Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum
March 23 - May 5, 2024
Long Island’s BEST
The Museum gratefully acknowledges our SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
PRESENTING SPONSOR The Darrell Fund Endowment/Henriette Darrell
ARTISTIC SPONSORS
EXHIBITION CATALOGUE SPONSORS
The Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Inc. Strong-Cuevas Foundation
Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics Callaghan LLP
Prizes and awards generously provided by
Donors to the 2017 Celebrate Achievement Benefit
First Place, Celebrate Achievement Best In Show
Frank J. Sposato, Jeffrey Sposato, and Peter F. Cohen
Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize
Robin T. Hadley
Third Place, The Hadley Prize
Jeanne Hewitt
Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award
Christopher Renzo Bianchi and the Bianchi Family
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Awards
Adelphi University
Adelphi University For the Love of Art Awards
Christine Machtay
Donald and Gloria Horn Scholarship Award and Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award
Cozza Family
The Cozza Family Award
Huntington Fine Arts
Joseph Mack Achievement Award and Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mentions
The Law Offices of Andrew Presberg
Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Additional Thank Yous
Jurors: Meredith A. Brown, Consulting Curator of Contemporary Art
Andrea Wozny, Artist/Filmmaker
Michael Krasowitz, Exhibition Catalogue Photographer
In support of the next generation of Long Island artists, select works of art from Long Island's Best 2024 will be on view May 8 - June 8 in Mitchells’ store windows, 270 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
The Heckscher Museum of Art receives generous support from the Town of Huntington.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Now in its 28th year, Long Island’s Best is a hallmark of the Museum’s educational programming. This initiative is the only juried exhibition for Long Island high school students that provides the opportunity to exhibit in a museum.
The Heckscher 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 or their own work, making creative connections with the generations who have come before them. This year, 69 public and private schools submitted students’ artwork for jurying. 456 entries were received and Consulting Curator Meredith A. Brown and guest juror Andrea Wozny selected 87 for display.
TOP AWARDS
Sudeeptha Shanmugam received Best in Show for Pondering. Lauren Tan was awarded Second Place for Peas In A Pod. Jennie Zhang received Third Place for Hopeless Ambition, and Stephanie Avelar’s Mamá Hacinta won the Fourth Place Award.
Award-winning artwork (details) by the following artists (left to right): Sudeeptha Shanmugam, Lauren Tan, Jennie Zhang, and Stephanie Avelar. This artwork is marked with a in this catalogue.
EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics and Callaghan LLP for sponsoring these beautiful catalogues for all exhibiting students and teachers.
EXPLORE & SHARE ONLINE
Experience the entire exhibition virtually! All of the exhibition’s components, including all student artwork, artist statements, and images of the artwork that inspired students, are available at heckscher.org/libest2024. Follow @heckschermuseum and #hmalibest on social media!
In Person and Virtual Field Trips
Students found inspiration in artwork on view in the Museum during the 2023-2024 school year. Through close observation and discussion, students learned to make connections between artwork on view and their own experiences.
Inspiration Artwork
Each young artist selected a work of art in one of the following exhibitions to inspire their original work of art for Long Island’s Best. An image of this Inspiration Artwork is provided with the Artist Statement to deepen visual connections.
Courtney M. Leonard, CONTACT 2,023…, 2023 [detail], Porcelain, enamel and red iron oxide transfers, artificial sinew, canvas, brass.
Helen Torr, Oyster
1929 [detail], Oil on paperboard.
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Exploring the spaces we inhabit, this exhibition encompassed more than 50 artworks from the Museum’s Collection that reflect the many meanings of home. The house is a site where daily life unfolds, work takes place, identities cohere and shift, memories form, and imagination takes flight. The art on view demonstrated the central role that domestic space plays in our lives and in art.
COURTNEY M. LEONARD: LOGBOOK 2004—2023
Leonard’s powerful work in ceramics, painting, video, and installation engages with Long Island’s colonial history; celebrates Indigenous knowledge and resilience; and addresses urgent ecological issues. The exhibition debuted Contact,2,023…, a new work that The Heckscher Museum commissioned from Leonard. The largescale work is a map of Long Island made up of thousands of individual porcelain thumbprints resembling shells.
Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Drawn from the collections of The Heckscher Museum of Art and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, TX, this exhibition presented approximately sixty works on paper by modern artists Arthur Dove and Helen Torr. It explored the couple’s connection to nature, their experimentation with materials and techniques, and the impacts of Dove’s declining health on their art. Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr marks the twentieth-fifth anniversary of The Heckscher Museum’s preservation of the Dove/ Torr Cottage.
Stakes, Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983 [detail], Oil on vellum.EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Nancy Abode, Oyster Bay HS
Chloe Agostini, Sacred Heart Academy - Achievement Award in Photography
Stephanie Avelar, Uniondale HS
- FOURTH PLACE, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award
Bayla Axelrod, Stella K. Abraham HS for Girls
Bridget Bardong, Sacred Heart Academy - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Dusand Barrow, Uniondale HS - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Genesis Bautista Marroquin, Huntington HS
Lena Beatty, Northport High School - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Eitan Beaulieu, Malverne High School
Erick Benitez, Brentwood Freshman Center
- 25th Anniversary Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Raven Canzoneri, Hicksville High School
- Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award / Joseph Mack Achievement Award
Dakota Capolino, Farmingdale High School
Lauren Castellano, Cold Spring Harbor HS
Katherine Cha, Herricks High School
Julia Cohen, John F. Kennedy High School - Honorable Mention
Kaitlin Cook, Garden City High School
Emma Dean-Stahl, Sayville High School - Achievement Award in Feminist Art
Samyrah Demorcy, New Hyde Park Memorial HS
Grayson DeStefano, Lindenhurst High School
Lianna Dominguez, Division Avenue High School
Adison Eisenberg, Half Hollow Hills HS East
Zoe Eng, Manhasset High School - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Rahima FNU, East Rockaway High School
Keira Fontaine, Long Beach High School
Dylan Friedman, John F. Kennedy HS - Achievement Award in Social Commentary
Nikole Galgano, Division Avenue HS - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Neha George, William A. Shine Great Neck S. HS
Maryam Haji, New Hyde Park HS - Adelphi University For the Love of Art Award
Juan Pablo Hernandez, Long Beach High School - Honorable Mention
Amira Hussein, Bellport High School
Brian Jaco, Hicksville High School
Robin Jones, Bayport-Blue Point HS - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Julia Kennedy, West Islip High School
Laika Khan, Long Beach High School
Alden Kisner, Huntington Fine Arts - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Keegan Klein, Centereach High School
Kayla Kleinfeldt, Division Avenue High School - Visitors Choice Award
Mattie Krakoff, Massapequa High School
Karley Kreuscher, East Islip High School
David Lee, Hicksville High School
Jocelyn Liu, Manhasset High School - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Chamille Malcolm, Valley Stream North HS
Emily Marckesano, East Meadow High School
Labdhi Masaliya, Hicksville High School
LONG ISLAND'S BEST 2024
Janiya McArthur, Long Beach High School
Liza McPherson, Harborfields High School
Madelyn Mejia, Brentwood High School - Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Scarlett Millman, Half Hollow Hills HS East
Elena Mingorance, South Side High School
Natalia Monsale, Huntington Fine Arts
Kira Moscoso, Farmingdale High School
Madeline Murphy, Baldwin High School
Vy Nguyen, Connetquot High School - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Emma Novak, Bayport-Blue Point HS
Katherine Novick, Connetquot HS
Katarina Nunez, East Rockaway HS - Donald & Gloria Horn Scholarship Award
Jocelyn Olds, East Islip High School
Miguel Ortiz, Hicksville High School - Honorable Mention
Natalie Parrott, Huntington High School - Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Cassidy Paul, Oceanside High School
Rachel Petri, Bellport High School
Helena Pirozzi, Sayville High School - Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award
Anisa Ruiz, Hicksville High School - Honorable Mention
Kendra Saint Louis, Uniondale High School
Ava Sarrocco, Half Hollow Hills HS East
Abigail Scaccia, Lindenhurst High School
Maia Schnaider, Half Hollow Hills HS West
Estiven Segovia Ticas, Huntington HS - Achievement Award in Design
Sudeeptha Shanmugam, New Hyde Park HS
- FIRST PLACE, Celebrate Achievement Best In Show
Shamiha Sharif, H. Frank Carey HS - Virtual Visitors Choice Award
Teyonna Shaw, Wyandanch High School
Michael Struzinski, Smithtown HS West
Lauren Tan, William A. Shine Great Neck S. HS
- SECOND PLACE, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize
Daniella Tejada, John F. Kennedy HS
Ashlyn Thitibordin, Jericho Senior HS
Sophia Tine, Huntington High School - Cozza Family Award
Alexandra Tsang, Herricks High School
Kaylee Turcios, West Islip High School
Veronica Vogel, East Meadow High School
Mia Walton, Division Avenue High School
Kimberly Widjaja, Hicksville High School - Education Dept. Award of Recognition / Adelphi University For the Love of Art Award / Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Casey With, East Islip High School
Emily Xie, Harborfields High School
Johnny Xu, Syosset High School
Ann Yao, William A. Shine Great Neck S. HS
Sonia Zahid, Valley Stream Central HS
Jennie Zhang, Hicksville High School
- THIRD PLACE, The Hadley Prize
Nancy Abode
Authentically Textured, Digital art
Oyster Bay High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Stephanie Miley
My artwork was inspired by Robert Carter’s Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More. I experienced a warmth coursing through my body as I observed this piece for the first time. The connection between a grandmother and her granddaughter during piano lessons resonated deeply with me. Standing witness to a quiet yet meaningful moment, a scene unfolds before me and my family bathroom becomes a sanctuary of care and artistry. My teenage brother slouches on a stool, embraced by the gentle dance of my mother’s hands through his intricate, coiled hair. Here, within this sanctum, detangling and moisturizing becomes a choreography of love and celebration of natural beauty. On the table, a plethora of African hair products rest atop a traditional cloth that extends to another design that envelops the entire backdrop, weaving a tapestry of cultural heritage. In my piece, Authentically Textured, I felt drawn to explore kindred themes of maternal affection and bond. I strived to capture this by showing the intimate act of a mother tending to her son’s hair, while infusing small elements of my culture into the narrative.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Chloe Agostini
Family by Chance, Friends by Choice, Digital photograph Sacred Heart Academy, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Kristin Mariano
Larry Fink’s photograph capturing the tight family bond at Pat Sabatine’s Eighth Birthday Party inspired my work because I absolutely loved the strong family dynamic portrayed. I found that I could similarly create a scene filled with unforgettable memories and connections. My work portrays the fun-loving and unbreakable bond between two cousins who thrive off the company of each other and always find a way to make the other laugh and live in the moment. This work shows that no matter the age difference or importance of the event, they are always able to enjoy themselves and be grateful for the time they spend with each other, leaving their worries behind. Throughout the process of arranging this photo and trying to capture the realness and uniqueness of it, I made sure to not lose sight of the authenticity and character shining through the cherished moment. I allowed the models to have full creative freedom in how they wanted to pose and act. I did not want the photograph to seem forced or uncomfortable, but instead I wanted it to be candid and as if they had no idea I was there.
Achievement Award in Photography
Inspiration artwork: Larry Fink, Pat Sabatine’s Eighth Birthday Party, April 1977, 1977, Gelatin silver print
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Stephanie Avelar
Mamá Hacinta, Digital photograph
Uniondale High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Brianna Cruz
My grandmother, or as I know her, Mamá Hacinta, is one of the strongest women ever. She raised six children in the poverty of El Salvador in a small house high up on a mountain. Through all the struggles they had to go through, she never failed to make sure her children were well taken care of. One of those children was my mother. My mother is my best friend and her best friend was my grandmother. The piece Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More by Robert Carter inspired me and reminded me of the love shared across generations of mothers and daughters. No matter what is going on in life, having a best friend can be the guiding light through your struggles.
Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Bayla Axelrod
The Daily News, Acrylic on canvas
Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Marisa Dulisse
I chose Pat Ralph’s The Visit Home as my inspiration because of how well he captures that moment of relaxation when you’re home. I enjoyed her usage of color and patterns on the couch next to the man’s simple clothes. It creates a contrast that makes it visually striking. In my piece, The Daily News, I wanted to portray the feelings of comfort and the ordinary that we experience while doing our daily rituals. Often, people look past the simple moments of life and don’t realize how precious those fleeting moments can be. My painting showcases a mundane night of my grandfather reading a newspaper. This simple act allows you to experience the broader world from inside the comfort of your own home. Many people in his generation read the newspaper routinely and have developed it into a habit. I wanted to capture the feeling of peace that a home can provide after a long day away like my grandfather finding comfort in his habitual act of reading the newspaper.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Bridget Bardong
Intertwined, Mixed media (embroidery floss, fabric, plaster, and wood)
Sacred Heart Academy, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Liz Conte
Amanda Valdez’s artwork and use of materials inspired me to create a piece that represents the growing relationship between a mother and child. Since the cross stitch was the first one my mom taught me and what began my fascination with embroidery, I decided to incorporate it in my piece. I cross stitched a picture of my mom and myself from when I was 4, the same age she started teaching me the basics of embroidery. I feel that this reflects Valdez’s portrayal of holding onto her past through the overlapping of the two circles. Using a hand casting kit, I took the hand off of an old baby doll and had my mom hold it in the molding gel to create the first set of hands. The two hands reflect the appearance of my younger, more inexperienced self holding her hand and being guided through the motions of stitching by my mom. For the other set of hands, I had my mom wear a ring gifted to her by my dad for their 20th anniversary to convey the everlasting love between not only my parents, but between me and my passion for embroidery, which is equally everlasting. Like Valdez, I wanted to convey new beginnings through shapes by incorporating intricate jewelry on my current hand in comparison to the bare wrist of the doll, the open blank canvas of life you face when you’re young. Additionally, Valdez’s usage of identical circles conveying the changing dynamics in parenthood inspired me to have only my hands change throughout each mold to stress the fact that despite how I’ve grown, my mother will always be a constant in my life.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork:
Amanda Valdez, New Me, 2021, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, gouache, acrylic, and canvas
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Dusand Barrow
A memory in Brooklyn Oil on canvas, photograph on canvas paper, acrylic on canvas board Uniondale High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Brianna Cruz
Robert Carter’s artwork introduced me to new techniques and ideas I never considered before. The piece reminded me of the “feeling of home” my grandmother exuded which encouraged me to experiment with my art. I created a collage using printed paper along with oil and acrylic paint. I was inspired by the feelings of comfort and warmth in Robert Carter’s piece and it made me reminisce about my own family. I showcased these themes through subtle images of what I associate my grandmother with and the idea of home. Her smile symbolizes joy. Love is represented by the background image of my grandparents. Innocence is shown through the image of her as a child and music which references Beres Hammond, one of her favorite artists. I chose my grandmother as my subject because she is home to me. Her joy, warmth, and love are all things that have shaped me and continue to influence my perception of what “home” is. The painting highlights emotional expression and contains slightly glossed over details to show a child’s perspective of a carefree and safe environment at home.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Genesis Bautista Marroquin
Bok Choy Love, Digital photograph
Huntington High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
Bok Choy Love was inspired by Helen Torr’s painting. I admired the way Torr was able to suggest waves and rippling water through her stylized interpretation of a sea shell, which specifically looks like an oyster shell to me. Like Torr, I wanted to focus on nature, lines, contrasting values and neutral tones. I stretched my imagination to decide which materials and objects could meet these requirements. I tried mushrooms, radicchio and baby bok choy. The baby bok choy produced an effect and composition I liked best after cutting them in half and arranging them abstractly. I used photoshop to accentuate the unique features of my photograph. I desaturated the image about thirty percent to align with the neutral color palette similar to Torr’s piece. In addition, I overlaid a sepia tone layer to heighten the focus on the lines, terrain and shape of the bok choy.
Inspiration artwork:
Helen Torr, Sea Shell, 1928, gouache and charcoal on paper
From the exhibition:
Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Lena
Beatty Storge, Digital artNorthport High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: John DeRosa
During my visit to the Heckscher Museum, one of Stella Waitzkin’s works stood out to me. The face of the sculpture reminded me of my mother, and the calming expression of the woman along with the earthy tones inspired me to create my piece. “Storge” is an ancient Greek word that represents a natural, instinctual love that family members share between one another. My own family has shown me unconditional love and I’m dedicating this piece to my mother who has supported me through the hardest periods of my life. When I came out as non-binary and transgender, the love and support from my family never swayed. My mother specifically has even accompanied me to doctor’s consultations for gender affirming care. I portrayed my mother in this piece to show how her love for me has never changed and she has stood by my side unwaveringly. The figure on the left represents myself as I share an embrace with my mother. The two figures embracing symbolizes the connection, love, support and acceptance that my family has given me. This piece is a way of me giving back to my family and showing the love that I have for them.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Stella Waitzkin, Untitled, Polyester Resin
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Eitan Beaulieu
Free Me, Digital art
Malverne High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Nick Alleva
I was inspired by the photograph Cornell in Window II by Harry Roseman because it gave a feeling of being trapped, defeated, and melancholic. People can sometimes tend to feel stuck at home or in an environment, which holds them back, often making them suffer mentally. In my artwork, I experimented with semi realism to create an emotion on the old man’s face. I implemented erratic strokes to show how the feeling of being trapped may cause your mind to try and do the same thing over and over, which eventually can lead to insanity.
Inspiration artwork: Harry Roseman, Cornell in Window II, 1972, Color photograph From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Erick Benitez
Blanca Monteroso, Charcoal Brentwood Freshman Center, Grade 9, Art Teacher: Patricia Kopp
I was inspired by Helen Torr’s artwork to create my own. I was drawn to the warmth of her drawing and the darker paper used for this piece. The warmth made the portrait look more natural and inviting. I decided to draw my grandmother for this project because she’s always been an inspiration to me. She inspires me with her hard work and perseverance wherever she goes. She immigrated to America with my father and uncle to escape a war in El Salvador. She worked very hard to provide for them and she still does today, working two jobs to help our family. She has always been diligent and selfless with a kind soul. She inspires me to do better every day, which is why I wanted to use her as a subject in my work and capture her determination as well as kindness.
25th Anniversary Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
artwork:
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen
Inspiration Helen Torr, Portrait of Arthur Dove, n.d., pencil on paper Torr
Raven Canzoneri
Constructs of The Mind, Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas
Hicksville High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Blanch’s work at first looks homey and nostalgic, but to me, the mood felt more sad and melancholic. I originally interpreted Blanch’s painting to be a simple scene in her house, but the more I looked at it, my perspective changed. Instead, I saw an isolated flower, surrounded by familiar objects and surroundings, but still sticking out. The red tones of the petals stood out so starkly against the browns of the background. It seemed to fight against it and yearned to be seen. In my piece, I portrayed myself on two sides of my makeup mirror. This is where I sit everyday when I get ready and I scrutinize all of my imperfections. Thoughts like, “you’re not smart”, “you’re not polite” or, “you’re not perfect enough” run rampant in my head. I painted seemingly random hands picking me apart and grabbing me to reveal my insecurities, but once you shift your attention to the second panel, I’m the one feeding my own insecurities. I painted the hands abstractly to look fake with stylized marks and colors while the flower represents the last of my positive or real thoughts. The hands that are trying to tear me apart are smothering the flower or the remaining confidence I have left. I created this piece as a reminder that when we look in the mirror and judge ourselves, we are our own biggest critics. I wanted to create a message of positivity to anyone who may be feeling the same and that we have the power to change our mentalities.
Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Joseph Mack Achievement Award
Inspiration artwork:
Lucile Blanch, Still Life with Geranium, 1924, Oil on canvas
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Dakota Capolino
The Sun is Always Brighter Outside, Oil pastel Farmingdale High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lisa Gramarossa
Pat Ralph’s artwork deeply resonated with me and I was inspired to explore the idea of inhabiting spaces. For this piece, I chose my room as the setting and myself as the subject. In the drawing, I stare outside into the sun while the surrounding darkness seems to consume me. As I’ve grown older, getting stuck in a bad mental state seems practically unavoidable, but I try to stay positive and look out toward better, brighter days. I wanted to illustrate the feeling of being soothed by one’s surroundings and how your perspective can shape your environment. Ralph’s piece uses warm colors in her palette and paints a man relaxing peacefully at home. I also wanted to explore the concept of feeling comfortable and being one with your surroundings. I illustrated myself with similar colors to portray the feeling of solace that one’s safe space can give. I hope to leave my negative mental space and live out the happiness that waits for me outside.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Lauren Castellano Faces, Acrylic on canvas
Cold Spring Harbor High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Laura Cirino
Seeing Robert Dash’s artwork felt like love at first sight. I was amazed at how he depicted a scene with only two values and simplified shapes. He inspired me to explore this style and create my own piece. While reading about Dash’s work, I learned that this scene was very sentimental to him, so I knew I wanted mine to have a personal connection as well. Since the Covid-19 Pandemic, I’ve always felt very self-conscious of my appearance, particularly my face and weight. I felt locked up in my house and had nothing to do but watch Tiktok influencers who had better bodies than me. It was disheartening. My painting reflects the way myself and so many other teenagers feel pressured to adhere to unrealistic beauty standards. Even though the figure is beautiful, she can’t see it because she always compares herself to others. Through my art, I want to inspire others to believe in their own beauty, inside and out.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Dash, The air is like a Cryst-O-Mint
1972, Lithograph on Arches paper
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Katherine Cha Comfort of Home
Pencil
Herricks High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Jennifer Cavalluzzo
I was inspired by the tranquility and comfort I felt when I first saw The Visit Home by Pat Ralph. For me, home is a place where I can relax and feel at peace, and this artwork portrayed that perfectly to me. I felt inspired by this feeling and decided to create a piece that communicated the same sense of tranquility, but instead in my own home. I used pencil to create my own experience of home: beams of sunlight coming through the curtains and my cat quietly looking out at the world from the safety of home.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Julia Cohen
Self portrait, Digital art
John F. Kennedy High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Vanessa Albaneze
I was inspired by the painting The Visit Home by Pat Ralph. The artist’s son is depicted lying on a patterned blanket in what feels like a peaceful and warm space, evoking feelings of calm. It reminds me of ultimate comfort, being in a place where the rest of the world fades away. In my artwork, I created a similar feeling, depicting myself lying in the grass. My phone is down, my earbuds are in, the music is playing, and my mind is quieted. My tranquility stems from nature, music, and art. I was inspired by the artist’s use of pattern and repetition in the blanket and decided to create repetitive flowers and grass in the background of my piece.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Kaitlin Cook
My room, Oil on canvas
Garden City High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Shawn Uttendorfer
Lucile Blanch’s artwork brings together color and texture across a variety of objects, including a deer figure, potted plant, and a needlework sampler. I interpreted these items as a window into the artist’s life, with the painting emulating the calm and quiet environment found in her home. I wanted to represent a similar notion in my own work, and create a personal still life that reflects me. I used oil paint to illustrate well-loved objects in my room. I was inspired by Blanch’s use of animal iconography and created an homage to Lucile Blanch’s atmospheric still life while also embracing the vibrance and energy I choose to surround myself with.
Inspiration artwork: Lucile Blanch, Still Life with Geranium, 1924, Oil on canvas From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Emma Dean-Stahl
A.G.I.N.G (Another Girl Is Now Grown)
Recycled fabric, crochet, embroidery
Sayville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Evan Hammer
I was drawn to the playfulness of the textiles and inspired by Schapiro’s portrayal of the historically domestic life of women in her piece Berthe Morisot & Me. In my piece, A.G.I.N.G., I wanted to explore the depth and complexity of female relationships and how they foster our growth. It is a collage of the shared uncontrollable chaos, madness, and rage of girlhood, yet the everpresent symbolic existence of women as pinnacles of beauty, comfort, and love. The idea that every girl can’t help but cry on her birthday is a relatable feeling that each birthday is like a death. A death of girlhood, security, being cared for, and a more tranquil state of mind. Yet our growth is also a passage into feminine validity, community, and a more collective, mutual state of love. My portrayal of the more contemporary yet ubiquitous feminine experience and the ambivalence of growth shows both the mania and healing women grow into and share. The centerpiece depicts a girl (resembling myself) “celebrating” her birthday, surrounded by a background of women in different stages of their lives. It is chaos, but it is comfort.
Achievement Award in Feminist Art
Inspiration artwork: Miriam Schapiro, Berthe Morisot & Me, c. 1976, Mixed media with collage From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Samyrah Demorcy
Family Ties
Charcoal
New Hyde Park Memorial High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
Growing up, I was always close to my dad. We have a strong connection and are inseparable. Our personalities go well with each other as if it was “copy and paste.” I was inspired by Robert Carter’s artwork to share a bond I have with a family member. I wanted to show a moment back in time when I would always say, “Papi, can we take a picture, please?” I used charcoal because it is a medium I excel at and I wanted to show details such as the wrinkles in the clothing.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Grayson DeStefano
This Is Me
Digital photograph
Lindenhurst High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Tara Biscardi
I was inspired by Amanda Valdez’s artwork and the unique way she used different art mediums to express the life changes a person goes through over time. The colors Valdez used in her piece reminded me of the colors in the transgender flag, and those particular colors I carry with me daily. Being a transgender teenager can be exhilarating, but it is often exhausting. I felt that within New Me as well. In my self portrait, I wanted to focus on my eyes so the viewer can see through me and feel the emotions transgender community feels. I chose to illuminate my face with bright colors similar to what Valdez used in her work. Every day I am thankful for the things I’ve experienced and the person I have become and I hope viewers can see that in my work.
