Young Artists Celebrated

More than 1000 young artists from across 37 East End public, private, and home schools will gather Saturday, February 9, to participate in a tradition nearly 65 years old as Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill hosts The Student Exhibition. Students will showcase their work across both traditional and non-traditional approaches, creatively exploring the multitude of ways art is always changing.

Heather Evans, East Hampton High School’s Unified Arts Department Coordinator said, “This annual event is one we look forward to every year. It’s an opportunity to foster the community of regional teachers as we connect with each other, either directly, or via the student work on view. It is an inspiring, fun, celebratory, and prestigious avenue for validating good student work. To have the student work on view concurrent with the Parrish’s comprehensive collection of internationally known local artists is very special and speaks to a cycle of
supporting the artists of the future.”

The free event begins with a Young Artists Reception from 1 to 3 PM and the High School Artists Reception from 3 to 5 PM as the museum kicks off Family Month, going on through March 10, with live performances, workshops, and community day. Artist Neill Slaughter, professor of Visual Art at Long Island University, will present awards to high school seniors in recognition of their exceptional talent across several categories on March 3 at 3 PM. Underclassmen will additionally be given honors as the “Ones to Watch.”

Julianna V., a senior at East Hampton High School, details her work, reminiscent of her family and memories of the Dominican Republic. “The sunsets there have always meant something special to me — warmth, love, hope. In times like these, where those three elements are hard to find, I feel it is right to open my heart and mind, and share what I have with others. I invite you to create a story behind them.”

Her three pieces on view are inspired by the cities of Santiago, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata. “Santiago is where my mother was born, where my grandparents live. I remember sitting on my grandpa’s front porch, talking with him, and playing dominoes with my grandma.”

Allie S., a sophomore at East Hampton High School, was taken back upon learning she would be involved. “Since pieces that are submitted into Parrish are typically created by seniors and from many other schools, I was genuinely surprised that my piece was going to be submitted as well. I had put a lot into my art, so it was very exciting to be selected. My piece is about a prevalent topic in today’s world, sexual assault and the objectification of women, so I hope my message gets out there. I hope for my piece to make a statement and to catch attention and awareness.”

Artist-in-residence, Shinnecock Nation member Jeremy Dennis, will be in attendance. Many students participating in the event have worked alongside him, and his current exhibition “Every Picture Tells a Story” is running concurrently.

Participating high schools include Bellport, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Eastport South Manor, Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology, Greenport, Hampton Bays, Mattituck, Miller Place, Pierson, Riverhead, Ross, Southampton, Westhampton Beach, and William Floyd.

Elementary, middle, and home schools include Bridgehampton, Children’s School, Cutchogue East Elementary, East Hampton Middle, East Quogue, Hayground, Hampton Bays Middle, On the Bay Homeschool Group, North Fork, John M. Marshall Elementary, New Suffolk Common School, Our Lady of the Hamptons, Oysterponds Elementary, Peconic Community, Raynor Country Day, Ross Lower and Upper Schools, Sag Harbor Elementary, SCNY Homeschool Group, Shelter Island Early Learning Center, Southampton Elementary, Southampton Intermediate, and Southampton Montessori.

Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. Call 631-283-2118 or visit www.parrishart.org.

nicole@indyeastend.com