Closer Every Day: Jazz Luminaries Light Path to Coltrane Home

Coltrane Home volunteers pose with legendary drummer Roy Haynes outside the Coltrane Home in Dix Hills

The opening of the John and Alice Coltrane home is getting closer and closer – it’s so exciting!!!
 
Now, they are offering programming with jazz luminaries who are lighting the way toward a cultural center that truly transcends the walls of the historic home. The legacy being upheld is musical, and also deeply spiritual.
 

A prime intention of its occupants was “to be a force for good.” Musician and spiritual leader Alice Coltrane composed three albums while raising her children in the home: “A Monastic Trio,” “Huntington Ashram Monastery”  and “Ptah the El Daoud.”  This place is also where John penned what is considered not only his own, but a masterwork of Jazz itself, “A Love Supreme.”

The experience of restoring this National Treasure has been filled with great musicians and ordinary people alike who resonate with that energy. Above are dear volunteers who came together to do a little yard work and were surprised by a visit from the legendary drummer Roy Haynes.
 
Tapping out a rhythm every moment of his life, Haynes is one of the last living men to have played with John Coltrane. He is an icon in his own right. A good time was had by all!
 

Coltrane Home Events at the Half Hollow Hills Library

What’s happening now is a series of events at the Half Hollow Hills Library featuring living luminaries of Jazz. Last November, it was Michelle Coltrane and harpist Brandee Younger (who has a new album – catch her interview on NPR’s “All Of It” here). Together they offered an oral, lyrical, melodical history of Alice Coltrane. It was at once cosmic and deeply down to earth.

A few weeks ago it was Camille Thurman offering a beautiful tribute “For the Love of Coltrane.” The performance showcased Thurman’s gift for dynamic control both vocally and on saxophone, the playful relationship with her drummer husband, and the gifted bassist who weaves it all together. Next up, it’s the great David Liebman.
What: David Liebman, John Coltrane, A Musical Journey
When: April 22, 2023 at 2PM
Where: Half Hollow Hills Community Library, Dix Hills
RSVP is required as space is limited – info@thecoltranehome.org
Suggested Donation: While the event is free, donations are deeply appreciated and generally range from $5-20
These programs are an AMAZING way to learn about and help advance this local legacy of universal impact.
 

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: To Reflect and Serve

Photo of MLK Monument in Washington DC

The third Monday in January is reserved to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is the only federal holiday formally recognized as a national day of service, “a day on, not a day off.” In the spirit of listening and thinking first, people are warmly encouraged to study the works of King, and to devote time to serious reflection on how we will endeavor toward a healthier, more just world for all. Here are some ways you can learn about and advance his legacy.

Continue reading

Firefly Lights: Great Classes, Local Art, Lovely Artists!

The Firefly Artists Logo

Thank you for making us the 2022 Best Art Gallery on Long Island!

We’re located at 162 Main Street, in beautiful downtown Northport. In this installment please find:

– Exquisite Local Art for Sale by our Fireflies
– Special Exhibitions: “Honey I Shrunk the Art!” and “Reflections”
– Call to Artists: BIG INK
– Classes: Nuno Felting, Acting, Calligraffiti, Jewelry Making, Illustration
– 3-day Workshop with Watercolor Master Fabio Cembranelli
– Featured Guest: LI’s Best
– Featured Firefly: Michelle Schroeder

Photo of handcrafted mirror by Rebecca Bahr
Digitally enhanced photograph of a bicycle by Steve Caputo
Painting of Northport Dock by Jo-Ann Corretti

Clockwise from top: a hopeful illustration from Firefly Helen Murdock-Prep, a beautiful pieced-together mirror by Firefly Rebecca Bahr, The Northport Dock by Firefly Jo-Ann Corretti, bicycle by Firefly Steve Caputo. Below: a tranquil sailboat by Firefly Kirk Larsen, mermaid by Firefly Darnel Tasker.

The Sun is Out! Come Savor our Village and Get Your Art On!!!

Our Fireflies work like busy bees to create, to teach, to make life sweet! Come find that perfect thing to brighten your world or someone else’s.

Located at 162 Main Street, Northport
We’re open:
Tues – Thurs, 11am-6pm
Fri and Sat 11am-8pm (late!)
Sunday 11-5


painting of a moored sailboat by Kirk Larsen
Mermaid illlustration by Darnel Tasker
SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
Honey I Shrunk the Art logo
Photo entitled "Late Autumn" by Joe Papagoda

Above from left: “Late Autumn” by Joe Papagoda, “Poppies” by Jennie McCoyUnsplash

Now on view in our upstairs Darcy Arts Center*: Honey I Shrunk the Art

Artists from throughout the region have sent us a treasure trove of tiny delights. Catch them before they leave!

