In 1925 a group of 15 professional artists and individuals interested in promoting artistic cultural life founded the Art League of Nassau County. The group held their first meetings and art shows in the cafeteria of the old County Court House in Mineola. Since that date the League has been integrally involved in the cultural life of Long Island, nurturing the artistic development of hundreds local men and women.
Prior to World War II the League was the prime mover in the establishment of the Nassau Institute of Art, a school and gallery space located in the Bohack Building in Hempstead. Some 600 students attended art classes at the school before the onset of the war took young men and teachers into the armed services.
The League has maintained an ongoing mission of art education, exhibition and social involvement of its members in shared art activities. Members have mounted an ongoing regimen of exhibitions in spaces such as The Garden City Hotel, Lever House and Lincoln Center in Manhattan, The Calderone Theater in Hempstead, area banks, and scores of local libraries and universities in Nassau County.
Our mission of art education has involved bringing the nation’s foremost practioners of painting and sculpture into our group to demonstrate their craft at out membership meetings and workshops.
Art League of Nassau County, Inc.
History Of The Society by Stephen J. Vorhies
Silver Anniversary, 1950
The Art League of Nassau County was founded in 1925 when a group of men and women, many of whom were not artists, decided to organize a Society in Nassau County for the appreciation of art.
Among the founders were Surrogate Judge Leon D. Howell, the late District Attorney Elvin N. Edwards, Mrs. Clare Brown, of Mineola, Mrs. H. G. Wahlig, of Sea Cliff, Mr. Ralph Latham of Herrick, the late Nathan J. Westermeyer of Roslyn and the late Daniel Harrington of Mineola, who was associated with the Tiffany Studios of New York for many years.
With Mr. Harrington as the first President the members of the Art League held their first meetings in the cafeteria of the old County Court House in Mineola. In 1926 they held their first exhibition of paintings there, which though small, eighteen paintings in all, was the beginning of an active Art Association on Long Island.
Under Mr. Harrington’s guidance the Art League continued to expand. He was tragically killed in an automobile accident, after which Mr. Westermeyer became president, and he accomplished much for the League.
In 1928 the League received the support of the late Thomas D. Talmadge of Lynbrook, a nationally known portrait painter, who became President in 1929. Under Mr. Talmadge’s supervision the first extensive Exhibition of the Society was held in Memorial Hall Roslyn, consisting of paintings, sculpture etc. Many well known artists contributed their works to the show, which was the forerunner of many such Exhibitions.
At this time the scope of the Art League was extended to include eminent professional artists, and to encourage amateurs and lovers of Art. Its growth became rapid thereafter. In 1930 Mr. Walter Louis White of St. Albans, Long Island, a noted watercolorist, was elected President. Mr. White worked actively to further the aims of the League, these aims are:—
- To bring into helpful cooperation those who practice, and those who are interested in the Arts, fine and applied.
- To stimulate public interest in these arts by exhibits, and public programs.
- To encourage art education
- To create civic consciousness of the value of beauty in the community
- To encourage Municipal investment in works of Art
- To seek the affiliation of other organizations whose aims are similar, to end that an Art Center be established in Nassau County for their joint use.
In 1936 Stephen J. Vorhies of Rockville Centre, the well known illustrator, was elected President, and further expansion of activities followed. During the time Mr. Vorhies was President two extravagant Beaux Arts Balls were held at the Garden City Hotel to raise scholarship funds for deserving Arts Students. These balls were sponsored by such art patrons and civic leaders as Mr. Henry Root Stern, the late Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Mrs. Henry P. Davidson, Judge Francis G. Hooley, Mr. Robert Moses, and others.
