Student artists shine in The Future Is Now exhibit at Morini Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2025

MANSFIELD, Mass. ─ More than two dozen student artists were celebrated on Sunday, June 8, and six were recognized officially during a reception at “The Future Is Now” exhibition at the Mass Arts Center’s Morini Gallery.

“The Future Is Now” is the second annual juried exhibit featuring the work of high school students, this year from Mansfield and Norton.

The exhibition, which runs through June 25, provides a unique platform for young artists to present their work to the public. The reception drew more than 50 people eager to support the students and find out who won the coveted Curators’ Choice Awards.

Ken Butler, the executive director of the Mass Arts Center, opened the ceremony by emphasizing the importance of nurturing young talent and the role of art in personal development. He expressed pride in the students’ achievements and the gallery’s commitment to providing a space for their voices to be heard.

Heidi Cerullo, co-curator of the Morini Gallery alongside Glenn Fournier, shared her thoughts on the exhibition’s impact. She remarked on the incredible creativity displayed by the students and how art serves as a powerful medium for self-expression. “Art is not just about creating; it’s about connecting with others and sharing your story,” she said.

Eleanor Cates, an 11th-grader who took first place for her pencil sketch titled “If I Picked You,” thanked the gallery for the chance to showcase her work. She reflected on the personal significance of her piece, which she started when she had some extra paper with her in a math class. “Art has always been a way for me to express what I feel inside,” she said.

Mansfield High School art teacher Jennifer Martinelli-Rybicki praised Cates for her artwork, saying, “She has a way of telling a story in a way that makes you wonder a lot.”

Martinelli-Rybicki, along with art teachers from Norton High School, Dr. Todd Kefor and Robin Lewicki, talked about how important it was for students to be involved in the decision-making process and in creating art for a public exhibit. They said they were excited for the students to display their work outside the schools, giving students a chance to connect with the community. They said they appreciated the support from the Morini Gallery, a local institution since 2009.

Kefor said that the submission process itself helped students grow personally and artistically and he was proud of their work. “I believed that was a valuable learning experience,” he said, noting that this was the second year Norton students have participated. “It’s always interesting to see which pieces they value the most out of their portfolio. … They need to stay true to their own artistic identity while also considering that their work is in a gallery, a public space. We encourage them to think about the public nature of it.”

Lewicki agreed, saying that working together to choose artwork for the exhibit helped students be more dedicated to their art. “It gave them a level of commitment,” she said. “It’s just a great learning experience for them.” She added that as part of the process the students learn that “the whole process of why we create art is to share it with other people.”

Martinelli-Rybicki shared her excitement about her students being in the exhibit. She said, “This is such a special group of kids, and I was really excited for them to have this opportunity to be in a show that’s in a gallery that’s not at school.” This was the first time Mansfield students participated, and Martinelli-Rybicki said she encouraged less confident students to apply to the juried exhibition.

The exhibit features a variety of artistic styles and mediums, with students showcasing their creativity through paintings, drawings, and mixed media.

The winners of the Curators’ Choice Awards received gift cards to Jerry’s Artarama, an art supply store in Providence. The awards were as follows:

1st Place: Eleanor Cates from Mansfield High for her pencil sketch titled “If I Picked You.”

2nd Place: Marissa Medeiros from Mansfield High for her colored pencil drawing “Dog.”

3rd Place: Sarah Smith from Norton High for her chalk and charcoal piece “To Be Loved by a Child.”

Honorable Mentions:

Mikayla Flynn from Norton High for a mixed media piece called “Youth Left Out to Dry.”

Sadie Winston from Norton High for the charcoal drawing “Holding On.”

Mikaela Ng from Mansfield High for the mixed media piece called “Me Me Me.”

The Morini Gallery is a vital space for fostering artistic expression and community engagement. The exhibit is open through June 25, and the public is encouraged to visit and see the work of these young artists. Butler noted that the theater building is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and anyone interested in viewing the exhibit should call the office at 508-339-2822 for an appointment.

For more information about the exhibition and upcoming events at the Mass Arts Center, visit https://massartscenter.org

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The Mass Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that runs the Reservoir Stage, the Morini Gallery, and the Academy at Mass Arts, providing a wide array of artistic programs, performances, and opportunities for aspiring and experienced performers, artists, and patrons from across the region. Programs are supported with grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the MCC Facilities Fund and the Local Cultural Councils of Mansfield, Attleboro, Foxborough, North Attleborough, Norton, and Sharon.