Senior Harry Cuadra Creates Fantasy-Like Artwork

Harry Cuadra is enjoying his experience at Huntington High School where the senior has compiled a solid academic record while exploring a variety of interests. The teenager’s schedule includes a pair of art classes in Computer Graphics and Advanced Photography.

The senior submitted an impressive piece of artwork for consideration in this spring’s Long Island’s Best Young Artists exhibit at the Heckcher Museum.

Participants in the Long Island’s Best initiative choose a work of art in the Heckscher Museum’s collection as the starting point for their own creative process. The teenagers then interpret the respective pieces through their own art.

“Arthur Dove’s artwork ‘Untitled’ inspired me to create ‘The Trees Still Bear Fruit,’” wrote Mr. Cuadra in an artist’s statement that accompanies his piece. “His work’s circular red focal point reminded me of an apple and the green diagonal line behind it reminded me of a tree. I leaned into the idea of the red apple being symbolic of the Evil Queen’s poisoned apple in ‘Snow White’ and the legend of the forbidden apple in Adam and Eve. The trees are in their winter hibernation, yet this floating apple is beckoning the girl in the red dress to levitate to reach it.”

The teenager said he wanted his artwork to have a story/fantasy-like undertone. “I used Photoshop to levitate the girl in the red dress to achieve this within my realistic photograph,” wrote Mr. Cuadra in the artist’s statement. “The red paint splats in Dove’s work inspired me to add a hint of magical sparkles around my floating lady. I added a subtle vignette to draw the viewer into the scene and to punctuate the storybook feel.”