By AMELIA BAUMANN and SOPHIA ZARIFOPOULOS
The Heckscher Museum of Art has produced an annual selective exhibition to showcase Long Island’s high school artists since 2008. This year, 311 student 
entries were received from 54 public and private Long Island high schools. Of these, 80 pieces were chosen to be displayed in the “Long Island’s Best: Young Artists” gallery at The Heckscher Museum from March 28 to April 19, 2015.
The artwork in the gallery varied in style, as well as in medium. Pieces included photography, digital design, multi-media, and sculpture. However, the featured piece of the exhibit was created using ballpoint pen on paper. Valley Stream Central High School junior Paola Parola was awarded the “Best in Show Young Artist Award” for her captivating self-portrait entitled “The Tragedy”.
Jericho High School was re
presented by freshman Lydia Zarifopolous and her photograph entitled “The Barn.” Zarifopolous’s sister, Sophia, shares her opinion on her sister’s work:
Recently, one of Jericho High School’s very own freshman Lydia Zarifopoulos had her photograph, “The Barn,” showcased at The Heckscher Museum’s “Long Island’s Best: Young Artists” exhibition. Congratulations to my little sis!
My sister’s biggest inspiration is our father who is constantly pushing Lydia to strive to be the best that she can be when it comes to her incredible abilities in photography. “My dad is always telling me that I have to have patience with my pictures and not to get frustrated if I’m not satisfied with some of them,” states Lydia who first picked up a camera in seventh grade with our father as her mentor. When I watch them taking pictures side by side, I can see the artists arise within them, passionately capturing the rawness of nature without being disturbed by society.
Lydia expresses that her favorite type of photographs are landscape pictures and animal portraits. I can honestly say that at least three times a week I walk into the kitchen and she is taking pictures of our dog. I’m not going to lie, it can be a bit irritating when my sister and father are constantly taking pictures, but the the end products prove to be consistently amazing. We are all so proud of you, Lydia!