Big Bambu event

photo by Mark Roland
Mark Roland was on hand to witness the demonstration event hosted today for VIP Armory Show guests in the home of the Starns' Big Bambu project. Mark has description and a slide show on the Beacon Citizen Network site.
a climber ascending the bamboo. photo by Mark Roland.

Social Pariah Fest update

I previously mentioned the call to vendors made by the organizers of the Hudson Valley Social Pariah Festival which is being held on Feb 28th at the Holiday Inn in Fishkill, NY. Vendors are still welcome to sign on. Below is the current entertainment and vendor lineup for the event.

2:00-2:30-Intros, welcome done by dj danielle http://www.djdanielle.com/
2:30-3:00- Guitar Bomb http://www.myspace.com/guitarbomb
4:00-4:30- Belly Dancers http://www.myspace.com/barushka_dancer & www.redmuise.com
4:30-5:00- The Von Ghouls http://www.myspace.com/vonghouls
5:30-6:00- John Shaw WWW.UNDERWORLDENT.COM
6:30-7:00- Sugar Red Drive http://www.sugarreddrive.com/
7:30-8:00- God's Green Earth http://www.myspace.com/godsgreenearthnyc
8:30-9:00- Face Down http://www.myspace.com/facedownitg
9:30-10:00- The Gentling http://www.myspace.com/thegentling

http://www.myspace.com/socialpariahfestival
At The Holiday Inn, Fishkill, N.Y. Saturday, February 28th 2pm – 10pm
542 Rt9 Fishkill, N.Y. 12524 (Rt9 just north of I84 exit 13)

Music and Art Festival Featuring Unique Local and Regional Talent
Live Music, Performers, Vendors, Artisans of all Genres and Tattoos
Sorry Kiddies Must Be 18 Years or Older to Get In
All Proceeds benefit The Pitch for Kids Fund


Sponsored by: Zahra Studio Gallery, More Sugar Publication
Hudson Valley Renegades Pitch for Kids Fund

Bands and Live Performers
John Shaw
Sugar Red Drive
The Gentling
Guitar Bomb
Face Down
The Vonghouls
God's Green Earth
Tribal Burlesque Belly Dancing by Barushka and Elizabeth
all being led by The Mistress of Ceremonies DJ Dannielle

Raffles
50/50

TATTOO STUDIOS
Zahra's Studio
Skin City
The Inkwell

VENDORS
Zahra's Studio Gallery
Tina Maravelis- reiki healer
Damage Incorporated
Tanya Kukucka Ceramics
Notions n Potions
Duffy's Biker Barn
The Groovy Baker
Black Star Clothing Co
Luulay
Hudson Valley Horrors Roller Derby
Suburbia Roller Derby
Romano Custom Design
Micheal Colonna Design
Chris Machin Kustom Kulture
Barushka Belly Dancing
E- BOmb
Pulp Sushi
Brown Bag Party (Sex Toys)
Heteric Wear
and more

Booths still available- 10x10' $75
go to
http://www.myspace.com/socialpariahfestival for all info or contact Vanessa at tellez

Fovea Exhibitions benefit auction December 12, 7pm

A benefit party and auction for Fovea Exhibitions will be held on Friday, Dec 12 at the Howland Cultural Center beginning at 7pm. The evening's events will include an indoor projection, party featuring the musical stylings of Hank and the Skinny 3, and an art auction. The items up for auction are listed here. There's a $10 cover at the door.
You can now follow the very latest about Fovea Exhibitions on Twitter.

map of NY state correctional facilities

Fovea's current exhibit, Behind Bars by Andrew Lichtenstein, is on exhibit through early January 2009. With its distinctly local relevance, this exhibit clearly demonstrates the greatest strength of the gallery which is framing essential aspects of the human condition as evidenced in real, and often crucial life events in a manner that is direct and personally affecting. Graphics posted in the gallery announce the facts that within 50 miles of Beacon there are 11 correctional facilities employing over 6,000 people (if I'm correctly recalling the facts - I can't remember the number of inmates).

This is the first exhibit where I felt the size of the gallery limited to the ultimate effectiveness of the presentation. The compelling narratives of prison life - both inside and outside of the facilities -conveyed in Lichtenstein's work are each worthy of extended exposure. Unfortunately, having these separate strains represented by just a few images each gives the effect of a series of teasers when a more homogenized selection, though undoubtedly incomplete given the depth and complexity of this very real and very locally pertinent topic, might offer a more succinct body of evidence.

