Livingston Manor 11th grader Tyler Gorr will spend three weeks this summer immersing himself in the art world in New York City.
He was accepted into the Parsons Summer Intensive Study program, where he will participate in an “academically rigorous and artistically stimulating” course of his choosing while earning three college credits.
Tyler said he was interested in the program because he wants to improve his skills and learn more about the professional world of art.
His skills are already pretty impressive. He won six awards at the 2024 Countywide Art Show at Bethel Woods, and most recently earned three Honorable Mentions, a Silver Key and a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art competition. His Silver Key black-and-white drawing, “Lights Out!,” and his Gold Key painting, "Birch Trees in the Cold," will be displayed Feb. 8 through March 2 at the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition at SUNY New Paltz. The Gold Key winning painting will move on to the next adjudication round for the national competition.
It seems fitting his painting earned top honors, because that is his favorite art form. “It is easier to create bigger projects but still have good detail,” he said.
When asked where he gains inspiration for his work, he admitted that it does not come from any one particular person or place, but from everything around him. However, he said Livingston Manor art teacher Mrs. Jessica Mall has helped him in his art by helping him advance his skills and getting him “every opportunity she can” for art.
The summer opportunity was especially attractive to Tyler because he hopes to attend Parsons School of Design school after graduation. The intensive program is tailored to high school students preparing to apply to college and features thought-provoking project-based learning, art and design field trips and industry guest speakers.
Tyler will live in the Parsons dormitories during the program and he will have opportunities to participate in supervised extracurricular activities in the evenings and on weekends that focus on fashion, art and design, exploration of the city and socialization.
“I cannot begin to express how excited I am for Tyler,” Mrs. Mall said. “I look forward to helping him prepare for his experience this summer and building upon his portfolio when he begins to apply for college.”