Filling vacant Long Island stores with art
Dr. Barry K. Douglas and Dr. Vincent R. DiGregorio, both of the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group in Garden City, are allowing their artwork to be used in the windows of vacant stores across Long Island. This is one of Douglas's paintings. Credit: Handout
Some downtowns on Long Island have no shortage of empty stores and few ways to fill them.
Two Long Island plastic surgeons have come up with a plan: They will fill some of that space with their artwork.
Barry Douglas and Vincent DiGregorio, both of the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group in Garden City and both artists in their spare time, have started Project Art Space. They plan to hold a showing of their work June 7 at 679 Franklin Ave. in Garden City, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Douglas said their artwork will be at empty locations in Hauppauge and Babylon, for starters. Their work includes landscapes and seascapes.
"It camouflages the blight," Douglas said. "But it's a potentially good idea."
They don't plan to sell their work, just help unpretty areas look prettier. "I never want to sell my art," said Douglas, who's been painting all his life. "I get very attached to my paintings."
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