Briarcliff High School Presents Art Salon 2019

Encompassed in a vibrant combination of student-made drawings, paintings, ceramic works, films, and photographs, the 2019 Art Salon will prove to be yet another incredible product of The Department of Visual Arts’ hard work. Every year, the Art Salon acts as a wonderful outlet for parents and friends to come and share in the success of their fellow artists.

At 777 Albany Post Road in Briarcliff Manor, NY, the Sleepy Hollow Country Club will be the site of Briarcliff High School’s art exhibition. The Department of Visual Arts is extremely grateful that the Sleepy Hollow Country Club has continued to showcase the beautiful and thought-provoking work of the Briarcliff artists.

The event will take place from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the evening of April 4th.

With a myriad of refreshments, music, and a beautiful variety of works, the 2019 Art Salon and its tradition is sure to be a highlight for the Briarcliff Community.

This year’s collection of AP Portfolio Concentrations covers a broad scope of topics, all representative of challenging obstacles surpassed by the AP students, and the outside-of-the-box thinking present in each body of work. The portfolio concentrations include: international activism, self-identification, surrealism, rediscovery through family history, and fashion throughout time. The stark contrasts between each portfolio truly symbolize the individualism and self-expression cultivated by the Briarcliff Art Program.

The dedication and amazing mentorship of art department coordinator and painting and drawing instructor Roxanne Ritacco, consistently drives the work of the Briarcliff High School artists. Along with the other faculty members, John Brooks, Taylor Reno and Jessica Dubin, Ritacco has helped the department shine as an exemplar in the region. With combined effort, faculty members in this department challenge their students to delve below the surface, take artistic risks, develop a variety of techniques, and learn to express different styles through their work.

The College Drawing class, as well the Drawing and Painting courses’ works show the growth of the students in the process of creating art with media such as oil-paint, printmaking, and charcoal. In Taylor Reno’s Ceramics class, students used their skills to create clay vessels and animals which will be highlighted in this year’s show. The students of Mr. Brooks will show photographic images both traditional and digital. Brooks, an expert in this area, bridges the gap between traditional darkroom printing using black and white film and the most up-to-date digital photography techniques yielding a range of impressive results. Students from his Digital Art and Design class will showcase their skills in the graphic arts. Ms. Dubin and Ms. Reno’s Studio in Art students will have block prints in the show. The prints, portraits inspired by the German Expressionist movement, all convey a sense of deep feeling and emotion.

The film shorts put together by the Introduction to Film and Digital Editing Course and the Briarcliff Future Filmmakers, supervised by Jamie Mandel, will close off a lovely evening. Each one portrays a unique and quirky perspective, represented by the thoughtful editing and plot choices which they entail.

This year’s guest speaker is Mary Ellis, an abstract expressionist painter and graphic designer. She recently completed the “One a Day” challenge which consisted of creating a work every single day for one-hundred days. In doing so, she masterfully created a body of work composed by her inspiration found in Reggae and the drums, as well as in what she describes to be “brilliant colors.” Using mixed media for her works, and painting with spontaneity, Ellis’ unique work lights up any room which it is displayed in and brings joy to those who have the pleasure of viewing it. In a Question and Answer format, Ellis will be answering questions which are relevant to students intrigued by the world of art, and students will gain an enhanced perspective on styles such as abstract expressionism.

We hope to see many people come and share in the jubilance of successful young artists and their work. All who attend are guaranteed an exciting evening of art, refreshments, and fun! Spread the word!