Nyack Teens' Self-Portraits Now On Display

Nyack's teens see themselves as sharp dressers, cartoons and in the abstract. 

Rather, they paint themselves this way. On Friday evening, the self-portraits of ten Nyack teens were displayed at P. Ross boutique at 89 Main Street. The works are the culmination of a summer-long program that partnered ten youths from the YMCA with ten area artists. Together, the pairs explored paining and self-expression through art.

The paintings will remain in P. Ross for weeks to come.

"The kids really held their own," said Paulette Ross, who owns P. Ross and volunteered her boutique for Friday's reception. "They had people asking them about their work, and they were happy to talk about it."

Rachael Solomon, the program coordinator at the Hopper House Art Center, was pleased with the results and turnout, as well.

"The childrens' parents and friends were there," she said. "But also Nyack residents who saw us setting and and decided to stop in."

"When I was carrying the portraits into [P. Ross], people thought I was displaying my work," she added.

Solomon hopes this is the first of many more like programs.

"Hopefully we can expand with different mediums, artists and towns," she explained. "I'd like to do this more than once a year."

For the interested resident: P. Ross boutique is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from  12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The store is closed Mondays.