The show is on view April 30-May 29. All works are for sale.

*Please Note:There is no handicapped access to our Darcy Arts Center as it is located on the second floor of the historic building that houses our gallery.
Artwork by Dan Welden

Artwork by Dan Welden

Up Next: "Reflections" by Dan Welden and Greg Corn

Join us for a very special exhibition of works by world renowned Printmaker Dan Welden and Sculptor Greg Corn.
 
The show will be on view: June 11-July 15
A reception will be held: June 18, 5-7pm
 

All works are for sale. Additional pieces may be found at The Omni Gallery, 333 Earl Ovington Blvd, Uniondale from April 25 to August 27, with a reception August 7 at 7:30pm. 

*Please Note:There is no handicapped access to our Darcy Arts Center as it is located on the second floor of the historic building that houses our gallery.

CALL TO ARTISTS

BIG INK is Coming! We Can't Wait!!!

This August will mark the third time we get to host BIG INK and its incredible large-scale printing press, “The Big Tuna.”  It’s a fantastic event for participants and onlookers alike. Those who participate must be prepared to carve a woodblock at least 24″ x 36″.
 
The call can be found on our website. Please read it carefully and note that the print dates have changed to August 20-21! No prior printmaking experience is necessary.
 
Artists of all skill levels are encouraged to apply. First, you submit a design. Accepted work is evaluated on the applicant’s ability to complete the project based on the complexity and scale of the proposed carving.
 
Collaborations are welcome. If accepted, your application fee will go toward the printing cost. You then get two months to carve, the thrill of the printing party, and the satisfaction of seeing your work hanging in our upstairs Darcy Arts Center for a late-summer exhibition.

 

It’s a great time!

Photo of Theo Lau revealing Jim Darcy's BIG INK print
FIREFLY CLASSES
photo of felted flower by Oksana Danziger

Nuno Felting with Firefly Oksana Danziger to Benefit Ukraine Charity

Felting is a user-friendly technique that is simple to learn and create with. Popular projects include decorative pillows, quilts and jewelry. Here, Firefly Oksana Danziger will teach the technique, leading you to bring home a beautiful felted flower! 

THIS FRIDAY: May 20, 3-5pm
To Register: Email Firefly Oksana Danziger: danzigeroksana@gmail.com
 

Oksana is a Russian of Ukrainian descent who cares deeply about the the ongoing war. She tells us she will donate all proceeds from this next class to benefit the Kharkiv Regional Charitable Foundation “Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, which is now dedicated to evacuating refugees from the war zone and collecting humanitarian supplies.

Acting Out! Adult Acting Classes

Acting Out! with Firefly Helen Murdock Prep

Come join Firefly Artist and Theater Educator Helen Murdock-Prep for lots of fun exploring the wonderful world of acting in this workshop featuring Improv, Monologues and Scenes.

When: Tuesday, June 7th; 6:30p-8:30pm
Course Fee: $50

To register, please email Helen at hmurdock@optonline.net

"Firefly" writted in Calligraffiti

Calligraffiti with Firefly Helen Murdock-Prep

Folks have had so much fun with Helen learning this fine art of beautiful handwriting. Here’s another chance to learn!
 
When: Wednesday, June 8, 6:30p-8:30pm
To Register: Please contact Firefly Artist Helen Murdock-Prep: hmurdock@optonline.net. The class fee is $50.
Metalstamping Sample
Metalsmithing Sample

Jewelry Making Classes with Firefly Rachel Kalina

Learn to craft your own jewelry! You can see Firefly Rachel Kalina’s beautiful work at instagram.com/thewoodandwatch. She has more than two decades of experience and has taught students across Long Island. She looks forward to working with you!

 

Metal Stamping 
When: June 15, 6:00-8:00pm
Class Fee: $74

Learn to hammer a short quote, song lyric, or special name onto metal. Fee includes all materials and tool usage.

 
Beginner Metalsmithing for Adults
When: June 22 and June 29, 6:00-8:00pm (this is a 2-session, 4 hours total course)
Class Fee: $215

A great place to begin metalsmithing! Design and create a pendant or earrings in copper or brass. Cut shapes from sheet metal with a jeweler’s saw. Add texture, patina, and/or metal stamp patterns. Professionally finish your work to be comfortably worn. Fee includes all metal sheet, wire, and findings are included as is tool usage. Note: There are no torches in this class. However, it is a prerequisite for any future soldering or stone setting classes.

