Art exhibit

The cooler weather and falling leaves signals the return of a perennial favorite, the Setauket Artists annual exhibition at the Setauket Neighborhood House. The show opens with a festive autumn reception on Oct. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. and runs through Nov. 16.

“The SNH is the perfect venue for our work as it is beautiful, historical and located right in the heart of the community. It gives the Setauket Artists the opportunity to abide by our motto, painting to provide ‘Art for a Lifetime!'” said Irene Ruddock, president of the organization.

Now in its 42nd year, the exhibit will feature the paintings of over 40 local artists, many of which depict the beautiful waterways, bridges, flora and fauna, and historical buildings that make this area so special. 

Judging the show is Charles Wildbank, the famous photorealist, muralist, and fine art oil painter who was first known when he rendered the famed Cartier diamond work for Fifth Avenue windows. His stunning ocean scene, “Dawn at Sea,” will surely capture your heart.

As a yearly tradition, the Setauket Artists group invites work each year by beloved artist Joseph Reboli supplied by the Reboli Center of Art and History. Another guest artist is Gia Horton who recently was on the cover of Dan’s Papers. Enjoy her oils of Long Island boating and landscape scenes, especially of the east end.  

This year’s honored artist is Gail L. Chase. “Gail was chosen for her beautifully charming watercolor, oil, and pastel paintings, as well for her years of dedication to the show. Whenever we need help, Gail is always willing to accommodate us. Hers is an honor truly deserved,” said Ms. Ruddock.

For the 17th year, Fred Bryant of Bryant Funeral Home, an avid art collector, is the organization’s sponsor. “Fred has been a godsend to the group providing us with funds to cover our various needs such as signs, brochures, and announcements. The artists are grateful for his loyal support, and he is much appreciated by all of us,” Ms. Ruddock said. 

The beautiful exhibit offers diversity of mediums such as “Sunflower Serenade” by watercolorist Eleanor Meier, “LaGuardia” by pastel artist Julie Doczi, “Willow Pond” by acrylic artist Ross Barbera, and “North Shore Inlet,” a collage and acrylic mixed-media painting by Celeste Mauro. 

The Setauket show wouldn’t be the same without the popular local artists. Much admired photographer Marlene Weinstein is displaying her sought after local scenes. Flo Kemp’s soft-ground etchings and daughter Karen Kemp’s oil on board paintings will be on exhibit. Look for Kyle Blumenthal’s interpretation of ballet dancer Nijinsky with its vibrant colors and contemporary flair that is very enlightening. 

Ms. Ruddock attributes the Setauket  Artists’ success to the group’s sheer talent as each is highly recognized in their field. “However, what makes our group different from other groups is that we have a great sense of camaraderie and work together as a team. We are  always putting our clients, the valued members of our  community, first.”

Many unframed pieces and smaller works will also be for sale throughout the show. Ms. Ruddock suggests, “Start your holiday shopping early! Support the artists by taking a raffle on four of our  artist works — Lorraine McCormick, Eleanor Meier, Shelia Breck, and Jane McGraw Teubner.” Raffle winners will be called on Nov. 16.

Participating artists include Ross Barbera, Shain Bard, Rina Betro, Kyle Blumenthal, Sheila Breck, Joyce Bressler, Renee Caine, Al Candia, Gail L. Chase, Anthony Davis, Julie Doczi, Marge Governale, William Graf, Gia Horton, Laurence Johnston, Flo Kemp, Karen Kemp, Joanne Liff, John Mansueto, Celeste Mauro, Lorraine McCormick, Jane McGraw Teubner, Terry McManus, Eleanor Meier, Frederic Mendelsohn, Muriel Musarra, Paula Pelletier, Joseph Reboli, Joan Rockwell, Robert Roehrig, Irene Ruddock, Oscar Santiago, Carole Link Scinta, Barbara Jeanne Siegel, Angela Stratton, Susan Trawick, Marlene Weinstein, Charles Wildbank and Patricia Yantz.

The Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket presents the 42nd annual Setauket Artists exhibition from Oct. 23 to Nov. 16 daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.setauketartists.com.

Artoberfest

Save the date! Join Preservation Long Island and the Long Island Museum for an Artoberfest, an afternoon of food, beer, music by Buddy Merriam & Backroads, arts and crafts, and games at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm, 55 Old Post Road, East Setauket on Saturday, Oct. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. The event is a celebration of the art of Edward Lange (1846-1912), whose works are currently on view at the Long Island Museum through Dec. 18.  Rain date is Oct. 23. Tickets are $20/over 21, $10/under 21, free for ages 5 and under. To order tickets, visit www.preservationlongisland.org. For more information, call 631-692-4664.

