A new multi-location artist exhibition is encouraging people to depart from their usual route to get a new perspective on the art being created on the East End.
Aptly entitled “Detour,” the exhibit showcases the paintings, sculptures and photographs of 13 East End artists at three locations in Riverhead and Southold. The show, presented by East End Arts in Riverhead, gives insight into the divergent forms, techniques and routes each artist takes to arrive at their finished work. The pieces are reflections and interpretations of the environment and surroundings of the East End.
“Detour marks a celebration of a new and exciting direction for East End Arts and Riverhead,” said executive director Diane Burke. “It is our invitation to those traveling farther out on either the South Fork or the North Fork as well as residents to take a turn, a possible detour, into downtown Riverhead to see this landmark exhibition. After all, the forks converge in Riverhead.”
Discussions for Detour began informally last spring during a gathering of artists and members of East End Arts at Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. in Peconic. Conversations at the causal weekly get-togethers turned to ways to highlight prominent East End artists who have been exhibiting for decades nationally and internationally in the collections of major museums, but have rarely been showcased locally. East End Arts gave the green light to the project at the beginning of the year.
“It was my intention to organize a high-caliber show for Riverhead,” said artist Glen Hansen who curated DETOUR with assistance from fellow artist Adam Straus. “We are surrounded by artists of such talent and so many of them are not being seen. We could easily turn around tomorrow and show another 13 terrific artists.”
The show will feature eight North Fork artists, including Hansen and Straus. Other participants include photographer Meghan Boody of Southold; photographer Stephen Capozzoli of Southold; painter Louise Crandell of East Marion; sculptor Arden Scott of Greenport; sculptor Allan Wexler of Southold; and painter Franklin Hill Perrell of Southold. Off the North Fork artists featured include Paton Miller, Carol Saft, Charles McGill, Steve Martinez and Connie Fox.
“This is really a great group of artists who deserve recognition locally,” Straus said. “This exhibit is a detour from the type of programs East Ends Arts typically does. Downtown Riverhead is also a detour in a certain regard. We hope to do more shows like this.”
East End Arts Council is presenting Detour at three locations: the East End Arts galleries at 133 East Main Street and 11 West Main Street in downtown Riverhead, and at Glen Hansen Studio, located at 1560 Youngs Avenue in Southold. Each artist will have one piece in each of the spaces.
A grand opening will be held on Saturday, June 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at both East End Arts galleries. And a grand opening at Glen Hanson Studio in Southold will be held the following day, Sunday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gallery hours in all locations will be Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the duration of the exhibit, which runs through Sunday, August 25.