Finley Artists Sweep Town Tulip Festival Contest
Dena Mortell is a proud art teacher. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School faculty member is celebrating after three of her students swept the first, second and third places in the Town of Huntington’s Tulip Festival’s seventh grade art contest.
Alexa Rind, Taylor Case and Sasha Koulakova swept the first three places, beating out all other seventh grade entries. The three young artists worked closely with Ms. Mortell. The contest was open to students in grades 3-8 in town schools.
This year’s theme was “Huntington in Bloom.” Participants were encouraged to independently interpret the theme and create personal reflections of springtime in Huntington.
Ms. Rind’s artwork was among six named Best in Show (one for each grade level represented in the context). The first place showing carried a $50 prize. “Her illustration was created with a combination of watercolor and colored pencil.
Ms. Case won second place for her oil pastel and colored pencil artwork. Ms. Koulakova placed third for her pen and ink colored pencil creation.
A jury of artists and professionals selected the award recipients. Prizes were presented during a reception sponsored by Astoria Bank at the Heckscher Museum of Art on a recent Friday. The artwork remained on display at the museum throughout the festival.
Ms. Mortell holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from New York Institute of Technology (May 1989) and a Master of Science in art education from LIU-C.W Post (May 2010).