Usdan Students Win Visual Arts Prize

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"Hope," a multi-panelled artwork created by three classes of visual art
students at Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, was awarded a
First Prize in the 2014 student art competition at the Holocaust Memorial
and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, Long Island. The work was designed and
built during the summer of 2013 at the renowned summer arts day camp, which
is also an agency of the UJA-Federation of New York. It was conceived as a
visual metaphor for the chronology of events that precipitated the Holocaust
and its aftermath. The Usdan winning prize, in the Multi-Media/Still
category, was awarded at the Center on Sunday May 18

The project was conceived by Usdan Art Department Chair Rochelle Morgan,
who is a child of Holocaust survivors. It began with a visit to Usdan in
August by Ms Morgan's mother and aunt, Lucy Gutman and Rita Kurz, who spoke
and were interviewed by the student artists about their experiences in
concentration camps. The students wanted to know how people survive horrific
life events but still maintain dignity, integrity and compassion; and the
artistic task for the students was to find the proper medium and method to
best respond to this question. They also wanted their artwork to pay tribute
to two women who, in the face of extraordinary abominations, managed not
only to salvage their existence but to subsequently live full and productive
lives in New York. The result is a large lucite "box" of approximately six
feet in length, painted on both sides by students who have depicted scenes
that bring the sisters' story to life.

Each spring, the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center offers
competitions for students centered on a theme of social justice, tolerance,
and respect for diversity. The competitions offer students the opportunity
to showcase their creative talents. Winning entries are exhibited at the
Center and photographed for inclusion in its Competition Journal.
The mission of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County
is to teach the history of the Holocaust and its lessons, through education
and community outreach. These include the dangers of antisemitism, racism,
bullying and all other manifestations of intolerance, promoting resistance
to prejudice and advocating respect for every human being.
Usdan Center offers more than 40 programs in music, dance, theater, visual
arts, creative writing, nature and ecology and chess, annually hosting more
than 1,600 students from towns throughout the Tri-State New York area. No
audition is needed for most courses, and transportation is provided in air-
conditioned buses that depart from most New York-area neighborhoods.
One-third of Usdan's students receive scholarship assistance based on family
need. Video from many of Usdan's programs and special events, may now be
viewed on the Center's website, http://www.usdan.com as well as on YouTube.
Also, families can check out Usdan's Facebook site, where additional
information and late-breaking news is featured.? ?

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts has introduced the arts
to more than 60,000 Tri-State Area children since its founding in 1968. The
Center 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.
Alumni include members of Broadway shows and major music, theater, and dance
ensembles such as the Boston Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition
to its regular programs, Usdan offers special opportunities for advanced
high school- age performing and visual artists. These include Music Staff
Internships, a Summer Ballet Intensive. Usdan's 47th season begins June 30,
2014 and runs through August 15. For more information, write to
[e-mail], Call [phone]. ###



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Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts