When things go awry, the most important thing is how we respond. Trust is hard to build and easy to break. No matter what the truth is, public perception is huge. Managing that effectively is an important skill set, especially for those giving it their best to serve the common good.
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Click here for the latest edition of Firefly Lights, all about our beautiful downtown gallery of local art and artists. In this edition, please find:
Below: Works by Fireflies Kirk Larsen, Drigo Morin, Michelle Lesser, and Jan Tozzo
| WELCOME TO NORTHPORT Art is Life Come, find some beauty, some meaning, something to ponder. Spend a little time with the artist on duty. Maybe even catch them at their craft. Located at 90 Main Street in beautiful downtown Northport, The Firefly is open seven days a week. We stay open until 9pm Wednesday through Saturday, and until 7pm on Sundays. For you early birds, we’re also open by 9am on the weekends. We have items that are uplifting and pieces to meditate on. There are reminders of home and wonderful visits. Wit, whimsey and bittersweet reflections. Daydreams. Savored things. So much ever-loving Art. |
To subscribe to The Firefly Artists newsletter, please drop us a line indicating interest here.
Folks who love history. Folks who love jazz. Folks who love art and deep conversation all came together at the Firefly on March 28th to spend some time with Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka, Hollis King and excellent music.
It was a wonderful evening filled with joy, and deep reflection. We learned about John Coltrane, the space he inhabited and new grounds he forged. Profound historic moments and some of the Coltranes’ deep responses were noted. Discoveries made upon years of careful study were shared, as were anecdotes of life working with diverse artists. Among these, curious Beatles and other connections were proffered, as we considered courses of destiny and twists of fate.
Several folks who have been involved with the effort to transform the John and Alice Coltrane home in Dix Hills into a museum and cultural center were on hand. In addition to the deep dive into Coltrane himself, they shared news of that endeavor and stories of the multi-decade journey this has been. We are very excited at the progress and can’t wait for the home to open! Stay tuned…
Coltrane Scholar Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka is a Board member of the Friends of The Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, President of the Coltrane House of Osaka, and owns the Kimono shop, “Fujioka.” He is also a freelance jazz writer/ producer/ photographer/ educator and the author of four books on the subject of John Coltrane.
Hollis King is the former vice president and creative director at the Verve Music Group, the largest jazz record label in the world. He has worked with some of the greatest musicians of all time, and has himself received numerous achievement awards and citations.
As Fuji would say, “Arigato!”
We are deeply grateful for the experience and look forward to them coming back soon.
Happy Earth Day! Order plants from the Northport Native Garden Initiative by May 10th! Learn more here, including how to forestall the furry folks who might eat them before they establish!
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The Underpainting of a Paul B. & Phillip Young exhibition entitled, “CHEER UP” currently on view at Nautilus Roasting Company
From the firehouse to underpass murals to the library walls, Huntington Station showcases its local art across places folks drive past and visit every day.
On a warm morning or a beautiful evening, you can grab a cup of coffee or a delicious bite, and see sculptures, murals, gardens, art centers, and gallery spaces. Suite Pieces offers space for local artisans. Nautilus Coffee is a work of art unto itself. More artists live here than we can count. There is history. There is culture. There is civic pride. Tastes of this are shared through public artworks created by folks who call Huntington Station home.
When putting together last autumn’s “Station Celebration of Arts & Culture” with the Huntington Station BID, we were delighted to work with the office of Suffolk County Legislator Rebecca Sanin to put together this list of art available to be seen for free across Huntington Station. Now that that we can feel the sun again, it’s a great time to share it!
For more information about great stuff going on in the Station, please join the Huntington Station Business Improvement District (BID)’s email list
Here’s the list of sites on the flyers pictured here. We know there are more. Let us know of them. Tell us about great places to catch a bite to eat, too!
1. Nautilus Coffee 
1249 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 A work of art in itself — owned by a local history enthusiast. Features a rotating gallery space; artist Kristen Memoli (HS resident) is on view through October. Great place to start your walk and grab a coffee!
2. “Generations” Sculpture Median outside Nautilus Coffee (New York Avenue) Artist: Madeline Wiener Installed: 2012 A public sculpture celebrating the connection between generations and community roots.
3. Suite Pieces 1038 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 1038 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Founded by Amanda Peppard, Suite Pieces is a three-story design showroom and creative hub featuring Long Island’s largest wallpaper library, custom furniture, and The Shops at Suite Pieces — a marketplace of local artists and makers.
4. Huntington Station Library 1335 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Two murals in the front vestibule by the Tiny Arts Council. Splashes of Hope painted a joyful mural in the Young Adult Room. Also features the Old Station Exhibition near the meeting rooms.
5. Assembly of God Church 1700 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Brand-new mural painted by Officer Kent (2nd Precinct), completed last weekend.
6. Gateway Garden Lowndes Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Community garden space featuring local art and environmental projects. Home to one of Lucienne Pereira’s murals.
7. Huntington Manor Fire Station Statue 1650 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Bronze sculpture honoring the courage and service of local firefighters.
8. Spirit of Huntington Art Center 2 Melville Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Inclusive community art center offering programs for artists of all abilities. Exhibitions, art therapy, and classes — a must-see final stop.
9. Murals Along New York Avenue 1450 New York Avenue – Mural by Segundo Orellana @orellana_art on Instagram 1705 New York Avenue – “Car Mural” 1548 New York Avenue – Huntington Deli Mural Gateway Gardens – Mural led by Lucienne Pereira Family Service League Mural – Also led by Pereira; focuses on unity and community. 211 Depot Road (B.C. Communications) – Bright community-themed mural.
