3 Artistic Groups Honored By Orange County Arts Council Including Ralf M’Vore

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Orange County NY Arts Council is thrilled to announce the 2023 OC Art Awards to be presented at the Art Affair, with this year’s whimsical theme, “Wonderland.” The event will take place on Saturday, November 18 from 6 - 10 p.m., at Villa Venezia, 2257 Goshen Tpke, Middletown, NY 10941. 

The 2023 Art Affair Wonderland Honorees will be celebrated for their achievements and contributions to Orange County’s diverse artistic community. This year’s honorees are renowned visionaries: Ted Doering & Jean Lara, Ralph M’Vore, and Wickham Works with special recognition to Melissa Shaw-Smith. 

  • Ted Doering & Jean Lara are visionaries in the world of business and community enrichment with decades-long record of supporting art and cultural initiatives throughout our region. Ted Doering founded Umbra of Newburgh in 2011, becoming the first turnkey soundstage production facility in the Hudson Valley and founded V-Twin Manufacturing, Ted Cycle Shed, The Motorcyclepedia Museum and the Velocipede Museum, all located in Newburgh. Ted and Lara have been long-time advocates for Newburgh, having aided City Hall’s revitalization efforts and making opportunities to bring added jobs and revenue to the city in thanks for its embracing of the motorcycle community. Ted and Jean will be honored for their continuous contribution to the progress and sustainability of arts and creative practice in Orange County. ⁠

  • Ralph M’Vore is a lifelong resident, multi-talented entrepreneur, and social creative powerhouse in the City of Newburgh. For over two decades, Ralph has been beloved by his community and known for his talent, positive attitude, and willingness to educate and serve. Artistically, Ralph is a Recording Artist, Songwriter, Music Producer, Choreographer, Composer, Director, and Producer. His leadership includes being the Founder/Artistic⁠ Director of MVORE INC. ⁠Ralph is Safe Harbors of the Hudson’s first performing Artist-in-Residence for 2023 and curated a week-long series of arts, education, and community enrichment programming focused on the needs of the City of Newburgh’s artist community. MVORE INC has performed as a previous featured artist at the OC Arts Council’s Art Affair, the Black Renaissance Festival, Soul Under The Stars, and Newburgh Illuminated Fashion Show Stage on Safe Harbors Green.

  • Wickham Works was founded in 2016 to connect and develop the nascent Warwick arts scene. Over the years, the organization has led the community by producing workshops, maker markets, festivals, and parades, designed to support artists and makers in and around Orange County. Wickham Works focuses their efforts on providing human connection through art to the community, while bolstering the arts economy in Orange County. At the heart of Wickham Works serves Melissa Shaw-Smith, who has nurtured the vision of an inclusive, vibrant, and creative community. Starting from a simple workshop, it has grown into the leading arts organization responsible for organizing and supporting hundreds of events reaching thousands of people in the Warwick Community. Melissa and all the artists, volunteers, and organizers at Wickham Works will be honored for their critical role in bringing together the arts in our county.

All proceeds from The Art Affair: Wonderland directly support programs and cultural events such as Hudson Valley Creative Impact, The Student Arts Showcase, Arts Outreach initiatives, and Community Arts Grants. The OCNY Arts Council is only able to provide these programs and cultural events with your generosity.

This event SOLD OUT last year. Tickets are now on sale for The Art Affair: Wonderland. Individual tickets start at $205, and a group 4-pack is available for $800. In addition, there is a Sponsor An Artist ticket which will allow an artist from the community to attend the event free of charge. Orange County NY Arts Council members will receive a ten percent discount. Email info@ocartscouncil for member discount code. Tickets are available at Eventbrite and on the website here >

Sponsorship packages and volunteering opportunities are also available. Please email info@ocartscouncil.org for more information or visit www.ocartscouncil.org for more information. 

About the Orange County Arts Council (OCAC):

The Orange County Arts Council is a private, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to meeting the growing need for local arts advocacy and serving as a county-wide arts resource. A diverse Board of Directors made up of community leaders, business leaders, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists oversees the Orange County Arts Council. Many of OCAC programs are designed and implemented by volunteers serving on various committees.

Orange County Arts Council supports and empowers artists, fosters diverse forms of expression and promotes access to the arts through educational programs, cultural events, public projects and participation that is integral to the economic development and collective well-being of our community. To learn more, visit: https://ocartscouncil.org/ or call 845-202-0140. 

