The Parrish Celebrates Kids Creativity

The work of more than 1,000 young artists from East End schools will be on view in the Parrish Art Museum’s annual Student Exhibition, opening to the public on March 13, and on view through April 24. A 65-year tradition celebrating youthful imagination and creativity, this important aspect of the museum’s program was enhanced by this year’s artist-in-residence Eric Dever, who led workshops with more than 250 students. A 54-foot-long collaborative mural created during the residency, a video demonstration of the process by Dever, plus original works by the artist will also be on view.

The exhibition opens with a private preview day for the artists, their families and teachers on March 12. Guests at the receptions will enjoy refreshments from South Fork Bakery, plus live performances by the Bridgehampton School Marimba Band, and musician/storyteller/naturalist Johnny Cuomo. The Young Artists Reception (Pre-K through grade 8) is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m.; High School Artists Reception is from 3 to 5 p.m. There is no admission fee for the receptions though registration is strongly encouraged.

“We are delighted to highlight the flourishing arts community in our region’s schools by supporting the work of art educators and student artists,” said the museum’s education director Cara Conklin-Wingfield. “We hope the exhibition brings pride and joy to children and families, and stimulates a lifelong love of art.”

The collaborative mural created during Dever’s residency, titled “A Visual Conversation,” will be on view in the museum’s spine gallery. In his workshops, Dever created and employed a unique process that transpired in 60-second intervals. Each student began an artwork, using one paint color and one painting or colored drawing tool. After just one minute, they passed it to the next participant, who had 60 seconds to respond to what was on the page. The paint-and-share process continued until the work circled back to the original artist.

Participants in the Student Exhibition explore many traditional and non-traditional approaches to art-making. Working with their art teachers and through art clubs in schools from Bellport to East Hampton and the North Fork, the students demonstrate imagination, enthusiasm, and technical skill in diverse media such as painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and new media, among others. Taken together, the exhibition gives an overview of the high level of creativity and accomplishment achieved in the schools.

Elementary and middle schools enter group projects; high school artists are represented by individual works and collaborative projects. In April, painter Neill Slaughter, professor emeritus of Visual Art at Long Island University, will select and present awards to recognize select high school seniors for their exceptional talent and skill, in categories ranging from painting to mixed media. “Ones to Watch” honors are given to underclassmen.

In addition to the nearly 300 group and individual works created by students under the direction of their art teachers in over 40 public, private, and home schools, the exhibition features group works by over 250 students from Southampton and Hampton Bays Life Skills, and Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Southampton and Tuckahoe Schools and the Southampton Youth Bureau who participated in the residency.

The Parrish Art Museum is at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. Visit parrishart.org for details.