The museum’s 33rd annual “Young Artists” exhibit gives high school seniors the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional museum. The Valhalla students are Sabrina Bellantoni, Pearse Callaghan, Marc Charbonier, Brianna DeRaffele, Chiaki Hashizume, Maya Holmgren, Miriam Navarro, Gabrielle Orr, Rachel Palumbo and Jake Son.
“Young Artists 2016” is on display until Sunday, Feb. 21. It spotlights more than 400 pieces by teenagers from over 40 schools in the Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess and Fairfield counties.
In past years, only a handful of Valhalla students participated in the exhibit. Last year, three were featured. Art teacher Ivana Masic was thrilled that 10 are taking part this winter.
“I was surprised,” said Holmgren upon learning that her artwork would be in the exhibit. “I never thought that this would happen. It’s a great experience to have our work shown in a real museum.”
The students created artworks using a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing and collage. Charbonier, who created a drawing of an owl, was happy to see his work on display.
“There are so many other good schools that have talented students,” he said. “When we are at the museum, we can compare and see what they do well.”
Most of the students began taking art classes in sixth grade at Valhalla Middle School. Navarro said that art is a way for her to relax, and Orr added that she always liked the subject’s creative aspect.
For the exhibit, Son drew a portrait of Muhammad Ali, while Hashizume made a collage and Palumbo created a still-life piece.
“This shows that what we learn in our classes in Valhalla got us somewhere,” said DeRaffele,, who also created a still life. “We are learning, and we are getting better.”
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