Signal Box Art Installations Route 110 Corridor “Check Me Out” Artist: Karmira Mohanty (Farmingville, NY) Location: NE corner of Rt. 110, Seaman Rd. & Jacobson Ave. Medium: Digitally printed vinyl wrap “Radio” Artist: John A. (Jack) Pierce (Huntington, NY) Location: NE corner of Rt. 110 & E. 12th St. Medium: Digitally printed vinyl wrap “Rubber Ducky Party” Artist: Roy Biederman (Roy Arthur Photography, Patchogue, NY) Location: SE corner of Rt. 110 & E. 13th St. Medium: Digitally printed vinyl wrap “Image of Guitars” Artist: TBD (seeking info) Location: Corner of Rt. 110, E. 15th St. & Railroad St. Medium: Digitally printed vinyl wrap
The Friends of Huntington Station Latin Quarter is holding its 16th Annual Spring Clean-Up Sunday May 3rd. We are grateful for all the folks who come together each year to make this happen. Those involved say it’s a wonderful way to serve the community, and catch up with neighbors. Not only does it make a tremendous difference at the time, the cleanup effort inspires others to keep things nice throughout the year.
Continue readingWhen things go awry, the most important thing is how we respond. Trust is hard to build and easy to break. No matter what the truth is, public perception is huge. Managing that effectively is an important skill set, especially for those giving it their best to serve the common good.
Continue reading
A note from wit’s end. I don’t know if they read it, but they act like they understand. Grateful. ~ by Katheryn Laible
I have three creative, curious, active children. They are mostly grown now, but my goodness! That was a lot. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
For a long time, the biggest thing was just keeping them all physically alive. Soon enough, though, they seemed to more or less get a basic sense of what that entailed for themselves, and really leaned into the social emotional aspects of things. Oh my goodness.
One day at my wit’s end…after days and days of starting out days intending to be patient and wise, and ending days like the mom from “Malcolm in the Middle,” screaming, frustrated and hardly rising above their levels.
I sat.
I took breaths.
I grabbed a marker and paper.
I wrote something like this…I think I have the original somewhere…not sure if this is it…
But I wrote it. I stormed down the hallway. I plastered it to the wall:
**STOP**
What’s Happening?
How am I reacting?
How are my actions influencing others to act?
Am I making things
Better? or Worse?
What will I do now?
Make it better!!!
I glared. I stormed out. I let them steep a while.
I don’t know if they read it or if they remember it, or remember myself how things went immediately after, but to this day they seem to act like they think about it; like they get the logic of kind, constructive empathy in an ecosystem, and they choose to improve the environment. It’s a lot nicer and more enriching this way. I enjoy their company and they appreciate each other. It seems to reverberate around them.
I am grateful.
Hope it helps.
May God Bless Everyone.
Click here for the latest edition of Firefly Lights, all about our beautiful downtown gallery of local art and artists. In this edition, please find:
Come to our favorite escape. Immerse yourself in art. Located at 90 Main Street in beautiful downtown Northport, The Firefly is open seven days a week. We stay open until 9pm Wednesday through Saturday, and until 7pm on Sundays. For you early birds, we’re also open by 9am on the weekends.
We have items that are uplifting and pieces to meditate on. There are reminders of home and wonderful visits. Wit, whimsey and bittersweet reflections. Daydreams. Savored things. So much ever-loving Art.
Below: Works by Fireflies Michael Iacobellis, Jan Tozzo, Steve Caputo & Cori Foster
To subscribe to The Firefly Artists newsletter, please drop us a line indicating interest here.
Had a lovely time in Oyster Bay with an old friend. First, we stopped by Sweet Tomato, which is filled with delicious soups and sandwiches. Then, we went right next door to stop in at the captivating Bahr Gallery.
There’s a 6-minute video that tells the story of this place. Suffice it to say, Ted Bahr is a man with a passion that he is delighted to share. Collectors have taken notice, traveling from all over the world over to do just that.
Located in the charming village Oyster Bay, The Bahr Galley is “dedicated to finding good homes for the stunning psychedelic posters of the late 1960’s.” They “specialize in first printings, often signed, of Avalon, Fillmore, and other iconic venue posters which are highly prized by collectors and connoisseurs of the period. Most “are previously authenticated and bought at auction from reliable, reputable vendors who have been in the market for many years.”
There are generally 60-some-odd posters on view. They shift like vibrant, kaleidoscopic, Art Nouveau tides from that golden age of music, rolling in and out as Bahr perpetually curates his evolving collection. More than 300 pieces are fully cataloged and organized by band and category on the website.
They have visited museums and lived in fascinating homes. Here, they await their next residences, while having grand adventures with folks who come to appreciate them.
It’s quite a trip! Do go see!
Operating hours vary with the season. Regular events add another layer entertainment and cultural immersion. Private visits may be arranged by e-mailing ted@bahrgallery.com or call 516-283-1967. Let us know how it goes!
It was so much fun to do this with Patti. I love this woman and hadn’t seen her in way too long. She’s a primary reason my son is an Eagle Scout. Her whole family is dear to our hearts, and we are grateful she has continued to guide cubs since our own boys went off to college. In a place where people have worlds of concerns about things we don’t even need to know about, she is a calm, a focus, a gently effervescent, comforting presence. The world is better because she is in it. I am grateful. Thanks! <3
