Collaborative Concepts at Saunder's Farm opens Saturday

Collaborative Concepts second exhibit at Saunder's Farm in Cold Spring will be opening this Saturday, Sept 1. A reception is scheduled on the first from 2 to 6pm with a rain date of Sept. 2 from 2 to 6. The exhibit runs through Oct. 31, and there are mid-run and closing receptions scheduled. Information on directions, participating artists, and more can be found at. http://collaborativeconcepts2007.blogspot.com

Dia:Beacon on Bloomberg TV

Beacon Celebutartists James Westwater and Angelika Rinnhofer are included in a television segment on Dia:Beacon produced by Bloomberg TV. Dia Foundation Director, Jeffrey Weiss and Curator Lynn Cooke describe several of the current exhibitions on view. The segment is part of Bloomberg's Muse program, and will be aired several times this weekend. You can watch the Bloomberg Channel locally if you have digital cable on Cablevision channel 101. The segment is also simulcast on Bloomberg TV's website. Bloomberg TV US programming schedule.

The Grand Tour or Summer's fading fast

It's late Summer and that, of course, brings an inordinant number of site specific exhibitions to the area. None of which I've yet managed to get to. But there is still time.

Well, I guess there's still time for a few of them. The Garrison Art Center organized a Sculpture Tour with works placed on the grounds of Boscobel, Manitoga, Garrison's Landing, and the Desomond Fish Library which ended two weeks ago. I caught a glimpse of a tall slender red sculpture at the library as I buzzed by several times on Rt 9D. I have to say, planting some self contained self concious artwork in a landscape generally does so little for me anymore. I viewed a couple other pieces by Judy Sigunick, Karl Saliter and Grace Knowlton when we took a tour of Manitoga in July. When asked about the sculptures, our tour guide did not want to discuss the sculpture as it was outside the purview of the tour in relation to Wright's manipulation of the quarry environment, and I think that was appropriate. What I found funny was her disdain for the work as it represented an interruption of the singular vision of the master's own utopia, besides the fact that some of the vegetation was trampled when some of the pieces were installed.

Then, there is the Kingston Biennial is going on through - Today.

Ok, so some of the gist of this post is, if you haven't seen many of these things. You're just about s.o.l.
Alright, on to the Ellenville 10 x 10 x 10 exhibit of art installations in storefront windows. Karlos Carcamo and Emil Alzamora are both participants. You have until tomorrow to make it to this exhibit.

On the other hand, Beacon's Windows on Main St will be open through Sept 8.

Collaborative Concepts Saunder's Farm outdoor exhibition will be opening next weekend. I'll be posting details on this show today or tomorrow.
Don't forget Storm King's exhibit of Louise Bourgeouis through Nov. 15. Now I know I'll be able to make to that one.
Beth Wilson reviews other outdoor offerings at the Woodstock Artist Guild and Art Omi in the August issue of Chronogram.

What I did this week.

On Saturday, I attended Go North's launch of a program of talks held at the Howland Center as Christopher Stackhouse and John Keene spoke about the collaboration that resulted in the book Seismosis. Christopher's work is currently featured in Go North's "Out of Line" exhibit. The book is available for purchase at the gallery as well as on Amazon.



Audio from the talk will soon be on hand at the gallery for those who are interested.

On Monday night, A and I attended the final Porcine Preview Readings held by Flying Swine at the Howland Center for the Summer. This was the first of the readings that we had attended, and it was fun. Deborah Brevoort's Signs of Life was the subject of the reading. The first two scenes of this play were among those previewed as part of the ' Swine's Taste of Bacon fundraiser shindig last May. Dan Da Silva was back again in the role of the male lead, and he has simply metabolized this role. It's not often that I make it out to see theatre and I know I haven't seen much GOOD theater, but, Dan seems like the kind of actor that takes the medium, and humps it over the fence into something really visceral. It's a fun play, and Da Silva sells it completely.

One thing I missed (by that much) was the monthly critique on Tuesday night. The group started at Spire, then headed down to Main St. to talk about Steve Rossi's, and Peter Iannarelli's WOMS installations. Maider Bilbao Echevarria, the current Artist in Residence at HVCCA. came up for the critique. Maider's exhibit will be opening at the museum in Peekskill on Sept. 16. The next critique is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 18 at 7:30, if you are interested in discussing your work, contact Sara at crazyoutburst@hotmail.com. Sara has layed out an extended schedule for the critiques (which I'll be posting soon) to allow for easy scheduling for everone. I'll have a section in the sidebar with current information on meeting places for each critique.