By Heidi Sutton

Abraham Lincoln once said “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.” From Oct. 15 to Nov. 19, a new juried exhibit at the Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Mills Pond Gallery does just that by shining a spotlight on the beautiful place we call home.

With Long Island as their muse and art as their medium, artists were invited to submit 2D artwork that reflects why Long Island is such a treasured place. The result is a show titled Inspired by Long Island featuring 60 works created by local artists that showcase the wonderful parks, beaches, lakes, wildlife and landmarks that are a part of our DNA.

From the Montauk and Fire Island lighthouses to Old Westbury Gardens, from West Meadow Beach and Avalon Preserve in Stony Brook and Frank Melville Memorial Park in Setauket, to Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River in all four seasons, the paintings meld together to create a love story to our Island.

“Art has the ability to stretch our boundaries and challenge us intellectually. A work of art can stir up powerful emotions when we look at it,” said Allison Cruz, Curator and Executive Director at the Mills Pond Gallery. “My goal for our Inspired by Long Island exhibit is to nurture our viewers’ attachment to our amazing Island, encourage them to explore new places and become familiar with all the amazing things their home has to offer.”

Works were created using a variety of mediums including acrylic, charcoal, graphite, ink, oil, pastel, oil pastel, pencil, gouache, solarplate etching and watercolor.

Exhibiting artists include Angela Stratton, Anita Simmons, Annette Napolitano, Catherine Rezin, Chris Ann Ambery, Diane Oliva, E. Craig Marcin, Ellen Ferrigno, Eugene Adamowicz, Frederic Mendelsohn, Gerry Hirschstein, Gia Horton, Gisela Skoglund, Jacqueline DuBarry, James Kelson, Jan Guarino, Jeanette Martone, Jeff Potter, John Hunt, John Taylor, Joyce Bressler, Judy Stone, Kathleen Shaff Kelson, Laurie Samara Schlageter, Lori Scarlatos, Lynn Staiano, Madeline Stare, Marsha Abrams, Mary Ann Vetter, Mary Waka, Mike Stanko, Myungja Anna Koh, Nicholas Valentino, Oscar Santiago, Patricia Morrison, Patty Yantz, Paul Edelson, Renee Caine, Rhoda Gordon, Rima Potter, Robert Wallkam, Robert Roehrig, Ron Becker, Ross Barbera, Sean Pollock, Shain Bard, Sheila Breck, Stacey Schuman, Stephen Shannon, Steve Walker,  Susan Guihan, Teresa Cromwell, Theodora Zavala and Vivian Gattuso.

The Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A, St. James. Gallery hours are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. The public is invited to an opening reception of Inspired by Long Island on Saturday Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. to meet the exhibiting artists and view their work. For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

'Rabbit Rabbit,' colored pencil by Margaret Minardi of Northpor

Currently on view at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington is the 2022 Long Island Biennial, a prestigious juried exhibition featuring works by contemporary artists from Suffolk and Nassau Counties. 

Now in its seventh edition, the Biennial presents a cross section of Long Island contemporary art. “The public will enjoy learning more about the most recent work of the Long Island’s established and emerging artists,” said The Heckscher Museum’s Curator, Dr. Karli Wurzelbacher. 

“I am especially impressed by the ways in which many of the artists engaged with the concerns of our time, from social justice, to health, to ecology; and appreciate those who brought new approaches to traditional materials and techniques,” she said. 

This year’s exhibit encompasses a remarkable variety of media, with styles spanning abstraction to hyperrealism. “Contemporary art has been essential to the Museum since its founding more than 100 years ago,” said Heather Arnet, Executive Director & CEO. “We remain committed to sharing inspiring and thought-provoking new art with our visitors.”

The Museum received 732 artist entries, with jurors Heather Carter, Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso, and Susan Van Scoy selecting 95 works for exhibition. 

Five exhibiting artists were designated as Award of Merit winners including Darlene Blaurock of Wantagh; Neil Leinwohl or Rockville Centre; Patricia Maurides of Sag Harbor; Margaret Minardi of Northport; and Kasmira Mohanty of Farmingville.

A diverse program of events will coincide with the exhibition. Long Island Biennial artists will be in the galleries on Oct. 16, Nov. 6, Nov. 30, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet the artists behind the artwork., free with admission.

