HAUPPAUGE STUDENTS BRING ART TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD

Hauppauge High School’s students recently participated in a special art project for disadvantaged children called the Memory Project. The Memory Project is a unique initiative in which art students create portraits for children and teens around the world who have been neglected, orphaned or disadvantaged.

“These portraits become treasured possessions because children and teens in these situations often have few, if any, personal keepsakes,” stated Director of Fine and Performing Arts Janet Velasquez. Hauppauge Art Teacher Patricia DiMasi-Coppola continued, “As much as possible, we want to help the children, who are living in disadvantaged circumstances, learn to see themselves as works of art.”

The Hauppauge students received photos of kids on the Memory Project’s waiting list and then worked in various mediums – drawing, painting, digital art, collage, etc. – to create the portraits. The Memory Project Organization then delivered the pictures to the children and teens around the world as gifts. They also took photos of the kids holding their pictures so the participating art students could see the delivery of their gift in action.