Sagamore Hill Inspires July 14 Art Show In The Arts Space

Newly painted artwork in the plein air style on exhibit and for sale

A plein air competition of 36 artworks created at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (SHNHS) culminates in an exhibition at the newly converted Arts Space in the Rodgers’ Building at 120 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay, July 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. Paintings still wet from being just completed hours before will be on display. There will be some light hors d’oeuvres, and wine. If you are in the market for a reasonable priced, original work of art, this is the perfect event for you.

The juried show is the project of Ron Geller of the Painting Studios of Oyster Bay. Held last year at the Oyster Bay Historical Society’s Koenig Center, Philip Blocklyn, OBHS executive director said they would have loved to host the event this year again, but they are opening their exhibit from the National Park Service, “Witness Trees” the next day, Sunday, June 15.

Mr. Geller said, “The event is also the debut of the new exhibition space located in the former Coil Winding building at the end of Audrey Avenue, outside of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. Bill Rogers of Coil Winding agreed to help me by converting the space to be used as an art venue for two months after five or six conversations about the arts in Oyster Bay. We are courting an art community in Oyster Bay and this is our first project together. He is going to watch and see.  I have the use of it for two months and then we will go back to the negotiating table. Alternatively, it might become a bar and restaurant.”

Mr. Geller’s Teaching Studios of Oyster Bay offers lessons in drawing and painting. He said his students might use the venue for selling their work but his immediate interest is focused on the current plein air exhibit.

“I have an internationally known plein air artist, Eric Koeppel coming here from New Hampshire to judge the show. He is bringing Lauren Sansaricq, a famed landscape artist. The two will be giving demonstrations over the two-day event.

“I asked Mr. Rogers to make a Chelsea-like gallery to my specifications and he was willing to sink money into it to build with the hope that this area will support it. The gallery will be a component of the art school,” he explained.

Mr. Geller also sees the Art Space as something local not for profits can use.

Two Day Event

The plein air event with prizes to be won by the artists takes place over two days, Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14. This is Teaching Studios 2nd Annual Plein Air Competition which is centered around SHNHS in Cove Neck.

Thirty-five selected artists will compete for over $3000 in prizes by painting their best artwork of this incredible historic site to be on view in Rodgers’ Building in downtown Oyster Bay.

Plein Art Demonstrations

The competition is open to public viewing and will feature live plein air painting demonstrations at SHNHS from competition juror Erik Koeppel, as well as the phenomenal landscape artist Lauren Sansaricq. Mr. Koeppel will demonstrate on Friday July 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Erik Koeppel is one of the leading plein air landscape painters in the U.S. today. He has had numerous solo exhibitions and has taught plein air workshops for the Hudson River Fellowship of the Grand Central Academy in NYC. He has been the subject of feature articles in American Artist magazine and Plein Air magazine.

Ms. Sansaricq will demonstrate plein air on Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. at SHNHS.

There will be an informal gallery talk by Mr.Koeppel at 7:30 p.m. during the exhibit in the Arts Space.

Attend and mingle with the competing artists, as well as the faculty and student body of the Teaching Studios of Art. Be a part of the festivities as the winning artists are announced.

The exhibition will remain up for one month, until Tuesday, Aug. 14. The gallery hours are Monday through Friday, July 16 to Aug. 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information please call Mr. Geller at 558-7367.