APRIL 27 - MAY 23
2021
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
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 The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Inc. EXHIBITION CATALOGUE SPONSORS Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics Callaghan Lucerino & Associates LLP 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.
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, 56 public and private schools submitted students’ artwork for jurying. 331 entries were received and Curator Karli Wurzelbacher, Ph.D., and guest juror and artist Melissa Misla selected 83 for display.
VIRTUAL RECEPTION The 2021 Virtual Reception and Award Ceremony was held live on Instagram on Saturday, May 1! Lisa Sayedi, Lead Museum Educator, hosted the event and was joined by staff members, jurors, and several exhibiting students. Many students, teachers, family, and friends attended in support of all 83 young artists!
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
TOP AWARDS
Jeanne Hewitt Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award
Keren Dial received Best in Show for Cultivating the Mustard. Ashley Park was awarded Second Place for The 2021 Press. Aleena Abraham received Third Place for Storge, and Ariel Kim’s Personal Garden won Fourth Place.
Donors to the 2014 Celebrate Achievement Benefit Celebrate Achievement Best In Show Award The Law Offices of Andrew Presberg Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Awards
Now in its 25th 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.
Christine Machtay Donald and Gloria Horn Scholarship Award and Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Huntington Fine Arts Huntington Fine Arts Institute Award of Excellence Cozza Family The Cozza Family Photography Award Firefly Art Gallery The Firefly Artists Next Generation Award
Additional Thank Yous Jurors: Karli Wurzelbacher, Heckscher Museum Curator and Melissa Misla, Artist Andreas Rentsch, Exhibition Catalogue Photographer In support of the next generation of Long Island artists, select works of art from Long Island’s Best 2021 will be on view May 25 through June 27 in Mitchells’ store windows, 270 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743, and in Firefly Artists Gallery, 162 Main Street, Northport, NY, 11768. The Heckscher Museum of Art receives generous support from the Town of Huntington.
Award-winning artwork (details) by the following artists (left to right): Keren Dial, Ashley Park, Aleena Abraham, Ariel Kim. This artwork is marked with a in this catalogue.
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics and Callaghan Lucerino & Associates LLP, all exhibiting students and their teachers will receive this exhibition catalogue, featuring images of all works in the exhibition, artist statements, and Inspiration Artwork.
VIRTUAL TRIPS
INSPIRATION ARTWORK
Students found inspiration in artwork on view in the Museum during the 2020-2021 school year. Through close observation and discussion, students learned to make connections between artwork on view and their own experiences.
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 2020 The Long Island Biennial is a juried exhibition that fosters deeper connections between contemporary artists from Nassau and Suffolk Counties and the communities in which they live and work. The works on view represent a vital cross section of Long Island’s contemporary art.
Amanda Valdez: Piecework Thomas Germano, Long Island Expressway, 2018 [detail], Oil on panel.
Contemporary artist Amanda Valdez creates brilliantly colored, patterned, and textured abstract paintings by cutting, sewing, dyeing, painting, and embroidering canvas and other cloth. Featuring 19 paintings, this exhibition explores Valdez’s engagement with the histories of abstraction and “women’s work” with fiber.
Connie Fox The Sammy’s Beach Series Connie Fox, Sammy’s Beach I, 2007 [detail], Acrylic on canvas. Collection of Connie Fox.
This exhibition brings together a dozen abstract paintings and a group of related drawings in charcoal, ink, and acrylic on paper that Fox created in response to Sammy’s Beach in Northwest Harbor, East Hampton.
Wood Gaylor & American Modernism
Wood Gaylor, Picnic, Shaker Lake, Alfred, Maine, 1923 [detail], Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts, LLC, New York.
Wood Gaylor joined other prominent modern artists in New York City to form The Penguin group. The association put on exhibitions, held weekly sketching sessions, and mounted fantastic Arts Balls, complete with costumes, comical skits, musicians, and papier-mâché props. Gaylor captured these spirited events in paintings featuring brightly-colored, flat, outlined figures in grand spaces.
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
LONG ISLAND'S BEST 2021
Aleena Abraham, Hicksville High School THIRD PLACE, The Hadley Prize Carlos Alfaro, Walt Whitman High School Heckscher Achievement Award Donald & Gloria Horn Scholarship Award 25th Anniversary Bianchi Scholarship Award Madison Amini, W.T. Clarke High School Tyler Basil, Huntington High School Mary Blaney, Manhasset High School Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Cozza Family Art Award Jeanna Boltz, Half Hollow Hills High School East Matthew Bonventre, East Meadow High School Annemarie Cabrera, John F. Kennedy High School Firefly Gallery Next Generation Award Robert Camlet, East Islip High School Samantha Christian, Sachem High School East Heckscher Achievement Award Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Caitlyn Coffin, Long Beach High School Shannon Comiskey, Hicksville High School David Crespo, Long Beach High School Elijah Croom, Malverne High School Julianna Curcio, Northport High School Amber Dacanay, Huntington Fine Arts Keren Dial, Valley Stream South High School Celebrate Achievement BEST IN SHOW Julia Diamond, Roslyn High School Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Cozza Family Photography Award
Briana Dunn, New Hyde Park Memorial High School Iris Fan, Jericho Senior High School Sean Feinberg, Long Beach High School Aislyn Franciscovich, Huntington HS Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award Jolie Greco, West Babylon High School Benjamin Herbert, Northport High School Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship James Herbst, Sayville High School Jocelyn Herrera, Mineola High School Cailin Hoang, Hicksville High School Gagandeep Kaur, Floral Park Memorial High School Grace Kenny, Huntington High School Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Ariel Kim, Jericho Senior High School FOURTH PLACE, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award Thalia Kukkonen, Half Hollow Hills High School West Vivienne LaVertu, Huntington High School Finley Livingston, North Shore High School Stephanie Lopez, Hicksville High School Liz Lopez, Valley Stream South High School Leslie Madera, East Rockaway High School Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Amisha Mangal, Valley Stream Central High School Amanda Marsden, Babylon High School Honorable Mention Dom Mauri, Newfield High School Danyella McAlpin, Amityville Memorial High School Stephanie McDonough, Bayport-Blue Point High School
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
LONG ISLAND'S BEST 2021
Priya Mendiratta, Manhasset High School Alena Moreira, Valley Stream North High School Honorable Mention Nneka Nnabuogor, Elmont Memorial High School Maris O’Brien, Smithtown High School West Mia Oquendo, East Islip High School Sofia Orellana Contreras, Uniondale High School Ashley Park, Half Hollow Hills HS West SECOND PLACE, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize Joseph Mack Achievement Award Anneliese Perfetti, Half Hollow Hills High School East Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Samantha Pesiri, Smithtown High School West Firefly Gallery Next Generation Award Sarah Piccinini, East Islip High School Giana Porter, Bellport High School Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Victoria Rodgers, Commack High School Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Zuleyma Romero, Hicksville High School Rosalia Rosato, Kings Park High School Joseph Mack Achievement Award Caroline Roser-Dialma, Long Beach High School Kelly Ryan, Hicksville High School Firefly Gallery Next Generation Award Godlee Sainvilus, West Hempstead High School Bianca Santaromana, Walt Whitman High School Anays Sarauz, Carle Place High School Natalie Schiff, Half Hollow Hills High School East Heckscher Achievement Award
Kristen Seo, Syosset High School Ella Siepel, Huntington High School Heckscher Achievement Award Joseph Mack Achievement Award Maria Slavnova, Bellport High School Charly Sloss, Babylon High School Emma Smith-Molesso, Center Moriches High School Nora Sweeney-Gladen, Harborfields High School Roman Taglieri, Cold Spring Harbor High School Alex Valentine, Mount Sinai High School Heckscher Achievement Award Anna Varveris, John F. Kennedy High School Paola Vicini Jaramillo, Mineola High School Ana Vissicchio, Portledge School Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Matthew Vo, W.T. Clarke High School Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award Lily Wagner, Hicksville High School Honorable Mention Cindy Wang, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Vivian Wang, Huntington Fine Arts Zihao (Andrew) Wang, Smithtown Christian School Isabella Weber, Hicksville High School Honorable Mention Kayleigh Wieboldt, Oyster Bay High School Kaylee Wimmer, Patchogue-Medford High School Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Sandy Yang, H. Frank Carey High School Madison Yeh, John F. Kennedy High School Giavanna Zavala, Bayport-Blue Point High School
Aleena Abraham, Storge, Oil pastel Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas What first drew me to Fernando Carpaneda’s painting, Jesus Christ was the richness and intensity of the saturated hues the artist used. The way that Carpaneda made the colors seem as if they were peeking through the skin inspired me to explore a material where I could achieve a similar feeling. In my artwork, I hope to show maternal love and love for family. In order to achieve the rich, luminous colors, I layered watercolors and oil pastels, and blended them to create gradations of color. To contrast these soft transitions of color, I left the textures created by the oil pastels to create definition in the face and hair. I titled my piece Storge an Ancient Greek word meaning “familial love” referring to natural or instinctual affection. I want others to find joy and warmth in the colors and subject, in the hopes that they will hold on to these feelings and pass them on to others. Third Place, The Hadley Prize
Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Jesus Christ, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Carlos Alfaro. The Village, Alcohol marker Walt Whitman High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Erica Raji Artist Thomas Germano inspired me with the details he paints. His work transported me into his painting of the Bronx. I like the colors that he used to create a powerful sense of atmosphere and mood as day turns into night. His painting inspired me to draw my version of the well-known, often visited hangout, Huntington Village. I hope that people who have not yet visited this place can enjoy it by looking at my artwork and that my work gives them a happy, calm, or even inspiring feeling. The Village captures a place to visit and spend time enjoying life in a local setting where memories are made. Heckscher Achievement Award Donald & Gloria Horn Scholarship Award 25th Anniversary Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Thomas Germano, Bronx, NY, 2019, Oil on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Madison Amini Masked Recognition Acrylic on canvas W.T. Clarke High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Jane Pawlowski My painting is inspired by Deborah Buck’s Waiting Room. This artwork gave me the feeling of distinguishing what’s in front of you when it seems unrecognizable. Doing self portraits gives me this same feeling. The eyes are a focal point that drew my attention in Buck’s painting. Semantic satiation, or that feeling of looking at a word for so long that it looks like it is not a word anymore, is how it feels to see myself with a mask on. I become unrecognizable. This piece taught me to break things down, to appreciate the details, and also to step back and take everything in to understand it.
