Beacon Art Salon Meets, Feb 7 7pm @ Chthonic Clash

The Beacon Art Salon meets every first Thursday from 7 to 8:30pm at Chthonic Clash Coffeehouse at 453 Main St.
Update 2/5: Venue Change. As Cthonic Clash will now only be open until 1pm on weekdays, BAS's Thursday meeting will be held at Muddy Cup, 129 Main St.
BAS's February meeting will feature an Artists Books/Sketchbook Workshop hosted by Audrey Chibbaro:

If you have any sketchbooks or journals that you'd like to share with the
group please bring them. As important I'd like everyone to bring anything
that inspires them, it can be words, pictures, an object, anything you'd
like to show and talk about.I'll be facilitating a group project using the
sketchbook as a spring board for creative inspiration.Supplies : sketchbooks
( or paper )pencils or drawing and writing toolscreative inspiration.
Poetry, photos, objects, etc.P.S. If you are interested in attending please
e-mail the group so I have an idea of how many are going to be there.
Thank You!!! Audrey Chibbaro (audrey524(at)earthlink .net)

BAS is incorporating an Artist Dialogue Series into every monthly meeting. The final hour of every meeting will focus on a particular topic that will be open for discussion, or additional hands on workshops like the one above. For more information on BAS and the monthly meetings, visit www.giraffeandturtle.com

Drawing Revealed in the Times and images

This weekend's NY Times Regional section ran Benjamin Gennochio's write up of the Drawing Revealed exhibit on view at the Garrison Art Center.
The exhibit runs through Feb 17.
Below are a few photos I took at the Jan 19 opening.

Stan Stroh's drawings in the background.

Thomas Huber discussing his installation of sketches, notes and photos.

Nancy Bauch's sketching table in the foreground with Jaq Belcher's cut paper work in the rear on the left and Craig Shannon to the right.

Go North's new website

Go North Gallery has a new website. The address is www.gonorthgallery.com.

bCOOP seeks submissions for evening of Feb 9

I spaced out posting this earlier. (It happens.) Below are a few more details. If you're interested in more information, contact Frank at the phone and email above, or visit the bCOOP website.

We are initiating a Co-Op art show in Beacon, N.Y. There will be a small hanging fee of approx. $25.00 per piece of art work which will go towards expenses of the Beacon COOP . A second piece could be exhibited for an additional $15.00

After January 15, 2008, the fee may be raised to $35. 00 or $40.00 per piece since space is limited. The Art Co-Op will get approximately a 30 per cent commission on sales, one half of which would be donated to a GREEN organization. The other seventy percent will go to the artist.
One piece could be very reasonably priced and the other could be an expensive piece to show ones style, expertise,etc. The theme could be GREEN or a favorite piece of art by the individual artist.

The date we are shooting for to open the Art Co-Op is the second Saturday in February. You do not have to be present to participate in the show but we encourage you to be there to network and enjoy the festivities.

Do you know of the Beacon art community? If not, it is the home of the internationally known DIA Gallery and many other shops and galleries. We might also be able to combine this event with a visit to DIA. At the event, we are planning a pot luck reception. For those that donate like to cook, a small donation towards some store bought goodies would be appreciated.

Would you or any of your friends be interested? For more information or to participate, give me a call or send an e mail. For those of you who have already decided to exhibit, please send a check payable to Frank Ritter and in the memo part of the check write Beacon Co-Op event.

If we find there is not enough interest in this event your payment will be refunded completely. If you know of other artists please forward this e mail and please feel free to give me their contact information.

Although we can not be held liable to any loss or damage of your art work on the premises or in transit, we will do our very best to make sure that it is properly handled. There also may be some weight restrictions and size restrictions for any art piece that is over two feet by four feet. The art work should be properly framed or mounted. All work accepted is done at the discretion of bCOOP. All art work must be picked up after the show or the following day unless other arrangements can be
made in advance. For New York City exhibitors art work may be dropped off
or picked up at 30 Waterside Plaza, 34G, New York, New York depending on their
size and space availability.

