Annual Mural Project in collaboration with the Patchogue – Medford Library

Laura Kessler
Octopossible
2024

ABOUT OCTOPOSSIBLE
The octopus is the epitome of creative genius. One of the oldest most miraculous creatures on earth; it is an expert in color theory even though it cannot see in color, the beauty of this the ability to literally feel and express not only their color but their shape and texture, if that is not true artistry I don’t know what is. Not only is the octopus an amazing artist visually is also an awe-inspiring escape artist. As creatives we all metaphorically attempt to fit the square peg in a round hole by thinking outside the box. Well, this alien-like creature can fit its thirty foot, six hundred pound body through a space the size of a quarter, they quite literally have mastered thinking outside the box.

My piece illustrates, although what seems whimsical and fantastical, could actually be a reality. This is why you never give up on your dreams, and dream big! By thinking smart, working hard and getting creative one can achieve what seems to be the impossible. My octopus, Pollock, saw a little girl who was visiting the aquarium eating orange jelly-like candy in the shape of Os, they looked something familiar to him, he was infatuated. A few weeks later Pollock noticed a crack in the wall and decided to check it out, he then discovered an abandoned vending machine outside, there they were, a bag of Peach Os0! Pollock then began to explore and dreamt of how he could get there to find this treat that seemed perfect for him. Using his big brain and long mating arm he knew he could make it there. Even in captivity, he could do just as all octopuses must to in the wild to work hard and reach out to achieve their goal.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kessler graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2008 with a major in advertising design and a minor in illustration, earning Summa Cum Laude honors. A powerhouse in idea generation, she was the only Junior selected to participate in the American Advertising Federation’s NSAC, where she also served as one of the team’s presenters. Her innovative concept for Coca-Cola, which involved redirecting the advertising budget to charity, helped her team advance to nationals and won her two gold Addys and best in show at the Student Addys.

After graduation, she interned with TBWA but soon realized her passion lay beyond corporate confines. Choosing to freelance, she embraced the hands-on creative process and likens herself to an octopus—constantly evolving as both an artist and a person. Her past accomplishments serve as building blocks for continuous growth. Sobriety has brought her a new perspective, deepening her commitment to art, which she sees as integral to her identity.

Recently, she created a piece titled “Kenobi” for the Mastic Beach Conservancy, auctioned at their Bi-Valve Ball. The work, an homage to her nephew’s birth and her own rebirth in sobriety, represents a galaxy where all dreams are possible. She encourages viewers to embrace a childlike curiosity, believing that art is a fabric of endless possibilities.

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Seema Lisa Pandya

Through The Cracks

Living installation, 2024

Through The Cracks explores the idea of nature growing “through the cracks” of our rectilinear ridged built world while also examining how allowing life to fall through the cracks in society leaves the world in ruin. Ghosted translucent forms of both intact and crumbled buildings offer what can be lost and what could be built for the future. Plants with Cardinal Climber vines have been grown from seed by the artist and grow through and around the sculpture integrating the built world with nature. Offerings of hope and peace emerge in the form of tiny red flowers that attract hummingbirds. The piece is also a memorial to the nearly 15,000 children killed in Gaza when the piece was erected, and the thousands more still unaccounted for under the rubble of war. The artist has donated part of their artist fee to the World Central Kitchen, who are heroically providing food on the ground.

Eileen W Palmer

HANDMADE: Story Pillars

A community mosaic installation, 2024

HANDMADE was conceived as a vehicle to give voice to folks in our Suffolk County community. In the Folk Art tradition, it is art that is “of the people, for the people, and by the people.”   Itis about individuality and community—being heard and listening. Like the medium of mosaics, it represents uniting disparate pieces with grit and grout to make a beautiful whole. The handprint is a symbol of all humanity, but each person’s print is different. As a modern twist, the pillars include QR codes that tell stories of various folks in our community. That urge to leave a visual mark that says “I was here” is uniquely human. 

So many people were kind enough to share their talents and tales. The participants range from skilled professionals to folks who found it difficult to even hold a pen. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to make a little mosaic, decorate a hand, or share their personal story. As someone once said, “it takes a village.” 

Cori Matayas

Energized Time Frame, Steel, 2024

As a geoscientist and visual artist, I convey scientific knowledge about Earth systems through sculpture. The transfer of energy through vibration (conduction) or currents (convection) requires a medium. Similarly, artworks serve as media for the transmission of ideas and the energy of creation. Humans have developed materials and methods to transfer energy in ways that enhance our lives yet also devastate the planet. I wish for the viewer to consider the harmony in nature while realizing the crises we face with issues such as climate change and pollution. We must balance human needs with those of the other lifeforms with which we co-exist to preserve the beautiful energy that connects all living things.

John Bell
Mardi Gras
Steel
John Bell is an artist who reclaims salvaged metal to create sculptures. Using braised and welded steel and copper etched with acid to produce textural qualities, his first series of fourteen sculptures depicted the human head. Since then John’s art has evolved and expanded to include more abstract themes. His most current work includes pieces created with steel from demolished buildings and industrial scrap materials. By allowing the metal to react to the environment as well as to chemical applications, John creates surface textures of deterioration which add mood and meaning to the sculptural shapes.

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