Art Shows Archives - Art Naturally

I met a hero of mine, Audrey Flack

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Mary AhernDecember 2, 2023

Some of my Audrey Flack books.

Audrey Flack is a painter who, when I was in college in the 1970s, inspired me as I began my artistic journey. My art history teacher Patricia Hills at York College, which is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, introduced us to the many women artists who were pushing the envelope at the time. There was Audrey Flack, Joyce Kozloff and Judy Chicago. All of these women are currently Honorary Vice Presidents of the National Association of Women Artists. Since at the moment, I am Chair of the Public Relations Committee of NAWA it is such an honor to be meeting these artists who are still teaching us to keep working, keep pushing, and keep making our own artistic statements.

Recently I went with hubby Dave and my friends Susan Rostan & hubby Bob to the “Heroines of Abstract Expressionism” at the Southampton Arts Center here on Long Island. Audrey had work in the show but so did three other artists who had been members of NAWA, Nell Blaine, Dorothy Dehner, and Buffie Johnson.

Roz Dimon, Audrey Flack, Mary Ahern, Susan Rostan at the Southampton Arts Center, November 2023 Photo credit: James F Dawson

Since Susan and I are co-hosting the Historical Research Team at NAWA this was an auspicious occasion for us and opened up new opportunities for research and writing.

Then another amazing event happened, Audrey Flack was scheduled for a talk at Southampton two weeks later, so we signed up and took another drive out east. It sure was worth it! Audrey, who is now 92, was there and clear as a bell answered questions about her work and her experiences from the 1950s onward. She was funny, dished gossip, was fully knowledgeable about the era, the people, the art movements and who the players in the industry were at the time. She talked about the Cedar Bar where all the artists gathered, talked & drank after working in their studios all day. She talked about Jackson Pollack, Robert Motherwell, Clement Greenberg, Helen Frankenthaler, and many more artists and gallerists. In the audience, was a who’s who of the Hamptons Art Scene asking the questions and/or thanking her for her many contributions to the arts.

Audrey Flack at the Southampton Arts Center, November 2023 Photo credit: James F Dawson

I’m so grateful to still be able to be working as an artist, that I continue to grow, to enjoy and learn from other artists. To have this “brush with greatness” that I experienced by listening to, speaking to and having my photo taken with one of my own personal heroes sparkles brightly in my life’s journey. I thank Pat Hills for opening my eyes and my mind over 50 years ago to pay attention to these women artists who were clearing the path and showing us that we as women artists had voices and something unique to say. And after all these decades, we still have statements to make, wisdom to share, and paths to plow for others to follow.

Behind the Scenes Preparations for a Solo Art Exhibition

Posted on May 27, 2023 by Mary AhernFebruary 25, 2025

Here I am on a ladder hanging my exhibition

Most people think the amazing artwork you created & have hanging on the walls at your Solo Art Exhibition is where you put all your energy. If you are like most artists who represent themselves as I do, this means that you are the person responsible for creating all the art as well as all the promotion that goes along with a successful outcome of your show.

When I had my third solo exhibition at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, Long Island, New York, not being a prolific artist, I worked every day for years to fill three rooms in this historic Manor House with my artwork.

In the exhibition on display were my drawings, colored pencil works, abstract acrylics, painting in oil and mixed media paintings in acrylic and oils. Over 40 original pieces of art which I created in my studio, prepped for hanging, documented on spreadsheets, matted and framed when called for, transported and hung.

Most people think that an artist just creates in their studio but that’s only part of the process if you are a self-representing artist. There is plenty of creativity in marketing as well. Here is some more of the creativity that I put into an art exhibition.

Here is some more effort that I put into an exhibition.