Chalk Art Popping Up Around Town - Latest For Spirit Of Beacon Day Before Rain Came

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Chalk Art outside of the Towne Cryer.

Chalk Art for the Spirit of Beacon Day, outside of the Post Office.

Before the petunias came down, signalling an end to summer, chalk art began popping up. Sometimes portraits and sometimes messages and expressions. The photo above was chalk art outside the Towne Cryer. The chalk artist revealed himself to be Ryan Manzi, a well known man around town with a deep talent in visual art. He and his friend Steve Stanton have been chalking it up, and dedicated some inspiration to Spirit of Beacon Day, creating designs outside of the Post Office before the rain washed it away.

Perhaps they will chalk again for the newly moved rain date of Spirit of Beacon - October 1, 2023.

Poem: "Double Red Light Broken :: A Morning Of Kid Drop-off On Repeat, Until..."

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With this poem, ALBB is opening to poetry submissions from others on any subject matter. Submit via our Contact Us page.

Double Red Light Broken

Second Day of Middle School

A gaggle of kids swarmed on their bikes
around the opposing double line of cars going to and from drop-off.
Eyes on the road!
Both hands on wheel.
Because these kids own the road and swerve into and over a crosswalk or a grasswalk at whim.
Will we ever get the 5 minutes to school?
All these kids peddling everywhere,
calling to each other,
covered in a world of their soft padded headphones.

Drop-off reached.
Pull into the first lane!!
I can’t - there are cones in that lane.
I have to stay in the second lane.
Noooooo!!!
Pull over!! Let us out!!
I can’t - the teachers say pull all the way forward. They say don’t lane cross or pass cars. They say be patient.
Noooooo!!!!!
Let us out!!
Pick us up at 3:40!!
3:40? Side eye.
Yeah. I mean 2:40. Wink and a smile.
Empty. Exhale.

Driving back the 5 minutes to the next child who is still in bed.
The car radio on.
Songs suggest lost love too early in the morning.
The DJ reads the morning headlines.
A reprieve from the music.

Driving away, finally noticing the faces in the oncoming cars, still aching to reach drop-off on time.
Laughing faces.
Straight faces.
Survival faces.
We’re all just piles of mush in our morning cars. In the 8am hour of the day.
Grateful to be here.
But in the same loop.
Seeing the same tree.
The same stop light.
Stopped.
No turn on red.
Inching forward.
Someone turns right.
The next end of summer love song comes on.
We move up a car length.

How did that happen?
Red light remains.
The same house with the same fence that got built last spring.
The same ditch. The same red white and blue painted stairs with the initials. Bless that person of the initials who is probably dead.
Inching forward again.
Why are we moving? It’s a red light. No turn on red.
Headlines on the radio begin and end.
Music starts.
The day won’t begin until email is opened. Don’t check email. You’re driving. Stay out of reality a little longer.

The cars move forward again.
The light is still red. No turn on red.
Honking begins.
Pulling us out of that morning trance that asks: “Where am I? Why am I still here?”
Passing the track now. Am going to run across the track later. After drop-off. The entire city is my track. And I can’t get off it.
The cars move forward.
Why? The light is still red!

Oh. The light is broken.
Cars are turning up ahead.
Out of order.
In the intersection.
Where the child on the bike was hit 3 springs ago.
“I thought she already passed me,” said the driver who hit her. Was she blind?
Red light remains.
Honking picks up.
I’m 5th in line so it’s not my fault.
The light is really broken.
It’s been red the whole time.

We must strike out.
Into the green light of the crossing cars.
Morning trance of self-pity gone.
Survival mode now.

Next kid drop-off is on the bike.
1st grader likes to ride his red bicycle.
And so we we ride.
My tires are flat.
Both of them.
I ride on rims.
Hello crossing guard! Nice to see you!
How’s your day?
Better now that I’ve seen you!

We make it to school no problem.
He parks his red bike.
Takes off his helmet.
Straightens his backpack.
A mom in a pink short terrycloth bathrobe walks the entire length of the drop-off with a cup of coffee. This is not a costume. This is just how she came.

Perfect.

Artwork Deadline September 1 For Beacon Bus Shelters From BeaconArts

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BeaconArts is the group behind the changing art on the bus shelters in Beacon, and the time has come to change the art again. After a recent round of fundraising which included a benefit concert, BeaconArts raised the funds needed to refresh the artwork on 5 bus shelters located throughout the city.

Artwork needs to be submitted by Friday, September 1st via this link. Submissions need to be from BeaconArts members (you can join here - membership starts at $100/year).

Artists will be asked to submit digital files that will be printed on vinyl and displayed on the shelter panels.

Submission guidelines:

  • All applicants must be BeaconArts members.

  • BeaconArts is looking for artwork that has a strong graphic quality and can be viewed from a distance.

  • The final artwork will consist of two 50" w x 60" h panels.

  • The artwork selected should fit within the proportions of the bus shelter panels

  • Submissions must be jpg files, 1000 x 1200 pixels at 72dpi

  • If selected, artwork must be delivered as high resolution files, 50 x 60 inches at 300 dpi

Vinyl printing and installation are provided by BeaconArts at no charge to the artist.

Beacon Open Studios Is This Weekend - Studios Open To Public - Now Includes Film and Music

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The time has finally arrived for Beacon Open Studios, one of the best ways to explore all over Beacon because you have 44 different excuses of where you can go. That’s right. If you liked the City Wide Yard Sale, you will love Beacon Open Studios, which offers 44 different locations - some residential - for you to see inside the minds of artists you may never have heard of before.

All in all, there are 60 visual artists participating within the locations, for this 15th year of Beacon Open Studios. Film and music opportunities are also incorporated into this year’s festivities. Artist studios and group shows at local galleries will be open 12-6 pm Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23. This is your only weekend to experience it, so get a plan.

The Opening Reception on Friday, July 21, 6-9pm is at 4 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY, with live music by Aubrey Haddard at 8 pm. This event is free to the public.

As a ticketed event, there is a collection of screenings featuring short films and videos by local artists and filmmakers, which happens on Saturday and Sunday, featuring Story Screen and Beacon Film Society showcasing at the Yard and the KuBe Art Center. See schedule for Music and for Film for all the details. Have this map open on your phone for more artists and locations.

Map The Studios - Head Out

Find the artists on the map at BeaconOpenStudios.com. You can’t go everywhere, so this will involve tough choices in your limited time. Or, maybe if you plot it out right, you could hit everywhere!

If we had to make a priority based on time and what are the most rare locations you can get into, ALBB would make this our path. In no particular order. But we’d make the list and then see where our wheels or feet took us:

Ethan Cohen Gallery (aka Old Beacon High School)

211 Fishkill Avenue
Normally not open to the public, unless for art exhibits or those getting a barber cut from Lucky Longo. Featured in the Beacon Free Press this week was Allison Walker for her letterpress.

PopMart Beacon Art Center

45 Beekman Street (near the MTA train station)
This has a special vibe, where a few artists have their studios. You can feel the creations in here. Normally, this is an out-of-the-way-spot, so Beacon Open Studios is a good excuse to go down there.

Rick Rogers

15 East Main Street (behind Trax at 1 East Main - that’s a good combo)
This studio is located near the Fishkill Creek. Like, you’ll feel the vibrations of the rushing water. Requires stairs. Inside, you may see works in progress, or finished pieces. If you’ve walked over that bridge near The Roundhouse, then you have passed this studio many times. Now is a great chance to venture down the stairs to explore inside.

Paulette Myers-Rich at the No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works

469 Main Street
Paulette and her partner converted this storefront into their live-work space. Letterpress lovers will enjoy this space. Whatever you find inside that is on display for Beacon Open Studios, will most likely be something rare.

Yangzi Huang

86 Old Glenham Road
Basically, we are recommending this studio because it is on Old Glenham Road. Going there will introduce you to the Glenham area of town, which is very far off the beaten path and requires a car. Exploring art this way definitely exposes you to different types of art you didn’t realize you were looking for.

There are so many more locations to see. Check out the map here, and plot your destinations.

Cat Art Show Opens In Howland Public Library For Another Puuuuurfectly Promising Experience

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The highly popular “Cat Art Show,” which has been known to bring out the largest number of art lovers to any opening at Beacon’s Howland Public Library, will return to the library with a gala opening on Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 5 to 7 pm. This year’s “Cat Art Show,” which will include a wide variety of cat-themed artworks, will once again be curated by its founder and local artist, Jean Noack.

According to Noack, “We not only had a great turnout at the 2017 opening, many quality pieces were purchased by attendees. And we look forward to even higher attendance and sales at this year’s show.”

