Hayground School is proud to announce Masks Whisper Stories a vibrant, all-school exhibition featured in the Parrish Art Museum’s annual Student Exhibition. The show, an exemplification of Hayground students’ ingenuity, will be on view now through April 26.
Since September, Hayground students have been exploring the history and meaning of masks from around the world, studying traditions from China, Japan, Indonesia, the Pacific Northwest, the South Pacific Islands, Central and South America, and countries throughout Africa. Through this sustained, school-wide inquiry, students examined how masks embody identity, spirituality, celebration, and social storytelling across cultures.
Drawing on this research, students translated their own life experiences into original masks created from a wide range of materials, techniques, and forms. The resulting exhibition is a collective portrait of the Hayground community, in which each mask reflects a student’s personal narrative while also engaging with global artistic traditions.
Guided by Hayground’s philosophy of mentorship and student-led inquiry, Masks Whisper Stories represents the culmination of a major, all-school art collaboration that has been in progress since the beginning of the academic year. The project underscores the school’s commitment to hands-on artistic expression, interdisciplinary learning, and giving young people authentic opportunities to share their voices with the wider community.
The Parrish Art Museum’s Student Exhibition offers a platform for young artists across Eastern Long Island to gain recognition and celebrate their achievements, highlighting the creativity, enthusiasm, and technical skill of over 1,000 students from local schools each year. Hayground’s annual participation in this regional tradition is reflective of the school’s deep connection to the East End arts community.
