From ballpoint pen and paper to ceramic pottery, student works of art in various mediums were on display at NYSUT’s Tarrytown Regional Office for the second annual juried student art exhibition as part of the statewide union’s Social Justice initiative.
Given instruction to use NYSUT’s “Many Threads, One Fabric” theme, local students from elementary to high school submitted original pieces that interpret social justice issues.
“My piece shows a hand and a forearm,” sixth-grader Lucas Centeno wrote in his submission. “It is made up of different color patterns and shapes. It shows that no matter the color or what differences your hand has, all human hands are the same.”
The works were reviewed by a panel of judges including NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT graphic designer Dana Fournier and retired art educator Cynthia Appold.
“I’m thrilled to be able to hold this fantastic event again and see the incredible talent, passion and thoughtfulness the students put into their art,” Abraham said. “It is truly inspiring to see the impact our art educators have on their students and how they foster creativity, promote diversity and empower students to develop self-expression.”
Students were judged based on how closely they were able to portray the social justice theme and winners were awarded gift cards for art supplies.
Maya Rejman, a 12th grade student from Mahopac High School, won Best in Show 2D for her masterful work titled Silence. Her composition, depicting a bird perched in front of a church with a rosary wrapped around its beak, was commended for its incredibly intricate details using only a ballpoint pen.
As the youngest artist to submit work, Dobbs Ferry third-grader Neema Cappa-Zafindramahavita received an honorable mention for her mixed-media piece Starry City. Her art teacher, Olivia Kavanaugh, Dobbs Ferry United Teachers, says it’s a significant moment for students to have their art shown publicly.
“We can give them the tools, but they ultimately create the piece themselves, and they tell their own story. So, it’s super important for them to have their stories told visually for the public to see,” Kavanaugh said.