Thank you for your
time.

Frank Ritter
bCOOP + Friends

Compare/Contrast: Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon

Luc Sante will be speaking on the work of An-My Lee at Dia:Beacon on Saturday, Jan 26 at 1pm.

As the subjects of the museum's monthly gallery talks are constrained to the limited number of artists whose work is on exhibit, there's an interesting opportunity to receive a deeper understanding of the artists, given the particular sensibilities each speaker brings to the subject.

In the most recent gallery talk in Dec 07, Barbara Schroeder spoke on Blinky Palermo. Miss Schroeder's talk differed in approach from a talk on Palermo given by Ivo Mesquita in late 2006. Mesquita's talk focused heavily on biographical information and Palermo's activity as an artist in relation to his peers and mentors, including Beuys and Knoebel, with more references made to illustrations in a monograph on the artist than to the artwork in the gallery. At one point during the talk, Mesquita led the group into another gallery to look at this Sol LeWitt. In terms of presentation, Mr. Mesquita's was challenging, as his Brazilian accent, and halting speech could be difficult to follow at times, and I know that there was some disappointment that the talk did little to engage the Palermo work on exhibit. However, having known very little about Palermo beforehand, my knowledge was enhanced by the information gleaned from the talk, giving me an overview of the man.

Barbara Schroeder's talk dealt more specifically, and at times meticulously, with the technical and conceptual details of the work on view in the two Palermo galleries. This more recent talk gave a much deeper understanding of the work on exhibit in a way that completely altered and enhanced my experience of it. (I imagine that some such relevant information is included in the gallery literature, but I'm loathe to read in a museum, and therefore, I've never looked the material. So let that be a lesson to you kids.)
Ultimately, these two talks complimented one another, and together they conveyed a more complete understanding of the artist and his work than either could do individually. This "accumulation factor" is the overriding effect of the talk series, and I find it's an analogy to experience of visiting a museum that almost requires extended and repeated interactions with the work presented. One can be either frustrated or enlightened from a talk, similarly to how one may react to the museum's collection, but with repeated engagement, the benefit grows.

Alison Moritsugu in Repostioning the Landscape in Westport, Ct.

Alison Moritsugu is among the artists participating in exhibit called Repositioning the Landscape, curated by Jennifer Mcgregor at the Wesport Arts Center in Westport, CT. The exhibit opened on Jan 11 and will run through February 24, 2008.
Other artists included in the exhibit are: Colin brant, Gregory Crane, Kevin Duggan, Peter Edlund, N.W. Gibbons, Cadence Giersbach, Jason Middlebrook, Jon Rappleye and Peter Seward.
A curator's talk will be held on Weds. Jan 23 at 7pm.
There will be an additional talk on the exhibit by Tom O'Connor on Feb 7 at 9:30 am.

Art-Yoga Retreat, Jan 26 at Howland Cultural Center

Carrie and Stacey Ward Kelley will be leading an all day Art-Yoga Retreat next Saturday at the Howland Cultural Center.

When: Saturday, January 26, 2008 9am-6pm
Where: The Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon, New York
12508 (845) 831-4988, www.howlandculturalcenter.org
Cost: $135 Includes art materials.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
How: In order to register call Stacey at 845-401-8798 or email us at
cwkyoga@yahoo.com. For more information about this retreat and other
classes, workshops and retreats visit us online at www.giraffeandturtle.com

Who:
Giraffe and Turtle is the virtual yoga-art studio brainchild of Carrie and
Stacey Ward Kelly. The Ward Kelly’s offer classes and workshops to adults
and children in the visual arts and yoga as well as adult retreats in Yoga, Art
& Shamanic journeys in the Hudson Valley, NY area and the San Francisco Bay
area.

