NIGHTMARE ON MAIN STREET
STUDENT ART EXHIBIT
OCTOBER 22 - NOVEMBER 10, 2024
JUROR CANDIDO CRESPO
Nightmare on Main Street is the Huntington Arts Council’s annual exhibit for student artists in grades 6 -12. Students from any school district were welcome to submit work. This year our juror is Candido Crespo. Students are encouraged to use his work “Vejigante” and following statement to inspire their own works.
“Art is a bridge, where cultural symbols dance between the vibrant hues of joy and the chilling shadows of fear. It reveals the soul of a society. Through its forms, we see celebrations of festivals painted in jubilant colors, yet whispers of anxieties told through stories molded by mythology or etched in ancient monuments. This tapestry, woven with cultural threads, allows us to understand the joys and fears that have shaped a people, offering a window into their history and the very essence of their being.
“Vejigante” embodies bright and joyful colors on a Puerto Rican traditional mask used as a spiritual scare tactic or worn as an act of resistance yet has found itself haunted by its own ghosts.
Using the medium of your choice, create a work that exemplifies your culture as a vibrant tapestry. This tapestry should reflect the joys, fears, and traditions that make your community unique.”
ABOUT THE JUROR: Candido Crespo is a husband, father, artist and 17 year Art Educator. Each of those titles are dear to him as his art and community work stand at the intersection of each. Crespo’s long-time interest in art directed him to SUNY New Paltz where he received his BS in Art Education and later his MA from SUNY Stony Brook. During those years, Crespo was able to experiment with a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, digital photography, and printmaking. Crespo’s recent involvement in the arts includes teaching, podcasting, presenting, and creating artwork. His personal artwork allows him to celebrate and examine society and joyfully play through illustrations, printmaking, and painting. His community work and initiative titled ‘creativiDAD project’ aims to encourage parents, specifically fathers and male guardians to include creativity in their parenting toolbelt.
Work Presented in the Main St. Gallery
High School
Best in show: A Slice of Time by Pavithra Eswar
Best in show: The Lion Dance by Maxine Tian
To download the artists book for work shown in the Main St. Gallery, click here.
Work Presented in the Online Gallery
To download the artists book for work shown exclusively in the online gallery, click here.
With Additional Support from:
Main St. Benefactor Members
Beth and Charles Levinthal
Bette and Paul Schneiderman
