Event to maintain status as ‘capital’ of ‘cultural destination’

On Saturday, Sept. 17, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Patchogue Arts Council will be hosting their annual Arts on Terry event, which is a multidisciplinary accessible contemporary art fair for all ages, highlighting 300-plus artists from various Long Island arts organizations.

With over 18 pop-up galleries, over 30 individual artists’ booths, and over 15 street artists, the exhibited work will be a curated selection of a diversity of disciplines and media.

PAC has been spearheading this event since 2018.

“Each year has seen growth in size and diversity of its participants and audience. One of the ways in which PAC has been able to grow this program has been increasing the number of participating organizations from underserved areas of the region and more artists from underrepresented segments of the population,” said executive director Beth Giacummo.

Last year, 75 percent of the event’s cultural partners were new to AOT as a result of support from Suffolk County to provide stipends for the live artists, helping offset costs associated with creating and exhibiting artwork and making it more accessible for artists across socioeconomic boundaries to participate.

The event serves to “elevate underrepresented artist groups,” according to Giacummo, including BIOPIC, LGBTQIA+ artists of varied ability, and “encourages their artistic expression and amplifies their voices.”

Artists from as far as Germany have participated in the event, and all press, marketing, and event maps are available both in print and digital in English and Spanish.

This year’s event will feature cultural partner pavilions, demo pavilions, street artists/live painters, a children’s pavilion, a Long Island Music Spotlight Stage, and poetry pavilion.

“Often, the staff who are also artists are underrepresented because of their direct involvement in facilitating exhibitions, curating, and organizing events,” said Giacummo. “This will be a special opportunity for them to be able to participate and for the public to see the work of artists, creating opportunities for other artists.”

One of the newest events is a PAC Paint Showdown, which was inspired by national painting competitions and drawing events that take place in large public venues. The format and idea was brought to PAC by artist/curator Amanda Reilly, who in 2022 helped facilitate the inaugural PACPS event.

“This aspect of the event promotes creativity and spontaneous collaboration through public art to the exciting atmosphere of the street art painting pavilion,” said Giacummo. “For 2023, we will include this, with a few adjustments to format and location within the footprint of the fair, for maximum audience participation.”

The selection of artists are curated from an open call and paired in sets of two artists versus two artists. Artists are paired by the curator and will work together against the other team of artists on a large-scale panel.

A specific set of rules will be set in place—e.g., only black and white can be used—and artists will have only 2.5 hours to create their large-scale collaborative works.

“The audience will be encouraged to vote for their favorites. The winning team will be awarded a stipend and the title of PAC Paint Showdown Winner; both works will become part of the Street Art Live Auction process mentioned below,” said Giacummo.

As the village has distinguished itself as an arts destination capital in Suffolk County, AOT also plays a crucial role in the cultural landscape of Long Island by providing increased and significant opportunities for professional artists in the community. “Arts on Terry helps to foster a stronger sense of community and promotes a deeper appreciation for the arts, ultimately contributing to the cultural enrichment of the region,” said Giacummo.