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Gallery North

By Katherine Kelton

For the 20th year, Gallery North of Setauket, held its Wet Paint Festival at the Tyler Homestead, located on Main Street in Setauket, on June 1‒2. The festival attracted 70 artists who set up in areas around the homestead, including Frank Melville Memorial Park, Patriots Rock, the Caroline Church, Emma Clark Public Library, the Factory Worker Houses, the Red Barn and the Setauket Green. The different scenery resulted in greatly varying works of art. Admission to the festival was free to all those who wanted to observe artists, eat good food and listen to music.

One artist, Christie Jones, from Patchogue, stated, “Most of my work is inspired by nature, so to be actually immersed in it enhances the work.” She has been painting plein air for a while, and the weekend event was the first time she was able to do it with an audience. Jones invited friends and family and welcomed feedback on her work, stating, “I enjoy chatting with people about my work and I know that everyone who’s talked with me has said I’m the only artist to work without an easel. So that has been interesting to hear.”

The goal of the festival was to showcase plein air art. As Ned Puchner, executive director of Gallery North, characterized, “It’s outdoor painting. It is artists working on-site doing landscape or outdoor subject matter paintings. Plein air means plain air.” He wanted to attract anyone interested in art and history to explore the area and see something unique.

The work created during the festival will also be displayed at the Reboli Center for Art & History on Main Street in Stony Brook from June 25 to July 7 in its own exhibition. 

Artist Debbie Foglia had previously worked closely with Joe Reboli before his passing. She shared her emotional story about her connection to Frank Melville Memorial Park, where she elected to paint. “I grew up in the area. When I was a teenager, I took lessons with Joe Reboli, and this was one of the places that we painted.” For her, the day meant not only enjoying nature and painting with an audience but also reminiscing on the memories she made with the famous painter.

Gallery North, a not-for-profit organization, aims to promote fine local art.

The Tyler Homestead, where much of the festival occurred, is owned by the Three Village Community Trust, which promises to “protect the places you love.” While the food, tents and check-in were stationed there, people surrounded the home with easels to capture its “American farmhouse” style, which is why it gained popularity. The trust also provided tours of Patriots Rock and explained the significance of Setauket in America’s fight for independence.

Gallery North also partnered with Level Up Kitchen, which catered the event, and WUSB 90.1 FM/107.3 FM for live music.

Many artists, if not the majority, set up in Frank Melville Memorial Park for the picturesque views of the water and trees. The weather attracted many people to come and stroll the park while watching professional artists create work in real time. With the local roads lined with cars for the entirety of the event, it was a clear success for Gallery North.

Photo by Jay Gao

PLEIN AIR MASTERPIECE

Stony Brook resident Jay Gao snapped this photo of artist Denise Franzino creating a beautiful work of art at Frank Melville Memorial Park while attending Gallery North’s 20th annual Wet Paint Festival in Setauket’s historic district on June 1. The well-attended two-day event featured over 40 artists, plein air art tours, nature and history walks, a visit from Sweetbriar Nature Center and live music.

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Artist Stuart Friedman paints at Frank Melville Memorial Park during a previous Wet Paint Festival. Photo courtesy of Gallery North
Two-day plein air painting event combines art, history and nature

By Rita J. Egan

Gallery North’s 20th annual Wet Paint Festival will take place in what was once considered a Setauket hub.

Held on June 1 and 2, the plein air painting event, featuring more than 40 artists, will be held on the grounds of the Tyler Homestead. Located at 97 Main Street, the mid-1700s home sits across the street from the Setauket Post Office and Frank Melville Memorial Park. Right in the homestead’s backyard is the Patriots Rock Historical Site, where the Battle of Setauket was fought.

For the 2024 event, Gallery North has partnered with Three Village Community Trust (TVCT), which owns the Tyler home. Erin Smith, Gallery North’s director of development, said they were pleased that the land trust was willing to make the Tyler Homestead available for the event.

The property will serve as the center point, where artists can explore around and near the property to decide the subject of their paintings. Choices include the house and property, Frank Melville Memorial Park, Patriots Rock, the Setauket Green, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, nearby churches and the three Factory Worker Houses located less than a mile down the road.

“You bring your easel, and whatever vignette or view that moves you, you paint,” Smith said. “It’s nice because the whole idea of plein air painting is that it captures the light really well, and it gets you outside. You can really capture the historic beauty of the area in a unique way.”

