Freeport Arts

LIACF offers new art class series

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There is still time to register for the series of art classes that will take place at the Freeport Recreation Center this winter, brought by the Long Arts Council at Freeport.

 “It’s something the arts council has never done before,” said LIACF Executive Director Laurence Dresner. “We’re looking to start it now because we think it’s a good opportunity for people who want to dabble or experiment in the arts, but don’t know where to start, or who feel afraid of spending too much money on something that they may not like.”

The classes for some of the courses began last Saturday, but it is still not too late to register by going to the LIACF website, https://www.liacfreeport.org/, or by calling (516) 223-2522. The schedule of classes is also on the website.

“The idea was to offer art classes that are not being offered anywhere else,” Dresner said, “because you don’t want to compete with stores and merchants and so on, but just give the opportunity for people to try something now, like modeling clay or painting on ceramic tiles, at an inexpensive price just to see if it could be an entree into the arts in some way.”

The classes are all being taught by well-established local artists. Three courses will be taught by English-born Phil Read, who holds an M.F.A. in studio painting, a B.F.A. in interdisciplinary arts, and a degree in chemical engineering with a major in microbiology. He is teaching Ink, Wash, and Color Painting; Fundamentals of Art and Design; and Ceramic Tile Painting.

Peter Lora, who works at his studio in Westbury where he lives with his wife and daughter, earned his bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Adelphi University, and two master’s degrees from Long Island University, one in Fine Art and the other in Art Education. He has also studied throughout New York and in Europe. He is teaching a Figurative Abstract Sculptor Class.

Irene Clark, a prolific New York artist who has displayed her work in many galleries since 1989, is teaching “Handprints – Become a Printmaker.” Lynn Rogan Rosetti, who teaches art throughout the area and has displayed her work at the African American Museum of Long Island and the Children’s Museum of the Arts, is offering a course called Art Explorers, an experience in multisensory art learning for children. Pop artists and native Long Islander Michael Albert is teaching “Modern Pop Art Workshop,” a hands-on pop art collage class.

“We started this past weekend,” said Dresner, “and we’re going to be adding classes in other art disciplines. We’ll also continue through February and into March.”

So far, the courses are not being put off by Covid closures, but interested learners will need to be masked when they enter the Recreation Center and present proof of vaccination. For further details, see the Community Update Calendar on page 8 of this issue, and contact LIACF via website and phone.