By Nitya Wanchoo

The Manhasset Public Library is presenting artwork created by advanced Manhasset High School students. A total of 115 works are currently hung in the library basement and will continue to be on display through Sept. 16.

Across the display, there are a variety of different pieces. Several students have self portraits up and a quick glance across the room reveals the diversity in the material used to create the art. The mediums range from digital art to collages and photographs to traditional acrylic or oil paints. Each piece has a sticker on the back of its canvas with a number on it that can be matched to the artist who created it as well as the medium and title as listed in the paper packets found at the entrance to the exhibit.

Artist and rising junior Daniella Dell’Aquila has two pieces of artwork in the exhibit titled “Borrowed Feathers” in oil and “Crapshoot” in acrylic paint. “Borrowed Feathers” is a large self-portrait inspired by a piece that she saw in the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington. It took Daniella from November to April to complete it and although this is her favorite of the two, she admitted that a painting of this scale took a lot of trial and error.

“I’d have to leave at the end of the day because the class period ended, and so I’d take a picture of it and I’d just have to look at it,” said she.

“Crapshoot” is a smaller painting of hands and a roulette board which Daniella managed to finish in just about a day, despite having trouble staying motivated through the seven-hour process. She drew inspiration for this piece from a dream she had and she made it come to life through the usage of cool colors, such as purple and green.

Rising senior and artist Tiffany Yang from Manhasset Secondary School also has two pieces in the library exhibit titled “Lotus Girl” and “Unspoken Power.” Her biggest challenge in creating her artwork was learning how to work with colored pencils for the first time. “Lotus Girl” is a painting of Tiffany herself in a traditional Chinese dress.

“I’ve always wanted to see myself in traditional Chinese clothing,” she said, and this was the perfect opportunity for her to explore her heritage through her art. The background is  lotus flowers, which represent elegance in ancient Chinese culture, and she uses different shades of red to bring the piece together. This work only took her about a month, whereas “Unspoken Power” took her closer to two months to finish.

“Unspoken Power” is Tiffany’s favorite piece and an homage to her grandmother. Without her, Tiffany’s family would not know about the traditions that are central to their culture. The two have similar personalities and Tiffany said that she made the piece because she “wanted to do something special for her” to thank her for all that she’s done for Tiffany.

These two students have provided a valuable insight into the minds of these budding artists and there are so many more on display. The art gallery exhibit will remain on view for another couple months.