Islip Art Gallery at Brookwood Hall Mansion-A must see!

One of my  favorite art galleries to visit is the Islip Art Museum located on 50 Irish Lane in East Islip, New York.  The location is one of the many reasons why I am drawn to this art museum in addition to the incredible art exhibits. 

The art gallery is located in a section of a historical mansion called, “Brookwood Hall.”  This landmark 41 room mansion is full of history. That alone makes the trip to the gallery even more appealing.  It was built in 1903 by a very rich businessman from New York City that wanted a getaway for his family.  Over the years it changed ownership several times and was even an orphanage for children.  In 1967 it was sold to the town of Islip for only $385,000.00. The building is also the setting for municipal offices as well as the art gallery.  From the large windows within the gallery, you look out to a lake and large grounds that families can enjoy a picnic and tour the estate.  (Islip.org)

          According to Islip Art Museum website, "The Islip Art Museum is the leading exhibition space for contemporary art on Long Island.  The New York Times has called the Museum the "best facility of its kind outside Manhattan."

   Another wonderful feature of the Islip Art Museum is that it not only has approximately five magnificent exhibitions a year, but they offer many interesting lectures, fine art classes for both children and adults, and  many other festivities for families  to get involved in art culture.  My personal favorite is the gift shop packed with one of a kind hand crafted items and artwork. (Museum)

           

     The exhibit that I recently saw at the Museum is called, “The Garbage Revisited: Art from Dross.”  Participating artists created amazing art from throw away items that clog up our landfills.   You can spend hours staring at amazing art made of everything from rags, bottle tops, sponges, old clothing, straws, plastic bottles, used tea bags, bicycle rims, glass, old receipts, used paint brushes, nails, newspapers,  and the list and the imagination goes on and on.

  I packed a picnic lunch, my sketchbook, and spent hours enjoying the museum and the grounds.  I even spent some time swinging on the swing set while admiring the lake behind me and the mansion up the hill. 

The current exhibition runs until September 2^nd and I highly recommend everyone  scheduling in a visit there before it ends.  The good news is that if you miss this exhibit, there will be another wonderful exhibit right behind it.  I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.  Each one of their exhibits has a theme of current concerns in the art world, as well as the world in general.  Also, just to mention, the Islip Art Museum also has obtained permanent works of art for its collection from artists that have ties to Long Island.  (Museum)

            I am looking forward to scheduling in another afternoon to spend leisurely at the Islip Art Museum.  I have been to many art galleries over the years, including touring galleries in Chelsea, New York.  There is something very special about this art museum and all that it has to offer.  The museum belongs in the Brookwood Hall mansion.  I can’t imagine it being anywhere else.
Check out their website for more information:
http://islipartmuseum.org/about.html

(All photos by NancyAnn Photo~Graphics http://www.nancyannphotos.com/)
References:

Islip.org, E. (n.d.). Knapp and Thorne Estates. Retrieved august 8/9/2012, 2012, from A History of Brookwood Hall: http://www.eastislip.org/Pages/Estates/BrookWood%20Hall%20History/Thorne%20Estate/Knapp&Thorne.htm

Museum, I. A. (n.d.). About Islip Art Museum. Retrieved August 8, 2012, from Islip Art Museum: http://islipartmuseum.org/about.html