Walt Whitman High School put art in the spotlight Saturday, hosting a packed fine arts and crafts festival, and cutting the ribbon on a new gallery.
The school has held the festival since 2001, and draws vendors offering everything from wreaths to leather goods, cards, health products, drawings and paintings, stoneware, clothing, baskets, carvings, bottles, painted seashells, and jewelry.
Before the fair opened, the school cut the ribbon to open the Vicki L. Dollin Art Gallery.
Dollin, who taught art for 16 years, had worked to build a gallery space at the school. Her efforts included starting the fair. The opening on Saturday featured the works of five former South Huntington art teachers including Dollin, Verna Amakawa, Paula Beck, Carol Davis, and Mary Ponte. Former State Sen. James Gaughran, Town Councilman Dr. David Bennardo, who formerly was the district superintendent, and Dr. Joseph Centamore, superintendent at Connetquot and a former assistant superintendent at South Huntington, participated in the opening.
“The naming of the gallery was an unexpected but amazing honor I will always be grateful for,” Dollin said.
