The Art Guild will host its largest fundraising event of the year, the Art Lovers Fling, on Friday, Oct. 18.
Funds from the Art Lovers Fling will support The Art Guild’s classes for children, teens and adults at below-market value and maintain the gallery, exhibitions and community outreach programs. The non-profit organization provides an inclusive space for all to pursue the arts and serves as a hub for the community’s artists, students and families.
Three artists and members will be honored during this year’s Art Lovers Fling for their artistic growth and support of the organization. The honorees are Piper R. Lyman, Ellen Hallie Schiff and Alice Riordan
Lyman has been making art her whole life. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in graphic design, she has been an award-winning art director for over 25 years while still pursuing her passion for oil painting. Lyman’s design background is evident in her paintings through her masterful sense of composition and color.
During her tenure on the Art Guild’s board, which spanned over a decade, Lyman left an indelible mark on the organization. Her multifaceted contributions included designing the current logo and providing a blueprint for branding and communications.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Lyman has shared her expertise with aspiring young artists through individual mentoring sessions with high school students.
She currently resides in Great Neck, with her husband and their teenage son as she continues to stay active in the art community.
Schiff a Long Island native, graduated from NYU with a degree in nutrition, moved to Manhattan and worked in Public Relations. In 1985, Ellen and her husband left New York City and moved to Port Washington to start a family.
While working as an administrative assistant, when she realized she wanted a creative outlet, and went to the nearest painting class and found her calling–oil painting.
Shiff paints in her home studio in Glen Cove and at Steve Lampasona’s The Artist’s Studio on the grounds of Chelsea Manion and the Muttontown Preserve. She teaches Abstract Painting there and at The Art Guild. Her work has been featured on the CBS-TV Series, The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
Shiff has been part of The Art Guild since its inception, has been on the board and is active in many projects. She is also on the Art Advisory Board of the Port Washington Library.
Riordan earned a B.A/ in Art Education from LIU and a Masters of Fine Arts from Adelphi University. She taught Junioe High School art until her children were born. Always wanting to learn more, she took a class with renowned sculptor George Gach and her passion for sculpting was born in that very first class. She continued to study with LI sculptor Angelo Bona and NYC sculptor Margit Malmstrom, and she attended The New School, The Visual School of Arts, the National Academy of Art and the Sculpture Center.
Riordan has received numerous awards and honors, and her work can be found in private collections all over the world. She has had ‘One Woman’ shows in NYC, New Jersey, Chicago, Long Island, and Connecticut. Her sculptures have also been exhibited at Art Expo NY for over 15 years.
She has done work for the Franklin Mint, Austin Sculpture, Inc., Alva Museum Reproductions, and Meisner Galleries. She has taught sculpture workshops on Long Island for 35 years.
“It’s not just talent…it’s discipline, hard work, dedication and always knowing you have room to learn and grow,” Riordan said. “I would not trade what I am doing and the way my life is for anything.”
The Art Guild has become an important venue for exhibiting her sculptures and paintings, and she has received awards for both in the juried art shows at the Art Guild.
Join The Art Guild at Leonard’s on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m., for The Art Lovers Fling. There’ll be a sit-down dinner with an open bar, dancing and a silent auction. Visit theartguild.org for more information.