Inspiration artwork: Deborah Buck, Waiting Room 2020, Acrylic, pastel, and ink on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Tyler Basil, Tree Veining, Digital art Huntington High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanti Chris Ann Ambery’s Hope was the inspiration for my artwork. Similarly, the subject within each one of my abstract pieces came from photographs I took of various trees and foliage located within my neighborhood. I chose a complementary color scheme to help create contrast between the limbs of trees and the sky. I layered various filters in Photoshop to create a bold, enigmatic rendition of a familiar image, yet I still had to balance the filters so the changes weren’t overly disruptive. I experimented with this process until I found a composition that I was pleased with.
Inspiration artwork: Chris Ann Ambery, Hope, 2020, Solarplate etching. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Mary Blaney, stitching a dreamscape, Oil on canvas Manhasset High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker When viewing Denise Jones Adler’s Same Battles, Same Victims, I was intrigued by how she merged the outside environment with a peaceful inside space. I was also captivated by the mythical, dreamy composition and her use of overlapping floral elements. Adler describes “the desire to capture a moment in time,” and how it emotionally impacts her past and present. My piece captures a positive moment in my own life. A simple action of giving to a loved one can bring overwhelming positivity. The flowers growing out of the floor represent the blooming nature of love and the clouds represent the precious passing of time. In my painting, I try to capture how ordinary moments can become magical, like the flowers that grow in Adler’s painting. Cozza Family Art Award
Jeanna Boltz, Chaos of an Empty Mind, Colored pencil, acrylic, and pen Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kim Norris I was inspired by Mark Van Wagner’s Ruined Sandbox. The dynamic of this sculpture told me a story. I saw a broken character, represented by the bigger block ruined with cracks, who was trying to hold on to their life as it had once been, which was represented by the smaller black wedge. I related it to an elder person who may be burdened with diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, where they lose the stability of their mind and their memories. In my piece, I wanted to portray the slow distortion of one’s perception of themselves. Someone who was once able to recall the very intricate details of their life, and those they love, can only recall a blur. They are no longer in control of what they can remember. I want this feeling of instability to be the strongest message in my piece. My use of colored pencils captures the details of a life that was once vivid, and the big, messy strokes of acrylic show those details getting lost. Smaller pen details represent inner turmoil. Repetition is another strong element which shows the melancholy of a desperate mind.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims, 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Mark Van Wagner, Ruined Sandbox, 2020, Natural and pigmented sand, polymer glues on recycled cardboard box. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Matthew Bonventre Pay Attention Please Gouache on fabric with embroidery floss East Meadow High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Brian O’Neill
Annemarie Cabrera, Hiraeth, Colored pencil John F. Kennedy High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Carissa Roche
Warm colors such as red, yellow, and orange are synonymous to me with emotions such as anger, hurt, and annoyance. David Almeida’s Seascape #017 brought out these emotions in me and gave me inspiration for this piece. I expanded on the theme of emotion, and depicted a screaming person. I incorporated red and orange into the background where I painted abstract shapes using gouache. The black embroidery floss gives the artwork a unique 3-D texture and creates strong contrast. The background represents the inner frustrations that she is letting out and now surround her. Furthermore, this shows that it is better to express your emotions than hold them back. I believe that this is especially important since many people may be locking away their emotions and not dealing with them as they are locked in their homes in quarantine.
I was inspired by Holly Hunt’s The Wait. I was intrigued by how this photograph depicts what makes up a home. When I looked into the windows of the house, I saw the desolation of the interior as the woman was looking away. This prompted the idea that the absence of a person can leave a home unfinished and empty. I wanted to incorporate that concept into my piece, but with an empty jacket instead of an empty home. Hunt’s artwork shows the moment when someone leaves. I chose to portray what happens after the person is gone. When a home is left empty it loses its essence, and so does a jacket. A suit jacket can be tailored specifically for its owner, but it is actually the user that gives the jacket its unique qualities. Without the person it was tailored for, the jacket becomes a meaningless piece of fabric that has lost its original purpose. People give objects purpose, and bring them to life. Firefly Gallery Next Generation Award
Inspiration artwork: David Almeida, Seascape #017, 2020, Found balloons. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Holly Hunt, The Wait, 2019, Digital photograph. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Robert Camlet, Castaway, Digital art East Islip High School Grade 12, Art Teachers: Heather Toomey & Daniel Figliozzi My artwork Castaway was inspired by Adam Straus’ Navigation. I chose this piece because of how the composition and color palette work together. I was especially interested in the way the artist created the birds in the sky, and the waves breaking in the sea. They seem to be the focal point because of their contrast against the water and their placement in the composition. The vastness of the foreground and middleground bring the focus to the center of the piece. I was inspired to create an artwork with a similar surreal feeling in a vast ocean landscape. The figures swimming in the sky that are blurred in my piece convey the ethereal nature of the atmosphere and its never-ending vastness. The figure in the middle connects to the breaking waves in Adam’s piece, both being the focal point of the work. I chose to use grayscale in order to allow the viewer to smoothly gaze across the piece.
Samantha Christian, Overwhelmed, Acrylic on canvas Sachem High School East, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Katrina Wrigley I was inspired by Lisa Petker-Mintz’s Life In Motion. The color palette and composition reminded me of a loose image of a blooming flower. However, in her artist statement she explained that her piece was geometric shapes that evolved as she added in representations of her frustration with the pandemic. I was inspired by her words as well as the idea of blooming flowers, and wanted to create a piece that captured the feeling of being trapped by the problems that overwhelmed me and others during these troubling times. Overwhelmed is symbolic of the chaos that is created when our problems build up and go unresolved. The flowers represent the problems and thoughts that grow and overwhelm us. I portrayed the anxiety and agony that is caused by this. The emotions in my piece are familiar to many of us, whether from this year or years before. I hope my art resonates with others and shows that although life can be unpredictable and challenging, you are not alone in feeling that way. Heckscher Achievement Award Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Adam Straus, Navigation, 2019 Oil, acrylic, and graphite on rice paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Lisa Petker-Mintz, Life in Motion, 2020, Acrylic on board. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Shannon Comiskey, Drawing a Facade, Colored pencil Hicksville High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas Caitlyn Coffin Night Skies Ceramic Long Beach High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: AnnMarie Pulice Nancy Metz’s painting Dusk Cold Spring Harbor inspired my ceramic artwork. Her interpretation of the beautifully colored sunset along with the tall silhouette of a tree captured my attention. Growing up in Long Beach, I have become very fond of the sunsets that occur every day, especially the winter sunsets. I decided to create a coil pot that incorporates a natural organic form. For the surface design, I chose colors to illustrate the winter skies, and included silhouettes of the seagrass that grows in the dunes.
Inspiration artwork: Nancy Metz, Dusk Cold Spring Harbor, 2019, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Holly Hunt’s The Wait made me look closely and think about how one does not always see the full meaning of an artwork upon first glance. At first, you see a woman waiting in front of a house. The house looks normal and your focus is on the woman who is dressed well, appearing as if she is leaving. Upon a closer look, you notice that the inside of the house is unfinished or falling apart. The framework of the house is disguised by its facade. Oftentimes, places, things, and especially people, only show you a facade of what is there. For my piece, I wanted to explore the concept of only showing the facade of families who are in the spotlight and idolized by others. The people looking at these individuals do not see what is really happening. My drawing portrays a queen posing for her portrait. It appears to be a typical portrait, but when you examine it more closely, you notice tears in her eyes. She is hiding her emotions from others. Because of the scrutiny she is under, she knows that she cannot show her fears or be seen as weak. She puts up the facade of a straight face with no emotions but strength and power. But, like us all, she is hiding her feelings and true emotions from the viewer.
Inspiration artwork: Holly Hunt, The Wait, 2019, Digital photograph. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Elijah Croom Sky’s Beauty Digital photograph
David Crespo End of Day Ceramic Long Beach High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: AnnMarie Pulice I was inspired by Barbara Stein’s painting, Cloudscape. In her artist statement, Stein says that her paintings were influenced by her travels and that she is particularly interested in clouds. Her work is realistic, and depicts a sky that looks both peaceful and chaotic as though a storm is on its way. Like Stein, I chose to explore the idea of clouds. I created a 3-D piece in clay that is reminiscent of a cloud formation. Then, I decided to finish it with colors that remind me of a sunset on the beach in Galicia, Spain. I have family in Galicia and have traveled there regularly. The sun and clouds of Galicia represent my emotional connection to the people and to the place. My artwork reflects these cherished memories.
Inspiration artwork: Barbara Stein, Cloudscape, 2019, Oil. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Malverne High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Maura Savis-Minor I was immediately attracted to the landscape painting, Dusk Cold Spring Harbor by Nancy Metz. I was drawn in by her use of color, shadow, light, and the overall composition of the landscape. This piece reminded me of my own landscape photos. I enjoy the challenge of capturing the moments of a sunrise or sunset in a short amount of time. Nancy Metz’s painting inspired me to bring my own vision into reality.
Inspiration artwork: Nancy Metz, Dusk Cold Spring Harbor, 2019, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Julianna Curcio Clairvoyant Digital photograph Northport High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: John DeRosa The most enticing quality of Wood Gaylor’s Portrait of a Woman is all of the movement throughout the portrait. While the focal point is the gaze of the woman’s soft looking eyes, the lines and patterns throughout also create an interesting path for the observer’s eyes to follow. I wanted to connect this concept to my own work by creating an interesting texture throughout my portrait. To tie in the strong gaze of Gaylor’s subject, I intentionally left the eyes without texture since her gaze is so fixed and concentrated.
Amber Dacanay, Untitled, Oil on canvas Huntington Fine Arts, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lenore Hanson After leaving public school at the end of 2018, a string of bad events led to the decline of my mental well-being. Feelings of shame, disappointment, and frustration arose. However, the most overwhelming emotion was by far trying to comprehend how I strayed so far from the plan I had for my academic future. I had gone from a top-achieving student on the road to being valedictorian to an academic burnout with no hope of restoring my reputation. Now, two years later, I have rebuilt my sense of identity around my passion for the arts. I created this piece with the intention of bringing closure to the person I was. Processing emotional turmoil through creation has been a cathartic practice that I’ve come to enjoy. I found inspiration in how Alisa Shea utilized her artistic abilities in her Failure Series to reclaim power over the negative emotions that came with being unable to meet certain standards. In my painting, I explore the struggle that many experience as they attempt to meet the expectations of the public schooling system, and also come to terms with the reality that the person I was two years ago was never meant to be Up To Snuff.
The Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Virtual Visitor’s Choice Award Inspiration artwork: Wood Gaylor, Portrait of a Woman, 1952, Oil on cardboard. From the exhibition: Wood Gaylor and American Modernism
Inspiration artwork: Alisa Shea, Up to Snuff, 2019, Transparent watercolor. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Keren Dial, Cultivating the Mustard, Colored pencil Valley Stream South High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Ed Lee Initially drawn to the striking hyperrealism of Alisa Shea’s Cutting the Mustard, I ultimately found myself infatuated by not only the style and mechanics of the piece, but by the message behind it. Looking to re-purpose the frustration that comes out of rejection, I decided to create a defiant response of my own. Why should we dwell on our failings when we could use them to plant seeds of growth? Having always gravitated towards depicting the faces of other people in my work, I chose to depart from my norm, framing this piece as a self-portrait. I decided that it was time that I looked upon myself as a figure of intrinsic inspiration. If cultivating our own processes of growth starts within ourselves, I told myself, who better to depict than myself? Stemming from Alisa Shea’s work, the red gingham pattern of the cloth resting underneath the mustard seeds was carried over to my own, acting as a motif of the continuity of growth. Celebrate Achievement Best in Show Award
Inspiration artwork: Alisa Shea, Cutting the Mustard 2019, Transparent watercolor. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Julia Diamond, A Man’s World. Digital photograph Roslyn High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Richard Ritter I was inspired by the composition of Denise Jones Adler’s painting Same Battles, Same Victims, using the corner of a room, the painting hanging on the wall, and a small table similar to the original piece. I also was inspired by the title of the piece. My photograph represents the battle women have fought throughout history – and still to this day – to get the credit and respect they deserve. I wanted to show how history has been distorted by men due to sexism, and that many powerful women never had their chance to be remembered. Cozza Family Photography Award Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Iris Fan Plexure Photographic collage
Briana Dunn Sunday Afternoon Digital art New Hyde Park Memorial High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti I was inspired by Doug Reina’s Shack, which gave me a summery and relaxing feeling that I find comfort in. His piece reminded me of a photograph I took over the summer, which I then decided to interpret through a digital painting to heighten the color scheme, relating it more to the summer colors in Shack. Although a small detail, you can also see the similar mark-making that we both utilized, along with uneven edges and transitions between colors. I made my piece with the intention to evoke a longing for the tranquility and carefree nature that many people feel.
Inspiration artwork: Doug Reina, Shack, 2018, Oil, wax on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Jericho Senior High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Bryan Ciminelli My artwork takes the concepts of photography and textiles and combines them to depict physicality through digital media. I was inspired by Nine-Patch Tanit by Amanda Valdez because it provoked me to think more about the act of weaving and how that could relate to digital art. Weaving can encompass more than lacing threads and fabric. It can create thought-provoking and visually dynamic images. Texture through weaving incorporates depth, rhythm, and physicality. Through a contemporary approach to portraiture, my work explores the concept of perspective and texture.
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, Nine-Patch Tanit, 2017 Hand-dyed fabric, fabric, and canvas. From the exhibition: Amanda Valdez: Piecework
Aislyn Franciscovich Fleur de La Soeur, Oil and acrylic on canvas with embroidery Huntington High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Kristin Singer
Sean Feinberg Nocturnal Paint markers on canvas Long Beach High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eric Fox I was drawn to Death Toll by Janet Culbertson because of its gritty texture and high contrast. This is similar to my own work in which I incorporated heavy black lines on a white background. The texture created by the medium that Culbertson used inspired me to use paint markers on canvas to achieve a similar effect. Like Culbertson, I wanted my viewers to feel a sense of uneasiness by making the images in my piece extremely unsettling and ominous, requiring close examination to take in everything that is happening.
Inspiration artwork: Janet Culbertson, Death Toll, 2020, Ink, pastel on rag paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Karen Cunningham’s Morning Sun and Portrait of My Father inspired my artwork with their serene style, thoughtfulness and sentiment. In her statement, the artist explained how her subjects are personal, deeply related to her psyche, and an important part of her life. I strove to capture these same sentiments in my portrait of my younger sister, Wynne. For our entire lives, my sister and I have shared a bedroom that we fill with decorations and things we collectively love. Our room is covered in paper flowers of varying colors and sizes, which are attached to the walls and suspended by string from the ceiling. Spending time creating things and decorating has shaped our close relationship and who I am today. I sewed brightly colored flowers on to the canvas to symbolize the things we have created and experiences we have shared together. I hope my portrait shows the love and closeness I have for my beautiful, energetic, and creative sister. Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Inspiration artwork: Karen Cunningham, Morning Sun, 2020, Oil pastels. Portrait of My Father, 2019, Oil pastels. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Benjamin Herbert, Requiem, Terracotta Northport High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Robin O’Neill-Gonzalez
Jolie Greco, The Bean, Colored pencil West Babylon High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Heather Cattell I drew inspiration from Thomas Germano’s Bronx, NY. The first time I viewed this painting, I knew I wanted to use it as inspiration and create a work that would be from the perspective of inside a building. I looked further into Germano’s work and found that many of his pieces incorporate local buildings. His landscapes are usually warmed toned, as this one is, with the sun starting to set. Definitely an interesting part of the Bronx is that every place has its own story, despite all the outside facades that look the same. My work, The Bean, is an observational drawing of my favorite local cafe. As I’ve spent the last few years discovering every corner of this cafe with many of my friends, it holds a lot of memories that are dear to my heart, making it feel like a second home to me. Wanting to encapsulate that feeling of home, I used warm tones to give my work a familiar and comfortable feeling. I aimed to really bring out the colors inside the building, making it look as bright as it felt. To all those viewing my drawing, this is a formal invitation to join me at The Bean.
Inspiration artwork: Thomas Germano, Bronx, NY, 2019, Oil on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Janet Culbertson’s use of brain scans elicited my own fascination for psychology, philosophy, and spirituality, which I often embrace in my work. Culbertson and I both contemplate humanity’s perception of life and death and how to express these philosophies. My piece is about the evolution of human consciousness, or reincarnation. The merging and futility amongst the human figures represents the process everyone goes through to achieve karma. In the teachings of Ram Dass, every experience that has happened or that will happen is part of a process of the incarnation, the removal of the veil that exists in the reality we perceive as real. It is a sequence and each incarnation makes the veils thinner. The moment one realizes that this birth was just another birth, they are faced with a question of what was the reason. If this predicament is accepted, the trajectory starts to change. From the point where awakening occurs the only thing that dies is the thought of who you are.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Janet Culbertson, Skulls, 2020 X-rays, photographs, pastel on rag paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
James Herbst, Artist Within, Digital art Sayville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Evan Hammer
If you surveyed artists, I am confident that almost all of them could recall a mental image of their high school art room. Besides the piles of supplies and chaos of ideas, the room has a comfort hidden inside. For many of us, the art room becomes a safe space, a make-shift home. It serves as a symbol for growth, innovation, the spread of ideas, and the expression of emotion. In his painting Long Island Expressway, Thomas Germano recreated a memory (anamnesis simulacrum) by visually reconstructing this location. Anamnesis philosophy creates a deja vu effect for the viewer. I was intrigued by this concept and it inspired my own artwork. In Artist Within, I depict the inspiration that my high school art room gave me over the past four years. The piece embodies my memory of the classroom. After spending over 1,000 hours there discovering myself and abilities, it has been embedded within my soul. Every artist’s journey begins somewhere, and mine truly began within room 135.
Inspiration artwork: Thomas Germano, Long Island Expressway 2018, Oil on panel. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Jocelyn Herrera. Is this Justice?, Colored pencil Mineola High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kathy Loughlin The first thing that drew me to Andrea Fortunoff’s Dance the Story-Generations in Rhythm was the unusual color palette. I really like the way she limited her colors and used complimentary colors to contrast each other. I think her color choices help to illustrate the feeling of rhythm and movement of people dancing and playing their instruments. This inspired me to use the same color range of teal and orange to produce a contrasting rhythm that helps accentuate the anxiety and tension in my subject matter. Her work is created by using layers of juxtaposing images that have a story to tell of dance, history, movement and culture. In my work, I tell a story that also speaks to culture and history, but in a very different way. My story is about the injustice of human trafficking and torture of children over generations around the world. I feel very strongly about increasing awareness of this horror. I want viewers to feel the emotions of these women and children enough to affect change, the same way Andrea Fortunoff’s piece makes me want to get up and dance.
Inspiration artwork: Andrea Fortunoff, Dance the Story-Generations in Rhythm 2020, Photographic collage; archival pigment c-print. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Gagandeep Kaur Stonewall, Again Colored pencil and graphite Cailin Hoang, Night-Mare, Acrylic on canvas Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas In Contemplations, the artist explores her intrigue with the “evanescence” of memories. She discusses how prominent memories eventually fade, becoming colorful stains of emotion. Ambery’s interaction with memory and emotion reminded me of the similar “evanescent” nature of dreams. Dreams are ornate, fleeting shells that contain clouds of emotion. As they float in our mental recess, they crumble. My inspiration for this piece started one night when I awoke from a nightmare. That Night-Mare’s gait was cut short, its shell crumbling. For the rest of the night, fear flushed my senses. My discomfort with golden-orange hues led me to use that color to illustrate the fear I felt that night. Golden-orange is the color of the balloons my grandfather used to hold, the happiness that he embodied, the heart shaped box cap he gave me, but also the color of the flowers at his funeral, the lines on the funeral hall floor. My periodic nightmares all encompass a sharp adjustment in life’s length. I hadn’t thought of the reason behind these nightmares before painting solely in the color golden-orange.
Inspiration artwork: Chris Ann Ambery, Contemplations, 2019, Solarplate etching. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Floral Park Memorial High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Sydell Glasser In this past year, we have lived through a global pandemic, watched unemployment soar, and witnessed Black Lives Matter protests on TV. All of this has made me critically examine the society of which I am a part of. I have begun to question certain social constructs and discriminatory injustices; once one is aware of such things, it is hard to turn your back on them. Artists have the ability to communicate the need for change in ways that others do not. Viewing Kenneth Jackson’s America, made me realize that I too could express my views on social issues in a way that could powerfully transcend language barriers and help bring about change in areas where it is desperately needed. In my piece Stonewall, Again, I represent the protestors during Pride 2020 clashing with police. I chose to render the protestors in color as a way to emphasize their fight for equality, and that everyone doesn’t fall into a black or white mold.
