Our History
The Suburban Art League is a non-profit organization that was formed to increase cooperation among artists, art students and all others engaged in artistic activities; to provide a registry for artists; to hold competitions and exhibitions; and to promote the study and improvement and appreciation of the arts.
Sponsorship of Art Competitions and Exhibits:
We exhibit our work as a group in a minimum of two shows per year. One is the Membership Show in local libraries and churches and the Open Juried Show is held at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center for all artists- members and non-members alike. Our members specialize in many art forms that include: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing, graphics, mixed media and sculpture. Additional shows may be added occasionally.
Syosset-Woodbury Community Center is located at 7800 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury, NY and is handicapped accessible.
Monthly SAL Newsletter:
Upcoming art demo & monthly meeting listings, demonstration reviews, Long Island art events, member publicity, SAL president's message, photos of artwork from SAL prize-winners.
Art Critiques by judges with shows.
Workshops conducted by professional teachers and artists. Scheduled time & place is varied to geographically accommodate all artists who can them meet other artists providing each other with the understanding and stimulation that promotes artistic growth.
Sponsorship of Art Competitions and Exhibits:
We exhibit our work as a group in a minimum of two shows per year. One is the Membership Show in local libraries and churches and the Open Juried Show is held at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center for all artists- members and non-members alike. Our members specialize in many art forms that include: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing, graphics, mixed media and sculpture. Additional shows may be added occasionally.
Syosset-Woodbury Community Center is located at 7800 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury, NY and is handicapped accessible.
Monthly SAL Newsletter:
Upcoming art demo & monthly meeting listings, demonstration reviews, Long Island art events, member publicity, SAL president's message, photos of artwork from SAL prize-winners.
Art Critiques by judges with shows.
Workshops conducted by professional teachers and artists. Scheduled time & place is varied to geographically accommodate all artists who can them meet other artists providing each other with the understanding and stimulation that promotes artistic growth.
Services
-Monthly demonstrations and lectures at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center on the first Tuesday of every month.
-Sponsorship of the Arts Competitions
-Monthly Newsletter
-Art Critiques
-Workshops
-Association with other artists
-Town of Oyster Bay Rotating Exhibit
-Opportunities to exhibit individual works of art
-Participation with our sister league Art League of Nassau County at their member prices(workshops, demos, Plein Air May-Oct.)
Monthly demonstrations, lectures, and one or two day workshops by nationally-known artists including:
1. Steven Assael, representational figurative artist- oil painting (1992 & 2012)
2.Leonard Bocour- Founder of Bocour Artist Colors, oil and watercolor paints- product demo. (1967)
3. Sherrie McGraw- oil still life
4. Mort Kunstler- Civil War artist- critique
5. Antonio Masi AWS, American Watercolor Society president- watercolor painting (Oct. 2016)
6. Helen Van Wyk- PBS "Welcome to My Studio" television show artist- oil portrait
7. Robert Armetta, founder of the Long Island Academy of Fine Art.
8. Paul Bachem- oil
9. Ruth Baderian- watercolor
10. Arthur J. Barbour, AWS- watercolor
11. Monica Baumann
12. Angelo Bona- sculpture
13. Marion Brown- watercolor
14. Bart DeCeglie- oil
15. George Gach- sculpture
16. Mary Ann Heinzen- watercolor
17. Marc Josloff- watercolor
18. Jane McGraw Tuebner PSA, Master Pastelist
19. Donna Harlow Moraff PSA, Signature Member
20. Denis Ponsot- watercolor
21. Edmond Rochat
22. Howard Rose- oil
23. Marie Sheehy Walker, PSA- pastel
24. Dan Slapo, PSA Master Pastelist- pastel
25. Joan Stevens- oil
26. Shawn Sullivan- oil
Highlights in Suburban Art League History:
1959-1963: Loosely-formed small group of artists who exhibited at the Mid-Island Plaza (now Broadway Mall in Hicksville) & other several places. The Suburban Art League's Annual Long Island Art Exhibition, started in 1959, was chaired by Robert ("Bob") W. Lyon, Jr.
