Town to host Art in the Park, Bahr Gallery’s new exhibit
The spring is bringing art events to Oyster Bay residents, as the Bahr Gallery will be celebrating a new exhibit with a wine and cheese reception on April 5 and the Art in the Park event will take over Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Beach on May 18.
The Bahr Gallery
The Bahr Gallery, an art gallery located at 95 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay, dedicated to vintage, first-edition, psychedelic rock poster art, announced that a new Exhibition, “Revolution Evolution” will be opening at the gallery on April 5, 2024 and running through August 10.
There will be an opening wine and cheese reception on Saturday, April 6 from 6 to 8 p.m..
The exhibition illustrates the evolution of the psychedelic rock poster design style as it first emerged from early 1966 to the middle of 1967. The psychedelic poster era lasted just four years, and while there were many epic, iconic posters produced in 1968-1969, most of the innovations and paths later artists would follow were established in those first 15 months.
The epicenter of the psychedelic music and art movement was San Francisco and the heart of the movement was represented by the city’s two main venues for rock dances, the Fillmore Auditorium and the Avalon Ballroom. In mid-July 1967 the mainstream Moore Gallery just off Union Square held an exhibition by the leading psychedelic poster artists of the day, dubbing them the Big Five. Indeed, by the time the “Joint Show” opened, 126 out of the 140 posters for the Fillmore and the Avalon had been done by either Wes Wilson, Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso or Rick Griffin.
The exhibition allows one to follow the development of artists Wes Wilson, Mouse & Kelley, and Victor Moscoso, and observe the unique characteristics of the psychedelic posters that emerged literally week by week on telephone poles, in store windows and dorm room bulletin boards.
Art in the Park
The Town of Oyster Bay has approved the hosting of Art in the Park for Saturday, May 18.
The event will be held at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Beach, with a rain date set for the next day, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Art in the Park is hosted by the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community and Youth Services. In previous years Art in the Park has attracted not only a number of local artists, but also hundreds of families and seniors. Last year the event had over 80 artists sign up, and drew a crowd of a couple thousand. This year the event promises to be just as impressive, and admission is free to all who wish to attend.
The event promises to feature local artists and artisans, live music, food trucks, and activities for kids. The artists and artisans will showcase their works at their own booths, and their art will be available for purchase. The event will feature only original handmade pieces by local artists as according to the town, “No commercial or mass-produced items are permitted.” Although the list of vendors for 2024 has not been finalized as of now, it is expected that a variety of art mediums will be showcased at the event including ceramics, watercolors, glass, jewelry, wood, leather, sculpture, and more.
Artists who wish to have their work featured must complete an application, which can be found on the town’s website, or by calling. Other requirements for artists include providing their own canopy, being at least 18 years old, and providing original pieces of work. Further information for artists can be found within the application on the town’s website.
The goal of Art in the Park is to “provide local artists and artisans with an opportunity to showcase their original hand-crafted goods to the public and gain local recognition.” The town wishes to highlight the many talented artists who live in the Oyster Bay area. Another goal of the event, beyond showcasing local artists and artisans, is to promote arts within the Oyster Bay community. The event not only highlights tangible art, but it features live music from local artists as well. Last year Art in the Park featured Gene and the Lone Sharks, a group with connections to the Long Island community. Live music artists have not yet been finalized or released for this year’s event.
Art in the Park is an event for families, artists, and the community as a whole to enjoy. Oyster Bay Town Councilman Steve Labriola praised the Department of Community and Youth Services event saying, “Art in the Park offers local artists and artisans an amazing opportunity to showcase their best work for the public and gain local notoriety.” With the event still over a month away artists are still able to sign up for the event through the Town of Oyster Bay by visiting their website or calling.
—With reporting by Sydney Kuhnel
