At New Gallery North Exhibit, Newcomers Get Their Turn

The new exhibit at proves that “artist” isn't a term reserved for those who have been painting or drawing for a lifetime.

celebrates artists in all stages of their career, from high school students to retirees, and provides a space for the works of students and their mentors to be presented under the same lights.

In a room filled with art representing extremely diverse talents and media, many of the artists replied with the same phrase when asked how hard is it to break into the art scene on Long Island: it's hard to break into anything, anywhere.

“It’s hard to break in on Long Island; we are the ‘burbs," said Susan Ives, a Dix Hills artist showing in the exhibit. "There are good galleries here, but they are few and far between. Out here you lose the vitality of the city; you need a pulse to stimulate you.”

Studying under Stan Brodsky, Ives created a number of pieces including Free Energy, which uses acrylic and stamping on canvas. Using everything from rubber stamps to bubble wrap to make her impressions, Ives said, “If it’s not nailed down, I’ll create with it.”

Having only entered the art scene in 2006, Kathryn Cellerini believes that “to be considered as an artist by anyone is an honor.” The Oregon-native-turned-Port Jefferson-resident has produced Reparations I, a collection of mixed-media pieces she subjected to an external digestive process. She took her monoprint woodcuts, which were hand-printed with water-soluble ink, and churned them in her hands as she drenched the paper in tea and berries. The process breaks down the paper, emulating the way internal organs deal with stress. Cellerini, who suffers from ulcerative colitis, has “taken something that causes pain and transformed it into something beautiful,” she said.

She is currently pursuing her MFA at Stony Brook University while teaching beginning printmaking at the campus.

“Being an artist is a lifelong learning process,” she said.

Stan Brodsky, who teaches art at the Art League of Long Island in Huntington, said he learns just as much from his students as they learn from him.

“My students are so enthusiastic and I'm very proud of them,” said Brodsky, who will be giving a lecture at Gallery North called “On Emerging...” on March 13 at 2 p.m.

He considers himself a colorist – meaning the bold hues he chooses are of utmost importance to him, as can be seen in his oil painting Sun and Soil #15. His own classes are done in three parts, where they discuss art, create it (often using a model for inspiration), and then critique their work.

Brodsky feels that emerging artists "find their niche while they are developing their own vision and discover their uniqueness.”

Artist Susan Canin of Huntington, a student of Brodsky's, says using the model was her favorite part of class. “We used this wonderful model with such panache,” she said. Canin has over 30 pieces of art she created in class that use the same model as a subject. Virginia…perplexed is an example of her figurative interpretations.  

Canin believes that new artists should take advantage of this type of exhibit as a chance to get their name and work out there.

“The times are tough now. These shows are not necessarily about selling work,” she said. “It’s about networking.”

The gallery's calendar of events has already filled up through the summer, including the Wet Paint Festival in July and the 46th annual Outdoor Art Show in September. Emerging will be on display through March 27.