired me. The painting is a reflection of spontaneity and I wanted to use that as an inspiration for my own artwork. I wanted to evoke a similar mood. My photograph was taken in an outdoor location with vines, flowers, and a picnic setup to show my interpretation of a forest picnic. I placed the vine over the model’s face and put the basket of flowers alongside her while her hand is held out as an invitation. My goal was to show something almost bizarre and to invite the viewer to accept that interpretation. Cozza Family Photography Award
Inspiration artwork: Alfonso A. Ossorio, Forest Picnic, 1955 Ink, wax and watercolor on paper From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Gianna Valente, My Brother, Pencil on board John F. Kennedy High School, Grade: 11 Art Teacher: Vanessa Albaneze For me as a viewer, Tired of Winning by Alisa Shea is about contrast: dirt and earth stuck in cleats, smelly socks, and shiny trophies. A shiny trophy casually tossed aside conjured up thoughts of how both physically and mentally exhausting athletics can be, especially leading up to that possible win. For my artwork, I created a drawing of my brother James getting ready to head out to a game. Although he is determined to do well in soccer, and he is passionate for the game, there is a feeling of uncertainty and doubt, a feeling of fatigue. I chose black and white for the drawing to emphasize this idea. I wanted viewers to focus on my brother’s face amidst the patterns created by our steps, walkway, and glass doors, which are inspired by the dynamic patterns, lines, light and shadows in Shea’s painting. Looking at my drawing, I hope viewers can feel and smell the anticipation of the spring and summer season coming.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Alisa Shea, Tired of Winning, 2018, Watercolor on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Anna Vig, Vortex, Digital photograph Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Linda Curran I was inspired by John Cino’s sculpture entitled Wafting Bubinga. The shape of this work of art and its sense of motion reminded me of a flame and inspired me to use fire in my artwork. My process consisted of putting steel wool onto a kitchen whisk and tying the whisk to a rope that was spun while the steel wool was on fire. The message I want to convey through my piece is that life is a balance, the circle in the photograph creates a feeling of stability, and the vortex that the sparks create establish a sense of movement.
Inspiration artwork: John Cino, Wafting Bubinga #2, 2018 Carved wood - Bubinga with Padouk base From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Angelina Vincenzi
The Deterioration of Me Pen and marker Smithtown High School West Grade: 12 Art Teacher: Steve Halem My piece is based on Paul Mele’s Surgical Building / Bedroom. I chose Mele’s photograph because I wanted to express the abhorrent human rights abuses that often occurred in psychiatric hospitals during the 19th and 20th centuries. Due to the abuse that commonly plagued patients, the majority of diagnosed individuals were actually re-traumatized in psychiatric settings. People who are abused can suffer significantly lower selfesteem, anxiety disorders, and various forms of depression. They may also feel a disassociation from the person they were before their experience in the psychiatric setting. In my piece, a girl’s face is crumbling away, revealing a being that she can no longer identify as herself. This is similar to how pristine and beautiful the Kings Park Psychiatric Center once was compared to how it is now, shrouded in darkness and riddled with asbestos. This topic is very important to me due to my experience with mental illness and the treatment of those who are suffering from it. It isn’t a secret that mental health is treated differently than physical health. Modern day mistreatment takes many forms, varying from negative societal perceptions to discrimination in health coverage. Mental health is just as important as physical health, in fact, they work together to ensure everyone’s well-being, and no one deserves to be unfairly treated simply because they have an illness that they cannot control. We have all been given a voice and the ability to listen; please use these gifts to change the way we perceive mental health.
