Usdan Center Opens DUALITY Exhibition Today

A new show titled Duality, paintings and mixed-media works by students of Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts' Portfolio Preparation Track program will be exhibited today, February 12- March 8, 2013 at New York City's Lobby Gallery, on the ground floor of 430 Park Avenue in Manhattan. Previous pieces by students from the renowned Long Island summer arts day camp have been presented at major public venues in New York City and on Long Island. The exhibit is free and open daily to the public 9 AM to 5 PM.

The artists are: Lauren Bertocci, 12th grade, Wantagh, NY; Denise Losee, 12th grade, North Bellmore, NY; Chaz Scala, 11th grade, Merrick NY; Noelle Velez, 11th grade, Riverdale, NY; and Joshua Toor, 12th grade, Huntington, NY.

The theme of Duality stems from the concept of human existence as a struggle between good and evil, emotion and intellect, and how the tension of balancing these forces has affected each artist.

Usdan's Portfolio Preparation Track has been a pre-professional program combining rigorous development of technique and on-site explorations of art history with advice from some of the most prestigious art colleges in the country. This selective program has offered dedicated art students an intensive seven-week course designed to build their skills and encourage their vision. The result is a stronger portfolio as students prepare for college and beyond. This exhibit showcases the results of their efforts.

The program's lead teacher, Derek Mainhart, is an art teacher at Long Island colleges including Molloy, Hofstra, and Boricua. He has been a member of Usdan Center's art faculty for seven years. Rochelle Morgan, Chair of Usdan's Visual Arts Department, worked with Mainhart to develop the Portfolio Preparation Track program.

Duality premiered in August on campus in the North Gallery at Usdan Center in Huntington, Long Island. Previous exhibits from students in the program (and under its former title, the Usdan Honors Art Intensive) have been presented at the Heckscher Museum, the Huntington Library, The Lobby Gallery at 430 Park Avenue, and the Atrium at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.

Usdan Center (www.usdan.com) is the nationally acclaimed summer arts day camp now entering its 46th season. Usdan is situated on a 200-acre woodland campus in the Huntington area of Long Island. Featuring more than 40 programs in music, dance, theater, visual arts, creative writing, nature and ecology and chess, Usdan Center has introduced the arts to more than 60,000 children, ages 6-18. Most programs are open to all, with no audition required, and children attend from Long Island, New York City, and throughout the Tri-State Area, many on scholarship. Usdan alumni include Natalie Portman, Jackie Hoffman, Mariah Carey, Jane Monheit, and members of Broadway casts, and of major music and dance ensembles.

More than 1500 students annually attend Usdan Center, transported by air-conditioned buses. The Center, at 185 Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights (Huntington), is open to all young people from age 6 to 18. Although the mission of the Center is for every child to establish a relationship with the arts, the unique stimulation of the Center has caused many to go on to arts careers. Usdan is an agency of the UJA-Federation of New York.

The Center is currently hosting several Open Houses for its 2013 season, on Sundays, January 27, February 24, 2013. March 17, April 21 and May 19, 2013; and Wednesday February 20, 2013. Families who cannot make the Open Houses may make appointments for other days. For appointments for weekend and weekday tours, call (212) 772-6060 or Gail London at (631) 643-7900, write to openhouse@usdan.com, or visit www.usdan.com.