Solidify the venue, show dates, opening reception and artist’s talk dates and sign the contract, individual and shared responsibilities with the venue.
Internalize and create towards the general theme of the show that will be the focus of the art and the marketing.
Create a model of the exhibition space using accurate proportions for planning the quantity & sizes of artwork. Use either Architech’s drawings, graph paper, or a digital program.
Create a spreadsheet for a working model of how many works you need & where they are in the creation process
Analyze the amount of time you need to create the artwork. Be realistic.
Capture WIP images to promote the upcoming show, both stills and videos.
Continue to post about the progress of the work on social media to raise interest in the upcoming show.
Write about the work regularly. Some for publication and some for understanding your process & progress.
Create a postcard to snail mail and for handouts. Mail the postcards to the appropriate people in your database of contacts.
Create newsletter content to email to your mailing list with both images & text: I use MailChimp
Send emails to your list regularly months before the show opens, showing photos of the WIPs & talking about the process. Ie. the thoughts behind the work, the mediums, the tools, etc.
Continue to post to all social media channels about the preparations & creation of your work.
Write & send press releases to your publication list in your database well before the opening of your exhibition.
Create price lists to distribute with your letterhead and contact info. I use Excel and put images of each painting next to the title so it can be easily identified by potential customers.
Design business cards, handouts, bios, and takeaways & get them printed in or out of house.
Keep your website updated with info about the exhibition.
Post regularly to your blog to keep people informed about the upcoming show.
Create wall signs with the # of the piece, title and medium that corresponds to the printed price list. (more info about each piece if you have time & QR code if you have them)
Plan the delivery of your artwork, the protective packaging like bubble wrap or other protective material, the transportation, and the assistance you may need.
Once the exhibition is up,
give yourself a well-deserved reward before you start working on your Opening Reception menu and Artist’s Talk Powerpoint.

Marketing an Exhibition

I Collect Round Things

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Mary AhernMarch 16, 2025 1

Since the 1970’s I’ve been a collector, an observer and a thinker about round things. Currently, my garden is enhanced by round thing presences. Spheres of all colors and sizes. Sculpture with round themes. Round trellises. Round gateways.

This moon gate entry to my woodland walkways is just one of the pieces throughout my garden which inspires my art.
These themes of roundness have threaded throughout my work for decades. Recent Work

On my deck are round finials on the tops of the banisters. And large round concrete containers spewing forth their colorful floral additions all summer.

I have reflective spheres so as you walk around the circular pathways in my garden you see yourself in a distorted and accentuated way. It’s good to see yourself when you least expect it. Then your mind views you more clearly. It sees how others may see you.

Why round things you ask? They are the feminine. The woman. The beginning. The Eve.

They are the mystery. No beginning and no end. The continuum.

Eve’s apple is the first sphere. It represents to me the essence of woman, the feeding, the nurturing, the sexuality, the sensuousness, the rounded birth belly.

With the apple Eve burst forth from the confinement of the “Garden of Eden”. The place made for her. To protect her but also to isolate her from life. The experiences. The experimentation. The adventure.

She broke free by pushing the boundaries. By saying that the world created for her was not enough. She found her way to burst forth and experience life. The sadness, the pain, the anguish, the tears, the disappointments, dashed dreams, hopes denied, the loss of loved ones, the curse of immortality.

Without which true happiness, peace and contentment could not be embraced.

My art is embedded with these meditations on life.

Omni Gallery Show with Visitor with the paintings of the artist, Mary Ahern

The OMNI Gallery show featured my round flower inspired oil paintings. This work is embedded with meditations.

How the Art World Has Changed For Me

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Mary AhernFebruary 15, 2020

As a person involved in creating art for the past many years, the opportunities and revelations keep coming.

Mary Ahern - Floral Park Art League 1975. The Art world has changed.

Mary Ahern – Outdoor Art Show with the Floral Park Art League 1975

The art world has changed but so have I. I’m more self-assured about my work than I was at the beginning. Through a lifetime of hard work, bumps, skids, rashes, pain, zigs and zags I’ve developed the thick skin needed to have confidence in my skills as an artist and as a person running a small business selling and showing my art.

We all know the tremendous changes that the internet and social media have introduced into the careers of artists. We are now independent enough to take our careers into our own hands rather than rely on galleries as the only outlet to selling or placing our work. I’m sure that for some artists, galleries are the central force in placing their work in prestigious collections and museums. For most of us though, galleries are not the only answer any longer.

Gallery representation isn’t for everyone

One of the obstacles for me is that I have 3 distinct bodies of work in which I like to create & promote. One is digital, one is in traditional mediums and the third is a combination of both. Even though they all focus on the same subject matter, flower and gardens, they all have very distinctive looks. I love the freedom that being independent affords me so I can create in whichever medium I choose.

As a lifetime entrepreneur the thought of having a gallery owner tell me what they want and when they want it is abhorrent to me. There is a benefit to being a working artist for many, many decades. I have the emotional and financial security to remain an independent artist. Having spent my former career in sales and marketing and also having had my own graphic design business for decades, I have the skills that many artists don’t possess.

