Young Artists United

THE SAG HARBOR EXPRESS
ISSUE DATE: 2/21/08 February 2008

Young Artists United

By Kathryn G. Menu

Sag Harbor and the Springs of East Hampton have long been associated with important artistic movements, including abstract expressionism seen in the works of Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollack - two of the most celebrated artists who painted in Accabonac and displayed their artistic achievements at Ashawagh Hall in Springs.

This weekend, at the same venue, a new generation of Sag Harbor and East Hampton artists hopes to continue the tradition of an East End arts culture by combing their talents in one show that will showcase the works of many who are just finding footing locally in the art world.

The show, Arts 4 Bonac Tonic combines two arts collectives - Sag Harbor's Arts 4 Collective and Bonac Tonic, a three-year old arts collective started by a group of East Hampton artists.

"The whole thing about art is you just have to do it," said Bonac Tonic founding member Grant Haffner, who grew up in Springs and returned to the East End to continue his craft after several attempts in professional art school proved uninspiring.

In July 2005, joining creative forces with his twin sister Carly, as well as Scott Gibbons, Don Porchella, Justin Smith, Gary Lovelace, Elizabeth Karsch, Alicia Gibson and Ben McHugh, Bonac Tonic was founded, named after the nickname for Hampton Dairy Iced Tea, but also said Haffner, the ability art has to cleanse the soul.

"It's about us being Bonackers," he said, "But also a tonic. Come and get your art elixir."

During Bonac Tonic's first show, Haffner sold eight paintings, four to Lisa de Kooning, granddaughter of Willem. The rest of the crew found success as well, fueling the concept that collectively they could break into the art scene more quickly, rather than separately.

Besides, said Haffner, "it's more fun with friends," and the collective provides its members invaluable critiques so the group is in a constant state of evolution and education.

"It was more about unearthing something friends to do together," said Haffner. "It just kind of grew. We did the shows and it was so much fun. Something in the formula just worked and built itself."

In November, instead of asking the community to B.Y.O.B. to an Ashwagh Hall art event, the collective asked the community to B.Y.O.A. - Bring Your Own Art - a forum designed to bring artists of all ages, mediums and skill together to show their work collectively.

It was this show, said Haffner, that brought the members of the Sag Harbor-based Arts 4 Collective and Bonac Tonic together, forging a personal and professional bond between the two groups - and a common goal to see the youth of the East End emerge as a force in the local art world.

Creating a larger collective between two groups emerged naturally, first with a joint exhibition titled "Clovis Point Toasts the Artists" at the Clovis Point Winery in Jamesport, which opened on February 9 and now for this weekend's "Art 4 Bonac Tonic," which will open Saturday, February 23 with a reception from 5 to 10 p.m. at Ashawagh Hall on Springs Fireplace Road in East Hampton and continue on Sunday with gallery hours from noon to 5 p.m.

Arts4Collective, while a separate entity, evolved much in the same fashion as Bonac Tonic, with a group of Sag Harbor artists, many of whom grew up together, reuniting with the same artistic goals in mind.

Sag Harbor native Bethany Peters thought about the concept while at art school in Halifax where "a hundred of these kind of things exist" and it was the kind of movement perfect for an artsy community like Sag Harbor.

"It's funny how, in hindsight, we all did our own thing, but then came back and did this show and it all came together" said Arts 4 Collective member Molly Weiss, a Sag Harbor resident and painter in the collective.

"The Umbrella Show," the collective's inaugural exhibition, held Memorial Day Weekend at the Stella Maris Regional School featured the collective's philosophy - that art is all-inclusive, encompassing everything from creative writing to music to all forms of visual art.

"The idea of doing this collaboratively - with more heads together, more hearts together and an idea seemed right," said Peters of The Umbrella Show. "It's nice to be a part of a team. So we formed the collective and then the people who stuck around kept getting together, coming up with ideas."

The Arts 4 Collective strives to support contemporary artists, whether charter members or those on a more revolving basis. According to Weiss and Peters, the group sees all artists - whether visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, craftsmen, inventors, thespians and beyond, as members of the greater artistic community.

Outside of Weiss and Peters, members include Hunter Herrick, Marshall Moran, Ashley Gardiner, Danielle Lobosco, Ashley Hildreth, Sara Marchese, Jacqueline Dowling, Kein Ziemciewicz, Matthew Brophy, Laura Miller and Elliot Wandel, many who will show this weekend at Ashawagh Hall.

After The Umbrella Show, Arts 4 Collective found even greater success with a standing room only crowd at The Secret Whale show held during HarborFest weekend. Featuring artwork and musicians, Weiss remembers the event drawing residents, tourists, young and old - a testament to the all-ages philosophy they have about art.

But despite that success, it was Linda Capello's suggestion they get in touch with Bonac Tonic that gave the group legs - creating a "powerhouse" union that helped land shows like the Clovis exhibition and the Love & Passion show at Guild Hall.

"It's still a work in progress, there is more to do," said Weiss. "But that is half the fun of being an artist."

"I would like to see us all gain more members," said Haffner. "This can be a living, breathing thing. I would like to see it eventually as something that keeps feeding the community."

Arts 4 Bonac Tonic will open with a reception at Ashawagh Hall on Springs Fireplace Road in East Hampton on Saturday, February 23 and run through Sunday, February 24.