Art exhibit

By Tara Mae

It runs in the family! The third annual All in the Family art show opened at the Port Jefferson Village Center’s Gallery on June 2. “This particular show is for artists [who] have a family member who is also artistic to show how artistic talent runs in families. It is my most requested show; artists really look forward to it every year. Many contact me and ask when I will be having it,” said Gay Gatta, the exhibit’s organizer and curator.

A number of artists, like Marg Governale of Middle Island, have participated in the show before and appreciate the opportunity to share the experience with siblings, children, and grandchildren. 

“[The] exhibit is really exciting because I get to see not only great art from artists that I know but the talents of their family members … who may not usually exhibit their art. It’s fun to see their excitement and to hear their stories of how and why they are here,” said Governale. 

“It also gives me the opportunity to do something special with a family member, to bring them into my world. In the past my brother, Jeff, has participated in this exhibit. This year my sister, Susan [Carricato], also an aspiring artist, is exhibiting alongside me.”

Governale, who is primarily a landscape painter, chose to submit her landscape oil painting, Summer at Eagle Lake, to the exhibit. Carricato’s piece, A Day at the Vineyard, is an acrylic landscape painting. 

In addition to landscapes, the show features portraits and more abstract works, although there is no overarching stylistic theme to the show. Its concept was developed by Gatta after discussing familial talents with artists and identifying the abilities in her own family. 

“When speaking to the artists, they would mention members of their family that were very talented. I have many in my family as well and thought it would be a unique show and fun for the artists to exhibit with their families,” Gatta said. 

Beyond showcasing talent, the exhibit is a way for inexperienced artists to show their work in a gallery for the first time, according to Gatta. Having it at the gallery also eliminates some of the economic barriers artists may otherwise encounter, making it easier for any interested party to participate. 

“So many [artists] don’t feel their art is good enough for a gallery … This gives them the push they need to show their art and have others critique it positively, so they just might continue to exhibit their artwork. I have always had my shows in free venues … otherwise it can be very costly for an artist to exhibit,” she added. 

For Terry Falquero of Sound Beach, exhibiting art with her daughter, Tabitha Grit, was a realized ambition. 

Falquero’s landscape oil painting, On the Rocks, Please, is a view of the Neversink River in upstate New York. Grit’s entry into the exhibit, Honey Bee, is a mixed media portrait.  

“My daughter Tabitha is also an artist, but rarely exhibits her artwork in this forum. She prefers to show online. Ever since she was a little girl coloring with crayons, I’d dream of us some day showing artwork together. Now with this exhibit, it has finally come true,” she said. 

The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A East Broadway, Port Jefferson will present All in the Family Reunited through June 30. The second floor gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and admission is free. Join the artists for a COVID-safe reception on Sunday, June 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 802-2160 or visit www.portjeff.com/gallery/. 

 

Come explore the art & beauty of cars and motorcycles                              on canvas and on the pavement

The Reboli Center of Art and History is revving up in more ways than one with its newest exhibit focusing on motor vehicles. Titled Shifting Gears, the exhibit includes artworks of various modes of transportation, as well as two 1928 BMW motorcycles on loan from the Nettesheim Museum in Huntington. This theme continues in the History Room where an account of the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway is explored, courtesy of historian Howard Kroplick. 

In addition, weather permitting, the Center’s parking lot will feature exotic car collections from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m on May 30 (German) and June 13 (British).

“We have spectacular motor-themed paintings by such noted artists as Alan Bull, Scott Hewett, Nelson Medina, Jim Molloy, Doug Reina and Joseph Reboli, as well as exquisitely crafted model cars by Marshall Buck, and two 1928 BMW motorcycles on display,” said Lois Reboli, a founder of the Stony Brook-based gallery which opened in 2016.

“We have not done anything like this before and we think this is a fun way of enticing people back to local museums, which are now being opened to a greater capacity since the pandemic began. This show offers something for everyone — art lovers, car aficionados and history buffs,” said Reboli. 

“The Reboli Center is extremely grateful to Plycon Transportation Group in Kings Park for sponsoring this exhibit and for the generosity of Display Makers in Nesconset,” she added.

The Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook will present Shifting Gears through July 18. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. except during the car displays when it will open at 10 a.m. The Center is free and open to the public and masks must be worn inside. 

For more information about the exhibit, the Gift Shop or available sponsorships, please call 631-751-7707.

Original and restored 1928 BMW motorcycles on display at The Reboli Center.
Collector Peter Nettesheim and his daughter, Kate, with their BMW motorcycles

The Reboli Center for Art & History is keeping on track with its current exhibit, Shifting Gears, which focuses on the “art” of transportation by selecting Peter Nettesheim as its Artisan for the Month of May. Nettesheim was chosen because the exhibit features both an original 1928 BMW motorcycle and a refurbished one from his private collection, and he is known for his extraordinary collection and knowledge, said Lois Reboli and BJ Intini, founders of the Reboli Center.

Collecting and restoring cars runs in his family. His father was a Mercedes Benz collector, which spurred Peter’s interest in collecting, but he took a different route by going with BMW motorcycles and cars as he thought the Mercedes was more of an old man’s car and the BMW sportier. Peter bought his first bike in 1979, and he has since created the world’s largest collection of BMW motorcycles. According to Peter, he has virtually every regular production model from 1923 through 1970 and another 35 or so of them after that date. He has now amassed a collection of more than 120 BMW cycles, including 10 cars.  His passion is to collect and refurbish old and classic BMW motorcycles and cars. He has about 90 that are in perfect running condition. His massive collection of bikes, cars, artifacts and BMW memorabilia are displayed in a museum at his home in Huntington.

Musician and motorcycle enthusiast Billy Joel at the Nettesheim Museum

Peter Nettesheim and his collection are well known throughout the world and both are highly respected by those in the industry. Celebrities and motorcycle enthusiasts like Billy Joel, Jay Leno, Ryan Reynolds and Lyle Lovett have visited his home/museum. The Nettesheim Museum is only open by prior arrangement, and if you have any questions regarding the history of the BMW brand, please contact Peter Nettesheim at [email protected]

Located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, The Reboli Center is free, and open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information on the Artisan of the Month, please call the Center at 631-751-7707.

By Irene Ruddock

Artist Robert Roehrig

Robert Roehrig is a Setauket artist who has been active in the local art world for many years. He is primarily a landscape painter who has exhibited his oil paintings through his membership in several art organizations, winning awards and accolades along the way. The current vice president of the Setauket Artists, he enjoys spending time with his wife Joan, children and grandchildren, singing with the Harbormen Barbershop Chorus, and playing paddleball with his friends.

Were you interested in art as a child?

I always loved to draw. 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 found it fascinating, so my parents bought his instruction book for me. 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 boy wearing a sombrero, etc.  I happily finished every one.

Could you tell me about your journey as an artist?

I took art courses in high school and at Hofstra University, and throughout the years, I continued to draw and paint with watercolor. When I retired from teaching, I decided to try something I hadn’t done since high school – oil painting. I soon found the versatility and rich colors of the oil medium to my liking. I loved the process of creating an oil painting — choosing the scene, forming the composition, mixing the colors, applying the paint, making adjustments and viewing the final piece. 

Where do you look for inspiration?

I enjoy painting Long Island landscapes and seascapes, as well as scenes from countries my wife and I visit while on vacation. In my paintings, I try to capture the beauty of the natural world. Interesting boats or buildings also attract my attention and I often choose subjects that highlight the contrast between sun and shadow. While traveling, I’m always on the lookout for a potential painting. The completed paintings help to rekindle some wonderful memories.

What techniques do you consider most important to obtaining your artistic vision?

As a realist painter of land and sea, it took years of practice to gain some competence. I found that brush control and the ability to blend colors is critical. For instance, to achieve the soft look of clouds or reflections in a lake, I lay in colors with a medium brush and then very gently, in even strokes, blend the colors with a large, very soft brush. If necessary, I can go back later and add a little more definition.

Are there present-day artists whom you admire and learn from?

