Blind Brook High School Art Program-Rye Brook, New York
NEWS- scroll down for info and updates from the Art Department
Welcome to our student gallery! I am so proud to be working with such talent and wanted to share the amazing hard work and accomplishments of our art students. Over the years we will be adding student work, featuring projects and students work and hearing from alumni about their artistic pursuits-so please stop in again.
Thank you for supporting the Blind Brook art program! Enjoy!
Sincerely, Ms Petras
June 12, 2026- End of the year fun!
November 3, 2025
Please watch these beautiful animations by Abigail Weintraub. The first which got an honorable mention from Scholastic Art and Writing Awards 2025! The second piece is a segment of a collaborative work done by Abigail and peers at the Interlochen Center For The Arts summer program. It is based on a story by Carl Sandburg collection Rutabaga Stories, 1922. To see the whole collaboration for this link: https://vimeo.com/1107103409?fl=pl&fe=sh
Congratulations Seniors! I'll miss you!
May 9th, 2025- Congrats to Gemma Brodsky on her beautiful portfolio work and acceptance to USC for Architecture.
Here are some of her recent works:
December 19th, 2024-
September 20th, 2024- Any students looking into Art Schools and Programs can sign up to go to PORTFOLIO DAY nearby in Poughkeepsie where many colleges will be reviewing portfolios. This is a great week to see lots of colleges in one day. Info below:
Sept 10th, 2024
Welcome back! So excited for another year of great art making! Image below by AP Drawing student Gemma Brodsky
June 7, 2024-
It's been a really fun year making lots of amazing art work. To finish, students are collaborating with their classmates to make large reproductions of their favorite artworks.
January 17, 2024
Check out alum Jazmin Zeitune's 2023 Animation Reel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hxq_ffu_f8
October 25th, 2023
Today actor and SCAD alumni, Will Flynn came to speak with students about Savannah Collage of Art and Design. Thank you Will! https://www.scad.edu/
Today actor and SCAD alumni, Will Flynn came to speak with students about Savannah Collage of Art and Design. Thank you Will! https://www.scad.edu/
October 13th, 2023
Today we had visitor Hanna Rose DeMarco from the Art Effect come in and speak with students about careers in arts, portfolios and she was also able to have some portfolio reviews with a few of our advanced students. Thank you Hannah! https://thearteffect.org/
Today we had visitor Hanna Rose DeMarco from the Art Effect come in and speak with students about careers in arts, portfolios and she was also able to have some portfolio reviews with a few of our advanced students. Thank you Hannah! https://thearteffect.org/
October 6, 2023
Congratulations to Blind Brook graduate Jazmin Zeitune who received a PERFECT score on the AP Drawing test, 1 of only 308 students worldwide to get this score. Jazmin now attends School of Visual Art in NYC (and is having a great time and working hard. :)
Congratulations to Blind Brook graduate Jazmin Zeitune who received a PERFECT score on the AP Drawing test, 1 of only 308 students worldwide to get this score. Jazmin now attends School of Visual Art in NYC (and is having a great time and working hard. :)
September 22, 2023
The Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Day is coming up. If you are interested in any of these colleges and would like feedback directly from the schools, this is a great event to attend. link here
September, 2023
Welcome back to another great year!
Students are excited to jump back into making art. :)
June 2023! Last day and last class! Have a great summer!
Jan 27th, 2023
Congratulations to Jazmin Zeitune and Sophie Possick for their Scholastic Achievement Awards. Jazmin has been awarded a Silver Key, Gold Key and Honorable Mentions for her portfolio works and Sophie Possick an Honorable Mention for her animation. Link to Scholastic Gallery: https://www.artandwriting.org/gallery/art
Link to article
Sophie Possick
Jazmin Zeitune
December 20th, 2022
Student Spotlight on Jazmin Zeitune.
Congratulations To Jazmin on her acceptance with scholarship to School of Visual Arts in NYC for Animation! Take a look at the portfolio Jazmin submitted to get in:
https://jazminzeituneportfolio.weebly.com/
Amazing work Jazmin!!
December 14th, 2022
Students in BBHS and BBMS have been getting into the holiday spirit making handmade gifts for patients and staff at White Plains Hospital as part of the program:
Creative heARTS .
Above are some examples of the handmade crafts made by the Blind Brook Community to be donated to White Plains Hospital. We will make another delivery of handmade gifts in the Spring.