The 2023 “Cat Art Show” will feature work by new and returning local artists utilizing everything from paint and canvas to cameras to something called “wet-felted” cat fur employed by Noack herself. Says Noack, “I took a week-long class on wet felting of wool at the Fletcher Farm School for the Art and Crafts in Ludlow, VT, and have applied the method to cat fur to create framed artworks.”

Another popular local artist participating in the 2023 “Cat Art Show” is Anna West of Beacon. West not only paints cats but has contributed to their welfare by holding a fundraiser in 2022 where she accepted "commissions" to paint people's cats then contributed the funds to Talk To Me About Cats of Newburgh, NY.

West, whose paintings are currently on display at the Emerge Gallery in Kingston, NY, is representative of the many active artists who make up the thriving Beacon-area arts community and whose work will celebrate our feline friends at the 2023 “Cat Art Show.”

Other artwork will be provided by Markie Baylash, Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee, Tom Conroy, Jan Dolan, Cindy Gould, Mary Fetherolf, Stephanie Fogarty, Mary Ann Glass, Susan Keiser, Mandy Kelso, Philomena Kiernan, Barbara Lipp, William A. Loeb, Peter McGivney, Jean Noack, Rosemany Braghieri Rednour, Noah Rosaler, Chris Sanders, Eleni Smolen, Anna West, Bill Winter, and Trisha Wright

Artists whose work sells will donate a portion of the sale price to an animal charity of their choice.

BeaconArts To Host Fundraiser For Bus Shelter Art Project: A Benefit Concert

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BeaconArts is excited to announce the Bus Shelter Art Project Fundraiser: A Benefit Concert on Wednesday, June 21, 7-10pm, at Dogwood Bar, located at 47 E Main Street, Beacon, NY. The event will include a night of music, raffle prizes, and drink specials.

The Bus Shelter Art Project was initiated in 2017 in partnership with the city of Beacon to install and maintain artwork at five Beacon bus shelters. This effort coincided with the new branding of the Beacon Free Loop bus in 2018. Since the pandemic, the artwork, which was meant to be changed regularly, is in great need of renewal and repair. BeaconArts is asking for sponsors and donors to help with the cost of installing five new artworks for the shelters. The goal is to raise $5,000. This will enable BeaconArts to change the artwork every two years. Artwork will be chosen by committee, and all active artist members of BeaconArts will be eligible to submit their art.

Dogwood Bar, a longstanding community hub in Beacon, has generously offered to host the fundraiser. Ticket holders can expect discounted drinks at the bar, the opportunity to win raffle prizes donated by local businesses, and a line up of amazing musicians including: Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble, a fiscally sponsored project of BeaconArts; Tony DePaolo, featuring Gwen Laster, Peter O’Brien, and Damon Banks; Paul Byrne & The Bleeders; Mimi Sun Longo; Marsh King’s Daughter, featuring Emily Hague, Jon Slackman, Rafi, and Sekaya; and other special guests.

Tickets are limited and should be purchased in advance at https://gofund.me/8c63126c. Ticket prices start at $25, with additional sponsorship levels of up to $1000. All proceeds will go directly to the Bus Shelter Art Project. BeaconArts is grateful for any and all support of this project.

Celebrate summer solstice with BeaconArts! A fun night of good music and friends, for a great community cause! 

Contact info: Matthew Agoglia, BeaconArts President
matthew@beaconarts.org

New Art Show :: Parisa Karami, "Cinema Scenes" At The Hudson Valley Food Hall

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“I paint to help me to remember and help me to forget.”
— Parisa Karami

Beaconite Parisa Karami is the newest artist hanging in the Hudson Valley Food Hall. This show “Cinema Scenes: Paintings 2012-2022” features paintings of scenes from films. Parisa’s exhibit is on view until mid-late July, and the paintings are for sale. Meanwhile, A Little Beacon Blog interviewed Parisa to learn more about where she is coming from with her art:

ALBB: Why scenes from film?
"I had originally studied film in undergraduate - so it was natural for me to paint scenes from films by my favorite filmmakers when I was trying to figure out my painting style. I think storyboarding and mise en scene in film are very similar to painting in many ways. Some of the filmmakers who created these scenes originally are Tarkovsky, Fassbinder, Fellini, Antonioni. The paintings are are mixed media, approximately 9x12.

