From the Director’s Corner – April 17, 2020

Dear Art League Friends and Family, Members,Supporters and Volunteers,

The board and staff of the Art League of Long Island hopes you and yours are well, safe and protected from the harmful spread of Covid-19. For those who developed symptoms, required testing or became ill, please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. We’ve all learned a lot about how dangerous Covid-19 is and we all have the responsibility of reducing and eliminating the spread of the virus by staying home and keeping a safe distance.

The best source of updated information during these challenging times is to visit the Art League’s website at www.artleagueli.org (right here!). Please enjoy a virtual tour of the “Big Picture” exhibition and upcoming virtual gallery talk on the website. The current Resident Artists’ (2019-2020) team collaborated together to simultaneously work on a 6’ x 18’ mural that is on exhibit in the Strolling Gallery. We’re planning on leaving these exhibits up for all to enjoy when we reopen. However, until further notice, the Art League will remain closed.

Most of the Art League’s office staff that you’ve come to know and love as I do, are out of work. Not-for-profits and businesses on Long Island have laid off staff with uncertainty about who and how many can return in the same capacity. Hours and days will be reduced for businesses to survive and get back on their feet. I have made applications to every Federal and local government agency handling Economic Injury Disaster Loans, I’m speaking with our banks and business partners to manage payments. I have also launched the “Count Me In” Recovery Fund and ask that if it feels right for you to make a donation of any amount now, it is greatly appreciated. It’s easy to make a donation on-line here or you can write a check and mail it to the Art League of Long Island, 107 E. Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills, N.Y. 11746 or you can email me at cmiller@artleagueli.org and give me your telephone number. I will call you back and you can use your credit card to make a donation.

On a happier note, please let us know what you’ve been working on since the Art League had to close temporarily on March 12, 2020. One thing I’ve learned about the Art League’s teaching artists, students and staff, is, art doesn’t stop for them. Day after day enthusiasm, inspiration and a passionate desire to make art fills them up and keeps them going. Let’s see what you’ve been doing by sharing on our Facebook page or tag our Instagram page. I’ll keep you posted. We can do this if we do it together.

Warmest Regards,

Charlee Miller

Executive Director

Art League of Long Island

Dear Art League Friends and Family,

We are grateful for your support! Thank you for supporting the Art League’s 2019 year-end Annual Appeal. Your gifts make it possible to continue to offer fine art education classes at affordable prices, showcase fine art exhibitions and provide community events free of charge to the public year-round. The Art League, a not-for-profit 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization, is overseen by a volunteer Board of dedicated individuals who make annual financial commitments. 100% of our operating budget comes from tuition, memberships and your generous gifts.

The Art League’s vision of becoming a Cultural Art Center in the near future is not too far off! For starters, the Art League is expanding its Open Studio Program to include Independent Study in Printmaking, All Media and Jewelry Making. On Wednesday, February 12th, Open Studio in Printmaking is available from 10 am – 2 pm and All Media Open Studio is open from 1 pm – 4pm. Jewelry making Open Studio time is in the works, so stay tuned!

Some more great news! The Art League’s 53rd Art in the Park event is going to be better than ever on May 30th and May 31st at Heckscher Park. The event is expanding to include Long Island’s business partners and other not-for-profit organizations. Artists, business partners and not-for-profits will join together for two days of Culture, Commerce and Community. Did you know that Long Island’s business markets are second in New York State only to the greater New York City area? The arts on Long Island need the support of their business partners as much as businesses need the economic and value-added benefits the arts bring to them. Putting art together with Long Island businesses is a winning combination. Let’s find out what each other does.

How good can it get! Andrea M. Gordon, artist, Art League member and enthusiastic supporter of the arts arranged a fundraiser event with Savers Thrift Store in Commack with the Art League in mind. If you’re like me, you have a closet full of clothes, shoes, handbags, suits, linens, coats and hats you haven’t worn for some time. Now’s the time to get rid of all that stuff and support the Art League at the same time. I hope we can count you in on the event. On Saturday, February 22nd and Monday, February 24th between 10 am and 1 pm you can drop off your donations in large plastic hefty bags at the Art League. Please do not deliver it to Savers. A special thank you to Andrea for coming up with the idea and for volunteering to pull it together.

If you’re thinking of becoming a volunteer, the Art League would love to talk to you. We are in need of specific skill sets; technical migration of data; computer skills; events and hospitality; social media; carpentry. Anyone interested in heading up a garden committee to brighten up our gardens? Can’t wait to hear from you.

If you have an idea for a fundraiser and want to get involved with supporting the Art League, please give me a call at 631 462 5400 x 224. We are always open to ideas and creative ways to work together.

Warmest Regards,

Charlee Miller

Executive Director

Art League of Long Island