Huntington Local

By Karen Klafter

Anchoring the Huntington park that shares its name, the Heckscher Museum of Art boasts more than 2000 works of art in its rotating collection and features special exhibits from world-renowned artists that residents of Huntington, Babylon, Smithtown and other neighboring communities can enjoy right in their own backyard.

Suffolk Legis. Lou D’Amaro (D-Huntington Station), who was able to secure $4,000 in Community Support Initiative grants for Heckscher during the past two years, visited with museum administrators on July 28 to tour the facility and meet with students enrolled in the innovative Summer ArtSense program. (The grant money was used for educational services and art supplies including funding for the summer ArtSense student program.)

ArtSense is a unique series of workshops where artists aged 5 through 14 participate in hands-on art activities while enjoying an insider’s look at exhibitions on view at the museum.

The museum’s current special exhibition, Michal Rovner: Video, Sculpture, Installation is a multi-media presentation that will remain on display through Sept. 28.

“The Heckscher Museum of Art is a local cultural gem, and I am proud to be able to provide support so that the entire community can continue to enjoy all that it has to offer,” D’Amaro said.

Pictured above in front of the masterpiece “Eclipse of the Sun” by artist George Grosz are students in the ArtSense program and then, in the back second from left, D’Amaro; Elizabeth Wayland, director of grants; Erik Neil, Heckscher’s executive director; and Kristina Seekamp, associate director of education.

Karen Klafter is a legislative aide to D'Amaro.