Inspiration artwork:
Amanda Valdez, New Me, 2021, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, gouache, acrylic, and canvas
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Lianna Dominguez Rosalie
Oil on paper
Division Avenue High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan
My first thoughts of Pat Ralph’s painting was a sense of relaxation. The story behind the artwork, her son visiting his childhood home, made me wonder how it would feel to gaze at a loved one relaxing at one’s home. It obviously moved the artist enough to render it. This made me think of the way I look at my dog as she lies on the couch. My dog is home to me, but what does home mean for her? My piece is a portrait of my dog laying on the couch atop a patterned blanket, surrounded by some of her favorite toys. The toys are well loved and worn out, which are able to embody a home for her. The couch that she always chooses to relax on is able to give her a source of comfort and warmth like her presence in my life is able to give to me.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Adison Eisenberg
Epiphany, Digital photograph
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Allyson Uttendorfer
As a high school senior entangled in the intricate web of academics, sports, college applications, clubs, and work, this artwork of a green glass jar on a mirrored table reflects my complicated journey. On one side, there’s a veneer of seeming bright perfection, almost masking the shadowy undercurrents of stress and challenges that often remain concealed. This side encapsulates the delicate balance of projecting confidence and capability while grappling with the inherent pressures. The contrasting opposing side conveys the weight of these stressors that threaten my mask. Yet, amid this darkness, a luminous light trail within the green glass emerges, signifying a path filled with promise. My work highlights the imperative of resilience, balance, and forward-looking optimism. Stella Waitzkin experimented with alternative processes and transforming everyday objects into something mysterious and extraordinary. I feel my image represents the transformation of a young high school student to an exceptional young adult.
Inspiration artwork:
Waitzkin,
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Stella Untitled, n.d., Melted glass, mixed media
Zoe Eng
All For Naught, Colored pencil
Manhasset High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker
When I first saw Stella Waitzkin’s Small Closet Library, I noticed the contrast between the bookshelf and its contents. The shelf appears to be very orderly and neat, while its contents seem more organic or discordant. One thing I especially enjoyed about the piece was the little figurine creature on the middle shelf that resembled a monkey. The sculpture inspired my drawings of the monkeys and the one all the way to the right of my piece takes the same position as the sculpture. The three monkeys are actually meant to be one monkey in different places, which represents the feeling of being all over the place. Atop the bookshelf, I added a broken potted plant. The broken pot and plant represent growth and effort that has been destroyed. The piece as a whole is a depiction of how one may feel as though all their work and dedication was for nothing. The monkey in the piece creates havoc and ultimately destroys the office. This relates to the frustration one may feel when their hard work has gone to waste. The overall piece, meant to be very hectic and chaotic, is also encased by the rigid frame, which is a symbol for how one may feel as though they are trapped and cannot do anything about their wasted effort. The confinement of the frame also is meant to depict the emotion of trapped frustration that can not be released and is painfully held inside.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork:
Stella Waitzkin, Small Closet Library
Polyester resin and found objects
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Rahima FNU
Intertwine, Digital art
East Rockaway High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Kristie Galante
Intertwine is a piece that embodies my mind as I go through high school and find myself in my mixed identities. As a child, I would think that my culture, my family, my interests, my school life were identities that lived in separate worlds never to collide. Through the years, I would let one take more importance and attention and neglect the others. Threads that were meant to be weaved together were left to themselves and nothing else. As I started my art journey, it allowed me to intertwine elements of myself and express parts of myself I didn’t know how to. I felt inspired by Valdez’s piece, which combines different materials and elements that work harmoniously together. I related to the title New Me as well because although I have always been one person, I have finally learned to embrace parts of myself I never have before, intertwining my identities confidently.
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, New Me, 2021, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, gouache, acrylic, and canvas
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Keira Fontaine
Funky town
Marker
Long Beach High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
My piece was inspired by It Hurts to Wait with Love if Love is Somewhere Else by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. I was immediately drawn to the lively, saturated, repetition of color and shape incorporated throughout his print. In response, I created a geometric cityscape drawing in marker. Much like Hundertwasser’s repetition of rectangles and squares, I too used a repetition of shape as seen in my use of dots. In addition, I chose non-traditional vibrant colors for my cityscape to create a lively mood.
Inspiration artwork: Friedensreich Hundertwasser (Friedrich Stowasser), It Hurts to Wait with Love if Love is Somewhere Else, 1971, Serigraph on paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Dylan Friedman
Languish, Chalk pastel
John F. Kennedy High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Vanessa Albaneze
I was inspired by the artwork of Courtney M. Leonard. In the setting of a neglected American, lower-middle class backyard, an orca languishes in an above ground pool, which represents the controversial, yet still popular practice of keeping orcas in captivity. For decades, aquariums and marine parks focused their advertising efforts on marketing their killer whale shows. But since more information has been shared regarding the unjust treatment of these animals, the public began to question the safety of the trainers, and the well-being of the orcas themselves. The word “languish” means to lose or lack vitality, to live in a state of depression and, even more significantly, to exist in an unpleasant or unwarranted situation, often for a long time. That is the reality of the captive orca. As per Leonard’s statement “In legal contexts, the word ‘breach’ means violation and infringement…Whales also ‘breach’ when they break the surface of the water.” In a related context, the practice of having killer whales in captivity is a breach of their livelihoods. They are highly intelligent beings, unjustifiably captured and placed in a jail for potentially the rest of their lives, to forever languish.
Achievement Award in Social Commentary
Inspiration artwork:
Courtney M. Leonard, BREACH: Logbook 23 | BREACH #2, 2023 (part of a limited series, begun in 2015, marking the death of one whale), ceramic sperm whale teeth and wooden pallet
From the exhibition:
Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004—2023
Nikole Galgano
A Mother’s Grief, Oil on paper Division Avenue High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan
When I first saw Robert Carter’s artwork, I was immediately drawn to its serene quality and the light, color, and shadows. It reminded me of all the times I have seen my mom sitting alone and staring at old photos of her parents. Although Carter’s piece features a gentle learning moment between family, my imagery took on a more somber tone. My mother’s parents both passed away over the past two years. I could feel and was affected by her grief during these moments of reflection. To echo some of the traits found in Carter’s painting, I sat my mom afront a small fire, emitting warmth while casting strong shadows. Cardinals sit on a branch outside the window as a symbol of solid family relationships, and I was sure my angle was directly from the side. I took four photographs: one of my mother, the fireplace, the cardinals, and the back wall. I married them in Photoshop, then used oil paint over the image on a 300 pound watercolor paper. Final touches were spent perfecting the lighting and shadows to create an atmospheric quality.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Neha George
Through the Window, Digital photograph
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lisa Stancati
My family is very close; we eat together regularly and celebrate every major occasion together. This photo was captured outside my house during my parents’ wedding anniversary. I simplified the majority of the photo, other than the figures, so as to draw attention to my family and their enjoyment of each other’s company. Our family has always been pretty big, but this does not even comprise a great fraction of them. The family members pictured are immigrant parents and their children. Closeness has always been a factor in my culture, even within our extensive families. My grandma would keep in touch with each and every family member, even those who I did not know were related to me or how we were related. No matter how distant they are, whether it be by physical distance or blood, my grandmother and other family members made sure to keep in touch. This image illustrates the closeness and warmth of my family, and by taking a photo through our front window, opens our lives to the eyes of an onlooker.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Maryam Haji
Multitudes of Self-Perceived Judgment, Digital art
New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
My artwork was inspired by the artwork of Helen Torr. In her work, I interpreted the shell as a symbol of being trapped or suffocated. I wanted to encapsulate the feeling of being held under the watching gazes of many others. I feel watched, like I’m being hyper-analyzed by every single person around me. But I often wonder if I’m perceiving things correctly when there are so many eyes on me. So many individuals to look at, so many to wonder about what they’re thinking. I feel scrutinized. I feel like an abomination of eyes, feeling that they’re all looking at me: watching, judging my every move. In my head, it’s like they’re committing a false pretense everytime I even look at them, I don’t feel like it’s genuine. I tried to channel that feeling the best I could into this illustration.
Adelphi University For the Love of Art Award: Graphic Design
Inspiration artwork:
Helen Torr, Feather and Shell
1930, watercolor and gouache on paper
From the exhibition:
Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Juan Pablo Hernandez
Gloss
Colored pencil
Long Beach High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
Stella Waitzkin’s Untitled immediately stood out to me with its bright bold colors, and layer of resin which gives the work a shiny, glossy effect. I was also drawn to the work because of the everyday objects that Waitzkin used. The colors, shapes, and shininess of the objects she chose reminded me of candies and lollipops. I wanted to recreate how Waitzkin’s work reflects light. Studying how light affects my subject, I used colored pencils and white gel pens to help me to interpret color, light, and details in my own way.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Stella Waitzkin, Untitled, n.d., Polyester resin, mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Amira Hussein The Sky Above Collage
Bellport High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Devin Auricchio
I chose Adam Straus’s, American Rustic, as my inspiration for my work, particularly how he composes his landscape – painting over the news and shopping lists, and blending daily life with media. In my work, I use newspapers and cyanotype prints for both the sky and landscapes . Focusing on the sky, the colors bring out the significance of each item, and the subtle changes of each day. I used newspaper, color, and lines to have the viewer focus on both the subtle changes in the piece that blend with the bigger picture at large.
Inspiration artwork: Adam Straus, American Rustic, 2019, Oil on newspaper and shopping lists adhered to paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Brian Jaco
City Subway, Acrylic on canvas
Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Today, more and more, people are constantly caught up in technology, choosing to focus on the world within their phones rather than addressing what is going on around them. My painting is a commentary on this. The two people are so absorbed by their phones that they do not notice the flood of rats invading the subway. My goal with this piece was to draw people in with a familiar environment, perhaps calling back to personal memories of traversing the city, and subways filled with people, all in their own worlds. As the viewer gets closer, the flood of rats becomes more apparent and quickly becomes all you can see. My painting serves as a depiction of what can happen when we are too self-absorbed. When we repeatedly choose self-indulgence over addressing pressing issues, our issues only worsen. The horde of rats embodies this idea in the most exaggerated, vile, and fitting manner I could think of. The rats sprawled over the entire subway floor, right by each traveler should make them feel disgusted, scared, or uneasy. However, as they are completely entranced by their phones, or accustomed to their rodent passengers, the two do not even bat an eye.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Robin Jones
The Light from Within, Masking tape on clear acrylic, backlit by light box Bayport-Blue Point High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Tina Nadeem
I was captivated by Larry Fink’s photograph series, which inspired me to reflect on my childhood photos and memories for my piece. I created a portrait of my 6-year-old self with masking tape backed by a lightbox to simulate the inner light and pure joy within a child’s face. Fink’s candid approach to photography also inspired me. I felt that this led to a more authentic result: capturing people’s raw and sometimes unflattering expressions. In my artwork, I wanted to portray this raw moment in time by depicting an awkward yet happy expression in my 6-year-old self-portrait. I also wanted to reference the gelatin silver print process Fink utilized by using masking tape as my medium, lit by a lightbox. The light shining through the layered tape resembles the use of light and dark when developing photographs.
