By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
The young women, ninth-grade students at Kennedy High School in Bellmore and friends since the second grade, created their artworks last school year while students at Merrick Avenue Middle School. Their works were included in an exhibit, titled "The September 11 Commemorative Student Exhibit" and sponsored by the New York State Art Teachers Association.
The exhibition ran from Sept. 9 to 13, with a reception on the 13th that the girls did not attend because it fell during a school day. The two hope to have their works returned to them sometime this year, but first the Art Teachers Association wants to include them on a Web site that is now being developed.
Berkowitz said that, in her work, she sought to create "something that has not been done a million times before." Her piece is of a human eye that sees the Twin Towers and cries a single red, white and blue tear. She drew it with colored pencils, which requires a
great deal of patience to properly blend colors. She chose colored pencil because she thought it was the best medium to depict the human eye.
Fox's work depicts an eagle in the foreground, the Twin Towers behind the eagle and the American flag as the background. She chose an exacting medium, pen and ink, for her piece. She selected pen and ink for its ability to define the feathers' darks and lights and the Towers' structure.
The girls did much of the work in school, as well as at home, but did not receive school credit for the projects. Fox said working on the piece at home without feedback made her nervous. "I feel comfortable working in front of a teacher," she said.
The projects were time consuming. Berkowitz said the girls started the works this past April, and "we were still working on the projects when finals started."
Berkowitz said, "First we did a lot of research," in her case, specifically on the human eye.
The girls credited their art teachers at Merrick Avenue Middle School, Charles Fillizola and Barbara Farchione, with inspiring and assisting them.
Fillizola had the highest praise for both of his former students. "They're just super kids. They're hard-working, sweet kids...These kids I'll probably remember till the day I die," he said.
The two friends share much in common. Both like to work in oil
pastels. Their favorite artist is Georgia O'Keefe. And both enjoy the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, though Fox said, "I'm not a big museum person."
Both are also thoughtful, introspective, "A" students, who take honors classes, and both plan to keep art as a life-long hobby. For now, however, neither plans to pursue art as a career.
Fox's favorite subject is math and said that, career-wise, "Right now I'm leaning toward architecture," though she's keeping her options open.
Berkowitz's favorite subject is social studies. "I find it very
interesting. I like talking, and I like writing." She wants to pursue
a career in politics.
