2026 MAEA Recognitions Exhibit

Organization or School Affiliation: Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Student Name: Patrick Dorunda
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I challenged myself to transform rigid nickel wire into expressive, interconnected pieces that wrap and dangle freely. Each twist demanded patience and careful observation, turning stubborn materials into work full of meaning. I invite viewers to notice how elements relate to one another and experience the movement and connection when worn.
Teacher: Theresa Chianese

Organization or School Affiliation: Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Student Name: Nia Johnson
Grade: Grade 10
Artist Statement: This abstract work captures the ocean's movement, mystery, and timelessness without literal depiction. Using fluid, suspended forms, it reflects how the sea constantly shifts while feeling ancient. Created with slab techniques, the piece avoids rigid methods to prevent predictability, inviting viewers to pause and imagine what lies beneath the surface.
Teacher: Theresa Chianese

Organization or School Affiliation: Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Student Name: Katerina Brook
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: With this project, I wanted to create a set of mugs to give to my parents. I specifically designed the faces so that the characters would be looking at each other if my parents were using them at the same time. I love that I was able to bring my own personal style and ideas to life. I was nervous to use the wheels for the first time, but I was able to get used to it pretty quickly.
Teacher: Theresa Chianese

Organization or School Affiliation: Silver Lake Regional High School

Student Name: Emily Puljanowski
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: Through printmaking, I used values, layers, and textures to showcase the physical characteristics of Fausto, a child from Honduras. Because the piece was going to be given to him, I wanted to highlight his features and create a piece that showed him that he is beautiful just the way he is.
Teacher: Hannah Close

Organization or School Affiliation: Silver Lake Regional High School

Student Name: Margaret Hofmann
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I chose to create this work because of the need to bring light to issues concerning forced marriages and misogyny in religious communities. By painting this imagery, I was able to convey universal feelings of discomfort to the viewer to ensure the message is sent about pressures on women in particular societies.
Teacher: Hannah Close

Organization or School Affiliation: Silver Lake Regional High School

Student Name: Sarah Curtin
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: My recent artwork has been investigating how I can use images from my childhood to convey universal feelings of nostalgia. This is a painting of my house which features a red wagon and warm sunlight that hopefully reminds the viewer of happy memories.
Teacher: Hannah Close

Organization or School Affiliation: Silver Lake Regional High School

Student Name: Samantha Anderson
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: In this piece, I utilized acrylics and paper in order to create a realistic work that is able to pop out at the audience, along with a circular canvas to make the painting stand out in comparison to the normal rectangle and create an exciting composition. I worked to imitate oil paints to create a deeper sense of realism, using mute colors to make the ones around the subject have more contrast.
Teacher: Hannah Close

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Collin Traverse
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This is a photo I took while shooting a Groton-Dunstable football game at North-Middlesex field on October 10th. I stood to the side of the reenactors and took a photo the second they fired the musket and got this shot. I used a high shutter speed to show the musket firing in detail. This photo took me several tries and I succeeded in the middle of the game.
Teacher: Isabelle Colantuonio

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Feyana Haigh
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: For this bowl I started with a simple bowl on the wheel. I trimmed it a good bit to make the walls thinner, then I sculpted the spikes and attached them to the sides. For the glaze I wanted to use palladium to give it a chrome finish, and the glaze came out better than I had expected.
Teacher: Isabelle Colantuonio

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Kali Waterman
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: A couple months ago, my friend and I made these characters and I promised her to make an art piece with both of them. I made this piece as both a gift for her and a final for my art explorations class. I used a bunch of bright colors in the middle and dark colors on the outside to emphasize the harsh lighting coming from the sparkler that the girl is holding.
Teacher: Isabelle Colantuonio

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Maddy Young
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: StatementJesters and clowns have always been an important recurring motif for my own identity and how I express myself in art. To me they represent both masking one’s true self and performing for others in a maladaptive manner while also thematically being whimsical and free. I then placed her on a background of a stage with curtains, finishing it by incorporating collage and mixed media technique
Teacher: Isabelle Colantuonio

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Bianca Greenan
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: I created this piece of art using ‘Affinity Designer’ software. This drawing evokes the spirit of love rippling through a crowd. I created this because I wanted to represent the strength of the energy transmitted by love.
Teacher: Isabelle Colantuonio

Organization or School Affiliation: Medfield High School

Student Name: Marjorie Newberg
Grade: Grade 9
Artist Statement: I chose an Asian Arowana fish to render in Adobe Illustrator, because of their intricate scales & vibrant colors. The pen tool was a bit tedious & repetitive to construct the scales on the body. However I think the result is a convincing representation of the Arowana, including the signature fin placement on the back, red scales, & long pouty face.
Teacher: Meg Drew

Organization or School Affiliation: Medfield High School

Student Name: Brook Russell
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This reinterpretation of Trafalgar Square shows the natural world reclaiming the architecture of the popular city center. Using a limited oil palette, I carefully painted the existing structure of the buildings & monument in subdued tones. Then I engulfed the scene in green vines & growth to show nature's dominance & threat to the local landmarks.
Teacher: Meg Drew

Organization or School Affiliation: Medfield High School

Student Name: Charlotte Mahoney
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: Working from a still life, I rendered reflective light & color projection in this composition. Using colored pencils I identified the delicate value in the multi-colored glassware to create the translucency & illumination of the subject matter.
Teacher: Meg Drew

Organization or School Affiliation: Medfield High School

Student Name: Cecilia Puthiaparambil
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: This low-relief shadowbox is based on a landscape painting of a fall mountain scene. After completing a representational watercolor painting, similar color & strokes were used to create an abstract version of the spatial planes of the landscape. Then designs were cut to interpret the natural atmospheric elements. Finally the piece was constructed to echo the depth & feel of a natural landscape.
Teacher: meg drew

Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham

Student Name: Jona Bajrami
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: As an immigrant from Albania, my journey is what inspired my locket. This transition shaped my way of thinking about time, culture and my new chapter in life. Crossing the Atlantic inspired me to look at ocean life. I incorporated the pearl, a symbol of time and the pendant is in the shape of a shell to protect the pearl, like my experiences have shaped myself. I used brass and salt water pearl.
Teacher: Kathleen Flynn

Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham

Student Name: Walter Rodriguez Diaz
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This piece is based on the Japanese Torii gate, which stands for transition and purification. It marks the entrance to a sacred space, separating it from the regular world. I enjoy learning about cultural symbols and using them to try new metalsmithing techniques. I hand-sawed copper sheet and then used a salt and vinegar patina to alter the surface. I made the chain and clasp with copper wire.
Teacher: Kathleen Flynn

Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham

Student Name: Aristea Graziozi
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This brooch was inspired by the beauty of the Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. For me, it represents cherished memories of my grandmother, who loved collecting brooches. The flower symbolizes love and purity, reflecting both her gentle spirit and lasting connection we share. The entire peace was crafted from copper and soldered.
Teacher: Kathleen Flynn

Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham

Student Name: Maricruz Colon
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This piece is inspired by Coqui frogs. I am PuertoRican on my father’s side and I felt disconnected from that culture growing up. Through research, I reconnected with my heritage and learned to embrace this identity. I plan to visit Puerto Rico for my birthday and I know I will see and hear many coqui frogs. Wearing my own hair piece while I am there will make the experience more meaningful.
Teacher: Kathleen Flynn