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Lois Reboli

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Earthnwood Artisans pottery and woodworking

For the month of June, the Reboli Center for Art and History is showcasing the stunning pottery and woodwork of Sayville couple Bobbie and Bob Dalpiaz.

Bobbie and Bob Dalpiaz met in college where they obtained degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College. After graduation, Bobbie pursued a career as an art and  music teacher and Bob taught music in a local school district. However, Bobbie realized her true  passion was pottery and began studying sculpture, hand building, and wheel throwing at private classes and at Stony Brook University. Residents of Sayville, Bobbie retired from teaching and is a full-time potter. Bob, on the other hand, is a full-time musician and woodworker. Together this  creative duo creates unique, handmade, functional artwork using exotic woods and high-fire  pottery.  

They began working together when a lid on one of Bobbie’s pieces broke and she asked Bob to  make a replacement out of wood, leading to a new working partnership. As Bob had no experience  with a lathe, he took classes with the Long Island Woodworkers Club. Through trial and error, he  became proficient at the lathe. In 1998, they formed Earthnwood Artisans. 

According to Bob, “The creative process begins with Bobbie’s pottery, which she often hand  carves to accentuate the form. She makes her own glazes and chooses a color and texture that  complements the piece.” “Bob then selects an exotic hardwood to complement the glaze and  creates a lid that accentuates the form. We often collaborate on the final project,” Bobbie said. 

With their second career, they started traveling to art shows in the tri-state area and were awarded Best of Pottery several times at various shows. Their work is available at a few Long Island  galleries. Bobbie also teaches pottery classes. 

“This is such a great opportunity for the Reboli Center to showcase the exquisite work of this  wonderful and talented couple. I was fascinated by how they started working together and the  combination of the wooden lids with the beautiful pottery is just amazing. They are a perfect fit,”  said Lois Reboli, a founder and president of the Reboli Center.

“As artists, it can be difficult to receive feedback on our work. Being selected as Artisans of the  Month at The Reboli Center confirms our artistic vision and we are honored to show our work  among other acclaimed and well-respected artists,” said Bobbie Dalpiaz. 

Earthnwood will be on display during the month of June at the Reboli Center, 64 Main  Street, Stony Brook. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information please call 631-752-7707 or visit  www.rebolicenter.org .

 



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Gwen Beloti

For the month of May, the Reboli Center for Art and History is showcasing the beautiful work of jewelry designer Gwen Beloti.

Gwen Beloti

A love of fashion and accessories resulted in a career in the jewelry business for Beloti. A native of Brooklyn, she is a certified fashion apparel designer and a self- taught jewelry creator. For many years she was an apparel designer and in 2019 started to pursue jewelry design after taking several classes in jewelry assembly.

Her jewelry designs are of high quality and perfect for everyday wear.

“The aesthetic is the balance of minimalism and subtle statement. Our pieces are inclusive with extended sizes available and customization options,” said Beloti.

The jewelry designer is inspired by many things she sees in the city, by shapes, art and the jewelry she has collected over the years. When something sparks an idea, she tries to get it down on paper or on the computer and work on it until it comes to fruition. “I’ve learned to be patient with the process because the piece is never the best it can be at the first attempt, and it gets better with time, thought, consideration and iteration,” she said.

Beloti’s jewelry is in gold because she loves its luster and hues. The first piece she created was a gold necklace with Brooklyn spelled across that front, which she still wears today. For the first time, the summer 2023 Gwen Beloti Jewelry line will include a new collection featuring diamonds.

Recently, the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative with the National Diamond Council selected Beloti to be one of six designers to create a fine jewelry collection of gold and diamonds to be showcased at JCK in Las Vegas, the largest jewelry show in the world.

The Gwen Beloti Jewelry Collection

Although jewelry has been her passion and career, Beloti has a master’s in Psychology and started college when she was 16. She has always had a great appreciation for education and many of her teachers have had a lasting impact on her. She believes in giving back to her community and started a program where local residents nominate a special educator for a golden recognition. Those selected are presented with a piece from the Gwen Beloti Jewelry line, as a token of appreciation for the work they do. Each year, she also donates a portion of her sales to the nonprofit organization Little Dresses for Africa, which provides assistance to young girls throughout Africa.

“I met Gwen at a trade show and was so impressed by her collection and her enthusiasm for creating something beautiful that would make her customers feel special and appreciated,” said Lois Reboli, a founder of the Reboli Center.

