Alister McReynolds, author of Legacy: The Scots Irish in America, presents a lecture and book signing on November 18. At a recent reception, The Garden City Historical Society salutes local artists participating in “Garden City in Art: a Mixed Media Exhibit,” the Society’s upcoming professional art show, November 7-8 and 14-15. The Garden City Historical Society invites residents to a free lecture and book signing by Alister McReynolds for his new book, Legacy: The Scots Irish in America, on Wednesday, November 18, 7 p.m. at The Garden City Historical Society Museum, 109 Eleventh Street. In his book, McReynolds traces the achievements of the Scots Irish in America. One of the notable figures he features is Garden City’s founder, Alexander Turney Stewart.

A Principal and Chief Executive of Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education (Lisburn is the birthplace of A.T. Stewart), McReynolds tells the story of these ordinary, yet somehow remarkable individuals in a lively and human fashion. The people portrayed possessed a kind of inventiveness and energy that literally “moved mountains.” Legacy focuses on characters that up to now have been somewhat overlooked and speaks of the saga of the tough Scots Irish who protected, settled and built American landscapes from Maine to southern Georgia.

Copies of Alister McReynolds’s book will be available for sale at the lecture. Light refreshments served.

Annual Professional Art Show

Residents, their families and friends are invited to The Garden City Historical Society’s fourth annual Professional Art Show, “Garden City in Art: a Mixed Media Exhibit,” at the Historical Society Museum Saturdays and Sundays, November 7-8 and 14-15, from 1 to 3 p.m. The show features 12 local artists, displaying artworks in sculpture, photography, pastels, watercolors and oils. Returning artists include Suzie Alvey, Jock Anderson, Lorraine Baralo, Adriana Seviroli-Caliari, Mary Jane Caldwell, Susana Egües Cerruti, Noel Darvie, Peter Langan, George Mamos, and Nancy Peretz. We are also pleased to announce two newcomers: Doug Anderson, Jock’s father, and Rose Pellicano.

Suzie Alvey’s paintings and drawings are in the collections of author Nelson DeMille, Islanders’ manager Garth Snow and singer Pia Zadora. Doug Anderson, at 90 years “young,” has had a long and colorful artistic career in the record industry, television, educational programming, commercials and exhibits. His son Jock’s work has been exhibited at St. Joseph’s College, Adelphi University and on New York City campuses. Lorraine Baralo’s works have been in shows on Long Island and in Florida. Mary Jane Caldwell, a Historical Society Board member and coordinator of the Professional Art Show, is currently exhibiting in a one-man show at Foto Foto Gallery in Huntington. Adriana Calari recently began working with walnut tree trunk pieces, fashioning them into abstract works.

Susana Cerruti’s sculptures are a profound study of the human figure in marble and wood. Noel Darvie’s work can be viewed on his website: www.noeldarvie.com. While focusing on portraits, Peter Langan also explores landscape and still life. After a long career in law, George Mamos recently began painting full time. Inspired by nature, Rose Pellicano’s plant portraits have been included in many international juried exhibitions. And, Nancy Peretz’s specialty is pastel painting.

Please come celebrate and support these Garden City artists, and enjoy a lovely visit to The Garden City Historical Society Museum, a preserved and restored 1872 structure, which was one of the original homes built in A.T. Stewart’s planned community of Garden City. Saturday visitors to the Art Show are welcome to stop at the A.T. Stewart Exchange on the lower level; the Society’s consignment shop Saturday hours are noon to 4 p.m. Don’t forget to visit the Historical Society website: www.gardencityhistoricalsociety.org .