About the Suburban Art League
The Suburban Art League is a non-profit corporation that was formed to increase cooperation among artists, art students and all others engaged in artistic activities; to provide a registry for artists; to hold competitions and exhibitions; and to promote the study and improvement and appreciation of the arts. Services for artists and art patrons include:
monthly demonstrations and lectures at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center on the first Tuesday of every month, sponsorship of the arts competitions, monthly newsletter, art critiques, workshops and association with other artists and an opportunity to exhibit individual works of art. Services:
Monthly demonstrations or lectures and one- or two-day workshops by nationally-known artists:
Steven Assael, representational figurative artist- oil painting (1992 & 2012)
Leonard Bocour- Founder of Bocour Artist Colors, oil and watercolor paints- product demo. (1967)
Sherrie McGraw- oil still life
Mort Kunstler- Civil War artist- critique
Antonio Masi AWS, American Watercolor Society president- watercolor painting (Oct. 2016)
Helen Van Wyk- PBS "Welcome to My Studio" television show artist- oil portrait
Local workshop and demo artists have included:
Robert Armetta, founder of the Long Island Academy of Fine Art. Paul Bachem- oil
Ruth Baderian- watercolor
Arthur J. Barbour, AWS- watercolor
Monica Baumann
Angelo Bona- sculpture
Marion Brown- watercolor
Bart DeCeglie- oil
George Gach- sculpture
Mary Ann Heinzen- watercolor
Marc Josloff- watercolor
Jane McGraw Tuebner PSA, Master Pastelist
Donna Harlow Moraff PSA, Signature Member
Denis Ponsot- watercolor
Edmond Rochat
Howard Rose- oil
Marie Sheehy Walker, PSA- pastel
Dan Slapo, PSA Master Pastelist- pastel
Joan Stevens- oil
Shawn Sullivan- oil
Bill Graf - watercolor
Sponsorship of Art Competitions and Exhibits:
We exhibit our work as a group in a minimum of two shows per year. One is the Membership Show in local libraries and churches and the Open Juried Show is held at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center for all artists- members and non-members alike. Occasional
Workshops conducted by professional teachers and artists. Scheduled time & place is varied to geographically accommodate all artists. Association with Other Artists providing the understanding and stimulation that promotes artistic growth. Highlights in Suburban Art League History:
1959-1963: Loosely-formed small group of artists who exhibited at the Mid-Island Plaza (now Broadway Mall in Hicksville) & other several places. The Suburban Art League's Annual Long Island Art Exhibition, started in 1959, was chaired by Robert ("Bob") W. Lyon, Jr.
1963: Founded in 1963 with Arlene Liebman as first president of the SAL. Other officers were Bob Lyon, Jr.- 1st VP with programs, Edna Aldrich- 2nd VP with exhibitions, Dot Olsen- treasurer, Kay Harsha- recording secretary and Polly Lowell- corresponding secretary. The SAL Constitution was written by Bea Howlett, Mildred Cowan and Cammie McGuire.
$4 annual dues.
1964: Open Show at Syosset High School had 4 awards at $100 each and 6 at $25 each with the following media: oil, watercolor, casein, tempera, mixed media, collage, printing & photographs- $550 in prizes. The school charged a high rental for the week, causing a financial loss for the show. Monthly meetings included a film & a demo on silk screen printing. Workshops/trips: Manhattan gallery tour, workshops in watercolor, oils, silk-screening, spray painting & casein painting.
1965: Membership Show prizes ranged from $15-25. Open Juried Show at Woodbury Country Club. First Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School, which charged 25% commission, going to the school building fund. Monthly meetings- National artist, Helen Van Wyk was one of the demonstrators. Amendments to original SAL constitution that required members to participate in at least one activity (besides attending meetings & workshops).
1965-1966: Second Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School. Monthly meetings at the Syosset Community Church. SAL almost merged with the Huntington Township Art League due to problems with finding a home.
1966: Membership Show at Community Church in Syosset. Art Exhibition at Mid-Island Plaza. Outdoor Art Show in Syosset. First time using the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center (Tinker Mansion & later, the newer building). Some meetings held at the Community Church in Syosset that year, due to physical problems in the Tinker Museum, until they fixed them. Sketch Night at meeting in June.