Inspiration artwork: Larry Fink, Pat Sabatine’s Eighth Birthday Party, April 1977 1977, Gelatin silver print
From the exhibition: Raise the
Roof: The Home in Art Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Julia Kennedy
The Jazz Drummer, Acrylic on canvas
West Islip High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Linda Marino
I related to Robert Carter’s piece and how the artist portrayed music as a symbol of the home. Having grown up in a household of musicians, I am no stranger to music being played anywhere, anytime. One of the most notable sources of this music is my brother, who is an avid drummer. I wanted to capture the intensity of my brother’s drum playing, so I adopted bold colors and harsh lines to achieve a pop-art style. I also used an overhead angle to accentuate the motion and energy of drum playing. Pulling colors from Carter’s work, I created a bright and contrasting color palette of purples, pinks, oranges, and yellows. Aside from its enticing appearance, I was drawn to this color palette because it evoked the imagery of a chic jazz club. My brother’s favorite musical style is jazz drumming, and he can often be heard blasting jazz music as he plays along. Additionally, I added geometric accent lines to evoke the sound of his drum playing through a visual medium. To me, home represents music, and I hoped to convey that through this piece.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Laika Khan
To Ontario, Oil on canvas
Long Beach High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
Robert Carter’s work drew me in because of its intimate portrayal of familial connections and the warmth it exuded. Family is something I value immensely; my artwork often centers around it, attempting to capture the ease that can only be achieved around your closest relations, especially family. Carter’s artwork achieves closeness between the two figures through the composition of the bodies, in addition to the light that emanates between them. My painting depicts my mother and little sister sprawled and resting within each other’s circle, soft light hitting them, to portray that same closeness that Carter produces. By starting with an underpainting, I was able to map out the composition of my painting. By layering paint on top of the canvas, then experimenting with light and shadow, varying hues of color, and texture, I created the artwork I had set out to achieve: a depiction of support, fellowship, and connection between generations.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Alden Kisner
Vibrant Memories, Oil on canvas
Huntington Fine Arts, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lenore Hanson
As I look out at the harbor, I am captivated by the same beauty and inspiration Arthur Dove saw. As a fellow Long Island native and an aspiring artist, I perpetually learn by interpreting the environment around me. The marshland of the causeway in Lloyd Harbor, depicted in my painting, is a staple landscape of Long Island. I have many joyful childhood memories of this place; it is a spot I often visit to find a sense of peace. Like Dove in his artwork, I created the opportunity to express a complex emotion rather than portray the technicality of a scene by abstracting the composition. Dove’s emphasis on the symbolism of color contributed to my use of a vibrant palette to represent the lighthearted mood the outdoors brought me. Additionally, the abstract nature of Untitled inclined me to simplify shapes, similar to the way Dove did. His use of diagonal lines to create movement and energy inspired the diagonal horizons within my piece. Within my work, I expressed my deep connection and admiration for the same body of water that Dove was enthralled by.
Inspiration artwork:
Arthur Dove, Untitled, 1943, Mixed media on paper
From the exhibition:
Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Keegan Klein Unity Ink
Centereach High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Shelby Petruzzo
I was inspired by Courtney M. Leonard’s important thematic messages and powerful imagery. Noticing a specific color palette throughout her work, I too aimed to express my piece through specific colors and imagery. I used a mosaic painting style to paint the deer and the crow to make them stand out among the background. The deer in my work represents life and rebirth, using vibrant colors to depict this. Meanwhile the crow, surrounded in darkness, represents death and decay.
Inspiration artwork: Courtney M. Leonard, Pawn, 2010, mixed media on canvas
From the exhibition: Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004—2023
Kayla Kleinfeldt Baby Blanket, Oil on paper Division Avenue High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan
“The Visit Home” was never as serene for me as it might have been for the subject in Pat Ralph’s painting. The screaming and fighting I would experience throughout my childhood always made me want to leave as soon as I could. In my early teens I almost lost my parents. It had taken this for me to realize how much I was taking for granted. I realized that through all the fights and arguments, there was also growth and love. I have been exposed to more families and their interactions, and have realized that no relationship is ideal. As I grow, I look back at all the memories that have shaped me into who I am today. How much I have been ripped apart and sewn back together just like my baby blanket. In my artwork, I portrayed myself in a somewhat melancholy state being comforted by my sacred baby blanket. Atop the table is a spool of thread and needle to symbolize that you should always repair any rips or loose threads. I have realized how much my family truly means to me. Home is not just a house – it is the place where I grew into the person I am, with the people I love.
Visitors Choice Award
Inspiration artwork: Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Mattie Krakoff
Our Beauty and Pain
Digital, printed on canvas, ink, acrylic paint, string, pressed flowers
Massapequa High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Paul Leone
Within this piece I explored the complex layers of my experience as a transgender person, wrestling with the challenge of feeling at home within my own body. There is so much stress and pain in my life due to not being able to feel that sense of comfort within myself. Others not seeing me for who I really am just makes all of that feel worse. But there is also a sort of beauty that comes with being able to make your own home within yourself. I have so much hope for being able to transition and having the experience of really finding home in my body. Inspired by Adam Straus’ American Rustic, my piece brings together diverse materials to illustrate the stark contrast between the yearning for comfort and the harsh reality I experience. Within this narrative, contrasting imagery of the crown of thorns and Roman laurels emerges, symbolizing the dichotomy of pain and triumph in my journey. The inspiration from Straus deepens with the inherently political nature of the work. Using America to represent home is ironic for many trans people due to our reality being shadowed by the unsettling anti-transgender legislation in this country.
Inspiration artwork:
Adam Straus, American Rustic, 2019, Oil on newspaper and shopping lists adhered to paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Karley Kreuscher
Embedded
Acrylic and gel pen on wood
East Islip High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Daniel Figliozzi
I was inspired by Courtney M. Leonard’s work. I was drawn to the way the artist utilized her materials. From a distance the audience can see an image of Long Island that she created. But as you look closer and closer into the artwork you are able to see it’s much more than that. You can see she used tiny shells to shape the image by hand-crafting and painting each one to create the image of Long Island. For my piece I wanted to try a similar technique by creating the illusion of a full figure made out of something more intricate and smaller. The technique I used for my piece was working with different line weights to create an image that mimics the rings of a tree. In my body of work I created drawings of both my fraternal twin and I onto two different wooden tree stumps that came from the same tree. Incorporating me and my twin into the rings of the tree stumps signifies and enhances the idea of the natural bonds that we share. The connection we have is embedded, it’s permanently there no matter where we go in life. A tree holds properties of growth and change. Becoming embedded into the tree shows that we have also gone through both growth and change as well, but the connection we have will still remain permanent.
Inspiration artwork:
Courtney M. Leonard, CONTACT 2,023…, 2023, porcelain, enamel and red iron oxide transfers, artificial sinew, canvas, brass
From the exhibition:
Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004—2023
David Lee
Riff of Time, Acrylic on canvas
Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
I was drawn to Pat Ralph’s color choices and various hues in the painting. Warm colors and smooth brush strokes illustrated her son relaxing in his childhood home. As I was looking more closely, I was able to see more details and small brush strokes. I was motivated to create a work that relates to my comfortability and relaxation using similar colors. Guitar has been my go-to when I needed comfort since I was thirteen. I tried to demonstrate my long lasting love towards music and specifically guitar. I referenced the old man and the boy indicating that even though time passes and many things may change in life, I would never lose my love towards music.
Inspiration artwork: Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Jocelyn Liu
Tranquility Amidst Chaos
Oil on paper
Manhasset High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker
I was inspired by the ambiance that Altoon Sultan created in her painting, how the figure appears calm, yet the mood feels somewhat anxious. I began my piece aiming to portray a connecting idea, a depiction of myself within the frame that seems to trap me. I incorporated the teapot seen in Sultan’s piece, while also utilizing the imagery of koi fish as means of juxtaposition. Despite the presence of calamity, shown through the shattered pieces of the teapot, there is also peace. I chose the scene to be underwater to recreate the feelings evoked by the woman’s expression, seemingly suffocating or drowning. I wanted my piece to portray my inner self that struggles with emotional overload.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Altoon Sultan, Night Portrait, 1981, Oil on canvas mounted on board From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Chamille Malcolm
To My Mother, Colored pencil, watercolor, gel pen Valley Stream North High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Allan Nafte
The piece that inspired my artwork was Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More by Robert Carter. The first thing that caught my attention were the layers and how the use of bright colors on the foreground clearly contrasts the background, highlighting the importance of the relationship and bond that mothers and daughters share, specifically black mothers and daughters. This inspired me to create a piece in which I capture a joyous moment shared between my mother and I when I was younger. My mother is an extremely important figure in my life, as she motivates, empowers, and inspires me every day, and through my artwork, I want to be able to celebrate her significance in my life while also portraying a personal and positive story that can connect with an experience shared by many others.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Emily Marckesano
Piece by Piece, Embroidery thread and fabric
East Meadow High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Brian O’Neill
I used a technique called English paper quilting and hand sewed hexagons to quilt together. To personalize this piece, I wanted to gather fabrics from people and items that carry beloved memories. Many came from my grandmother, including some from a dress she made me when I was an infant. Two others were from diaper bags that belonged to my mom and my aunt when they had their first kids. Others came from my great-grandmother. My friends also gave me fabrics, including some from a bat mitzvah dress or well-loved clothes. Combining these pieces together makes me feel surrounded by love. Unique pieces from so many different people that feature so many different stories, all coming together to create one piece.
Inspiration artwork: Amanda Valdez, New Me, 2021, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, gouache, acrylic, and canvas
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Labdhi Masaliya
Mixed Media, Mixed media
Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
My piece was inspired by Amanda Valdez’s incorporation of fabric and sewing –something I have always wanted to experiment with. The title New Me, made me consider all the recent radical changes in my life. In 2020, I moved to Long Island from India. In this time I have found myself on a journey of making the US my new home. It was a very profound and necessary experience for me because I learned a lot and found new opportunities. My piece reflects this idea of adapting to change, whilst bringing all important qualities and traits from my old life from India to the new life my family and I are creating. Parts of my past are being stitched together with my new life. My painting mainly consists of pastel colors and muted tones. The center consists of a blank diamond shape which is a representation of a new and empty environment and the rest of the sections are filled with the different components of my life. The fabric is an important component in this piece since it was something my mother and grandmother used to do back in india. I remember those moments when my mother would sew traditional clothing for me because it gave her a sense of happiness to see me wear something she created and it made me feel very special since I would see her working on something for hours only to make something for me. My memories with my grandmother include vacations to her hometown where she taught me the art of embroidery and patchwork. With each new day and year, the various pieces of me will merge together, resulting in what will be the new me.
Inspiration artwork:
Amanda Valdez, New Me, 2021, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, gouache, acrylic, and canvas
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Janiya McArthur
Dinner, Pen, ink, and watercolor on paper
Long Beach High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
I drew inspiration from Helen Torr’s Duck, where the main and only focus is just that – a single black and gray duck. Torr’s choice to present the duck in darker, muted colors, helps create a contrast against the plain background, as well as highlight the more intricate details. The positioning of the bird makes it look like it was captured in the middle of foraging for food. I took inspiration from this and created a frog in the middle of devouring an unlucky fly. Emulating Torr, I wanted to keep the focus on the main subjects, creating light washes in the background. In other areas of my work, I utilized the boldness of the pen and ink to create a stark contrast. I made the decision to leave the frog (excluding the tongue) and fly black and gray in order to better showcase the intricate stippling technique I used to add texture, gradation, and a 3D effect.
Inspiration artwork:
From the exhibition:
Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Helen Torr, Duck, n.d., pencil on paper
Liza McPherson
The Salvation of Icarus
Colored pencil
Harborfields High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Eugenia Ritter
I was drawn to Courtney Leonard’s work initially because of the contrast between the cool background and the warm tones in the subject’s skin. When I delved deeper into the meaning behind the piece, I was further inspired by how the juxtaposition was not isolated to the colors, but developed a statement on the importance of preservation in the face of crisis. Prompted by this message, I created my piece, which turns this concept inward to create a narrative of my journey of self-preservation. The image of water, present in Leonard’s exhibit but also commonly interwoven in literature as an archetype of rebirth, is in this piece representative of new life, and signifies the depths of my own growth over the years. The gold, in contrast with the deep purples and blues from Leonard’s piece, speaks to my hope for the future and all the potential I have still yet to reach.
Inspiration artwork:
Courtney M. Leonard, HELM STUDY #1, 2020, mixed media and acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004—2023
Madelyn Mejia
Shared Dreams
Acrylic on canvas
Brentwood High School
Grade 10, Art Teacher: Patricia Kopp
My piece was inspired by Romare Bearden’s artwork, Reunion from the series Ritual Bayou. I read about Bearden’s experience with The Great Migration and connected it with the diversity in my neighborhood. There are regulars that frequent my local bakery in Brentwood where men wait silently to be picked up for work. They have immigrated here from all over, yet share a common story. Like Bearden, the figures in my work are shown in a neighborhood landscape. I used a bold black outline to give a feeling of impermanence and interchangeability. The outline shows how replaceable they are, disconnected from permanent residents, connected by their cigarette smoke. The workers gather at the bakery, as they wait and hope for new opportunities.
