Art Lab honors five Staten Islanders at 50th anniversary Tuscan Garden celebration

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Art Lab, Staten Island’s renowned art institution known for its independent school of fine and applied art, celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden’s Tuscan Garden in Livingston.

The event celebrated the historic milestone and honored five individuals for their steadfast support of culture and the arts throughout the years.

The evening opened with welcomes from Lynnanne Daly, the executive director, and Malissa Priebe, director of operations. Craig Manister, president of the board, talked about his 30-year involvement with the organization.

The honorees were philanthropist and community stalwart Alice B. Diamond, mother of Staten Island Advance/SILive.com Publisher Caroline Diamond Harrison and wife of the late Richard E. Diamond, former Advance publisher; Virginia Allen, one of the last surviving Black Angels who started working at Sea View Hospital’s tuberculosis units at age 16; artist and art teacher Linda Butti, an Art Lab instructor and member of the board of directors who earned a Doctorate in Fine Art from the City University of New York; photographer Bill Higgins, who has been photographing Staten Island for nearly 50 years, and Rashida Ladner-Seward, executive director of the Universal Temple of the Arts.

The celebration began with a Golden Hour in the garden, which featured Tuscany-themed food from Italo and a live performance by Bleeding Rose.

“I look back on my career and it’s like . . . I can’t believe all the things I’ve done,” said Bill Higgins. “It’s been amazing. It’s an honor to be honored. It’s sort of like a high point for me.”

Linda Butti has been a part of Art Lab since the 1990s. “I love it here. It’s the only place where I can go to feel comfortable and at home with people who share my values,” she said. “These people all feel the same way, so that’s why I love Art Lab. They open themselves to everybody, both rich and poor,” Butti added.

Richmond County Public Administrator Edwina Frances Martin was called to the stage to present Alice B. Diamond with citations and plaques from her office and from District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Assembly member Sam Pirozzolo, and Art Lab.

“I never like to speak, but I just want to say thank you,” Diamond said. “I was here when Art Lab moved to Snug Harbor, and I’m here when I can on Wednesday nights to go to the wonderful sketch class.”

Rashida Ladner-Seward said she felt deeply humbled to be honored.

“I was reading a study by the World Health Organization that talked about the arts, as helping mental health and wellbeing, and overall, the betterment of society,” Ladner-Seward said.

“Staten Island is a very unique borough that is closely knit, and we just need all of the support from this community of individuals like yourselves to continue to do the great work for youth and families, and to bring joy and love to Staten Island and beyond,” she added.

Art Lab’s 50th anniversary fundraiser moved indoors for a Speakeasy Afterparty featuring cocktails, snacks, a photo booth, card games, and a silent auction.

The grand prize raffle was a Snug Harbor Basket that included a Snug Harbor Membership, a Noble Maritime Collection Membership, a Staten Island Museum Membership, an Art Lab Membership, and an Art Lab Gift Certificate for a free class.

Guests danced to live music provided by the Chris Kaiser Band, and enjoyed a “Bees Knees”, the Snug Harbor-sponsored signature cocktail.

In 1975, Art Lab opened in a converted factory building on Norwood Avenue in the Clifton section of Staten Island, becoming Staten Island’s first cooperative arts-related teaching facility. It offered workshops and exhibition resources for artists of all levels of experience.

As Art Lab grew, the organization underwent restructuring and relocated to larger and more visible headquarters at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens.

As it expanded its faculty and curriculum, it undertook a building renovation project at the new site, where it occupied various locations in buildings G & H before settling in its current headquarters on the first floor of building H.

Today, its purpose is to offer Staten Island the best possible and most professional independent school of fine and applied art, and to bring knowledge and appreciation of artistic excellence to the metropolitan community through regular classes, exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, and lectures.