Greenport Artist Whitney Hubbard Exhibit Unveiled at Floyd Memorial Library

Whitney M. Hubbard was Long Island’s very own Claude Monet, bringing the magic of impressionism to his hometown of Greenport.

Now on view at the Floyd Memorial Library, the exhibition “Whitney M. Hubbard: 150 Years” showcases more than 70 works either created by or inspired by the late artist, who once strolled the streets of Greenport capturing its charm in paint. The pieces on display have been generously loaned from both private and public collections.

Hubbard, a painter and art teacher, was born in Connecticut but raised in Greenport. He and his wife, Ruth, lived at 511 First Street — just down the road from the library where many of his works are now on view.

According to Sally Grant, the library’s art exhibits curator, the last major showcase of Hubbard’s work took place in 2000 at two locations: one in Greenport and the other at the Museums at Stony Brook. That exhibition marked the 125th anniversary of Hubbard’s birth. Since then, Grant says, the once-prominent impressionist has largely faded from public memory.

“Whitney is slipping into obscurity again, and with this exhibit, we hope to revive interest in a painter who was a notable American impressionist,” she said. “His work captures what is so delightful about Greenport and the surrounding area.”

The exhibit was curated by Grant alongside Janet Olinkiewicz, adult services coordinator, and Christopher Bianchi, reference and local history librarian. Viewers will recognize scenes that still exist in Greenport today, such as Stirling Basin, lined with homes and businesses along the shore. But sometimes, the focus isn’t just on the subject — it’s also on the canvas, or lack thereof. Grant noted that due to limited finances, Hubbard was known to paint on whatever materials he could find.

“He painted on the back of advertisements — small paintings, sometimes on canvas, but even on an organ pamphlet,” Grant said. Ruth, a talented musician and vocalist, taught students from their home, and many of these music-related materials became Hubbard’s canvases.

Their First Street home was a source of inspiration as well, particularly the English-style garden outside. Hubbard also painted across a range of genres, including self-portraits and portraits of Ruth, who was often his muse. The couple was so beloved in the community that “Hubbard Appreciation Day” was held on April 26, 1951, to honor them both.

“He tried to capture a particular moment in time — a fleeting moment,” Grant explained. “It was what Monet was doing, but Hubbard was doing it on the North Fork.”

She added that impressionism was widely misunderstood when it first came to America.

“When it first emerged, people didn’t understand it,” she said. “It’s amazing to think that something so beautiful was once considered controversial. People didn’t know how to approach it.”

Today’s Take

The exhibition also includes select works by two contemporary North Fork artists — Jeff Lee and Alma Vasquez — who were inspired by Hubbard’s legacy.

Vasquez, a Greenport resident originally from El Salvador, created three pieces in response to Hubbard’s “Rocks and Sea,” “House and Church,” and “Springtime.” Her interpretations blend Hubbard’s subjects with her cultural background.

“These are quintessential Hubbard subjects that capture what I and many others love about Greenport and the North Fork,” Vasquez said in her artist’s statement. “I’ve painted my three works with the flattened, geometric forms and bold, bright colors that are characteristic of Salvadoran folk art.”

“By responding to these three Hubbard paintings with new works of the same subject matter, but depicted in my own style,” she continued. “I like to think that he and I are conversing over time about village life and the natural world.”

Lee, the second featured artist, responded to two of Hubbard’s self-portraits — one from his youth, the other from later in life.

“The task of completing two self-portraits — each representing different stages of my 60+ years — was a challenge,” Lee wrote in his statement. “My work needed to evoke his intent and engage in a creative dialogue with paintings done nearly a century ago. I also had to wade back into my own history to create something that was honestly, accurately me — perhaps the most daunting part of the assignment.”

Remembering the Hubbards

Also included in the exhibition is a remarkable audio project: a series of cassette recordings from the Hallockville Farm Museum’s oral history initiative. These tapes feature firsthand recollections of Whitney and Ruth Hubbard by those who knew them personally.

“They interviewed a number of people who knew the Hubbards, and nine of those cassette tapes — more than half — have been uploaded to the New York Heritage Digital Collections,” Grant said.

The exhibition runs through November 10, displayed across both the main and lower levels of the library.

“Bringing all these works together feels very important and special,” Grant said. “It’s like reuniting a family of Hubbard pieces.”

To celebrate, the library will host a new Hubbard Appreciation Day on October 25, echoing the one held in 1951. The event will include a curators’ tour, an open discussion about the Hubbards’ life and work, and a musical performance in honor of Ruth.

“It’s magical, delightful, and an easy art to appreciate,” Grant said. “And it’s lovely to be bringing back that broader impressionism with the East End of Long Island.”