Huntington High School Creative Crafts classes have been busy “making art” and the results are quite impressive. Students recently created colorful and beautifully designed masks.
“We studied the art history of mask making and focused on artists from Western Africa to America,” teacher Jenna Rinaldi said. “Students were instructed to create masks inspired by pop culture and personal interests.”
The base of the mask was paper mache. “Students further elaborated on their forms by using found objects such as cardboard, paper, air-dry clay, plaster, etc.” Ms. Rinaldi said. “I was so proud watching my students problem solve to create their designs. I truly believe all succeeded and accomplished their goals while working on this project.”
The teenage artists enjoyed the project. “I genuinely enjoyed creating my mask,” freshman Isabella Careccia-Johnson said. “I was able to use things such as natural objects found outside to really capture the look of the deer skull.”
Students put their own personal spin into their art. Senior Jaheim Espinoza created a half sun and moon. “This project allowed for the expression of oneself through a medium that is not vague,” said senior Jaheim Espinoza, who created a half sun and moon. “There is a lot of expression within the art to capture a feeling.”
Ms. Rinaldi earned an undergraduate degree at Hofstra University and a Master of Arts degree in studio art at Adelphi University. Prior to coming to Huntington UFSD in September 2019, she worked at Mineola, Syosset and Levittown and Evergreen Charter School in Hempstead.