Inspiration artwork: Kenneth Jackson, America, 2020, Oil on wood. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Ariel Kim Personal Garden Oil pastel and colored pencil
Grace Kenny, Love One Another, Colored pencil and collage Huntington High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Kristin Singer When I first saw the painting Jesus Christ by Fernando Carpaneda, I was captivated by both the power and beauty that it radiates. Carpaneda challenges heteronormativity in classical art by creating a modern rendition of a religious portrait featuring Jesus Christ as a black gay man. Jesus taught us to “love one another”, a message that is often forgotten in our prejudiced society. I wanted to emulate this theme in my artwork. Bright purples, blues, and pinks represent pride and the fluidity of gender. In the background, stories of celebration and resistance are told in a collage of photographs from historical events such as the Stonewall riots in 1969. This piece is meant to represent the decades of LGBTQ activism that empower today’s youth to express themselves freely. Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Jesus Christ, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Jericho Senior High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Tara Pillich I was inspired by Denise Adler’s piece and the sense of depth created by the use of layered mixed media on a two-dimensional rendering of a threedimensional space. My mixed media artwork features colored pencil line work in the background to create a forest of flora and thick layers of oil pastels on top to create a similar sense of depth. Influenced by Adler’s surrealist depiction of reality, I was inspired by the plants’ potential as a visual metaphor, especially when interacting with a human subject. My work uses this metaphor as a springboard, with plants taking root inside of the person’s skin and blooming through the torn crevices of flesh to illustrate the growth that emerges from failure. Although the subject is torn apart, vegetation takes this opportunity to emerge and fill the space with beauty.
Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: 2020 Long Island Biennial
Thalia Kukkonen, Overcast, Photograph Half Hollow Hills High School West Grade 12, Art Teacher: Jennifer Ievolo My photograph was inspired by Howie Pohl’s Boarded Window. When I first saw the house in my photograph, it had the perfect lighting to dramatize all of the textures and curves of the structure. The unusual placement of the windows and the doors caught my attention and inspired me to create this piece. I captured the photo, making sure to fit the whole house into frame. The texture of the building contrasting with the overcast sky made me feel curious to know more about the history of the structure. My aim is for viewers to see this ominous house, and be curious about it as well, just like I was curious about the mystery behind Howie Pohl’s Boarded Window.
Inspiration artwork: Howie Pohl, Boarded Window, 2019, Film photograph. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Vivienne LaVertu, Two Battles, One Goal, Colored pencil Huntington High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Kristin Singer For my artwork, I wanted to focus on the two aspects that played the biggest role in why 2020 was such a crazy year: the political clashing, and the pandemic that no one saw coming. My drawing is a metaphor for two political parties fighting fire with fire, while grabbing predominantly red and blue states with any swings in the middle. The knights riding on their backs are the ideas and policies they agree with. In the middle, is a “normal life” princess caged by the evil COVID knights, as the health care workers fight them to set the woman free.
Inspiration artwork: Paul Farinacci, HPE (Home Protective Equipment) 2020, Mixed media on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Finley Livingston All Clean Watercolor pencil and oil pastel North Shore High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Margaret Delima In Connie Fox’s Sammy’s Beach I, it seems that bright blue water is cascading down the piece in an abstract way. It was that feeling that influenced me to create my own artwork. I like the vibrancy of the colors in Connie Fox’s paintings, and wanted to emulate the same effect. Although her pieces are fully acrylic, they are filled with so much texture and dimension, it ultimately inspired me to create a piece just as eye-catching.
Inspiration artwork: Connie Fox, Sammy’s Beach I, 2007, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Connie Fox: The Sammy’s Beach Series
Liz Lopez, Despair, Digital art Valley Stream South High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Roseann Valletti
Chris Ann Ambery’s solar plate etchings really stood out to me – their colors are unique and the formations of the patterns are so beautiful and kind of unhinged. I think that the way the light blues with the muted brown and the pops of a brighter red come together makes an interesting color palette. I think that between these colors, there is a beautiful chaos in the way they clash, so I took that small bit of chaos and upped it a few notches, turning Hope into Despair with a focus on intense reds with pops of blue. The shapes in Ambery’s work also influenced my piece. I created complex patterns stemming from the figure on the left. I find it fun to express meaning through bodies. That feeling of desperation, longing, and the toxicity of clinging onto something that’s hurting you are all things I wanted to convey.
Inspiration artwork: Chris Ann Ambery, Hope, 2020, Solarplate etching. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Stephanie Lopez, Vertigo, Oil on canvas Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Leslie Madera, Boys Don’t Cry, Photograph East Rockaway High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kelly Cabasso
In HPE (Home Protective Equipment), Paul Farinacci’s use of a vibrant red gave me a feeling of chaos and uneasiness. It also made me feel trapped, similar to how I felt during quarantine – trapped within my own self and the chaos of my running mind. I wanted to create a distorted self-portrait to show how I am feeling about this new reality we live in today. The use of oil paint helped me create the effect of myself being pulled from reality. Oil paint afforded me the ability to layer, blend and blur my painting to give it the dizziness of all the thoughts going on in my mind, pulling me in all directions, never feeling like any of it was real. The rich warm tones draw you into the piece, but at the same time, the intensity of the colors vibrate and push the viewer into an uneasy state, similar to the discomfort and awkwardness we all feel when wearing a mask for a prolonged amount to time.
Homophobia and toxic masculinity are two secondary issues which derive from generational societal norms. I chose Homophobia Kills as my inspiration artwork because though I cannot relate to the artist’s struggles, I hurt for him and others who are constantly put in danger due to their sexuality or identity. My piece focuses more so on identity and gender norms. To tell a child they are not allowed to cry or show any emotion other than anger is dangerous to themselves and their future relationships. As humans we must be able to express ourselves. Inability to do so could lead to abuse, violence, and many more issues we deal with in this country. We are the ones that contribute to these societal flaws. It is up to us to unlearn these harmful habits and teach new generations the value of loving everyone despite their gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, etc.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Inspiration artwork: Paul Farinacci, HPE (Home Protective Equipment) 2020, Mixed media on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Homophobia Kills. Case Number 17, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Amisha Mangal, Lotus Incarnate, Digital art Valley Stream Central High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Mario Bakalov
Amanda Marsden, Burning Roads, Mixed media Babylon High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Cheryl Schweider
In Jesus Christ, Fernando Carpaneda references Christian iconography and I was moved to make a piece that spoke more directly to Eastern perspectives, or, more specifically, my experience as a queer Hindu woman. Within Hinduism, there is the belief that a soul can be reincarnated and, thus, lovers can exist throughout generations. What’s stopping lovers from being reincarnated to be the same gender? Queer love is commonly seen as something that is “wrong” and “dirty” and is thus looked down upon, but why? My piece was made with the intention of showing the beauty in this love. In using the motif of the Hindu goddesses and traditional Murtis, I have sought to create a piece that portrays same sex couples in a more positive, truthful light. Through the use of digital collage, I have created a contemporary image that is reminiscent of traditional and historical Hindu imagery. The title refers to the Lotus Blossom that culturally represents purity and rebirth.
I was originally drawn to The Accidental because I loved the artist’s use of mixed media and the incorporation of embroidery. I also like the idea of using art to make the world more comprehensible and a tool for connection. I used my piece to highlight some of the effects of the Australian wildfires from early 2020. I showed many things in my background, including the impact on wildlife with deforestation and water contamination, and the heavy toll it took on its citizens. I took inspiration from the embroidery and used it to incorporate a map of some of the streets in Melbourne, Australia, a city that had faced the wildfires head on. I also used rough edges like Keyghobadi because I feel like they embody the chaos that the fires caused.
Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Jesus Christ, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Roshanak Keyghobadi, The Accidental, 2020 Handmade paper, newspapers, magazines, threads. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Dom Mauri, America’s a Riot!, Digital art Newfield High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Sal Berretta I was drawn to Dawn Lee’s abstract interpretation of energy through dramatic strokes in Bird Woman Falls. The sense of energy and movement in this artwork reminded me of the distressing insurrection of the United States Capitol building which occurred on January 6th, 2021. I sat at my television watching thousands of people torment the integrity of our country, as they allowed their turmoils to wash over them in a fit of blind rage. I watched their emotion and movement contort and boil to substantial extremes, capturing the raw energy that encapsulated both themselves and the heart of America. In my artwork, I strove to capture this energy. I didn’t want to simply interpret reality, I wanted to push reality to unorthodox extremes. Lee’s study of movement and energy of the world inspired me to create a stylized interpretation of my own, through harsh color balance and hyper stylization.
Inspiration artwork: Dawn Lee, Bird Woman Falls, 2019, Charcoal on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Danyella McAlpin Sprinkled Crystals Digital photograph Amityville Memorial High School Grade 9, Art Teacher: Nicole Scoca I seek to create art based on what’s around me and my moods. I wanted to challenge myself to photograph something inspired by Alisa Shea’s painting Worth My Salt. My goal was to emulate her color palette, using highlights and shadows to convey a similar atmosphere. I had to do a lot of experimenting with lighting to truly capture the proper details and reflections that define Shea’s piece. My goal was to create artwork that would make the viewer feel a sense of sweetness and bright positivity.
Inspiration artwork: Alisa Shea, Worth My Salt, 2019, Transparent watercolor. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Stephanie McDonough, The Artist: Wild and Free, Colored pencil Bayport-Blue Point High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Frank Salino Amanda Valdez’s Grace IV caught my eye with its interesting composition of color. The few cool tones in a basin of warm tones resonated with me. My aim was to capture the concept of individuality in my self-portrait. I posed with an expression to match the unique shape of Grace IV, and began to draw, loosely keeping in mind Valdez’s color scheme. I colored relatively haphazardly, staying mostly in warm tones, but also incorporating blue tones for shadows and contrast. I left my hair in it’s naturally curly state to match the “messyyet-put-together” look of the paint in Valdez’s work. Overall, I wanted to convey the seemingly mindless and free color scheme in my portrait to reflect something strange, yet pleasing to view.
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, Grace IV, 2019, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, acrylic, and canvas. Collection of Elizabeth Denny and Robert Dimin. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Priya Mendiratta, The Art of Storytelling, Pencil Manhasset High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker Kathak, a classical form of Indian dance, is known as the art of storytelling. Dance the Story-Generations in Rhythm inspired me to create a work of art about all that dance can do. Inspired by the way in which Fortunoff focused her piece on the footwork of the dancer, I chose that as the focus of my drawing. The speed and precision of a kathak dancer’s feet is one of the most important skills she must ingrain into her body so that she can fly across the stage in the effortless manner in which a kathak dancer must. The ghungroos, or bells, which a kathak dancer ties around her ankles, are what ground her to this earth as she spins and lifts her feet faster than the speed of light. In my artwork, I drew the image of myself tying my ghungroos around my feet as well as an image of my feet rising off the floor as I dance. I intended to show the beauty of Kathak and the way in which its footwork serves as a universal language which communicates tales both ancient and modern to the rest of the world.