In 1935 the Art League had acquired Gallery space in the Bohack Building in Hempstead, permitting the League to sponsor and hold more frequent art exhibitions, and One man Shows, and permitted the establishment of art classes and sketch groups. At this time the Art League established and supported to large degree, the Nassau institute of Art. Classes in all phases of art were held daily, the instructors being professional artists, actively engaged in their respective fields. Some 600 students passed through the School, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the Art world. The school was suspended at the outbreak of World War II when a large percentage of the teachers and many of the students turned their attention to the War effort, many of them going into the armed forces. It is the hope of the Art League to re-establish this branch of the Society’s activities as soon as circumstances permit.
These added interests greatly increased the interest in Art on Long Island, as the Art League’s influence extended beyond Nassau County. With the need for more space and atmosphere other exhibition space was sought. The management of the Garden City Hotel generously offered the use of the spacious Palm Lounge for the Art League Exhibitions, and here, through the following years the League held many outstanding shows.
In 1939 Mr. Jesse Merritt, Nassau County Historian, of Farmingdale, was elected President, to succeed Mr. Vorhies. Mr. Merritt continued to carry on the work of the League until the pressure of his duties as County Hoistorian necessitated his resigning. He was succeeded in 1940 by Mr. John W. Wagner, of Manhasset, who in turn accomplished much during his term in office.
In1941 Mr. Cyril A. Lewis, of East Williston, became President. Mr. Lewis is one of the best known watercolorists in the country, and under his leadership, which included the War years, the program of more active participation was continued. Exhibitions were arranged at Hofstra and Adelphi Colleges, and the art League continued to arrange the Fine Arts Exhibit at the Mineola Fair, which the League has done annually for many years.
The Art League worked in collaboration with the National Headquarters in sponsoring National Art Week programs in Nassau County, and was designated to arrange and promote many of the art shows and exhibitions in connection with this movement. During National Art week in 1940 and 1941 two very large and representative Exhibitions were assembled and hung under the supervision of the Art League. During the Tercentenary Celebration on Long Island the Art League held several timely and interesting exhibitions.
During the War years the Art League assisted the red Cross and other groups in furthering the War effort, and in fund raising campaigns. The League has always stood ready to assist any deserving movement, and has assited many cheritable groups in their fund raising, by the judging of posters for the American Legion Poppy Drives, the Infantile Paralysis Foundation in the March of Dimes Drives, the Scouts, etc. During the current march of Dimes campaign the Art League secured 52 original paintings which were donated by the artists, members and affiliated groups, to be auctioned off, the entire proceeds going to the March of Dimes.
Following the War period several local art groups have sprung up throughout the County, due largely to the interest in Art which has been stimulated buy the Art League of Nassau County since 1925.
In 1949 Mr. Joseph M. McIntosh of Malverne became president, and through his efforts he is bringing these new groups into closer affiliation with the Art League through joint exhibitions, in the hope that through their combined efforts an Art Center for all interested groups may be acquired in Nassau County. It is the aim and hope of the Art League to have such organizations work with them that this great need may be realized.
The Rart League, through its President, Mr. McIntosh, co-operated with the Management of the Calderone and Rivoli Theaters in Hempstead in assembling an exhibition of all the prize winning paintings of of 1949 from the various art shows held throughout the County. The Calderone Theater is now showing a series of One man Shows which the Art League has assembled. These shows will exhibit the works of many of the outstanding artoists of Nassau County. It is through the cooperation of such public entities that Art can be brought to the general public.
Among the Charter members of the Art League was the late Lily Richardson of Hempstead, whose two daughters Misses Gladys and Christina Richardson-Jones of hemnpstead, noth talented artists, continued after their mother’s death to carry on her interest in the League, and its aims, and have served the Society in various official capacities. Miss Gladys Richardson-Jones has served as corresponding secretary since 1939.
Thus has the Art League of Nassau County grown from a Charter Membership of 15 art enthusiasts to an active membership of 128 members, consisting of professional artists, art patrons and art students.
The 25th Annual Exhibition of the Art League of Nassau County, Inc. to be held at the Garden City Hotel, garden City, long Island, marks the Silver Anniversary of the Society.
