Accolades for Student Art

Beckham LaRose of the Sag Harbor Elementary School collaborated with Georgi Mesnick, a fellow fifth grader (not pictured), on a magnetic kinetic sculpture that took first place in the collaborative sculpture category at the LongHouse Reserve’s Student Annual on Tuesday.

Judy D’Mello

Jun. 15, 2017

Judy D’Mello

Approximately 175 ribbons were awarded on Tuesday to students from across Long Island who had submitted artwork for an exhibition at the LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton.

East End schools, including Amagansett, East Hampton, Montauk, Bridgehampton, Springs, Southampton, Sag Harbor, and Ross, collected the lion’s share of awards in painting, photography, sculpture, computer-generated design, and fashion, among other categories.

The curated show of art inspired by the gardens and sculpture at LongHouse was displayed on the lawn in the 16-acre reserve. Community members, students, teachers, and participants and their families from as far as Longwood and Tuckahoe milled among the art, while the Bridgehampton School’s marimba band performed. Prize-worthy work from kindergarten through fourth grade received winning ribbons, while fifth through 12th graders received first, second, and third-place ribbons.

According to Selena Rothwell, the chairwoman of LongHouse’s education committee, 97 percent of winners and their families were present for the ceremonies, including those who had traveled more than two hours to get there.

“It means everything to us to be able to give kids the opportunity to be showcased and to shine,” she said. “And to have almost every winner present to collect their award, that speaks for itself in terms of how much this meant to them.”

Ms. Rothwell said that the young artists were urged “to be inspired by LongHouse but not limited by it.” By encouraging them to think outside the box, she said, it forced the organization to create new categories for works borne out of the kids’ “sheer creativity and ingenuity.”

The best in show ribbon was awarded to “Seasons of LongHouse,” a stained- glass collaboration by 12th graders from the Longwood School District.

Two scholarships were awarded to high school seniors who will be pursuing an education in the arts. Karen Blandon of East Hampton High School and Sarah McErlean of Pierson in Sag Harbor each received $3,000.

Many of the student pieces will be on display in the East Hampton and Sag Harbor branches of People’s United Bank (formerly Suffolk County National Bank) through Labor Day.