LONGYEAR GALLERY: “INTRODUCING NEW MEMBER RAY CURRAN: ‘THE WATERFRONT IN WATERCOLOR’” AND “MEMBERS’ SPRING GROUP SHOW”

Ray Curran, Half Moon in NY Harbor, Watercolor on linen

LONGYEAR GALLERY, APRIL 24th – MAY 24th, 2026

OPENING RECEPTION: SATURDAY, APRIL 25th from 3-5 p.m.

Longyear Gallery of Margaretville is pleased to announce the opening of two new concurrent exhibitions: “Introducing New Member Ray Curran: The Waterfront in Watercolor” and “Members’ Spring Group Show.” Opening on Friday, April 24th, these exhibitions will run through Sunday, May 24th with the Opening Reception for both on Saturday, April 25th from 3-5 p.m. 

According to new Longyear Gallery Member Ray Curran, “Water bodies of various types have played an important role throughout my life.” When reflecting on “The Waterfront in Watercolor,” his introductory exhibit, Curran notes that “Starting with my childhood summers at 'No Name Pond,’ or sailing on the English Channel and kayaking on the Hudson River (about 25 times each summer for the last 30 years), it was inevitable that there be a nautical focus in much of my artwork. I am endlessly fascinated with the magic of the sky and the water and the interaction they have with much that has been built along the edges. The selection of work in this exhibit is a small sample of the various roles that waterfronts have had in my work. Besides being on the water, painting of waterfronts remains one of the top pleasures in my life.”

Ray Curran was born and brought up in the state of Maine. After a successful career as a professional urban and environmental planner, designer and teacher in the US, Europe and Latin America whose principal interest was the relationship of people’s experience with the built environment, Ray moved “up river” to the Mid-Hudson area where he was Senior Planner for the environmental organization Scenic Hudson and eventually became a consultant. He studied art in New York City at the Art Student League and Parsons School of Design and later at the Woodstock School of Art. Working in his own studio in Olivebridge, NY, where he has his home, since 2009, Curran has had solo shows in numerous venues including the Arts Society of Kingston, the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, as well as being in several group and juried shows in the Mid-Hudson region. He has been the recipient of various awards for his work and was also a founding member and vice president of the Kingston Midtown Arts District in Kingston.

Longyear Gallery’s “Members’ Spring Group Show” includes the work of all 34 gallery members. Among the works in this show are Lynn Woods’s colorful still life paintings in oil on paper, Marion Behr’s acrylics, Gail Freund’s acrylic painting of “Michael’s Garden,” Ann Lee Fuller’s mysterious oil painting “Half Light,” Irina Grinevitsky’s “Bull Costa Rica,” Robin Halpern’s two abstract paintings in mixed media, Patrice Lorenz’s oil painting “Figure with Birdbath,” three watercolors by Ron Macklin, four variations of Sheila McManus’s gouache on paper “March Stripes,”  two monoprints by Alan Powell, two photographs by Helane Levine-Keating, Lesley A. Powell’s collage “Flowers Hiding Fish,” Bonnie Mitchell’s photograph “Halloween NYC,” Deborah Ruggerio’s watercolor “White Lily,” and Anthony Margiotta’s ink and gouache “Tree Hugger.”

Future 2026 Longyear Gallery exhibits feature two concurrent featured artists solo exhibitions, Lesley A. Powell’s “Jux Ta Position” and paintings by Neil Driscoll, accompanied by a Members’ Group Show running from Friday, May 29th through Sunday, June 28th, 2026 with the opening reception on Saturday, May 30th from 3-5 p.m., followed by two solo featured artists exhibitions by Alan Powell and Irina Grinevitsky, running from Friday, July 3rd through Sunday, August 2rd  with the opening reception on Saturday, July 4th from 3-5 p.m., accompanied by a Members’ Group Show. 

Longyear Gallery is located Downstairs in The Commons, 785 Main Street, Margaretville. The gallery will be open from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. For information, please see Longyear Gallery’s website, www.longyeargallery.org, email the gallery at info@longyeargallery.org, or call 845.586.3270 during gallery hours. 

Ray Curran, Lady in Plein Aire, Cape Cod, Watercolor

Helane Levine-Keating, Wuthering Heights 1, archival photograph

Ron Macklin, Train Window I, Watercolor

Lynn Woods, Fruit with String and Box, oil on paper