The Parrish Art Museum's annual Student Exhibition, a 60-year tradition featuring the work of more than 1,000 young artists, begins tomorrow. More than 200 individual works by high schoolers, and another 70 or so group pieces by younger artists, nursery age on up, from schools across eastern Long Island, will be on view through April 18. Paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photography are featured.
Cara Conklin-Wingfield, education director at the Parrish, said this year's show is all about supporting the teachers. "We let the art teachers decide their priorities," she said, as they have worked so hard to keep their programs alive during the pandemic.
Rather than specify a theme, said Ms. Conklin-Wingfield, she gave teachers only size guidelines and a limit on the number of submissions, as everything submitted was accepted for the show.
"I feel like the main message this year is, we're grateful. What with the challenges and changes of the year, 30 schools still participated and wanted to take this on," she said.
"I know a lot of people are missing doing something to celebrate their child, like going to concerts or to see work in the school building. I got pretty emotional about it this year. I love it every year, and I love that I get to do this, because there's so much enthusiasm. I've got to hand it to the teachers."