Artist, 91, inspires
youngsters to challenge
their creative side
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
Marion Hughes, a 91-yearold
artist who creates art from
discarded objects, is encouraging
youngsters to use their own
imaginations and get active beyond
the ubiquitous electronic
games and gadgets that deadends
their expressive side.
She presented what she says
may be her fi nal exhibit at one
of her favorite places: the Allerton
Library.
Standing beside a glass
case on the second fl oor of the
library, just outside the children’s
section of the building,
Hughes discussed her philosophy
about creating art out of
found objects.
In her most recent installation,
she used paper, Styrofoam
spheres, glue, small paper
sticks, as well as some fi shing
line to simulate water in a fountain.
The dozen or so models on
display look like smaller versions
of modern outdoor art
installations sometimes found
in public spaces, and include
miniature people, also made of
paper, to give the meticulously
crafted pieces perspective.
“They are prototypes for
larger installations that could
be put in parks or public
spaces,” said Hughes, adding
“I did this because I wanted the
children to know that you can
do things without buying anything.
(The artwork) is paper,
scissors and glue.”
Hughes said that it was the
fi fth year in a row she has exhibited
objects created from
waste for the children of Allerton.
In previous years she created
collections of spaceships
and robots, a chorus of women
from countries around that
world that were made of bleach
bottles, and a miniature house,
with furniture made of paper,
said Hughes.
In 1988, she said that she created
a library exhibit of jewelry
and fl owers, made from bread
dough, said Hughes.
Allerton artist Marion Hughes is seeking to encourage young people to use their imaginations with artwork
created mostly out of paper and other found objects. Her latest exhibit is currently on display at the Allerton
branch of the New York Public Library. Schneps Media / Patrick Rocchio
BombaYo
Hosts
Summer
BomBar
Becue
BRONX TIMES R 40 EPORTER, JUNE 7-13, 2019 BTR
Many of the latest creations
might perhaps evoke in miniature
form the styles of the Unisphere
monument in Flushing
Meadow Park in Queens or mobiles
of the solar system or sundials.
She is now producing an
Asian-themed group of pieces,
she said.
“These are just models for
larger pieces,” she said, posting
on a piece of paper in the case
that the artwork was powered
with imagination, no electronics,
thinking, planning and doing.
It took about nine months
to make the space-age looking
pieces in her spare time, she
said.
She is also an accomplished
painter and is entirely selftaught,
though she got on-the-
job training painting china in
a factory and being a designer
of children’s clothing, she said.
Hughes said that this might
very well be her last exhibit for
the children at the library, as
she is having issues with her
vision.
She never sold non-commercial
art that wasn’t commissioned,
she said. The youngsters
in her community don’t
really have much art in their
lives and she wants to show
them what’s possible.
“I don’t do this for money or
fame,” said Hughes. “I do it to
spread the news that there is so
much that you can do if you allow
yourself to dream or imagine.”
She added: “You don’t have
to go out and buy things all of
the time, or have an electronic
gadget fi ll your mind with other
people’s thoughts, you can have
your own thoughts.”
BombaYo hosted its 11th annual BomBar-
Becue on Saturday, May 25 at the Andrew
Freedman Home.
(top right) Jose ‘Dr. Drum’ Ortiz (back, c)
and BombaYo gave a crowd pleasing musical
performance.
(top far right) BombaYo’s Carmen displayed
a creative art print.
(bottom right) Bryson Portorreal and
Leah Ramos were awarded certifi cates
for participating in M.S. 50’s Bomba
class.
(bottom far right) One performance featured
a participant dressed in a unique
Puerto Rican-themed costume.
Photos by Miriam Quin