On May 19, at the Reboli Center’s Third Friday, Gwen will discuss her artistic journey, craft and career. The talk is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 7:30 p.m. There is no fee and no reservations are required. Light refreshments will be served. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Gwen Beloti’s jewelry is available at the Reboli Center, located at 64 Main Street, Stony Brook. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org

Pictured are designer Gwen Beloti and the Gwen Beloti Jewelry Collection

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A ceramic bowl by Kathy Larocca

For the month of April, the Reboli Center for Art and History is showcasing the extraordinary ceramics of Kathy Larocca inspired by nature, especially botanicals, shells and fossils.

Artist Kathy Larocca

Larocca’s passion for ceramics started more than a decade ago.  “Forming art from a mound of clay got me hooked immediately on creating ceramics. I love the tactile quality of clay, whether it is made on a wheel or hand built. Each method has its own challenges and never-ending possibilities. I have taken many classes at local studios on Long Island and attended multiple workshops, both in person and virtually. I belong to several art groups and get inspiration from their creativity,” she explains.

Lois Reboli, president and a founder of The Reboli Center, said, “I find Kathy’s work a perfect fit for The Reboli Center, since we are located by Stony Brook Harbor and her work is so soothing and beautiful. Her designs are just exquisite.”

For her ceramics, Larocca uses mostly B-mix clay to create her pieces because of its porcelaneous quality and creamy color. In addition, she notes that it works well with the glazes she uses.  The artist elaborated on her process by stating, “As I develop an idea for a piece, I decide whether to create it on the wheel or by hand. Occasionally I sketch a draft of what the envisioned piece should look like. With ceramics, timing the drying work is essential, since the process involves multiple steps. Much of my work is carved (sgraffito) and the clay needs to be the correct dryness for this process to be successful. Once the piece is out of the kiln for the first firing, it is then glazed and put back in the kiln to vitrify.”

A ceramic vase by Kathy Larocca

Larocca notes that she doesn’t count the number of hours it takes to make something as there are many steps involved and it depends on the intricacy of her work. “When I work with clay or any form of art, the time melts away as I am completely engaged in the process,” she said.

Ever since she was a young girl, Larocca nurtured her creative side by exploring and enjoying art, especially sketching and painting. She continued her love of art by attending the New York Institute of Technology and discovered a fascination with animation. Upon graduation, she worked at several studios in Manhattan and on a variety of projects including movies, television commercials and animation shorts. She relocated to California where she worked in the inking department of Hanna-Barbera Studios, a major television animation and production company. Its shows included such classic cartoons as The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Huckleberry Finn,  Scooby Doo, and The Smurfs. 

Larocca eventually moved back to New York and started a business called “Wrap It Up” where she personalized gifts for people of all ages. In addition, she continued to explore her creative side by designing and making jewelry.

In addition to exhibiting at the Reboli Center, the artist has shown her work at the Bayard Arboretum, Islip Art Museum, Suffolk County Historical Society, fine art shows and numerous libraries. “I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to be the Artisan of the Month at the acclaimed Reboli Center,” she said. 

The Reboli Center for Art and History is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.  Admission is free. For more information, please call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.

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A necklance by Tracy Levine.
A necklace by Tracy Levine.
A necklance by Tracy Levine.

For the month of February, the Reboli Center for Art and History is showcasing the diverse collection of jewelry including necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets created by Tracy Levine.

Levine has been making jewelry since 1984, when she started her company, Hanging Dreams, and has been a regular vendor at Gallery North’s Outdoor Art Show since that time. She grew up in East Setauket and graduated from Boston University. A mental health counselor at Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan where she lives, Levine manages to balance creating jewelry with her health career. 

“I am inspired by all things beautiful and my designs are driven by an eclectic mix of materials that are old and new, precious and semi-precious stones, oxidized sterling silver as well as 18 and 22K gold,” she said. Levine aspires to create pieces as unique as the individuals who wear them.

Lois Reboli, the president and founder of the Reboli Center, was impressed by her unique and beautiful creations and thought they would be a perfect fit for the Center’s Design Shop especially around Valentine’s Day. 

The Reboli Center, 64 Main Street, Stony Brook, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.

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Pictured from left, Tasha Boehm, Lois Reboli, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Ned Puchner, and Alex Badalamenti Photo from Assemblyman Engelebright's office

New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright recently presented the Reboli Center for Art and History in Stony Brook and Gallery North in Setauket with grant funding obtained through the New York State Assembly Community Capital Assistance Program. 

Pictured from left, Tasha Boehm, Lois Reboli, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Ned Puchner, and Alex Badalamenti. Photo from Assemblyman Engelebright’s office

Through the efforts of Assemblyman Englebright and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, these two cultural art centers will each receive $150,000 from this funding program to support their organization’s infrastructure improvement projects.

