Huntington Artists Win Awards at SCALA Show

The Suffolk County Art Leaders Association (SCALA) recently held its annual All County and Senior Scholarship Show, featuring submissions from 15 high schools across Suffolk County, including Huntington High School.

A total of 81 artworks were showcased, spanning categories such as Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Mixed Media, Digital Media, Video/Animation, and Sculpture/3D.

Huntington students Kenneth Gilhuley, Sebastien Simon, Michael Mendikya and Emma Mortensen were among those submitting pieces of artwork and vying in the competition.

In the Digital Media category, Mr. Gilhuley secured first place with his exceptional digital artwork. Mr. Simon received the BACCA Choice Award, a recognition presented by the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts. “This award highlights outstanding artistic achievements and is a testament to Sebastien’s talent and dedication,” Huntington art teacher Kasmira Mohanty said.

SCALA's mission is to provide quality art educational experiences to art educators and leaders across Suffolk County. The association's efforts in organizing events like the All County Art Competition play a crucial role in fostering artistic talent and appreciation within the community.

The four Huntington artists are studying with veteran teacher Kasmira Mohanty, herself an award winning and well-known artist.

Ms. Mohanty has been with the district since 2001 and in that time she has developed a program that regularly produces students who are capable of creating award winning artwork. Several of her students have gone on to full time careers using their digital art talents. She holds degrees in photography, fine arts and education from Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY Purchase College and Dowling College.

All of the artwork will remain on view on the second floor of Babylon Old Town Hall, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 5.

For more information about SCALA and its initiatives, you can visit their official website at SCALAART.ORG

Sebastien Simon

SCALA Scholarship Statement

The majority of my artwork is intended to awaken the viewer's curiosity and wonder, while also offering a temporary escape from the mundane world. Onlookers are invited into a space where the laws of reality are bent. I want the viewer to be captivated by the strange, otherworldly figures and settings in my work. I encourage my audience to question the separation between their conscious and unconscious lives.

In addition, I hope my art has the power to bring people together. I want it to serve as a safe space where people from diverse backgrounds can find common ground and reflect on universal human themes such as good vs. evil, morality, freedom, justice, love, identity, conflict, hope, sacrifice, and growth and transformation. I strive to transcend language and cultural barriers by embodying the human experience through approachable beasts and creatures.

Predominantly, my artwork is hand-rendered. I have found this method to be both relaxing and freeing. It provides a consistent and reliable way for me to escape my personal struggles with interacting with others, as I am fairly introverted. However, one of the benefits of being introverted is that it allows me to focus on honing my skills as an artist, rather than engaging in activities that may be less productive for me. I have also recently discovered that my artwork serves as a bridge for connecting with people socially. It seems that many people enjoy my work and like to ask questions about the symbolism, messages, and creation behind it. This gives me a supportive environment to interact with the world around me by discussing something I love dearly. It has had a positive impact on my personal well-being, and I’m starting to come out of my shell more and more.

Having amazing teachers who also serve as mentors has provided me with invaluable art advice, helping me build and execute my ideas in a more experimental (mixing hand-rendered material with digital media), sophisticated, and professional manner. They have also shared meaningful life advice, and they play a big part in how I conduct myself as both an artist and a person. A field trip to work with and interact with renowned printmaker Dan Welden this past December had a profound effect on me. Touring his house, working alongside him in his studio, and listening to his advice was not only one of the best experiences of my school year, but one of the best of my life.

I recognize the deep influence art has had on helping me navigate both my life and my future. I hope my artwork continues to delight audiences and I look forward to continuing my evolution as an artist as I head to art school next year.

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