Inspiration artwork: Paul Mele, Surgical Building / Bedroom, 2017, Pigment print From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Tamar Yaari, Shhh, Watercolor on paper Northport High School, Grade: 11 Art Teacher: Anthony Klinger-Cooley As a student of artist Anthony Klinger-Cooley, I have witnessed his entire creative process from inception to completion and the similarity in my style and his is not a coincidence. His innovative use of colored pencil over watercolor has inspired me greatly. The pencil doesn’t cover the watercolor subjects, but rather enhances and complements them by offering an alternate view. Depicting a figure with more than one media adds a dimension to the work that could not be achieved by either one alone. An incredible synergy is created wherein the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. My artwork Shhh is a portrait of a teenager who is fraught with such strong fears and insecurities that she even tries to conceal them from herself as she looks in the mirror in denial, silencing her inner self. Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Anthony Klinger-Cooley, Incubation, 2018, Colored pencil, watercolor From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2018
Muhtady Zaman, Faridpur, Acrylic on canvas Hicksville High School, Grade: 11 Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
At The Station stood out to me during my visit to the Museum. The photograph’s bold, high contrast composition and use of positive and negative space intrigued me. It inspired me to create this painting of an old family photograph from the early ‘80s of my grandmother, uncle, and grandfather in a similar bold style. I feel that despite the differences in their imagery, both my black and white painting and Constantino’s photograph evoke feelings of tranquility and the past. Joseph Mack Achievement Award
Inspiration artwork: Joe Constantino, At the Station, 2001 (printed 2009) Black and white negative, scanned, enhanced and printed digitally using Photoshop From the exhibition: Surface Tension: Pictorial Space in 20th-Century Art
Vicky Zhang, Tainted Innocence, Oil on canvas Division Avenue High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan Guillermo Meza’s oil painting Nemesis caught my attention due to the contrast between the dark background and the white indigenous cloak. As the Museum Educator who was guiding us explained the meaning behind the painting, I became more captivated by its connotation. In the original painting, the figure wore a white cloak soiled with red, which reminded me of youth and innocence becoming tainted by being exposed to something bad. The young boy witnessed destruction and devastation of his native homeland which will forever be embedded in his childhood memory. I decided to paint a young refugee boy soiled with dirt and grime. He has no voice or power to express his despair since society chooses not to listen to those who are suffering. His voice is being muzzled by a gold fabric representing society, which is present in the original painting as a blindfold, presumably to shield her vision from the world.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Guillermo Meza, Nemesis, 1982, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Katie Zimmermann, Distortions, Ceramic Newfield High School, Grade: 12 Art Teacher: Sal Berretta While visiting the Rivera and Beyond exhibition, the artwork that I found the most intriguing was a painting by Guillermo Meza entitled Nemesis. Nemesis is the goddess of divine retribution, punishing us for our most evil deeds, undeserved good fortune, and arrogance. What inspired me the most about this artwork was how the figure’s large headpiece and golden flecked blindfold transform her, obscuring her face. I interpreted this image as a statement about humanity’s biggest flaws, which may be hiding below the blindfold. I feel that it is saying that we must face the things that are different in each of us and accept them. In my sculpture, I chose to also work with a figure, but distort it rather than obscure it with a headpiece or cloth, making their “flaw” become the first noticeable aspect of the work of art.
Inspiration artwork: Guillermo Meza, Nemesis, 1982, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Rivera and Beyond Latin American Art from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection
Albert Zinser, Calm before the Storm, Digital photograph West Babylon High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Erin Bodolai I chose Red Chair (Studio Interior) by Paton Miller for the visual expression of his relationship with the space in the artwork. The cabin in my photograph expresses a personal relationship and is sentimental to my family and childhood. My memories are filled with the seven hour car ride to the cabin, the loud sounds of conversation and laughter, and quality time spent with family in this tucked away home. In creating this photo, I wanted to parallel the inspiration by choosing to focus on the space and solitude of the room. By doing so, I hope the viewer can make connections, evoke thought, and reflect on their own memories and relationships.