 
For More Info and to Register: Email Rachel Kalina at rachelkalina@gmail.com. Classes are open to adults ages 18 and older. Masks are preferred.
Image of "The Cat Came Back" book cover by Renee Reichert

Intro to Illustration with Firefly Renee Reichert

Join Firefly Teaching Artist Renée Reichert in exploring “What is Illustration?” through the art of professional illustrators. Elements of design, color theory and the relationship between images and text will be discussed. Students will create their own illustration using their choice of media and style.

 

“What is Illustration? with Firefly Renée Reichert
When: July 30th and August 6th, 9:30am-12:00pm
Course fee: $100 for the two sessions
To Rgister: Email Renée Reichert at reneereichert@icloud.com

 

Award winning artist and illustrator Renée Reichert is known for lush velvety pastels which often take on both a narrative and a fantasy quality. Her work has been exhibited in The Society of Illustrator’s Annual Exhibition, Spectrum 8: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art and can be seen in numerous private collections. She is the illustrator of the children’s picture books This is the Wind and The Cat Came Back.

artist sample by Fabio Cembranelli

Up Next in our Watercolor Masters Series: Fabio Cembranelli's "Intuitive Approaches to Watercolor"

Firefly Jan Guarino is an ever learning watercolorist and teacher with a passion for bringing the best in her craft to teach at the Firefly. These intensive workshops are incredible. In this next installment, Fabio Cembranelli will come to us from São Paulo, Brazil to guide artists in developing loose and intuitive watercolor techniques, enhancing their own personal approach. Join us!

Fabio Cembranelli: Intuitive Approaches to Watercolor
When: Tues-Thurs July 19-21, 10am-4pm
Workshop Fee: $525 for the three-day session
To Learn More and Reserve Your Space: Visit our website

A renowned Brazilian artist, Fabio teaches all over the world. Nowadays his work is focused on plein air painting, observing and studying nature firsthand at inspiring outdoor locations. This workshop will include a number of demonstrations and promises to touch on a number of valuable aspects, such a composition, light and shadow, color mixing and other techniques. It will provide deep insight into how the artist achieves his unique and luminous floral watercolours
FEATURED FIREFLY
Photos of Students from Heckscher LI Best

Featured Firefly: The Student Artists of LI's Best

Ok, These high school students from throughout Long Island are not Fireflies — YET — but they’re absolutely amazing. We got to give three of them scholarships! Those talented winners and a number of honorable mentions WILL be coming to our Darcy Arts Center this June.
 
Heartfelt to congrats,to our 2022 Firefly Artists “Next Generation” Scholarship Recipients:  Justine Blaine, Yuyu Liu and Zhezhong Yu!!!
 
The works are technically proficient and deeply profound. Do check our this Long Island’s Best show in its entirety at the Heckscher Museum if you can. It was really hard for them to select works for that show and next to impossible for us to choose our own winners.

They give us high hopes for the future!

Photo provided by Firefly Michelle Schroeder:  “Healing happening—-one day at a time”

Featured Firefly: Michelle Schroeder

Among treasures in our gallery are works of Firefly Michelle Schroeder. She’s the one who makes those AMAZING handbags out of old LP record albums. She also happens to be central to the community of art teachers that stretches across NY State, including some very special connections with our own robust community here at and around our nurturing gallery.

Michelle is a wonderful person who can often be found rallying good energy for some important cause. While very near to our hearts, unlike the rest of our Fireflies, she is not so local to Long Island.

Actually, Michelle is a High School Art Teacher in Buffalo. Like so many, she is reeling herself right now, but even moreso giving it her best to share information, to help those in need, and to provide her deeply shaken students healing, one day at a time.

We wish she didn’t have to do it, but we are grateful that she does. We love you, Michelle.

The Firefly Artists

About the Firefly Artists

We are located at 162 Main Street in beautiful downtown Northport. Our galleries are open:
Tues-Thurs 11am-6pm  
Fri-Sat 11am-8pm  
Sun 11am-5pm

Over the past decade, The Firefly Artists has had the great privilege of displaying a stunning variety of work by hundreds of Long Island artists through our Main Street locations and pop-up galleries in the community. We boast some extraordinary talent, while maintaining a very down to earth and supportive atmosphere that is unique to Long Island.

We were established in 2011 to create a gallery setting for local artists. The goal was to create a space where artists could meet, collaborate, and sell their beautiful creations.

In 2020 we expanded our gallery by creating the Darcy Arts Center on the second floor of our building. This beautiful gallery space is rich in natural light and dedicated to special exhibitions and art workshops featuring world renowned instructors.We are eager to continue to be an outlet for local artists, offering a place to create, grow and connect to customers.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and check our website for all the latest updates!

Thank you for your support!