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork:
Romare Howard Bearden, Reunion from the series Ritual Bayou, c. 1972, Editioned collage, color photo-lithograph mounted on finished plywood
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Scarlett Millman
Dark Room
Digital photograph
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Allyson Uttendorfer
Becky Suss’s work inspired me to create an image of my own domestic sphere. The darkroom at my high school has been the breeding ground for my photographic journey. I broke down Suss’s Living Room into compositional elements such as line, shape, and pattern. While her painting appears flat and lacks realism, each item in her room holds significant meaning and memories. I was able to utilize darkroom objects including film, reels, old cameras, and negative carriers to depict memories that I have from high school. The strips of negatives act as picture frames visually documenting my memories, which plays on the lateral picture frames in Suss’s piece. I captured a series of circular elements in contrast to Suss’s repeated rectangles. While Suss focused on a space filled with memories of her grandparents, I chose a space that has played a vital role in my development as an artist, photographer, and person.
Inspiration artwork:
Becky Suss, Living Room (Six Paintings, Four Plates) 2015, Oil on linen
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Elena Mingorance
Decline (Peter Crippen House), Mixed media
South Side High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Keith Gamache
This mixed media piece depicts the home of an African American named Peter Crippen in Huntington, NY, a fisherman descended from slavery. Peter Crippen was one of few Black landowners in the 1800s in Huntington, and the home remained in the family until the early 21st century. In my piece, the cotton is representative of his past and the association with his parents’ enslavement, while the seaweed, squid, and hook exemplify what he would have fished for to make a living. However, his home has fallen into disrepair and, despite its rich history and home to Crippen, there are calls for it to be torn down. It is the representation of what Long Island has become, the disrespect we have given the environment and the loss of the island’s tranquility, a symbol of the disregarded remnants of a Black man’s history, countered by white privilege in which those who are fortunate enough to preserve their legacy are remembered. Inspired by Courtney M. Leonard’s piece, both works connect to the central idea of the decline of Long Island and the impact of white encroachment on indigenous and underrepresented culture. While Leonard demonstrates the loss of respect given to the island’s natural beauty by Indigenous peoples, my work demonstrates the lost history of African Americans on Long Island. We lack the standards of living and the moral values of such groups and now are losing an integral aspect of Native American and African American history that define the island.
Inspiration artwork:
Courtney M. Leonard, CONTACT 2,023…, 2023, porcelain, enamel and red iron oxide transfers, artificial sinew, canvas, brass
From the exhibition:
Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004—2023
Natalia Monsale Lounge
Watercolor on paper
Huntington Fine Arts
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lenore Hanson
I found inspiration in Pat Ralph’s The Visit Home, particularly captivated by the figure’s serene demeanor as they recline upon the couch. I wanted to emulate the tranquil essence portrayed in Ralph’s piece by utilizing fluid and swift brushstrokes. I allowed the hues to cascade freely, harmonizing with the composition rather than imposing rigid control, much akin to the model’s serene drift into restful repose.
artwork:
Inspiration Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Kira Moscoso
Solace, Oil on canvas
Farmingdale High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lisa Gramarossa
I was inspired by the composition and use of pattern in Pat Ralph’s painting. The eye is drawn to the main figure in the painting, but the viewer is also drawn to the patterns of the fabrics in the background. In my piece, I incorporated a similar composition use, having a relaxed figure laying amongst the backdrop of a multitude of patterns. I wanted to convey comfort in a time of chaos. I visited the Heckscher Museum with my family this past summer, and I was immediately drawn to this piece because of the color use, and the comforting feeling it gave me. The artist uses cool tones on the clothing of the person pictured and a warm toned background. I decided to swap the color tones to convey a sense of calm using cool tones in the background, and warm tones to convey the coziness and comfort the person is feeling.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Madeline Murphy Empty Ink
Baldwin High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Michelle Liemer-Kelly
I chose Living Room (Six Paintings, Four Plates) by Becky Suss to inspire my artwork. The empty couch looks unreal as it has no shadows, and the paintings appear flat, almost like posters on the wall. Although Suss is depicting a beloved space, the absence of color also leaves the viewer with a feeling of emptiness. In my piece, I wanted to depict a fond memory in a familiar space, surrounded by people that I love and cherish. I recreated the lack of warmth that one can experience where even in a crowded room, you can still sometimes feel very much alone.
Inspiration artwork:
Becky Suss, Living Room (Six Paintings, Four Plates)
2015, Oil on linen
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Vy Nguyen
Nature’s Symphony, Solar plate etching
Connetquot High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: John Hargrave
My piece was inspired by Helen Torr’s Cyclamen. The beauty of this piece resonates deeply, offering a comforting connection to nature and the allure of flowers, which took center stage in my own artistic interpretation. In crafting my version, I merged traditional solar plating techniques with a contemporary digital approach, using Photoshop to create a collage featuring my personal photographs of flowers, butterflies, and the inherent beauty of the outdoors. As I explored the complexities of solar plate printing, my artwork came to symbolize the harmonious fusion of age-old craftsmanship with the sophistication of modern digital design. Incorporating various textures into my creation, I sought to mirror the multifaceted nature of life—acknowledging its unpredictability and embracing the belief that beauty lies in the unexpected.
Inspiration artwork:
Helen Torr, Cyclamen, n.d., charcoal on paper
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Emma Novak
Zephyr Chimes
Wood burning, ceramic, found objects
Bayport-Blue Point High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Frank Salino
Helen Torr’s Oyster Stakes inspired me to pour my childhood memories spent at the beach all into a 3D work of art. Torr’s oil painting reminded me of the hours I’d spend running in the sand, collecting things like driftwood, shells, and beach glass. I expressed my fondness of these memories by creating a wind chime out of a random assortment of trinkets, many of which you can find at a beach. I then tied all of them to a natural piece of driftwood, allowing the collision of the beach glass and beads to make a soothing sound. The flowing of the flags in Torr’s painting can be represented by the flowing of the loose strings that blow in the breeze.
Inspiration artwork:
Helen Torr, Oyster Stakes,1929, oil on paperboard
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Katherine Novick
Ray Of Hope
Digital art
Connetquot High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: John Hargrave
My artwork is intended as a reflection of both nature and familial bonds, intertwining elements of plants, animals, and insects. Beyond merely a depiction of color and natural elements, it embodies the diverse forms and feelings inherent in familial relationships. Just as every family possesses its unique characteristics, nature serves as a poignant illustration of such diversity. Drawing inspiration from the composition found in Amanda Valdez’s New Me, I incorporated elements reminiscent of its structure and form into my own artwork.
Inspiration artwork:
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Amanda Valdez, New Me, 2021, Embroidery, hand-dyed fabric, fabric, oil stick on mounted paper, gouache, acrylic, and canvas
Katarina Nunez
Sueño de mi Papá Oil on paper
East Rockaway High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kelly Cabasso
Larry Fink’s candid and free-spirited photography awakened my deep appreciation for family orientated artwork. His candid photography brings out genuine emotions, which is something you can lose the essence of in premeditated photographs. My oil painting is based on a candid moment between father and daughter, where the child is in their own world, without paying attention to a camera. My intention was to depict the genuine feeling of intimacy being around family or loved ones captured in fleeting moments.
Inspiration artwork: Larry Fink, Pat Sabatine’s Eighth Birthday Party, April 1977, 1977, Gelatin silver print
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Donald and Gloria Horn Scholarship Award
Jocelyn Olds
Bonnet, Chalk pastel and rhinestones
East Islip High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Daniel Figliozzi
For my piece, Bonnet, I was inspired by the colors and tranquil feeling of Pat Ralph’s oil painting, The Visit Home. I was also drawn in by the movement of the body and its leisurely pose, and how the way the figure is laying down conveys a feeling of comfort and relaxation. I noticed that the subject of the painting had no shoes or socks on, further expressing that he is at peace and making himself comfortable. For my work, I wanted to create my own version of what I look like and how I usually lounge around at home. Using chalk pastel, I created a self portrait of myself wearing a robe and my bonnet, as these things are not usually worn outside of the house and are saved for days where you just want to stay home and relax. I emphasized my bonnet by covering it in rhinestones. I was also inspired by the artist’s use of color and tried to apply it to my work in a creative and meaningful way by adding different tones and shades to the skin, rather than using basic browns and tans. In addition, I found inspiration in the color palette of Ralph’s painting and used opposing warm and cool colors to separate the figure from the background.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Miguel Ortiz
Fly high, fly free., Acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Hicksville High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Ed Haddaway’s sculpture incorporates aspects from his childhood. He does so with the door motif being resemblant of “…walking down a dark hallway”. For my piece, I wanted to do something very similar, but on a 2-dimensional canvas. By replicating Haddaway’s idea of juggling, I focused on the idea of imbalance and stress put upon an object. When I looked back at Haddaway’s sculpture, what I saw was the idea that something bad could happen, and probably will. To embody the concept of chaos, I decided to create a background using acrylics, employing finger painting techniques. This method allows me to generate dramatic strokes and shapes with my hands, adding a personal touch to the piece and deepening my connection to the artwork. I experimented with abrupt strokes using acrylics and a palette knife. As I applied these strokes, a realization unfolded – the shapes formed resembled still figures of birds in the sky. I thought about their ability to soar freely yet remain constrained by the finality of life. Through a combination of emotionally charged, broad abstract marks and intricately crafted details, I aspired to captivate viewers, drawing their attention to both the grand and minute aspects of the composition. Within my piece, I incorporated the view of birds flying in the sky, in contrast to the bold imagery of a shot bird, bleeding out. This is in reference to the drastic and realistic fact that a person’s journey can end at any moment. I ultimately decided to encapsulate this through the death of a bird, whose travels have been brought to a sudden halt, deprived of their personal freedom.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork:
Ed Haddaway, Shut Your Eye Castle Dance, 1980s, Painted steel
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Natalie Parrott
What I Learned from my Dad, Acrylic on canvas
Huntington High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kristin Singer
I drew inspiration from Robert Carter, appreciating the symbolism embedded in his artwork. For me, Carter’s work symbolized the transmission of artistic knowledge, with music serving as the artist’s chosen representation. The artwork struck a chord with me, reminiscent of the comfort I found in learning to paint from my dad. Utilizing imagery featuring my dad, my brother, and me at the Long Island Biennial at the Heckscher Museum where my dad’s work was exhibited, I aimed to convey my personal interpretation of Carter’s creation. My painting incorporated the parent-child dynamic prevalent in Carter’s work, featuring my dad alongside my brother and me. Taking cues from Carter’s use of the piano as a symbol for the arts, I mirrored this concept in my painting. I centered the artwork around my dad’s drawing and added a subtle spotlight to emulate the piano’s illumination in Carter’s piece. In my composition, I also captured the effect of light shining on the girl’s face. Additionally, I integrated other elements from Carter’s work, dedicating extra attention to detailing my dad’s shirt to highlight the vibrancy of the figures in Carter’s piece.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Cassidy Paul
Cards at the Cabin
Digital photograph
Oceanside High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Nanci Nigro
When I saw Larry Fink’s series of photographs of his family and friends at various celebrations, I was impressed by how well candid life can be photographed and portrayed. Fink’s series of these candid photos made me realize how simple it is to take a good picture, and how beautiful and serene people are when they’re not posing, but just being. So, with this realization and inspiration, I photographed my friends and family whenever they were together, doing casual things, to highlight the simple beauty that is everyday life.
Inspiration artwork: Larry Fink, Pat Sabatine’s Eighth Birthday Party, April 1977,1977, Gelatin silver print
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Rachel Petri
Rachel’s 17th Birthday, Colored pencil
Bellport High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Devin Auricchio
I was drawn to this photograph by Larry Fink because of how it captures the happiness you feel when spending time with loved ones. This inspired me to create a piece that showed a time when I was filled with joy and surrounded by my closest friends and family. In my work, I use dark shadows in the background and warm colors on my face and cake to convey the emotions behind the memory. The warm colors show the comfort and unconditional love you feel from your family, as well as the vivid emotions you feel when thinking of a happy memory. The shadows show how a memory can feel “fuzzy” and the small details you may forget.
Inspiration artwork:
Larry Fink, John Sabatine and Molly at Pat Sabatine’s Eleventh Birthday Party, April 1980, 1980, Gelatin silver print
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Helena Pirozzi
Inspiration Point (at Yellowstone National Park)
Watercolor on paper
Sayville High School, Grade 9, Art Teacher: Evan Hammer
The sunrise breaks the start of a new day. Each fresh dawn holds the possibility of making up for mistakes from the day prior. These fresh starts afford new thoughts. These thoughts start off dull and gray, but when the sun hangs high in the sky, they often sharpen to become a kaleidoscopic gay memory. But these memories are not safe and permanent. They can falter with just a few clouds that obscure the sun. These metaphorical storm clouds that rip through the sky can result in a frozen nose and a stressed moody brain. I found myself on the treacherous paths of Yellowstone, in search of a landscape relating to Dove’s piece. Finding that safe passage between the mountains, away from the storm clouds was exhausting. In order to find true relief from the repetitions of daily life, one must release the ideas they harbor. Each of us carries a waterfall of potential, a display of the cycle of change and acceptance that we carry into each new tomorrow. At the break of each dawn, you find yourself lying upon the weathering mountains, wringing your brain… tomorrow is a new day at Inspiration Point.
Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork:
Arthur Dove, Untitled, Mixed media on paper
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Anisa Ruiz
She is Art, Acrylic on canvas
Hicksville High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Adam Straus created a piece that was calming and eye-catching, taking a view of a peaceful golf course and juxtaposing it against newspaper and shopping lists. These things remind me of being at my grandmother’s house. I often sit in her sunroom, which is filled with plants, where you hear birds chirping and she is talking about what she needs to do that day. Seeing these things in Straus’ work reminds the viewer that although life can be beautiful, we cannot hide from the monotony and reality of our daily lives. For my piece, I focused on Straus’ creative combination of materials. She is Art is a self portrait done in a way that is unique to my style. I wanted to show the viewer how my brain and how emotions play a vital role in my paintings. I used spray paints, ink markers, colored pencils, and acrylic paint to create an abstracted version of myself. The text “She is Art” comes from a poem I had read years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. To me, “She is Art” means that women in themselves are beautiful beings. Women are all independently valued and strong. In my painting I wanted to express my values, goals and dreams. Encouraging all women to find acceptance in their body. Accepting oneself helps you discover your true self in order to become the best version of yourself you can be.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork:
Adam Straus, American Rustic, 2019, Oil on newspaper and shopping lists adhered to paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Kendra Saint Louis
Child’s play
Digital art
Uniondale High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Brianna Cruz
I was most drawn to Robert Carter’s work as it reminded me of my own style and love of collage. This piece shows quality time spent together sharing moments at the piano. It reminded me of my childhood. I would get hurt often when I played outside – I would get cuts and abrasions on my body and my mom would take care of me. I didn’t spend a lot of time with my mom when I was younger because she would work a lot so these sparse moments were special to me. I wanted to use warm colors to emit warmth and love from the hands that are taking care of the child’s knee.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Night Train
Acrylic on canvas
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Matt Petrucci
I was inspired by Interior Kitchen by Helen Miranda Wilson. I wanted to recreate a similar ominous feeling, using color, shadow, and perspective to capture that same mysterious quality. Depicting a train that is usually bright and filled with people, and showing an empty space leaves the viewer with a sense of paranoia that lends to this eerie atmospheric piece.
Inspiration artwork:
Helen Miranda Wilson, Interior Kitchen, 1980, Oil on Anco panel
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Ava Sarrocco
Abigail Scaccia
Pelican, Charcoal
Lindenhurst High School
Grade 10, Art Teacher: Tara Biscardi
I felt Inspired by the simplicity of Torr’s pencil drawing, Duck. As someone who grew up playing around the bay each summer, I’ve always enjoyed watching the ducks along the shore. Seeing ducks, seagulls, and geese everyday, I was staggered when I encountered a pelican for the first time. The bird was stocky, large in both beak and body. It was not cute, fluffy, or small, yet seemed so prestigious. With its long neck, large beak, webbed feet, and rotund silhouette, a pelican’s pre-eminence deserved the spotlight. And so, I created Pelican; with simple, yet detailed black and white imagery to define all of a pelican’s features, I hope to do justice to its most fascinating qualities.
Inspiration artwork: Helen Torr, Duck, n.d., pencil on paper
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Maia Schnaider
Crystalline Solace
Colored pencil
Half Hollow Hills High School West
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Amanda Montiglio
When I originally saw Pat Ralph’s The Visit Home, I immediately sensed a feeling of relief and solace; the way the figure sleeps on the couch is as if his home is his safe space. One of my most blissful memories is visiting my grandmother’s house. There, I too am engulfed in a comforting haven, feeling the utmost tranquility and relaxation. Something that strongly evokes the emotion of this particular memory is her perfume bottles, set up on the dresser. The shiny reflections in my drawing represent the unparalleled admiration I had for these elegant bottles that I would spend hours arranging and rearranging. The bright and vivid colors represent a nostalgic perspective, while still resembling the same warm colors in Ralph’s piece.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Estiven Segovia Ticas
My Abuela, Cut paper collage
Huntington High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
I was inspired by Olafur Eliasson’s Your House, which incorporates brilliant layering detail. This influenced me to combine the idea of the warmth of family, a common theme in the Raise the Roof exhibit, with layered paper. I decided to create a portrait of my abuela, or grandma. We loved her tremendously and she is no longer with us. My mom was devastated by her passing. I wanted to do something to help ease my mom’s pain and to honor my abuela who was most kind and caring. I used Adobe Illustrator to create the shapes for all of her facial features. This was difficult to figure out how to illustrate all the different shapes because I would then have to convert the shapes from being 2D to 3D. I then separated each shape individually so they could be cut, layering them using spacers to add depth. I chose to use all white to represent my abuela’s pure spirit. Once assembled, the lines and shapes felt symbolic of all the paths my abuela took during the course of her life and how they continue on through the lives of her descendants.
Achievement Award in Design
Inspiration artwork:
Olafur Eliasson, Your House, 2006
Artist book with 452 laser-cut pages
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Pondering, Charcoal
New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
I drew inspiration from Helen Torr’s portrait of her husband, Arthur Dove. I wanted to connect its simplicity in style in contrast with my hyper realistic portrait while evoking the same emotions and feelings. In Torr’s piece, she used a pencil to sketch a simple, yet effective portrait of the artist. Her style is so simple that it could almost seem incomplete. Emulating the figure’s pose, I depicted myself in a similar position – hand resting on my chin, deep in thought. I feel this connects with my piece because the message behind my piece was to convey the feelings of a pondering artist wondering what to create while experiencing burnout. In my portrait, I held a paintbrush in my hand and adorned a bored expression to convey the feeling of being uninspired and tired. The almost incomplete nature of Torr’s piece gives off the impression of an uninspired artist feeling too burnt out to create a hyperdetailed portrait, and even leaving some works incomplete.
First Place, Celebrate Achievement Best in Show
Sudeeptha Shanmugam
Inspiration artwork: Helen Torr, Portrait of Arthur Dove, n.d., pencil on paper
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Shamiha Sharif
Fleeting Fabrics, Watercolor and colored pencil
H. Frank Carey High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Gina Samet
My artwork takes cues from Sanchez’s emphasis on the geometric aspects of domestic spaces. It incorporates the essence of a traditional house in my home country, Bangladesh. The vibrant sari, serving as a symbol of tradition and valuable memory, becomes a focal point that shows contrast between present and past. The combination of the fabric against the backdrop of my traditional village home pays homage to Sanchez’s exploration of the intersection between cultural architecture and memory. My artwork aims to evoke a sense of nostalgia, memory, and the passage of time, much like the emotions conveyed in Sanchez’s Casita de Madera.
Inspiration artwork: Emilio Sanchez, Casita de Madera, 1998, Color lithograph on paper From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Virtual Visitors Choice Award
Teyonna Shaw Wings
Acrylic on fabric
Wyandanch High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Jill Lewis
I was inspired to create wings by looking at how Helen Torr stacked and crossed her lines on duck feathers. Starting small with paint on a piece of discarded fabric, and experimenting with the process of color mixing, I kept going and my design grew. While painting, I was distracted with thoughts of my upcoming graduation and thinking about my next phase of life after high school. Inspired by this thought, the title Wings represents where these will take me on my journey through life.
Inspiration artwork:
From
Helen Torr, Duck, n.d., pencil on paper the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Michael Struzinski
Untitled, Charcoal
Smithtown High School West, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lauren George
Ever since I picked up a pencil, I’ve been infatuated with articulating details to the best of my abilities. I gravitated towards rendering objects, people, and locations in a realistic taste due to its innate intricacy. Like most people, I always saw the minute mistakes in my work. It was those details that made the journey arduous and, at the same time, exhilarating. Portraiture is my favorite and I often find myself observing others, contemplating the potential for an intriguing, enchanting, or mysterious portrait–one that could capture their essence. But as I’ve come to realize, portraiture isn’t about capturing the person, but rather telling a story or something about them. In Pat Ralph’s work, a man reclines in the surroundings of his abode. While his positioning exudes that feeling of exhaustion, there lies a sense of vulnerability and introspection. It is that sensation that makes it relatable; it’s that puff of stress released when we throw ourselves on some bedding–on the verge of slumber or deep thought. Additionally, the level of detail from the newspaper to the quilt is intriguing. Concerning my own piece, I experimented with blur. Although a hint of resignation from my goal of portraying clear detail, I understood that it added depth and a stronger understanding of my composition. This piece for me was a heartfelt tribute to a teacher. She was a guiding force that influenced me. She connected with her students, complimenting and guiding them. The smile you see is the one she wore every day. It was a warm greeting, inviting and supportive. Her devotion is profound and I hope that I can return a thanks for her actions and words. In my eyes, she is the type of person to leave the world better, and that is success.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Lauren Tan
Peas In a Pod, Acrylic on cardboard
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Megan Cashman
What makes us who we are today? In a close-knitted atmosphere, Carter portrays an intimate connection between two figures, attesting to the phenomenon of passing down generational knowledge. To me, this familiar love resurfaced a distant world filled with wild dreams and naive aspirations. Intricately crafted with layers of cardboard, this painting weaves the idyllic tale of siblinghood. More specifically— my siblings and I as we are portrayed in our truest and most unforgiving forms. Looking more closely, a traditional Chinese custom appears: our Jade necklaces, capturing the beauty and essence of how older generations pass down pieces of culture, experiences, and wisdom. In every universe, Peas In a Pod holds a dear sentiment of familial warmth and strength in how we love over, and over again.
Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Daniella Tejada
The Jaded Spiral
Acrylic on canvas
John F. Kennedy High School
Grade 10, Art Teacher: Carissa Roche
Upon looking at The Visit Home, I was drawn in by the figure’s seemingly unachievable serenity. My work contrasts this because it highlights chaos, instead of tranquility. Ralph’s painting portrayed my vision of perfection: a neat pile of books, some flowers, a figure sleeping on a couch without a care in the world, no overlapping thoughts, just you enjoying a calm and much-awaited visit home, all wrapped up in a cozy blanket of warm tones. My piece shows what life is like when I visit home. I emphasize how instead of a serene visit home, a visit home for me is more schoolwork, and an endless amount of studying. Unfortunately, these stressful times play a big role in my life. I used cool tones to highlight the tension I experience daily in the face of an overwhelming amount of homework and tests. I composed the objects on my table messily in order to enhance how chaotic my after-school hours can be. I showed myself three times in the painting to exemplify the multitude of personalities that I obtain from overworking myself, rather than being calm and at peace. Ironically, through this process, I found I was actually able to highlight a twisted serenity within the stress of home life.
Inspiration artwork:
Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983, Oil on vellum
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Ashlyn Thitibordin Imbalance
Pencil
Jericho Senior High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Bryan Ciminelli
Robert Carter’s work is an incredible display of contrasts between lights and darks in a way that accentuates the interesting textures present in the piece. I wanted to emulate this same contrast in my piece Imbalance. Using Carter’s artwork as inspiration, I made sure to emphasize the shadows and highlights of the steel scale and cardboard boxes in the foreground and background of my piece. In this way, I was able to magnify the textures present in my artwork and convey the inspiration I drew from Carter’s creation.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Sophia Tine
Eclectic Thoughts, Digital art
Huntington High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
When I first looked at Dali’s painting, I was transported into a fanciful room filled with bright reds and yellows and a curious lamp. I thought it was interesting that this piece was a collage rather than a traditional painting. These features, along with my own ideas, were the basis of my creation. I thought it would be a great opportunity to work in a style I have never attempted before and used Photoshop to help me delve into this new technique. I wanted to include a photograph of a stylish woman, a nod to Dali’s piece and proceeded to gather elements that were quirky and vintage in nature. I even hid Dali’s lobster phone within my piece so the audience could have a little fun in trying to find it. I converted my model into black and white, creating contrast between her and all the elements placed upon her head. The assembly of the separate elements was challenging, but fun. Not all artwork has to be intensely serious and Surrealists did play games as a catalyst for some of their artwork. I took the same approach in hoping the viewer will have fun identifying and discovering all the fun items I placed within the piece.
