Way to Go! Max Tunney, Long Beach High

A Long Beach High School senior is flying high as the winner of a statewide flag design contest.

Max Tunney, 18, took first place in the New York State Youth Art Month Flag Design Contest for his entry portraying a smiling King Kong holding a paintbrush and clinging to the Empire State Building with a colorful city skyline in the background. An airplane is pulling a large banner that reads “Youth Art Month,” which is March.

Tunney’s prizewinning illustration was printed on a flag and flown last month at the National Art Education Association’s national convention in Chicago. He received a smaller version that was displayed at his school in March.

“I’m a big monster movie fan,” Tunney said of his idea. “It really means a lot to win — not only because my art is up there, but because it also represents New York.”

Tunney, who said his favorite artist is the late Norman Rockwell, drew the picture in two days using ink and colored pencils. He said he has been drawing since before he started writing and estimated he has created approximately 1,000 pieces. His illustrations have frequently appeared on Newsday’s Kidsday pages.

He is co-vice president of his school’s National Art Honor Society, an editor for its literary magazine, and a reporter for the school’s morning show that appears on YouTube.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.