Smith added that, during past festivals, some artists have chosen to paint objects such as an ice cream truck or bench. As for the Tyler Homestead and the area, it was chosen for “its historical significance and natural beauty.”

“It’s a highly visible central location for the community,” she explained.

Herb Mones, TVCT president, agreed that the Tyler house is the perfect location.

“It not only has the expansive yard, but it’s on Main Street, and it’s so close to so many other historical sites, parks and venues that the artists could spread out, and yet the Tyler house is the central focus,” he said.

In addition to various activities set up in the Tyler Homestead’s back and side yards, Mones said TVCT will provide tours of the Patriots Rock site and discuss the role early Setauket residents and British occupiers played during the American Revolution.

Artist Angela Stratton, who has participated in past Wet Paint Festivals, said she always looks forward to being outside and choosing what to paint.

“When you go out to paint, and you’re looking around, it’s kind of what hits you in your heart,” Stratton said. “One day, to some, a certain spot can look beautiful. The next day you can go and that doesn’t intrigue you.”

The artist added that she welcomes spectators’ questions and appreciates children being exposed to art at the festival. How quickly an artist completes a painting, she said, depends on the person and the canvas size. She said many base how long they spend on a painting on how the sunlight hits a subject during a certain time of day or some will stay despite the light passing.

For Three Village Historical Society Historian Beverly C. Tyler, the homestead is more than a landmark; it’s the home he grew up in. The historian said for a time the property had flowers all over, from front to back, that his stepfather, Lou Davis, cared for. Tyler described the flowers as “absolutely gorgeous.”

“Having the Wet Paint Festival there is sort of a continuation of his efforts to use the property,” Tyler said.

The historian fondly remembers playing on the grounds.

“Everything was very interesting around there, and I would sometimes sit on the front porch and just watch the cars go by and count the number of Chevys and Fords and other types of cars that were going by, and I could see everybody that came into the post office.”

Tyler added the area appeared in several postcards, and the Neighborhood House next to his family home was once a summer boarding house his grandfather ran in the late 1800s and the early 1900s.

In addition to viewing artists at work, attendees can participate in wildlife and plant life lectures or go on a guided tour of plein air paintings with regional artists Doug Reina and Christine D’Addario. WUSB 90.1 FM/107.3 FM will present live musical performances each day. Visitors will also be able to purchase food from LevelUp Kitchen and enjoy a delicious picnic in an idyllic setting.

Later in the month, from June 25 to July 7, art lovers can enjoy an exhibition at the Reboli Center for Art and History, 64 Main St., Stony Brook featuring the participating artists’ paintings. An opening reception will be held on June 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, June 1

11 a.m. History Walk with members of the Three Village Community Trust

Noon to 2 p.m. Music by Tom Killourhy

12:30 p.m. Meet local wildlife from Sweetbriar Nature Center

2 p.m. Take part in a plein air art tour with artist Christine D’Addario

Sunday, June 2

11 a.m. History Tour with Margo Arceri of Tri-Spy Tours

11:30 a.m. Nature Walk with the Four Harbors Audubon Society

Noon to 2 p.m. Music by Kane Daily

1:30 p.m. Plein air Art Tour with artist Doug Reina

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Generously sponsored by the Village Art Collective and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning., the Wet Paint Festival will be held on the grounds of the Tyler Homestead, 97 Main St., Setauket from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2. The event is free of charge for spectators. A rain date is scheduled for June 15 and 16. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit gallerynorth.org/pages/wet-paint-festival.

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket presents its annual Winner’s Circle exhibition  celebrating the award-winning artists of the 2023 Outdoor Art Show and Music Festival from May 16 to June 23. An opening reception will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. 

The exhibition features recipients of the Best in Show award and best in categories including mixed media, fiber art, glass art, jewelry, painting, photography, and pottery at the 2023 Outdoor Art Show and Music Festival hosted by Gallery North. 

The 2023 festival judges, Tasha Boehm, Director of the Reboli Center for Art and History in Stony Brook, Julianna Kirk, a Long Island jeweler, multimedia artist, and educator, and contemporary artist Loretta Oberheim evaluated over 50 exhibitors to present the 13 available awards.

