Legislative Student Art Exhibit Promotes Art Education

A financial executive with over two decades of experience, Bryon Martinsen oversees more than $100 million in assets for small businesses and individuals nationwide as a branch manager for Centaurus Financial, Inc., in Kings Park, New York. In spring 2021, Bryon Martinsen’s daughter, Ava, represented Kings Park and William T. Rogers Middle School in the 31st annual Legislative Student Art Exhibit.

Showcasing artwork made by students across New York, the Legislative Exhibit celebrates artistic accomplishments and advocates for arts education and the importance of the visual arts in students’ lives. The Legislative Office Building in Albany traditionally serves as the host site for the exhibit, offering a glimpse of the impact of art on students. Additionally, the opening reception provides students and their families with an opportunity to meet with their district’s senators and assembly members.

The Legislative Exhibit is organized by the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA), a nonprofit organization that promotes art education through various community- and policy-oriented initiatives. Launched in 1990, NYSATA’s exhibit has since become the flagship event for the Council for Arts Education’s Youth Art Month. This program recognizes the unique ways that the visual arts facilitate the development of skills such as creativity, communication, and problem solving.

Due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, the Legislative Exhibit shifted to a virtual event for 2021. The artwork is viewable via a slideshow on the organization’s website at NYSATA.org/legislative-exhibit.