Second Saturday, Dec 13 2008; what's on tap

Here it is. What you've all been waiting for; something to look at and do next weekend here in our humble berg.
Open Space is hosting its second Limited Run Print and Zine exhibit.
Go North is opening an exhibit of mixed medai paintings by Anne Beck. The opening marks he release of the artist's monograph, State, published by Brooklyn Art Press. Copies of the book will be on hand for purchase.








Anne Beck's City Addax (2008, acrylic, casein, gouache, clay, pigment print, & collaged solvent print on cut paper, 16.5 x 21.5").




bau will be opening a group show of gallery members' work interpreting light. Reception from 6-9pm.




















pearldaddy is presenting Marlene Parillo: Storypots and TapestriesVessel Sculptures and Mixed Media Quilts December 13, 2008 thru March 8, 2009. The opening reception will be happening from 6-9pm.











Marlene Parillo







The Gallery at Zahra's Studio is hosting a reception from 6-10pm an exhibit of photographs by Charise Isis. American Stripper opened on November 17 and will remain on view through the end of 2008.












Charise Isis




A new venue and a diferent vibe will lend an altered reality to the Second Saturday After Party, Next Step. The "all lounge session" will be held at Iron Fish Trading Co. Shawn Trail and John Cason have joined up with the Open Space team to present this alternate Next Step.



















Here are the details:

An Evening of Quadraphonic Sound and Immersive Videoproducers Shawn Trail
and John Cason offer up an alternative to Beacon's Second Saturday art-hop
afterparty- LIVE MUSIC and a downtempo, lounge oriented vibe .
Featuring Ben Neil and Bill Jones http://www.benneill.com/ Ben Neill and Bill Jones will present a new set of music and interactive video for Neill's newly created mutantrumpet.. Dubbed
"the mad scientist of dancefloor jazz" by CMJ Magazine, Neill's music
"masterfully blurs the lines between electronic dance music and jazz sounds"
(Billboard). This new set of future dub jazz is the most recent chapter in
Neill's musical evolution which has included the CDs Green Machine
(Astralwerks), Triptycal and Goldbug (Verve) and Automotive (Six Degrees). Neill
has recently created a new version of his unique electro-acoustic instrument,
the mutantrumpet, thanks to a residency at the STEIM studios in Amsterdam.
+ development- led by http://www.shawntrail.com/ on drums, brothers- tom cason on bass and john cason on guitar/video www.myspace.com/8sound, and http://www.anthonybarba.com/ on tenor sax and electronics and
LIVE
QUADRAPHONIC SOUND mixed by Tyler Trotter (Tony Levin, Will Oldham)and DJ chris rivers between setsSecond Saturday Dec. 13, 20089pm@ Iron Fish 167 Main Street,
Beacon NYhttp://ironfishtrading.com/about/$7- entrance
Keegan Ale will be
served in co-operation with http://www.openspacebeacon.com/

If you recall, Shawn and John put together an informal video and sound installation called Special Treatment in the Chthonic Clash space back in March in the interim between the Clash closing down and ZuZu's opening up. I really dug what they did then. I'm interested to see what they do at the 'Fish.

Some images from Dar Williams' CD Release Party at Spire Studios, Sept 9, 2008

A bird's eye view of Dar's performance. Simon Draper is 'thinking' to the right.

One could say that holding an exhibit or event at Spire Studios is like putting lipstick on a pig, but as one draws closer to examine the effects of such a lurid application, one could catch oneself thinking, 'Man this lipstick wearing pig is looking mighty fine'. It could happen.
It might not be right, but it don't feel wrong, and one could come to the conclusion that one could have one hell of a time with this pig, briskly gussied up as it is. This might not be a universal truth, and it might reveal a bit too much about me. The point stands, though, that although this raw space shares less in common with a converted industrial loft in SOHO than with a cobbled together structure in a Palestinian refugee camp, when there's work on the wall, the lights go up, and there are people populating the corners, there's a sensation of relaxed, jovial warmth that is not duplicated anywhere else in town.

