Oyster Bay High School senior Matthew Tepper and Junior Carleigh Keehner were selected to have their artwork featured in Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum 2020 exhibit. The event, considered one of the most prestigious art shows for high school students, is featuring work from 100 of the most talented student artists across Long Island in honor of the museum’s 100th anniversary.
“Competition for this exhibit is fierce,” according to Oyster Bay High School art teachers Mr. Scott Boris and Ms. Maria Randazzo. “To have two students selected for this exhibit is extremely tough, especially in a high school as small as ours, and really speaks to the talent of these students.”
More than 380 entries from 58 high schools were submitted to a juried panel of artists. This year, student work is being celebrated through an online Long Island’s Best Gallery , which includes the students’ work, students’ statement, inspiration for their work and any other awards their piece may have earned.
Matthew’s photography was chosen for this exhibition for the second consecutive year. His piece, titled “Proximity,” features the “distortion and mystery” of light and shadow created by a light bulb shining on a geometric-shaped metal frame, according to a statement he submitted with his piece. He was inspired by Andreas Rentsch’s “The Wanderer,” he wrote, but instead of creating mystery in indistinct lines as in this piece, Matthew chose sharp, contrasting lines to produce a mysterious effect through the movement of light and shadow. The piece was created under the guidance of Ms. Randazzo in her Advanced Placement Art class.
“Each and every accomplishment Matthew has received in high school is because of his work ethic and clear passion for what he is doing,” said Ms. Randazzo. “He is such an important part of our Art Department family and we will all miss him as he goes off to college to study architecture at University of Virginia. I can’t thank him enough for always being an inspiration.”
Carleigh’s charcoal drawing, titled “The Doctor Is In,” created under the direction of Mr. Boris in his Drawing and Painting class, was inspired by Henry Patrick Raleigh’s “He Went in the April Gloaming Throng,” according to the statement she submitted with her entry. “I was intrigued by the vintage aesthetic it portrayed and incorporated timely imagery from the piece in my own work,” she wrote.
“Carleigh is amazing student and extremely creative,” Mr. Boris said. “I could not be prouder of her accomplishments!”
“Congratulations to Matthew and Carleigh for earning this highly selective distinction and to our faculty and staff for their continued efforts to re-imagine and elevate the fine arts program for students,” said Mr. Anthony Femino, K-12 Supervisor for Fine and Performing Arts.
