Preservation Long Island presents Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889, a new exhibition focusing on the life, work, and career of one of Long Island’s most prolific artists of the late nineteenth century. On view August 16 – December 1 2024 at the Preservation Long Island Gallery, 161 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, this exhibition of watercolors, photographs, and historical objects from the collection of Preservation Long Island and on loan from collections across Long Island, is inspired by the upcoming release of Preservation Long Island’s latest publication of the same name, arriving September 2024.
Edward Lange grew up in a German family of prominent artists and publishers and arrived on Long Island during one of its most critical moments. For nearly two decades, he watched new industry creep into an older agricultural landscape and used his artwork to record the region’s transformation. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Lange inserted himself into Long Island’s booming economy and created detailed images of main streets, factories, railroad depots, and hotels that resonated with local residents and tourists alike.
“Lange’s artwork represents a tangible connection to a period of Long Island’s history when its people, culture, and landscape were undergoing rapid change,” said Elizabeth Abrams, Preservation Long Island Interim Executive Director. “The artist’s views of Long Island towns, villages, landscapes, and waterscapes have endeared themselves to Long Islanders and visitors for over 135 years.”
“Artists like Lange played a significant role in a promoting Long Island’s scenery to the larger public during the nineteenth century,” noted Preservation Long Island Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Lauren Brincat. “Not only was Lange’s artwork reflective of a resulting new age of booming tourism on Long Island, but it was instrumental in the region’s growth by advertising hotels, resorts, and experiences to a greater public.”
Peter Fedoryk, exhibition guest curator added, “In the late nineteenth century, Lange’s artwork had immense visual influence in the New York metropolitan area. Today, the artist’s paintings, drawings, prints, and photographic reproductions are celebrated as snapshots of a world before suburbanization permanently reshaped Long Island’s built environment.”
Programming
Exhibition related programs and events will take place throughout the show’s run and include:
Curator Exhibition Tour: September 28, 2024
Northport Walking Tour: October 6, 2024
Authors Panel Discussion & Book Signing: November 16, 2024
Call or visit Preservation Long Island’s website for more information about the exhibition and related programs and events.
631.692.4664
https://preservationlongisland.org/lange-exhibition/
Lenders to the Exhibition
Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History; Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association; Heckscher Museum of Art; Huntington Historical Society; Incorporated Village of Northport; The Long Island Museum; Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, & Museums; Oyster Bay Historical Society; Raynham Hall Museum, Smithtown Historical Society; Veronica Mollica; Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor.
Publication
The exhibition accompanies the release of Preservation Long Island’s latest publication, Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889 which presents over two years of new research into Edward Lange’s life and work. The new hardcover publication, arriving September 2024, features over 100 full-color images. Edited and authored by Preservation Long Island’s Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Lauren Brincat, and former curatorial fellow, Peter Fedoryk, the book also includes essays by Jennifer L. Anderson, Thomas Busciglio-Ritter, and Joshua M. Ruff.
https://preservationlongisland.org/pre-order-our-latest-publication/
Generous funding in support of this publication has been provided by The Gerry Charitable Trust and The Decorative Arts Trust
About Preservation Long Island
Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that works with Long Islanders to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of our shared past through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections.
http://preservationlongisland.org
Preservation Long Island maintains and interprets historic sites and collections that embody various aspects of Long Island’s history including:
Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/
Custom House, Sag Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/custom-house/
Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket http://preservationlongisland.org/sherwood-jayne-farm/
Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery http://preservationlongisland.org/methodist-church/