The Art League’s Open House this past Saturday had a tremendous turnout. It was nice to see many new faces among the crowd of Art League students, members, and supporters. Many thanks to everybody who helped make this event such a success! From the instructors who came out to do the live art demonstrations (Stephanie Navon Jacobson, Peter Messina, Mary Nagin, Denis Ponsot, Jahn Guarino, Amal Karzai, Donna Moraff, Ruth Sachs, and Irene Vitale) to the instructors who came out in full force to represent their work and the Art League, to the volunteers, and staff, thank you for a job well done! Thanks also go to guitarist Kenny Pascual for entertaining the crowds with his musical charm.

This Friday Franklin Hill Perrell will conduct a thoroughly engaging talk, Manet’s Paris, in his second of three in the About Art Lecture Series. Franklin’s final lecture in the series on November 7 explores works by celebrated artists of local origins in Long Island Masters: Artists in our Midst. Reserve your seat in advance for one or both lectures now. Many thanks to Daniel Gale Sotheby Realty for sponsoring this delightful lecture series.

Through the generous support of local businesses and private individuals who proudly support the arts, the Art League gratefully acknowledges the sponsors of our 2014-2015 exhibition season: Memorial Fund of Mary Abrams, Norman Abrams, Artpix Studio, The Artful Circle with Debbie Wells and Franklin Hill Perrell, Bunnye & Fred Avril, Daniel C. Brown, Dawn to Dusk Landscaping, Elan Strategy Consulting, Olivia & Harlan Fischer, Memorial Fund of Marjorie Marran Feeney, Eleanore & Bob O’Sullivan, Eleanor & John Perkins, Pat & Bob Ralph, Marge Sammis, Mary & Chuck Schlapp, and our lead sponsor Bridgehampton National Bank.

As the Art League approaches its 60th anniversary, it is my hope to continue working more closely with a larger community of supporters to continue bringing you the best in exhibits, events, classes and workshops.

It’s mid-summer, filled with sunshine, warm weather, and lots of outdoor fun. It’s also time to plan for fall activities. The Art League has a full schedule of fall classes and workshops to keep your creative juices flowing. Fall classes were posted online as of Friday afternoon, August 8.

Our latest exhibit opens this weekend in the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, featuring the works of abstract expressionist painter Barbara Bilotta. Barbara’s large, vibrantly colored paintings definitely make the gallery come alive. Please come see it in person soon!

Also on exhibit, in the Strolling Gallery, are works by student artists served by Adults & Children with Learning Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD). We are pleased to offer this program once again through a grant program funded by the New York State Council on the Arts and administered by the Huntington Arts Council. And, through the generosity of the Women’s Group of the Greens of Melville and Bahama Breeze Island Grille in Lake Grove, the program now includes additional instructional time for ACLD students.

Later in the month, the Art League’s instructors get to show their talent in our annual Instructors’ Exhibition running August 28 through September 21. The public is invited to stop by our Open House on September 6 to join us in the artists’ reception, visit the art studios and see live art demonstrations by Art League instructors.

And just a reminder to photographers out there, you have until August 15 to submit work in our juried competition early this fall, titled “Pattern & Rhythm Through the Lens”. The title pretty much says it all, go out there and capture what you see as patterns and rhythms of the world around you, from your own unique viewpoint.

Mark your calendars: we are excited to host the first InbeonCon on 12/13/14. Computer Graphics instructor and illustrator Eric Hutchison is organizing InbeonCon, a celebration of art, comics, and animation. More information about the event, how to purchase tickets, and how to be a part of InbeonCon can be found below in this newsletter.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!