Moonjumpers Partner with Six Harbors Brewery to Serve Little Shelter and Angels of Warriors

Monnjumpers Mash Pale Ale Beercan Lable

The Moonjumpers have partnered with Six Harbors Brewery on a new craft beer, The label, shown above, was designed by Emma DeDora. She’s a cousin of Six Harbors Co-Owner Karen Heuwetter. Featured among the dogs is Moonjumper Co-Founder Rob Benson’s dear friend Cliff, who is himself a rescue from the Little Shelter.

Event Alert: Moonjumpers Charitable Foundation Partners with Six Harbors Brewery to Make Good Times Great Times by Serving the Little Shelter and Angels of Warriors​

A driving idea, from the very founding of the Moonjumpers Charitable Foundation is that a good time becomes a great time when people come together to help others. For more than ten years now, the Moonjumpers have served “children, families, war veterans and charitable and not-for-profit organizations through financial assistance and the purchase of products or equipment so as to aid in creating a better quality of life for those in need.”

Their merry endeavor includes a theme song, a dog named Cliff, and a passion for good fellowship and community partnerships. They tend to have a really good time even when they’re simply offering a financial donation or providing a direct service, such as rolling up their sleeves to help associates serve veterans or spearheading a coat drive to support the community served by a local youth organization.

They like it best, though, when they can really make a party of it. It’s been tough these last few years, but they are on it and hope you will join them in a really cool partnership with Six Harbors Brewing Company:

First: Unveiling the Moonjumpers Charitable Foundation, Inc. Beer and Beer Can Artwork
What: Stop on in for the unveiling of a new beer and beer can design for this “Moonjumpers Mash Pale Hale” to be available at Six Harbors Brewing Company.
 
Benefitting: A portion of proceeds from the sale of this beer will be donated to Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption.
 
When: May 19, 2022, from 5-8pm.
 
Next: The Gold Coast Craft Beer Festival at Six Harbors Brewing Company
What: Moonjumpers and friends are among sponsors of this event. Ten North Shore Breweries will offer samples of their beverages from 1-4pm. Ticket holders will receive a commemorative glass and enjoy music from a steel drum band, delicious food, vendors, and fun activities.
 
Benefitting: Proceeds from the event will be donated to Angels of Warriors, which serves local female veterans in need. In addition, a portion of proceeds from all sales of the Moonjumpers Mash Pale Ale will be donated to Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption.
 
When: Saturday, June 11, 2022 (rain date Saturday, June 25, 2022).
 
To Register: General admission, VIP tickets and more information are available here.
 

Both events will be held at Six Harbors Brewing Company, 243 New York Avenue, Huntington

Fun Stuff!!!

Firefly Reception: Honey I Shrunk the Art!

Honey I Shrunk the Art logo
Join us Firefly Artists this Sunday, May 1st from 12-5pm for a reception for “Honey I Shrunk the Art!”  I love this gallery and the people who make up our community-oriented family of local artists. It’s a very special place. Come see!!!
 
Our work is cut out for us!!! This week we hang over 220 little pieces in our upstairs Darcy Arts Center*. This annual celebration of small works is incredible. It has been pure delight to welcome them in. 
 
The show will be on view April 30th through May 29th.  Between these sweet pieces and everything we have going on in our Main Firefly Gallery, we are just the right place to find that perfect gift for Mothers Day!
  

*Please Note: There is no handicapped access to our Darcy Arts Center as it is located on the second floor of the historic building that houses our gallery.

Photo of Drigo hanging our upcoming Honey I Shrunk the Art Exhibition
Photo of Jan T hanging our upcoming Honey I Shrunk the Art Exhibition
Photo of Jim hanging our upcoming Honey I Shrunk the Art Exhibition
About The Firefly

The Firefly Artists was established in 2011 to create a gallery setting for local artists. It is a space where artists can meet, collaborate, and sell their beautiful creations. Over the past decade, we have been privileged to display a stunning variety of work by hundreds of local and regional artists, both in our Main Street locations and in pop-up galleries throughout the community.

We boast some extraordinary talent, while maintaining a very down to earth and supportive atmosphere that is unique on Long Island. Every time you shop at The Firefly, you help make sure we can continue to serve local artists and people like you who appreciate them. Now, you’ve made us the Best Art Gallery on Long Island. Thank you!!!

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: To Reflect and Serve

Photo of MLK Monument in Washington DC

The third Monday in January is reserved to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is the only federal holiday formally recognized as a national day of service, “a day on, not a day off.” In the spirit of listening and thinking first, people are warmly encouraged to study the works of King, and to devote time to serious reflection on how we will endeavor toward a healthier, more just world for all. Here are some ways you can learn about and advance his legacy.

Continue reading