Report on the Gallery

Transcription

1 April-June 2012 What s Inside We re on the Web! See us at Report on the Gallery Changes to 2 nd Floor Gallery NCAC Summer Workshops Paint Out in Chestertown Chestertown Benches Tannery Pond Member Show Board Members President Fred Holman Vice President Linda Buerkley Secretary Matthew Nelson Treasurer Jon Segan Additional Board Members Maria C. Castano Barbara E. Deloria Heidi Maxwell Janet O'Neil Kathleen Roberts Report on the Gallery When we first thought about the Art in Chestertown Gallery it was to be a sixweek exhibit of artwork by North Country artists. Nothing was to be for sale. We now have two years under our belt as of the end of the Holiday Treasures exhibit, which ended the beginning of January. While the first year exceeded our expectations, the second year was even more impressive. After tallying the results we can say that sales doubled from the first year ($5, 500+ to over $11,000). People were spreading the word about the gallery and the quality and diversity of the work. We saw people coming in it see each show. We saw collectors and return buyers. We sent people to the artists studios where they bought more of their art. It has been a great experiment and one that has meant a lot to many artists as well as the local community. The sales were somewhat dependent on what people brought into the gallery. The second year was even more diversified than the first, for instance we had no books in the gallery the first year and sold 27 books the second. The sales prices of the paintings increased substantially the second year. While the average price of sold paintings was less than $200 the first year, the second year it was over $300. Because of the success during the peak season we asked if at least 45 people would commit to showing their work in two winter exhibits, while not everyone who signed on brought in work, others did and we were able to open for the winter. We knew that this would be a slower time. We were anticipating some family members of snowmobilers and skiers, but without snow this activity dried up. Local businesses are really struggling this year, yet we sold $1,500 worth of art during the Winter Magic Show. Fingers are crossed for the Spring Blossoms Exhibit. Paint Out in Chestertown North Country Arts Center 6 Pine Street Glens Falls, NY The Art in Chestertown Gallery will host its third Plein-air paint out in Chestertown on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1. Artists are requested to sign in at the Gallery at 11AM although they are encouraged to paint earlier. Hanging Fees will be waved at the gallery as usual for those wishing to display the work (for sale) they paint during this event for the remainder of the ongoing exhibit. (Note: Pieces from both previous Paint-outs sold at the gallery).

2 NCAC Page 2 President s Message I guess the greatest artist of the 20 th Century is Picasso. I say that because I have heard his name used as a benchmark. Two stories come to mind immediately. The first story is from a member about the first day of an art class. The professor said that none of the students will become Picassos. If they were we would know it by now. I guess that implies that artists need to become exceptionally proficient before they reach college age or they will never exceed in art. Maybe he never heard about Grandma Moses. Not that Grandma Moses was any Picasso I guess. The second story was relayed on our local Public Radio Station by a well-known artist, although I missed his name. He must be famous, however and living, since he was being interviewed by PBS. He relayed a belief that when we are all painting at home, without showing our work to the public, we know (think) we are all Picassos. I never thought that. In fact my wife calls me Jackson, but since she isn t into art, maybe she never rally understood the thing about Picasso. Since I didn t start painting until I was in my late 50 s I really missed the whole protégé thing. I never had a chance! Well, my opinion is that you can never grow, really grow as an artist until you put your work out there for people to see. I think, looking at your work next to other work, not photographs of other work, but real stuff (other peoples %*#0 as Mike Huskie might say) is what it is all about. Let s face it, Picasso would have been a nobody if he never showed his #%*&. Right M.C.? Submitted by Fred Holman NCAC Summer Workshops This year the North Country Arts Center presents a series of workshops for your growth and enjoyment. We tried to present some of the leading regional artists to begin our sojourn into the world of workshops and classes. If you are interested in a particular subject, please let our board members know so we can respond to your needs. Photography with Mark Perry Date: June 1 details TBD Plein-air Workshop with Ann Larsen Dates: 2 days June 23, 24 Times: 9AM -5PM 3 days June 22, 23, 24 Times: 9AM -5PM Location: Priory Retreat Center, Chestertown, NY Cost: 2-day NCAC Members $320 Non-members $355 3-day NCAC members $425 Non-Members $450 Ages: 15 & Older Includes lunches and dinners (Except Sunday Dinner) Material list to be provided Overnight Accommodations available at the Priory $60 / night including Breakfast (Continued on Page 3)

