Guild Hall in East Hampton celebrated the long-awaited opening of a special exhibition on Saturday, January 20th. The Student Art Festival: Eco vs Ego was years in the making and features exhibitions and performances comprising a broad range of media.
Inspired by thought leader Edwina von Gal, the 2024 installment of Guild Hall’s Student Art Festival, titled, Eco vs Ego, explores the cooperative relationship between humanity and nature. The performance piece uses art and culture to take a deep dive into such topics as survival, growth, symbolism, biophilia, and infrastructure.
Although the Student Art Festival is an annual event, cultivating genuine talent and artistic passions among local students is a process that cannot be forced. During the entirety of the 2024 festival, the work of 20 artists in Guild Hall’s In-School Artist-in-Residence program was put on display. The program collaborated with thousands of students across 15 contributing schools for more than two scholastic years.
Anthony Madonna, Guild Hall’s Patti Kenner Director of Learning + New Works, stated, “It has been incredible to see relationships between artists, students, and teachers develop over the past two to three years, and to witness the ways in which a conversation on ecology and symbiosis can transform into the creation of over 20 collaborative projects.”
Madonna continued, “From 200-plus handmade paper pieces, life-sized shelters of driftwood and found materials, the formation of an ‘eco choir’ and a large-scale video installation, each project is unique to students and artists, reflecting the diverse experiences communities can have within a single concept.”
Local schools and educational programs partnered with artists-in-residence including Rosario Varela of East Hampton Middle School and Jeremy Dennis, Beau Bree Rhee, and Brianna Hernandez of East Hampton High School.
Other artists-in-residence included Pamella Allen and Viv Corringham at Springs School, Keren Anavy and Amagansett School; Darlene Charneco, Mare Dianora, and Alexandra Talty at Bridgehampton School; Anthony Madonna at John Marshall Elementary School; Denise Silva-Dennis at Pierson Middle-High School; Laurie Lambrecht at Westhampton Beach Elementary School; Liz Joyce at Wainscott School and Sagaponack School; Andrea Cote at the Bridgehampton Childcare & Recreational Center; Cheryl Molnar at Shelter Island School; Brett Loving at Project MOST; Steven Sergiovanni and Lionel Cruet at the Guild Hall Teen Arts Council; and Jody Oberfelder at Our Fabulous Variety Show.
East Hampton School District Unified Arts Department Coordinator and high school fine arts teacher, Heather Evans stated, “We want to thank Anthony (Madonna) and Annika (Smith, Learning + New Works program manager) for their invested focus over time in preparing the process for this exceptional collaborative experience that brought students into real-life creative learning experiences with professional artists.”
Evans continued, “Their attention to detail and understanding of the school calendar and the necessary lead time made it work, and they took the time to consider which courses would pair best with specific artists. The exhibit feels very much like a celebration between students and the community.”
Student Art Festival: Eco vs Ego exhibition is supplemented by a series of associated programs at Guild Hall, which will be available to view from Friday to Monday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., through February 26th.
The exhibition and associated programs include a student performance by Springs School and Viv Corringham, which will take place on February 10th from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.; a creative lab with Liz Joyce — set to take place on February 12th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.; a community lunch break on February 16th from noon to 1:00 p.m.; and landscape therapy with Edwina von Gal and PRFCT Earth Project — set to occur on February 25th from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
