Michael Sorrentino, Author at Patchogue-Medford Library

Photographer John Spoltore’s work riding through Patchogue-Medford Library’s gallery

February 22, 2017 By Michael Sorrentino

Photographer John Spoltore’s work is on display at Patchogue-Medford Library through February 28. Photo courtesy of John Spoltore.

John Spoltore is no stranger to libraries throughout the area. The photographer, who has been working in the craft for 40 years, started off teaching the art at a local high school and at one library. That number went up fast.

“Through word of mouth, I’m now teaching at 34 different libraries,” Spoltore said in an interview this week with Patchogue-Medford Library.

His exhibit, “The World As I Would Like it to Be,” is currently on display in Patchogue-Medford Library’s lower level gallery through February 28th.

Spoltore’s work includes a variety of different scenes of natural life, and he likes to work with images to give them a look similar to oil paintings.

“I enjoy the strong color,” he said, referring to how he uses photo editing software after taking the images to bring an artistic appearance to the scenes he captures.

Spoltore takes scenes like this one of a snowy LIRR train, and gives them an oil painting-like look. Photo courtesy John Spoltore.

Many of Spoltore’s photos include a variety of scenes of the Long Island Rail Road, where he recently retired from working at last April. The trains of the railroad provided him with plenty of opportunities to create pictures, and he said the railroad has many of them on display at the LIRR’s employee facilities.

Since Spoltore’s work is on display close by the Children’s Department of the library, he says that any kids that want to get into photographer should grab any camera they can to get started.

“You don’t need a $2,000 camera to make a good picture,” Spoltore said. In addition, while he does offer lessons, he points out that there are plenty of great free tutorials available online by searching through YouTube or even through photo companies.

A baseball photo as it appears at John Spoltore’s exhibit in Patchogue-Medford Library. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

“You can choose between being a photo taker or a photo maker,” Spoltore said, noting that there is nothing wrong with either choice. A photo taker will pull out the camera, frame the shot and fire away. After learning the basics, one can dive into white balance, exposure, composition and other photography techniques to become a photo maker, he said.

For more information on John Spoltore and his photography, you can visit his website at swedephoto.com or by calling him at 631-476-8690.

The Seed Lending Library is now open at Patchogue-Medford Library

February 18, 2017 By Michael Sorrentino

Patchogue-Medford Library is now the home to the area’s first seed library. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

Are you looking into starting a garden this spring? Or are you a gardener with extra seeds to spare? With today’s grand opening of the Seed Lending Library, Patchogue-Medford Library can be your one-stop place to expand your garden and share seeds with other patrons.

The library is kicking off with a Seed Swap, taking place today at 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. in Patchogue-Medford Library’s main building. The library has been working with the Long Island Regional Seed Consortium in order to kick off this initiative, making it one of the first public seed libraries in the area.

With the library now in full swing, patrons are free to donate preserved seeds into the collection for others to borrow. And for those looking to bring a new type of seed to their home garden, patrons can take up to three seed packets per month. When gardening season is wrapping up, all patrons that made use of seeds from the library are encouraged to give back the extra seeds they obtain from crops to the collection for other patrons.

The grand opening of the Seed Lending Library is Saturday.

Anyone with further questions about the seed library should contact librarian Laura Accardi with questions by calling 631-654-4700.

And for those that want to dive even deeper into seeds, the documentary “Seed: The Untold Story” is coming early next month to the Plaza Cinema and Media Arts Center at 20 Terry St. in Patchogue, just across Terry Street from Patchogue-Medford Library.

The film follows a group of seed keepers that work to stop varieties of seeds from disappearing, while also fighting against companies to protect the future development of food sources. The movie theater will show the film on Saturday, March 4th at 10:30 a.m. and on Thursday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m. Guest speakers from the Long Island Regional Seed Consortium will be part of discussions on the film after both screenings.

Brookhaven Arts and Humanities Council’s art on display in Patchogue-Medford Library

January 20, 2017 By Michael Sorrentino

The Brookhaven Arts and Humanities Council’s art is on display in Patchogue-Medford Library in January. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

The first featured artist for January in Patchogue-Medford Library’s gallery is not one person, but the entire Brookhaven Arts & Humanities Council organization.

The group’s work can be seen through the end of January in the gallery on the lower level of the building.

The organization previously displayed their work in Farmingville as well as Bellport, and presently moves around to a number of venues.

Jewelry by Gay Gatta is in the glass case in the lower level gallery. Photo courtesy of of Gay Gatta.

Gay Gatta, who is on the board for the council and serves as outreach chair, says that the group gives artists a chance to put their work out there without having to pay high costs that sometimes comes with it.

“A lot of them can’t afford to go into the galleries, so this is perfect for them, they get their work out there,” Gatta said.

Members of the group pay $15 per year, and with that get to show off their work with the shows the organization participates in.

Karen Miller O’Keefe, whose work was in the library in December as well as part of this month’s exhibit, with Gay Gatta. Photo courtesy of Gay Gatta.

The artists featured in this show is Anne Baum, Doug Broadhurst, Michele Depalo, Lorraine Fosmire, Michael Chait, Gay Gatta, Vito Marrone as well as Bill Pirnak and Mac Titmus.

The art, which features photography, paintings and jewelry, is also available for sale.

Ceramic boxes made by Doug Broadhurst that are also part of the exhibit. Photo courtesy of Gay Gatta.

After the group’s work leaves Patchogue-Medford Library, they can next be seen at the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library at 120 Main St. in Setauket.

Anyone interested in reaching out to the arts council can call Gay Gatta at 631-828-2523.

More artwork and photos of members of the council are below:

The artwork can be seen on the lower level of the library. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

Photo courtesy of Gay Gatta.

Karen Miller O’Keefe’s photography wraps up all the seasons, reception this Saturday

December 8, 2016 By Michael Sorrentino

Karen Miller O’Keefe is currently exhibiting her photography at Patchogue-Medford Library. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

There are only a few weeks left in 2016, and the last artist exhibiting in Patchogue-Medford Library this year has put together a collection of photos that reflect all the seasons.

“It’s progressive, so it starts with the spring flowers,” O’Keefe said during a Wednesday interview at her exhibit on the lower level of the main building.

For the summer she has images of the Coney Island carousel, the fall she has photos of the Hudson Valley near where she grew up and wildlife photos as well. O’Keefe currently lives in Brookhaven and previously worked as a social worker and therapist.

This image of a duck taken by O’Keefe that is on display at the library emphasizes both reflection and shadows. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

“The thing I love is I like to work with water reflections,” O’Keefe said, and noted that some of her favorite pieces also emphasize shadows. This can especially be seen on an image of a duck on display, which shows the animal standing along a coastline that created both reflections and shadows.

Since O’Keefe’s exhibit is very close to the Children’s Department of the library, she recommends that anyone hoping to get into photography grab a camera and start learning.

“A lot of it has to do with having a good eye, and secondly it has to do with editing,” O’Keefe said about getting into photography. “It has a lot to do with just being able to see composition, color…so it’s just practice really.”

A Saturday reception is going to take place at the exhibit, which shows off photos of all the seasons. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

O’Keefe, a cancer survivor, has also recently exhibited with United Artists Against Cancer: Through the Eyes of a Child event in Port Jefferson Village.

And in celebration of this final exhibit for the year, a reception is being held for her exhibit this Saturday, December 10th from 3 p.m.-5 p.m., and light refreshments will be served for it.

These flowers represent the spring portion of the exhibition. Photo Credit: Michael Sorrentino

O’Keefe’s exhibit will be on display in the lower level of the library through December 31. For any photography inquiries, she can be reached by calling 516-446-7032.