I admire and learn from many of my fellow artists. The exciting thing about art is that every artist has a different  technique so visiting an exhibition is a learning experience. In terms of the larger art world, I always loved the paintings of Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer, and, more recently, Joseph Reboli.

You have won many distinguished awards. Can you list some of them?

I was chosen as the Honored Artist in the 2016 Setauket Artist Exhibition where I won the Award of Distinction for my painting, “Late Afternoon, Brooklyn.” At the Mills Pond Gallery in 2018, I was selected to be part of the Winner’s Circle, winning first place for my painting, “Off Duty.” 

I was especially honored to be “Artist of the Month” at Long Island Museum Arts in Stony Brook (LIMarts) in 2018 where I was asked to exhibit my works in their gallery. And finally, I was awarded first place in the juried North Shore Art Guild’s exhibition Perspectives of Long Island, for my painting, “Still Afloat.” Each award I have won has brought me much satisfaction.  

What advice would you give to other artists?

I would advise them to improve their skills by continuing to paint since you learn by doing and experimenting. I would encourage them to stick with a painting since sometimes the unexpected happens and the painting that didn’t start out so well ends up being a nice surprise.

Where are you presently exhibiting? 

From May 16 to June 6 I will be exhibiting with the Setauket Artists at the Deepwells Mansion in St. James. You may also see my painting of West Meadow Beach at the North Shore Art Guild Gallery in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express in Centereach through June 13. Visit my website at rhroehrig.com.

By Heidi Sutton

As the warmer weather finally arrives on the North Shore, the community is invited to enjoy a spring art exhibit by the Setauket Artists at the historic Deepwells Mansion in St. James. The show opens this Sunday, May 16 with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. 

“The Setauket Artists are thrilled to be invited back to Deepwells,” said the group’s president Irene Ruddock. “We are looking forward to taking a deep and grateful breath for the wonderful opportunity to exhibit our paintings.” 

Participating artists include Ross Barbera, Shain Bard, Ron Becker, Joan Bloom, Kyle Blumenthal, Sheila Breck, Joyce Bressler, Renee Caine, Al Candia, Gail L. Chase, Anthony Davis, Bart DeCeglie, Julie Doczi, William A. Dodge, Paul J. Edelson, Marge Governale, William Graf, Melissa Imossi, Anne Katz, Flo Kemp, Karen Kemp, Joanne Liff, John Mansueto, Celeste Mauro, Judith Mausner, Lorraine McCormick, Jane McGraw Teubner, Eleanor Meier, Fred Mendelsohn, Muriel Musarra, Paula Pelletier, Russell Pulick, Jessica Randall, Cathy Rezin, Joan Rockwell, Robert Roehrig, Irene Ruddock, Oscar Santiago, Carole Link Scinta, Barbara Jeanne Siegel, Angela Stratton, Susan Trawick, Marie Lourdes Velez, Marlene Weinstein, Ellen Winter and Patricia Yantz. 

According to Ms. Ruddock, the art group has planned several special events in conjunction with the exhibit.

“This year, we have some private artist studios upstairs which is exciting! Artists such as Al Candia, Fred Mendelsohn, and Rob Roehrig are exhibiting additional paintings as well as joining us in the show,” she said. 

In addition there will be a gift shop featuring pottery by Russell Pulick and jewelry by Jessica Randall and Ross Barbera. Smaller works, cards, and books written by the artists will also be available and three paintings will be raffled off.

“We welcome the public to the opening reception on Sunday, May 16 to enjoy some light refreshments, view the paintings, meet the artists and to stroll the beautiful grounds of Deepwells Mansion,” added Ms. Ruddock.

The Setauket Artists’ Spring Art Exhibit will be held at Deepwells Mansion, 2 Taylor Lane, St. James from May 16 to June 6. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Visit www.setauketartists.com for additional exhibit events. COVID restrictions apply. For more information, call 631-365-1312 or email [email protected].

'Love Spark' by Ron Becker

By Heidi Sutton

It’s time to celebrate the best of the best. This Saturday, the Smithtown Township Arts Council opens its annual Winner’s Fine Art Showcase at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James. The show will highlight the talents of seven artists who were prize winners in the gallery’s 2019 and 2020 juried exhibitions. 