Inspiration artwork: Andrea Fortunoff, Dance the Story-Generations in Rhythm, 2020, Photographic collage; archival pigment c-print. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Alena Moreira, Ghost, Colored pencil Valley Stream North High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Allan Nafte The longer we are apart, the more we fade from memory, until we are only left with the feeling of what used to be. I have memories stored lovingly in the golden and silver and wooden chests of my mind, memories I long to hold onto, but that slowly crumble away under the unrelenting ticking of time. Like a worn photograph, there are tears and rips, holes and thinning spots, faded and blurred objects. Like Luke Merz’s Memory/Loss #9, there are beautiful details and emptiness, filled only with a sense of loss. This past year, time has been cruel to us. We have been apart for too long, our only connection a pixelated face, sometimes with indistinguishable features. Are you more than this image? I can’t remember. You fade away with each passing day, until one day, I fear you will be invisible, the only proof of your existence being the space you leave behind. Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Luke Merz, Memory / Loss #9, 2020, Watercolor. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Nneka Nnabuogor Wither Oil on canvas Elmont Memorial High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Stella Grenier Much like Denise Adler’s work Same Battles, Same Victims, which exposes the fragile nature of life and the emotional impact of time on an individual, I set out to create a surreal piece of work that draws connections between nature’s effect on the human body and its surroundings. What caught my attention about Adler’s work was its focus on the delicate, supple features found in nature obscuring the body. I also came across this idea in my study of the Surrealist movement. My painting details the connection between the tea tree and man found exclusively in East Asian cultures. It ties together the impact of time on human features and its similarity to signs of age observed in trees.
Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims, 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Maris O’Brien Ripple, Acrylic on canvas Smithtown High School West Grade 12, Art Teacher: Steven Halem I drew inspiration from Philippe Cheng’s Magnolia, focusing on the idea of subject intensity. While Cheng’s message is about finding the power in the simplicity of light, mine is founded on an exaggeration of light. To achieve my image, I created a still life using intertwined reflective films casting various contrasting lights to highlight the push and pull of the image. I hope to illustrate how the simplicity of a subject doesn’t necessarily equate to how powerful the impact can be on the viewer. Though Cheng’s and my artwork lie on opposite ends of the spectrum, both contain a deep intensity that widen the possibilities of interpretation. The viewer is allowed to define the piece however they wish, choosing to find comfort, hope, distress, or curiosity in the image.
Inspiration artwork: Philippe Cheng, Magnolia, 2020, Giclée Print on Sandpaper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Mia Oquendo, Personal Still Life, Colored pencil East Islip High School Grade 12, Art Teachers: Heather Toomey & Daniel Figliozzi I was inspired by Alisa Shea’s watercolor Worth My Salt because of its depiction of a still life in hyperrealism. Shea’s piece really inspired me to focus on my technique in drawing realistically. I arranged objects that I felt resembled me for my artwork. I love how much detail Shea put into her artwork, specifically all of the highlights, glares and reflections of each glass piece onto the other. I challenged myself with items that reflect, including a camera, sunglasses, and gold hoop earrings. I rendered them with colored pencils, focusing on form, light, texture and shadow. I looked carefully at the details, especially on the glares and fractured light in the camera. I love how the glass duck was a focal point in Shea’s piece, due to its dominating red color. Similarly, I chose to place a red camera toward the center of my artwork.
Inspiration artwork: Alisa Shea, Worth My Salt, 2019, Transparent watercolor. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Sofia Orellana Contreras, Liberation, Acrylic on canvas Uniondale High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Brianna Jacobs When I first saw Same Battles, Same Victims by Denise Adler, the first thing that came to my mind was the story of Adam and Eve. From a young age I was taught that Eve was naive, an antihero, who decided to eat the forbidden fruit because she was weak. As I grew up, I realized that the story was told from the perspective of the males – the ones that looked down on Eve. I now interpret the story as Eve wanting to escape from the fallacy of Eden, and to gain freedom. In my painting, I recreated the scene that Adler portrayed, but from Eve’s perspective, right before she ate the fruit, thus she is blind. I created my perception of her. From my point of view, she is black since much evidence points out that life began in Africa. I tried to represent a powerful woman that is seeking justice for herself, as she is oppressed up until this moment. She is looking to be freed from the prison that Eden represents.
Ashley Park, The 2021 Press, Mixed media Half Hollow Hills High School West, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Amanda Montiglio I chose Roshanak Keyghobadi’s Secret of the Puzzle for my inspiration. I first noticed this artwork because of its unique materials. For my artwork, I decided to use fabric, something out of the ordinary for me, as I have mainly only used paper. I was also drawn to Keyghobadi’s piece because the more you look at it, the more connections you find throughout the composition. The artist used pieces of newspapers from all over the world. In 2021, the world faces a lot of challenges and problems, including battles with COVID-19, racism, war, and poverty. I took this opportunity to highlight some of our biggest problems. Newspapers are primarily used as an information source, and I hope my artwork accurately portrays the events occurring right now. I hope I can look back at it when I’m older, in a more peaceful and healthier world, and remember all the troubles we faced in 2021.
Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize Joseph Mack Achievement Award Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims, 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Roshanak Keyghobadi, Secret of the Puzzle, 2020 Handmade paper, newspapers, magazines, threads. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Anneliese Perfetti, Portrait of My Brother, Oil on canvas Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kim Norris In Adler’s Same Battles, Same Victims, she describes her work as a way to “memorialize a moment in time” and to describe “the emotional impact of the past on the present.” Her way of immortalizing the emotional impact in her piece is what inspired me to create a portrait of my twin brother. Creating portraits is such a unique process in that portraits can hold cherished memories. While I was painting this artwork, I often became lost in my thoughts. I thought of my favorite moments with him; times where he was laughing with a goofy, big smile on his face. I would also drift off to moments where he was upset or angry, when all I could do was wonder why. Now, looking at my finished painting, it makes me feel both special and privileged that while this portrait captures one glimpse of my brother for viewers to see, when I look at it, I am able to see a million more.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims, 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: 2020 Long Island Biennial
Samantha Pesiri, visceral reaction, Acrylic on canvas Smithtown High School West, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Steven Halem When writing about her artwork, Amanda Valdez uses the word “visceral” and describes how her forms suggest the body. This inspired me to create visceral reaction, portraying how an abundance of emotion can manifest itself in physical reactions. My piece focuses on sight, and how the eyes can be a gateway to one’s most inner thoughts and emotions. The eyes are the focus, leaving the energy of all other senses numb. Valdez uses texture and color to portray emotion, so I used a similar technique to give weight to the form, creating pressure to replicate the feeling of being numb.
Firefly Gallery Next Generation Award
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, Grace IV, 2019, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, acrylic, and canvas. Collection of Elizabeth Denny and Robert Dimin. From the exhibition: Amanda Valdez: Piecework
Sarah Piccinini, Decomposing, Mixed media (gouache, colored pencil, graphite, & tissue paper on cardboard) East Islip High School Grade 12, Art Teachers: Heather Toomey & Daniel Figliozzi I perceive Adler’s artwork as a human breaking out of everyday life and embracing nature. I was inspired to create a piece depicting my personal connection with nature in a peaceful and comforting way. I decided to illustrate my own death in relationship to the way an animal dies in the wild. When an animal dies, their body decomposes and nutrients are absorbed back into the ground, fertilizing the soil. Thinking about mortality in this way comforts me. Knowing that after death, animals’ bodies are used to benefit the living and serve a greater purpose. I illustrated my body decomposing as butterflies cover me. I choose to include butterflies because they symbolize resurrection. I hope viewers discover their own connection with nature and change their perception of death when they view my work. I also created my work to spread environmental awareness. Due to industrialization and capitalism, we have forgotten the importance of environmental conservation. Creating my art on a scrap of cardboard that I would have otherwise thrown away, I hope to show how we can live in a resourceful and sustainable way.
The Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Visitor’s Choice Award Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims, 2019, Mixed media on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Giana Porter The Beauty of Daydreams Mixed media (watercolor, colored pencil, micron on illustration board) Bellport High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Devin Auricchio I was inspired by Deborah Buck’s artist statement, where she describes setting her own rules in the worlds she constructs. As an artist, I too, like to use my creative skills to develop new worlds and escape from everyday issues and problems. In my artwork, spirits and creatures roam wondrous landscapes full of serene fields with millions of flowers that fill the skies and defy gravity. Like Buck, I aim to use these fantastical ideas to create imaginary worlds that defy rules and restraints. The beauty of fantasy and dreams is something so wonderfully captured in art, and it is my goal whenever my pencil touches paper. The Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award Inspiration artwork: Deborah Buck, Waiting Room, 2020, Acrylic, pastel, and ink on paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Zuleyma Romero, Growing In Life, Mixed media Hicksville High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas Victoria Rodgers, Hidden in Plain Sight, Pencil Commack High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Marie Adamo Amanda Valdez conveys intimate human emotions with the use of various media in her artwork and this inspired me to create a work of art also based on emotion. In Diamond Pressure, the four corners of the diamond puncture through the center of Valdez’s composition. There is an imminent feeling of stress that gives me both a sense of chaos and enclosure. For my artwork, my intention was to capture the emotional state I was in a few years ago, but instead of working abstractly, I chose to create a realistic drawing. My experiences in my ballet company not only affected me in the studio, but also in my daily life. I felt like I was constantly being judged and compared to others. I used pencil and a strong light source to create a solitary mood in my drawing.