1963: Founded in 1963 with Arlene Liebman as first president of the SAL. Other officers were Bob Lyon, Jr.- 1st VP with programs, Edna Aldrich- 2nd VP with exhibitions, Dot Olsen- treasurer, Kay Harsha- recording secretary and Polly Lowell- corresponding secretary.
The SAL Constitution was written by Bea Howlett, Mildred Cowan and Cammie McGuire.
$4 annual dues.
1964: Open Show at Syosset High School had 4 awards at $100 each and 6 at $25 each with the following media: oil, watercolor, casein, tempera, mixed media, collage, printing & photographs- $550 in prizes. The school charged a high rental for the week, causing a financial loss for the show.
Monthly meetings included a film & a demo on silk screen printing.
Workshops/trips: Manhattan gallery tour, workshops in watercolor, oils, silk-screening, spray painting & casein painting.
1965: Membership Show prizes ranged from $15-25.
Open Juried Show at Woodbury Country Club.
First Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School, which charged 25% commission, going to the school building fund.
Monthly meetings- National artist, Helen Van Wyk was one of the demonstrators.
Amendments to original SAL constitution that required members to participate in at least one activity (besides attending meetings & workshops).
1965-1966: Second Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School.
Monthly meetings at the Syosset Community Church. Sketch Nights with model.
SAL almost merged with the Huntington Township Art League due to problems with finding a home.
1966: Membership Show at Community Church in Syosset.
Open Juried Show at Woodbury Country Club.
Art Exhibition at Mid-Island Plaza.
Outdoor Art Show in Syosset.
First time using the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center (Tinker Mansion & later, the newer building). Some meetings held at the Community Church in Syosset that year, due to physical problems in the Tinker Museum, until they fixed them. Sketch Night at meeting in June.
1967: SAL Ninth Annual Open Juried Art Competition in Syosset-Woodbury Community Center- 308 entries with four $100 prizes & four $50 prizes plus 8 additional prizes for a total of $750 in prizes. 2,000 people visited the week-long show. During the exhibit demos were in using a palette knife, drawing comics, watercolor & sculpture in different days. Prize-winners were sponsored by Macy's of Huntington with a group show of their work.
Third Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School.
Monthly meetings included color woodcut demo by Viggo Holm Madsen, slide lecture by Katinka Mann. & art critique by Paul Margin.
Tour of Avnet-Shaw (Meisner) Foundry in Plainview.
Dues raised to $7 annually.
1968: SAL Tenth Annual Open Juried Art Competition in Syosset-Woodbury Community Center. "Award Winners Show" at the Syosset Public Library and Island Federal Savings & Loan.
Monthly meetings: Talk by Dr. Russell Housman, Chair of Nassau Community College Art Department, 4 art-related movie shorts.
(no SAL files from 1969-1983, except for one in 1977)
1977: Annual Membership Show at Bethpage State Park Clubhouse Lounge, in cooperation with the Long Island State Park and Recreation Commission.
1984: Membership Show with $250 in prizes from Times Square Stores (TSS) in Bethpage State Park.
Art Show at Empire Bank in Syosset.
CHPS Show in November.
Monthly meetings: Illustrator, Mort Kunstler slide show. Panel discussion with slides- Dr. Stella Russell, Adrienne O'Brien & Judith Van Wagner. Cecile Johnson demo on sports illustration and a film. Meeting at New York Tech with Dr. O'Brien introducing computer programming & graphics. Pat James of Garden City Gallery speaking on how to get into a gallery. Dr. Stella Russell- airbrush.
Workshop with Jack Gates for 4 consecutive weeknights.
Channel 21 Art Auction fundraiser with a number of SAL board members manning the phones- SAL was mentioned on the radio.
Grants: Application for funding from NYS Decentralization Board for a video camera for monthly demos. $750 grant from the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Funds thru Nassau County.
220 paid members.
1985: Open Juried Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center with 2 live musicians at the reception.
SAL workshops: Carl Molno workshop & Jack Gates workshop in oils & pastels at John Burns Park.
Monthly meetings: Sherrie McGraw oil demo & slide lecture by Dr. Emily Waxberg on the Theory of Color & Light.
Channel 21 Art Auction volunteering again.
Grants: NYS Council on the Arts awarded SAL a $750 grant to be used for 3 "Pro vs. Pro" debates on art styles, with a request to the National City Bank for matching funds.