The space is inherently apotheosis of a beautiful exhibition space, but when I was speaking to Dar after her performance, she felt it was the natural place for her to hold CD release, given the humble, open, and organic qualities of the space which makes things happen there. Back in the early days when Spire Studios and Bulldog Studios were pretty new, BCF President Sam Yanes quipped about the informality of Spire and how even some of the studios had doors. This was true-a few artist's studios did lack doors for quite awhile, but what it did have that was generally absent from Bulldog, was a warm, inviting collegial environment. I'm partial. I had a space at Spire for three years, and the quirky aspects of the joint appealed to me immediately. Last week's event felt like a homecoming of sorts as that vibe present at so many of the parties and get togethers in the past was back.

The place has never been as packed as it was for Dar's performance, and the food provided was excellent. It was a great night.

Scenic Hudson was among the non profit groups represented during the evening.





After the crowd thinned, I photographed some of the artwork:



Sharon L. Butler's work on the left, the hanging sculpture on the opposite wall is by Maureen Beck.
my piece is on the left. Richard Bruce's and Marnie Hillsley's works are behind those people.
Sara Mussen's work in the background, Simon Draper's on the right.
(l-r) Simon Draper, Val Clark, Kathy Feighery.

Of course the focus of the evening was the release of Dar William's CD Promised Land, but it also served as a closing shindig for the Habitat for Artists project which has been parasitically habitating in the parking lot of Spire all Summer. Many of the artists involved in HFA have artwork featured in the liner notes of Promised Land. Though HFA will be closing this chapter of the project, a form of it will be present at the COTA (Celebration of the Arts) in New Paltz on Saturday, Sept 27 where it will be interfacing with another batch of artists, including Kathleen Anderson and Grace Knowlton who will have work inhabiting two of the PODS which will be making the trip North. Sharon L. Butler, whose been chronicling her experience of working in one of the habitats gave a final reflection on her Two Coats of Paint blog, last week. Andrew Revkin mentioned the Habitats in a post on the NY Times Science page that related to the economical and ecological effect of the small footprint.

It looks like Simon is back to blogging about HFA after a period of being knee deep in organizing all Summer. Finally, you have until the end of the month to view Simon's contribution to the Windows on Main St Exhibit at the Exit Drake Realty office in Beacon (412 Main St). As it happens, the Realty office is moving to Fishkill, and they will keep remnants of Simon's project up through the end of September, when the move happens. Some of the undercurrents of the HFA project are emphasized in the fliers marketing the Hab's alongside the the 'real' properties available through the agency. This WOMS piece has been particularly successful because is has the dual nature of a self standing piece and at the same time a reference and a document of another concurrent project in the community. Secondly, the seamlessness of piece in the windows gave pause to people stopping to look at the offerings, prompting some to enter the office and investigate what was going on. Finally, Simon's WOMS project reached a level of collaboration with a Main St. business that hasn't happened in any previous incarnation. Not only was Exit Drake willing to participate, but the staff seemed to really respond to the inherent humor of the work, and Nancy Rosaler, one of the realtors became integral to the creation of the work, collaborating with Simon on the wording of the marketing pitches for each structure.

Beacon FilmFlam, Saturday, Sept 13 noon-10pm

Billed as "An arts-crafts-puppet village and outdoor film festival", The Beacon FilmFlam will be taking place on Saturday, September 13 from noon to 10pm. Taking place in the grassy lot on the corner of Main St. and Cross St (across from Hudson Beach Glass), an arts village with arts and craft vendors, music and puppet shows will be inhabiting the space until 6pm. The film festival is scheduled to take place beginning at 7pm (dusk). All the pertinent information can be found at the website above. FilmFlam is a cooperative effort of the Beacon Artist Salon and Fovea Exhibitions.

Dar Williams Promised Land CD Release Party at Spire Studios in Beacon, NY, Sept 9 2008, 6-9pm

Spire Studios will be hosting a CD Release Party for Dar Williams' new album Promised Land on Tuesday, Sept 9 from 6 to 9pm. Here's a folkmusic.com interview with Dar about the album. The CD release party will double as a sort of closing event for the Habitat for Artists presence at Spire, which ends at the end of the month. Dar's got a habitat of her own down at at Spire, and artwork of some fellow Habitat for Artists is featured in the CD liner notes (the artwork will be on exhibit inside Spire).
Dar will be performing a sampling of music from the album which will be on hand for purchase that night.