I’m committed to creating my own art styles, exploring new mediums, enjoying the process of experimentation. But I’m just as committed to running my art business. Because of the tools now available through technology, the internet and social media I can do that myself at an affordable price. It’s a game-changer.

Recently I was asked what advice would I would give to my 21-year-old self on how to get started and keep motivated?

I can’t speak to my 21-year-old self since I was married and the mother of a baby boy by then. I didn’t put myself through college until my youngest went to nursery school. By the time I graduated from art school I was a 32-year-old single parent. A career was foremost on my mind in order to support my sons but I knew that I needed to focus on the arts in some way to follow my calling. By creative thinking & sheer guts, I got myself into the nascent computer graphics industry in the early 1980’s as a salesperson who had to use and demonstrate graphic devices and electronic paint systems. This gave me a toe-hold into the conversation of creative arts.

Critical as well was that I always maintained a working studio in my home, even sitting in it & studying art history books when I was too stressed to pick up a brush. Because I kept my focus on the artist part of me more than the technologist part of me I was able to transition into creating my own art more often as my sons grew up and life became easier. Maintaining this tangential association with the creative arts was the reason I’ve been able to now focus 100% of my effort into my artwork.

Keeping motivated isn’t difficult when you’ve burned with the desire to create your whole life. What does help however is having artist friends and mentors who understand the struggles to carve out the time to express yourself in an ever-busy world. Accountability partners help me to keep the balance needed to make room for the creation of art and the running of an art business. Either one of those activities is all-consuming but without one you don’t need the other.

Mary Ahern-Artist Talk. The Art world has changed.

Mary Ahern giving an Artist Talk at The Firefly Artists Gallery in December 2019.

Slide Slam-Patchogue Arts Council Presentation by Mary Ahern

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Mary AhernApril 20, 2019

Recently I had the honor to present my art and the meaning behind my thought process at Slide Slam. This event was sponsored by the Patchogue Arts Council and hosted by the Haven Gallery in Northport NY.

The presentation by the 20 selected Long Island artists was to display a slideshow of 15 images and speak for exactly 5 minutes each about the work. Such a daunting task proved to be an interesting challenge. How do you get to the essence of your work succinctly in such a short span of time?

With plenty of planning!

After the event, I created a video of my Slide Slam talk which you can see here.

Important for me was to convey how critical the garden is to my work. It is in fact the beginning of my creative workflow. In the garden I feel the power of the interconnectedness of all that surrounds me; the necessary ecological balance of the earth, climate, water and nutrients, that sustain the cycle of life.

The communities of birds, bees, insects and yes, humans to pollinate flowers with the assistance of the wind of course. This cooperation is the main critical component of maintaining not just my garden but our entire life here on earth as we know it. Without fertilization the cycle of life would die for all living things, not just for the loss of our beautiful garden flowers but for all our food sources as well.

To me, the garden is just a microcosm of the universe.

The vast beauty of color, fragrance and the architecture of each plant is created to seduce assistance in procreation. Each flower has evolved its own method for attracting exactly the pollinator they desire. Long tubes for hummingbirds, open centers for nice fat bumble bees. Certain colors are more visible to different insects than others. Fragrance signals an invitation to specific species that the time is right for fertilization. The Brugmansia is most fragrant in the late afternoon since it would rather have an energetic pollinator just arriving on their evening shift than a tired one at the end of it’s working day.

Working in and studying my own garden for the last 30 years has given me the unique opportunity to watch dynamic change occur. When my oak trees fell in Hurricane Sandy suddenly the types of plants that enjoyed their shade began to suffer from too much sun. I dug them up and moved them and their scorched leaves to where they would be more comfortable and replaced them with flowers that thrive in the drenching sun. Over time this would have happened naturally but I was able to speed up the process.

Each day in my garden I’m inspired by the energy of life. I carry this with me right into my studio where I allow that energy to inform my art.

Northport Art in the Park Annual Art Festival Event

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Mary AhernMarch 15, 2023

Art in the Park

Art, Music, Poetry and Dance Festival

A July summer event, featuring music, dance, poetry and over 30 artists displaying and selling their original work. Art show begins at 10am and festivities begin at 12pm. Free admission and a fun day for the entire family. Hours are 10am to 5pm.