The Winner’s Circle exhibition includes artists Melanie Wulforst, Denise Aneke, Renee Brown, Jane Irvine, Flo Kemp, Joanne Liff, Susan Nagel, Lori Rosen, Paul Speh, Marlene Weinstein, Ally Liff, Dan McCarthy, and artists of the Brick Studio. These artists are all exceptional representatives of Long Island’s creative community and are an essential part of the Outdoor Art Show and Music Festival’s importance to the cultural offerings of the region. 

“Gallery North is proud to celebrate their significant achievements within their respective mediums,” read the press release.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Jefferson’s Ferry and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning. The exhibition and reception will be free and open to the public. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

Photo from Gallery North

By Tara Mae

Beach trash becomes community treasure when Gallery North partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, Atlantic Marine Conservancy, and Center for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED) to sponsor beach cleanups at the Flax Pond Tidal Wetland Area, 15 Shore Drive, Old Field on Saturday, April 27, and Smith Point Beach, 1 William Floyd Parkway,  Shirley on Sunday, April 28. 

Each clean-up will be conducted in two shifts starting at 9 a.m. and 10:30 am each day. Atlantic Marine Conservancy will provide 50 buckets and trash pickers to volunteers on a first come, first serves basis. 

The cleanups are the brainchild of artist Jack D’Ambrosio, a native of Shirley, who will upcycle gathered plastic garbage into a found object sculpture. With the presentation of repurposed refuse, he hopes to bring awareness to the ongoing dangers of plastic pollution.

“Art is a great way to spread a message and support a cause,” he said. 

Primarily a printmaker, beach cleanups are just one element of D’Ambrosio’s interest in supporting communities through artistic expression. His artistry is immersed in an awareness of illuminating social issues by centering often overlooked subjects. While previous print projects have incorporated found plastic, he has never worked on a sculpture of this scale before. Such an undertaking of reinvention offers D’Ambrosio the chance to create poetic permanence out of problematic potential, an outcome that intrigues Gallery North. 

“The beach cleanup is an opportunity for Gallery North to impact and beautify the community in a different way,” Executive Director Ned Puchner said. “We have never done anything like this before…beyond that, we will be helping to preserve the ecology of the area, making the waterways and beaches cleaner.”

Once the trash has been amassed, D’Ambrosio will sort it and share the loot on Gallery North’s social media. After properly disposing of the non-plastic items, he will clean the plastic articles for the sculpture, the design of which has yet to take shape. 

“I am waiting to see what we find,” D’Ambrosio explained.  Intended to be a permanent installation, the sculpture’s final home is also yet to be determined. “This is a project of many partners, and once plans are drawn up, I will collaborate with one of them to find a location for the piece,” he added. 

A recipient of Gallery North’s 2023 Carmela Kolman Fellowship in Fine Art, in his application D’Ambrosio initially proposed the cleanup and its culmination. 

“Jack shared his desire to involve the community in a beach clean up when he applied for the fellowship and that excited the committee…We were moved by the conceptual aspect of Jack’s work. His idea to use art to educate the community on stewardship interested us,” Gallery North Education Director Larissa Grass said. 

At its core, the beach cleanup/sculpture exercise underscores the need for individual engagement and interpersonal cooperation to ensure the environment and art do not just survive, but thrive. 

“During the pandemic, I went to the beach seeking inspiration. Instead I found garbage. This experience made me want to do something with it, since it will never, ever go away,” D’Ambrosio said. “…I really encourage people to come join us on this journey.”

The clean-ups will be a rain or shine event. Pre-registration is encouraged by visiting www.gallerynorth.org. For more information, call 631-751-2676.

'Variations on a Theme 4: Pyrenees' by Terence Netter Image courtesy of Gallery North

Up next at Gallery North in Setauket is Terence Netter: Legacy of the Human Spirit, a memorial retrospective of contemporary artist, philosopher, educator and former Jesuit priest Terence Netter. Generously sponsored by Jefferson’s Ferry and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning, the exhibit will be on view from April 4 to May 12. 

The collection of small, medium and large paintings and mixed media works spans Netter’s career and focuses on his lasting impact. 

‘New Moon’ by Terence Netter

Netter was captivated by human consciousness and its expression through the creative process and once stated, “Art is nature reborn through the free consciousness of individuals. It is how our species creates the spiritual air we breathe called culture.” 