Citizens of Hyde Park, bring out your videos

Poughkeepsie base Matthew Slaats is embarking on a project that will cull together the home movies of past and present residents of Hyde Park, NY in order to create a visual history of the town. The gathered footage will be presented together in a video installation in Hyde Park this Spring.
Matt will be accepting donations to the project at the Hyde Park Free Library every Saturday from 10 am to noon. Every Saturday through March 2008. The Library is located at 2 Main St., in Hyde Park, NY. Inquiries can be directed to the artist at mbslaats@gmail.com or 845 889 8181.
Matt has started a blog to track the progress of the project. More information can be found on the blog including how the Hyde Park's drive in theater inspired the project and the technical aspects of how he plans on combining the donated footage.
The Hyde Park Video Project has received funds from the NY State Council on the Arts via the Dutchess County Arts Council. The Hyde Park Free Library sponsored the project's application for the grant.

HVCCA Events: Size Matters Image and Script, Jan 24, 27

In a collaboration between Peekskill's HVCCA, The Hudson Valley Writers Center and stage director Mara Mills, a series of short scripts inspired by paintings in the museum's current exhbit Size Matters XL will be performed in front of the respective paintings on two dates this month.
The 5-10 minute scripts will be performed on Thursday, Jan 24 at 8pm and Sunday, Jan 27 at 3pm.
Tickets are $15 and $12 for HVCCA members and members of the Hudson Valley Writers Center. For tickets, 914.788.0100 or email info@hvcca.org
Information on the program can be found here.

Other upcoming events at HVCCA:
Sunday, feb 10 4-6pm, Panel discussion: Artists entering the marketplace.
Sunday, March 2 2-6pm Art portfolio day

Images, Second Saturday Jan 12

Here are a few images from last night. We couldn't make it everywhere, and I kept forgetting to snap images in different locations, but here's some of what I got:

The ever presidential Simon Draper in front of his work at Van Brunt Gallery.
The view of Van Brunt Gallery from the street.

The back room at Van Brunt.

We started the evening at Fovea which is showing Paolo Pellegrin's large black and white images of last year's violence in Lebanon. The surprising graininess of the images conveyed a haunting, expressionistic quality to the already dramatic images.

bau from outside. And inside, Gary O'Connor responsible for the bluesy groove.

Guys' night out at Hermitage amidst the collaged image and text pieces of E. Swann.

We finished the night over at Spire Studios. Is it just me, or does anyone else miss the parties and potlucks that once held sway there? We caught Nathan Yeager (above) and Ratboy (below) unfortunately, we weren't able to hang on to hear NCM (sorry Pete.)
Early to bed, early to rise. That's just how we ride.

We weren't able to make it down there, Open Space's blog post of Jan 16 has a couple of images and an account of the action there on Saturday night.

Drawing Revealed opens Jan 19, Garrison Art Center

Drawing Revealed, curated by Jaanika Peerna and Susan English, is a group exhibit that examines the discipline of drawing in a broad manner.
In addition to the work on display, a 30 min video documents the participating artist's unique interpretation of what constitutes, for each of them, the act of drawing.
Featured artists: Laura Battle, Nancy Bauch, Jaq Belcher, Ula Einstein, Alexis Elton, Thomas Huber, Ken Landauer, Jeesoo Lee, Charlotte Schulz, Craig Shannon, Stan Stroh.
You can view the exhbition press release at the Garrison Art Center's website.
Drawing Revealed opens on Jan 19 and is on view through Feb 17. An opening reception will be held on Jan 19 from 5-7pm.
The Garrison Art Center is located at 23 Garrison's Landing in Garrison NY. 845.424.3960

Also at GAC's website, artist application and prospectus for the Center's Current 08 Outdoor sculpture tour exhibit. Deadline for submissions is Feb 15.

Update: Paolo Pellegrin, Scott Anderson appearing at Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery

Here's an update on tomorrow's reception at Fovea. War correspondent Scott Anderson will be joining photographer Paolo Pellegrin in attending the reception and book signing:

Join Paolo Pellegrin and Scott Anderson at Fovea Exhibitions Beacon
Gallery tomorrow from 4-8pm, for a book signing and opening reception
for "DoubleBlind: Lebanon Conflict 2006"

Paolo Pellegrin was born in Rome, Italy in 1964. He became a full
member of Magnum Photos in 2005 and has been a Newsweek contract
photographer since 2000. He was awarded the prestigious Eugene Smith
Award in 2006.

