By Phil Corso
A group of young artists from Little Neck will have their work prominently displayed by the National Art League this month, their teacher said.
Alice Anasa teaches art for special education students at Little Neck’s PS 811, where for six years she has helped develop the school’s first art program. For the last four of those years, Anasa said she encouraged her classes from all different grades with an annual art gallery to showcase the best works throughout the year, usually held at the Marathon Parkway school.
Often, area elected officials would pay a visit to the exhibit and remark on the students’ works, which were created at such a young age, she said.
But this year, Anasa said Vice President Lynne Jaffe of the Douglaston National Art League was so intrigued by her students’ work that she agreed to put the creations on display later this month in an exclusive exhibit.
“People don’t know just how much these kids are capable of when it comes to their art,” she said. “It’s nice to let our community know of all their hard work.”
Starting Monday and running through the first week of July, between 30 and 40 of her 170 art students’ work will be exclusively exhibited at 44-21 Douglaston Parkway, about a mile away from their school, she said. It will be the first time Anasa’s students will see their work on the big stage after four years of in-house exhibits, which the art teacher said made this a special year for the entire school.
The artistic works being displayed encompass various methods from watercolors to acrylics, Anasa said.
The event will also serve as a fund-raiser, the teacher said, to raise money for art supplies at the school and potentially finance future field trips to the art league.
“Going forward, we hope the National Art League will agree to keep featuring our work and partner with the school,” Anasa said. “It takes a lot of hard work, and they are all wonderful kids. They just love art.”
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
