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Community Corner

North Shore Youth Council to Display Kids' Artwork in Empty Storefronts

The group is looking for vacant space from Port Jefferson to Wading River.

Empty storefronts aren’t an uncommon sight in the midst of this recession, and the plans to put all that vacant window space to good use.

The Rocky Point-based nonprofit is searching for empty storefronts from Port Jefferson to Wading River to display the artwork of its young members.

The council has 13 kids with artwork to display, though Executive Director Janene Gentile said the council’s reaching out to local schools and looking for more.

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Gentile said the council is running this new project to simply bring attention to the artistic talents of its members.

“They really don’t have many venues to show their work,” she said. “I hope this brings more attention to the business area, and that landlords will pick up on it and offer it to the council if they should have an empty building.”

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The group has secured just one vacant building so far, located on Broadway Avenue in Rocky Point. The kids wrapped that location like a present for the holidays.

Sixteen-year-old John McKay, a Rocky Point High School student and recreation aid at the youth council, hopes his artwork will be displayed in a local storefront soon.

“Art is something I love to do,” he said. “I was really encouraged by my teacher in sixth grade, Mrs. Potter.”

McKay, who is also a member of the nonprofit's Youth Advisory Board, likened his artistic style to that of famous Spanish painter Salvador Dali.

“I would say my work is pretty surreal,” McKay added.

The kids’ artwork will stay in the vacant local storefronts until the buildings are leased.

The council in the past has showcased the artistic talents of its members with murals by Broadway Beach and Friendship Beach, on the concessions building at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai and on the back of McCarrick’s Dairy.

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