Malverne Art Walk 2022 Begins

Final preparations are underway for Malverne’s fifth annual art walk. More than 120 pieces that have been stored in the Malverne Cinema these past few weeks are now being placed in stores and storefront windows throughout Malverne in anticipation of the art walk’s opening ceremony on Saturday, June 11.

Maria Cassini, president of the Malverne Chamber of Commerce who has served as the lead organizer of the art walk, described the experience in organizing the event.

“It was a several month process,” she said. “We put out a call for local artists, from Malverne and all through Long Island, to submit samples.”

The art walk also partnered with QSAC Schools for students with autism in collecting submissions.

The art walk will be expanded in several ways in comparison to 2021’s event. Due to concerns about Covid-19, art displays last year were limited to storefront windows only. This year, art has also been displayed in stores to promote foot traffic in Malverne’s shops.

“This serves as an important business-building event,” said Cassini. “Being able to now go inside the stores will hopefully be a big boost for businesses.”

Additionally, the art walk has received support from the Restart NY Regrant program, a part of the New York State Council on the Art’s Recovery Fund Initiative. Aimed at rekindling interest for in-person live events, the funds have allowed for a lively, multifaceted opening ceremony for the art walk, featuring a live jazz saxophone performance and the collaborative creation of a chalk mural at the center of town.

The art walk’s youngest participant is Rosann Passalacqua, who attends Our Lady of Lourdes School. Rosann recalled how she first heard about the art walk. “My dad was at the library and saw a flyer,” she said. “There were two paintings I did during the summer, so we sent those in.” Rosann dubbed one of the featured paintings, “Looking Everywhere,” an abstract work punctuated by a background of eyes. “I’m really excited to see the art displayed,” she added.

Artist Jadea Mayes, a 2019 Malverne High School graduate whose work was recently displayed at the school’s first annual poetry slam, will be featured in the art walk. She also has been recruited to lead the creation of a chalk mural for the project’s opening ceremony.

“I started my business doing portraits last year,” she said. “It was a rough start, I’ll admit. I didn’t really know how to go about it. But I kept painting, I kept putting myself out there, and over time I was able to get connected with more artists and customers, and eventually with the organizers for this event.”

Mayes said she sees the art walk as a chance for the local art community to come together. “It’s been a really good way for me to get to know and connect with other local artists, and it’s been a good way to bring people together, especially people who share this common interest,” she said.

Jack Faragasso, 94, the art walk’s oldest participant, will have four of his works on display: a dog in a rural landscape, a winter landscape and two striking, colorful pieces that previously served as covers for science fiction novels. Faragasso’s lengthy career has seen him work with drawing, painting, photography and poetry, as well as publishing guides for drawing and painting.

“Over the years, art changed, and if you wanted to be a part of it, you had to change with it, which I did,” he said, reflecting on the last six decades he has witnessed in the art world.

Faragasso said he heard about the art walk through his cousin, Jack Sorrentino, a long-time Malverne resident. Faragasso said, “My entire life has been about art and art appreciation. I think it’s great to have an event like this, especially in the trying times we are going through in our world today. Bringing people together to enjoy culture and art is so important. People coming together, that’s what we all need.”