3 NCAC Page 3 NCAC Summer Workshops (cont d from Page 2) Building Better Landscapes Watercolor / Pastel Workshop with Jan Palmer Date: June 30 Times: 9:30AM 3:30PM Ages: 15 & Older Cost: NCAC Members $85 Non-members $100 Materials List to be provided The Essence of Art in our Big Fat Opinion Drawing and painting with Carol and Anne Gregson Date: July 25 Times: 9:30AM 3PM Ages: 14 & Older Cost: NCAC Members $70 Non-members $85 (Includes $15 materials fee) Reviewing Landscapes in Watercolor with Mary Chaffee Frank Dates: July 28, 29 Times: 9:30AM 3:30PM Ages: 15 & Older Cost: NCAC Members $110 Non-members $125 (Material list upon request) Quilting A Fast & Easy Tablerunner Quilting With Nancy Hayes Date: July 28 Times: 10AM Noon Ages: 15 & Older Location: Country Girl Crafts-Quilting, Chestertown, NY Cost: NCAC Member $30 Non-members $45 Creativity for Adults with Linda Buerkley 2 days, August 11, 12 Times: 9:30AM 3:30PM Ages: Adults Cost: NCAC Members $135 Non-members $160 (Includes materials) Nuno Felt Scarves with Marjolaine Arsenault Date: August 18 Time: 9:30 AM 4PM Ages: 15 and older Cost NCAC Member $125 Non-member $140 Includes materials and use of felting equipment For more information contact Fred Holman at or fholman186@yahoo.com.

4 The schedule for the next quarter is as follows: Artist Hanging Reception Take down Medium Date Marion Kohls March 31 Noon 2PM April PM April 28 10AM - Noon Painting Open Members Show NCAC Page 4 Changes to the 2 nd Floor Gallery The NCAC has recently made some changes to the 2 nd Floor Gallery operations that we hope will improve visitation and sales from the gallery. First, the name change has been accompanied by a new logo and sign. It is our intent to inform people that, yes there is a gallery on the second floor of the Glens Falls City Hall. The artists reception for the gallery has been changed from changed from the first Sunday of the month to the Third Thursday to coincide with the Glens Falls Third Thursday Art Walk. This will increase the publicity for the reception and eliminate the redundancy for the artist, who has been attending both. We have added a form at the gallery that will allow visitors to buy works by filling out a form and placing a red dot on the label of the piece of art they wish to purchase. Until now there was no indication that the pieces were even for sale. Finally, there has been some confusion about which membership level you need to show work in the 2 nd Floor Gallery vs. the Art in Chestertown Gallery or even the Glens Falls Post Office. We have restructured the membership categories to eliminate this confusion. Those who are Exhibiting Members can still hang their works under the old system, however after renewing, this category has been eliminated. Instead, a hanging fee for those wishing to have a solo show will be charged to cover expenses of the gallery. Exhibitors will also be provided with a limited number of postcards that they can mail to prospective clients and friends. We hope these changes will improve the operations at the gallery, attract more visitors and sales of artwork, and make it more relevant to the art scene in Glens Falls. 2 nd Floor Gallery Schedule for 2012 April 28 Noon 2PM Phillip Casabona May 26 Noon 2PM Irene Magee and Susan Morgan June 30 Noon 2PM May PM June PM July PM May 26 10AM - Noon June 30 10AM - Noon July 28 10AM -Noon Mixed media Photography Painting Those interested in displaying their work in the 2 nd Floor Gallery in 2013, please contact Jon Segan at or at jonsegan@gmail.com or Linda Buerkley at or at lbuerkley@roadrunner.com

5 NCAC Page 5 Art in Chestertown Gallery Schedule Spring Blossoms March 16 April 28 Closing Reception: Saturday, April 28, 2-4PM Art Pick-up: Saturday, April 28, 4 6PM Sunday, April 29, 11AM 5PM Youth Visions May 11 June 1 Art Drop-off: Friday, May 4, 3-5PM Saturday, May 5, by appointment Student awards Reception: Friday, May 11, 6-8PM Art Pick-up: Friday, June 1, 3-5PM Saturday, June 2, 11AM 1PM Summer Skies June 7 July 21 Art Drop-off: Saturday, June 2, 11AM -5PM Sunday, June 3, 11AM -5PM Opening Reception: Friday, June 8, 6 8PM Closing Reception: Saturday, July 21, 2 4PM Art Pick-up: Saturday, July 21, 4-6PM Sunday, July 22, 11AM-5PM Chestertown Benches The Chestertown Enhancement Committee is interested in having artists paint the town benches, similar to the Adirondack Chairs in Glens Falls and Bolton Landing. The town has approximately 20 benches. The benches are made of heavy timbers and need something to spruce them up. Details are being worked out by the Chamber for prizes, but as of this printing, the particulars are still being worked on. Anyone interested, please contact Fred Holman at or fholman186@yahoo.com. Looking Ahead in Glens Falls July 2-28, 2012 Juried Photography Show The Friends Gallery Crandall Public Library Drop Off: Sat. June 30; 9AM 5PM Opening Reception: Thurs. July 5; 6PM Pick-up: Sat. July 28 Sept 22, th Annual COLORS OF FALL Arts & Crafts Festival Crandall Park (by the pond) Upper Glen Street Glens Falls