Netter’s paintings are intrinsically tied to his work within the community. While his style evolved over time from action painting to meditative minimalism, his work continued to express his spiritual search for truth in a way that served as “seeds of contemplation” for viewers. It is this type of mindful thought that is to be cultivated in the many cultural spaces Netter pioneered. Netter serves as the inspiration for the future Terence Netter Creative Center at Gallery North, which will foster the “visual expression of that infinitely evolving human spirit,” as Netter wrote.

Raised in Bronxville, New York, Netter received his MFA from George Washington University, and exhibited nationally and internationally, including numerous solo shows at the Woodward Gallery in Manhattan and at Gallery North. He served as the founding Director of the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, was instrumental in the creation of the Pollock-Krasner Study Center, and was President of the Board of Trustees of Gallery North. 

The community is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, April 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a panel discussion on the artist’s impact on the Arts and his legacy within the community on Saturday, May 11 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Gallery North is located at 90 North Country Road in Setauket. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

'February Flora #30' by Scott Farrell will be on view at Gallery North through March 31. Image courtesy of Gallery North

Up next for Gallery North is Equilibrium, a selection of works by ceramicist Lori Rosen and photographer Scott Farrell, on view from February 22 to March 31 with each focusing on the interactions and relationships of a contained and constructed environment in dynamic equilibrium. 

In Farrell’s work, the large glass windows of a greenhouse contain a lush indoor environment. These windows serve as a barrier, containing life and maintaining balances in temperature, humidity, and air quality. Farrell utilizes our separation from this balanced environment as a pre-existing “filter” — one that is whitewashed, streaked with condensation, or reflective — to create impressionistic and abstract compositions. 

‘Stepping Stones’ by Lori Rosen

Balance is also central to Lori Rosen’s series Stepping Stones. Each reminiscent of actual stones glistening after a rain shower, her sculptures are comprised of delicately stacked harmonious compositions that appear to defy gravity. Rosen’s creative process plays with contrasting textures, luminous shapes, and bold forms, all emerging from her practice of yoga and meditation. Chance encounters unite both artists, as does the serendipity of the creative process. Rosen and Farrell seek these encounters as part of a lifelong search for balance both within themselves and the larger world around us.

The community is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, February 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will host an ArTalk and discussion session with the artists on Thursday, March 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition, reception and ArTalk are free.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Jefferson’s Ferry and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning. 

Located at 90 North Country Road in  Setauket, Gallery North is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org. 

Above, 'Glorious Sunset' by Paul Edelson will be on view at Gallery North through Feb 18. Image courtesy of Gallery North

Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket kicks off the new year with Coalescence, a selection of works by painter Paul Jay Edelson and sculptor Arthur Bernstein, on view from January 11 to February 18. 

Coalescence is a two-person exhibition featuring small and medium-scale oil paintings by Paul Jay Edelson and wood and resin sculptures by Arthur Bernstein. These two unique artists use inspiration from nature to materialize balletic compositions and abstract forms. 

‘Open Form’ by Arthur Bernstein will be on view at Gallery North through Feb 18. Image courtesy of Gallery North

Edelson’s alla prima paintings condense nebulous liminal atmospheres formed where land, sea and sky meet. He captures these protean seascapes through expressive marks that allude to the initial subject, often the shores of Long Island, while simultaneously exploring abstract moments of color and texture. 

The graceful abstract sculptures of Arthur Bernstein allude to solidified fluid movements and organic forms, which are often informed by the wood itself. The works are primarily carved from black walnut, which is native to Long Island and sourced locally. Bernstein’s attention to the balance of negative space, combined with the gently curving forms, create engaging structures for viewers to navigate.

The community is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, January 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will host a Meet & Greet and wine tasting with the artists for Gallery North members on Thursday, February 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.. The exhibition and reception will all be free and open to the public. 

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Jefferson’s Ferry and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org.

Photo courtesy of Gallery North

In perfect timing with the season, Gallery North in Setauket presents its annual group exhibition of small original works for holiday giving, Deck the Halls, from Nov. 16 to Dec. 22.

