Emerging Art Long Island
Author: Erica-Lynn Huberty | Published: Tuesday, June 26, 2012
At First Glance
Emerging Art Long Island, founded by artists Colin Goldberg and Matthew Salerno, is a new group that seeks to connect emerging and established artists as a means to showcase what Goldberg calls, “really interesting, relevant contemporary art.” Based in Greenport and the Hamptons, Emerge LI limits their scope to artists who are committed to their practice and working within a strong curatorial framework.
On Curating
Goldberg stresses the curatorial process, as evidenced in Emerge LI’s first juried show, opening at the South Street Gallery in Greenport on July 7. The group held an open call for submissions in June and reviewed them in a “Slide Slam” event where artists presented their work in a quick slideshow format at the Islip Art Museum. The event, which asked, “How much art can you show in five minutes?” and narrowed submissions down to 20 artists, was part of a two-step process. In the second step, a jury of Emerge LI member artists reviewed the remaining 20 submissions and made final selections for the Greenport show. Goldberg said the process strengthened both the ties between up-and-coming and established artists and those between artists and museum curators.
On Collaborating
Established and emerging artists working together is a key component of the Emerge LI art collective and Goldberg hopes this partnership will “assist with the cross-pollinating skills of marketing, the design of websites, connecting businesses that are interested in supporting the Long Island art scene and the giving of advice from older artists to younger.” A distinction of Emerge LI’s process is that the group often shows what he calls “emerging art by established artists.” In other words, “exhibiting new works that would normally not get exposure,” even if made by established artists.
