This Year's Most Creative: 'Slow Art' and 'Background Noises'

Family and friends convened at Mamaroneck High School on Tuesday evening to celebrate two of the school's most creative graduating seniors: the 2010 recipients of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

This year's winners were Anetta Urmey for the visual arts category and Wednesday Derrico for her work in the performing arts.

The presentation began with a detailed account of Anetta Urney's artwork by Kevin Klein, an art teacher at Mamaroneck High School. The slide show displayed Urney's drawings and paintings, which were described as "slow art" due to the carefully paced effort in the planning and execution of her work. Much like a proud parent, Klein gushed at Urney's "wealth of hidden details and some delightfully elusive ideas." In the same sense, Urney's art encourages the viewer to slowly analyze the work to fully grasp the concept and message that goes along with the piece.

"To be honest, I hadn't really drawn or painted or thought anything about it until mid-junior year," said Urney after receiving her award.

Before attending Rhode Island School of Design in the fall, Urney plans on working on a few creative projects over the summer. She will determine what major to pursue after her freshman year, but just like her artwork, she said she plans on "taking it slowly; I'm not really sure what I would do as a profession just yet."

Stephanie Corsetti, a fellow PACE member, introduced student Wednesday Derrico with a tribute to her ability to appreciate all art and artists, and respect the work of her peers. "Her level of concentration is contagious and she urges us all to push ourselves as she does, " said Corsetti.

Peers from the PACE program reflected on how much Derrico had evolved in the arts since taking on a lead role in The Music Man in 5th grade.

"I went to Mamaroneck Avenue School and they honestly have the best musical theatre experience; as a young kid it really got me going," commented Derrico. "I definitely attribute a lot of my success to my elementary school."

To close up the evening, Derrico showcased the talents that helped her earn the performing arts award. Accompanied by a guitar player, she performed her original song, "Background Noises," which was used at the PACE Soundscapes show earlier this year.

Derrico will be taking on the experimental theatre wing at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU next year, where she will study modern dance and acting techniques while working on music on the side.

"I'm so honored and grateful. When they told me, I actually didn't really know about the award," said Derrico. "It's really a special, quiet award. It's just the perfect amount of reward for the amount of work that I have done."

Both Anetta Urney and Wednesday Derrico plan to be involved in building the arts community this summer, specifically with the youth in the area. Urney wants to work as a volunteer teaching arts and crafts to children as she sews and works on jewelry in her spare time. Derrico plans on working as a theater counselor at Applause Theatrical Workshops in Mamaroneck, one day hoping to follow in the footsteps of PACE and start up a performing arts program at another school.

The commemoration of this award began 28 years ago when the Mamaroneck School District received a $10,000 grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund for their arts program. Rather than spending the money all at once, the district decided to let the fund collect interest over the years and recognize two graduating seniors every year with a $250 reward for their outstanding work in the visual and performing arts.

Editor's Note: Chari Topol-Allison contributed reporting to this article.