In addition, the museum will host a Biennial Open Studios Day featuring artists Edward Acosta, Sally Edelstein, Mike Krasowitz, William Low, and Gina Mars on Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hop from one studio to the next for behind-the-scenes access and learn about a variety of media and techniques. Tickets to this event are $25 per person with registration required at www.heckscher.org.  

In conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, the museum will host a free Dual Language Family Hour with Educators Tami Wood and Karini Gaminez on Oct. 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children ages 5 to 10 will enjoy a family art experience in both Spanish and English. 

Visitors may also take part in an ongoing Mini Audio Tour of Long Island Biennial by artist and Biennial juror Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso featuring an audio tour of selected works in the exhibition in both Spanish and English.

Sponsored by Robin T. Hadley and the Cunniff Family, the 2022 Long Island Biennial will be on view at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington through Jan. 22, 2023. For more information, call 631-380-3230 or visit www.heckscher.org. 

Artist Scott Schneider. Photo by Joseph Peragallo

Sometimes art can be used as a way to raise awareness about issues that affect us in our daily lives. Such is the case with the Art League of Long Island’s latest exhibit, Time’s Running Out: An iPhonography and 3D(isaster) Sculpture Exhibition, which presents a body of digital photographic artwork and trash sculpture highlighting the contrast between nature’s beauty and the environmental pollution and decay found throughout the country, including on Long Island’s roadways, parks, and beaches. 

‘Not A Jellyfish’ by Scott Schneider

Created by Scott Schneider of Toxic/Nature Studios®, the eye-opening show will be on view in the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery from Oct. 1 to 28. 

“Toxic/Nature Studios® features environmental photography that celebrates the majesty of nature and laments its demise, in small moments. Using close-up macro techniques, the photographs express my appreciation for and concern about the environment,” said Schneider. “As we become increasingly distracted by our devices, we tend to overlook small disasters beneath our feet. Likewise, we can fail to notice the beautiful moments present in nature. Beauty can also be found in the rust, decay, and textures of everyday objects.”

Schneider chose to take all photos by  iPhone, “thereby leveraging the power of technology to observe rather than to distract,” he said. The artist then created archival, digital pigment prints using environmentally friendly inks on bamboo paper, which is highly sustainable.

In addition to photographs, the exhibit will also feature a series of sculptural pieces Schneider calls 3D(isasters). “This thought-provoking artwork is designed to challenge the viewer to make sense of the quantity of litter displayed in a #finditfillit container,” he explained.

‘Dead See’ by Scott Schneider

Schneider hopes the exhibit will inspire others to notice the world around them and to take action to preserve its natural beauty. “We can’t do this while plugged in and tuned out,” he said. 

“That’s why I ask viewers to unplug, look around, and get the small picture. By turning off our blinders of technology, and noticing the small detail of a piece of litter, a fallen petal, or an interesting bit of rust, we can then look up and notice the big picture, which is that the world needs our help.”

The community is invited to an opening reception on Oct. 1  from 1 to 3 p.m. Viewing hours through Oct. 28 are Tuesdays and  Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The Art League is located at 107 East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills. For more information call 631-462-5400 or visit www.artleagueli.org.

Gallery North in Setauket hosted its 56th annual Outdoor Art Show & Music Festival on Sept. 17 and 18. 

The two-day event, which attracted over 5,500 visitors, showcased the works of 106 juried exhibitors offering original paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, pottery, woodwork, glassware, artisan created jewelry, handmade crafts, decorations and clothing .

Juried by Marianne Della Croce, Executive Director of the Art League of Long Island; Lorena Salcedo-Watson, Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Art at Stony Brook University; and contemporary artist Tom Brydelsky, awards were granted for each art category, including wood craft, fiber art, glass art, jewelry design, paiting in oil and acrylic, ceramis and pottery, graphic and drawing, watercolor and pastel and photography along with Best in Show and Honorable Mentions. 

Gallery North’s Executive Director Ned Puchner had the honor of presenting the awards. The winning artists will be featured in Gallery North’s Winners Circle Exhibition in 2023.

And the awards go to:

Best in Show: John Deng

Outstanding Wood Craft: John DiNaro

Outstanding Fiber Art: ­Diana Parrington

Outstanding Glass Art: Justin Cavagnaro

Outstanding Jewelry Design: Gail Neuman

Outstanding Painting in Oil and Acrylic:  Mary Jane van Zeijts

Outstanding Ceramics and Pottery: Jessamyn Go

Outstanding Work on Paper – Graphic and Drawing: Cassandra Voulo

Outstanding Work on Paper – Watercolor and Pastel: Myungja Koh

Outstanding Photography: Holly Hunt

Honorable Mentions: Karen Kemp, Diane Bard and Toni Neuschaefer

Photos by Kate Schwarting/Gallery North

 

Up next for Gallery North in Setauket is Home · Land · Nature, a selection of recent works by artist Han Qin, on view from Sept. 29 to Nov. 13. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 6  to 8 p.m. 