1986: Membership Show at Bethpage State Park.
Open Juried Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center.
Monthly meetings-demonstrations of monoprints, demo by Edythe Kane- watercolor, Joseph Occhipinti- oil & Angelo Bona- sculpture.
Workshops- Sherrie McGraw- 3 sessions in Education Building in Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn.
1987: Membership Show- Approx. 200 entries. 21 additional prizes due to TSS Seedman again funding prizes. Luncheon beforehand at $15 per person, and demo by George Gach during the reception.
Open Juried Show
Workshop by Steve LaMonica/LoMonaco & Al Narrizano.
Monthly meetings included Ruth Baderian- watercolor & Dr. Russell Housman on anatomy. 7 art demos throughout 1987 were funded thru the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development for $800.
Grants: SAL rec'd a grant of $800 to work with the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development's Homeless Youth Program. Some teachers were Dr. Russell Housman who did a watercolor demo for 14 boys & Robert Carter with the boys. After the grant money was depleted, several members continued to work with the youth.
An amplification system was purchased.
Channel 21 Art Auction volunteering again.
1988: Membership Show- 150 pieces.
30th Open Juried Art Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center- 230 entries, with 2 musicians during the reception. Demo by George Gach- bas relief sculpture. Judge- Mort Kunstler had a critique of the work at the June SAL meeting. In connection with the show is "Articipate 88" had a week-long series of programs there, with $1,000 funded by the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development: slide presentation by Ed Smitts, a costume/sketch/photography night with 2 models, Western Music Night & 2 holography lecture/demos by Linda Law that week.
No formal SAL participation in the Channel 21 Art Auction.
Purchase of screen for demos.
290 SAL members.
1989: Membership Show & Luncheon with a "Creative Hat" contest.
2021: COVID hits everyone and no meetings or exhibits are held for almost two years.
2022: SAL is preparing to close its doors Dec. 1, 2022 following the passing of President Anthony LaMarca who passed away after surgery and years of dedication to SAL. RIP See his tribute on our Event Photos page. A Presidential candidate, Lisa Corradi, steps forward to accept the position and SAL is able to continue on.
2022 Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for 72 entries.
Open Juried Art Show:
Website overhauled and taken over by Lisa Corradi
New Policy Required two Board Members be on all SAL held subscriptions (after Tony’s
passing SAL had trouble obtaining data, passwords, etc. b/c he held them all)
2023 Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for 73 entries.
Open Juried Art Show: Oyster Bay Historical Society 9 Awards 32 entries
Barnes Gallery 45 entries no awards
Summer Workshops: 1. Barbara Zanelli at Crab Meadow Beach with Lunch
and 2. Long Beach with Christine D’Addario
2024: ByLaws are revised and adopted to permit Zoom meetings, and eVotes among other small changes- last revisions made 1989
Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for 74 entries.
Open Juried Art Show: Levittown Library 9 Awards and 32 entries
2025: Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for _____ entries.
Open Juried Art Show: Greenlawn Harborfields Library 9 Awards for _____ entries
-Sponsorship of the Arts Competitions
-Monthly Newsletter
-Art Critiques
-Workshops
-Association with other artists
-Town of Oyster Bay Rotating Exhibit
-Opportunities to exhibit individual works of art
-Participation with our sister league Art League of Nassau County at their member prices(workshops, demos, Plein Air May-Oct.)
Monthly demonstrations, lectures, and one or two day workshops by nationally-known artists including:
1. Steven Assael, representational figurative artist- oil painting (1992 & 2012)
2.Leonard Bocour- Founder of Bocour Artist Colors, oil and watercolor paints- product demo. (1967)
