Exhibition: Feb 4-28, 2026
Reception: Feb 22 / 2-4pm
Location: IAC Gallery, Bay Shore, NY
Medium: All
The Prohibition era, spanning 1920 to 1933, marked one of America's boldest social experiments—a nationwide ban on the sale and production of alcohol meant to inspire morality and order.
Instead, it uncorked an era of hidden speakeasies, bootleggers, jazz-filled nights, and a thriving underground culture that defied the law with style. What began as a push for temperance gave birth instead to a defining era of rebellion, creativity, and a complex dance between authority and the unstoppable human spirit.
This exhibition aims to spotlight the cultural tension of the Prohibition era — from underground speakeasies and jazz-filled hideaways to the bold creativity that flourished despite the restrictions.
Islip Arts presents work related to this historic period, while also encouraging themes and styles surrounding it. The Jazz Age, Roaring Twenties, and the Harlem Renaissance all bridged cultural gaps between white and black Americans, laying the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.
Featured Artists:
John A. Bell
Louis Caruso
Nancy Connolly
Anthony Galasso
Tara Messina
Jenn Grasso-Moise
Jessica Noto
James Schultz
Danangelowe Spencer
Zannat Sultana
