The Long Islander
June 2015, By Jennifer Eyring
The Northport Arts Coalition (NAC), Firefly Gallery and landlord Dennis Tannenbaum have teamed up to take vacant store fronts and turn them into pop-up art galleries.
Mr. Tannenbaum owns the store at 77 Main Street, which is currently vacant, and for at least the next month, he’s allowing NAC and Firefly to set up a gallery inside featuring 38 local artists.
“I think it’s great, ” said Lauren Paige of NAC. “It’s great for the community. A lot of local artists are getting to show their work. It’s just amazing.”
There will be a grand opening event at the gallery Saturday, June 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. There will also be a meet the artists night Friday, June 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. At both events, there will be live music, refreshments and an opportunity to meet and speak with the artists who’s art is hanging on the gallery’s walls.
The gallery will have all varieties of art including oil and acrylic paintings, photography, print makers, jewelry, ceramics, pottery and sculptures. The artists are from Firefly’s core group of artists and from NAC’s group of artists. After the call for art was put out, the groups had such a large response that there is currently a waiting list of artists.
Mr. Tannenbaum said if no one has rented the space by the end of the month, the gallery can stay in it for another month. If this happens, the artists on the waiting list will be given an opportunity to show their work as well.
“Northport is becoming a hub for artists,” said Kate Sydney with Firefly. “We’re here, LaMantia Gallery, Gallery 37…I always think, the more the better. There are so many people who are artists and so many people who are appreciators of art and if we can connect those two people, we’re doing our jobs.”
Ms. Sydney said a lot of the art in the gallery will fit with Northport’s nautical theme, but there are a lot of different pieces as well.
“It’s great,” said Dan Paige, Executive Director of NAC. “It’s a good opportunity for us and our artists. We’re always trying to help local artists display and sell their artwork.”
The gallery will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. “It will bring the community together and I think the community will be really interested to come down and see what there is,” Ms. Paige said.
Many of the artists are from the Northport-East Northport area, according to Ms. Paige. Some are from other places on the Island and one artist from New York City sent in artwork, but for the most part, the gallery is filled with local artists.
Both Firefly and NAC would like to continue hosting pop-up galleries whenever a vacant store sits empty on Main Street.
“It’s a great idea,” Ms. Sydney said. “It’s so much better than seeing empty shops.”
The pop-up gallery at 77 Main Street will remain up through at least the end of June. For more information on NAC, visit northportarts.org and to learn more about Firefly Gallery visit, thefireflyartists.com.
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