3. Sherrie McGraw- oil still life
4. Mort Kunstler- Civil War artist- critique
5. Antonio Masi AWS, American Watercolor Society president- watercolor painting (Oct. 2016)
6. Helen Van Wyk- PBS "Welcome to My Studio" television show artist- oil portrait
7. Robert Armetta, founder of the Long Island Academy of Fine Art.
8. Paul Bachem- oil
9. Ruth Baderian- watercolor
10. Arthur J. Barbour, AWS- watercolor
11. Monica Baumann
12. Angelo Bona- sculpture
13. Marion Brown- watercolor
14. Bart DeCeglie- oil
15. George Gach- sculpture
16. Mary Ann Heinzen- watercolor
17. Marc Josloff- watercolor
18. Jane McGraw Tuebner PSA, Master Pastelist
19. Donna Harlow Moraff PSA, Signature Member
20. Denis Ponsot- watercolor
21. Edmond Rochat
22. Howard Rose- oil
23. Marie Sheehy Walker, PSA- pastel
24. Dan Slapo, PSA Master Pastelist- pastel
25. Joan Stevens- oil
26. Shawn Sullivan- oil
Highlights in Suburban Art League History:
1959-1963: Loosely-formed small group of artists who exhibited at the Mid-Island Plaza (now Broadway Mall in Hicksville) & other several places. The Suburban Art League's Annual Long Island Art Exhibition, started in 1959, was chaired by Robert ("Bob") W. Lyon, Jr.
1963: Founded in 1963 with Arlene Liebman as first president of the SAL. Other officers were Bob Lyon, Jr.- 1st VP with programs, Edna Aldrich- 2nd VP with exhibitions, Dot Olsen- treasurer, Kay Harsha- recording secretary and Polly Lowell- corresponding secretary.
The SAL Constitution was written by Bea Howlett, Mildred Cowan and Cammie McGuire.
$4 annual dues.
1964: Open Show at Syosset High School had 4 awards at $100 each and 6 at $25 each with the following media: oil, watercolor, casein, tempera, mixed media, collage, printing & photographs- $550 in prizes. The school charged a high rental for the week, causing a financial loss for the show.
Monthly meetings included a film & a demo on silk screen printing.
Workshops/trips: Manhattan gallery tour, workshops in watercolor, oils, silk-screening, spray painting & casein painting.
1965: Membership Show prizes ranged from $15-25.
Open Juried Show at Woodbury Country Club.
First Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School, which charged 25% commission, going to the school building fund.
Monthly meetings- National artist, Helen Van Wyk was one of the demonstrators.
Amendments to original SAL constitution that required members to participate in at least one activity (besides attending meetings & workshops).
1965-1966: Second Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School.
Monthly meetings at the Syosset Community Church. Sketch Nights with model.
SAL almost merged with the Huntington Township Art League due to problems with finding a home.
1966: Membership Show at Community Church in Syosset.
Open Juried Show at Woodbury Country Club.
Art Exhibition at Mid-Island Plaza.
Outdoor Art Show in Syosset.
First time using the Syosset-Woodbury Community Center (Tinker Mansion & later, the newer building). Some meetings held at the Community Church in Syosset that year, due to physical problems in the Tinker Museum, until they fixed them. Sketch Night at meeting in June.
1967: SAL Ninth Annual Open Juried Art Competition in Syosset-Woodbury Community Center- 308 entries with four $100 prizes & four $50 prizes plus 8 additional prizes for a total of $750 in prizes. 2,000 people visited the week-long show. During the exhibit demos were in using a palette knife, drawing comics, watercolor & sculpture in different days. Prize-winners were sponsored by Macy's of Huntington with a group show of their work.
Third Annual Art Exhibit in fall at the Westbury Friends School.
Monthly meetings included color woodcut demo by Viggo Holm Madsen, slide lecture by Katinka Mann. & art critique by Paul Margin.
Tour of Avnet-Shaw (Meisner) Foundry in Plainview.
Dues raised to $7 annually.
1968: SAL Tenth Annual Open Juried Art Competition in Syosset-Woodbury Community Center. "Award Winners Show" at the Syosset Public Library and Island Federal Savings & Loan.
Monthly meetings: Talk by Dr. Russell Housman, Chair of Nassau Community College Art Department, 4 art-related movie shorts.
(no SAL files from 1969-1983, except for one in 1977)
1977: Annual Membership Show at Bethpage State Park Clubhouse Lounge, in cooperation with the Long Island State Park and Recreation Commission.
1984: Membership Show with $250 in prizes from Times Square Stores (TSS) in Bethpage State Park.
Art Show at Empire Bank in Syosset.
CHPS Show in November.
