Cultural Arts
About the Cultural Arts Foundation
The Arts are an essential part of The Bellmore-Merrick CHSD as they give our students a unique means of expression, capturing their passions and emotions, and allowing them to explore new ideas, subject matter, and cultures. The Arts education in our district not only enhances students' understanding of the world around them, but it also broadens their perspective on traditional academics. Participation in our arts programs enhances self-esteem, builds self-discipline, fosters creativity, and reinforces societal values such as cooperation, commitment, and working towards a common goal.
It is our mission to provide an opportunity for all students to participate in the arts, whether it be through our wide variety of course offerings or involvement in the countless extracurricular activities our schools provide.
Meet Mepham's 2021 Cultural Art Nominees
Scroll to read about each Cultural Art Nominee below.
Click on each Artist to tour their individual galleries
Gianna Augugliaro
Cultural Art NomineeMixed Media
Gianna says, ""Art is important to me because as an extremely quiet child who was not outgoing or adventurous, art was really a way for me to have fun and to eventually find my voice. I used art as a way to express myself, and now see it as a way to speak on societal issues that deserve attention. Specifically, I have taken to creating art that speaks on how pressures of beauty standards in society affect women both mentally and physically. I love how art is a form of self expression that can allow us to express ourselves, even when we don’t have the words to. ""
John Carioti
Cultural ArtAward WinnerDigital
John says, ''Art to me is more than just a tool for communication or something I do as a hobby. I make art because I think it is a great way to express oneself and build confidence. Getting involved in art is, in my opinion, the greatest way to gain an understanding and appreciation for life through a different perspective.''
Teddi Liquori
Cultural Art Award WinnerPhotography
Teddi says, ''Art has always been a part of my life that made me who I am today. Photography allowed me to turn broken things into something beautiful for people to appreciate rather than ignoring places, or people, or everyday issues. Art made me become vulnerable and open about topics I find interesting and letting people enjoy it, and make them feel something. ""
Emily Musumeci
Cultural ArtAward WinnerDrawing & Painting
Emily loves art's unique significance to every person. The way that multiple viewers can see the same piece and have it resonate in different ways is what makes art so special to her. That being said, Emily's investigation revolves around her personal relationships and how her identity is defined by the state of them. Emily's art is very personal to her, but it is often left unexplained and open-ended so it can be given meaning in another context by another person's perspective. Emily has always felt strongly connected to art, and feels that it acts as a respite from everyday life.
Nicholas Tariq
Cultural Art NomineeDrawing & Painting
Nick believes that art is special. He believes it is one of the most true ways to express ones self and emotions. He thinks art is true to the creator and conveys ideas not expressible by words. His experience has been one expressing his identity and love through artwork.
Sidney Wang
Cultural Art NomineeDrawing & Painting
Encompassing human complexity and creativity, art is an integral part of our society. I especially love art that contains a storytelling element wherein varied perceptions exist. Art then becomes a relationship between the viewer and the artist. I find that many times, we discover much of ourselves through art whether it's by examining or creating. My ideas are always vague when beginning, but as I begin the process, exploration and experimentation become a natural direction. Through that, some form of clarity is established of yourself and what you want to get across. In my own artwork, there are pieces where I wanted to express a message of culture and others where I wanted to convey emotions of wonder. Some are combinations. Art can really be anything. It is unbounded and fluid. In a world that's progressively more complex, art has remained a pillar to me as it has never become more complex than in my simple love for it