For Additional information visit the Northport Arts Coalition website

Join us for another exciting event in the picturesque Village of Northport, NY. This multi-disciplinary annual event is held in the Village Park at the foot of main street surrounded by the lush tableau of water, boats, trees, playgrounds and the old time Village feel of another, calmer and genteel era.

Mary Ahern Artist Northport Booth. Art for sale

To see and purchase my art anytime of year please visit my website shop. You won’t be disappointed!

Marketing and Preparation Checklist for Giving a Lecture

The only way for me to efficiently prepare for any upcoming Lecture or Art Show exhibition is to create a checklist of items I need to complete to make a successful event. These contain Marketing items, preparing to show the Art, inventory items for sale & display and the advance staging & rehearsal.

For my latest upcoming Art Lecture at the Long Island Horticultural Society, I worked from this list if items. I really enjoy drawing lines through each task as I complete it so I can move on to the next.

The list is fluid & with each event I have to make adjustments but this is a fairly good outline to begin with.

Lecture To-Do List

Marketing

Update my website
Write blog post
Write & send Press Release
Create poster
Email poster
Create newsletter
Email newsletter
Post event to Facebook
Post event to Fine Art America
Post event to HAC
Post event to NAC
Print price lists
Create & print handouts

Art Work

Create Planting Fields paintings
Get portraits printed
Paint mixed media paintings

Inventory

Inventory small prints for sale
Inventory matted prints for sale
Inventory note cards for sale
Collect show-&-tell items

Staging & Rehearsal

Update power point presentation
Stage easels with lighting
Stage & test presentation

From the Garden to the Wall- Lecture by the Artist, Mary Ahern

Preparing Prints For an Art Show

Here is a video which I originally created in July of 2013 of how I prepare prints for display and sale at outdoor art festivals .

I took these video clips in my studio as I prepared for the Northport Art in the Park hosted by the Northport Arts Coalition.

I used a Canon Power Shot SD3500 IS Digital ELPH, holding it in one hand and demonstrating with the other. I used the audio from the camera which is muffled at times since I put my finger over the microphone. I originally started with 18 minutes of video clips and brought it down to about 4:15.

I edited in iMovie with the end credits created in Photoshop.

Fun little project which I wish I’d given myself more time to perfect but there are always choices to be made. Time being the one thing I can’t seem to stretch.

You can see this and other video on my YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/MaryAhernArtist

Joseph Raffael at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery – Video of the 2013 Show

I happily took the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station to then walk to Chelsea in NYC from my perch in Northport Long Island. This venture, on a cold winter day, was to gather in the brilliant colors and environments of the watercolor paintings created by the Artist, Joseph Raffael. These large-scale works envelop you into the tropical gardens and seaside shells which are the models and subjects of his work.

Some feature strongly defined focal points while other subjects are diffused, allowing you to meander through the tangles of flowers, leaves and stems. Koi provide the pivotal “Turning Point” between the water and air while leaving ripples which you know will be gone again in moments. Tibetan prayer flags flutter in the breeze sharing the brilliance of Koi colors. Time, movement and transience are significant subjects in these meditative paintings.

Here is a short video I made from this Joseph Raffael Show.

The Nancy Hoffman Gallery 520 West 27th St. New York City.

March 21-May 4, 2013

Huntington Arts Council – Auction on Main

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Mary AhernNovember 12, 2012

Rose Montage has 5 individual digital paintings of Roses. Framed size is 8 x 39.5″

This is the month for the annual silent art auction fundraiser in support of the Huntington Arts Council’s exhibition program at the Main Street Petite Gallery and Art-trium Gallery in Melville.

November 9 – November 30, 2012
9-5PM

Huntington Arts Council Petite Gallery
213 Main St.
Huntington NY 11743

Contact: Florence Dallari, Asst. Dir. 631-271-8423
Huntington Arts Council Website: http://www.huntingtonarts.org

This year I’ve donated my White Rose Montage to this worthy fund-raiser.

I designed this long 8″ x 39″ montage for all the folks who tell me they can’t buy my work since they don’t have anymore wall space. This piece fits nicely between windows or as an accent piece at the edge of a wall. It has 5 individual digital paintings of roses for all those rosarian collectors out there.

The holidays are coming and you can do two nice things for the price of one. Bid on this piece to help support the Huntington Arts Council and then give it as a gift to one of your special friends.

It will last longer than a bouquet of flowers.

