LI Artist Invitational Held at C2 Gallery

A first annual Long Island Artist Invitational was held at the in Patchogue on Saturday.

The works on display ranged from mixed medium, watercolors, photography and sculpture, to pastels, acrylics and more. Works on sale ranged in price from $200 to $13,000. The exhibition is the last at C2's 22 W Main Street location, as the gallery is soon moving to the building on Terry Street.

Dawn Lee exhibited work inspired by the movement of water at the invitational. As an avid outdoors person, Lee relied on the view from her kayak at the river's edge. Lee also describes her artistic process as deeply spiritual. Her sensitivity is so acute that she even accounts for her own presence in the boat disturbing the stillness of the water before painting.

Jim Sabiston's photographs at the invitational seek out traces of nautical history and the fishing industry across Long Island. Before getting involved in photography, Sabiston accrued a painter's background originally as a hobby, concentrating in watercolor, airbrush and even painting custom motorcycles. Rather demurely, Sabiston admits he never took any courses in photography.

"I bought a camera, and I went out, and I pushed the button a lot." His shots are devoted almost exclusively to the outdoors. His current project, "Life in Motion," will be displayed in about a year.

The Invitational will run from now until Feb. 26.

The full list of featured artists includes:

Brian Meuberger
Dawn Lee
Jay Varney
Jillian Rennar
Jim Sabiston
Joseph Heidecker
Liz Macchio
Robert Perinuzzi
Sarah Foster
Sharon Way Howard
William Thierfelder

Check the for highlights from the reception and of the artwork.