Long Island's Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher

The art work on display was just as beautiful as the weather at the opening reception and awards ceremony for the exhibition, Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum 2011, where a Lindenhurst student won a scholarship award for her photography.

The award was one of several given out as part of a juried art show representing the talents of high school students that’s in its 15th year at.

“This show is the culmination of a whole program run by the museum," Kristina Seekamp, associate director of education, said. “The students created their own art in response to their interpretation of artwork in the museum’s collections and the special exhibitions.”

The School Discovery program encourages students to convey these works of art into their own vision by analysis, discussion and observation. Lisa Chalif, the curator of exhibitions and collections, chose the award recipients based on technical ability and originality.

Sarah Frohn, from Lindenhurst, was chosen for the Renzo S. Bianchi Scholarship for her photographic interpretation of Linda McCartney’s photograph of John Lennon. She’s been accepted to the Parsons New School for Design for photography.

Frohn was part of the museum’s School Discovery program that consisted of students from public and private high schools located throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Artwork was selected by the student’s art teachers, and each student was asked to submit an artist’s statement that explained the creative process of their work of art.

More than 300 entries were received, and 78 are now on display at the museum. The exhibit runs until May 1.

Attending teen artists were clearly thrilled at having their artwork shown at a museum. Equally excited parents and friends were busy posing budding young artists in front of their works of art.

Beth Levinthal, past executive director, served as honorary host. She conceived the original program when she served as the museum’s director of education, and reminisced about the first year when the program was geared to only one school.

“The original program was too limiting and restrictive. The program was revamped to include many more schools and to engage and inspire more young artists,” she said.

Joy Weiner, the current director of education and public programs, has taken over the reins, and has been in charge of the art show for the past 14 years.

During the awards ceremony, Levinthal said the show is special because it is the only one on Long Island that showcases and presents student artwork in a museum setting.

“The impact of this opportunity is life-changing; some artists who work their entire lives don’t get to have a three-week exhibition at a major museum,” said Levinthal, who’s now executive director of the Hofstra University Museum.

Councilwoman Susan Berland asked the large crowd assembled, “Who has never been to this museum before?” She said it was great to have people here that hadn’t ever been to the museum.

Many of the students plan on pursing a career in the arts like Frohn. And past winner, Samantha Hofsiss of Huntington, has gone on to study at the College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2012.

The Heckscher Museum of Art is commemorating the 15th anniversary of Long Island’s Best with an accompanying exhibit, aptly named, Celebrating 15 Years.

This exhibit features award-winning artwork from past Long Island’s Best exhibits, and will be on display through April 24.