Monthly meetings: Illustrator, Mort Kunstler slide show. Panel discussion with slides- Dr. Stella Russell, Adrienne O'Brien & Judith Van Wagner. Cecile Johnson demo on sports illustration and a film. Meeting at New York Tech with Dr. O'Brien introducing computer programming & graphics. Pat James of Garden City Gallery speaking on how to get into a gallery. Dr. Stella Russell- airbrush.
Workshop with Jack Gates for 4 consecutive weeknights.
Channel 21 Art Auction fundraiser with a number of SAL board members manning the phones- SAL was mentioned on the radio.
Grants: Application for funding from NYS Decentralization Board for a video camera for monthly demos. $750 grant from the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Funds thru Nassau County.
220 paid members.
1985: Open Juried Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center with 2 live musicians at the reception.
SAL workshops: Carl Molno workshop & Jack Gates workshop in oils & pastels at John Burns Park.
Monthly meetings: Sherrie McGraw oil demo & slide lecture by Dr. Emily Waxberg on the Theory of Color & Light.
Channel 21 Art Auction volunteering again.
Grants: NYS Council on the Arts awarded SAL a $750 grant to be used for 3 "Pro vs. Pro" debates on art styles, with a request to the National City Bank for matching funds.
1986: Membership Show at Bethpage State Park.
Open Juried Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center.
Monthly meetings-demonstrations of monoprints, demo by Edythe Kane- watercolor, Joseph Occhipinti- oil & Angelo Bona- sculpture.
Workshops- Sherrie McGraw- 3 sessions in Education Building in Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn.
1987: Membership Show- Approx. 200 entries. 21 additional prizes due to TSS Seedman again funding prizes. Luncheon beforehand at $15 per person, and demo by George Gach during the reception.
Open Juried Show
Workshop by Steve LaMonica/LoMonaco & Al Narrizano.
Monthly meetings included Ruth Baderian- watercolor & Dr. Russell Housman on anatomy. 7 art demos throughout 1987 were funded thru the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development for $800.
Grants: SAL rec'd a grant of $800 to work with the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development's Homeless Youth Program. Some teachers were Dr. Russell Housman who did a watercolor demo for 14 boys & Robert Carter with the boys. After the grant money was depleted, several members continued to work with the youth.
An amplification system was purchased.
Channel 21 Art Auction volunteering again.
1988: Membership Show- 150 pieces.
30th Open Juried Art Show at Syosset-Woodbury Community Center- 230 entries, with 2 musicians during the reception. Demo by George Gach- bas relief sculpture. Judge- Mort Kunstler had a critique of the work at the June SAL meeting. In connection with the show is "Articipate 88" had a week-long series of programs there, with $1,000 funded by the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Nassau County Office of Cultural Development: slide presentation by Ed Smitts, a costume/sketch/photography night with 2 models, Western Music Night & 2 holography lecture/demos by Linda Law that week.
No formal SAL participation in the Channel 21 Art Auction.
Purchase of screen for demos.
290 SAL members.
1989: Membership Show & Luncheon with a "Creative Hat" contest.
2021: COVID hits everyone and no meetings or exhibits are held for almost two years.
2022: SAL is preparing to close its doors Dec. 1, 2022 following the passing of President Anthony LaMarca who passed away after surgery and years of dedication to SAL. RIP See his tribute on our Event Photos page. A Presidential candidate, Lisa Corradi, steps forward to accept the position and SAL is able to continue on.
2022 Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for 72 entries.
Open Juried Art Show:
Website overhauled and taken over by Lisa Corradi
New Policy Required two Board Members be on all SAL held subscriptions (after Tony’s
passing SAL had trouble obtaining data, passwords, etc. b/c he held them all)
2023 Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for 73 entries.
Open Juried Art Show: Oyster Bay Historical Society 9 Awards 32 entries
Barnes Gallery 45 entries no awards
Summer Workshops: 1. Barbara Zanelli at Crab Meadow Beach with Lunch
and 2. Long Beach with Christine D’Addario
2024: ByLaws are revised and adopted to permit Zoom meetings, and eVotes among other small changes- last revisions made 1989
Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for 74 entries.
Open Juried Art Show: Levittown Library 9 Awards and 32 entries
2025: Membership Show: Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library- 7 awards for _____ entries.
Open Juried Art Show: Greenlawn Harborfields Library 9 Awards for _____ entries