“I believe, as Louise Bourgeois stated, ‘art is the guarantee of sanity.’ In order for individuals to maintain their psychic well being in these accelerated times, it is urgent to get to the root of their personal stories.”
— Parisa Karami

ALBB: What inspires you?
"Through a process of gleaning and foraging, I paint to help me to remember and help me to forget. I paint in a naive outsider style. I work in watercolor, acrylics and oil paints. My background in film lends to the storyboarding style. I believe, as Louise Bourgeois stated, 'art is the guarantee of sanity.' In order for individuals to maintain their psychic well being in these accelerated times, it is urgent to get to the root of their personal stories. In conjunction with the personal and collective psyche, I am interested in exploring issues of exile, abandoned areas and timeless spaces."

Parisa Karami was born in 1976 in Tehran and emigrated to a Mojave Desert mining town to flee the Iranian Revolution. By the mid 1980’s the desert town was abandoned (due to the toxic environment created by the mining) she was then relocated to the San Joaquin Valley. These early events continue to influence her work. Parisa moved to New York City in 2002. She holds undergraduate degrees in Film and Anthropology and received a Master’s Degree from the New School for Social Research. She worked at AIGA for three years and the United Nations for five years before becoming a full time painter and craftsperson. Selected works can be purchased on Saatchi Art and Etsy. More recent works can be seen on media outlets such as Mc Sweeney’s, Northwest Review, Pleiades, Florida Review’s Aquifer, The Belladonna, New Orleans Review, Drunk Monkeys, The Indianapolis Review, Michigan Quarterly Review’s Mixtape and elsewhere. Parisa lives in The Hudson Valley with her family.

Hudson Valley Food Hall is located at 288 Main Street, Beacon NY 12508.

Orange County Arts Council OCAC Announced $25k For Artists

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Call For Artists and Community Arts Grants

Orange County NY Arts Council announces two locally-funded opportunities representing $25,000 of available grant awards to go directly to artists in Orange County. The 2023 Community Arts Grants and the Art Affair 2023 Call for Artists are both locally funded opportunities created specifically with the needs of the local arts community in mind. Individual artists and arts organizations are encouraged to apply for both opportunities. Applications can be found under “Grants” in the “Resources” tab found here or through OCAC’s links on social media platforms.

Since 2017, the Community Arts Grants have provided funding to local artists through a generous contribution of the Wesley-Kruger Family Foundation. Applications for $1,000 grants are now being accepted through June 15. All artists and arts organizations living in or serving Orange County, NY are encouraged to apply. This will be the last year of this program in its current form, as an updated Community Arts Program will be announced later this year.

The Orange County Arts Council fundraiser, the Art Affair, sold out the 2022 presentation which featured over 50 artists presenting and performing their work during the black-tie suggested, creative attire required, evening. The Art Affair is designed to showcase Orange County's art scene by creating an immersive event where guests can interact and experience art in many forms through installations and performances while enjoying curated food and themed beverages. Submissions for this year’s theme, Wonderland, are now being accepted and will be presented in November. Artists can receive up to $3,000 in funding for participation in this event by applying by June 15th.

Additional information:

Both applications will close June 15, 2023 at 11:59pm.

Community Arts Grants

  • Applicants MUST read the guidelines prior to submitting. Guidelines linked here.

  • Deadline:  June 15th 2023 11:59pm

  • The Community Arts Grants will be administered by the Orange County Arts Council (the “Arts Council”) and funded through individual donations made to the Arts Council from donors and sponsors, including a generous gift from the Wesley-Krueger Family Foundation. The work of the Arts Council is made possible in part by generous support of Orange County, NY and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Art Affair 2023 Call for Artists

  • Selected projects will be integrated into the evening's experience as designed by the OCAC Executive Director, the Gala Chair, and Gala Committee Members. Artists maintain all rights to their work and give Orange County Arts Council permission to use photo, audio, and video recordings of the work for promotional purposes.

  • Projects will be presented at the Art Affair, Saturday, November 18th, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

  • All applicants must reside in Orange County NY or show significant participation in the Orange County Arts Community outside this opportunity.

  • The Art Affair serves as its major fundraiser and provides exposure to the general public to artists and their work throughout Orange County. The Gala strives to elevate and bring together art and business and public.

Submissions requested:

  • Live Performance. Not to exceed 10 minutes in length. Dance, Theatre, Performance Art, Music, Readings, etc.

