Dan's Papers - June 19, 2009 - The Siren's Art Secret At Greenport's Siren Song

Nestled among the houses toward the north end of Main Street in Greenport, there is no better time than right now to get acquainted with the unique art on the walls of 516 Main Street at the Siren's Song Gallery. And your visit could help preserve Long Island's maritime lifestyle.

From the village, walk north and you'll know you're there when you come to a 1800s Victorian style home with a "Sirens" crossing sign out front. For those who don't know, a Siren is basically a mermaid. That's the inspiration behind the gallery's name "Sirens' Song Gallery." "Instead of the sea I'm trying to lure people to art," says gallery director Caroline Waloski. Underway right now is the "On the Edge" exhibition. It features an array of talented artists from overseas to Manhattan to Orient.

If you're wondering what makes this particular exhibit or gallery so intriguing, here goes. There are about a dozen art galleries that now line the streets of Greenport. But there's something very special about Sirens' Song Gallery. "I try to make it not a Chelsea gallery, I try to make it more a salon, where people can come in and talk about art, learn about art," curator and gallery director Caroline Waloski told me. Now if there was a Chelsea of the North Fork it would be Greenport. In last couple of years several galleries, trendy clothes shops like "Duo," and wine bars such as "Vine" have emerged in the fishing village. But as soon as you lift the handle on the iron gate in front of Sirens' Song Gallery, you know you're not in the city.

The second you walk into the eclectic gallery you're greeted with a smile and sweet smelling potpourri. There is no air of pretentiousness. The gallery has couches and chairs scattered throughout. Art appreciators can sit and hang out with their dates, sip on refreshments and chat about the paintings, etchings and sculptures. Or, you can just sit and admire the work. "More people are coming out from the city taking the Jitney, we are becoming a destination."

For the art, it's impossible to express in words, but here's the gist. The focus of the art is our coastal plants, and the things are putting them in danger. The art includes well known local artists such as bronze sculptures from Orient's Marianne Weil, and wire straw and eel grass sculptures from Greenport's Arden Scott. Several other artists who are showcased have galleries in New York City. There are mesmerizing woodblock prints from April Vollmer, and one of a kind photography from Jacqui Bonavito. There are also etchings from Dianne Miller from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and paintings from gallery owner Caroline Waloski. There are also lithographs and water color prints. Everything in the gallery is handmade and numbered. Nearly a whole wall is dedicated to prints donated by Cornell University art students. Most of the work reflects the "coast in danger" theme. "I'm impressed by the quality of work they've done," said Waloski. "There are a lot of artists out here, we love it."

For decades Greenport has served as inspiration for artists, "Greenport is romantic, especially when it's misty".

Waloski says the motivation for the "On the Edge" show is, "Coastal barrier plants and the life forms that live off of them. The balance is very important. One can't do without the other."

The exhibition opened on Saturday night. More than a hundred people jammed into the quaint showroom. The exhibition is a joint effort between the Sirens' Song Gallery, Cornell University's Long Island and Horticultural Research & Extension Center, as well as the non-for profit New York Sea Grant organization. The proceeds will go towards helping replenish the eel grass along our coast. That will help bring back our depleted shellfish population. Waloski hopes to take the show on the road when it's finished in Greenport. Future venues could include Cornell's Ithaca campus, an art museum in Queens and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

The gallery is open Friday through Monday, from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and whenever else you see the flag outside waving. Just walk up and ring the bell. There's a schedule of events on sirenssonggallery.com. Sirens' Song Gallery is also a stop on the Greenport Gallery Walk. The tour stops at eight galleries. So if you haven't been in a while, I recommend checking out the art scene in Greenport.