I did manage, for the first time. to attend a meeting of the Beacon Art Salon at Chthonic Clash on Wednesday. About 10 people were in attendance. The discussion revolved around the upcoming show of BAS members at Chthonic called "Interpreting Beacon" will will be opening on Second Saturday in Sept. (the 8th.) There was some talk about the next city wide open studio the group will be planning in December, and discussion regarding what sorts of activities the group may get into in order to fill the needs of the members. If you are interested in finding out more about BAS, hit the link above. It's free to join, and there is a yahoo group you can sign on to to receive info on opportunities or activities.

This Just in....

Dateline Beacon:

It seems that Robert Brush has reached the required number of signatures to make it on to the ballot in his bid to become Beacon's next Mayor.

2007 Dutchess County Executive's Arts Awards

Rick Price's mural on the exterior of theBeacon's Howland Public Library.

The Recipients for the 2007 Dutchess County Executive's Arts Awards were announced last week. This year's Art in Public Places award is going to the Howland Public Library's recently installed mural created by Beacon artist Rick Price. Another Beacon recipient is Sara Pasti who is being presented with a special citation.

All of the award recipients are listed below.

Natalie Merchant, Individual Artist
Pawling Concert Series, Arts Organization
Howland Library Mural, Art in Public Places
Sam and Joanne Rein, Individual Patrons
Adams Fairacre Farms, Business/Corporation
Grace Lalicki with the Rhinebeck School District, Arts in Education
Sara Pasti, Special Citation
Malika Chatlapalli and Emily Holohan, Youth with Exceptional Promise in the Arts

An awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 18 at the Dutchess County Golf & Country Club. More information can be found at the Dutchess County Arts Council website, www.artsmidhudson.org.

Rockin the Vote

Robert Brush's WOMS 2007 installation at 504 Main St.
photo by angelika rinnhofer

Robert Brush's contribution to this year's Windows On Main St exhibit has an installation/"campaign office" for staging his own campaign for Mayor of Beacon.
In order to be included on the ballot, Robert must submit a petition signed by Beacon residents who are registered to vote. There will be some folks collecting signatures in front of the Key Food throughout the day tomorrow. If you can't make it over, but would like to have your name included on the petition, email me and I'll get you in touch with him.

Tuesday Night Critique, this Tuesday, Aug 21

This month's critique session will be taking place this Tues. at 7:30 at Spire Studios. If you'd like more info, or you'd like to discuss your work at this session, contact Sara at crazyoutburst@hotmail.com .

Images of Panel discussion at Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery

Here are a couple of images from last week's panel discussion on the media, military, and censorship held at Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery. Photos by Angelika Rinnhofer.

(l-r) Captain Thomas Sowers, Suzanne Opton, James Wellford, Todd Heisler, Chris Hondros.

Aug 18, 2pm Go North talk presented at the Howland Cultural Center

This coming Saturday, Aug 18, Go North is sponsoring a talk that is being held in conjunction with the gallery's current "Out of Line" exhibit.
The talk "Drafting a Common (Abstract) Language: Seismosis as Conversation" will be conducted by John Keene and Christopher Stackhouse.

“Drafting a Common (Abstract) Language:
Seismosis as Conversation”. Co-authors of the book Seismosis (1913 Press, 2006),
John Keene and Christopher Stackhouse will explore the process and practice of
conversation across and through distinctive generic lines--visual art and
literature--by discussing and reading poems from and selected texts related to
this collaborative project. Issues they hope to touch upon include the question
of formal and thematic abstraction in specific genres, its relation to questions
of race, identification, and authorial agency and autonomy, and the problematics
of interpretation. How can the artist and poet speak to each other, and are
there languages other than the ones they enact through which to enter their
conversation?

Porcine Preview #5, Aug 20 at the Howland Cultural Center

Flying Swine's fifth Porcine Preview staged reading will happen on Monday, Aug. 20 at the Howland Cultural Center. Deborah Brevoort's Signs of Life will be the selected reading.

The Porcine Previews are Free to the Public, and yes, donations are welcome.
Reservations can be made by calling: (845) 454-3222

DCAC Grant Workshop at Van Brunt Gallery tonight

In the mad rush of other things, this item was pushed to the fringe. The Dutchess County Arts Council is holding a grant workshop tonight from 6:30-8:30 at Van Brunt Gallery. The workshop offers advice for those wishing to apply for NYSCA's Decentralization Grants in Dutchess and Ulster Counties.

You are asked to telephone the Council ahead of time at (845) 454-3222 if you plan on attending the workshop. More info is also at DCAC's website, www.artsmidhudson.org

Old BHS building plea on agenda for Aug 14 City Council Workshop Agenda

A letter to members of the Beacon City Council sent on behalf of a coalition of interested residents, businesses and non profits has been included on the agenda for tomorrow evenings workshop session of the City Council.

