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North Fork Artist Showcase
If the face of the North Fork is its natural beauty, and its heart is the people, surely its soul is our artists. Some of our showcased artists have family roots reaching back to Revolutionary times, and their work is a family tradition for generations. Other "newcomers" felt the rhythm of North Fork life and the beat was theirs. The North Fork is not an "artist community;" it is a community that values its artists.
All works can be purchased through North Fork Weddings.
Hazel Kahan: Leafages
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 Leafages
Hazel Kahan
Mattituck, NY 11952
www.leafages.com
When an artist utilizes nature to create works for us to enjoy, the result is magical. Hazel Kahan combines leaves, calligraphy, and her extraordinary insight into human nature, to create true pieces of art that can be enjoyed and displayed in every type of home, and they are affordable!! They are perfect gifts for wedding parties, corporate employees, graduations, etc. North Fork Weddings is so impressed by her work, that we have commissioned her to create two designs that are available to you exclusively through us. You may also commission your own work: imagine the delight of receiving a work of art created from the leaves of a favorite childhood tree or the wedding vows spoken as a bride or groom.
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Jesse Reece: Hand-blown Glass
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 His studio is a large garage where the fire burns hot enough to melt the glass from which he creates his art. On plywood tables covered with old issues of the NY Times, exquisitely beautiful vases are lined up in tight formation. Mr. Reece warns me not to touch anything. "They're like dominos; if you knock one over, we could lose the whole thing." Even in the dim light through a dusty window, the colors glow but when he flips on the overhead light, they shimmer. I know that in sunlight they will dance. Tiffany & Co. had an exclusive on these vases and the company did an entire advertising campaign about them.
 A tall storage shelf is filled with other creations: smooth, palm sized apples and pears, clear perfume bottles, delicate swans, and gold veined eggs. He lets me pick up the apple and when I hold it to the light, I understand why the Wickham family calls the apple the "most perfect fruit." In a larger room to the other side of his work area, there is some display shelving holding some of the larger pieces Mr. Reece has created: bowls, vases in varying shapes and colors, and trays like horizontal rainbows.
Mr. Reece's creations are available for direct sale from his studio. We will be more than happy to set up an appointment for you and even talk to you about other things he makes. I bought the apple and gave it to Prudence and Dan Heston who are part of the Wickham family. They put it on the window sill of their 18th century house. It looks perfect there. Wouldn't the fruit make a perfect favor for a fall wedding? What a perfect shower or bridesmaid gift. Don't just think wedding, however. There are items perfect as corporate gifts and you will want to get some for your own home. Jesse Reece is a resident of Orient.
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James Pritchard: Hand-painted Marriage Mats
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A Marriage Mat is meant to be stood upon by the bride and groom as they take their vows. When the ceremony is over, they take it with them so that they always have the exact spot they began their journey through life together. Each mat is approximately 2' x 3', just large enough for a couple to stand upon. Made of treated canvas, they are sturdy enough to use as floor mats but exquisite enough to be framed as cherished mementos. James Pritchard, a noted artist who has worked for the Metropolitan Museum recreating masterpieces, is creating these mats exclusively for North Fork Weddings. He offers three North Fork designs: Seaside, Vineyard, and Victorian and he will personalize them upon request. If you prefer to have a particular scene put on a mat, Mr. Pritchard does accept commissions. Although these mats are meant to be for weddings, they are wonderful gifts for any occasion and serve as constant reminders of the beauty and talent found on the North Fork. We are overjoyed that Mr. Pritchard has agreed to make them for us, and we know that anyone who purchases one will have a unique artistic work to cherish for a lifetime.
The mats are $115.00 each, including personalization. James Pritchard is a resident of Southold.
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Dick DeMott: Wood Carver
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 Perhaps the only more pleasant way of spending an afternoon listening to Dick DeMott talk about his family legacy of decoy carving, would be sitting in a skiff with him on Wickham's Creek and watching him use them. The legacy of decoys in his family dates back to the early 1800's and decoys carved by his great grandfather, Perry DeMott, are sought by collectors and auction houses world wide, often going for over $25,000. As in all things, a bit of education helped me understand why they are so valuable. He showed me how the perfect symmetry is not only beautiful to the eye, but also allows the decoys to float in a totally natural way in the water, a perfect example of function following form. I learned that some are carved from old cedar buoys that once floated near Fire Island and that the oldest is made of cork. Eyes were often made from button hooks; some have "tiller" weights to ensure straight floating, while others are heavily weighted with lead to allow for the bird to sink down in majesty.
 There are sentinel birds that hunters erect on sandy shores to attract other fowl species. I was surprised to see a carved crow, but Dick explained that farmers often asked hunters to shoot crop eating flocks. Today, Dick DeMott carries on the legacy of his family through his presentations for community and naturalist organizations, his pursuit of the time honored sport of shooting for such things as field trial testings for dogs, and through his exquisite carvings now available through North Fork Weddings. There are carvings of plovers, pipers, cranes, herons, and small song birds. The prices of those carved today are not anywhere near the price of the antique decoys, but in years to come, I am certain they will be. I can not imagine a more perfect gift than a decoy carved by this wonderful gentleman who is truly the embodiment of the North Fork. He will be delighted to show you his work upon appointment and North Fork Weddings will be delighted to set one up for you after talking with you. Mr. DeMott is a resident of Cutchogue.
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