  • Art displays and installations. Our venue is large and we wish to fill the space with art. Submissions may include: practical builds (stage, drink bar, check-in table), internal or external installations or displays, immersive experience moments, AV installations, etc.

About the Orange County Arts Council (OCAC):

The Orange County Arts Council is a private, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to meeting the growing need for local arts advocacy and serving as a county-wide arts resource. A diverse Board of Directors made up of community leaders, business leaders, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists oversees the Orange County Arts Council. Many of OCAC programs are designed and implemented by volunteers serving on various committees.

Orange County Arts Council supports and empowers artists, fosters diverse forms of expression and promotes access to the arts through educational programs, cultural events, public projects and participation that is integral to the economic development and collective well-being of our community. To learn more, click here or call 845-202-0140. 

Look Up! New Lamppost Streetside Art Exhibit In Wappingers Falls

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Look up! A new streetside art exhibit has popped up in Wappingers Falls. The artwork of several artists from around the Hudson Valley has been printed onto banners, and mounted onto lampposts.

With a theme highlighting the artist themselves, individuals were asked to submit a piece that best reflects their work, style and aesthetic.

“The Hudson Valley is filled with an abundance of talent and the goal of the Community Streetside Artist Exhibit is to showcase the creative diversity of these artists throughout the Village of Wappingers Falls via lamp post banners” say the organizers, Courtney Kolb of Wappingers Rises, and the artist Sarah Davida of Nixie Sparrow.

On Thursday, April 13, 2023 Wappingers Rises will be holding a reception to highlight artists and their artwork at River Valley Arts Center from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (9 S Mesier Ave, Wappingers Falls). There will be a champagne toast sponsored by Coupe Champagne at 6:30 PM.

This event will be open to the public, free of charge with food and drink available for purchase by local restaurants.

Sponsors of this outdoor art include:

Graceland Tattoo, Keely Sheehan Design, Wappingers Falls Business and Professional Association, Inc., Coupe Champagne, Garay-Michaud Team, River Valley Arts Center, Sam’s Realty, Helen Piteo Interiors, Treybich Law, Orsi + Co, Wappingers Falls Hydroelectric, Center for Physical Therapy and The UPS Store of Wappingers Space, Place, Storage, UHAUL, Falls Woodsmith and Sarah Davida.

Artists In This Streetside Exhibit Include:

Adam Lauricella
Alexa Spaddy
Alex Grey
Allison Frost
Allison Lahikainen
Allyson Grey
Alyssa Follansbee
Andrew Cook
Anna West
Brad Parsons
Brian C. Zickafoose
C-MOR
Cerise Kacensky
Chris Ams
Christina Kokiasmenos Cindy LaColla Corrinne Sternberg CoSM
Destiny Arianna
Elizabeth Castagna
Erica Hauser
Gerardo Castro
Hilary Astrid
Jane Wu
Jessica Nash
John Breiner
Keely Sheehan
Kim Dei Dolori
Lala Montoya Heredia Laura Golben
Laura Holmes McCarthy Lindsay Loforte
Margot Kingon
Marieken Cochius
Mark Darnobid
Nicole Morris
Nigel Clair
Pamela Herbst
Paola Bari
Paul Caicedo
Sarah Davida
Sean McCarthy
Taylor McLeod

BeaconArt's Piano Themed "Keys To The City" Needs Volunteers for Fall 2023

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It’s been since 2018 since piano notes twinkled from alleyways, gardens and front lawns during BeaconArts’ city-wide installation, “Keys To The City,” a fiscally sponsored project of BeaconArts. The interactive installation is going to happen again in the Fall of 2023, and they need volunteers to help make it happen.

To refresh our memories, “Keys to To The City” is a collection of decorated pianos placed in outdoor spaces throughout the city. People can sit and play at them whenever the mood inspires them.

Writer Izdihar Dabashi captured the mood in the fall of 2018. The last time the pianos were played, she wrote: “Auburn leaves danced in the wind, wisps of hair and tangles of scarves flit about in the cool weather. Softly, Adele’s voice weaves into the moment creating an ambiance that is undoubtedly autumn in New York. As if singing ‘Hello’ to myself isn’t dramatic enough, the universe seems to encourage my bout of melodrama, as evidenced by the several pianos adorning Main Street. I was tempted to ignore the peculiar sights and continue to sonder, but the tinkling sounds of the pianos rang through the air and lured me to their sights.” Read her full article here, and see pictures of the pianos past.

