Art for All

Community Arts are alive and well. Thriving, in fact, in this smallish eastern Long Island town. East End Arts in Riverhead, NY, is a gem...well outside of New York City's art scene. In case you're near the Hamptons or sipping wine on the North Fork, you'll want to find visit this cluster of small historic buildings that make up the East End Arts campus. They are clearly fostering art adventures of every kind, for every age, in every corner. I walked in the door to meet with Pat Snyder who holds the place together and found myself right on the heels of art camps...a myriad of kids and activities that made me want to sign up to play. Then there was the Gallery building, showing the last days of a skilled, diverse "Contemporary Portraits" exhibit and getting ready for their 5th national show, "The Gallerist, The Artist, The Critic & The Kid" from August 5 - Sept. 21. I'll have to miss the show because I leave for my journeys into New England. However, I am intrigued just as I am certain it will be a memorable exhibit. Now I have a dream to head back there one day and teach...to be a small part of this hub supporting creative arts and throwing its doors wide open with more love than space. The arts definitely change us for the better and tangible change is happening here. It's highly contagious and I caught it. All.