It is a show that Allison Cruz, Executive Director of the Mills Pond Gallery, looks forward to every year. 

“I always love the Winners Showcase! It gives us an opportunity to enjoy a larger body of work from these talented prize winning artists,” she said.

‘For My Mother’ by Caryn Coville

“For the artists, it is an excellent opportunity to share work with gallery visitors that they either haven’t shown or maybe was not selected in recent juried exhibitions. For me, this is an opportunity to find out more about the artists … maybe find out that they work in different mediums or styles other than those exhibited in our shows. It is always an adventure!”

This year’s Winners Showcase features artists from Long Island as well as Idaho, Buffalo, Maine and New York City. 

“The out of town artists will show only a few works in this show … we could not expect them to pack and ship many pieces to the gallery,” explained Cruz. “We are grateful for their participation and the opportunity to see what artists across the country are creating! The public can explore a larger body of their work on our website.”

Participating artists and the juried exhibits they were in are: Ron Becker (Deer Park) “Celebrating Creativity”; Caryn Coville (Greenvale) “Hand Drawn”; Lupe Galván (Idaho) “Hand Drawn”; Yuke Li (New York) “Transformations: Figures of Our Other Selves”; Joseph A. Miller (Buffalo) “Contemporary Realism”; Holden Willard (Maine) “Transformations: Figures of Our Other Selves”; and Patty Yantz (Setauket)  “Water, Water Everywhere.”

Cruz invites the public to come see this amazing exhibit. “There is nothing like standing in front of these original works of art … seeing the brushstrokes … and feeling the passions and the messages in their pieces. Enjoy the exhibit and experience Art’s capacity to bring joy and hope in challenging times.”

Mills Pond Gallery, 660 Route 25A, St. James presents the Winners Fine Art Showcase from May 8 to June 6. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Social distancing and the use of masks is required and limited numbers of visitors (25) are allowed in the gallery at one time (5 per gallery room). Admission to the gallery is always free. 

For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

Images courtesy of Mills Pond Gallery

'The 2021 Press' by Ashley Park

The Heckscher Museum in Huntington has announced the top prizewinners for its student exhibition, Long Island’s Best: Young Artists. This edition marks 25 years of celebrating young artists across Suffolk and Nassau Counties. More than 300 student submissions, representing more than 50 schools across Long Island participated. Jurors chose 83 works of art for exhibition. The following students were awarded the top four prizes:  

‘Cultivating the Mustard’ by Keren Dial

Celebrate Achievement Best in Show

Keren Dial, Valley Stream South High School, Grade 11 for Cultivating the Mustard, colored pencil.

Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize

Ashley Park, Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills, Grade 10, for The 2021 Press, mixed media.

Third Place, The Hadley Prize

Aleena Abraham, Hicksville High School, Grade 12, for Storge, oil pastel.

Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award

Ariel Kim, Jericho Senior High School, Grade 12, for Personal Garden, oil pastel and colored pencil.

The exhibition’s anniversary milestone comes during a year where virtual visits and online classes were held in lieu of in-person programs. Despite challenges, art teachers and Museum educators worked together to give high school students meaningful experiences with exhibitions on view.  Museum educators involved students through in-depth study and discussion about works of art. Each student then selected a work of art as their inspiration piece. They went on to create an original artwork and write an artist’s statement explaining their creative process.

‘Storge’ by Aleena Abraham

Jurors for the 2021 exhibition are Karli Wurzelbacher, Curator, and artist Melissa Misla, guest juror. Misla is a New York artist who holds an MFA from Queens College and is represented by Praxis Art Gallery, New York City. 

“I was eager to see the students’ approaches to creating,” said Misla, adding, “Long Island’s Best can impact a young artist in a transformative way.”  

Long Island’s Best: Young Artists will be on view at The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington and online at www.heckscher.org through May 23. 

A virtual opening reception and awards ceremony will be held live on Instagram @heckschermuseum on May 1 from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 631-380-3230.

Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown hosted a Paint Night with an Owl event on Friday, April 23. Participants gathered in the Center’s barn to paint the star of the night, Pumpkin the screech owl. The sold out socially-distanced evening was a huge success. Keep an eye out for Sweetbriar’s next Paint Night by visiting www.sweetbriarnc.org.

All photos by Janine Bendicksen

File photo

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket will present its annual Wet Paint Festival from June 5 to June 13. 

Now in its 17th year, this annual, outdoor event is a celebration of plein air painting. The Wet Paint Festival provides the community with the unique opportunity to observe some of Long Island’s top plein air painters as they capture the area’s historic and natural beauty. Like last year, Gallery North will slightly modify plans for the festival. In an effort to maintain both the goals of the event and continued social distancing guidelines, the Gallery invites participating artists to create works in public or in solitude during the week of the festival. 

Gallery staff will also visit featured locations to arrange a few, optional recorded “virtual visits.” Participating artists will have the option (not required) to work with staff to record a discussion of their process or an informal interview. These “virtual visits” will then be posted on social media and on Gallery North’s website to both promote the event and to allow the public to understand and experience the process of plein air painting.

All participating artists will be featured in a pop-up exhibition at the Studio at Gallery North on June 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the exhibition in person in small groups. Artists will be on hand from 5 to 7 p.m outside the Studio in Gallery North’s courtyard, to discuss their work, their experiences, and their approach, answering questions from the public.

Registration is required for the artists participating in the festival. The exhibition will be free and open to the public. For more information visit www.gallerynorth.org.

The Art League of Long Island in Dix Hills recently announced the winners of its 14th annual “Go APE” Advanced Placement Student Exhibition which features 2-D and 3-D works by 124 students from 37 Long Island High Schools. Award-winning artist, artist community organizer, and the Art League Program Manager Andrea Lawl Manning selected award of excellence winners and honorable mentions. 

“The Go APE exhibition is one of our most exciting exhibitions every year,” said Manning. “The strength of the work in this exhibition made the jurying process incredibly difficult. The last year pokes its way into this show as a whole, and certainly into the pieces of our winners. Ideas about life, loneliness and isolation, cultural and social issues weave into these works. These evocative, thought provoking, and conceptually mature pieces are bolstered by achievement in technique, and skillful manipulation of medium. There is an authenticity, a boldness, and an honesty in the works of these young artists. Through these works we see a complicated world through their eyes,” she added.

The following students have been selected for awards:

Awards of Excellence:

◆ Kristine Zhou, Syosset High School, Caged, colored pencil and white tape on white paper

◆ Keren Dial, Valley Stream South High School, Cultivating the Mustard, colored pencil

◆ Jordan Brand, Baldwin HS, Illusion is Illumination, acrylic on watercolor paper

◆ Sarah Hauk, Sayville High School, White Wash, acrylic painting

◆ Emma Romano, Oceanside High School, Cultural Cleanse, photography

◆ Kathryn Yi, Jericho High School, Connection, pencil drawing

◆ Aleena Abraham, Hicksville High School, Tenderness, oil on canvas

Honorable Mentions: 

◆ Angela Jang, Syosset High School, Dental Repair, colored pencil, foam core and rubber bands

◆ Kayla Timpanaro, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Things We Left Behind, acrylic and ink

◆ Ava Fama, Plainedge High School, The Curtains, acrylic on canvas

◆ Teddy Angelopoulos, Long Beach High School, Skulls, mixed media

◆ Ethan Koenig, Northport High School, Emptied, 3D computer modeling

◆ Alyssa Paino, H. Frank Carey High School, Too Much Pressure, oil pastel

◆ Eleanor Dexter, Mount Sinai High School, Summer’s Sanctuary, watercolor and fine liners

The virtual exhibit close date has been extended to April 9 and is on view at the Art League’s website at www.artleagueli.org.The virtual gallery format allows the viewer to “stroll the gallery” in the virtual rooms, or view the artworks online in an “at a glance” format.

For more information, please call 631-462-5400.