From February through March, the Parrish Art Museum will celebrate over 1,000 young artists with its 2018 Student Exhibition. Opening on Saturday, February 3, the exhibit will feature both group pieces and individuals works created by students across eastern Long Island. This exhibition also marks the beginning of Family Month at the museum, which will offer film, art workshops, performances, and programs for families on every Friday of the month.
 |
|
More than 32 public, home, and private schools are represented in the exhibition. (Courtesy Photo) |
Students partaking in this exhibit worked with their peers, teachers, and art clubs to creatively express themselves through many mediums–sculpture, costume, painting, drawing, and photography. Elementary and middle school students enter their work as a group piece, while high school students present individual works or collaborative projects.
Neill Slaughter, artist and professor of Visual Art at Long Island University, will present awards to select high school seniors for exceptional talent in their respective categories (e.g. paint, mixed media); additionally, “Ones to Watch” honors will be awarded to underclassmen.
 |
|
February is Family Month at the Parrish. (Courtesy Photo) |
More than 32 public, home, and private schools are represented in the exhibition by nearly 300 pieces from students. Additionally, 350 students from Bridgehampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays, and Tuckahoe school districts took part in the museum’s Artist-in-Residency program, lead this year by Bastienne Schmidt–an artist whose work is currently on view at the museum.
As part of the program, students create work inspired by Schmidt’s technique and conceptualization. This year, students worked with the theme of “sense of place,” in which they studied how they perceive places based on their personal and cultural background.
“Each year, the Parrish looks forward to the enthusiasm for art making and the creativity expressed in the Student Exhibition. That energy is amplified this year by the Museum’s fourth Artist-in-Residence in the new facility, with the participation of collection artist Bastienne Schmidt,” said Parrish Director Terrie Sultan. “This continues to allow the Parrish to provide opportunities for hundreds of students to work with practicing contemporary artists.”
The opening reception for the exhibit’s Young Artists will take place on Saturday, February 3 from 1 to 3 p.m.; directly after, from 3 to 5 p.m., high school artists will have their reception. Refreshments will be provided at both events. On Saturday, March 3–a day before the close of the 2018 Student Exhibition–there will be a reception at 3 p.m. for the presentation of awards. Admission to the exhibition and receptions are free for all participants, including their educators and families.
Throughout the month, the museum will have special programming as part of its Family Month. Programs include “UnScupted Valentines” with artist/environmental educator Cindy Pease Roe, “Bash the Trash,” a screening of the film, “Landfill Harmonic,” and collograph printmaking. All of the programs are free with museum admission. In addition to Friday programs, there will be open studios and workshops for teens and families on Saturdays. Finally, on Sunday, February 25, the museum will host Community Day – with free admission – from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 |
|
Over 1,000 young artists will be featured. (Courtesy Photo) |
“The annual Student Exhibition is an inspiration to everyone who visits the Museum,” said Parrish Education Director Cara Conklin-Wingfield. “We are indebted to the art educators who expertly lead young artists to explore the visual arts—from the exuberant creations of preschoolers to the inventive and introspective works of high school artists.” The exhibit closes on Sunday, March 4.
The Parrish Art Museum’s mission is to “foster connections among individuals, art, and artists through care and interpretation of the collection, the presentation of exhibitions, publications, educational initiatives, programs, and artists-in-residence.”
Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. For more information, please visit parrishart.org.