Some Steps When Curating & Designing an Art Show

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Mary AhernOctober 26, 2017

Curating an Art Show takes many steps and stages. The process begins with the organization sponsoring the event. They are responsible for setting the dates and timetables of the show, the selection of Artists and in this case, establishing and maintaining a cooperative working relationship with the owners of the hosting venue.

The organization that is sponsoring the Art Show decides if they are hosting a One-Person Art Show or a Group Exhibit and where the venue will be held. This information is included in their prospectus.

For the Art Show I’m having from August 28 through October 9^th, 2012, I downloaded the prospectus from the Northport Arts Coalition (aka NAC) website here. Most organizations now offer their applications & information online.

In this case, I applied for a One-Person Show to be held over a 6-7 week period at the Wine Cellar on Main in downtown Northport NY. I was notified of my acceptance and given about a one-month lead time to prepare for the showing.

Normally the lead time for an opportunity for a large show like this is quite a bit longer but I was pleased with the opportunity to show my work so I quickly accepted their offer.

A view of my studio while staging for the Art Show

Depending on the organization the curating of the actual show is done either by a designated person within that group or the individual Artists whom they’ve selected for a show.

Since I have decades of experience managing and curating my own and other events I have a particular method of working. In another post, I discussed how I started planning & curating my show. Curating in the sense I wrote about is the decision making process of how the show will look and what work I have available to show.

I usually have various paintings of mine in multiple group shows over a wide variety of time slots & locations so I keep comprehensive records of where my Art Work is allocated at any given time & where the work is scheduled to be shown.

I also know what work is in the process of being created & when the work will be available for the next showing.

Curating is many things. These include finding the venues, selecting the Artists, designing the show itself and creating and executing the marketing campaign.

Strategies for Planning & Curating my Own Art Show

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Mary AhernAugust 14, 2012

So I applied and was accepted for a one-person Fine Art Show at the new Wine Cellar on Main in Northport NY from August 28 through October 8^th, 2012. The acceptance email was the fun part & then the stress factor hit me within moments.

Yikes. I’m a curator now.

What paintings would I show? How many pieces of Art? What size paintings would look right. How would I stage the show hanging? And since it was such short notice, (one-month) how quickly could I pull this whole show together efficiently & still enjoy life?

Here’s what I did.

Site survey of the Wine Cellar on Main with my friend Greg Oleanik’s show in place.

Side wall of Greg Oleanik’s show at the Wine Cellar on Main

I took my point & shoot camera, pencil, paper & a sturdy metal measuring tape & scouted out the available show space. Luckily, my friend Greg Oleanik currently had a show hanging there so I was able to take snapshots of all his work hanging in place.

Mock-up of what size paintings I will need for my upcoming Art Show

Side wall mock-up for my Art Show planning

I measured the height & widths of all the available spaces within the room, keeping them sequentially numbered along with photos of each space. I spoke with the proprietor, Lindsay Ostrander & we discussed the fact that she had installed a hanging system with rails & rods so that I wouldn’t need to put nails in her walls. This info I took back to my studio & headed for the computer.

I imported the photos into Photoshop. I created a panorama of the interior hanging space with photos of Greg’s show. Then I made a mock-up of the walls & created placeholders for the different sizes of my own Artwork since I know what sizes of Art I generally work in.

With this in place I was able to count how many and what sizes of paintings I would need to have available to put into the Art Show.

I felt calmer already. Next step was planning on how much creating was ahead of me & what I could possibly hope to accomplish in such a short span of time while also leaving me time to publicize the show. I wanted to make sure I left enough time to share the news about the show with family, friends, and with all my past, present & future customers.

Northport Arts Coalition Hosts Art in the Park Featuring the Artist, Mary Ahern

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Mary AhernAugust 4, 2018

NAC’s ‘Art in the Park’ set for July 14, 2012

by Elise Pearlman in The Observer, Northport’s Community Weekly Newspaper 86th Year, No. 9

The Northport Observer cover story of Northport Art in the Park featuring Mary Ahern the Artist.

The Observer article written by Elise Pearlman announcing the Northport Art in the Park featuring the Artist, Mary Ahern.

There’ll be art, music, dance, poetry and plenty of it when the Northport Arts Coalition hosts their ‘Saturday Art in the Park’ Festival on July 14 from 10am to 5pm. The free family-friendly extravaganza takes place in Northport Village Park rain or shine and all are welcome to attend.

This joyous celebration of the arts in all their diversity has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception, said NAC community liaison Lauren Paige who is overseeing the event.

