Nautical By Nature

“Fair Winds,” a nautical themed exhibit featuring work by East Coast nautical photographers Mark Testa, Thomas Halaczinsky, and Onne van der Wal is opening at Cutchogue’s Alex Ferrone Gallery on Saturday, September 22, and runs through November 4.

Former professional sailor van der Wal will display photos taken during his voyages around the world. Working from the deck, the air, and the sea, he has captured images of dramatic lighting on ship details, beautiful scenery, and action-packed regattas.

Meanwhile, Halaczinsky, a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and writer, will be exhibiting photos from his new book Archipelago New York, a literary logbook of his sailing expeditions documenting charted islands in the waterways from New York Harbor to Fishers Island Sound. He shoots from the viewpoint of looking from the water toward the land, which he says reflects a longing of a lone sailor’s search for a homecoming.

Then there’s Testa, a photographer and a creative agency director, who will be presenting a series of black and white photos he documented over a two-month voyage aboard Spirit of Massachusetts, a sailing schooner. His series, “Timeless Journey,” captures his adventure sailing from Gloucester, MA to the Dominican Republic.

The photography will be further celebrated with a gallery talk and book signing with van der Wal on Sunday, September 30, from 1 to 3 PM. He will discuss and sign Sailing and have additional work on display and for sale. Reservations are required for the talk.

Then on Sunday, October 21, from 1 to 3 PM, a gallery talk and book signing with Halaczinsky and Testa will take place at the gallery. Both photographers will discuss their work in the exhibit while Halaczinsky will be signing Archipelago New York.

As the only one of its kind on the North Fork, Alex Ferrone Gallery exhibits and sells contemporary fine art works by mid-career and emerging photographic artists. Director and aerial photographer Alex Ferrone aims to connect the community with art through events such as artist receptions, gallery talks, and workshops.

The gallery rests on Main Road in Cutchogue in a historical landmark building dating back to 1820, built by the Wickham family. The house was designated a Southold Town Registered Landmark in 1985 and placed on the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities’ roster in 1986.

The award-winning photographers will be at an artists’ reception on Saturday, September 29, from 6 to 8 PM.

jade@indyeastend.com