Artists' mixer to be held in New Paltz on Monday

In a recent post, I mentioned COTA. There will be a mixer hosted this Monday, Aug 4 beginning at 6 pm at the Water Street Market in New Paltz as a prelude to the one day multidisciplinary art fair taking part on Sept 27. Applications are being taken through Aug 27th for artists who want to participate in COTA.

The weekend that was: images from May 17&18, 2008

Many thanks to everyone who came out to the Kamp Maykr brunch on Saturday morning. The weather was pretty perfect, and this made for such a pleasant morning. Given that so many people had their own events later in the day, it was great that so many folks came by to share in such a wonderful morning.
Around noon, from our porch, we heard some of the goings on across the street for the Beekman Banners project. From my vantage point, I could see the tops of several heads attending the dedication. I've only seen just a few of the banners at the top of the street, but I feel it already transforms that stretch down to the train station from a neglected service road to a street that is part of a city and a community.
Below are a few images of pieces installed around our place for Kamp Maykr. Putting this together for the weekend was a great experience for me in interacting with my immediate surroundings more intentionally. There are so many interesting nooks and crannies that I can imagine that we'll be utilizing more as a project space in the future.

Above: Theresa Gooby's "Viewing Window, Partially Abstracted" filament wrap of the porch entry.
Below: a detail of my "Primer/Sealer" piece.

Above: one of Matt Hereford's many cairns placed aroung the property. This one is conversing with the magnolia tree. Below: a detail of Beacon's latest residential development spearheaded by property magnate, Kathy Feighery. As you can see, you really should have gotten in on this deal on the ground floor as space is limited.

Above: Steve Rossi's untitled Adirondack re-con outpost. Below: Peter Acheson's untitled sculpture.
About mid-afternoon, I made it from the brunch, down our front lawn to Spire and the Habitat for Artists project.
Above: Matthew Kinney's habitat. Below: a peek into my habitat.

Above: I don't know what this guy is doing. Oh wait, that's Flying Swine's Donald Kimmel. Donald was providing short impromptu performances throughout the afternoon in the Flying Swine Stage & Communitat.

Above: 'Uh Yeah, where should I put this box of ladies?' That's Isis Charise (left), Kathy Feighery (center), and Angelika Rinnhofer (right) in Kathy's drawing studio/PODS. PODs of Hudson Valley is a sponsor of the HFA project.

Below: Don't vorry Matt Kinney. I mean, I'm only KRUshing your HEAD!

Above: Steven Walls studio. Below: a portion of the group show in Spire's common space gallery.
It's almost eery walking into Spire Studios. So foreign and so familiar. It was my home for three years, and I now only live across the street, but I simply don't make it in there often. It's an uncanny experience.
Above and below: images in Jesse Lebwohl-Steiner's studio.
Jesse Lebwohl-Steiner is now occupying the space that had previously been the studio of Alexis Elton and Peter Iannarelli. I certainly see threads of commonality in concept and use of material in the three artists' work . The residency of those three artists in this same space represent fascinating chapters in the growing biography of tiny studio.

The day after:

I was beat after all my running around on the west end of town that I did not make it to the east end on Sunday Morning. Dan at Open Space was fiendishly blogging in the days leading up to and the day of the Electric Windows Event.

Above: installation of the Windows was ongoing on Sunday morning. Below: a bleary eyed Rick Price was finalizing his piece.

May 17-18, 2008: Beacon's unSitely afFair

So the Sitelines Art Fair has been cancelled, but you really had your heart set on making it up to Beacon for the day or for the weekend. What's a body to do? Come what may, come mid-May, we're here for you, and you're welcome. There's plenty of other stuff on tap for the weekend. Here's the shakes on, hopefully most, of what's happening.


