Belleville High Student Awarded in Teen Arts Jam

Seventeen-year-old Sebastian Taco, a senior at Belleville High School, is one of 12 awarded third place at the recently concluded Teen Arts Jam at the Visceglia Gallery in Caldwell College. He won for his artwork entitled “On Top of the Moon,” using pen and charcoal on paper as media.

A total of 36 prizes were given out Wednesday night during the awards reception, twelve for each prize category. All awardees received certificates and gifts, with an additional $20 gift certificate from Jerry’s Art Outlet and a $1,000 scholarship to Caldwell College for first prize winners, if they choose to attend. After the ceremonies, the winners had their photos taken beside their works of art.

“There were a lot of really talented students…many more than we could give prizes to,” said Kendall Baker, director of the Visceglia Gallery and a fine arts professor at the college.  “That’s the challenge for this type of show—to limit the awards to 12  in each category. The students did fabulous work.”

Participating schools this year included Bayonne High School, Belleville High School, Boonton High School, Hanover Park High School, James Caldwell High School, Kearny High School, Montville High School, Mount St. Dominic Academy, New Providence High School, Nutley High School, Paramus Catholic High School, Passaic Valley High School, Pompton Lakes High School, Providence High School, Roxbury High School, Saddle Brook High School, St. Dominic Academy, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, Teaneck High School and Verona High School.

The entries from Belleville High came from the art class of Mrs. De Florio, to which Taco belongs.

Asked how he was able to come up with his artwork, Taco said, “We had to pick a picture that has a lot of emotion in it. A lot of people did baby pictures and family pictures… That’s cool but when I approach art I approach it differently. So I picked a picture of me which was taken by my little sister. When I see that picture, it expresses my style, the way I dress, the way I do things. And it’s just like a good time that I shared with my little sister so it’s very special to me.”

This is the sixth year run the teen arts exhibit, and gallery director Baker foresees a continuation in the years to come.

“As long as interest continues to increase, I imagine we will continue doing this,” said Baker.

The art department chair also wanted to let everyone know that scholarship to the art school is open to everyone, not just the winners of the art show. “We offer scholarships to any student who comes and wants to submit a portfolio,” said Baker. “Based on the portfolio, we will determine if we will award a scholarship.”

According to Baker, Caldwell College was the first to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in New Jersey. “We have a really strong program here. And we have studios that are dedicated to different disciplines.”

Works from the Teen Arts Jam were exhibited from Feb. 10 through March 2, with an Awards Reception for students, teachers and parents on the concluding night at the Visceglia Gallery. The gallery is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free. 

For more information on the Visceglia Gallery or the Fine Arts Department, contact department secretary Elaine Maliszewski at 973-618-3931 or emaliszewski@caldwell.edu. For directions, visit www.caldwell.edu.