Inspiration artwork: Paton Miller, Red Chair (Studio Interior), 2002, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: The Heckscher Collects: Recent Acquisitions
OPENING RECEPTION April 13, 2019
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 57 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties submitted artwork for jurying for the 2019 exhibition. Thank you to all of the participating schools, administrators, and teachers for your dedication! This exhibition would not be possible without your hard work and dedication. Amityville Memorial High School Amityville Union Free School District Maria Andreotti, Principal Dr. Frances Fernandez, Director of Fine Arts Jayne Grasso, Art Teacher Nidia Keaveny, Art Teacher Heather Rickard, Art Teacher Bay Shore High School Bay Shore School District Robert Pashkin, Principal Mike Rotello, Director of Fine Arts Margaret Schultz, Art Teacher Bayport-Blue Point High School Bayport-Blue Point School District Guarav Passi, Principal Frank Salino, Teacher-in-Charge of HS Art Bellport High School South Country Central School District Timothy Hogan, Principal Suzette Fandale, Art Department Chairperson Devin Auricchio, Art Teacher Brandon Payne, Art Teacher Brentwood High School Brentwood School District John Callan, Principal Stephen Guarino, Coord. of Performing & Fine Arts Kristin Grossi, Art Teacher Nicholas Groudas, Art Teacher Centereach High School Middle Country Central School District Tom Bell, Principal Diana Cook, Director of Music, Fine Arts & Media Relations Lorraine Angeletti, Art Teacher Monica Holland, Art Teacher Cold Spring Harbor High School Cold Spring Harbor Union Free School District Jim Bolen, Principal Christine Oswald, District Chairperson Laura Cirino, Art Teacher Samantha Hayes, Art Teacher Commack High School Commack Union Free School District Leslie Boritz, Principal Paul Infante, Director of Fine & Applied Arts Marie Adamo, Art Teacher
Division Avenue High School Levittown Union Free School District John Coscia, Principal Frank Creter, Director of Art, FACS, Technology, GC Tech Tim Ryan, Art Teacher E. W. Miles Middle School Amityville Union Free School District Edward Plaia, Principal Dr. Frances Fernandez, Director of Fine Arts Nicole Scoca, Art Teacher East Rockaway High School East Rockaway School District Richard Schaffer, Principal Peter Ceglio, Fine Art Chairperson Kelly Cabasso, Art Teacher Elmont Memorial High School Sewanhaka Central High School District Kevin Dougherty, Principal Chris Yee, Art Department Chairperson Stella Grenier, Art Teacher Catherine Nolan, Art Teacher Garden City High School Garden City Union Free School District Nanine McLaughlin, Principal Nina Prasso, District Coordinator of Music and Art Shawn Uttendorfer, Art Teacher General Douglas MacArthur High School Levittown Union Free School District Joseph Sheehan, Principal Frank Creter, Director of Art, FACS, Technology, GC Tech Tom Bobal, Art Teacher Rebecca Muir, Art Teacher Lynn Spinnato, Art Teacher Half Hollow Hills High School East Half Hollow Hills Central School District Dr. Milton Strong, Principal Dr. Darlene Lilla, Director of Fine Arts Tania Godoy, Art Teacher Kim Norris, Art Teacher Allyson Uttendorfer, Art Teacher Half Hollow Hills High School West Half Hollow Hills Central School District Dr. Michael Catapano, Principal Dr. Darlene Lilla, Director of Fine Arts Jessica Donaldson, Art Teacher Jennifer Ievolo, Art Teacher Amanda Montiglio, Art Teacher
Hicksville High School Hicksville Union Free School District Raymond Williams, Principal Philip Grusenmeyer, Supervisor of Fine Arts Craig Mateyunas, Art Teacher
New Hyde Park Memorial High School Sewanhaka Central High School District Dr. Richard Faccio, Principal Katrin Marino, Art Chairperson Danielle Livoti, Art Teacher
Huntington Fine Arts Greenlawn, NY Lisa Hock Mack, President & Director
Newfield High School Middle Country Central School District Scott Graviano, Principal Diana Cook, Director of Music, Fine Arts & Media Relations Sal Berretta, Art Teacher Eileen McIntyre, Art Teacher
Huntington High School Huntington Union Free School District Brenden Cusack, Principal Eric Reynolds, Director of Fine & Performing Art Ayallah Jeddah, Art Teacher Kasmira Mohanty, Art Teacher Kristin Singer, Art Teacher Iris Wolfson High School Greenvale, NY Lisa Paolucci, Principal Nicole Scerra, Art Teacher John F. Kennedy High School Bellmore-Merrick Central HS District Gerard Owenburg, Principal Cheryl Fontana, District Chairperson Vanessa Albaneze, Art Teacher Mark Booth, Art Teacher Kings Park High School Kings Park Union Free School District Jason Huntsman, Principal Susan Guasp, Art Teacher Lawrence Woodmere Academy Woodmere, NY Alan Bernstein, Principal Dawn Shillalies, Upper School Art Teacher Long Beach High School Long Beach Union Free School District Jeffrey Meyers, Principal Julia Lang-Shapiro, Dir. of Media, Visual & Perf. Arts Rose Farrell-Garde, Art Teacher Eric Fox, Art Teacher Joanne Harvey, Art Teacher Stephanie Kornacki, Art Teacher Sue Presberg, Art Teacher AnnMarie Pulice, Art Teacher Manhasset High School Manhasset Union Free School District Dr. Dean Schlanger, Principal Anthony Ambrogio, Director of the Arts Natalya Panullo, Art Teacher Michael Sansone, Art Teacher Miller Place High School Miller Place Union Free School District Kevin Slavin, Principal Jeff Corbett, Lead Teacher
