Art Destinations on Long Island
Art Destinations on Long Island
The arts are alive and well on Long Island. There
are far too many places to cover in a single article, but there
are some definite places you'll want to begin your journey
though painting, sculpture and mixed media art. Some of the Long
Island galleries are artist-run, so you'll not only get a taste
of the arts, but experience work by talented local artists as
well.
If you have a fondness for 19th and 20th century European and
American art, your first stop should be the Heckscher Museum of
Art at 2 Prime Avenue in Hu
ntington. The Heckcsher collection includes Dadist George
Grosz's masterpiece Eclipse of the Sun. Grosz was a resident of
Huntington between 1947 and 1958. The Heckcsher collection also
features the art of "one-time" Huntington residents Arthur Dove
and his wife Helen Torr. The Heckcsher Museum is open Tuesday
through Friday from 10AM to 5PM, with weekend hours from 1PM to
5PM.
Great examples of Long Island talent can be found at the BJ
Spoke Gallery, located at 299 Main Street in Hu
ntington. This artist-owned cooperative gallery features
annual juried art competitions, but their biggest event is the
Expo. This competition highlights work in oil painting,
watercolor, drawing, photography and other visual art forms. The
Expo scheduled for 2006 is scheduled for March 6 through April
2. Whatever time of year you visit, you're sure to see some of
Long Island's finest artistic talent on display. Operating hours
are Tuesday through Sunday from 11AM to 5PM. Friday hours are
from 11AM to 9PM.
The Islip Art Museum is a contemporary art space located at 50
Irish Lane in East Islip. Past exhibitions have included "Food
For Thought" which features artists who use food as both subject
and medium. "The Nature Of Things" focused on ten artists view
of the landscape tradition in the face of increasing technology.
The Islip does five major shows a year and attracts both the New
York art crowd as well as people on the international art scene.
The Parrish Art Museum at 25 Job's Lane in S
outhampton is a different experience altogether, combining
student art competitions and unusual shows. One interesting
recent attraction was called "Finders Keepers" The Obsession of
Passionate Collectors". The show highlighted the collecting
obsession--everything from walking sticks to celluloid Santas.
In between student work and the special exhibits, you'll find landscapes, photography and much more. Hours for the Parrish are
Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 5PM. Sunday hours are from
1PM to 5PM. The museum is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
These are only a small sample of what Long Island has to
offer. There is a great diversity of new talent, classic work on
permanent display and unique exhibitions. If you have a passion
for art, Long Island is sure to please. For a good overview of
the Long Island art scene, take a look at www.longislandarts.com
and you'll get the latest news on local artists, services for
those in the arts, and calls for entries to local competitions
and juried shows.