September, 2022
Regional Portfolio Day (flyer below)
Nov. 3 at Westchester Community College.
September 2022
Welcome back! This year all Art students have access to digital drawing and animation apps! Stay tuned for some of their Artwork! Also check out local Arts Organizations for upcoming events and opportunities.
https://artswestchester.org/teen-tuesdays/
https://www.ryeartscenter.org/racclasses
https://neuberger.org/#exhibitions
May 13th, 2022-
Teen Tuesdays are happening again at Arts Westchester. If you are looking for fun creative classes follow this link.
Other great Art Resources/classes in the area for teens and adults:
www.clayartcenter.org/
https://www.ryeartscenter.org/
October 19th- The Honors Engineering and Design Class at Blind Brook are making awesome work. Below is a graphic drawn by Tessa Bernard that was designed together with her group consisting of students Zac Rosenblatt, Tudor Baltag and Jason Arnett. D.I.C.E. stands for Design, Innovation, Creation, and Expression. Nice work!
Sept 21, 2021- National Portfolio Day Information click here
September 21, 2021- Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Learn how to submit your creative work here
April 30th, 2021
Congratulations SENIORS!
You made it through this crazy year!
You can do anything now!
Your future is bright.
I will miss you.
Sept, 2020
To check out NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY VIRTUAL EVENTS: https://admissions.ccad.edu/portal/admissions-events?utm_campaign=ontheroad&utm_source=slate&utm_medium=email
Art Classes in the Area:
If you are looking for extra Art Classes to take locally, check out the Local Art Resources tab on this website for links to local organizations.
Here are some from Purchase to get you started:
www.purchase.edu/live/files/2616-youth-and-precollege-programs-in-the-arts-brochure
ArtsWestchester current classes:
https://artswestchester.org/teen-tuesdays/
Art Contest opportunity for Students who want to do more
If you love science and Art and want to help with Conservation and Education this contest may be for you:
https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/education/science-without-borders-challenge/
The deadline for this challenge is in 2021, get ahead and start now!
https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/education/science-without-borders-challenge/
The deadline for this challenge is in 2021, get ahead and start now!
May 27, 2020
This is has a very strange way to end the year and I would have liked to see you all in person. Thank You for a wonderful year. I am proud of all the beautiful work we accomplished.
Congratulations to the class of 2020!
Happy Summer,
Ms. Petras
April 20, 2020
Colors for a Cause
Komal Samrow raises money through art to benefit the fight against Covid-19. If you want to support her in this work click the link to her website here to find out more.
September 13, 2019
Above is a picture of Blind Brook's very own, Kevin O'Neill and a mural project, for Cerebral Palsy Westchester, entitled, "No Boundaries". Kevin organized and painted this mural (and 25 other walls) with Clair Barry and with help from other volunteers (including 6 other rising Juniors at BBHS). The mural was designed and created for Cerebral Palsy Westchester (CWP) to add color and balance to Harmony Park. It is always fantastic to see students using their creative abilities in the world.
September 6, 2019
Welcome back! For all students hoping to apply to art schools or programs, there is a portfolio day coming up. Many schools will be there to meet you in person with your work. This is a great opportunity for feedback and information gathering.
May 13th, 2019
The High School Drawing and Painting Program will be saying NO to plastic
As a teacher and a parent, I want to make sure to do my part in making the world a better and more healthy place for all. Like many, I thought that recycling plastic and paper was diverting waste and helping to make less impact. After seeing Plastic Oceans, I realized how wrong I was, I was alarmed and wanted to know more. After a lot of research, I realize how harmful plastic is, I cannot help but look at my own habits and choices, after all change starts with individuals. From now on, when ordering supplies and materials for the art room, I will be paying close attention to plastic content and trying very hard to ditch it altogether. This means we will be phasing out materials like: acrylic paint, plastic paintbrushes, or plastic rulers to name a few and adding more eco friendly projects and supplies into the curriculum. I am excited to meet this challenge and I think we and our artwork will be better and more healthy for it.
To learn more: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution/
To learn more: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution/
February 2019
Advanced Art students went to the Brant Foundation to see the Fransesco Clemente exhibition. We had some really great discussions about the themes and symbolism found in his work and about his stylistic tendencies. After looking at his work, students got to make their own self portraits in the gallery.
September 13, 2018
Welcome Back! I hope you had a great summer! If you are looking for some great art inspiration locally there is a fantastic Alex Katz show at the Neuberger Museum of Art through October 14th.