1967: SAL Ninth Annual Open Juried Art Competition in Syosset-Woodbury Community Center- 308 entries with four $100 prizes & four $50 prizes plus 8 additional prizes for a total of $750 in prizes. 2,000 people visited the week-long show. During the exhibit demos were in using a palette knife, drawing comics, watercolor & sculpture in different days. Prize-winners were sponsored by Macy's of Huntington with a group show of their work. Third Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School. Monthly meetings included color woodcut demo by Viggo Holm Madsen, slide lecture by Katinka Mann. & art critique by Paul Margin. Tour of Avnet-Shaw (Meisner) Foundry in Plainview. Dues raised to $7 annually.
1968: SAL Tenth Annual Open Juried Art Competition in Syosset-Woodbury Community Center. "Award Winners Show" at the Syosset Public Library and Island Federal Savings & Loan. Monthly meetings: Talk by Dr. Russell Housman, Chair of Nassau Community College Art Department, 4 art-related movie shorts. (no SAL files from 1969-1983, except for one in 1977)
1977: Annual Membership Show at Bethpage State Park Clubhouse Lounge, in cooperation with the Long Island State Park and Recreation Commission.
1984: Membership Show with $250 in prizes from Times Square Stores (TSS) in Bethpage State Park. Art Show at Empire Bank in Syosset. CHPS Show in November. Monthly meetings: Illustrator, Mort Kunstler slide show. Panel discussion with slides- Dr. Stella Russell, Adrienne O'Brien & Judith Van Wagner. Cecile Johnson demo on sports illustration and a film. Meeting at New York Tech with Dr. O'Brien introducing computer programming & graphics. Pat James of Garden City Gallery speaking on how to get into a gallery. Dr. Stella Russell- airbrush. Workshop with Jack Gates for 4 consecutive weeknights. Channel 21 Art Auction fundraiser with a number of SAL board members manning the phones- SAL was mentioned on the radio. Grants: Application for funding from NYS Decentralization Board for a video camera for monthly demos. $750 grant from the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Funds thru Nassau County.
220 paid members.
1985: Open Juried Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center with 2 live musicians at the reception. SAL workshops: Carl Molno workshop & Jack Gates workshop in oils & pastels at John Burns Park. Monthly meetings: Sherrie McGraw oil demo & slide lecture by Dr. Emily Waxberg on the Theory of Color & Light. Channel 21 Art Auction volunteering again. Grants: NYS Council on the Arts awarded SAL a $750 grant to be used for 3 "Pro vs. Pro" debates on art styles, with a request to the National City Bank for matching funds.
1986: Membership Show at Bethpage State Park. Open Juried Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center. Monthly meetings-demonstrations of monoprints, demo by Edythe Kane- watercolor, Joseph Occhipinti- oil & Angelo Bona- sculpture. Workshops- Sherrie McGraw- 3 sessions in Education Building in Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn.
1987: Membership Show- Approx. 200 entries. 21 additional prizes due to TSS Seedman again funding prizes. Luncheon beforehand at $15 per person, and demo by George Gach during the reception. Open Juried Show
Workshop by Steve LaMonica/LoMonaco & Al Narrizano. Monthly meetings included Ruth Baderian- watercolor & Dr. Russell Housman on anatomy. 7 art demos throughout 1987 were funded thru the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development for $800. Grants: SAL rec'd a grant of $800 to work with the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development's Homeless Youth Program. Some teachers were Dr. Russell Housman who did a watercolor demo for 14 boys & Robert Carter with the boys. After the grant money was depleted, several members continued to work with the youth. An amplification system was purchased. Channel 21 Art Auction volunteering again.
1988: Membership Show- 150 pieces.
30th Open Juried Art Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center- 230 entries, with 2 musicians during the reception. Demo by George Gach- bas relief sculpture. Judge- Mort Kunstler had a critique of the work at the June SAL meeting. In connection with the show is "Articipate 88" had a week-long series of programs there, with $1,000 funded by the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development: slide presentation by Ed Smitts, a costume/sketch/photography night with 2 models, Western Music Night & 2 holography lecture/demos by Linda Law that week. Purchase of screen for demos.
290 SAL members.
1989: Membership Show & Luncheon with a "Creative Hat" contest.
