National Art League Hosts 80th Anniversary Show

Douglaston's National Art League is celebrating its 80th anniversary this month with a colorful slate of paintings by 86 local artists who dabble in everything from watercolors to mixed media pieces.

The league, located at 44-21 Douglaston Parkway, launched the show on Nov. 1 and will keep it on display in its gallery through the end of the month. 

"We have everything from florals to representational and abstract work," said Marie Marsina, the league's president. "Subject matter ranges from still life to landscapes, portraits, animals and scenes from New York City."

Paintings in the show include watercolors, oils, pastels, collages, mixed media works and drawings.

The show features one piece each from 86 artists that cost anywhere from $200 to $10,000. Artists from Douglaston include Marilyn Gold-Mandell, Dorothy Saccente, Robbii Wessen and Susan Herz.

Mary Ann Klein, a board member, is among the many local artists to display a painting in the show. Her piece is an impressionist oil painting depicting the day after a surprise snowstorm in Wild Dunes, South Carolina.

"The snow had cleared out, so I was able to capture a little atmospheric difference," she said of the painting. "I've been painting most of my life. I started recreationally and when I was accepted at the league, I really started to take a lot of classes there to develop my skill."

The league, which was founded in 1930, will host a reception for the show's artists on Nov. 14 in its gallery. Judges will present gold, silver, bronze, merit and honorable mention awards in three categories – oil, mixed media and watercolors.

"We are judging on the basis of technique – a painting's prowess and composition or how it uses colors," Marsina said.

Each month, the league debuts new art shows with varying themes that displays works from its 300 members.  Local artists give free painting, sculpting or drawing demonstrations at the gallery every Friday at 8 p.m.

The league also offers weekly courses, such as drawing, oil and pastel painting, watercolors, children's classes, figure drawing and mixed media.

Its second floor was recently transformed from apartment units to a small gallery for local children's paintings.  On Nov. 29, the league will debut its holiday exhibition, which will run through the end of the year.

A majority of the league's members are between 50 and 70 years old, but it also has members younger than 40 and older than 90.

And Marsina said the group is always looking for new artists.

"To become a member, you have to bring in three to four pieces of work and a jury decides whether you are at a level we'd like you to be as a member," she said. "A lot of our artists exhibit elsewhere. They win awards and their work sells."