Arts take center stage in Valley Stream

Valley Streamers celebrated the arts last Saturday as Envision Valley Stream hosted its first major event, Art in the Park.

About 30 artists and craft vendors set up at the Village Green to display their work or sell some handmade wares. There was also a large display of student artwork from Valley Stream’s four school districts.

Darla Carberry, an art teacher at Memorial Junior High School, said that students in her seventh and ninth grade classes were asked to take a picture of a place in Valley Stream, then turn it into an impressionist painting. She submitted 25 entries for Art in the Park and said the students turned in some quality work.

South High School graduate Hayley Adelson had a mix of her artwork on display. She is a photography major at Buffalo State College and brought a collection of her pictures. But she also had about 20 hubcaps she has painted. “The hubcaps are something I started doing when I was bored,” she said. “It’s just a hobby and it kind of took off.”

Adelson said that she has painted about 50 hubcaps so far, and has stacks of unfinished ones, too. All the hubcaps are ones she finds on the street. “It’s the life of a poor college student,” she joked.

The School of Singing in Valley Stream provided much of the day’s entertainment, with a morning and an afternoon performance. Ten students, under the direction of Daniel and Tami Orama, performed a variety of song and dance numbers.

David Sabatino, president of Envision Valley Stream, said the Oramas were interested in showcasing the musical abilities of their students. Art in the Park turned out to be the perfect venue as the event was centered around the John Smith Band Shell.

Other musical performances included a string group from South High School, as well as Room 6, a cover band of four teachers from South High.

Patricia Gordon, one of several artists to display her work, enjoyed the live entertainment. “When you say art, it means many things,” she said. “It’s not just drawing and painting.”

A resident of Valley Stream for five years, Gordon had 10 water color paintings and sketches on display. She created two paintings specifically for Art in the Park — scenes from her favorite spots at Hendrickson Park.

Wanting Ruan, of Valley Stream, brought her two young children, Richard and Dori Chau, to view the artwork and see the performances. “I think it’s definitely an awesome place for kids to learn, to explore,” she said.

Sabatino said that organizing the event took a lot of work, but it was worth the effort. “It was a great success,” he said. “I’m very happy about the turnout. Thankfully the weather held out.”

He said many people told him they did not hear about Art in the Park ahead of time, but saw something happening at the Village Green and stopped by. Sabatino said his goal is make the event bigger and better for next year.

There was much positive feedback about the event, Sabatino said. “People said it’s nice to be able to attend something like this in Valley Stream,” he said. “I think everybody enjoyed the talent.”

Student artwork winners

Grades K-3: Steven Lopeck and Wayne Chen, Robert W. Carbonaro School, for their clay representation of Rockaway Avenue and the stores they would like to see there.

Grades 4-6: Arianna Tzunum, Wheeler Avenue School, for her “Welcome to Valley Stream Museum of Art” artwork.

Grades 7-12: Karen Suarez, Memorial Junior High School, for her recycling-themed artwork.

Envision Valley Stream asked students what Valley Stream means to them. Their artwork could depict their favorite thing about Valley Stream or what they would like to see in the community.