Finding Purpose in My Local Art Community

Finding Purpose in My Local Art Community

https://tbrnewsmedia.com/tag/mills-pond-gallery/

It’s time to honor the best of the best. The Smithtown Township Arts Council will present its annual Winners Showcase Fine Art Exhibition at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James from March 15 to April 11.
The exhibit features over 60 works of art from nine prize-winning artists from past juried exhibitions in various forms of medium including acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil, Silver Gelatin film photography, carved plaster and mixed media. Featured artists include Christopher Hanson, Matthew Manthe, Howard Pohl, Adam D. Smith, Myungja Anna Koh, Robert Berson, Nicholas Valentino, Ross Barbera and Marianne Andresen-Magin.

As a member of my local gallery and art council, I make it a point to participate in every open call opportunity that comes my way.

These events offer more than just a chance to exhibit—they’re a bridge to the community.

When my work is displayed locally, or featured in regional media, I feel not only recognized as an artist but also connected as a citizen and contributor to my surroundings.

In the past, my attention was primarily focused on international exhibitions.
I was always chasing something—more exposure, more prestige, faster success.
There was an urgency in me to prove something beyond borders.
But at some point, my pace began to slow, and my perspective shifted.
I began to notice the quiet beauty of the community around me—its people, its spaces, and its stories.

That shift changed the direction of my work and my heart.
I started to ask myself what I could do here, in the place I live and belong.
Suddenly, local engagement felt more meaningful than distant recognition.
I found value in being present—sharing my work with neighbors, supporting regional events, and bringing creativity into classrooms and small exhibitions.
Now, I truly love and deeply appreciate my local gallery.
It’s not just a venue; it’s a space where I grow, give, and connect.

The gallery is a living part of the community—and being part of it reminds me why I make art in the first place.
​
As an artist, I’ve learned that success isn’t always measured by how far your work travels,
but by how deeply it touches the world right in front of you.
And for that, I am grateful.

---

---

The Girl Who Brought the Light
​
Deep within the forest, hidden from every map, there was an old cave.
On its stone walls lived paintings—cattle, bold and red, drawn with ancient hands.
They stood still for centuries, like memories frozen in time.
Locals called it “The Cave of Sleeping Time.”
One day, a girl in a flowing dress came to the cave.
In her hand, she held a small, glowing light.
It flickered gently, but never went out.
It wasn’t just fire—it was a flame lit from within her heart.
The girl stepped carefully into the darkness.
As her light moved across the walls, the painted cattle began to stir.
Eyes that had once been just shapes began to shine.
One by one, the bulls stepped down—softly, slowly—and walked to the water’s edge to drink.
The girl held her breath.
She watched in awe as the once-silent cave filled with warmth and life.
These animals had lived long ago, side by side with people.
Though their bodies had gone, their stories remained—etched in stone, waiting.
Now, with her light, she had awakened them.
The cave wasn’t just a shelter of rocks—it was a doorway to memory,
and the girl had found the key.
From that day on, the girl returned each night.
She brought her flame and whispered stories to the walls,
leaving behind gentle lines and soft colors for someone else to discover.
“We are not gone,” the spirits seemed to say.
“As long as we are remembered, we are still alive.”
And someday, perhaps,
someone else will walk into that cave,
following the faint glow of a light once carried by a girl,
and begin their own story.