A soon-to-open art exhibition at North Fork Arts Center (211 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-8600) is more than mere paintings and sketches on a wall; it taps into art’s ability to spark conversation — in this instance, about not defining human beings, workers specifically, by the work they do in this of-the-moment series of thought-provoking pieces.
The Worker, presented by OLA of Eastern Long Island and NFAC, will have a public reception on Oct. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the NFAC gallery; artwork will be on view and available for purchase through Nov. 13. Admission is free, and all proceeds from purchases go directly to participating artists.
The idea for the show came a few months ago in conversation between Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA of Eastern Long Island, and Kelynn Adler, artist and curator for the exhibition.
“This came about because of the conversation around the reductive way of viewing the worker, specifically immigrant workers,” says Perez. “The assumptions around that term, the lessening of human value and even demonizing the worker.”
OLA of Eastern Long Island is a Latino-focused advocacy organization taking an inclusive approach, bringing about dialogue and shared accountability.
Adler recently curated the over 80-artist show Somos at the Long Island Museum, which celebrated Latinx Artists of Long Island. He felt compelled to participate in something honoring “the worker” in its many different forms.
“We want to put a face to the people [who] are keeping our economy running and the people we depend on on a daily basis,” says Adler.
One thing that Perez sought to emphasize about the exhibit is that it is not meant to sanctify the local Latino population as workers — a concept that she says has been used and abused. Instead, the exhibit dives into the gray area of not defining people by their job title, the company they work for, their country of origin or by the language they speak or don’t speak.
“People are assessed constantly, whether you’re a woman, whether you’re a Latina, Latino, what kind of job you have, what kind of car you drive,” says Perez. “Bringing in artists to kind of inhabit that space so we can allow these conversations to really exist, that’s where this is a big part of what OLA values. If we cannot find those spaces where we’re all sharing the same humanity, we are forever lost.”
In curating the event, Adler connected with acclaimed artists like Eric Fischl, Nick Weber, Randall Rosenthal and Susan Meiselas, who will all have pieces on display.
“It’s so fulfilling on multiple levels, because it gives artists an opportunity to have a voice and to show humans as individuals,” says Adler. Most of the show’s nearly 30 artists come from the East End.
Tony Spiridakis, founder and executive director of NFAC, was thrilled to participate in the collaboration.
“The beauty of what I see in this exhibition is that it gets people to pause and recognize the beauty and dignity that everyone has, no matter their job,” says Spiridakis.
To RSVP to the opening reception, look here.
