Pines Bridge Student Artwork on Display at Katonah Museum of Art

Each year, the Katonah Museum of Art presents the work of area students, in its “Younger Artist” Exhibit.  This year, for the first time, artwork created by students from Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES’ Pines Bridge School will be featured in the exhibit.

“Needless to say, I am beyond thrilled,” said BOCES’ Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), JoAnne Gonnella. She came up with the idea of having her students create art with vibrant paint, utilizing their hands, feet, arms -- even the treads of their wheelchairs.  She was joined in this effort by fellow BOCES TVIs Roberta Tuttle and Melanie Whelan. 

“The students who participated in this project have multiple disabilities, are non-verbal, visually impaired, and have limited motor abilities,” explained Gonnella. “This activity allowed them to take as much time as they needed, make choices, socialize, learn color vocabulary, experience tactual stimulation, and gain confidence with exploring different textures.

“I think the artwork is amazing,” said Gonnella.  “I have gotten such a wonderful response from the public - people have wanted to buy the pieces.” 

Gonnella knew of the museum’s annual student exhibit and thought it was worth a try to enter her students’ work. The paintings were accepted and will be displayed with other student artwork from March 4 through March 8.  There is an opening reception on March 2, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The paintings were done on white and black poster board, which provided great contrast with the colorful paint. Students painted over taped initials from their first names (each painting is a collaboration among a group of students).  Once the paint dried, the tape was removed, revealing the untouched posterboard underneath, making the initials “pop.” Naomi Leiseroff, curator of the exhibit, said, “The bright colors and spontaneity of the paintings is delightful.” 

Gonnella is hoping to get her students’ work displayed in other locations in the area.  She is also in the process of putting together a video of the process that was involved in creating the paintings.