Sayville Arts Showcase Showcases Students' Talents

 A steady stream of spectators enjoyed their time at the annual SAVA (Sayville Advocates for the Visual Arts) art show, where talent was obvious from the youngest Sayville student artists all the way to the exceptional works in the 2013 Senior Showcase.

Throughout the day, in addition to the usual face painting, gift baskets, and balloon-animal fun, “we had tables where guests could create fashion illustrations (run by my HS fashion students) and hands-on cave painting for guests (run by 8th grade students with art history information),” explained Art Chairperson Debra Urso.

“We launched the 2012-2013 Virtual Museum, which can be found on the web.”

Also, for a second year, spectators could access a link or download a video, using a QR code via a Quick Response Code App on a handheld device, and view prerecorded SAVA Show seniors discussing their art pieces.

Award-winning pieces by Seniors Lorelei Olk and Meg Mulry were on exhibit, attesting to the stellar accolades earned by these talented, hardworking young ladies.

A special reception was held this year to acknowledge the years of service by two wonderful, but now retiring, art teachers, Anne Marie Podlas and Kim Kamensky.

The time they spent in the district has left its mark, not only in the young artists they inspired, but in the hearts of their colleagues.

“I have never in my life met a greater elementary school art teacher than Anne Marie Podlas!” Mrs. Urso began.

“When you look up elementary ‘art teacher’ in the dictionary, you see Pod’s face! She always manages to make her students’ work fresh, new and innovative.”

Generations of former students who had Mrs. Podlas were glad to step forward, express their thanks, and share her excitement during this special day. Mrs. Urso continued her praises for High School Art teacher Mrs. Kamensky.


“Kim has dedicated her career to helping create and maintain SAVA and the National Art Honor Society. We had several parents come to the opening reception to say thank you…some of whom were entire families—parent and child…”

Mrs. Urso concluded, “We will miss them terribly! They have been such an integral part of our department.”

By the end of the Art Celebration, the SAVA awards/scholarships for the secondary level were announced and distributed.

Congratulations to the following students:

Senior Scholarship Awards

Drawing                  Lorelei Olk
Painting                  Jackie Christensen
Fashion                  Alex Leigh-Manuel
3D                         Melanie Trinwald
Overall Fine Artist    Lorelei Olk

Senior peoples choice

Drawing                  Meg Mulry
Painting                   Jackie Christensen
Fashion                   Mackenzie Cannini
Fine Artist                Meg Mulry
3D                           Amy Dean

Underclass Scholarship Awards

Drawing                   Jamie Lambert
Painting                   Sara Walsh & Autumn Bradley
Fashion                    Shannon Bohman
3D                           Kristi Kasinski
Media                      Emily Milano

Underclass Peoples Choice

Drawing                   Julia Simpson
Painting                   Kara Stenberg
Fashion                   Samantha Stokes
3D                          Victoria Ross  
Media                     Michael Coan  

Studio
1-Samantha Wilson
2-Rachel Zarrett
3-Julia Lyons
4-Samantha Murphy
5-Elizabeth Pigott
6-Daniel Johnson(MS)
7-Kayla Torres
8-Gianna Fraccalvieri

8th grade   
Calista Tomasetti Gianna Scoleri