View Larger Map>
Here's a map showing what's going on where. Green pins indicate what's happening on Saturday, Red pins represent Sunday.
Saturday May 17th:

Dia:Beacon
10:30am - 2pm Dia:Beacon will be closing at 2pm for its annual benefit.
Two new installations are opening
Kamp Maykr
10:00am-5pm. Welcome to Kamp Maykr, we're hosting a pot luck brunch in the morning and an exhibit of yardwork at 1172 North Ave. Start your day off right, bring a dish, hang out for a while, and build your strength for the adventure ahead. Work on view by the likes of Michael Natiello, Steve Rossi, Kathy Feighery, me. The brunch will run til noon or so, but the artwork will be on view both Sat and Sun 12-5pm. Stay tuned right here for further details
Beekman Banner Project
noon - There will be a ceremony featuring Mayor Steve Gold and Dutchess County Art Council President Benjamin Krevolin to inaugurate a series of banners featuring work of local artists lining Beekman St.
Electric Windows
12:30-through the day. Electric Windows is bringing together 24 artists near and far to create
Artists will be painting through the day while accompanied the entire day by music provided by a range a selection of bands and DJ's. Check the above link for line up and schedule info.
Beacon Studios
1-5pm The many artists of Beacon Studios will be hosting an open house.
In addition, in the building's library gallery, there will be a preview of The Media Church, an installation by a guy named Russell, which will officially be opening on May 31.
Habitat for Artists


1-5pm Habitat for Artists will be celebrating the launch of the studio cum sculpture (or sculpture cum studio) project which has been taking shape in the parking lot of Spire Studios for the last several weeks. Participating artist will be on hand in their temporary digs, working and hanging out.
Donald Kimmel of Flying Swine will doing performance piece at some point in the afternoon.
Spire Studios
6pm - on. Spire Studios will be hosting open studios.

If have some yawing need to hang with an artist, this is the day. I can't say that I'm much good for company, but given the multitude of them roaming about on this day, you're bound to meet one with some charm.
Hermitage
7:30 Allan Kaplan reads from his new book "Like On Of Us."

Next Step
10:30pm - on. The Piggy Bank, Open Space, Burlock, and Break Beats will be bringing us this NonSecondSaturday Edition of Next Step complete with DJ's, dancing, and live painting at the Piggy Bank, 448 Main St. (I still owe Tom Moore $5 from the Next Step of a couple months back. I ain't forgotten ya Tommy.)

And that's just Saturday.
On Sunday:
Dia:Beacon
Dia's got several things going on this day in conjunction with the two sold out performances being presented by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. There's a family day kicking off at noon that includes a movement based tour of artwork. A selection of items relating to the work of John Cage will be on view. There might be a few other things going on, but I can't quite decipher them, and they may be applicable to members only, like a reception for a Tacita Dean projection based on footage of Merce Cunningham performing.

Electric Windows
The pieces that were created through the day Saturday will be installed in the windows of the Electric Blanket Factory at 1 E. Main St. I don't know what time.

Country Folk @ Zahra's Studio
noon - on. If you simply can't get enough live painting, stop by Zahra's at 496 Main St. and catch the Country Folk crew creating a wall piece that will be part of their June exhibit at the gallery.

Kamp Maykr
12-5pm. Someone will still be hanging out, so stop by and check out what's been done in our yard.

That's what I know at the moment. Check back for updates.

Super Soaker Second Saturday- March 8 2008

A torrential downpour at 7pm had me gearing up with slicker, rubbers and such for my trek along Main St. However, by the time I left the house fifteen minutes later, the rain had stopped permanently, and we were left with a dry but gusty evening for the vernissageago-go.

Below is a sampling of images taken at the various sites I stopped in. There will be some more posted on maykr's flickr page - just give me a few more days.

Above: folks at Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery(I'm tempted to begin implementing an abbreviation for typing purposes) for Palani Mohan's opening of photographs documenting the interactions of man and elephant in Asia. Below: Palani Mohan.

I started at Fovea where I sadly learned from Kirsten Kucer of the recent death of Walter Castle. I'll do a separate post on this soon, but I can hardly imagine a Second Saturday without the ubiquitous Walter.
Black and White: an invitational exhibit of artwork that fits that bill at bau.

Terry Micheal's photographs at Mt. Beacon Fine Art.

From Fovea, I stopped into bau which had an appealing salon -style installation of b/w work. I really didn't examine any individual pieces. I rather enjoyed the overall effect. Mt Beacon Fine Art opened an exhibit of Terry Micheal's photographs printed on canvas.

I ventured on passed Iron Fish Trading Co. where passersby were treated to a silent storefront screening of Austin Powers.

Mark Roland's feature presentation at Iron Fish.