BeaconArts has put out the call for volunteers. They are looking for volunteers to help with project management and piano logistics. People who are interested are instructed to contact Ian Murdoch here.

People with a variety of skills who want to install and monitor pianos during their weeks on display are encouraged to inquire. Even if you are not super technically handy, there might be something you can do, if this is a volunteer opportunity that matches your desires.

New Art Gallery Opens In Beacon "Super Secret Projects" Through The Hallway Of Hyperbole - Open 7 Days

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A new art gallery called Super Secret Projects has opened down the hallway behind the boutique Hyperbole at 484 Main Street on the east end of Main Street near the mountain. Says Carolyn Baccaro, co-owner of the space: “We did a small renovation, and now you can walk right through the shop. We're also open 11am-6pm daily, so this is a full-time art gallery in Beacon, yay!!”

The creator of Super Secret Projects, Diana Vidal, likens the space to a speakeasy since one accesses it by walking through the boutique and down a hallway to get to the gallery, she told the Highlands Current. The co-owners of Hyperbole, Carolyn Baccaro and Andrea Podab are known for their collaboration with business and artistic projects, which have involved a pop-up shop at A Little Beacon Blog’s former space before they opened their own shops Artifact Beacon and Wares (which merged into Hyperbole), and a partnership with Beacon Mercantile who later opened a storefront on Main Street until she needed to move out to help a family member with their health.

About “Duality”

The 100% artist-run and curated space will host a public reception for their first group show, “Duality,” on Saturday, January 14th, from 7pm to 10pm at 484 Main Street. The exhibition, which runs through February 4th, will feature the work of local artists Alyssa Follansbee, Darya Golubina, Allegra Jordan, Yunmee Kyong, Elin Lundman, Evan Samuelson, and Diana Vidal.

According to the press release: “Conventionally, duality is defined as an instance of opposition or contrast between two aspects of something. Within this exhibition, we will endeavor to creatively explore the multitude of ways that the conceptual ideas of duality identify themselves within our existential outlook, history, and approach to the world. Like two sides of a coin, or interchangeable roles, a dichotomy of reality exists within us all. The work shown here is our reconciliation.”

About Super Secret Projects

Super Secret Projects is an artist-run initiative created to foster community and facilitate opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists to collaborate, experiment, and share their work. Visitors can peruse fresh and exciting local art 7 days a week from 11am to 6pm with new exhibits every month.

Follow @HyperboleNY and @SuperSecretProjects on Instagram for more details.

To apply for membership, apply to the Open Call for artists, or sign up for a workshop course, visit www.SuperSecretProjects.com.

Wait, What Is That Bonfire In Beacon? Exploring The First Beacon Bonfire Festival

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Co-Organizer Tim Parsaca sets up the bonfire area at Veterans Place, in preparation for the live music and performances playing there on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Warm November wind swirled crunchy leaves between parked cars on Main Street as the sun came out through the morning fog once again in Beacon, NY, creating the perfect Saturday scene for the first Beacon Bonfire Festival. Starting Friday and erupting Saturday (November 4 and 5) is a schedule of 100 live performers and artists in 14 venues and galleries.

All of Main Street was open, while Veterans Place (side street between Post Office and Towne Crier and across from Masjid Ar-Rashid Islamic Teaching Center) was closed so that people could enjoy dancing, sitting in patio couches around a fire pit, and watching performances. The casual setting, however, made it feel like Main Street was closed as people slowed down to walk, watch and listen.

This big concept idea is being described as an “immersive music and arts exploration” by its organizers, who include a collection of performers, including Kelly Ellenwood, who is behind some of Beacon’s longest lasting initiatives, including Wee Play, the Beacon Free Loop, and busy time served for BeaconArts.

An aerialist performs during the first Beacon Bonfire as the first band at the Veterans Place stage starts.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Starting from the embers of bonfires made during the height of the COVID pandemic, when everyone was separated and could not gather indoors, a group of Beaconites gathered outside around a bonfire in locations that were sometimes not announced until the day of the bonfire. Co-organizers Christian and America Olivo Campbell told the Highlands Current that they started the bonfires as a way to make it through the pandemic. The first one had 20 people, and it grew from there as more dates were put into the calendar spread via group texts. Jeremy Schonfeld came on board to organize the music from his connections in the Beacon music scene, and Kelly’s husband Tim Parsaca, who worked for Madison Square Garden for decades building or “unbuilding” sets, as Christian puts it.