Cozza Family Award
Inspiration artwork: Salvador Dali, Untitled, 1939, Collage and gouache on paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Alexandra Tsang
Coda, Mixed media
Herricks High School
Grade 10, Art Teacher: Alexis Donza
My piece is titled Coda which is a structural element typically used to identify the concluding segment of a piece of music. This represents my decision to prioritize my passion in visual art as well as my departure from performance art. In this piece, my clarinet is left behind on a stand amidst the backdrop of the art camp that has been a large part of my life, including my performance of music during the past 2 years. I also depict myself as I step through a doorway, which is a poignant symbol of my pursuit of visual arts. It was a bittersweet yet promising decision. In addition to telling my story, I wanted to incorporate my experience from both technical design and creative arts. It was highly enjoyable using mixed media and unconventional materials throughout the process of making this piece, including light, wood, foil, etc. In terms of inspiration, I was captivated by the varied elevations Robert Carter utilized in his artwork. I wanted to pay homage to his style in my own piece by experimenting with shadows and elevations to draw attention to the main points of my piece, such as the door frame and my clarinet. Coda encapsulates my artistic evolution, merging personal narrative with my artistic style. It embodies a pivotal moment of growth, inviting others to contemplate their own crossroads in life.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Kaylee Turcios Cathedral
Scratch art
West Islip High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Linda Marino
Helen Torr’s Roof Tops #1 caught my attention immediately. As an artist I sometimes feel pressured to create an elaborate over the top piece with color, shading, and contrast. However, seeing a simple pencil on paper piece hanging in a museum inspired me to reject this notion and challenge myself. Buildings and structures are my favorite references as it reminds me of trying to solve a puzzle – mapping out perspectives and proportions for the sketch. I often find that my sketches are so intricate and detailed that I feel mournful when it’s time to paint over them. I chose to work with a scratchboard to fully embrace sketching by not being able to eliminate possible mistakes without scratching away more of the board.
Inspiration artwork: Helen Torr, Roof Tops #1, n.d., pencil on paper
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Veronica Vogel
Earthly Bonds
Gouache and oil pastel
East Meadow High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Brian O’Neill
Nature can be a place of solace and comfort, where many different creatures can live together in unity. Much like siblings, they will fight, but at the end of the day it is still their home. I took inspiration from Adam Straus’ piece because the scenic landscape reminded me of the calming effect nature has. The beautiful greenery and the smell of the clean air can wash away any worries from my mind. I used a mixture of oil pastels layered upon gouache to create a soft, yet bright look to express nature’s positive influence on me. Being surrounded by this relaxing force, and the people I care for the most, is what my home truly is. After all, a house is only a structure.
Inspiration artwork:
Adam Straus, American Rustic, 2019, Oil on newspaper and shopping lists adhered to paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Mia Walton
Vulnerable Homeland
Acrylic, conte crayon, and charcoal pencil on Bainbridge board Division Avenue High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Tim Ryan
Courtney M. Leonard’s work and powerful message are what inspired my piece. In HELM STUDY #2, an osprey powerfully rises from the water with a fish grasped in its talons on the left side of the painting. Beside it, we see a portrait of a young woman with eyes shut, clasping her hands in prayer. I believe the prayer is a cry for us to take action and prevent climate changes for future generations’ sake. Inspired by these ideals, I began to research the climate effects in my mother’s native homeland of Mexico. Here, climate change has already impacted agriculture with significant decreases in precipitation, along with the vulnerability to landslides from flash floods. I used these facts to begin my painting by depicting water and wind in a direct battle with one another. The Mexican icon for movement is juxtaposed over the wind while the one for water sits atop of it. The smaller icons spell out Mexico as a tribute to my culture. Finally the national bird, a golden eagle, soars toward the viewer as a powerful message that it is time for all of us to come together and demand change.
Inspiration artwork:
Courtney M. Leonard, HELM STUDY #2, 2020
Mixed media and acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004—2023
Kimberly Widjaja
Refrigerator Memories: My Home
Mixed media (Acrylic on canvas, magnetic board, clay)
Hicksville High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Altoon Sultan’s simple, yet meaningful piece caught my attention in the midst of the several paintings on the museum’s walls. To me, the beauty of this painting is that it depicts a serene moment of one’s daily life. Looking into my fridge, a daily venture in my life, is what holds the most memories, both recent and in the past. As I reach into the fridge to get my food for each day, I am greeted with the countless magnets attached to the door. As I carefully replicated each magnet, I was reminded of the adventures I’ve been through. Each magnet, sculpted and painted with care, represents the memories hidden in each. With magnets from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and more, each memory has become a part of my home. When painting my open fridge, I carefully analyzed each aspect of what made my fridge full; the Indonesian cuisines, poorly wrapped leftovers, and high sugar beverages. Each food item shows the food and cultures which make up who I am, something I want to display to viewers of my fridge. My piece of a half-opened fridge represents opening the doors of my house, with the inside of the fridge, cluttered yet homely, representing my disorganized yet comforting household. The closed door and its magnets display the unforgettable escapades this disorganized household went through together. I invite viewers to physically explore each magnet and visualize the memories they hold, whether it be moving them, holding them, or simply looking at them. Everyone has a daily routine, and for many opening up a filled fridge halfway can display the many aspects of their home, even without them knowing. I made this piece to show how meaningful a simple glance in one’s fridge can be, a place that holds constantly changing, but never trivial memories.
Adelphi University For The Love of Art Award
Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention
Education Department Award of Recognition
Inspiration artwork:
Altoon Sultan, Night Portrait, 1981, Oil on canvas mounted on board
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Casey With beyond flesh
Embroidery and charcoal on raw canvas
East Islip High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Daniel Figliozzi
My inspiration is pulled from Claire Watson who imposes mystery on her audience through various materials pieced together in a matter that creates texture and unique uncertainty. The texture in her piece immediately resonated with me due to my experience with FSGS, an autoimmune disease that affects the filtration abilities of my kidneys. The impurities established through her use of lentils correlates with the complex embroidery and beading patterns within my piece. Impurities reflect the mysterious nature of my chronic kidney disease through posing questions such as, what lies inside of my kidneys? What is supposed to be filtered? What is supposed to be kept? My piece provides a window to the unknown status of my kidney health. Seemingly normal to the eye, but beneath is untold.
Inspiration artwork:
Claire Watson, Emboss, 2019, Leather coat pattern remnant, lentils, cardboard, glue, thread, gesso, raw canvas
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Emily Xie
外婆 (Grandma), Oil on canvas
Harborfields High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Eugenia Ritter
I was immensely inspired by Carter’s piece because of how vividly it encapsulated the feelings of nostalgia and childhood warmth. I wanted to express the same emotions with a portrait of my grandmother, who raised me when I lived in China. As the years passed, I only hold faint recollections of those times and a gaping detachment with my culture. Due to a language barrier, I can no longer speak with my 外婆. Regardless, my grandma will always be a crucial part of my childhood. To capture the same feeling of childlike comfort, I enveloped my grandma with azaleas for a bright color palette. Azaleas are flowers that represent longing for home. When I see Carter’s painting, I feel a contrast of wistfulness and content. It simultaneously makes me yearn for childhood and smile at the memories. While I can’t convey my gratitude with words, I hope to capture it with my painting, art without a barrier.
Inspiration artwork: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition:
Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Johnny Xu
Awakening, Cut paper collage
Syosset High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Demi Protonentis
Drawn to Arthur Dove’s Sea Gulls, I was initially attracted to the dark and bleak sky. The ocean conveyed an accompanying sense of coldness and lifelessness. Even though the seagulls only occupied a small portion of the canvas, the viewer is able to experience contrasting liveliness and vividness. In my piece, I contrasted blue to orange, purple to yellow, and green to red. This creature came out of my imagination, but reminds me of a chameleon. In my opinion, chameleons seem quiet and obtuse. However, they are quite fast and bright when it comes to preying and locomotion. Using cut paper, I incorporated the golden ratio into the chameleon’s head and body, and I added the wings to make my piece unusual, almost magical in a sense. Life is indeed amazing, and is truly fearfully and wonderfully made. Just like the bright white standing out from the bleak green and gray, the shining orange stands out from the green and blue too, as if it’s saying, “if you keep on being quiet about how creations are fascinatingly made, even the stones and chameleons will cry out!”
Inspiration artwork:
Arthur Dove, Sea Gulls, 1938, oil on canvas
From the exhibition: Salt Life: Arthur Dove and Helen Torr
Ann Yao
Gospel Cleanses the Soul, Acrylic on cardboard with sculpt medium
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
Grade 11, Art Teacher: Megan Cashman
The musical and religious motifs present in Robert Carter’s work strongly reminded me of a former staff member at my high school. Prompted by an assignment that required interviewing someone, I approached the nearest custodian—never would I have guessed the lasting impact he had on me. Oral “DJ Richie” Richards, an exceptionally friendly man with a smooth Jamaican accent, introduced himself as the founder and host of his radio station, Timeless Gospel Radio. He told me about his journey as an immigrant who, despite suffering many tragedies, managed to find hope in church and music. I was deeply moved by how he had transformed those saviors into a career, particularly considering that he balances it with his family and day job. The triptych frame that I sculpted from a homemade baking soda and gesso mixture, in addition to the Renaissance-esque composition that echoes Carter’s Baroque style, references powerful Christian artworks and DJ Richie’s faith. DJ Richie is also not looking at the viewer but rather at his hands while he works, as a nod to his humility. I further represented his custodial job and his personal identity through symbols, such as the spray bottle and trumpet, to commemorate the equal presence of “gospel” and “cleansing” in his life.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007, Mixed media
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Sonia Zahid
My Interior Desires the Exterior Pencil
Valley Stream Central High School
Grade 12, Art Teacher: Mario Bakalov
My family’s superstitions surrounded me growing up. Every move of mine was constricted by their eyes. My grandmother always told me that if I dared try to escape my home, I would be met with unimaginable dangers. I, who usually found comfort within my walls, suddenly had a wish to leave. I chose Interior Kitchen because of the woman’s striking silhouette against her kitchen window, giving a secret glimpse into what her daily life is like. I wanted to not only use the window as the central concept in my piece, but also include the feeling of privacy. Through cross hatching pencil, I show the quiet chaos in my mind: from the outside, I sit unfazed in my room, but on closer look, the messiness of my thoughts is clear. The hole in the window allows viewers to look through to the other side, immersing themselves in what I see and feel every day.
Inspiration artwork: Helen Miranda Wilson, Interior Kitchen, 1980, Oil on Anco panel From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
Jennie Zhang
Hopeless Ambition, Acrylic on canvas
Hicksville High School
Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
American Rustic by Adam Straus caught my eye because of the contrast of the piece and the meaning behind it. There was an aged newspaper succeeded by a captivating painting of a beautiful landscape with words hastily inscribed alongside. Adam Straus infused significance into his work to confront issues and challenge the monotony of everyday life. I thought the way he presented his idea was inventive. The dull newspaper makes the landscape pop out. I wanted to use Straus’s idea of “the tragedy and triumph of the news with the day to day mundane” and the issues that can affect our daily lives. Alcohol can have a severe negative impact, as individuals may turn to it as a means to drown their sorrows and alleviate their misery. Even so, alcohol allows people to become free of anxiety due to increased production of dopamine. By including this concept and interpretation of the piece, I decided to paint someone struggling with this affliction. Composing this image, I decided to have the bottle coming off the canvas to show how alcoholism does not affect just one person, but can begin to consume the lives of those around them.
Third Place, The Hadley Prize
Inspiration artwork:
Adam Straus, American Rustic, 2019, Oil on newspaper and shopping lists adhered to paper
From the exhibition: Raise the Roof: The Home in Art
March 23, 2024
AWARDS CEREMONY
LONG ISLAND’S BEST
EXHIBITION PREVIEW DAY
LI BEST AUDIO/VIDEO CHALLENGE
Students were given the opportunity to share more about their artwork and process and create audio and video to accompany their artwork.
The following artists shared insight of their process and experience. These audio and video clips are now available in our digital guide through the Bloomberg Connects app, accessible to download through the QR code listed below.
Scan this QR code to download our digital guide and listen to audio from these students!
Veronica Vogel, Earthly Bonds Erick Benitez, Blanca Monteroso Mattie Krakoff, Our Beauty and Pain Elena Mingorance Decline (Peter Crippen House) Cassidy Paul, Cards at the Cabin Mia Walton, Vulnerable Homeland Lauren Castellano, Faces
Scan this QR code to download our digital guide and watch video insight from these students!
Each year we invite students that attend our Preview Day to participate in the Museum’s social media to showcase their amazing work! Make sure you’re following @heckschermuseum to view content surrounding LI Best and much more!
Alden Kisner, Vibrant Memories
Teyonna Show, Wings
Miguel Ortiz Fly high, fly free.