Another great art opportunity in the area:
September 13, 2018
Blind Brook Alumna Art Business to know
Occasionally I get to hear from my previous students who are out in the world doing amazingly creative things. Recently, the very talented Alex Blaiotta opened her own design studio called ACHI design. Check out her beautiful work.
May 22, 2018
If you are looking for a summer arts program:
SUNY Purchase
Westchester Community College Center for the Arts
One River School of Art and Design
Clay Art Center
March 8th, 2017
Today students from Studio in Art 2, Advance Art, Portfolio Development and AP Drawing got to go to the Brant Foundation in Greenwich, CT to see the Steven Shearer show. We got a thought-provoking walk through with Sabrina and got to draw right in the galleries. Here are some photos of our trip:
December 21st, 2016
Blind Brook AP ART student, Samantha Kaye combines her ART and BUSINESS to make fun and individualized shoe designs. She is seen below selling her Slkickks at her recent trunk show at Mixology Clothing in Scarsdale, NY. Images taken from Greenwich Time, the accompanying article can be found here
January 20th, 2015
Seniors, Alexa Maizes, Rachel Saxe and Chloe Citron each have artwork in the Regional High School Art Exhibition at Concordia College in Bronxville at the OSilas Gallery through January 30th. Congratulations!
Article about the exhibition here
for more information www.osilasgallery.org
or call 914-395-4520
December 18th, 2014
Today Studio in Art 2, Advanced Art, Portfolio Development and AP Drawing classes went to the MOMA to see the Matisse show and many other amazing modern artworks. We had a great day!
March 3, 2014
Savannah College of Art and Design is coming to give a presentation and do portfolio reviews in the art room 4th period this Thursday, MARCH 6th. If you would like to watch the presentation please see me for information (Ms. Petras)
Savannah College of Art and Design is coming to give a presentation and do portfolio reviews in the art room 4th period this Thursday, MARCH 6th. If you would like to watch the presentation please see me for information (Ms. Petras)
March 3, 2014
The Memory Project is a club that connects orphans and high school students. High School students draw the portraits of an orphan that is then sent to the orphan to keep as a memory. You do not have to be an art student to participate and you can choose your own materials to make the portrait. Here are some of ours:
The Memory Project is a club that connects orphans and high school students. High School students draw the portraits of an orphan that is then sent to the orphan to keep as a memory. You do not have to be an art student to participate and you can choose your own materials to make the portrait. Here are some of ours:
OCTOBER 15th
National Portfolio Day is tomorrow, OCTOBER 16th at PURCHASE COLLEGE
Here is a link for more information.
November 8th, 2012
The week before Sandy hit, Altered Ego hosted their annual event "Oodles of Doodles". At this event everyone is invited to draw together, share ideas and eat snacks. Here are some pictures of their last event:
OCTOBER 24th- PORTFOLIO DAY at PURCHASE COLLEGE
Purchase College is hosting a NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY. Follow this link to find out more.
April 24, 2012-
A few pictures from the Bronx Botanical Garden Orchid Show field trip!
Tara Tempesta
Ryan Breslow
Jordan
Jordan
March 23, 2012
An interesting new book and interview with the author:
interview with Jonah Lehrer on Fresh Air
February 2, 2012
Congratulations to Dean Scelfo on his recent acceptance to School of Visual Arts! Awesome!
January 17th, 2012
The new Altered Ego website is here:
http://bbhsalteredego.weebly.com
Find out news as we prepare our next issue.
You can even make submissions here!
January 4th, 2012
The Winter Edition of Altered Ego came out today! Great job AE!
Remember, if you want to submit drawings, writing or other creative, publishable endeavors:
send them to [email protected]
The next book comes out in the Spring.
January 4th, 2012
Happy New Year!!
Congratulations to Alexa Maizes on her upcoming art show:
December 12th, 2011
Congratulations to AP Art student Ali Dulman!
She was recently accepted to her top choice school:
Washington University in St. Louis for Communication Design in the College of Art.
Way to go!
December 8th, 2011
It has been chosen
November 8th, 2011-
Yesterday a group of students from the BBHS literary and art magazine Altered Ego, the BBHS school newspaper Focus and the journalism students all went on a field trip to Columbia University for the Scholastic Press Association Conference. During the day they were all able to select five different sessions of workshops that covered a range of topics surrounding publishing including: Law and Ethics, Journalistic Writing, Layout and Design, and Creative Writing to name a few. It was a great day!
October 31, 2011-
AP Drawing student Nicole Chandras just finished her new website:
nicolechandras.com
October 28th, 2011-
A very interesting article about artists in the workforce here.
October 28th, 2011
Oodles of Doodles: Altered Ego, the school's arts and literary magazine hosts this fun event twice a year before each issue is published. Students meet in the commons to doodle together while snacking and socializing. Each issue features a page if doodles from this event. Here are some pictures of this years Ooodles of Doodles this past Wednesday:
an interesting article about doodling to listen to and read
an interesting article about doodling and memory
October 25th, 2011
Today some of the advanced art students went to the Neuberger Museum to see the Dana Schutz show. We all wished we could stay longer.
October 19th, 2011
Today Rebecca Fong from Rhode Island School of Design came to present about their program. She also had one on one portfolio reviews with six of our very talented and lucky students!
October 6th, 2011
Rhode Island School of Design is coming to BBHS art room October 19th at 8:30am. After a brief presentation about the programs RISD offers, an admissions representative will giving portfolio reviews for six students. If you are an interested junior or senior see me to see if we can squeeze a review in for you too.
October 5th, 2011
AP Student Kira Helberg just started her own website. Check it out here: kirahelbergportfolio.weebly.com
her most recent piece
October 4th, 2011
National Portfolio Days are coming to our area!
Students:
If you are interested in checking out many art schools, and getting feedback about your portfolio, check out these National Portfolio Day events below. Get there early because lines can get long. Also do some research about the schools that will be there and make a plan. I recommend going to schools that are the farthest away because you probably won't get to visit them.
Here are some dates to remember:
Sat, Oct 29: Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford Art School
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Sat, Oct 29: New York GRADUATE Portfolio Day, Parsons The New School for Design
12:00pm - 4:00pm
September 27th, 2011
Advanced Drawing and Painting students will be heading to the Neuberger Museum of Art to see the amazing paintings of Dana Schutz next month. The exhibition opened this weekend.
Check it out:
DANA SCHUTZ: IF THE FACE HAD WHEELS
September 25, 2011 - December 18, 2011
Dana Schutz combines fantasy and reality, humor and horror, to create figurative paintings that abound with expressionist energy. This first ten-year survey her work features approximately thirty paintings and twelve drawings created by the artist from 2001 to the present and will include work from each of her endlessly inventive series.
September 26th, 2011
Today one of our AP students showed me her new weebly website: http://www.allisondulman-artportfolio.com/ It is so great! Check it out!
September 22, 2011
Yesterday New York School Interior Design came for a presentation about interior design and the school. It was a very inspirational presentation for all!
One students shared her thoughts about the presentation:
Ali: The info session was fascinating! Even though I'm not interested in interior design, it was still awesome to hear about different types of art degrees and seeing all the amazing work done by NYSID students! I'm so thankful that Ms. Petras arranged this presentation for us!
September 15th, 2011
Check out the Student Work and AP Art pages! The art making has begun. Also check out the pictures and interview with BB alum Victoria Ferrer. Look under "other" on the blog to see the "alumni" section. Here is one of Victoria's photo's below. See more on the alumni page.
September 6th, 2011
Welcome Back students! We are back. I hope you all had a restful and fun summer and ready to make art! Check back often to see our art progress.
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JUNE 21st, 2011
CONGRATULATIONS to all the graduates! It has been a great year. Have a fantastic summer!!
March 21, 2011
Happy Spring!
Last week students from Blind Brook High School Photography and Digital Media classes went to the Youth Media Conference in Westchester. Many other schools from the Hudson Valley and Westchester County also participated. We are proud to report that the following BBHS students all received Viewer’s Choice Awards in the following categories.
CHEMICAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Jason Mandel / Blind Brook HS
DIGITAL PHOTO
Sydney Grau / Blind Brook HS
Melanie Greenwald / Blind Brook HS
ANIMATION
Karan Das, Dylan Symonette, Kate Citron, and Austin Brettshneider / Blind Brook HS
Oleh Hushtyk / Blind Brook HS
March 10, 2011
THIS WEEKEND
Friday March 11th- Sunday March 13th
There will be a student art exhibition hung in the High School Commons in conjunction with the high school production of Urinetown. Students photography, drawing and painting will all be part of the exhibition.