“I am proud to have nominated both Gallery North and the Reboli Center to receive these grant funds,” said Assemblyman Englebright. “Investment into our cultural art centers is essential to cultivating a deeper sense of place and setting our community apart — attracting people to its uniqueness. Artwork helps express a community’s values and creates an elevated sense of awareness for community members and visitors. I would like to thank both organizations for their tremendous work uplifting local artists and empowering our community through art and creativity.”

The two organizations plan to utilize their respective grant funding to maintain, improve and expand their buildings’ public viewing space and areas where educational programing and the actual creation of art occur. The competition of these projects will provide an enhanced experience for families, children and community residents. 

As staples in the community, the Reboli Center and Gallery North host many arts-centered events and programs throughout the year that are available for the public to attend. For more information about these organizations and to learn about upcoming events, visit www.gallerynorth.org and www.rebolicenter.org.

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Renee Fondacaro

The Reboli Center’s October Artisan of the Month is Renee Fondacaro: candlemaker and founder of Old Field Apothecary. Fondacaro founded the company in 2020, with the goal of creating beautiful, clean, naturally scented candles and home accessories.

Old Field Apothecary candle

An artisan and registered nurse with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Oneonta and a Nursing degree from Syracuse University, Fondacaro creates natural, handmade products with ingredients sourced sustainably. As a two-time cancer survivor, this aspect of her business is very important to her.

“Our mission at Old Field Apothecary is to create hand poured, small batch candles, wax melts and home accessories with captivating scents, beautiful minimalist designs, and the best ingredients.  All products are made from a luxurious vegan wax blend made of natural coconut and apricot. Coconut and apricot waxes are gluten free, toxin free, paraben free, phthalate free, and come from renewable sources. The entire blend utilizes only FDA approved waxes,” said Fondacaro.  In addition, all candles have a crackling wooden wick and each candle is wicked, poured and labeled by hand.

Lois Reboli, a founder of the Reboli Center, said, “Renee has had a pop-up store at the Center in the past and it is wonderful that she is the Artisan for October. With the holidays just around the corner, this is an excellent opportunity for residents to shop for their homes, as well as for gifts for family and friends.”

The Reboli Center is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, and is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am-5pm and on Sunday from 1pm-5pm. Admission is free. For more information, please call 631-751-7707 or visit www.ReboliCenter.org

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Ceramic pieces by Julia Vogelle

The Reboli Center’s August Artisan is ceramic artist Julia Vogelle.

A ceramic piece by Julia Vogelle

Julia Vogelle is a multi-faceted artist who creates a wide range of ceramics, sculpture, drawings and paintings, as well as jewelry. She has a Master’s in Fine Art /Education from C.W. Post University and a Bachelor’s in Fine Art from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.  Raised on Long Island, she  lives in Miller Place and taught art to students in k-12 for 32 years in the Miller Place school district.

Vogelle is one of the founders of the Brick Clay Studio in St. James and currently the President. The studio was established in 2017 and offers pottery classes and a gallery.

“As most of my work is in clay, I begin with slabs and then incorporate wheel work. I decorate slabs with lace and stamped patterns. In addition, I like to draw either directly into the clay surface or with oxides and glazes,” said Vogelle. She notes that all platters and pottery are dinnerware and dishwasher safe.

A ceramic piece by Julia Vogelle

“I’m very honored to be recognized as the August Artisan of the month at the Reboli Center. Being a resident and lifelong artist on the North Shore of Long Island, I have very strong ties to the community. While I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Joe Reboli, my husband Michael Vogelle interviewed Joe for the program “Working Artists,” she said.

Lois Reboli, president and one of the founders of The Reboli Center said, “Julia’s work is truly amazing and her being our August Artisan of the Month will certainly compliment the work on display at the Center.”

The Reboli Center is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.

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‘76’, photograph by Joseph Reboli

Through March 27, The Reboli Center for Art & History in Stony Brook will for the first time feature the photographs of the late artist Joseph Reboli and several well-known Long Island and New York based photographers including Donna Crinnian, Jeremy Dennis, Vanessa Fischer, Daniel Jones, Jacques LeBlanc, Timothy McCarthy, Jessica Neilson, Patricia Paladines, Matthew Raynor, Paul Scala, Leonid Shishov, Corinne Tousey, Marlene Weinstein, and Jo-Anne Wilson in a new exhibit is titled Through the Lens.

Photo by Jeremy Dennis

In conjunction with the exhibit, the History Room will feature a companion show focusing on the life and work of nature photographer, Howard Eskin, a patron of the arts and dear friend of Joseph Reboli, who also collected many of his paintings.  Eskin concentrated on photographing nature, and many of his pictures were published by the Audubon Society. In addition, there will be a slideshow depicting the evolution of photography from when the first recorded photograph was taken in the early 1800s.

