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Arts & Entertainment

Final ArtWalk of the Season Goes Out with Style

Local artists share their work with the town of Sayville.

On Friday, the streets of Sayville hosted the final installment of the ArtWalk, presented by the Chamber of Commerce. As if waving goodbye to the summer, the crisp smell of autumn crept into the open doors of each participating shop that bid onlookers welcome. From miniature oil paintings and brilliant photographs to intricate collages, the collections were something to behold.

The event offers enthusiasts and artists the opportunity to hobnob in a relaxed environment. While they sip wine and indulge in free refreshments, admirers meander down Main Street on a self-guided tour following maps that indicate where each exhibit was being held. What transpires is an inspirational evening where members of the community can express their shared passions with one another.

Sweet Gourmet introduced the work of three friends whose styles are all very unique. As a painter Michael Wikan works fast and intensely. With limited space in his small apartment, his work became a product of his environment as he began focusing more on contrast and less on detail, thus transitioning from oil to acrylic. His striking portraits hit you with bold colors and impressing size.

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The deep reds highly used in Wikan's work are vastly different from the pale colors in Keith Frawley's whimsical illustrations. His drawings take you to a fantasy land filled with the sort of creatures and characters one could expect to see in a Lewis Carroll novel, and the viewers are thrilled to accompany him on this journey.

Snapping photos from his numerous trips around the world, Rolf Mahler's exhibit depicts the street life he witnessed during his 15 visits to Asia. A self-taught photographer, Mahler began shooting scenes in school where he was told to find his own style, which he obviously obtained. For those unable to travel abroad, this stunning gallery of vivid imagery brings a slice of the world to its audience.

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From global inspiration to national pride, Christine Gordon's work was displayed at Elaine's Shoes. Specializing in miniature acrylic work, Gordon was commissioned to design New York's state egg for the White House. Though her passion is for smaller pieces, when asked to paint her response to a poem, her interpretation became a large self-portrait.

Because art is an extension of one's self, what one chooses to create is directly related to the artist's passions. For Georgene Quick who presented at the Village Gift Shop, her love of animals is evident in her remarkable pastels. Often mistaken for photography, Quick's detail is exquisite.

Although Rick Hartmann does paint animals, it's his atmospheric landscapes that grabbed people at Kay Cameron Jewelers. Working with both acrylic and oils Hartmann's inspiration comes from his travels as a pilot. His paintings help "bring a piece of Europe or South America to Sayville." Tapping into his creative license, his landscapes often blend images from all over to create a unique scene. For example, "Tapestry of Paradise" melds the Hudson River Valley with the backdrop of Yellowstone Park. Hauntingly beautiful, a common muse in his work is the HMS Victory, flagship of the British Royal Navy. Placing the great ship in various elements, Hartmann paints new life into the 18th century vessel.

Another artist reincarnating ancient relics and giving them a modern twist was Andrew Leipzig, who goes by the moniker, Zig. His digital recreations plastered all over Buried Treasure asked people to ponder the meaning of the juxtaposition of old and new. "I cross the time spans and recreate images to make them contemporary and meaningful to today's society," said Zig. From "I Am Your Father," a spin on famed Michelangelo painting "Creation of Adam" (complete with dueling lightsabers), to "War of the Old Worlds" which depicts H. G Wells' alien tripods descending on a sea of historic battleships - the artist is making a statement on the street. "I'm a surrealist at heart," he said.

History was a recurring theme at the ArtWalk. It's fitting that Jane Arbeiter's work was displayed at Past and Presents. A collector of old books, pictures and letters, she transforms her found treasures into evocative collages. Arbeiter can skillfully fuse old pages filled with elegant penmanship with new technologies to create her wonderfully unique designs.

Seated in Starbucks, Dr. Bill Thierfelder showcased his array of vivid photographs. A former professor of English and Humanities at Dowling College, he began looking at the world through his camera lens five years ago. Thierfelder captures the beauty in life's small pleasures with his photographs, a motif reminiscent of poet William Wordsworth. The pictures encourage people to appreciate the world around us. His drawings are currently on display at Monkdogz Urban Art in Chelsea, Manhattan.

What one person takes away from the ArtWalk is different from someone else, but in Sayville the ArtWalk illustrates that there is life and art around every corner. 

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