Students included in this exhibition are:
Lindsey
Smith
Jesse
Bauer
Emily
Chekmeyan
Katelyn
Kim
Logan
Lott
Jack
Levine
David
Zaccagnino
Kelsey
Mansfield
Sam
Rubenstein
Danielle
Landau
Taylor
Salvatore
Andres
Ortiz
Sabrina
Parisi
Emily
Conrad
Christian
Bucci
Samantha
Handler
Sage
Yockelson
Andrea
Knox
Kira
Helberg
John
Henry Herkert
Dean
Scelfo
Sarah
Berger
Rachel
Joseph
Greg
Occhicone
Cynthia
Segal
Alexa
Alter
Andre
Alves
Nicole
Chandras
Jackie
Ciraldo
Ali
Dulman
Nora
Fisher
Michelle
Riesenfeld
Anna
Rietti
Lauren
Spatafore
Alex
Woychowski
Peggy
Shi
Hayley
Groglio
Sydney Grau
Melanie Greenwald
Rebecca Kaplan
Spencer Jardine
Sal Scappatura
Scott Bass
Justin Gluck
Brian Lorys
Jason Mandel
Tom Ferrer
Jenna Poplausky
Julia Newman
Ali Kupin
Nola Werlinich
Adelel Heib
Eleana Landau
March 4, 2011
Check out our new banner above! It was taken from the artwork of Marianna Howard (below)-AP 2D students with Ms. Petras
March 2, 2011
I am pleased to announce that several advanced photo students have been honored with exemplary award ribbons from the NYS Media Art Teachers’ Association for work they submitted in January. Students will be traveling to a media arts conference being sponsored by NYSMATA on March 15, along with some other students in the art department.
The talented students are:
Melanie Greenwald
Sydney Grau
Jason Mandel
Spencer Jardine
Justin Gluck
Brian Lorys
Rebecca Kaplan
Jenna Poplausky
Tom Ferrer
Sal Scappatura
Sydney Grau's award winning photos below
Feb. 17th 2011
SAVE THE DATE:
We are excited to announce that Hayley Groglio, Dean Scelfo and Jason Mandel will be participating in The Rye Art Center’s annual exhibition, Students Studio: Emerging High School Talent. Their work will be hung along with other high school art students from Westchester and Lower Fairfield Counties.
An opening reception honoring the selected students will be held at The Rye Arts Center on Wednesday, March 9th from 6-7:30.
There will be a recognition ceremony at 6:45.
Please stop by if you are able!
Feb. 14th 2011
SAVE THE DATE :
Blind Brook students Jenna Poplausky, Rebecca Kaplan and Melanie Greenwald each have three photographs in this show at the Calumet Gallery in NYC. We are proud to announce that Melanie has received an Honorable Mention for her work.
The Reception for the 2011 Student awards will be -
March 5, 2011
3 - 5 PM
Calumet Gallery
22 West 22 St (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
NY, NY
Join us to celebrate the photography of young women photographers from high schools in the metropolitan area. We have received many submissions and this will be an exciting event from the perspective of seeing what young women are photographing these days as well as the talent they exhibit and the excitement
generated by their friends and families.
Dec. 14th 2010- Students have been making some amazing work (a few examples below). Make sure to check out the student works page to see more!
above, 9th grade artist Danielle Landau
Portfolio Development artist, Dean Scelfo
above, 10th grade artist Sage Yockelson
Nov. 15th 2010
BBHS ART STUDENTS IN THE WESTMORE NEWS!
In the Nov. 12th issue of the Rye Brook Westmore News, writer Nathan Mayberg wrote an article about four of our high school art students who participated in the 17th annual female high school exhibition at the College of New Rochelle. This years participants were Kira Helberg, Jackie Ciraldo, Melanie Greenwald and Sydney Grau. Congratulations girls! We are so proud of all your hard work.
In the Nov. 12th issue of the Rye Brook Westmore News, writer Nathan Mayberg wrote an article about four of our high school art students who participated in the 17th annual female high school exhibition at the College of New Rochelle. This years participants were Kira Helberg, Jackie Ciraldo, Melanie Greenwald and Sydney Grau. Congratulations girls! We are so proud of all your hard work.
photographs by Nathan Mayberg
November 9th 2010
Welcome back to another year of great art!! We are starting out the year strong with very full classes and lots of excited students. Please check our other pages to see some new student work!