The day promises to be a veritable paradise for art lovers. According to Ms. Paige, 25 artists will be displaying fine art, photographs, jewelry, crafts, books and more, and some are coming from across the tri-state area.

“I enjoy hosting artists from Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey as well as local artists who have been coming back year after year,” Ms. Paige said.

Longtime Asharoken resident and artist Marge Kawaller is coordinating the art portion of the festival. She said that NAC is extraordinarily proud of the line-up.

Northport resident Mary Ahern will exhibit her large-scale fine art digital mixed media paintings which resonate with eye-catching detail. Inspired by her own lush garden, Ms. Ahern showcases the colorful pageantry of flowers as well as fruit. Her oversized portraits of seashells enable viewers to “enjoy the feel of the seashore all year long,” Elise Pearlman.

Meet the Artist, Mary Ahern at the Northport ArtWalk

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Mary AhernJanuary 19, 2016

The Northport ArtWalk is a Free self-guided walking tour of the many galleries, studios and eclectic gallery-for-a-day venues centered around and along Northport’s picturesque Harbor and Main Street. Northport, NY is located on the North Shore of Long Island about 40 miles east of midtown Manhattan between the towns of Huntington and Smithtown.

The ArtWalk is one of the best ways for visitors to enjoy Northport’s bustling and diverse art community by bringing visitors to view the art of established and emerging Artists.

The festive atmosphere of Northport will be punctuated by musical performances; live artistic demonstrations and street decorations as town visitors peruse the art in restaurants, antique shops, boutiques and cafes that are part of this historic village.

Blue Hydrangeas in Delft Blue Pot. Digital & Traditional Mixed Media Painting

I will be showing my Fine Art at Bodyscape Pilates located at 54 Woodbine Ave, Northport NY 11768.

There will be a mixture of Traditional Watercolor paintings, Drawings, and my Digital Mixed Media Paintings for you to choose from. All my work will be for sale. Something for everyone!

Pick up your self-guided maps at Copenhagen Bakery just a few hundred feet away on Woodbine Ave.

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Joseph Raffael Art Show at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery, NYC. January 2010

The Joseph Raffael show at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery at 520 West 27^th St in Chelsea New York was a burst of color and soul. The show was there from November 2009 through January 10, 2010. For those of you who missed this wonderous presentation, I created a video of the show.

Visiting this show brought such a burst of the voluptuous joy of color and passion to an otherwise gray day that I was compelled to share it with others.

Joseph Raffael douses himself in his watercolors. His colors flood and pool in the most controlled display of virtuosity I’ve ever seen in this medium. Though in this show his subject matter seems to be primarily flowers, his style is the antithesis of botanical illustration.

As a matter of fact, Elisabeth, my fellow Artist friend and I gallery hopped to this show on the heels of a visit to the ASBA (American Society of Botanical Artists) show at The Horticultural Society of NY. The contrast of two exquisite art forms, both employing watercolor and using flowers as subject, was astounding.

For an extra treat, I would suggest visiting Joseph Raffael’s website and taking some time to view the meditative videos of him as he paints.

Take a moment to calm down and become immersed in the process of Art. It will make your day. It always does so for me.

Huntington Arts Council Silent Auction-December 2010

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Mary AhernDecember 5, 2011

I have donated one of my Krinkled Peony Digital/Traditional Mixed Media Paintings to the Huntington Arts Council, annual silent auction fundraiser. This piece is a combination of Digital painting and Traditional Colored Pencils.

The finished mixed media painting is matted & finished in a 16×16″ natural wood color frame.

Bidding is underway at the Main Street Petite Gallery. Almost 50 artist members of the Huntington Arts Council have donated original work in oils, watercolor, photography, prints, diamond and topaz jewelry, silk and more. Bidding opportunities start at $25, and go until 6 p.m. on Friday, December 4.

This is a great chance to own an original piece of art or purchase one as a gift for a favorite relative or friend. Stop by the gallery at 213 Main Street in Huntington, two blocks east of New York Avenue, to see both the art and all the raffle items.

Poster for the L’Art Pour L’Art Silent Auction for the Huntington Arts Council

The proceeds support the exhibition programs of the Arts Council’s two galleries. Some of the wonderful raffle items are: a pair of subscription tickets for the Long Island Philharmonic; gift certificates for Besito, Honu, RED Restaurant and others; and theater and movie passes.

