A Somerville High School student used 1,000 pictures to recreate Van Gogh's "Starry Night."
SOMERVILLE - "Starry Night," a photomosaic created by the members of the Somerville High School Photography Club, is as much a masterpiece as the Van Gogh work on which is it modeled, according to a news release from the Somerset County Library System.
Made up of over 1,000 photographs, it is 10 feet wide and 7 feet tall and is currently on display in the Ray Taub Reading Room of the Somerville Library branch, 35 West End Ave., through March 31 in celebration of Youth Art Month.
Roberta Karpinecz, president of the board of trustees of Somerville Public Library, called it a "wonderful way" to introduce patrons and the public to the library's new art gallery.
Art Teacher and Photography Club Advisor Lisa Conklin said student leaders of the club proposed the ambitious project over two years ago. Though the students considered several masterpieces, they settled on "Starry Night" because it is so easily recognizable, according to the news release.
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Club members submitted their own photographs which were sorted by color to eventually create the mosaic digitally. A grant from the Branchburg Education Foundation enabled the students to create a print of their work.
"Starry Night" has been displayed at Hillsborough Library and Bridgewater Library branches, Barnes and Noble's Bridgewater location, and the Green Knoll Center.
Conklin said the reception has been very positive and hinted that another, but smaller, photomosaic may be in the works.
The free gallery space at the Somerville Library branch may be reserved by completing and submitting an application.
Artists are welcomed to host an "opening night" party and are invited to present a program about their work if they wish to do so. For more information, contact Roberta Karpinecz.