Long Island’s BAFFA Announces “Reflections” Exhibition

BAFFA stands for “Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts,” an arts-focused organization located on Long Island, New York. Since its establishment in 1968, BAFFA has been run by dedicated volunteers from Bayport and Blue Point who wanted to support and encourage the arts in their communities. In 1977, BAFFA became a 501 ©(3) organization. Currently in their 56th year, the organization is now anticipating their latest exhibition titled “Reflections.”

“Reflections” is a group show where members of BAFFA can showcase their artwork at The BAFFA Art Gallery, which is located in the historical Gillette House in Sayville. “Reflections” holds the distinction of being BAFFA’s very first Call-to-Artist member show, and its theme holds a different meaning for everyone. It can be literal, as in a reflection of water or of a mirror, or it can be interpreted as a symbolic reflection of thoughts, attitudes, motivations or desires.

“The BAFFA Art Gallery has really taken off this past year and it is my hope that it will continue to attract more new and varied artists and that we may be able to provide the public with more workshops,” stated Jeanette Leonard, the BAFFA Gallery Director. When asked about the origins of the “Reflections” theme, Jeanette noted that the word “Reflections” is both universal as well as thought provoking. “I wanted to give the artist the option on how to interpret it and to inspire their creativity,” she explained. “By looking within themselves or looking at their surroundings, both told the story of Reflections. Reflections can have so many definitions and can be such a universal theme, which is why it is perfect for the BAFFA Art Gallery to use for their first ever Members Show. It always amazes me to see an artist’s perspective. The most interesting pieces tell a story or create a feeling.”

Among the works featured is one titled “Great Blue Heron in Flight” by Lisa Scrima Castelli, which shows the tip of a bird’s talon as it touches the water — and the water represents reflection. Another noteworthy piece is Kathleen Young’s “Grand Mosque” that showcases the shapes of famous architecture reflected in perfect unison in the water below. Other pieces interpret reflection in more of an introspective way, like John A. Bell’s “Bypass” where he uses metal in sculpture to tell the history of steel and the hidden story of the sculptor or in “The Wake of a Kiss” by John Pfisterer where underwater fashion photography transcends gravity and transports the viewer to a new world.

The year 2024 marks “Building BAFFA Better Than Ever,” an initiative that was formed to develop the organization further. BAFFA recently welcomed a new Office Manager, Gallery Director, and President. Over the past six months, BAFFA has grown exponentially as far as membership and is offering more benefits to their members. In turn, this has grown the audience of art enthusiasts within the BAFFA community. The BAFFA Art Gallery now welcomes over fifty new artist members who will be featured not only in the Members Show, but at other new events throughout the year geared toward supporting local artists. The BAFFA Art Gallery is adding new workshops for the community at the Gillette House starting in February.

“Last year, the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra welcomed a new conductor, Bradley S. Hartman. Brad was a student from Sayville, and he is working to expand the orchestra’s music repertoire,” said Jeanette Leonard. “He is giving a ‘Meet the Composer’ presentation at the Gillette House in March.

The BAFFA Chorus, under the direction of Martha Campanile, is creating new opportunities for their audiences to share in the joy of singing by adding more modernized and family-friendly music to the choral program. I anticipate that both the chorus and the orchestra will continue to grow in number and hope that we will be able to get more student involvement in both groups over the next few years. I would also like to see the two groups collaborate on some musical pieces as well as integrate the visual arts into some of our concerts.

The BAFFA Art Gallery has a packed event calendar for 2024. I invite anyone interested in the arts to visit The Gallery during these shows.”

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For more information on BAFFA and the upcoming calendar of events please check out the website at baffa.org.