The gallery will be open for the duration of the auction Friday evenings until 8 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. on the first three Saturdays of November. A “Rockin’ Sock Puppet Making Workshop” is on tap for kids ages 5 to 11 on Saturday, November 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Then on November 21 at 2 p.m., some of the donating artists will be at the gallery to talk about their work.

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L’Art pour L’Art by Huntington Arts Council

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Mary AhernOctober 23, 2009

L’Art pour L’Art a Silent Affair

Main Street Petite Gallery

Art Auction Fundraiser

213 Main St.

Huntington, NY 11743

Opens November 6, 2009 6pm

Meet the Artist – Sat. Nov 21st at 2pm

Auction closes – Friday Dec. 4th at 6pm

Original art from oils to watercolors to pastels to gold and diamond jewelry will be available for bidding starting Friday, Nov. 6 as the Huntington Arts Council’s “L’Art Pour L’Art” opens with a gala reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

The festivities take place at the Arts Council’s Main Street Petite Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington. The silent auction fundraiser runs until 6 p.m. on December 4, providing the public an opportunity to “bring art to life” by taking home a stunning work of art.

Florence L. Dallari, assistant director of the Huntington Arts Council, stated, “The Huntington Arts Council is appreciative of all of the artists and businesses that support this fundraiser. An original piece of art can be yours for as low as $25 and you can purchase a raffle for just $5. We encourage the community to visit our gallery during this month-long event to enjoy one of the benefits of living in Huntington.”

The proceeds support the exhibition programs of the Arts Council’s two galleries. Along with more than 40 pieces of art, some of the raffle items are a pair of subscription tickets for the Long Island Philharmonic, gift certificates for Besito, Honu, RED Restaurant and others, as well as theater and movie passes.

The gallery will be open for the duration of the auction Friday evenings until 8 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. on the first three Saturdays of November. A “Rockin’ Sock Puppet Making Workshop” is on tap for kids ages 5 to 11 on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Space for this project, where kids will make the puppets and put on their very own puppet shows, is limited, so call 631-271-8423 ext. 14 to make your reservations early. Then on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m., some of the donating artists will be at the gallery to talk about their work. More information is available at the Arts Council’s Web site, www.huntingtonarts.org, or by calling 631-271-8423.

Artists Supporters:

Mary Ahern, Irene Andreadis, Shain Bard, Charles Blake, Edith Rae Brown, Ethel Brown Camhi, Victoria Carlin, Joseph Constantino, Susanne Corbelletta, George D’Amato, Sandi Daniel, Sandro Diani, Lillian Dodson, Michael Fairchild, Jim Finlayson, Holly Gordon, William Grabowski, Jahn Guarino, Ed Hall, David Haussler, David Jaycox, Jr., Andrew Jiritano, Kate Kelly, Herb Knopp, Anita Lamb, Lisle, William Low, Diane Lundegaard, Edward McEvoy, Kevin W. McEvoy, Jane McGraw-Teubner, Rhoda Needlman, Cecil Pang. Jack Pierce, Vivian Pollack, Renee Reichert, Mara Sfara, Marie Sheehy-Walker, Joseph J. Stelmach, Donald Thiergard, Tonito Valderrama, Von Schmidt, Lois Walker, Stokely Webster, Barbara White, M. Ellen Winter, Elizabeth Yaar & more…….

Raffle Sponsors:

Besito, Bottles and Cases, Canterbury Ales, Cinema Arts Center, Ciro Spa, Honu Kitchen & Cocktail, Jacqueline-Fine Jewelry, John W. Engeman Theater, Jonathan’s Ristorante, L. I. Philharmonic, Mediterranean Snack Bar, Mundays, Northport Tasting Room & Wine Celler, Prime, Red, Theater Three, Universal Touch Massage

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Westhampton Beach Fine Arts Festival. Day 2.

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Mary AhernAugust 4, 2018

Today was the second and last day of the 37th Annual Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce Mary O. Fritchie Outdoor Juried Art Show

The overcast weather encouraged many customers to come out and enjoy purchasing Art

The overcast weather encouraged many customers not to go to the beach but to come out and enjoy purchasing ArtThe weather took quite a change from yesterday’s very sunny and overly hot and humid conditions. The humidity stayed but the sun and extreme heat disappeared.

