OLA of Eastern Long Island, in collaboration with the North Fork Arts Center, presents “The Worker,” an art exhibition that honors the humanity, dignity, diversity, and resilience of workers in all forms and across communities. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Saturday, October 18, from 5 to 7 PM at the North Fork Arts Center in Greenport and will remain on view through November 13.
Tony Spiridakis, Executive Director of North Fork Arts Center, said, “At NFAC, we believe art is whatever makes you proud to be human, and nothing is more human than this OLA show called ‘The Worker,’ which is centered around the dignity of labor — work as identity, survival, legacy, and pride — brilliantly co-curated by Kelynn Z. Alder and OLA.”
‘The Worker’ invites audiences to expand their understanding of labor beyond the reductive and transactional, offering instead a nuanced and deeply human portrait of those whose work sustains our world. Curator Kelynn Alder said, “As artists and civilians, we sometimes feel powerless while bearing witness to our cities being interrogated, and our families, friends, and neighbors being terrorized and mistreated. ‘The Worker’ is a reminder of not only the artist’s power, but also responsibility, in presenting to the world, in times of peace as well as in crisis, the humanity and dignity of the individual — in this case, our fellow invaluable worker.”
Through a range of 26 unique artistic voices and mediums, the exhibition spotlights the lived experiences of workers, particularly those within Long Island’s East End Latino and immigrant communities.
“In these times of division and distraction, this exhibition is a vital reminder of our shared humanity,” said Minerva Perez, Executive Director of OLA of Eastern Long Island. “‘The Worker’ calls us to pause, to see the people behind the labor and to recognize that dignity, compassion, and community are the true measures of progress. OLA is proud to work in solidarity with community institutions like NFAC and artists, alike, who feel the same.”
Participating artists include Amy Wickersham, Aurelio Torres, Candy Heiland, Eric Fischl, Estefany Molina, Filiberto Perez, Gabriele Raacke, James McGarvey, Jeremy Dennis, Jeremy Garretson, John Wikersham, Josh Gosfield, Kara Hoblin, Kelynn Z. Alder, Lori Horowitz, Madeline Daversa, Manuel Macarrulla, Michael Drakopolous, Nancy Bueti-Randall, Nick Weber, Randall Rosenthal, Rosario Rodriguez, Sandra Mack-Valencia, Sheila Breck, Sueey Gutierrez, and Susan Meiselas.
All sales from the exhibition will directly support the participating artists, OLA of Eastern Long Island, and North Fork Arts Center. For more information, call OLA at 631-899-3441.