East Meadow artists excel at juried community show

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The sound of a piano filled the air as 200 guests filtered in and out of East Meadow’s own art gallery. Artists showcased their work at the East Meadow Public Library on April 8 during the opening reception for its Annual Juried Art Show.

Residents of East Meadow and Salisbury created sculptures, watercolor paintings and graphics and works of mixed media, which will be on display for the month of April.

Each piece was judged for the chance of winning a first-place ribbon in its specific category or the coveted “Best in Show” distinction. This was awarded to two artists this year, including Catherine Reider for her sculpture “Contemplate” and Katherine Trunk, for her monochromatic drawing “Brigid’s Blesing: Feast Day at St. Francis.”

“Art is not created in a vacuum. It’s biographical and evokes faith,” Trunk said and praised all of the participating artists for taking a piece of their life and creating artwork from it. “We really have an accomplished town,” she said.

Trunk was recently recognized at the National Art League in Queens, where she won its March member show. She has also had artwork featured in the New York Times and National Review among other publications.

For her piece “Brigid’s Blesing,” Trunk drew on an experience she shared with a man and his pitbull Brigid. She would always see the two around town and, each time, Brigid would give her kisses and jump into her lap. “I’ve always felt that animals draw people together,” she said, explaining that she wanted to honor the pair with a picture. On its completion, however, she learned that Brigid died.

“[This man] was so devoted to his dog,” she said, adding that she plans to give him the picture in Brigid’s memory.