Enjoy artwork by over 50 local and regional artists in a range of media, including painting, printmaking, works on paper, sculpture, glassware, and more. The exhibition offers an excellent opportunity to support local artists, and features a diverse selection of affordable, exciting, original artworks for everyone on your list and is generously sponsored by WFC Architects and Jefferson’s Ferry. 

In addition, Gallery North also features a large assortment of artisan-created jewelry, handmade crafts, and decorations within the Shop at Gallery North, as well as clothing and artist-made greeting cards produced in the Studio at Gallery North. They also offer the gift of an art class or workshop to an aspiring artist, child, or adult. 

As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will host a Holiday Gift Bazaar, a special holiday gift market inside the Gallery and the Studio on Dec. 9 from noon to 7 p.m. 

The purpose of the Holiday Gift Bazaar is to provide the community with an alternative to holiday shopping in malls and shopping centers. The event will offer an excellent opportunity to support local artists and businesses, complete with warm beverages and treats from LevelUp Kitchen. 

Holiday shoppers will find a diverse selection of affordable, exciting, original paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, pottery, woodwork, glassware, artisan created jewelry, handmade crafts, decorations, and clothing — perfect gifts for everyone on your list. 

‘Tis the season to shop local!

Located at 90 North Country Road in  Setauket, Gallery North is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-751-2676 or visit www.gallerynorth.org. 

By Kelynn Z. Alder

Up next for Gallery North, 90 North Country Road, Setauket is a unique exhibit titled Animal Spirits and Ancient Rituals: New Work by Kelynn Z. Alder, on view from October 5 to November 12.

Animal Spirits and Ancient Rituals is Kelynn Z. Alder’s first solo exhibition at Gallery North. It features paintings, monoprints, and drawings that all reference Alder’s Mexican cultural heritage. Many of the paintings are from the artist’s personal experiences in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico during the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities in Chamula, a town run entirely by the Tzotzil speaking Maya. In Chamula, as in most of Mexico, festivities and religious practices are a merging of ancient Indigenous rites, rituals and beliefs, meshed with Catholicism.

By Kelynn Z. Alder

Día de los Muertos is a celebration of both the living and the dead,” Alder states, “And the underlying theme of this work has much to do with the cycle of life and death — My reaching back to my ancestors… My rising consciousness of my own mortality… The continuation once I’m gone and become myself an ancestor.”

Blending the styles of the Mexican muralists and the impressionists, each painting in Animal Spirits and Ancient Rituals evokes the artist’s ancestral searching, yearnings, experiences, emotions and opinions — while encouraging others to reflect upon their own ancestry and personal journeys. Alder’s prints feature the artist’s personal interpretation of La Lotería – a traditional Mexican board game as well as an inspirational templet commonly used by many artists.

The daughter of an immigrant, Alder skillfully weaves the rudimentary pictures of La Loteria into Indigenous, political and religious iconography to create a complex arrangement of memory, political commentary, and symbolism. Indeed, through vivid paintings of Chiapas and the bold imagery of La Loteria, Animal Spirits and Ancient Rituals transports us to Alder’s inner visual world, while also offering important messages confronting the migrant crisis between the Mexican and U.S. border.

An opening reception will be held Saturday, October 7, from 5 to 7 p.m.

By Kelynn Z. Alder

As a complement to the exhibition, Gallery North will present a multi-site, guided tour in collaboration with the Long Island Museum on Sunday, October 15, from noon to 3 p.m. The collaborative event will include guided tours of Alder’s exhibition, Animal Spirits and Ancient Rituals, and SOMOS/We Are: Latinx Artists of Long Island, an exhibition guest curated by Alder at the Long Island Museum.

Gallery North’s portion of the event will include a printmaking demonstration with Alder and Lorena Salcedo Watson, followed by a tour of Alder’s solo exhibition. Gallery North will also host an ArTalk with Alder and Lyn Pentecost, former Director and Co-Founder of the Lower Eastside Girls Club on Saturday, November 4 at 3 p.m.

The exhibition, reception, and ArTalk will all be free and open to the public. Information on registering for the guided tour and print demonstration can be found at gallerynorth.org.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by bld Architecture, Jefferson’s Ferry, and Suffolk County’s Department of Economic Development and Planning.  The exhibition, reception, and ArTalk will all be free and open to the public. Information on registering for the guided tour and print demonstration can be found at gallerynorth.org. For more information, call 631-751-2676.