Heckscher Museum Picks Best Young Artist

Huntington High School senior Zach Teplin was named Heckscher Museum of Art's Long Island's Best Young Artist.

Teplin said he was inspired by an architectural drawing.

"I submitted an untitled piece inspired by an exterior perspective architectural sketch entitled Aluminaire House by artists Lawrence Kocher and Albert Frey," he said. "I used many fiber materials in the collage of the piece, and spray paints and Guache paints for the images over the collage. The piece loosely dealt with architecture as a divine process as well as a human process, one that encompasses all aspects of life, both discovered and otherwise. This idea of design was reflected in the four human figures as well as the letters surrounding them. I studied typefaces originally when I majored in graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design pre-college program this past summer. I also attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 2008. I've recently been accepted to Cooper Union in Manhattan for the fall of 2010, which is amazing. I am more than excited to go there this September."

The exhibition, which ran from April 18-May 2, 2010, featured art work by both public and private school students in grades 9 through 12.  Their work was submitted by more than 60 art teachers throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Seventy four pieces were on view during the exhibit. The program was developed by art instructors in participating schools who worked together with museum educators to give students a chance to showcase their work in an art museum on Long Island.

"This program integrates experiences in the Heckscher Museum and the art classroom setting, culminating with the presentation of students' original works juried by a museum professional. Through close observation, discussion and hands-on activities, students learn to make connections between professional artwork on view in the museum and their own creative experiences. Visual Thinking Strategies are utilized to develop students' visual literacy, written and oral communication skills, while encouraging them to explore their own artistic voices. Students select at least one work of art on view to 'inspire' an original work of art that is in turn submitted for jurying, " said Joy Weiner, the Museum's Director of Education and Public Programs.

The Young Artist's Exhibit marked the beginning of a busy month for the Museum. Saturday, May 8,"The Heckscher at 90: Then and Now" began,  which showcases works from the original August Heckscher gift made in 1920. That exhibit will run until July 18, 2010

Registration is now open for the museum's "Summer ArtSense" program which will be held from July 6 though August 13, 2010. The program is designed for children ages five through 16 and each participant will have the chance to experience art in an array of hands on activities in each week long workshop.