“Just as Joe’s paintings glowed with illuminous light, so do his photographs. Joe was not widely known for his photography, but he really enjoyed it and I am happy to share that side of him. I have known the Eskin family for a longtime, and am very proud to document Howard’s life and work as part of this new exhibit,” said Lois Reboli, a founder and president of the Reboli Center.

The Reboli Center is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 631-751-7707 or go to www.ReboliCenter.org.

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Michael Michaud Design Fern Earring
Michael Michaud Design Irish Thorn Brooch
Michael Vincent Michaud Mosaic Pendant

During February, The Reboli Center for Art & History in Stony Brook is proud to display the stunning botanical and cast glass jewelry created by Michael Michaud Design, as well as by his son Michael Vincent Michaud. According to Four Seasons Design Group, which represents the two companies, “The cast glass processes very much like the lost wax process of casting metal into jewelry. The glass is melted into a mold and then cooled and cleaned reproducing the shapes and colors to be placed into the metal bezels. During the process some air may be trapped in with the solidifying of the glass. It is those bubbles inside that make each piece unique and one of a kind.”

The Michael Michaud Design collection reflects his exceptional knowledge of jewelry making and his love of nature. He started as an apprentice mold cutter in 1973 and worked his way towards being a master precious metal caster and moldmaker. While a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Craftsmen, he learned many of the techniques that he still uses today to create his designs of nature in metal. Michaud worked for some of American’s leading jewelry designers before starting his own company.

Michael Vincent Michaud, the son of renowned jewelry designer Michael Michaud, studied with some of the finest glass artists at various institutions including the prestigious Corning and Urban glass programs. He was inspired by his father’s high craftsmanship and love of “art glass.” He was fortunate to begin his career at his father’s studio and collaborated with him to create glass elements for jewelry collections licensed by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This experience enabled him and his brother Shane, who handles the business side, to create their own company, Michael Vincent Michaud, in 2011.

Their jewelry collection consists of pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches and table art such as serving pieces, utensils, trivets and napkin rings.

“For the first time, The Reboli Center is delighted to showcase artisans who are a father and son.  Our Design Shop features some of the jewelry created by Michael Michaud Design, as well as by his son, Michael Vincent Michaud. Their jewelry is exquisitely detailed and so luminous when it catches the light,” said Lois Reboli, a founder and president of the Reboli Center.

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

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'Mischief' by Laura Westlake
'Untitled' by Joe Reboli
'Autumn Prince' by Vicki Sawyer

As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to fall we turn our attention to the sights and sounds of autumn. In celebration of the season, the Reboli Center for Art and History presents Autumn Shadows, a beautiful exhibit featuring artwork by Joseph Reboli, Laura Westlake, Vicki Sawyer and more that include some beguiling and bewitching crows and ravens in paintings, drawings, ceramics and jewelry.

The show will run from September 28 to Oct. 31.

Some of Joseph Reboli’s paintings are on loan from private collectors, and are rarely exhibited, providing a great opportunity for Reboli fans to see some of his work for the first time. 

Laura Westlake is a native Long Islander, who grew up in Stony Brook and now lives in Orient with her artist husband, Dominic Di Lorenzo. Having studied at Santa Barbara City College in California and the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, she spent 15 years working in commercial illustration for television, magazine and print ads, portraiture and book illustration. 

Westlake excels in both color pencil and oil paints and has been exhibiting in galleries for over 35 years. Her love of birds and nature complements the work of internationally known artist, Vicki Sawyer, another show participant.

Celebrated for her incredibly imaginative and whimsical art, Vicki Sawyer, former Stony Brook artist and designer, has had two shows at the Reboli Center in recent years. Growing up in farm country, she spent years studying and admiring birds and animals. 

Sawyer works in acrylic and incorporates vegetables, twigs and flowers to adorn her whimsical creatures with hats, necklaces and other decorative accessories. Her paintings are definitely one of a kind. Her notecards, calendars and other home decor items are on sale in the Reboli Design Shop.

Other participating artists include Kevin McEvoy, Linda Giacalone, Laura Peters, Barbara Glynn Prodanuik and more. The Center’s History Room will continue on with an interesting exhibition curated by Tricia Foley, The Legacy of Leslie Marchant, which showcases the life and accomplishments of the accomplished Long Island builder.

“We are thrilled to have such a high caliber of artists participating in Autumn Shadows,” said Lois Reboli, a founder of the Reboli Center. “They each bring a distinct element of talent and creativity that supplement each other’s work.”

The Reboli Center for Art and History is located at 64 Main Street in Stony Brook. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please call 631-751-7707 or visit www.rebolicenter.org.

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