Acknowledgements
69 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties submitted artwork for jurying for the 2024 exhibition. Thank you to all of the participating schools, administrators, and teachers for your dedication! Your hard work and support make this exhibition possible.
Amityville Memorial High School
Amityville Union Free School District
Edward Plaia, Principal
Dr. Frances Fernandez, Director of Fine Arts & Music
Jennifer Dibble, Art Teacher
Jayne Grasso, ArtTeacher
Baldwin High School
Baldwin Union Free School District
Neil Testa, Principal
Andre Poprilo, Director of Fine and Performing Arts
Michelle Liemer-Kelly, 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
Tina Nadeem, Art Teacher
Bellport High School
South Country Central School
District Erika DellaRosa, Principal
Barbara Gallagher, Art Department Chairperson
Devin Auricchio, Art Teacher
Sophia Black, Art Teacher
Brentwood HS & Freshman Center
Brentwood Union Free School District
Vincent Autera, Principal
Angel Perez, Coordinator of Fine & Performing Arts
Patricia Kopp, Art Teacher
Center Moriches High School
Center Moriches School District
Marissa Mangogna, Principal
Jeremy Thode, Assistant Principal
Dan Kudreyko, Art Teacher
Laura Sandberg-DeJohn, Art Teacher
Centereach High School
Middle Country Central School District
Tom Bell, Principal
Diana Cook, Director of Art & Music
Shelby Petruzzo, Art Teacher
Chaminade High School
Bro. Joseph Bellizzi, Principal
Sally Zehnter, Fine Arts Department Chair
Justin Accordino, Art Teacher
Shuchao Luo, Art Teacher
Cold Spring Harbor High School
Cold Spring Harbor Union Free School District
Dan Danbusky, Principal
Christine Oswald, District Chairperson
Laura Cirino, Art Teacher
Christine Oswald, Art Teacher
Commack High School
Commack Union Free School District
Carrie Lipenholtz, Principal
Mark Stuckey, Director
Frank Musto, Art Teacher
Connetquot High School
Connetquot Central School District
Michael Moran, Principal
Vincent Malafronte, Director of Fine Arts
John Hargrave, Art Teacher
Division Avenue High School
Levittown Union Free School District
John Coscia, Principal
Frank Creter, Director of Art & Music
Tim Ryan, Art Teacher
East Islip High School
East Islip Union Free School District
Mark Bernard, Principal
Robert Wottawa, Director of Fine Arts
Daniel Figliozzi, 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
East Rockaway High School
East Rockaway School District
Richard Schaffer, Principal
Peter Ceglio, Fine Arts Chairperson
Kelly Cabasso, Art Teacher
Kristie Galante, Art Teacher
Elmont Memorial High School
Sewanhaka Central High School District
Kevin Dougherty, Principal
Chris Yee, Art Department Chairperson
Stella Grenier, Art Teacher
Farmingdale High School
Farmingdale Union Free School District
Kevin Dougherty, Principal
Chris Yee, Dir. of Arts & Community Relations
Lisa Gramarossa, Art Teacher
Freeport High School
Freeport Union Free School District
Kevin Dougherty, Principal
Lynn Fusco, Art Department Chairperson
Nicholas Cuccio, Art Teacher
Jocelyn Rodriguez, Art Teacher
Garden City High School
Garden City Union Free School District
Kevin Steingruebner, Principal
Amanda Hauser, Coord. of Music & the Arts
Shawn Uttendorfer, Art Teacher
General Douglas MacArthur High School
Levittown Union Free School District
Joseph Sheehan, Principal
Frank Creter, Dir. of Art & Music
Tom Bobal, Art Teacher
Deja Vance, Art Teacher
Glen Cove High School
Glen Cove School District
Antonio Santana, Principal
Melissa Johnides, Art Teacher
Jonathan Kaufman, Art Teacher
LeeAnn Palazzo, Art Teacher
Gina Samet, Art Teacher
Maria Verni, Art Teacher
H. Frank Carey High School
Sewanhaka Central High School District
Dr. Dan Holtzman, Principal
Dr. Pamela Levy, Dir. of Fine Arts
Jonathan Kaufman, Art Teacher
Gina Samet, Art Teacher
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Half Hollow Hills Central School District
Dr. Milton Strong, Principal
Dr. Darlene Lilla, Dir. of Fine Arts
Tania Godoy, Art Teacher
Kim Norris, Art Teacher
Matt Petrucci, 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 levolo, Art Teacher
Amanda Montiglio, Art Teacher
Harborfields High School
Harborfields Central School District
Timothy Russo, Principal
Elizabeth DeVaney, Arts Coordinator
Jeanie Ritter, Art Teacher
Kalliope Viegas, Art Teacher
Herricks High School
Herricks Union Free School District
Joan Keegan, Principal
Anissa Arnold, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Jennifer Cavalluzzo, Art Teacher
Alexis Donza, Art Teacher
Hicksville High School
Hicksville Union Free School District
Raymond Williams, Principal
Chad Wyman, Supervisor of Fine Arts
Angela Galante, Art Teacher
Craig Mateyunas, Art Teacher
Huntington Fine Arts
Lisa Hock Mack, Director
Lenore Hanson, Art Teacher
Huntington High School
Huntington Union Free School District
Brenden Cusack, Principal
Eric Reynolds, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Ayallah Jeddah, Art Teacher
Kasmira Mohanty, Art Teacher
Kristin Singer, Art Teacher
Jericho High School
Jericho Union Free School District
David Cohen, Principal
Ruth Breidenback, CA of Fine & Performing Arts
Bryan Ciminelli, 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
Taylor Lodespoto, Art Teacher
Sarah Ritchie, Art Teacher
Carissa Roche, Art Teacher
Kings Park High School
Kings Park Union Free School District
Karen Lessler, Principal
Darlene Blaurock, Art Teacher
Lindenhurst High School
Lindenhurst Union Free School District
Candice Brodie, Principal
Jon Trapani, Coord. of Fine & Performing Arts
Tara Biscardi, Art Teacher
Long Beach High School
Long Beach Union Free School District
Jeffrey Meyers, Principal
Julia Lang-Shapiro, Dir. of Media, Visual & Perf. Arts
Eric Fox, Art Teacher
Joanne Harvey, Art Teacher
Marlon Lainez, Art Teacher
Lorraine Levchenko, Art Teacher
Malverne High School
Malverne Union Free School District
Vincent Romano, Principal
Mike Messina, Fine Arts Chairperson
Nick Alleva, Art Teacher
Maura Minor, Art Teacher
Manhasset High School
Manhasset Union Free School District
Dr. Dean Schlanger, Principal
Christopher Hale, Director of the Arts
Lori Oldaker, Art Teacher
Natalya Panullo, Art Teacher
Massapequa High School
Massapequa Union Free School District
Barbara Lowell, Principal
Vincent Green, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Paul Leone, Art Teacher
Mount Sinai High School
Mount Sinai School District
Peter Pramataris, Principal
Christina Romeo, Art and Music Director
Andrea Morganelli, Art Teacher
New Hyde Park High School
Sewanhaka Central School District
Richard Faccio, Principal
Katrin Marino, Art Department Chairperson
Danielle Livoti, Art Teacher
Northport High School
Northport-East Northport School District
Robert Dennis, Principal
Dr. Izzet Mergen, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
John DeRosa, Art Teacher
Christine Driscoll, Art Teacher
Oceanside High School
Oceanside Union Free School District
Brendon Mitchell, Principal
Andrew Frey-Gould, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Maria Anisansel, Art Teacher
Jennifer Bonilla, Art Teacher
Danielle Casquarelli, Art Teacher
Nanci Nigro, Art Teacher
Kathryn Thiel, Art Teacher
Oyster Bay High School
Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District
Sharon Lasher, Principal
Erica Giglio Pac, Supervisor, Fine & Performing Art
Scott Boris, Art Teacher
Stephanie Miley, Art Teacher
Patchogue-Medford High School
Patchogue-Medford School District
Dr. Randy Rusielewicz, Principal
Nathan Brinkman, Dir. of Art, Music & Cultural Arts
Grace Anello, Art Teacher
Nicholas Frizalone, Art Teacher
Nancy Gladd, Art Teacher
Portledge School
Simon Owen-Williams, Head of School
John Greene, Department Chair
Jerry Krause, Art Teacher
Rocky Point High School
Rocky Point Union Free School District
James Moeller, Principal
Seth Meier, Art Teacher
Roslyn High School
Roslyn Union Free School District
Scott Andrews, Principal
Dave Lazarus, Assistant Principal
Richard Ritter, Art Teacher
Sachem High School East
Sachem Central School District
Louis Antonetti, Principal
Amanda Foran, Art Chairperson
Renee Parisi, Art Teacher
Katrina Wrigley, Art Teacher
Sacred Heart Academy
Maria Hecht, Principal
Liz Conte, Art Chairperson
Joy Gatto, Art Teacher
Kristin Mariano, Art Teacher
Sanford H Calhoun High School
Bellmore–Merrick Central School District
Nicole Hollings, Principal
Cheryl Fontana, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Joan Gonzalez, Art Teacher
Sayville High School
Sayville Union Free School District
Ron Hoffer, Principal
Debra Urso, Art Chairperson
Evan Hammer, Art Teacher
Shoreham-Wading River
Shoreham-Wading River Central SD
Frank Pugliese, Principal
Jason Andria, Art Teacher
Samantha Shepard, Art Teacher
Smithtown Christian School
Tracy Berner, Principal
James Roselle, Department Chairperson
Smithtown High School East
Smithtown Central School District
Kevin Simmons, Principal
Michael Mastrangelo, Director of Fine Arts
Christopher Lauto, Art Teacher
Smithtown High School West
Smithtown Central School District
John Coady, Principal
Michael Mastrangelo, Director of Fine Arts
Lauren George, Art Teacher
South Side High School
Rockville Centre School District
Patrick Walsh, Principal
Brian Zuar, Director of Fine Arts
Keith Gamache, Art Teacher
Paul Sementelli, Art Teacher
Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls
Bluma Drebin, Principal
Marisa Dulisse, Art Teacher
Syosset High School
Syosset Central District
Dr. Giovanni Durante, Principal
Michael Salzman, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Demi Protonentis, Art Teacher
Uniondale High School
Uniondale Union Free School District
Mark McCaw, Principal
Kelvin Jenkins, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Brianna Cruz, Art Teacher
Valley Stream Central High School
Valley Stream Central High School District
Dr. Joseph Pompilio, Principal
Dr. Adam Erdos, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Mario Bakalov, Art Teacher
Valley Stream North High School
Valley Stream Central High School District
Robin Small, Principal
Dr. Adam Erdos, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Allan Nafte, Art Teacher
Valley Stream South High School
Valley Stream Central High School District
Maureen Henry, Principal
Dr. Adam Erdos, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Ed Lee, Art Teacher
W. T. Clarke High School
East Meadow Union Free School District
Timothy Voels, Principal
Heather Anastasio, Director of Music & Art
Jeannene Arcuri, Art Teacher
Marlena Dentrone, Art Teacher
Waldorf School of Garden City
Roland Rothenbucher, Principal
Anne Cavallaro, Fine Art Teacher
Walt Whitman High School
South Huntington Union Free School District
Kenneth Costa, Principal
Jacqueline Tartaro, Art Chairperson
Erica Raji, Art Teacher
Michael Rizzitello, Art Teacher
Gina Tinucci, Art Teacher
West Islip High School
West Islip Union Free School District
Eric Albinder, Art and Music Director
Linda Marino, Art Teacher
Westbury High School
Westbury Union Free School District
David Zimbler, Principal
Nidia Keaveny, District-Wide Art Chair
Michelle Perez, Art Teacher
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
Great Neck School District
Christopher Gitz, Principal
Karen Cuchel, Art Department Chairperson
Megan Cashman, Art Teacher
Lisa Stancati, Art Teacher
Wyandanch High School
Wyandanch School District
Paul Sibblies, Principal
Jill Lewis, Art Teacher
Clockwise from bottom left: Nikole Galgano, A Mother’s Grief, Oil on paper, Division Ave HS; Lianna Dominguez, Rosalie, Oil on paper, Division Ave HS; Madelyn Mejia, Shared Dreams, Acrylic on canvas, Brentwood HS; David Lee, Riff of Time, Acrylic on canvas, Hicksville HS.
Front cover: Jocelyn Liu, Tranquility Amidst Chaos, Oil on paper, Manhasset High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker; Back cover: Shamiha Sharif, Fleeting Fabrics, Watercolor and colored pencil, H. Frank Carey High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Gina Samet
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
2 Prime Avenue Huntington, NY 11743 631.380.3230 Heckscher.org @heckschermuseum #hmalibest