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The paintings and photographs will be everywhere, from up and down the tower, to the keeper’s quarters, even the building where the original (1858) lens is stored.
Art is about to take over the Fire Island Lighthouse and its campus — as it has this time each year for the past 15 years.
The annual art show, which will start with a big party on Thursday, June 23, and run through July 17, serves as a fundraiser for the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society.
This year, the show’s opening reception will also serve as a kickoff event for Fire Island National Seashore’s summer-long centennial celebration of the National Park Service.
(A complete list of events is below.)
The Lighthouse Society will be hosting the reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday.
The event is free and open to the public.
“The night of the opening we will have shuttle buses taking people back and forth from Robert Moses’ Field 5,” said Lighthouse Society volunteer Linda Nuccio, who is co-coordinating the art show with a fellow volunteer, Carol Corbett. “We will have free food and wine and cheese and music, and a beautiful sunset.”
“This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the re-lighting of the lighthouse,” Nuccio added.
The nonprofit group, which now operates the lighthouse and its museum, saved the historic structure from demolition in the years after it was decommissioned by the federal government as an aid to navigation, according to the Lighthouse Society’s website, fireislandlighthouse.com.
The group was formed in 1982 and raised $1.3 million to preserve and restore the lighthouse to its 1939 condition, which is when electricity was first installed. It was relit and reinstated as an official aid to navigation on May 25, 1986.
In 1984, the Fire Island Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Click here for operating hours or to reserve the space for a program.
Over 70 artists from Long Island will be displaying works at the lighthouse, about 145 works in all. Thirty precent of sales proceeds will go to the foundation.
Visitors to the exhibit will also be treated to a guided tour of the lighthouse and its grounds. Click here for visitor’s information, including hours and contacts to reserve a program.
photo by Michael Busch/Great South Bay Images
Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society Art Show
Exhibition: June 24 to July 17, 2016
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 23, 2016 – 6:00 to 9:00 pm
This Fire Island-themed art show is set up throughout the Keepers Quarters Museum and features original artwork in acrylic, pastels, oils, and mixed media in a wide variety of sizes and prices. A portion of sales benefits the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society.
Wilderness Art Workshops at the Wilderness Visitor Center
Sunday, June 26, July 17, and August 21, 2016 – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Join local mixed-media artist David Adams for this series of monthly art workshops exploring and experiencing the landscapes and seascapes of the dynamic Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness. Workshop participants may display their wilderness-inspired works in the workshop exhibit, August 25 to September 5, 2016.
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition at the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal
Saturdays and Sundays, June 26 to July 24, 2016
See Fire Island inspired art on display by the Seashore’s 2015 Artists-in-Residence. The exhibit features the works of mixed media artist Anna Golici, painter Amanda Kavanagh, installation artist Jane Ingram-Allen, and poet Anthony DiMatteo. The artists’ unique interpretations reflect their uninterrupted two-week exploration of Fire Island National Seashore.
Catching the Light Photography Workshop at the Wilderness Visitor Center
Friday, July 8, 2016 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Learn tips and techniques for photographing Fire Island’s landscapes, wildlife, plants, and people. After a short indoor presentation, head outdoors for some early evening practice with your camera.
Painting Watch Hill at the Watch Hill Dune Station
Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17, 2016 – Noon to 3:00 pm
Sketch and paint with former Fire Island National Seashore Artist-in-Residence Amanda Kavanagh. Discover the details of color during a short talk and watercolor demonstration then continue “en plein air” at Watch Hill. For adults and teens; all levels of experience welcome.
The Art of Decoy Carving at the William Floyd Estate
Saturday, July 30 and August 27, 2016 – All day
Join Village Historian and expert decoy carver Jaime Reason on the front porch of Old Mastic House as he demonstrates duck and shorebird carving and shares the rich history of decoy carving of the south bays on Long Island.
Find Your Park Juried Art Exhibition at the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal
Exhibition: July 31 to September 5, 2016
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 25 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
In honor of the National Park Service Centennial, this juried art exhibition will feature creative reflections on the diversity of national parks through a wide variety of media.
Children’s Centennial Art Contest at the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal
Application Deadline: July 31, 2016
Exhibition Dates: August 25-September 5, 2016
Children ages 5 to 17 are invited to share their national park-inspired art showcasing the landscapes, resources, and stories of any national park in the system. Information, rules, and entry forms are available at visitor centers or by email.
#100FireIslandPhotos on Social Media
Take and share #100FireIslandPhotos. Tag @FireIslandNPS and use hashtag #100FireIslandPhotos to be featured on Fire Island National Seashore’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Look for special photo challenges throughout the summer.
For more information on these and other FINS summer programs please visit nps.gov/FIIS.