The show opened officially at 10am and was very busy for quite a few hours. People were in a buoyant and buying mood, which was very nice to see. The current economic environment is still oppressive but many folks seemed to be carrying home their treasured purchases, large and small.

Behind the scenes is my husband Dave prepping additional Designer Prints for sale

I enjoyed so much seeing customer/friends who stopped by to catch up on life. Some of these collectors began buying work from me when I was showing my traditional Botanical mixed media paintings at Art Shows and Festivals. That was quite some years ago. I love hearing that they’re still enjoying seeing my Art hanging in their homes!

About 3:30 while standing talking to visitors, I could feel the weather abruptly change. Apparently so did many others since there was a slow but steady departure of customers over the course of the next half hour. After checking by phone with various friends living around Long Island, we knew a storm was coming through.

The weather changed and you could feel rain coming even before the drizzle started

I made the decision to break down an hour earlier than the official end of the show. Good thing we did. My husband Dave and I have the set-up and take down very well coordinated and we packaged the Art, the furniture and the tent very quickly. We completed the dissembling and loading of the trailer in an hour and a half. By the time all was loaded into the trailer and I was sitting in the truck starting the engine, the rain came down in full force.

We knew the storm was coming and the customers weren’t so we packed our things and left.

We were both soaked but the Art wasn’t. We drove towards home through torrential rain and pulled safely into our flooded driveway. The storm was traveling from west to east so as we got closer to home the rain had begun to subside. By the time we showered and changed, the sun was out again. We went to eat at a restaurant with an outdoor terrace and celebrated another great Art Show.

Life is sweet!

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Westhampton Beach Fine Arts Festival – Day 1

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Mary AhernAugust 4, 2018

Mary Ahern artist booth at Westhampton Beach art show.

The customers came to see the show early in the day before or later, after they visited the beach

Today, August 2009 was the first day of the 37th Annual Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce Mary O. Fritchie Outdoor Juried Art Show

The weather was very humid and in the high 80’sF which made it extremely uncomfortable when bringing in the Art from the trailer and setting it up in the festival booth. We brought in the furniture which helps to complete the showroom aspect of the booth. I bought the desk from Pro Panels, the print racks from Richeson via Blick and the bookcases Home Decorators.

We hung the awnings to keep the sun off the Art and the Artist but it really didn’t provide any relief from the heat. If I didn’t move at all I could tolerate the heat but that didn’t happen for most of the day.

The bad thing about a sunny day in the Hamptons is that the customers spend most of their time at the beach rather than shopping. Traffic was heavy when the show opened at ten and again at 3 when the heat started to calm down.

It is very tricky to do an Art Show in a vacation beach resort. You want slightly overcast so no one goes to the beach but no rain or wind. It is hard to book the exact perfect weather for an Art Show, but I keep trying.

Westhampton Beach Fine Arts Festival Set-up

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Mary AhernAugust 5, 2018

What: 37th Annual Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce Mary O. Fritchie Outdoor Juried Art Show.

When: Saturday, August 01, 2009 10:00 AM
Sunday, August 02, 2009 10:00 AM

Where: The Westhampton Beach Village Green
& Mill Road between Main Street & Church Lane. Westhampton Beach, NY 11978

Side curtains are attached to the frame by a system of zippers and straps

So since we checked the weather report and noticed that MORE RAIN is expected later in the evening, my husband Dave and I drove out to Westhampton Beach, (about an hour from our home) to set up our show booth earlier on Friday than usual. We’ve been doing this show now for a few years and pay for it a year in advance so we can get the same spot on the Village Green. It is space #47 in case you’re dropping by.

As you can see we were among the earliest Artists to show up. Considering how the wind picked up I’m hoping we made the right decision. We like setting up the day before since it is so hectic in the morning with over 120 Artists trying to bring in their tents and move in their Art. The amount of parking is minimal and the amount of trucks, vans and trailers is great.

At Art Festivals we try to set the booth up the day before and bring then the Art in on Show day

We have found over time that once we set up the EZ-up tent and zip up the 4 heavy-duty side curtains the wind blows around it rather than under. We bought the mesh panels and side curtains from Flourish.com. We also have 4 bags, each filled with about 45 pounds of sand, suspended from each strut holding down each corner. This park has an underground sprinkler system so you can’t use stakes to anchor the tent as you can in some shows.

Setting up the tent, mesh panels, side curtains and weights took us about an hour. We’ve really streamlined our workflow.

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