OLA Exhibits Work By 65 Artists In Benefit Show And Sale

This weekend, OLA, the Organización Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island, is using art as a way to further its mission of providing social, economic, cultural and educational development to the area’s Latino community.

“ROOTS,” a curated benefit art exhibition and sale, opens Friday at the Southampton Cultural Center and will include work by 65 artists, all of which is for sale to benefit OLA.

“This process scared the heck out of me,” admitted Minerva Perez, OLA’s executive director, in a statement. “I was out of my comfort zone and would never have done this without our curators, Amy Worth and Hector deCordova, along with Joyce deCordova helping with logistics.”

The assembled pieces represent an international effort with work by artists from all over the globe. Among them are many pieces by East End artists as well as one artwork which was flown in all the way from the country Georgia.

“The 65 pieces are truly stunning,” noted Ms. Perez. “I never dreamed we would have such a response. We are so grateful to these artists and to the Southampton Cultural Center for letting us have our benefit show and sale in such an inviting space.”

One of the participating artists in “ROOTS” is the renowned Eric Fischl, an East End resident. Mr. Fischl has offered to make 100 signed and numbered prints of his piece “WTF” available with 100 percent of the profits going to OLA.

“I’m still in shock,” said Ms. Perez. “These artists are doing so much to help OLA remain strong and committed.”

“ROOTS” opens with a reception on Friday, April 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. Southampton Cultural Center located at 25 Pond Lane. The work will remain on view through Sunday, May 5 at 5 p.m. In addition to all of the Fischl sales, 50 percent of all other sales will benefit OLA, a non-profit advocacy agency that works within the East End’s Latino and Hispanic communities.