Sometimes I just inadvertantly miss things, and this weekend two such things were: A. spacing out on the opening at Ann St. Gallery in Newburgh of "Women's Work" featuring Nina Katchadourian, Elizabeth Mackie,Kathy Moss, Andréa Stanislav, and Kazumi Tanaka and B. Beacon Institute's opening of Leigh Wen's water paintings. One of Leigh's paintings is on the cover on this month's Chronogram. I was intrigued by the cover image, but I never read the accompanying piece. Anyway, the gallery was closed by the time I passed by, but there's plenty of time to catch the exhbit as it's running through July 8. Women's Work will be on exhibit at Ann St. Gallery through April 19.

Lou Patrou's prints at Pearldaddy.

I spent some time speaking with Pearldaddy proprietor Andrea and artist Lou Patrou whose prints are on view there. One of Lou's drawings is featured in Chronogram's Parting Shot this month.

I then stopped into the bCOOP space which was quiet, but it seemed some dj action was about to get going.

Above and below: artwork at bCOOP (specific artwork details to come shortly)

On to Jeff Caramagna's boldy hued paintings at Go North. I dig much of this work, particularly the volcano and cactus paintings. There's a level of rawness within the seemingly clean flatness that exudes a liveliness. When paired with Erica Hauser's homemade truck cookies of two months ago, Jeff's color coordinated, custom printed M&M's are setting a precedent for Go North's exhibition-themed treats that can only result in disappointment (for this writer,at least) at the first exhibition with no such accompaniment. Above and below: Jeff Caramagna at Go North.

Above: Open Space's steamy window with mobile installation by Patrick Winfield.

Below: a few folks at Open Space.

A detail of one of Patrick Winfield's poloroid photomontages.

I was expecting this Second Saturday would coincide as it has in years past with the annual, City Council-contested Pub Crawl, which is actually happening next year. Actually the two events parallel each other in many respects, and in fact I did witness a bit of curbside vomiting rounding the bend on the East End. I don't think this nausea of art opening related, I just hope Jacqueline didn't find an unpleasant surprise in front of her store on Sunday.

Open Space still had a crowd as the opening for Patrick Winfield wound down and preparations were being made to move the party over to the Piggy Bank. Check out Open Space's opening pics. The crowd at Zahra's spilled out onto the sidewalk as usual, and maneuvering inside was difficult for fear of being impailed on any errant spikey protrusians on the walls or other people's attire.

Above and below: Zahra Studio's take on "kinetic art". Barbara Doherty's leather

and rubber Primitive Occult Adornments.

Above and below: Kulan part 2 at Hermitage.
Hermitage, inviting as usual, sported new works from the collaborative efforts of Jon Beacham and Kensie Duffy.

Earlier, as I passed by the now closed Chthonic Clash, I was surpised by a partially blocked window, a large projection inside and cryptic flyers pasted to the window. I headed back over there after leaving Hermitage. In what turned out to be the highlight of the evening, Shawn Trail and John Cason transformed the former coffee joint into a transy-lounge/audiovisual meditation. The guys created a collaborative video and audio piece called Special Treatment. The setup consisted of two separate screens, forming different viewing spaces for the two unsync'd versions of the forty minute piece. I can't quite describe the soundtrack of ambient and rythmic noises and music because it was so enveloping. The imagery was at times abstract flourishes of light and color and at times visuals of city scapes and the activites therein. There was a short section depicting a window washer moving between windows, doing his job in double time that mesmerized me somehow. There was just a trickle of folks that came in through the evening, and the guys didn't do much to promote it, but I could have sat there all night. Part of the appeal of the installation, beside the entirely comfortable atmosphere of the scene was that this piece was happening - utilizing a space that currently (unfortunately) is without a use at the moment. The fact that this location is in a sort of commercial-use limbo, sitting dormant and this piece filled that void with art for a short time is what much of it is about for me - the Use and re-Use of our home environs to share what we do with each other. Special Treatment by John Cason and Shawn Trail at Chthonic.
I stopped in briefly at the Next Step Party at the Piggy Bank, watched Dan Weise and Tom Moore do a little live painting while the DJ's spun and took the long walk back home.

Tom Moore and Dan Weise at the Next Step at the Piggy Bank.

On the walk home: after just short of a year, the restaurant Tonique has closed its doors.