In Maiwald’s artwork, the lyrical way her colors move throughout the piece complement each other and give the illusion of cakes sailing across the ocean. The amount of detail she put into the embroidering shows her dedication, patience and commitment to her process. Her work inspired me to make a mixed media work of art based on an old childhood photograph from my fourth birthday. My piece represents growth and special memories that come from birthdays and time spent with family. The cake in my photograph was a tres leches cake which originates from Mexico – one that traditionally every Hispanic person eats on their birthday. I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone to try a new medium: embroidery. Learning this different art style showed me I should venture on to try more new things in the future. This piece started with the idea of representing growth. Now that I have finished it, I realize I grew even more during the process of making it, both as an artist and an individual.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, Diamond Pressure, 2013, Gouache, acrylic, embroidery, and canvas. Collection of Aarti Rao. From the exhibition: Amanda Valdez: Piecework
Inspiration artwork: Christa Maiwald, Migration, 2019, Hand embroidery. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Caroline Roser-Dialma Oranges and Lemons Thread and acrylic on canvas Long Beach High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
Rosalia Rosato Loneliness, Oil pastel Kings Park High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Susan Guasp I chose Cunningham’s Morning Sun as inspiration for my piece. It resonated with me because recently we have had to spend so much time at home. Many of us are sick of being confined in that same space. The use of light in Cunningham’s drawing gives a hopeful feeling, compared to how many, including myself, have been feeling during the pandemic. I wanted to use very dramatic lighting in my oil pastel drawing to show the negative feeling associated with current events. My goal is to communicate the feeling of loneliness in your own home. I used a blue-toned palette to communicate this idea of negativity and sadness.
I was inspired by both the title and use of material in Amanda Valdez’s can’t turn around. In response to her piece, I created an acrylic painting of a woman facing forward, who literally “can’t turn around.” She is walking away from the viewer and holding an embroidered fruit bag. This is similar to how Valdez incorporates various materials and embroidery into her artwork, creating texture and contrast. Working on this mixed media artwork helped me to understand how much of an impact the choice of materials has on our understanding and perception of a work of art.
Joseph Mack Achievement Award Inspiration artwork: Karen Cunningham, Morning Sun, 2020, Oil pastels. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, can’t turn around, 2014, Fabric, acrylic, gouache and embroidery. Collection of Greg Stadler. From the exhibition: Amanda Valdez: Piecework
Kelly Ryan, Marina, Oil on canvas Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas In Thomas Germano’s Long Island Expressway, the soft hues help create a relaxed and soothing feeling. I find comfort in revisiting places where I have spent time with my family. I use these places and their memories to recreate a similar feeling. For my artwork, I painted another place on Long Island that is sentimental for me. Whenever I visit this marina, I always feel a sense of calmness and familiarity, which reminds me of the atmosphere in Germano’s painting. When making this work of art, I pushed myself to experiment more with oil paint, seeing how I could manipulate it to create an emotional response. Loose brushstrokes and soft colors create a calm atmosphere, and subtle washes of color help add texture and depth, allowing me to blur parts of the painting and create a memory-like feeling.
Godlee Sainvilus, Self Destruct, Mixed media West Hempstead High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Cassie Ross Adler’s Same Battles, Same Victims makes me think about the concept of not realizing one’s own greatness due to the distractions of everyday life, society, or poor mental health. It reminded me of my own battle with distractions and mental health that make me forget my own potential. I used mixed media to create my piece, blending various images together to create texture and using paint with varying brushstrokes to add color. There are red streaks running from the subject’s eyes to show intense emotion and add vibrancy when most of the background is bleak. The grass and flowers are trying to make their way to the rest of the model’s body, but are stopped by a crack in the skin. This limits the plant life’s access to the rest of the face. It remains out of the figure’s sight, leaving them oblivious.
Firefly Gallery Next Generation Award Inspiration artwork: Thomas Germano, Long Island Expressway, 2018, Oil on panel From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Denise Adler, Same Battles, Same Victims 2019, Mixed media on linen From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Anays Sarauz, Anguish, Oil on canvas Carle Place High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Jenique Nijboer
Bianca Santaromana Window Oil pastel Walt Whitman High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Gina Tinucci My piece was inspired by Doug Reina’s artwork Shack. I was inspired by the artist’s use of strong shadows and highlights to create the illusion of depth. I wanted to depict the color changing on a surface when either exposed to or deprived of light in my oil pastel drawing Window.
Inspiration artwork: Doug Reina, Shack, 2018, Oil, wax on canvas From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Throughout my life I hid my true feelings from those around me. I learned to shrink parts of myself in order to conform to other people’s expectations. This kept me from truly being vulnerable within my own work. Before this piece, I created artwork that was visually appealing, but didn’t connect with who I am emotionally. When I first saw Portrait Of My Father by Karen Cunningham, I was fascinated by the emotion the artist was able to portray in her father. By creating a portrait like the one by Cunningham, I wanted the focus to be on the emotion being displayed. Through the eyes, I wanted to show the emotions I was feeling. In society, ideas like mental health are often swept aside. I feel that by creating art that faces these issues directly, we can progress to finally having conversations on the topic of mental health. Creating this piece taught me to be true to myself and my emotions, which in the past was a struggle for me to do, but now I can do with ease through my artwork.
Inspiration artwork: Karen Cunningham, Portrait of My Father 2019, Oil pastels From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Kristen Seo Sewed Shut Mixed media
Natalie Schiff, The Ending Mixed media (colored pencil, digital photography and Adobe Photoshop) Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Allyson Uttendorfer The intensity of the color red of the unusual balloon material in Almeida’s Seascape #017 inspired the eye catching sea of red balloons in the foreground of my image. As the eye travels upward from this compositional focal point, the window is open with bright light filling the room, creating the silhouette of a boy. As the sun streams in, the red balloons are highlighted. I layered my photograph on a sketch that I created on a torn page of poetry. The sentence is almost illegible, forcing viewers to look closely to read and interpret the meaning. I wanted viewers to feel this sense of leading lines and dramatic emotion that were created from the poem on top of the photograph as they read and explore my artwork.
Syosset High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Chrysoula Highland What initially inspired me to respond to Janet Culbertson’s artwork was its texture and contrast. The masks and covering of the eyes of a person conveyed a feeling of entrapment and being silenced. For my AP 2-D class, I have been investigating physical and mental imperfections and their effects. Culbertson’s piece inspired me to incorporate a feeling of suppression and pain in my artwork. I decided to portray a drawing of a girl with acne, laughing and looking unbothered. To show entrapment, I wanted to relate Culbertson’s portrayal of concealing certain parts of people’s faces, so I printed my drawing out, sewed the subject’s mouth shut, and placed bandaids on her areas of “imperfection.”
Heckscher Achievement Award Inspiration artwork: David Almeida, Seascape #017, 2020, Found balloons. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Janet Culbertson, Death Toll, 2020, Ink, pastel on rag paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Ella Siepel Tempest at Dusk Ceramic Huntington High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Ayallah Jeddah I have always been inspired by abstract art, so when I first saw Sammy’s Beach XII by Connie Fox, I knew it would be the perfect piece to base my own work on. The combination of vibrant and dark colors, as well as the abstract lines and shapes that fill much of the painting drew me in and reminded me of the chaos of nature. In my piece, I wanted to convey the feeling of an evening storm through a plethora of textures and colors. Using clay gave me the opportunity to explore the element of depth and add layers. Through the use of various media, I created my own interpretation of abstract art in 3-D form. Tempest at Dusk represents the lonely beauty of nature and is meant to convey feelings of solitude amidst the mayhem of a storm.
Maria Slavnova, Kings Highway, Acetate over paper Bellport High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Brandon Payne Thomas Germano’s painting and his artist statement immediately caught my eye. Having lived in New York City during my earliest years, my memories continue to play a big part in how I experience the city today. While Germano’s rendering is grounded in concrete and vivid recollections of this Bronx street corner, my piece more or less resembles how I recall my distant memories of Brooklyn: an abstracted array of streetlights and signs, shadows and sunlight, the strange and the familiar. The lack of people in Germano’s painting drew my eye to the cars and buildings that humans may reside in. As a child, I was always quite averse to looking at strangers passing by. For that reason, the human figures in my piece have been left intentionally vague and undefined, as to draw attention to the environment and allow the viewer to see the city the way that it exists in my mind.
Heckscher Achievement Award Joseph Mack Achievement Award Inspiration artwork: Connie Fox, Sammy’s Beach XII, 2010-2017, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Connie Fox: The Sammy’s Beach Series
Inspiration artwork: Thomas Germano, Bronx, NY, 2019, Oil on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Charly Sloss, Two (1), Mixed media (cardboard, paint, collage) Babylon High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Pat Stork
Emma Smith-Molesso, Skin, Oil on canvas Center Moriches High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Dan Kudreyko
I found inspiration in Meredith Rose’s Before & After 1. Rose’s artwork includes an x-ray image and I emulated the same transparent effect using a magazine lift. The two characters that I created represent a worker and someone they help. Despite how the face in the background was used to represent the figure on the right, both characters do not have much meaning other than what the viewer thinks. My hope is that this piece can spark more thoughts for whoever is observing it and to create their own interpretation of what the artist might be saying.
I was inspired by Fernando Carpaneda’s ability to use color and value in his work to make it look so realistic. I wanted to try and see if I could get the same effect by trying new techniques and stepping out of my comfort zone. I have never done large areas of skin or attempted the depths of details that it takes to do muscles. What I admire most about Carpaneda’s work is how he did the highlights, and that is the main focus in my work. It was a challenge trying to perfect the highlights and shadows to convey the dimensions of the body and bring my painting to life.
Inspiration artwork: Meredith Rose, Before & After 1, 2019, Mixed media. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Jesus Christ, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Roman Taglieri Skull Split Digital photograph Cold Spring Harbor High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Christine Oswald Nora Sweeney-Gladen, Human Desires, Ink and watercolor on paper Harborfields High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Elizabeth DeVaney Looking at the imagery and thinking about the meaning of Paul Farinacci’s HPE (Home Protective Equipment)’s led me to ask questions about society. My main question: “What do people really want?” Much like Farinacci’s piece, my own artwork shows a darker aspect of human nature, one that isn’t generally shown on the surface. In the foreground, a hand is being crushed by another. This represents the desperation to conform to a society’s beliefs, even if it would be detrimental to others to achieve it.
Inspiration artwork: Paul Farinacci, HPE (Home Protective Equipment) 2020, Mixed media on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
In Culbertson’s Skulls, I saw subjects whose interiors were being examined against their will. In response, I wanted to create something inspired by this feeling. I used the red around the figures and the overall distortion of the subjects through X-ray as my starting point. I distorted the subject in my digital photograph by using text and harsh filters. Similar to Culbertson, my piece is about seeing what is going on inside someone’s head.
Inspiration artwork: Janet Culbertson, Skulls, 2020, X-rays, photographs, pastel on rag paper From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Alex Valentine, I don’t want to wear this skirt anymore, Oil on canvas Mount Sinai High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Andrea Morganelli Connecting with Carpaneda’s LGBTQ message, I decided to show the other side of pride, where it backfires and beats you down. You leave the house feeling obligated to feel confident, you’re told you can wear what you want, present how you want, but the actual state of being who you truly want to be is so very fragile. Carpaneda suggests that homophobia will hurt and destroy you at your most vulnerable, when you are most confident, and when you least expect it. My piece follows this theme by taking the flamboyantly dressed and placing them in a scene in which this once comforting self expression becomes the stressor.
