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The go to source for Creatives seeking Resources and Insights |
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CULTURALLY
SPEAKING
By
Cornelia Seckel
 Julia Santos Solomon, Basha Ruth Nelson Marshall Baer, Elisa Pritzker, Anthony Krauss, Cornelia Seckel, Shelley Parriott and Ingrid Mazerat at the Pritzker Gallery exhibition Homage to Liam Nelson (1931-2007) |
While
delivering papers in NYC I stopped at the Noho Gallery to see Basha
Ruth Nelson’s exhibit Emerging, a show that reflects
her emerging back to her creative self after the death of her mother and
then, two weeks later, her husband Liam. I found her paper and
metal sculptures — both those on the walls and free standing —
to have a serene flow, a gentle twist and turn, a coming back together
of the materials presenting a whole. Also at Noho was Rebecca Cooperman
who was showing her recent paintings of watercolors. I particularly liked
the florals and her still lifes. They were quite strong and as we spoke
she talked about how (at over 90 years old) she was exploring new ideas
and presentations of old themes. John Monteiro had his work at
the Pleiades Gallery and his drawings in ink and scratchboard were
intriguing. Fine detail, convoluted shapes and designs left me feeling
that I could spend a long time with any one of these works.
I’ve just learned from Bev at the Framing
Gallery Studio about "The Shirt Factory", a business community
of artists' studios, galleries, craftspeople, healers and professionals as
well as unique shops and services located in the historic Shirt Factory
Building at the corner of Lawrence and Cooper Streets in downtown
Glens Falls, NY. Many of these artists’ studios are open to the
public. For a first-hand look go to www.shirtfactorygf.com. A new addition to the growing artist community
at the Shirt Factory is bjsartworks Framing Gallery Studio, a full
service Frame Shop with original pastel paintings for sale by artist
and owner Bev Saunders. Also at the gallery are figurative sculptures
and a small gift gallery. She offers a wide variety of art services, including
art consulting and portraits of any subject, design and illustration.
The gallery will host several exhibits throughout the year. Learn more
at www.bjsartworks.com
 (L to R) artists Lily Braff, Lisa DeLoria Weinblatt and Stephanie Plunkett (curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum) at Lisa’s exhibition School Lunch: Celebrating Diversity and Multiculturalism at The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Newburgh, NY |
Lisa
DeLoria Weinblatt’s exhibit “School Lunch: Celebrating Diversity and
Multiculturalism”, was at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
in Newburgh, NY. These drawings and paintings came out of an Art in Public
Spaces project: Illustration as Visual Essay, that she did for
her Master’s degree at The School of Visual Arts, NYC. While looking
at these portraits of individual and small groups of students I am transplanted
back to my days as a High School teacher and can almost identify the individuals
and their conversations. Lisa has had National and International acclaim
for her work and has received several grants. It was a pleasure to see
Lisa and to view her work as previously I had only seen reproductions.
Also
in Newburgh is Safe Harbors of the Hudson, an organization whose
mission is “transforming lives and building communities through housing
and the arts.” The Cornerstone Residence (opened Dec. 2006) has
128 units of affordable housing, artists’ work studio space and an art
gallery. There is also a computer lab, library and they offer Wellness
programs. The Residence provides safe, attractive, affordable housing
for formally homeless, mentally ill and low-income adults, veterans and
artists. There are also three commercial spaces on site, which will be
rented to local businesses. While I was there I met several of the artists
who have studios and were quite pleased with the facilities. The Gallery,
run by Virginia Walsh, is spacious with good lighting and has lots
of room for paintings and sculptures. The current exhibit with work by
Nina Katachadourian, Elizabeth Mackie, Kathy Moss, Andrea
Stanislav
and Kasumi Tanaka is “Women’s
Work: Celebrating Women in Contemporary Art” and will be up through April
19.
A current project of Safe Harbors is to restore the
Ritz Theater, which is attached to the Cornerstone Residence. The Theater is the last remaining of several Newburgh theaters
that regularly sent productions to Broadway during its heyday in the 1940s.
