Honoring the life of two local legends, The Firefly Artists turn loss into celebration
A celebration of life for Jim Darcy, a founding member of The Firefly Artists, will be held on April 26 at the Main Street Gallery. Photo courtesy Katheryn Laible.
Jim Darcy was an extraordinarily humble human being and artist. A founding member of The Firefly Artists, Darcy had a certain omnipresence about him, sharing his infectious enthusiasm for art and artists with all who came into the Main Street gallery. “Even in his final years, his greatest joy was to sit in his studio or in the gallery, creating art and talking with other artists,” reads his obituary.
Darcy passed away on March 1, a loss felt throughout the community. “We are devastated, deeply grateful to have known him, and trying to keep moving forward the way he always taught us,” said Katheryn Laible, artist and managing partner at Firefly.
The gallery’s mission, from its creation 15 years ago, has been to provide a supportive space where people can find community, develop as artists and sell their work in a professional gallery setting, all endeavors supported and shared by Darcy whether he was there in person or not.
Born in Ispwich, Massachusetts, Darcy grew up in Gloucester and Rockport before moving to East Northport in his late twenties to raise a family. He was a union carpenter with Local 7 and “could make just about anything in his backyard workshop.” His wife, MaryAnn, is a longtime waitress at Crossroads and Rockin’ Fish. The couple settled here decades ago, because it reminded them of their first home.
In his later years, Darcy returned to his first love: art. A talented and versatile artist, he excelled in mediums such as pen and ink, lithography, oils and watercolors; his work and his spirit were a constant presence at Firefly.
Darcy was even intent on getting Laible to try painting – not her usual medium. “He was a truly amazing person who had a tremendous impact on all so lucky to know him,” she said. “The best of friends we ever could have hoped to have, and perhaps our most devoted member, we pray his light shines forever in the Firefly.”
A memorial
To keep that light shining, the Firefly will host a celebration of Darcy’s life on Sunday, April 26 from 3 to 5pm. At the family’s request, a scholarship fund has been set up in his name and will be awarded to promising student artists who demonstrate creativity, dedication to the arts and a commitment to continuing their artistic journey. A testament to his greatest love – his grandchildren – and a tribute to his enduring belief that the arts enrich lives and supporting young artists helps keep creativity thriving in our community, the fund has currently raised the first thousand of its $5,000 goal. Donations can be made here.
Rolling under the stars
Darcy attended as many events at Firefly as he could; Laible thinks he would have loved to be part of an upcoming jazz listening party at the gallery, held in honor of Jack Kerouac’s birthday month.
The event piggybacks off the Kerouac Words to Vision exhibit at neighboring Trinity Community Art Center, an art show featuring work inspired by the words of Jack Kerouac.
After Rob Hendricks at Trinity asked the Firefly partners what they were doing to honor Kerouac and his birthday, Laible said it was quickly decided to “give Kerouac’s soul a present” by leaning into his love of art and music and his desire “to be considered a jazz poet blowing a long blues in an afternoon jam session on Sunday.”
This Saturday, March 28, The Firefly Artists will host a listening party and discussion that dives deep into the history of jazz, featuring John Coltrane scholar Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka and Hollis King, former vice president and creative director at the Verve Music Group, the largest jazz record label in the world.
Fujioka is a board member of the Friends of The John and Alice Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, president of the Coltrane House of Osaka and owns the Kimono shop, “Fujioka.” He is also a freelance jazz writer, producer, photographer, educator and the author of four books on Coltrane. King has worked with some of the greatest musicians of all time, and has himself received numerous achievement awards and citations.
Together, Fujioka and King will give a guided tour of some of their favorite LPs and talk about things happening down the road at the Coltrane home in Dix Hills, which is being transformed into a museum and cultural center, as well as the upcoming Coltrane Centennial. “Rolling Under the Stars” begins at 6pm this Saturday at 90 Main Street in Northport Village and is free and open to all. Full details are available here.
Call for Darcy art: Because Jim Darcy did not make many prints of his work, The Firefly Artists are doing a call to owners of Darcy’s pieces to lend his works for a show in the gallery’s windows the last two weeks of April, and to allow the family to get digital copies for prints of select pieces. More details to follow, however any Darcy art owners can email events@thefireflyartists.com for more information.
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