Schreiber Student Spreads Positive Message After Swastika News

A Port Washington teen is using his artistic talents to spread unity throughout the community at a time where a hate crime and bomb threats are dominating the local news.

Adam Jonah, 17, said the recent news of a swastika found on the bathroom wall of Schreiber High School gave him a newfound desire to paint with a purpose.

“With my art, I seek to promote tolerance, openness and respect," the high school senior says. "I use it to send messages of positivity and love. Hate does not represent who we are, or who we are meant to be as a community.”

Jonah is the youngest artist to be featured at the Ille Arts Gallery in Amagansett. His work will be shown at the gallery in a group exhibit called “Holiday Show,” which looks to celebrate art, freedom of expression and positivity in the community, from Nov. 25 to Jan. 2.

Jonah’s artwork showcases his signature acrylic paintings in bright, bold hues. At the gallery, he will also debut a mixed media digital photograph of an ink imaginary creature and his self-published art and philosophy book, “Scuba Ond Scubo,” will be available for purchase. All proceeds from his work will go directly to charity.

Jonah’s mission doesn’t stop there. His website www.froeg.com is on its way to becoming a charity promoting healing through art. He also plans on placing photographs of nature and artful creatures in children’s hospitals and emergency rooms as a way to inspire and comfort children. Jonah first start started combining art with community service at the The First City project, where he created a mural with other well-known urban graffiti artists who worked together to transform the historic Coles House into a living art space.

Courtesy photo