Matthew Bocharnikov, a 14-year-old photographer, exhibited his work,
including this photo (below) of a night heron taking flight,
in the Highland Beach Library’s Student Art Show.
Photo contributed
By Rich Pollack
As art exhibits openings go, this one was not quite what you might expect to see at the Highland Beach Library.
Like most openings, this one had the artists on hand to meet visitors admiring their work, but many of these creative talents had just come from school.
Many of the artists posed for photos next to their work. A smile or two, however exposed a missing front tooth, perhaps just recently placed under the pillow awaiting the tooth fairy.
And, of course, there were self-portraits, but these were done in crayon rather than acrylics or oils.
This was the Highland Beach Library’s Student Art Show, which opened Dec. 17 and ran through Dec. 30, and which featured 19 works of nine young artists ranging in age from 5 to 16.
“This is a great opportunity for people in our community to come and celebrate the creativity of young people,” said Suzi Hayes, the library’s events coordinator, who worked with Highland Beach resident Elizabeth Susskind to make the show a reality.
Among those displaying their art was Susskind’s nephew, Matthew Bocharnikov, a 14-year-old photographer whose late grandfather, Susskind’s father, Horst Susskind, came up with the idea for the show.
“My dad, a resident of Highland Beach for decades, had seen Matthew’s work and thought we should do something,” Susskind said.
The idea of for the exhibit expanded beyond just Matthew’s work after Susskind met with the library’s Hayes and Pam Lipofsky, who coordinates children’s programs.
“We decided it would be nice to showcase work of all the children,” Susskind said.
Like the other artists, Matthew is relatively new to the world of art exhibits, having never had his photographs shown in public before.
“This is a new experience, and it opens up an opportunity for kids to show what they can do,” said Matthew, who lives in Virginia but visits family in Highland Beach frequently.
Among the other exhibitors in the show was 7-year-old Joseph Capizola, whose talent attracted the eye of Delray Beach artist Vlad Prodanovich.
“Vlad saw a talent in Joseph and wants to help foster it,” said Joseph’s mother, Jean Capizola, explaining that Prodanovich helped provide Joseph with materials for his multimedia creation, which includes antique fabric from Italy on a painted canvas.
Also displaying his artwork was Joseph’s brother Nicholas, 5, who along with his brother frequently attends children’s programs at the Highland Beach Library.
“It’s really important that kids have the opportunity to express themselves in art and share it with other people,” their mother said.
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