Local Students to Exhibit at Pace Gallery

Students at local high schools, including Horace Greeley and John Jay, will have their art work on display at an exhibit opening Thursday at Choate House Gallery at Pace University in Pleasantville.

The exhibit, "Small Works Invitational Exhibit," runs from Thursday through March 4. It opens with a reception from 4 to 8 p.m. at the gallery on Thursday. Art works by students from several area high schools will be shown, including Horace Greeley High School and North Salem high schools, in addition to John Jay.

The Pace show is a chance for young artists to show their works outside of their schools, said Julie Evans-Kaser, who teaches drawing and painting, painting, and advanced placement art at John Jay. "It gives them a chance to put their work out in the real world." John Jay students have exhibited works at the annual Pace show for several years, she said.

Jaxie Friedman's self-portrait in colored pencil was chosen for the exhibit. The title of the drawing, "Portrait of a Missing Person," refers to a time when Friedman misplaced an art portfolio that included the drawing. Friedman, 16, is a junior at John Jay. "My favorite fields of study are art and science," she said. "I am planning on minoring in art in college, unless I go to art school." This is the first time that a work of her has been exhibited outside of John Jay, she said.

Kristen Lowe, 17, is also exhibiting a drawing in colored pencil. "Through the Looking Glass" is a still life of glass vases with flowers. Lowe, also a junior, had a work in the show at Pace last year and has also had artwork on display at the Congressional Art Competition at Tilly Foster Farm in Carmel and at Osilas Gallery at Concordia College in Bronxville.

Lowe expects to continue her art studies in college. "I was unsure about it for a while, but then I decided that I want to major in it," She said.

The works on display at the Pace gallery were chosen by art teachers at John Jay, said Julie Evans-Kaser. There are five art teachers at John Jay. The show spotlights the great amount of artistic talent at John Jay and other local high schools, she noted.

In addition to the drawings by Friedman and Lowe, works by Elise Symer, Genevieve Lipinsky, Katie Flynn, Kathryn Gramigna, Kim Gagnon, and Emily Foster will also be on display.

For more information about the exhibit, please visit here.