Even though the exhibition overlaps with Valentine’s Day and has love in its title, “For the Love of Art” has little to do with romance.
Instead, it celebrates a different kind of love — the love of being an artist, of making and sharing work, and of spending time with art in all its forms.
This month, the Rye-based collective known as the Greenhaven Artists — Belkis Hull, Monique Robidoux, Cécile Roberfroid, and Gabriela Bornstein — brought the exhibition to The Rye Arts Center. Drawing on connections across Rye and the broader Westchester arts community, the group invited fellow artists to interpret “For the Love of Art” in their own way. The result was a diverse group show featuring 14 artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.
“We wanted it to be very open,” said Hull, a fine art photographer and founding member of the collective. “We simply asked, ‘What does your love of art look like?’ We tried to be diverse and inclusive, bringing together artists we admire in a way that feels cohesive. We’re really trying to embrace all forms of art and make them as accessible as possible to the public.”
The exhibition opened on Feb. 5 at The Rye Arts Center, and remains on view through today, Feb. 16. All artwork is available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds supporting The Rye Arts Center.
Beyond the gallery walls, “For the Love of Art” has also included artist talks and hands-on workshops throughout its run, offering insight into creative processes and opportunities for direct community engagement.
“At The Rye Arts Center, our mission is rooted in celebrating diverse artistic expression,” said Sarah Mackay, exhibitions curator and gallery manager at the arts center. “We continue to partner with local artist collectives to expand opportunities for enrichment through the arts.”
Mackay said this year’s collaboration with Greenhaven Artists was timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day and is focused on fostering connection.
“Together, we are building a welcoming home where the arts can be explored and experienced,” she said. “By hosting Greenhaven Artists in our main gallery, and in turn supporting a wide range of programming — from yoga and poetry to hands-on drawing workshops — we’re creating opportunities for people to come together and find joy through shared creative experiences.”
Greenhaven Artists began informally in November 2023, when a local artist (who has since moved abroad) shared news of her nearby exhibition in a neighborhood chat group. A handful of artists connected through that post and met for coffee in one of their homes. That casual gathering sparked the idea for a collective focused on empowering artists — particularly women — within the Greenhaven neighborhood.
Within weeks, the group organized its first exhibition, showcasing work by five artists. By May 2024, Greenhaven Artists had grown significantly, hosting a large open-studio event across four Greenhaven homes with 19 invited artists. What began as a supportive neighborhood meet-up had evolved into a growing regional arts collective.
With deep ties to Rye, the Greenhaven Artists say they are especially grateful for the opportunity to exhibit at The Rye Arts Center.
“A big challenge for artists is finding space,” said Roberfroid, an abstract oil painter. “Galleries are often booked far in advance with long waitlists, so we’re thinking outside the box — finding new kinds of spaces to show work and collaborate.”
Roberfroid also pointed to the community’s enthusiasm for the arts.
“The Rye Arts Center plays a big role in that,” she said.
“But it’s happening everywhere. Artists are rethinking traditional ways of showing work and connecting with the public. Those direct connections — outside the traditional gallery system — are really emerging, and small towns like ours are benefiting because it helps build community.”
That spirit of openness carries through the exhibition’s programming. In addition to artist talks and visual art workshops, visitors attended a portrait party, poetry readings and writing sessions, book readings, and even a yoga-and-sculpture class.
On Feb. 10, Rye author Alison Cupp Relyea, a Rye Record contributor, gave a reading from her recent book. On Feb. 11, exhibiting artist Robidoux led a workshop focused on best practices for maintaining a sketchbook. Feb. 12 brought a “portrait party” hosted by exhibiting artist Bornstein, inviting participants to sit and sketch one another in a relaxed, social setting.
On Feb. 13, Mamaroneck Poet Laureate Melissa Joplin Higley presented a poetry reading and lead an interactive ekphrastic poetry workshop, encouraging visitors to respond creatively to the artwork on view. The following day, Feb. 14, sculptor Gaelle Hintzy-Marcel and Hélène Roy of Hélène Roy Yoga joined together for a one-hour yoga class, followed by an artist talk focused on sculpture (advance registration required).
On Feb. 13 and 14, artisan vendors were on site throughout the day offering handmade items such as scarves and small sculptural pieces — art to wear, hold, and take home. Local student musicians also performed in the gallery.