The letter urges the City to consider buying the property and keeping the building in the public domain as a possible mixed use facility that might serve as community center, home base for local non profit and city services as well as the Howland Public Library and leasing office and studio space.

The City Council Workshop will take place at the Municipal Center starting at 7pm. The workshop is open to the Public, although there is no opportunity for public opinion. Information on City Council Meeting and Workshop agendas and minutes are available at www.cityofbeacon.org.

Fun Fun Fun

So indeed, tomorrow is Second Sat, and again there is fun for the whole family.
Earlier in the day, the kids can enjoy building and flying homemade kites with the Flyit event happening on the corner of Main and Cross, in the grassy lot next to RiverWinds.
Later in the evening, in the same location, Fovea, which has a program of events tomorrow will be presenting a slide show.

Don't forget the weekly wine tastings that happen at Artisan Wine Shop.

Receptions are happening at Go North, Van Brunt, bau, RiverWinds, Bannerman Island Gallery, Wildwood gallery, and undoubtedly more. You can find the appropriate links in the sidebar.

Also opening tomorrow is the Windows on Main St. There will be a walking tour of the artist windows beginning at 3pm at the Muddy Cup. Come by and enjoy a little fresh air before the openings kick off later in the afternoon and evening.

Ulster County Community Free Day at Dia:Beacon tomorrow

Ulster County residents with valid id. will be admitted to Dia:Beacon for free tomorrow.

The museum offers such Community Free Days throughout the year for residents of area counties. The upcoming schedule for Community Free Days is as follows.

October 13, 2007: Rockland County

December 8, 2007: Westchester County

February 9, 2008: Dutchess County

April 12, 2008: Columbia County

June 14, 2008: Orange County

August 9, 2008: Putnam County

It Is Our War Panel Discussion, Aug 11 @ Fovea

As a part of the current exhibition, It Is Our War, Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery at 143 Main St. will be hosting a panel discussion on Saturday Aug 11 at 5pm.
The panel discussion, "Media, Military, and Censorship" will include Todd Heisler, Chris Hondros, Suzanne Opton, Captain Thomas Sowers of West Point, and Jamie Wellford, of Newsweek Magazine.
Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist Todd Heisler of the New York Times, Getty Images photographer Chris Hondros, and photographer Suzanne Opton discuss the circumstances behind their powerful photographic stories with Captain Thomas Sowers of West Point. The panel will be moderated by Jamie Wellford, International Photo Editor of Newsweek Magazine.

At 8pm, the panel will be followed by an outdoor slide show presented by Seen Unseen, featuring essays by photojournalists on international topics.
The slide show will be shown at the northeast corner of Main and Cross Streets, one block east of the gallery. Bring blankets for seating on grass. Both events are free and open to the public.

"It is Our War” Exhibit is showing through August 31, 2007. Fovea is open Thursday to Sunday throughout the summer, 11am to 6pm, and by appointment.
Tours available, please call 845 765 2199

Action for low cost health Ins. for Upstate NY artists

Fractured Atlas, an organization, supporting artists is seeking names of artists in upstate NY who are in need of low cost insurance.
Fractured Atlas has programs that provide low cost health insurance for artists in the NYC area, and the organization is in talks with GHI to establish a similar options for upstate. GHI has asked the group to demonstrate a need for such a program by submitting names and zip codes of artists who would take advantage of such an option if it were offered. Fractured Atlas is hoping to gather 2,000-3,000 names, and the more the better.

The collection of names will act as a petition for the purpose of demonstrating the need for low cost health insurance for upstate artists. Neither Fractured Atlas or GHI will contact you.

If you are interested in adding your name to the list, email Mary Ortiz at marie.ortiz@fracturedatlas.org with the subject line reading: "Upstate NY Healthcare Initiative"

Also, if you're reading this, please pass it along to your contacts.

Invitational exhibit opening at GAS

The new artist run GAS gallery in Poughkeepsie is opening its second exhibit tomorrow night. GAS is located at 196 Main St. in POK.
This exhibit is an invitational group show featuring work by:

Lori ADAMS, Roberta ALLEN, Nava ATLAS, Dick CRENSON, Stacie FLINT, Lowell HANDLER, Kris HEDLEY, Jeep JOHNSON, Jeff JOHNSON, MEADOW, Mark MacKINNON, Leslie PELINO, Karen ROFF and Tilly STRAUSS

The show runs through Sept 9, and tomorrow's reception will be held from 5-8pm.