Thursday, March 27, 2025
Hive Market & Gallery in Oyster Bay is set to host a special gallery exhibition titled “Hope in Harmony: A Journey of Healing & Expression,” featuring artwork created by students from nearby Harmony Heights Day School. The exhibition, which doubles as a fundraiser for Harmony Heights, will kick off with an opening reception on March 8 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Laura Escobar, owner of Hive Market, expressed her excitement about the collaboration, highlighting how it came to fruition thanks to happenstance during a meeting of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce. She added that after finding out about the school and the work they do, she knew she wanted to help support the students there.
“I try to work with nonprofits to bring the community together. That’s been a thing that’s been growing for me at the Hive,” Escobar explained. “For a nonprofit that’s been around for 50 years, it’s time to celebrate that they’ve been around that long and the good things they do for these students.”
Harmony Heights, established in 1974 by Donald Lafayette, serves as a therapeutic day school for girls with emotional needs that require specialized support beyond traditional high school environments. The school emphasizes emotional healing alongside academic achievement, offering regents and local diplomas under the guidance of dedicated educators and therapists.
“Most of our students have the diagnosis of emotional disability and have gone through a previous trauma, difficulty or something that’s happened to them in their family life,” said Tatiana Pejkovic, principal of Harmony Heights. “A big way that a lot of them do heal is through being able to cope with doing art or listening to music.”
The exhibition will feature a diverse range of artworks, including acrylic paintings, pottery, jewelry, and mixed media pieces, created by current students and alumni. Some students whose strengths lie in the performing arts will also sing at the opening reception.
Pejkovic noted that the event aims to raise awareness about mental health issues among teenagers and the therapeutic benefits of artistic expression.
“Our students are regular teenagers that are doing amazing, amazing things. The majority of them go on to college and are very successful, and we’re just a stepping stone and support for them,” she added. “We really want to change that taboo around the beliefs of what our school is and bring awareness to mental health and the need to support teenagers.”
A significant portion of the artwork will be available for purchase during the exhibition, with proceeds supporting Harmony Heights’ programs and initiatives. The exhibition will run until April 5, offering visitors the opportunity to view and purchase artworks while supporting a worthy cause.
For more information about Harmony Heights and the Hope in Harmony exhibition, visit their websites at HarmonyHeights.org or HiveMarketOB.com
