There is a broad respect for the arts among Long Islanders, and there are quite a few art exhibitions in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. In my town, or hamlet really, Bay Shore is notoriously renowned as the place to go for a multitude of events such as festivals, parades, and free outdoor activities for the community. The Westfield South Shore Mall, which is roughly a mile or two from main street, serves as one of the main commercial hubs in the general area. The Islip Arts Council (IAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the work of Long Island (LI) artists and authors, is located in this commercial zone to its next door neighbor Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The IAC focuses on hosting exhibits to uplift different communities within the LI greater community; they also offer a myriad of art classes year round. Like most places, the IAC suffered a huge hit during the height of the covid pandemic, when their former residence closed down; the manager of the Westfield Mall l in Bay Shore invited them to relocate to an open space available in the mall, and they’ve just hit their two year anniversary in Bay Shore (Dekoning, par. 5). This new location allows the IAC to be right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the mall while gaining access to people who would have never heard about them otherwise (Hill and Kuan). From personal experience, the majority of active community members who participate in IAC activities are women middle aged and older. While events are catered to younger folks that acquire a good presence with comparable numbers of men and women, women 40+ however, remain as the predominant demographic before and after the move to Bay Shore.
The inside of the gallery is an open and welcoming space with a front bench dedicated to some literary work, or photography pieces (Hill and Kuan). The walls are white, and lined with pieces from the ongoing ice cream exhibit which features more than 15 different artists’ works. The back of the gallery has many tables and chairs for people taking classes in house. The back wall is dedicated to books from the Long Island Author’s Group; they pay rent to the IAC to have books displayed, as well as host free book talks at the gallery. The bus stop located at the mall serves as a main depot to over 5 different bus lines, each connecting to different train stations, making the IAC super accessible to people all over the region that rely on public transportation (Hill and Kuan). The IAC has an active Instagram, Youtube, and electronic newsletter to communicate effectively to all demographics in the Town of Islip, and the greater Long Island community. Personally, I view their Instagram page quite frequently to learn about events, new exhibits, whether there’s an open call for art pieces, etc. From their month long Black history exhibition, to their LGBTQ+ centered event, the gallery always has something in store to engage community members. This upcoming LGBTQ+ ‘Synergy’ event, is one of many that has open calls for members of the public to submit artwork and poetry to be part of the exhibit; a great way for local artists to get their work shown professionally and especially boosting queer creatives (Dekoning, par. 6-8). The IAC often partners with other organizations throughout Long Island to sponsor events and projects like the Long Island Auhtor’s Group and the Long island Maritime Museum (Hill and Kuan).
The IAC continues to serve as a beacon in the Bay Shore and greater Islip area for the promotion of artistic talents of all kinds in the town collective (Dekoning, par. 5-8). The board of the nonprofit organization focuses on hosting multiple free events annually, exhibits tailored toward varying ethnic, social, and age groups, and also multiple classes and workshops that cater to needs expressed by the community. It serves as a comfortable, accessible and friendly place to explore artistic abilities, learn a new craft and support local talents (Hill and Kuan).
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