“Art in Marriage” an exhibit of Arthur and Edith Berstein’s work, opens Friday, May 1 at The Huntington Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery, 213 Main Street Huntington.
The exhibit, which combines the sculpture work of Mr. Berstein and afghans made by Mrs. Berstein, will be on display May 1 through May 18, with an opening reception Friday, May 1 from 6 to 8:30 p.m..
Gallery goers can also join the Bersteins on Saturday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. for an afghan demonstration by Edith. This demonstration will also take place at the Main Street Gallery.
All are welcome to attend.
The Berstein’s live in Setauket, and share a studio that’s an extension to their home. Arthur is interested in shapes, whereas Edith is excited by color. Art is a sculptor, Edith a designer and maker of afghans.
Although Arthur has been sculpting for most of his life, his interest in the medium started when he lived in Schenectady and studied with Robert Blood, who worked with welded steel at the Schenectady Museum.
Soon realizing that welding wasn’t a technique that was easily adapted to home use, Arthur switched to marble, which could be obtained from quarries in Vermont.
Subsequently his move to Long Island prompted his change to utilizing wood and resin for his work.
“Almost all my work is carved from logs or constructed using either clay or resin,” Arthur Berstein said. “The carved pieces are generally abstract. I primarily use black walnut, which has a rich, warm color and is local to Long Island. I like to develop graceful forms which relate to each other in such a way that the sculpture displays pleasing positive and negative spaces.”
Edith currently focuses her creative energy on afghans, but she has been interested in art her entire life and defines her work as “following a long trajectory”.
Mrs. Berstein studied painting at Goucher College and at Columbia University School of Painting and Sculpture. For many years she was active in The Art Barn in Setauket, where she taught painting, drawing, and pottery.
Edith later became interested in making soft sculpture, including basketry and macramé. Her interest moved to crocheting, leading to a handmade sweater business designing sweaters and hats sold all over the country, including Henri Bendel and Bonwit Tellers in NYC.
For more information on Art Berstein and his work, visit www.bernsteinart.com
The Main Street Gallery hours are Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 12 to 4 p.m..
For additional information on the exhibit and other Huntington Arts Council events please visit www.huntingtonarts.org or call (631) 271-8423.
