Facebook group draws V.S. artists together

“I do think in this period of lockdown, we can discover new things about ourselves,” said Gena Rositano, the creator and one of the administrators of the local Facebook page Valley Stream Arts and Cool Stuff. “My hope is that we have a bigger arts scene in valley stream and that more people become aware of the talent that is here.”

On April 16, Rositano, a Valley Stream native, said she decided to create the page during a time when many had a great deal more time on their hands with the hope that Valley Stream’s artists would be able to better discover one another’s work and that more people in the community would be inclined to take up their own artistic endeavors.
 
“I love the arts and so I wanted to be part of a group like this,” she said. “My favorite part is that it’s all positive, and people are encouraging each other to share what they love.”

The private Facebook group, which currently has 461 members, features the artistic creations of Valley Stream painters, musicians, poets, actors, writers and a variety of other artists. The page welcomes both amateur and professional creators to join and share their pieces or comment on the work of others. Only Valley Stream residents and those who previously lived in the village are invited into the group. 

“The page was created to give our creative friends a place to share, test and discuss their work with others on the page,” said Valley Streamer and professional painter Mike Stanko, who is also another administrator for the page. “It’s a nice way to receive assessment and appreciation for one’s talent. Plus it’s a cool way to shine a light on it.” 

Stanko and Rositano said they have both watched the number of members grow as people look for something new to do and with many residents taking up new hobbies while social distancing that they wouldn’t have otherwise.

“People are home and it’s a great page to forget for a minute what we’re all going through,” Stanko said. “The page reminds us all that there are people out there still creating and having fun, and it’s great to just look at and enjoy because there are a lot of very good, kind and talented people on the page.”

”I see people who have never tried an instrument, picking one up and sharing their progress,” Rositano said. “It has been cool meeting some new people and spending [virtual] time with neighbors in a transformative way.”