April 2019

Dear Friends of the Art League,

There’s a lot going on at the Art League. Let’s get started and I’ll tell you all about it!

To begin, for a window of time between now and July 15, a golden opportunity has been offered by Board President Harlan J. Fischer and his wife Olivia to match donations up to a total of $25,000 for the spring/summer 2019 Signature Gift Campaign. This awesome gift means your donation will count twice as much and the Art League will double its results.

You can donate online at www.artleagueli.org or call Bobbie Janowitz at 631 462 5400 x 227 or just stop by. Your financial contribution shows how much you understand and appreciate the role the Art League plays in nurturing the arts on Long Island. Thanks in advance for putting this on your “to do” list to write a check or call Bobbie with your credit card before July 15.

The quarterly “Jazz in the Gallery” concerts with musicians from the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook are a big hit with jazz lovers and concertgoers. Tickets are on sale now for the next concert on May 9th at 7 pm in the gallery. Don’t miss “The Great American Songbook” performance by the Richie Iacona Trio, with Mike Hall, Tom Manuel, and featuring Madeline Kole on vocals. If you’re a small business owner and you’d like to support the Art League in a unique way, think about sponsoring a jazz concert or concert series. Your company will be prominently recognized in all print materials and on the evening of the concert we will announce your support to a very large audience.

The Resident Artist Membership Program (RAMP) is going into its 2nd year. Fifteen artists have applied to this highly competitive 2019-2020 program. Only 6 candidates will be selected to participate for one year beginning in June. Resident Artists receive 50 hours of free classes each semester in exchange for volunteer hours and an opportunity to teach a workshop at the end of the program.

The Art League’s ceramics program has the largest demand for classes among adults and children. With increasing enrollment, a faculty staff of 5 – 6 instructors and studio assistants, teaching 7 days per week, it was time to reorganize and create a department of its own. Puneeta Mittal, ceramic artist, painter, adjunct professor and former board member with an MFA from Long Island University will lead the charge as the first Art League Department Head of ceramics along with Amy Tischler as Operations Manager. The bigger picture is to grow and expand the ceramics program to a Ceramics Center. The Center will be a place for ceramic artists and other ceramic programs to collaborate, share ideas, attend seminars and workshops, and experience the full breadth and depth of working in clay.

Finally, we’ve achieved a great deal in the past 12 months, thanks to you, the NYS Grant and an energized board……….here’s just some of the things completed and where resources have been committed.

  • Lighted exterior billboard with artwork signage
  • Energy saving and safety enhancing LED parking and building lights
  • New fire safety and surveillance systems
  • Updated data communication, website and registration sites
  • Three new, environmentally friendly HVAC units

With all this activity and investment in infrastructure more is needed to ensure the future of the Art League. Plans in the near immediate future include increasing on-site parking, major roof repairs and two more environmentally friendly HVAC units.

I hope you’re as inspired as we are at the Art League and sense our gratitude to Olivia and Harlan for making it possible to double our midyear results. With your support we will realize the full benefits of this matching gift campaign. Thank you in advance for giving as generously as you can. I will keep you informed of the progress. Please call me with any questions at 631 462 5400 x 224.

Warmest Regards,

Charlee Miller

Executive Director

Art League of Long Island