Anna Varveris, Equality in The Kitchen, Digital photograph John F. Kennedy High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Sarah Ritchie I was inspired by Glen Hansen’s Liberty and the way shadows and light come through the window. Growing up, I remember making a traditional Dominican breakfast (mangú) with my grandmother every Sunday morning. In Hansen’s piece, the sunlight and warmth from the sunlit windows comforts me and brings me back to those moments. I photographed an older couple making breakfast together with a stained glass window lighting up the kitchen. I named the piece Equality In The Kitchen to represent the balance of working together instead of alone.
Heckscher Achievement Award Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Homophobia Kills. Case Number 17 2020, Acrylic on canvas From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Glen Hansen, Liberty, 2019, Oil on panel From the exhibition: 2020 Long Island Biennial
Paola Vicini Jaramillo, Warmth at Night, Colored pencil Mineola High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kathy Loughlin What stood out to me about William Low’s artwork was his ability to convey a specific feeling in his paintings through the use of color and light. The way the light, boat, and people contrast with the dimmer landscape around them hit me with an odd sense of nostalgia and safety, which is where the idea for my piece originated. I lived in Colombia until I was 11 years old, and until then, almost every weekend we would leave the city and visit my stepfather’s family’s pine farm. At night on the farm, it was pitch black outside, yet the main house always remained bright and warm, with everyone chatting in the kitchen and drinking hot chocolate with queso fresco and panela. It was comfortable and safe, and because of that, the nights were never scary. This is the feeling I aimed to create with my drawing. I hope that my artwork not only helps me to momentarily escape my anxieties, but that other people are also able to remember their own happy places and be comforted through it as well.
Ana Vissicchio, Kaleyedoscope, Acrylic on canvas Portledge School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Jerry Krause Looking at Deborah Buck’s Waiting Room, what stood out to me was the five abstract eyes. While they are visually two-dimensional, they are emotionally multi-dimensional, and they each contain a distinctive expression. The conversations and situations we can depict and spark by creating art are beautifully conveyed through this piece. Like Buck, I often find myself creating art to express the way that I take in the world. Working on this painting gave me the ability to visually convey the journey I embark on when I view the world through my unique pair of eyes. My perception of the world will always vary greatly from the person sitting next to me, even if we are watching the same thing. Art allows me to take something ordinary and illustrate my emotional connection to it. I hope viewers enjoy experiencing the adventure I perceive my own life to be, even if only for a second, when they have the chance to glance their own eyes at Kaleyedoscope. Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: William Low, Night Fishing, 2019, Oil on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Deborah Buck, Waiting Room 2020, Acrylic, pastel, and ink on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Matthew Vo, Interior Struggle, Colored pencil W.T. Clarke High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Jane Pawlowski Upon seeing Farinacci’s artwork, I was struck by the bold appearance of a lone house, an expression of resilience within a world of fear and danger during the pandemic. However, its interior is out of sight, concealed by its outward impression of strength. We have endured and adapted this past year to a life full of hardship. My artwork explores this “interior corner” of the human conscience by equating it with the interior of a house, hidden from outside view. The coldness and gloominess of the bluish-gray hues, the loneliness expressed through the emptiness of the room, and the entrapment hinted at by the chains all represent various aspects of this struggle. Despite being the brightest object in the room, the light produced by the computer screen is harsh and unwelcoming, a dual representation of the unhealthiness of excessive screen time and the inadequacy of technology to replace all of the fundamental joys of human life. Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Lily Wagner, Shedding Light. Gouache on paper Hicksville High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas In Dawn Lee’s painting Release, the prismatic colors and different repetitive shapes make it seem as if there is water falling throughout the piece. I feel that different shades of blue and the vertical fragments come together to portray a freeing energy that could be summed up with the phrase “letting go.” The way that Lee was able to convey this feeling inspired me to use different elements to create an energizing piece of my own. In my painting, the darkness, warm colors, and angled composition heighten the emotion and help to express the feeling of being in the dark when it comes to my own identity. I often find myself questioning who I am and what I believe, especially over the past year. The colored lights in my portrait symbolize some of these things that have come to light in the past year. Many of these things emerge from the ideas of uncertainty and the unknown. The colorful glow of the lights represents the new parts of myself that I am still discovering.
Honorable Mention Inspiration artwork: Paul Farinacci, HPE (Home Protective Equipment) 2020, Mixed media on paper. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Inspiration artwork: Dawn Lee, Release, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Vivian Wang, (The) Human Game, Mixed media (wood, paint, clay, wire) Huntington Fine Arts, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lenore Hanson
Cindy Wang, Allure, Pencil Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Warren Jacobson Black and white media have the ability to create a powerful emotion or narrative. With infinite values in between, they are able to showcase the most dramatic contrasts. For Allure, I intentionally darkened the values in a heightened contrast that connects to Howie Pohl’s photograph Boarded Window. By removing the highlight in the eyes of the model, I aspired to create a similar alluring feeling to the darkened window within Pohl’s work. One of the more interesting aspects of working in black and white media is the ability to capture light in its utmost contrast and powerful state. The same can be expressed with shadows and how they travel across one’s facial features while acting as a powerful contrast to the light.
Inspiration artwork: Howie Pohl, Boarded Window, 2019, Film photography. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
I was drawn to Buroker’s Witness III because of its unusual shape and form. When I read her statement, I realized that her sculpture holds a much deeper meaning. Similar to Buroker, I created a work of art to address and provoke social change through my art. Using the saying “we are all just pawns in the game of life” as a starting point, I created a chess set where the pawns are physical representations of the human heart. My artwork explores the fragility of human nature, and the idea that we are encouraged to do what makes us happy, yet we are easily swayed by society and what is deemed socially acceptable. We are often controlled by many things in life and have little say. This leads to the continuous cycle of trying to please those around us to get their approval rather than trying to please ourselves. By representing this struggle through a game of chess, it may seem like you are battling yourself, but at the same time, you need to know it is acceptable to make decisions for your own benefit.
Inspiration artwork: Susan Buroker, Witness III, 2019, Metal. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Zihao (Andrew) Wang A Look Into The Future Digital photograph Smithtown Christian School Grade 12, Art Teacher: James Roselle In China, we have been wearing masks for years. When we were told we had to wear masks here in the United States, I was surprised how many people took this as a major inconvenience or hindrance to them of sorts, when it is something that has been normalized for so long in many other parts of the world. I was inspired by Meredith Rose’s Before and After 1, and how the artist was contrasting two different times. In my photograph I wanted to convey not only what we are facing in today’s world, but also take a look into what is most likely our future.
Isabella Weber, The Bedroom Mixed media (watercolor, gouache, colored pencil) Hicksville High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas Morning Sun reminded me of my grandparents’ bedroom, a place I am all too familiar with and where some of my best memories come from. Morning Sun and the story behind it reminded me of my own loss. I lost my grandpa in June of 2020 and it was the darkest time for our family. Due to the pandemic, I didn’t get to see him before he passed, and never got to say goodbye. My piece depicts my grandpa’s side of the bedroom, a place that really showcased who he was. Using a variety of mediums to show the various textures in the room helps to represent the range of emotions I was going through when my grandfather passed. Combining mediums together felt like the perfect way to create this piece. Cunningham’s work showed me how I could make a beautiful memory that I can share with my family as we honor and remember him.
Honorable Mention Inspiration artwork: Meredith Rose, Before & After 1 2019, Mixed media. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2021
Inspiration artwork: Karen Cunningham, Morning Sun, 2020, Oil pastels. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2021
Kayleigh Wieboldt Prospect Digital photograph Oyster Bay High School Grade 12, Art Teacher: Maria Randazzo When I first saw Liberty by Glen Hansen, I was captivated by the image of the light seeping through the windows to display the grandeur of the Statue of Liberty and the symbol of hope and freedom that it represents. In Liberty, Hansen’s placement of the windows and his distance from them, alongside the light flooding in, brightens the room and draws the viewer’s eye toward the Statue of Liberty. This image served as my inspiration to question and then capture what the reverse might look like. In my digital photograph, the light frames a person emerging from the darkness to see their brightened future. The subject’s stoic expression is counteracted by the optimistic look as the new, lighter environment is taken in. I challenged myself and experimented with varying forms of light and perspective to bring my vision to life.
Kaylee Wimmer, Late Night Desires, Digital photograph Patchogue-Medford High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Amy Cunningham I chose Amanda Valdez’s artwork Thick as Thieves because I love her use of color and positive and negative space. In this work of art, we see various tones of black, white, and mint green. These colors served as the inspiration for my photograph. As shown in Thick as Thieves, I chose to incorporate the use of negative space to draw the eye around the composition. Valdez also used a series of repeating squares throughout her artwork. I followed a similar concept with repeating circles from the shape of the glass to the shape of the cookie as well as the design within it. The two black pointed shapes between the three main diamond shapes can be compared to the milk seeping into the cookie. Lastly, the thick black squares that are used to bring your eye around the diamonds in Amanda’s artwork share the same purpose as the lines in the detail of the cookie in my photograph.
Renzo and Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award Inspiration artwork: Glen Hansen, Liberty, 2019, Oil on panel. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2021
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, Thick as Thieves, 2014, Fabric, acrylic, and canvas. On loan from Amanda Valdez and Denny Dimin Gallery. From the exhibition: Amanda Valdez: Piecework
Sandy Yang Disguise Pencil
Madison Yeh, Beautifully unique, Colored pencil John F. Kennedy High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Vanessa Albaneze
H. Frank Carey High School Grade 11, Art Teacher: Gina Samet Kevin McEvoy’s Josh Bellinger and his artist statement inspired me to create my own artwork. McEvoy’s intention was to convey something that had a deep personal connection to his story and emotions at the time he created it. I related this to my piece by outwardly expressing my own feelings towards the way society feels right now. With everyone wearing a mask, their true emotions often get buried.
