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!

Thank you all for coming out and showing your love for the Art League at our 47th Annual Art in the Park Fine Art & Craft Fair. We had a great turnout and a few rain drops on Saturday afternoon didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit, as the rest of the weekend turned out absolutely beautiful weather wise and art wise!

We were thrilled to host the Autism Awareness fundraising event June 8, sponsored by the Kiwanis Divisions of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The gallery was filled to capacity with family, friends, and supporters of the 70 young artists with autism whose works were on display in the Strolling Gallery. Many thanks to Autism Speaks and the North Shore Autism Circle for supporting the event and for all the people who attended.

Summer class registration is in full swing, sign up now for classes starting in July and August. We are still accepting registrations for our Summer Art Adventure program for kids. Some sessions are already filled, please call and check for availability.

Reserve your seat now for the first of three in a stimulating series of lectures conducted by Franklin Hill Perrell. On June 27 Franklin presents Art in the Park: The Sculptures of Central Park, an armchair exploration of the park’s popular statuary. The second lecture, Manet’s Paris, takes place September 12, and the last of the three, Long Island Masters: Artists in our Midst takes place November 7. Register for all three lectures and save on the overall admission price.

Coming up later this month are weekend workshops by VIP guest artists Max Ginsburg and Laura Westlake. Max Ginsburg is renowned for his oil paintings depicting a certain poignancy of people living their lives in the not very glamorous world that can be found on the streets of New York. His workshop takes place June 21 & 22. On June 28 & 29 Laura Westlake will show students how to make realistic, detailed, painterly works using colored pencil techniques she honed in her years as an artist. Details about the workshops and the above-mentioned lecture series can be found below in the newsletter.

On a sad note, we mourn the passing of tremendously talented local artist, Mary Abrams. Mrs. Abrams passed away June 5 after a long life devoted to her art and her family. A retrospective of her life’s work that has been scheduled to exhibit at the Art League June 28 through July 13 will also serve to pay tribute to a wonderful woman whose works will live on forever.