6 NCAC Page 6 Membership Report The NCAC membership grew to over 200 members in Our goal is to double this in If you know artists or artisans who might be interested in our growing organization or someone who is interested in supporting local artists, please encourage them to join us. NEW MEMBERS: Irene Burns Ginni Campbell Mary Chaffee Frank Michael Emelianoff Hannah Galusha Maureen Galusha Deana Gill Russell Palubniak Emilia Pencu Lisa LaMothe Dorothy McDevitt Suzanne Rinas Mechelle Roskiewicz Ron Shook Wayne Smith Linda Walker Patricia Wilber RENEWING MEMBERS: Linda Buerkley Linda Gilbert-Schneider Sally Higgins Fred Holman Carolyn F. Kibbe Gary Larsen Lottie Mae Littlefield Nancy Ness Harvey Noordsy Tom Ryan Ruth Sauer Trudi T. Smith Please contact Janet O Neil, NCAC Membership Chair, at Jloneil11@msn.com or with any questions. Web Members Please contact Kate Austin-Avon at Kate@myadvokate.com or to set up your web link if you are not yet highlighted on our website, Membership The membership categories and rates have been changed to respond to the growth of the organization and the increased costs of doing business. The individual membership has been increased from $15 to $20. The Exhibiting Membership level has been eliminated. People were joining at that level although not intending to display their works in a solo exhibit. A fee of $15 will be charged starting in 2013 for those wishing to display at the 2 nd Floor Gallery to cover expenses. A new level has been added. The family membership, $35, is intended to reflect the number of dual memberships or situations where numerous people in the same household are artists. The Web membership has been increased from $45 to $50 and the group membership remains the same at $50. The Patron level has been set at $250. The different membership structure is an attempt to respond to the increased expenses and the membership patterns of the past few years. We hope these changes will not inconvenience you and that we can grow to provide more opportunities for emerging artists.

7 NCAC Page 7 Important Member Show at Tannery Pond The NCAC has scheduled a member show in the Widlund Gallery at the Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek. Our work must be dropped off at the Art in Chestertown Gallery on May 19 & 20 11AM 5 PM. One piece of art or craftwork is permitted. There is room for wall hung work as well as free standing sculpture and cases for small works. The work will be assembled and brought to the gallery for installation on the May 24 th. There will be an opening reception (pot luck) on Saturday, June 9 from 5-7PM after which the Community Center will have a program in their auditorium. The show will be taken down and brought back to the Art in Chestertown Gallery for pick-up on Saturday, June 23, 11AM 5PM. Anyone interested in assisting in the installation of the exhibit should contact Fred Holman, For more information about the gallery including photographs visit their website Since the railroad has opened for business, visitation to North Creek and the Community Center Widlund Gallery has increased. The Railroad Company has taken an interest in this facility and is encouraging its expanded use. Hundreds of visitors are expected to pass through the gallery each week. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity. Member News Ann Larsen & Michelle Winnie are having a joint exhibit at the Oakroom Artists Gallery First Unitarian Society 1221 Wendell Avenue Schenectady, NY April 1 April 29, 2012, Reception: Sunday, April 1 at 12:30 PM 3:00 PM. For directions to the gallery go to Gallery Hours: Monday Friday: 9 am to 4 pm Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm Barbara Wilson is on the Board of The Friends of the Chester Library. She is requesting donations of artists' work for the 7th Annual Friends of the Chester Library Wine-tasting and Silent Auction, which takes place at the Friends Lake Inn on May 6th. All proceeds go to the Chester Library for purchase of books, AV, and equipment. Anyone willing to donate an item please call Barbara Wilson at before April 20th. Dennis Wilson and Wendy Joy Hayes are part of a six-member reader's theater group called "The Penny Readers," and will perform at Warrensburg's, The Willows, at 7:00 PM on Thursday April 12. The Willows exhibits artwork and has featured many NCAC members. Come to the readings and enjoy great literature, great food, great coffee and great art! By Jon Segan Jon Segan will be having a one-person show in The Small Gallery at Valley Artisans Market, Hubbard Hall, 25 E main St, Cambridge NY The show will run from March 30th to April 24th, with an opening reception on Saturday March 31st at 4 to 6PM.

8 North Country Arts Center 6 Pine Street Glens Falls, NY Website: Center.org NorthCountryArtsCenter@ gmail.com Wish List CD Player: Music sets the mood for those viewing the Gallery. The CD Player currently used is being loaned to the gallery. Anyone updating his or her system? It would be nice to have one dedicated to the gallery. Track Lighting: The Art in Chestertown Gallery could use better lighting. There is some track lighting, but there are areas that need additional lighting during dark days and evenings during the winter months. The landlord has agreed to install any that we provide.