Queens College Artist Adds New Passion to His Palette

A self-portrait by James Harrington

James Harrington, the son of Irish immigrants and one of seven children, became an artist because he was impressed by a close friend in junior high school whose mother was an artist. He and his friend went on together to the High School of Art and Design. Here teachers encouraged young James’ talent and urged him to take lessons concurrently at the Art Students League, where he studied with renowned painters.

Nearly 20 years later, having won many awards, including a 1990 MacDowell traveling grant that allowed him to explore Europe for eight months, Harrington began to fret. Though his paintings hung in numerous collections, a rankling thought began to grow in his mind: “In the eyes of the world I was still uneducated.”

Reassessing his life, he enrolled in the Queens College Adult Collegiate Education program, seeking new alternatives for ways to support his painting. “In the process I discovered that I have another passion outside of art and literature—teaching,” he said.

“I find sharing my passion for art, and my knowledge, an invigorating and fulfilling experience. Being back in the classroom as a student was no small part of this recognition; I love being involved in the learning…I even see art differently after having had the privilege of studying in Queens College’s remarkable art and art history department.” He did his student teaching this last spring at his alma mater, the High School of Art and Design, while continuing to teach private clients around the city.

Winner of the College’s Zadoian Award for academic excellence and valedictorian of this year’s ACE program, Harrington said, “Education is the compass and the sextant with which we navigate our lives. It takes courage to sail out of a familiar harbor to explore strange horizons, and it takes an open mind to retool at an older age for that journey.”

The educational journey is not over. Harrington will enroll in Queens College’s MFA program in September and is looking for a teaching job. His painting, of course, continues. This year he won first prize in the 2002 National Arts Club competition open to all universities and art schools, and his work is on view in the 2002 Audubon Exhibition.