The fall season brings a harvest of artistic activity

As the nation commemorates the fifth anniversary of 9/11, it seems a fitting time to view NCMA's current offering, "The American Spirit: Paintings by Mort Künstler" America's past and present comes alive through the Künstler's historical paintings, which are arranged chronologically, spanning the early days of the nation from the Revolution to the Space Age. Considered America's foremost artist of historical subjects, Künstler's work is esteemed for its drama and artistry and for the extraordinary level of authenticity that results from the artist's intense research. In particular, he is noted for his Civil War paintings, a major project that has engaged Künstler throughout his career. Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., the dean of Civil War historians and author of Stonewall Jackson, said "To study his paintings is to simply see history alive....none captures the human element, the aura of leadership, the sense of being there and sharing in the drama quite like Mort Künstler" Attesting to the artist's popularity with the public, NCMA's 1998 exhibition, The Civil War: The Paintings of Mort Künstler, broke all of the museum's previous attendance records and still stands as one of the museum's top-drawing shows ever.In conjunction with the exhibit, which runs through Nov. 5, visitors to NCMA, on Saturday, Sept. 16, will have an opportunity to revisit one of the most important epochs in the nation's history: the Revolutionary War. The Huntington Militia recreates an encampment of American patriots in opposition to the British occupation of Long Island. The action takes place on the museum's acres of lawns and in the museum itself. The Nassau County Art Museum is located at One Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. For more information contact (516) 484-9338 or www.nassaumuseum.com.

Hillwood Art Museum unveils "Solarplate Revolution," a study in the innovative printmaking process. Large scale paintings, embossed lead, gestural figure drawings, and manipulated photographs are all very different art forms, but in this new exhibit they are linked together by their process - known as solarplate etching.Four artists are represented by 60 two-dimensional works that share themes, such as the natural world and human figures. Works by Eric Fischl, Joan Hall and Deborah Riley are on display, as are pieces by Long Island artist and master printmaker Dan Weldon. Weldon developed the solarplate process, which uses the power of the sun and non-toxic materials, rather than traditional printmaking chemicals.The exhibit demonstrates how these artists, through their individual inspiration, approach identical printmaking materials and obtain completely different results. "It has been great to work with the participating artists. They are all risk-takers using a new medium to create important works of art," said Hillwood Art Museum Assistant Director Barbara Applegate. "Each artist was invited for a different reason, but their works compliment one another in theme and content.""Solarplate Revolution" is open through Nov. 18. Hillwood Art Museum is located on Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. For more information, call (516) 299-4073.

The Heckscher Museum of Art recently acquired 23 images by Russian photojournalist Markov-Grinberg. It is presenting these photos in its new exhibit, "The Photographs of Mark Markov-Grinberg," through Dec. 3. It will be the first, one-person, museum exhibition of the Russian artist's works ever to be held in the U.S. The memorable photographs, chronicle life in Russia from the 1920s-1940s.The Markov-Grinberg 's assignments throughout Russia allowed to distill the special histories of everyday people. Often, he lived and worked with his subjects, not unlike the documentary photographers of the U.S. Farm Security Administration and Works Progress Administration. This enabled the artist to bear witness to and document change throughout the 20th century. "Markov-Grinberg will be remembered for his depictions of the shifting cultural landscape within Russia," noted Dr. Kenneth A. Wayne, Heckscher Museum chief curator. "His works reveal the modern age beyond reportage, through life and subjects, with uncommon vision."The Heckscher Museum of Art is located at 2 Prime Ave.,Huntington. For more information contact (516) 351-3250.

Islip Art Museum opens "Mirror Image" on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 19, explores the way in which artists use the portrait tradition to comment on larger issues of personal identity, politics and changing social values. Artists in the show include Samira Abbassy, Susanna Coffey, Till Freiwald, Carlos Ginzburg, Mats Gustafson, Andy Diaz Hope, Matt Keegan, and Joe Letitia. The Islip Art Museum is at, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip. For further information contact (631) 224-5402.