Scott Anderson is a veteran war correspondent, a contributing writer
for the New York Times Magazine, whose work also appears in Vanity
Fair, Esquire, Harper's, Outside and many other publications. Over the
years he has reported from Beirut, Northern Ireland, Chechnya, Israel,
Sudan, Sarajevo, El Salvador and many other war-torn countries. He is
the author of the critically-acclaimed novel Triage, as well as the
nonfiction book The Man Who Tried to Save the World: The Life and
Mysterious Disappearance of Fred Cuny and, with his brother Jon Lee
Anderson War Zones. A graduate of the Iowa Writer's School, Anderson
lives in upstate New York with his wife, the filmmaker Nanette
Burstein.

Pellegrin and Anderson were both wounded in a missile attack by an
Israeli drone, which fired on their vehicle as they traveled through
the city of Tyre. Along with the civilians of southern Lebanon, they
were stranded for weeks under heavy bombing and air strikes while
covering this story.

Images included in the exhibition can be previewed at the Magnum Photos website

Karlos Carcamo at Bronx River Art Center

Karlos Carcamo has work included in the exhibit "Beauty is in the Street" curated by Gerry Beegan and opening tonight at the Bronx River Art Center in the Bronx. The artists included in the exhibit are: Karlos Carcamo Experimental Jetset Karolyn HattonLiselot van der Heijden Henry VIII's Wives Pedro Lasch Cristóbal Lehyt Aleksandra Mir Carrie Moyer Stefan Saffer.

BRAC is located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave in the Bronx, 10460. There's a reception tonight from 6-9pm and the exhibit runs through Feb. 16.

Talking to Karlos last Saturday at Erica Hauser's opening at Go North, I discovered that Karlos has been maintaining a blog. I further discovered that Eleanor "lil' Miss Ellie" White also has a blog featuring her work. I'll be inlcuding links to these and other artist sites in the sidebar's cavalcade of artists shortly.

More Second Saturday happenings, Jan 12.

More openings on tap for tomorrow, January 12:
Van Brunt Gallery "Little Big Things" a group show of small works alluding to larger concepts opens. Reception from 6-9. Participating artists: Colin Barclay, Simon Draper, Scott Daniel Ellison, Susan English, Juan Garcia-Nunez, Thomas Sarrantonio, Katherine Streeter, Carol Struve and Julie Tooth. The exhibit runs through Feb 25. Here's Kathleen Murray's preview of the show in this weekend's POJO Enjoy section.


bau, which is running lean and mean in the new year after another change up in personel sports a group show for its 37th exhibit. "bau 37: Frozen Spirit...Wandering Spring" features work by Tom Holmes, Gary Jacketti, Gary O'Connor, Grey Zeien and Lisa Zukowski. Reception from 6-9pm and the exhibit runs through Feb 3.


Pearl Daddy the jewelry boutique that opened at 183 Main, back in August(?) has been rotating exhibits of art in the space. Currently on view, through March 2, are sculptures by Judith Peck. There will be a reception from 6-9pm.

Open Space will be holding a second reception from 6-9 on Saturday for the ongoing print and zine exhibit "Limited Run."

Sroll down to the next most recent posts for other goings on tomorrow.

Images: Erica Hauser's Jan 5 opening @ Go North

Here are a few images from the opening of Erica Hauser's exhibit Paint Job at Go North. Photos courtesy of Thomas Moore.

Truly delicious cookie trucks baked by the artist.


The artist in yellow.

Change of Address,er venue: NCM @ Spire Studios Jan 12 10pm

Saturday night's performance/cd release party and live recording has been moved to Spire Studios at 9:30pm.