Inspiration artwork: Kevin McEvoy, Josh Bellinger, 2019, Oil on linen. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2021
The main components that drew me to Fernando Carpaneda’s Jesus Christ were the bright, saturated colors as well as the striking emotion on the subject’s face. Fernando notes that the meaning of the piece can be attributed to being what you are, without fear, alluding to a sense of self confidence. In my self-portrait, I chose to incorporate a similar color scheme, where mainly a purple hue can be distinguished among the darkness. The pain and suffering of this past year has been unbearable to the point where I attempted to take my own life. After being discharged, I immediately threw myself into my artwork. Drawing became the one thing that kept me grounded. Throughout my entire life, I have struggled to accept myself. Up until my sophomore year of high school, I was deeply ashamed of being Asian. My entire life, people would sprawl racist remarks at me on the bus and pull their eyes into a slant in class to mock me. In this self-portrait, I possess self confidence and strength. I have accepted my Asian physical features and refuse to let people make me think any less of myself because of them. I am proud to be an Asian American, with my beautifully unique identity.
Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Jesus Christ, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
VIRTUAL OPENING RECEPTION May 1, 2021 The Heckscher Museum of Art went LIVE on Instagram! Hundreds of congratulatory messages began to fill the screen! A fantastic evening was had by all!
Select award winners joined the live, answering questions and offering insight into their artwork! Clockwise from top left: Best in Show winner Keren Dial; Third Place winner Aleena Abraham; Heckscher Achievement winner Natalie Schiff; Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention Victoria Rodgers; Honorable Mention Alena Moreira.
Giavanna Zavala, Variant self, Colored pencil Bayport-Blue Point High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Frank Salino My artwork depicts an alternate version of myself – a variant I may not always show the world. My colored pencil drawing, inspired by the works of Fernando Carpaneda, is meant to represent a version of myself that shouldn’t have to be hidden. Homophobia Kills shows the artist’s experience with homophobia and how it affected him. His subject is vibrant despite the dark, chaotic scene he’s surrounded by. I used this as inspiration for my own piece. The vibrancy within my drawing shows that even in the dark, color has the ability to shine through. Carpaneda’s artist statement with Jesus Christ expresses that freedom with being what or who you are is not only okay, but something to be praised. In my work, I was able to examine that idea and reflect on how I feel through color and expression. We are all made up of multiple variants, and all should be treasured and cared for. Inspiration artwork (left to right): Fernando Carpaneda Homophobia Kills. Case Number 17, 2020, Acrylic on canvas. Fernando Carpaneda, Jesus Christ 2020, Acrylic on canvas. From the exhibition: Long Island Biennial 2020
Clockwise from top left: Lisa Sayedi, Lead Museum Educator; Kristina Schaaf, Director of Visitor Experience; Alyssa Matthews, Museum Educator; Melissa Misla, guest juror; Karli Wurzelbacher, Curator & Juror; Joy Weiner, Director of Education & Public Programs.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 56 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties submitted artwork for jurying for the 2021 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 Ed Plaia, Principal Dr. Frances Fernandez, Director of Fine Arts Jayne Grasso, Art Teacher Nicole Scoca, Art Teacher
East Meadow High School East Meadow Union Free School District Richard Howard, Principal Heather Anastasio, District Art Chair Brian O’Neill, Art Teacher
Babylon High School Babylon Union Free School District Al Cirone, Principal Angelo Turk, Director of Fine Arts Pat Stork, Art Teacher Cheryl Schweider, Art Teacher
East Rockaway High School East Rockaway School District Richard Schaffer, Principal Peter Ceglio, Fine Arts Chairperson Kelly Cabasso, Art Teacher
Bayport-Blue Point High School Bayport-Blue Point Union Free School District Robert Haas, Principal Frank Salino, Teacher in Charge, High School Art Bellport High School South Country Central School District Timothy Hogan, Principal Barbara Gallagher, Art Department Chairperson Devin Auricchio, Art Teacher Brandon Payne, Art Teacher Carle Place High School Carle Place Union Free School District Tom DePaola, Principal Michael Limone, Fine Art Chairperson Jenique Nijboer, Art Teacher Center Moriches High School Center Moriches School District Jeremy Thode, Principal Dan Kudreyko, Art Teacher Cold Spring Harbor High School Cold Spring Harbor Union Free School District Jim Bolen, Principal Christine Oswald, District Chairperson Commack High School Commack Union Free School District Leslie Boritz, Principal Mark Stuckey, Director Marie Adamo, Art Teacher East Islip High School East Islip Union Free School District Mark Bernard, Principal Robert Wottawa, Dir. of Art, ENL, Music & World Language Daniel Figliozzi, Art Teacher Heather Toomey, Art Teacher
Elmont Memorial High School Sewanhaka Central High School District Kevin Dougherty, Principal Chris Yee, Art Department Chairperson Stella Grenier, Art Teacher Floral Park Memorial High School Sewanhaka Central High School District Maria Hecht, Principal Cassandra Papajohn-Shaw, Chp. of Visual and Media Art Sydell Glasser, Art Teacher H. Frank Carey High School Sewanhaka Central High School District Christopher Fiore, Principal Jessica Burgalassi, Chairperson of Visual & Media Arts Gina Samet, 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 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 Jennifer Ievolo, Art Teacher Amanda Montiglio, Art Teacher Harborfields High School Harborfields Central School District Timothy Russo, Principal Elizabeth DeVaney, Arts Coordinator Jeanie Ritter, Art Teahcer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Herricks High School Herricks Union Free School District Joan Keegan, Principal Mary Passero, Chairperson Related Arts & BusinessA Alexis Camisa, Art Teacher Hicksville High School Hicksville Union Free School District Raymond Williams, Principal Chad Wyman, Supervisor of Fine Arts Craig Mateyunas, Art Teache Huntington Fine Arts Greenlawn, NY Lisa Hock Mack, President & Director Lenore Hanson, 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 Islip High School Islip School District Jon LaRochester, Principal Brian Kroll, Director of Fine and Performing Arts Laura Vogelsberg, Art Teacher
Long Beach High School Long Beach Union Free School District Jeffrey Meyers, Principal Julia Lang-Shapiro, Director of Media, Visual & Performing Arts Eric Fox, Art Teacher AnnMarie Pulice, Art Teacher
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
Malverne High School Malverne Union Free School District Vincent Romano, Principal Mike Messina, Fine Arts Chairperson Nick Alleva, Art Teacher Maura Savis-Minor, Art Teacher
Patchogue-Medford High School Patchogue-Medford School District Dr. Randy Rusielewicz, Principal Michael Scholz, Director of Art, Music and Cultural Arts Amy Cunningham, Art Teacher Nancy Gladd, Art Teacher
Manhasset High School Manhasset Union Free School District Dr. Dean Schlanger, Principal Chris Hale, Director of the Arts Lori Oldaker, Art Teacher
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District James Murray, Principal Ben Wiley, Director of Art & Digital Instruction Warren Jacobson, Art Teacher
Mineola High School Mineola School District Joe Owens, Director of the Arts Whitney Smith, Principal Kathy Loughlin, Art Teacher
Portledge School Locust Valley, NY Simon Owen-Williams, Head of School John Greene, Department Chair Jerry Krause, Art Teacher
Mount Sinai High School Mount Sinai School District Peter Pramataris, Principal Christina Romeo, Art and Music Director Andrea Morganelli, Art Teacher
Roslyn High School Roslyn Union Free School District Dave Lazarus, Principal Richard Ritter, Art Teacher
Jericho High School New Hyde Park High School Jericho Union Free School District Sewanhaka Central High School District David Cohen, Principal Kati Behr, Curriculum Associate for Performing and Fine Arts Rich Faccio, Principal Katrin Marino, Art Chairperson Bryan Ciminelli, Art Teacher Danielle Livoti, Art Teacher Tara Pillich, Art Teacher John F. Kennedy High School Bellmore-Merrick Central HS District Gerard Owenburg, Principal Cheryl Fontana, District Chairperson Vanessa Albaneze, Art Teacher Sarah Ritchie, Art Teacher Carissa Roche, 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 Marisa D’Ulisse, Upper School Art Teacher Lindenhurst High School Lindenhurst Union Free School District Candice Brodie, Principal Jonathan Tropani, Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts Tara Biscardi, Art Teacher AnneJeannine Cuozzo, Art Teacher
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Newfield High School Middle Country Central School District Scott Graviano, Principal Diana Cook, Director of Music, Fine Arts & Media Relations Sal Berretta, Art Teacher North Shore High School North Shore School District Albert Cousins, Principal Dalia Rodriguez, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Sara Cano, Art Teacher Margaret Delima, 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 Robin O’Neill-Gonzalez, Art Teacher Constance Wolf, Art Teacher
Smithtown High School West Smithtown Central School District John Coady, Principal Michael Mastrangelo, Director of Fine Arts Steven Halem, Art Teacher Syosset High School Syosset Central District Dr. Giovanni Durante, Principal Michael Salzman, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Chrysoula Highland, Art Teacher Uniondale High School Uniondale Union Free School District Mark McCaw, Principal Kelvin Jenkins, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Brianna Jacobs, 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
Sachem High School East Sachem Central School District Louis Antonetti, Principal Amanda Foran, Art Chairperson Katrina Wrigley, 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 Roseann Valletti, Art Teacher
Sachem High School North Sachem Central School District Andrew Larson, Principal Amanda Foran, Art Chairperson Renee Parisi, Art Teacher
W. T. Clarke High School East Meadow Union Free School District Timothy Voels, Principal Heather Anastasio, Director of Music & Art Jane Pawlowski, Art Teacher
Sayville High School Sayville Union Free School District Ronald Hoffer, Principal Debra Urso, Art Chairperson Evan Hammer, Art Teacher
Walt Whitman High School South Huntington Union Free School District John Murphy, Principal Jacqueline Tartaro, Art Chairperson Nicole Guido, Art Teacher Erica Raji, Art Teacher Gina Tinucci, 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
West Babylon High School West Babylon Union Free School District Dr. Ellice Vassallo, Principal Erin Bodolai, Art Chairperson Heather Cattell, Art Teacher West Hempstead High School West Hempstead Union Free School District James DeTomasso, Principal Dr. Nichelle Rivers, Dir. of Fine, Performing & Culinary Arts Cassie Ross, Art Teacher
Above: Carlos Alfaro, The Village [detail], Alcohol marker. Walt Whitman High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Erica Raji Front Cover: Mary Blaney, stitching a dreamscape [detail], Oil on canvas. Manhasset High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker
Education & Visitor Experience Dr. Bette Schneiderman, Trustee & Chair of Education Committee Joy Weiner, Director of Education & Public Programs Kristina Schaaf, Director of Visitor Experience Lisa Sayedi, Lead Educator & Docent Coordinator Alyssa Matthews, Museum Educator
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