Neglect and fire have claimed all the others. Here is some history of the building: The original structure
was built in 1883 for the manufacture of overalls, plumbing supplies and
cigars. In 1913 Cohen’s Opera House was created within the manufacturing
building. In 1926 The East-West Theater Company, a major participant
in the vaudeville chapter of American culture, found a home in the newly
named State Theater. Renamed the Ritz in 1933, the Theater began
its most illustrious chapter with live performances by stars such as Lucille
Ball, Desi Arnaz, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima, Woody Herman, Bill “Bojangles”
Robinson, Eddy Duchin, Xavier Cugat and many more. Although the house
was subsequently carved up to make movie theaters, the original stage
with the four floors of fly space remained untouched. The plan is to restore
the original stage and recreate the house for the stage. The
goal is to provide a home for local arts and performance groups, create
a venue for live performance, and provide job training and job opportunities
for Cornerstone residents and residents of the community. Groups that
have already signed on to make the renovated Ritz theater their permanent
home include: The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Opera
Company of the Highlands, and the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy.
What a fabulous project. I’ll keep you informed of the progress and you
can check their activities at www.safeharborsofthehudson.org
 Opening of Hudson Valley Women Working Outside the Box at Barrett Clay Works, Art Studios & Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY |
In
Poughkeepsie, I went to Barrett Clay Works, Art Studios & Galleries
on Main Street for the exhibit “Hudson Valley Women Working Outside the
Box” curated by Meadow, Director of the Clay Works. Thirteen women
were invited with the idea of showing the variety of subject matter and
media that Hudson Valley Women are working with. It was certainly a wide
range with paintings, photographs, mixed media, installations, and sculpture
using all types of materials. The exhibit will run through April 12. While
I was at Clay Works, I got a tour of the facilities that included: galleries
and classrooms, a ceramic studio, semi-private studios and private studios,
which are available for rent. A full range of ceramic classes and workshops
are offered. Check out their schedule at www.barrettartcenter.org. The Barrett Clay Works, Art Studios & Galleries and Barrett
Art School are
part of Dutchess County Arts Association /Barrett Art Center which
was begun in 1934 by American regionalist and painter, Thomas Weeks
Barrett, Jr. The organization has grown from a loosely organized group
of artists to a 485-member organization. The school, with classes for
children, youths, mature teens and adults, has an impressive list of teachers
and offers several classes every day and numerous workshops, all quite
reasonably priced. Currently on view at the Barrett Art Center Galleries
on Noxon Street is an exhibition by Long Reach Artists Group (formerly
known as Summergroup), a cooperative group of professional visual
artists founded in 1982. It was a pleasure to see the high quality works
of so many artists that I’ve known over the past years and particularly
interesting as they presented paintings distinctive of their styles making
it a historically significant show. Take a closer look at their work at:
www.longreacharts.com. Opening at the gallery on April 5 is “Photoworks
'08”, the 21st Annual National Juried Photography Exhibition.
Also
in Poughkeepsie is Albert Shahinian Fine Art. On view were art works from most of the artists that have shown
with Albert over the past number of years. From what I understand, Albert,
who has been a key participant in the Poughkeepsie Art Scene, also has
a space in Hudson, NY. For more information: www.shahinianfineart.com. Next door, also on Main Street, is G.A.S.
an artists’ cooperative that maintains this multi-media art gallery and
performance space. Joanne Klein showed “Abstractions” (through
April 13), large canvases (2 or 3 making up one painting) and in the back
gallery a group exhibit of members’ work. There is a substantial gift
shop with a great variety of items for sale. Franc Palaia, coop coordinator, will have his illuminated Photo-Sculptural
installation “Mysterious Traveler” opening April 19 running through May
11. G.A.S also has music, film, video, and performances, year round. For
a schedule take a look at www.galleryandstudio.org.
 (L to R) Artists Kari Feuer, Christie Scheele Gayle Clark Fedigan, and Linda Richichi at their exhibit “A Softer Side” works in pastel at the Mark Gruber Gallery, New Paltz, NY |
The
current show at Mark Gruber Gallery in New Paltz is entitled “A
Softer Side”, works in pastel by Gayle Clark Fedigan, Kari Feuer, Linda
Richichi and Christie Scheele. One work was as exciting as the next
and it was a pleasure to see how well they worked together.
Writer
and art critic Liam Nelson (1931-2007) was active in the Ulster,
Dutchess and Greene County art communities from the mid 80's through
2004, working with the Greene County Council on the Arts, as Director of the Woodstock Artists Association, and as an art critic for several publications. The
Pritzker Gallery @ Casa del Arte in Highland, NY held an “Homage
to Liam Nelson” that included Liam’s paintings and writings as well as
works by several of his friends and his wife, Basha Ruth Nelson. It was
a heartfelt opening as friends and artists remembered Liam, his work,
his friendship and his great support and contributions to the Arts of
the region.
May
this season of renewal feed all of us and bring us to good works.