AUBURN - Even 20 years later, former Cayuga Museum director Walter Long still has a great impact on the institution.

Years ago, Long, who was museum director from 1936 to 1986, befriended a Moravia artist named Bob Goodnough.

Helped by Long's influence, Goodnough earned an art degree from Syracuse University and has since become a nationally recognized painter and sculptor.

The museum held an opening reception Sunday for its latest exhibit, which features paintings and sculptures by Goodnough, who now lives in Westchester County.

The display, which runs at the museum through Oct. 21, includes about a dozen abstract paintings and sculptures by the now-seasoned artist, including several that he has donated to the organization.

“Bob was one of Walter's early (art) students, and Walter encouraged him to apply for a scholarship to study fine arts at SU,” said Carrie Barrett, museum curator, during Sunday's reception.

After finishing there, he went on to study at New York University, and now has works on display nationwide, including pieces at New York City's Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Goodnough had previously donated several works to the museum's permanent collection, Barrett explained, and when he recently expressed interest in donating another painting, the museum staff organized an entire display of his creations.

“Floating Shapes,” the painting Goodnough donated for the show, was one of the pieces hung throughout the museum's second floor for the exhibit. The oil-on-canvas work consisted of numerous triangles of different colors against a white background.

At Sunday's reception, people wandered through the upper galleries examining the pieces, which included two small sculptures.

“Bob usually does monumental sculptures - some extremely large commissioned pieces,” Barrett said. “Obviously, we don't have room to show those kinds of pieces here.”

Due to prior commitments, Goodnough was unable to attend Sunday's affair, but his nephew, Gary Goodnough, was on hand to represent him.

“One painting that stands out to me is one of his smaller, earlier works,” said Gary Goodnough, of Scipio Center, from one of the galleries.

The untitled piece he referred to stands about a foot high, and consists of an unnamed “town scene,” with bright colors that highlight the scenery included.

“It's interesting to look at that one, and see how his work has progressed since then,” he said.

If you go

What: Bob Goodnough exhibit

Where: Cayuga Museum, 203 Genesee St., Auburn

When: Noon to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Sunday; continues through Oct. 21

Cost: Free

For more information: Call 253-8051 or visit www.cayuganet.org/