Student art the focus Halloween-themed exhibit

The Huntington Arts Council invited students in grades 6 through 12 to create and submit art inspired by the theme of Halloween.

The result is the exhibit, Nightmare on Main Street, which will be on display from Friday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 3.

“I love spooky, but not horror,” said the show’s juror, Jessica Valentin.  “I blend my work with spooky themes, color, and sweetness so I can deal with the things that scare me. How do you face the things that scare you?” 

A costume reception will take place on Friday, Oct. 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Main Street Gallery, 213 Main St. in Huntington, where prizes will be awarded in two categories, grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12.

The students who were accepted into the show include: Olivia Belluomo, Brooke Blumberg, Sage Boiko, Grace Burkart, Giavanna Castro, Ziqian Chen, Maxwell DeFalco, Alysse Fazal, Gloria Gang, Rachel Taylor Goldsmith, Elizabeth Gordin, Jenna Hart, Zoe Hartmann, Morgan Hlaing, Jiayi Huo, Evelyn Johnson, Aya Karimealaoui, Evgenia Kennedy, Anna Laimo, Siyu Lei, Juliette Liberatoscioli, Angelina Lomangino, Jessica Lyle, Sara Madsen, Chase McGill, Madalyn Metzger, Frida Misko, Benjamin Pollard, Sophia Polizzi, Dylan Roca, Matthew Rubenfeld, Jessica Rush, Mehr Sharma, Martina Simone, Juliah Triana, Leia Ulrich, Anna Vig, Emily Villavicencio, Isabelle Waldorf, Hephzibah Yoo and Ida Zuo.

“Nightmare on Main Street is in its seventh year and continues to receive a strong response from the student artists who enter the show as well as the surrounding community,” said Huntington Arts Council Executive Director Marc Courtade. “With over 85 pieces submitted and 41 artists chosen from across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the artwork featured in this exhibit reflects an incredible level of talent. We are always thrilled to see the work of young adults in our gallery. Please join us for our costume reception on the 26th, where awards will be presented to select artists in the grade 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 categories, as well as prizes for best costume. Its a fun evening, everyone is welcome.”

“I was honored and excited to be chosen as a juror. It was surprising; the layered complexity, and the technical skill of these young artists. I love the places that they took the theme.  It was hard. There was lots of good work to choose from,” added Valentin.

Known for her heartbreaking pop style, Valentin works in the digital and collage realms. Her art has graced gallery and street walls from Long Island to Manhattan. Her latest project, Muñeca Arthouse, is a unique gallery space in Patchogue.

This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.