The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy in collaboration with the Ripple Creative Sunday hosted the first Fine Art Fair at Hempstead House, one of four mansions on the grounds of the former Guggenheim Estate.
The curated show featured 26 artists – nine from Port Washington – selected from approximately 100 who responded to the promoters’ “call to artists” that was posted on social media, in local newspapers and spread by word of mouth, said Stephanie Alongi, one of three founders of Ripple Creative. Her co-founders are Amanda Khalil and Erika Stehl; all three are from Port Washington.
Khalil said Sunday’s attendance was approximately 700 while 150 people came to the pre-opening reception Saturday evening.
The exhibition opportunity drew artists from Long Island, New York City, Westchester County and New Jersey.
“The exhibit pulls in art from a variety of forms and techniques: classic oil paintings, photography, portraits, pop art, sculpture, a little of everything. The idea is to offer something for everyone,” said Stehl.
Marceil Kazickas, one of the Port Washington artists, said the show is an opportunity to exhibit with other local artists on Long Island. “It’s an interesting curation, a diversity of artists. Look around, there are oil painters, collage artists, photographers… Hempstead house is a historic location. It’s as if the cultural energy from the Guggenheim family came down from the generations bringing in a bright art event on a dull gray day in February,” she said.
Port Washington native Sydell Glasser said, “As someone who got her start in Schreiber High School with Ms. Conte-Lawe – who put it in my head that I could be an artist — and Ms. Murphy, it was really special for me to come and show in my hometown and reconnect with members of the community.”
North Hempstead Councilwoman Marianne Dalimonte commented, “I’m amazed by the beautiful artwork and how many of the artists are from Port Washington.”
The Port artists at the show were Nina Van Alphen, Lisa Feiner, Syd Glasser, Dilia Kamensky, Marciel Kazickas, Melissa McElroy, Karla Panameno, Ilene Silberstein, and Jared Udell.
Also exhibiting were: Angela Classi, Stacey Creem, Christine D’Addario, Matt Gabel, Hakob Hakobyan, Lillian Julien, Anne Knife, Heather Krumholz, Alise Loebelsohn, Kathryn Maher, Kate Mancini, Sally Richardson, Sandy Ross, Joan Stevens, Sean Strafford, Carolina Trinker and Alex Walsh.
Hempstead House was designed and built for Howard Gould and completed for Daniel Guggenheim in 1912. The 40-room, Tudor-style castle served as a summer residence for the family where they hosted grand parties, performances and exhibitions by world-class artists as well as gatherings of the powerful elite of the time. The property was acquired by Nassau County in 1971.
The other mansions on the grounds of the Guggenheim Estate are Castle Gould, Falaise and Mille Fleur.
Ripple Creative was established in 2021. It produces a variety of cultural events, manages community revitalization and beautification projects, and creates programming for local small businesses, artisans, and nonprofits.