Artist Han Qin

The solo exhibition features small, medium, and large cyanotypes, woodblock prints, and drawings that explore concepts of home and the process of relocation. 

Drawing from her own experience of migration, Qin renders moments of passing through, of conflict, of getting together, and of migrating into form and image. Her artwork incorporates poignant, structural elements of Confucian philosophy, conveying the fluidity of identity and its evolution.

There is a sense of displacement, chaos, triumph, and eventual replanting in Home · Land · Nature. Qin translates social phenomena and movement — among groups and individuals — into works which incorporate traditional cyanotype, woodblock printing, 3D scanning, and digital printing methods. 

‘The Triumph of Wanderers’ by Han Qin

“One of the elements that excites me about the exhibition is that while Han’s work draws on the emotions of her own lived experience of migration, they are universal in their ability to connect with viewers. … The works silently call viewers to explore them and ask where they themselves are or have been among these images,” said curator Kate Schwarting.

In collaboration with the Three Village Community Trust (TVCT), Gallery North will also present an outdoor projection event featuring Han Qin’s multimedia work at the TVCT’s Immigrant Worker Houses, located behind the Bruce House at 148 Main Street in Setauket, on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. This projection event will highlight the important experiences of all immigrant groups throughout the history of the Three Village community.

Gallery North will also host an ArTalk with Han Qin on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6 pm. 

Generously sponsored by Jefferson’s Ferry, bld Architecture, and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning, the exhibition, reception and affiliated events are free and open to the public.

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket, is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

Smithtown Township Arts Council has announced in a press release that the works of East Setauket artist Robert Roehrig will be on view at Apple Bank of Smithtown, 91 Route 111, Smithtown from September 19 to November 17. The exhibition, part of the Arts Council’s Outreach Gallery Program, can be viewed during regular banking hours Monday – Thursday 9 am – 4 pm; Friday 9 am – 6 pm; Saturday 9 am – 1 pm.

“From the time I was growing up in Queens and then Hicksville, I always loved to draw. I would sketch  airplanes, cars, people – pretty much anything that caught my fancy. An important early influence was an artist named John Nagy, who had a TV show in the 1950’s that provided lessons on how to draw. I really enjoyed the program so my parents bought me his instruction booklet and kit. In it, the artist showed you step by step how to complete a picture. I still remember the pictures; a railroad train with smoke billowing,  a young boy wearing a sombrero, and others. I completed every one,” said Roehrig.

“I took some art courses in high school and at Hofstra University, but I decided on social studies education as a career path. After college, I married my lovely wife Joan, and we raised our two children. Throughout those busy years, I did some sketching and watercolor painting for fun and relaxation. When I retired from teaching and counseling at Commack High School, I decided to try oil painting, something I had not done since high school.  I soon found the versatility and rich colors of the oil medium to my liking. I have been oil painting ever since,” he added.

Many of Rob’s paintings try to capture the beauty of the natural world. “I feel fortunate to live on Long Island with its scenic beaches, coves, wetlands and farms. It is a challenge – and fun – to paint a spectacular cloud formation or a pretty reflection in a lake or pond. I tend toward realism and I often choose subjects that highlight the contrast between sun and shadow. Buildings or structures attract  me as well and often make for an interesting scene. When traveling in the US or abroad, I am always on the lookout for a potential painting. The completed paintings help to rekindle wonderful memories,” he said.

“STAC is grateful to Apple Bank for its continued support of culture in our communities. We are so happy to feature the talents of Long Island artists in this space!” said the press release.

Above, the Vanderbilt Marine Museum. Vanderbilt Museum Archives photo

Why should we care about historic houses that have been turned into museums? How can these inert structures speak to us and how, a century or two later, might their histories and the lives of their famous inhabitants be relevant to contemporary life, and to museum visitors?

These are a few of the questions raised by Preserving Eagle’s Nest: Labor and the Aesthetics of Stasis, the newest exhibition at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, which opens to the public on Sunday, September 18, in the Lancaster Gallery. The presentation explores the preservation of Eagle’s Nest, the summer estate of William K. Vanderbilt II (1878-1944) one of the heirs to a powerful railroad and shipping empire.