North Shore High School North Shore School District Albert Cousins, Principal Dalia Rodriguez, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Sara Black-Cano, Art Teacher Elissa Mazzeo, Art Teacher Northport High School Northport-East Northport School District Daniel Danbusky, Principal Dr. Izzet Mergen, Director of Fine & Performing Arts John DeRosa, Art Teacher Anthony Klinger-Cooley, Art Teacher Constance Wolf, Art Teacher Oceanside High School Oceanside Union Free School District Geraldine DeCarlo, Principal Robert Brase, Art Director Danielle Casquerelli, Art Teacher Karin Handrakis, Art Teacher Carol Marano, Art Teacher Nanci Nigro, Art Teacher Our Lady of Mercy Academy Syosset, NY Lisa Harrison, Principal Jody Spadaro, Fine Arts Department Chairperson Oyster Bay High School Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District Sharon Lasher, Principal Anthony Femino, Supervisor of Fine & Performing Art Scott Boris, Art Teacher Maria Randazzo, Art Teacher Patchogue-Medford High School Patchogue-Medford School District Dr. Randy Rusielewicz, Principal Mark Stuckey, Director of Art, Music and Cultural Arts Amy Cunningham, Art Teacher Michael Scholz, Art Teacher Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District James Murray, Principal Ben Wiley, Director of Art & Digital Instruction Jen Beinlich, Art Teacher Linda Curran, Art Teacher Warren Jacobson, Art Teacher
Portledge School Locust Valley, NY Simon Owen-Williams, Head of School Doris Benter, Art Department Head John Greene, Art Teacher Jerry Krause, Art Teacher Pat Myers, Art Teacher Riverhead High School Riverhead School District Charles Regan, Principal Lauren Lewonka, Director of Art & Music Debbie Cantalupo, Art Teacher Sachem High School North Sachem Central School District Patti Trombetta, Principal Kerrin Asner, Art Department Chairperson Kara Tolmie, Art Teacher Sayville High School Sayville Union Free School District Ronald Hoffer, Principal Debra Urso, Art Department Chairperson Evan Hammer, Art Teacher Smithtown Christian School Smithtown, NY Tracy Berner, Principal James Roselle, Department Chairperson Smithtown High School East Smithtown Central School District Kevin Simmons, Principal Mike Mastrangelo, Director of Fine Arts Tim Needles, Art Teacher Smithtown High School West Smithtown Central School District John Coady, Principal Michael Mastrangelo, Director of Fine Arts Steve Halem, Art Teacher South Side High School Rockville Center Union Free School District John Murphy, Principal Brian Zuar, Director of the Arts Keith Gamache, Art Teacher Christopher Karaktin, Art Teacher Paul Sementilli, Art Teacher St. Anthony's High School Huntington, NY Brother Gary Cregan, O.S.F., Principal Christopher Lauto, Art Department Chairperson The Stony Brook School Stony Brook, NY Richard Cowan, Principal Melinda Johnson, Art Department Chair
Syosset High School Syosset Central District Dr. Giovanni Durante, Principal Michael Salzman, Coord. of Fine & Performing Arts Peter Haughwout, Art Teacher Chrysoula Highland, Art Teacher Steven Malafis, Art Teacher Demi Protonentis, Art Teacher Uniondale High School Uniondale Union Free School District Edward Thomas, Principal Kelvin Jenkins, Art & Music Director Dalva Yaron, Art Teacher Valley Stream Central High School Valley Stream Central High School District Dr. Joseph Pompilio, Principal Adam Erdos, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Mario Bakalov, Art Teacher Valley Stream North High School Valley Stream Central High School District Rachel Green, Principal Adam Erdos, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Allan Nafte, Art Teacher Valley Stream South High School Valley Stream Central High School District Maureen Henry, Principal Adam Erdos, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Ed Lee, Art Teacher W. T. Clarke High School East Meadow Union Free School District Timothy Voels, Principal Christopher Hale, Director of Music & Art Jane Pawlowski, Art Teacher Walt Whitman High School South Huntington School District John Murphy, Principal Jackie Tartaro, Art Director Gina Tinucci, Art Teacher Wellington C. Mepham High School Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Eric Gomez, Principal Cheryl Fontana, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Talon Bidermann, Art Teacher Christine Stevens, Art Teacher West Babylon High School West Babylon Union Free School District Dr. Ellice Vassallo, Principal Erin Bodolai, Art Chairperson Heather Ingald, Art Teacher West Islip High School West Islip Union Free School District Dr. Anthony Bridgeman, Principal Eric Albinder, Director of Art & Music Linda Marino, Art Teacher Annette Musteric, Art Teacher
Aqsa Ansari, Movement, Oil on canvas, Hicksville High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas.
The Heckscher Museum of Art Dr. Bette Schneiderman, Trustee & Chair of Education Committee Michael W. Schantz, Ph.D., Executive Director & CEO Lisa Chalif, Curator Joy Weiner, Director of Education & Public Programs Kristina Schaaf, Director of Visitor Experience Lisa Sayedi, Lead Museum Educator Alyssa Matthews, Museum Educator
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