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Move over Picasso. But only a little bit, because these young artists are still growing.

 

The Katonah Museum of Art is unveiling its Young Artists exhibit. This annual event has, for years, showcased local budding talent. This year the KMA expects to display somewhere between 300 and 400 works of art created by high-school seniors from 36 different schools in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, and Fairfield Counties. The opportunity KMA offers to area seniors delves into every aspect of the exhibition process—from the creation of the exhibit poster invitation to the installation of the art in the gallery. 

 

The program started off with the poster invitation process. Two students from each participating school were selected by their art teachers to participate in a workshop led by professional graphic designer, Scott Seabolt. During the workshop, the students were introduced to historical examples of poster art and learned to analyze the elements of successful design. After this instructional period, the students designed their own poster invitations.

 

In the end, one invitation is selected by the workshop participants, KMA board, staff, and volunteers. The winning design was selected based on its originality in concept, execution of design, and how well it represented the exhibit. The winner this year is a local boy—Geoff Ward of Fox Lane High School.

 

After the workshop period, the students then work to compile the art from other art students in the area and work to make sense of the art in a gallery space. KMA education programs manager Margaret Adasko explains, “One of the goals of the program is that students have the chance to put together a museum exhibit from beginning to end. Students curate the exhibition so that it makes sense.”

 

With the invitation complete and the installation of the exhibit underway, the students will open the exhibit March 4, with an anticipated 500 people in attendance. “It’s exciting to see what our art students are doing from a range of schools in the area.” Adasko also stated how grateful the museum was for the volunteers and sponsors of the program who helped to make the exhibit possible. The volunteer team consists of Sally Aldrich, Nikki Alexander, Debbie Coldwell, Susan Hoffman, Julie Kelly, Diana Knoblauch, John Mucciolo, Judy Newman, Bernie Stringer, and Marian Swerdlow. The sponsors of the program are Martha & Richard Handler and Rebecca & Arthur Samberg.

 

The Young Artists exhibition will be on display from March 4 through March 11.