Dia:Beacon seeking volunteers for Jan 12-13

Dia:Beacon has a full schedule of events this weekend revolving around the second in a series of Merce Cunningham performances:

Dia:Beacon is looking for a few people to help out during the Merce
Cunningham performance this coming Saturday & Sunday. Volunteers are
needed to assist with taking tickets, handing out programs & general
crowd control.
If you can or know someone who can volunteer their time (1pm
– 4pm on Saturday and/or 1pm – 3pm on Sunday) please contact Caroline
Schneider in Visitor Services at 440-0100 x29. Tickets are $25 for
non-members and nearly sold out for both performances. This is a great
way to see the performance at no charge!

NCM breaks the bank on Jan 12

Pete Crotty minding the beverages at Van Brunt Gallery.

On Saturday night, Jan 12, the Piggy Bank will be hosting a CD release party and for NCM. The band will be recording an acoustic performance that night. Ratboy will also be on the bill which is scheduled to begin at 9pm and run through 12 afterwhich El Jef[f]e will take control.

I didn't realize Pete had a website for his photography which is right here. He and the band made it out to Burning Man this year, there are images in NCM's Myspace album if you're interested.

Dec 12 Opening: E. Swann @ Hermitage

"Fluidic Projections and Fascinating Regards"
mixed media on paper,30"x26", 2007
Hermitage Gallery at 12 Tioranda will be holding a reception from 6-10pm for its second exhibit "Fertile Star," featuring work by E. Swann.

Double Blind-Lebanon Conflict 2006, photos by Paolo Pellegrin at Fovea Exhibitions Beacon

Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery's next exhibit will be opening on Second Saturday, January 12 with an opening reception for a photo essay documenting civilians caught up in the political turmoil in Lebanon in 2006 by Magnum photographer Paolo Pellegrin.

Mr Pellegrin is expected to be in attendance for the reception scheduled for 4-8pm.
More information on the exhibit is available at Foveaeditions.org

Pellegrin's photos will be on exhibit through March 2, 2008.

January 5, openings at Go North and Howland Cultural Center

On Saturday, the Howland Cultural Center at 477 Main St. will be hosting a reception from 3-5pm for the new exhibit, "I See...You See", a show of photography by eleven artists.
The participating photographers are: Dina V. Cozolino, John Cozolino, John Fasulo, Linda Hubbard, Russell Johansen, Zack Joyce, Mike Jurkovic, Peter McGivney, Susanne Moss, Robert Rodriguez, & Barbara Stephens

From 6-9, nearly next door, Go North will be holding a reception from 6-9pm for the opening of Erica Hauser's "Paint Job", an exhibit of recent paintings and drawings.
The gallery Press Release:
Erica Hauser’s work is indelibly linked to travel in its various forms. Driving around upstate New York, wandering through woods and along sidewalks, unearthing old photographs or digging in antique shops is how Hauser finds inspiration for her paintings and drawings of old trucks, cars, and handmade signs. The beauty and subtle humor she finds in these abandoned objects translate into an appealing sense of familiarity for both herself and the viewer. Hauser explains that painting allows her to transport others back to a particular place in time, whether to imagine a story, appreciate the details, or slip into nostalgic reverie.

Time spent observing and painting helps Hauser to prolong her experience of these objects and places. A glimpse of peeling paint or automotive rust might be enough to pull her off the road for a closer look. Hauser states: “I am interested in the effects of weather, light, love or neglect upon surfaces, and in the textures of rust, wood, and gleaming chrome.” Hauser’s precise handling of paint faithfully represents these textures and effects of light without overstating the subjects’ nostalgic associations. Her antiquarian imagery registers as consistently cool, tempered as it is by her documentarian’s sense of objectivity, and graciously allows the viewer to time-travel and fill in the backstory.

Hauser holds a B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, and has studied at the Art Students League and Cornell University. She has shown her work at the Edward Hopper House in Nyack, Washington Sq. East Gallery in NYC, and the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY.