This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Student Exhibition Kicks-Off Busy 2011 For National Art League

Douglaston cultural institution prepares for first show of 2011

Armed with enthusiastic cheer, an eye for hanging artwork and flanked by a team of student volunteers, Sheila Blunt earlier this month prepared for the National Art League's first show of 2011. 

“The National Art League hosts a new exhibit almost every month, and each one has its own theme,” said Blunt, the curator of this month's Student Art Show, which opened Jan. 3. “But what makes this show so unique is that it’s open to all the students here at the League, both members and non-members alike.”

According to Blunt, this month’s exhibition, which offers art in several different mediums including oil and acrylic, watercolor, mixed media and drawing, is one of the rare occasions when NAL students get to showcase their work to the public.

Find out what's happening in Bayside-Douglastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Many of the students here aren't professional artists and shows like this one give them a chance to exhibit — a dream for most artists,” Blunt said. 

One such student looking to live the dream on Sunday was Maria Naro, dropping off a painting at NAL called, “Bouquet.”

Find out what's happening in Bayside-Douglastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I take an oil and pastel class here with Shelli Robiner-Ardizzone on Saturdays, which is great,” Naro said. “So is Shelli… she’s actually the one who encouraged me to exhibit at this show.” 

With a busy calendar of events planned for the upcoming year, this month’s student art show will run for the next two weeks, with members of the public invited to attend a reception held on Jan. 23.

"Most of the events we have here at the Art League, including our weekly Friday meeting are open to anyone who wants to join us," Blunt said. "Our focus here at the NAL is to develop a community of artists ... I think we do a pretty good job at that."

Many of the students in the room on Sunday agreed with Blunt.

"We've become very close here at the League," said Vivian Hershfield, who takes an oil painting class with Howard Rose on Wednesday nights. "A bunch of us actually meet up on Thursdays for lunch, to discuss art and life."

But for many students at NAL it is the expert instruction that keeps them coming back.

"We offer day and evening classes for adults almost everyday, and on the weekends we also have instructions for children as well," Blunt said. "So there's definitely something for every artist."

NAL currently offers classes in watercolor, oil, mixed media, all media and drawing.

The National Art League is located at 44-21 Douglaston Pkwy. For a complete list of class schedules, visit www.nationalartleague.org

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Bayside-Douglaston