Paul Rubery, the Vanderbilt Museum’s Director of Curatorial Affairs, created the exhibition after considering the purpose and future of historic house museums and examining hundreds of artifacts and documents, as well as the century-old buildings under his care.

Vanderbilt curator Santo Vitale, circa 1980. Vanderbilt Museum Archives photo

Preserving Eagle’s Nest explores the architectural significance of the estate and considers the skill, labor, expertise, and care invested in maintaining the appearance of the property and emphasizes the processes and outcomes of preservation initiatives.

“If historic house museums hope to communicate their value to contemporary society,” Rubery said, “they must develop a new language to describe their activities. 

“Specifically, these institutions must articulate how, in remaining static, the buildings under their stewardship convey something essential about the historical process. To do so, they must direct their attention to the basic unit of historical experience and understanding: time.”

Questions about temporality present conceptual issues for the interpretation of house museums. In the mid-twentieth century, many private estates were converted into museums when social historians popularized a historiographic method centered on the role places played in forming the biographies of “great individuals,” Rubery said.

These scholars believed that, if the public was presented with the life of a person at a specific moment in time, they would form an intimate connection with the past in a way that supports the development of character and virtue. Today, our fondness for explaining historic events through biography has largely waned — and with that, the school of social history — leaving behind countless mummified homes, farmsteads, and other structures that no longer serve their intended purpose.

Preserving Eagle’s Nest explores this theme through artifacts and documents. It examines the historic house museum’s language of time by concentrating on the broken, damaged, and decayed aspects of the Vanderbilt Museum’s collections and grounds. The exhibit also examines the time and labor invested in preserving the historic appearance of the Museum and finds value in the multigenerational care and expertise given to the project.

By focusing on the tension that develops between degradation and preservation, Preserving Eagle’s Nest directs our collective interest toward questions of temporality, effort, and historical stasis, Rubery said.

This exhibition is made possible by the generosity of Eric and Laura Gerde, Milcon Construction Corporation, Farrell Fritz, P.C.; People’s United Bank; PFM Asset Management; and H2M Architects + Engineers.

The Suffolk Cound Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport presents Preserving Eagle’s Nest  through Dec. 4. 

Viewing hours for the fall are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-854-5579 or visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Photos by John Cardone
Over 20 framed waterscape & wildlife photographs on display and for sale

By Susan Peragallo

When stepping into the Daniel Gale Sotheby’s office of Northport, to focus on the photographs by John P. Cardone is to be transported into our natural world. One can almost hear the wind rustling in the trees and the crickets creating their musical rhythms as you walk around the room. John says that he tries “to capture the beauty and spiritual magnificence of nature… a moment in time through unique natural setting and the amazing personalities of wildlife.” The subjects include hummingbirds, egrets, owls, eagles, and moose – to name just a few! In Sprague Lake at Dusk, moose are seen taking an evening sip of water, the lake reflecting the magnificent colors of the setting sun, bringing the viewer to a peaceful, tranquil vista.

Most of these amazing photographic captures were taken by John while kayaking and hiking on Long Island. But not only do these photographs capture the beauty and peace of nature, they are also wonderfully composed. This is especially true of Egret in Darkness: the soft white curves of the the egrets neck echo the angular white and gray tree branch beside it. In Frog Swimming, the frog is popping it’s head up in the water, it’s large eye repeating the circular ripples in the cool green water. Eagle Looking Down is another example of John’s sensitivity to form and composition. The eagle’s horizontal body mimics the tree branch it stands on, while it’s head and beak point downward, just as a branch below points down. These captured repetitions of line and form create wonderful compositions and add to the sense of peace and tranquility that John strives to communicate.

There are also captured moments of humor. In Amazing Turtle Pose, one can almost hear the turtle saying “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille!” as the turtle coyly turns it’s head and smiles! In a moment of tenderness, Swan Portrait shows the swan’s neck bent back over it’s body, which forms a soft pillow for it’s head.

We can all use a moment to escape into nature and John P. Cardone has provided us with a perfect opportunity!

Author Susan Peragallo is the Gallery Coordinator and Curator Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, Art League of Long Island in Dix Hills

The Northport Arts Coalition presents Nature Photography by Long Island Author/Photographer John P. Cardone at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, 77 Main St., Northport through October 5. The show is free and open to the public during office hours. All artwork is on sale. For more information, call 631-754-3400.