Venues Participating In The Beacon Bonfire

Venues for this festival include the main stage at Veterans Place, which has patio couches set up around fire pits, Reserva Wine Bar, Bank Square, Lotus Works Gallery, Dennings Point Distillery, Quinn’s, Found Space 364, B House, Towne Crier, the Beacon Building, Silica Studio, Masonic Lodge, KuBe Art Center (aka The Old Beacon High School), Howland Cultural Center, Maria Lago Studio, and Dogwood.

Performers Performing During The Beacon Bonfire

Beaconites will recognize several names, and see a few new ones including of the spoken word. Lena Rizkallah who ALBB’s sister company Tin Shingle has written about and is normally associated with financial advice and education, will be storytelling with Bridget O’Neill’s group at the Masonic Lodge. You can find Nina Day and Friends, the Wynotte Sisters, the Whispering Tree, Toybox with Rinde Eckert and Friends, The Costellos, Tara O’Grady, Stephen Clair Band, Spilled Milk, and many others.

Find the full schedule and map here.

“Wait, What Is That?” Podcast Interviews

Brandon Lillard and Katie Hellmuth were able to interview two of the performers before the Saturday got rolling: The Costellos and Beacon Performing Arts Center. The Costellos shared two songs with the podcast, that was live streamed on A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram. The first song gave serious beach vibes, and the second was a dreamy love note between the two, written during a seven week stint that they were away from each other.

Listen to the full interview at Wait What Is That? when it gets published next week.

SOON IS NOW Is Back For A Second Season At Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park

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SOON IS NOW is back for a second season at Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park on Saturday, September, 24th from 2pm-5pm.

This will be a beautiful afternoon of climate theater, art and activism held in a spot that was transformed from a hazardous dumping site into a gorgeous sustainable park by Reed-Hilderbrand landscape architects and Scenic Hudson.

There is a great slate of participants programmed for the day: Jaanika Peerna with Coco Karol performing Glacier Elegy; Twinkle Burke and Stephanie Anuwe performing "how to hold water: a spell for adaptive living" by Erika Dickerson-Despenza; Edwin Torres conducting a poet's orchestra of 6 performers titled "Water's Way: A Poet's Choir for The Hudson River" with: Latasha Diggs, Jayden Featherstone, E.J. McAdams, Urayoán Noel, Kristin Prevallet and Tamalyn Miller; Elise Knudson, Randy Burd and Ava Heller performing a new dance piece on George Trakas's Beacon Point; Connie Hall performing The Penguin by Nicholas Billon, cellist Alex Waterman performing an original composition, Tom King and Katiana Rangel performing "Ode to Extinct Birds"; and FRUIT&ROT, an imprint that designs and publishes printed matter on the intersection of art and ecology, will have items for sale. Local environmental groups will be at the event providing actions, info and workshops.

Come see Fareground, Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Sustainable Hudson Valley, Outdoor Promise, Climate Reality Hudson Valley and Catskills, Sunrise Movement Westchester and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and take action on climate!

Environmental group presentations & actions start at 2pm and sign ups for the 3 performance tours open at 2pm and start at 3pm and run every 20 minutes (first come first served). A 4th tour will be added if needed. There is something here for everyone! This event is part of Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week.

Contact evemorgenstern@gmail.com or go to this link for more details. Free and open to the public but the project appreciates contributions to help pay the artists. You can make a tax deductible pledge here at SOON IS NOW and thank you! We encourage using public transportation, carpooling and walking because parking is limited at Long Dock Park. Overflow parking is available a short walk away at the Beacon Metro North train station where parking is free on the weekends.

This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.

Beacon Open Studios Is Back! This Weekend! July 22-24th - Events All Weekend

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If you're new to town, you may not have experienced Beacon Open Studios, an always evolving interactive art experience that happens once a year. It is the one time that you get to wander around Beacon to find yourself inside of an artist's studio. You get to see their tools, smell their mixtures, and maybe see some artists in action.

Beacon Open Studios took quite a blow during the shutdown of the pandemic. As with all things wonderful in Beacon, this is a volunteer effort, where leadership can change from time to time. New energy came in this year to produce this event for you, led by artist  Darya Golubina.

Her preferred medium is oil paint or graphite but some of you may know her as “the hand," handling tiny little masterpieces in the photos she takes for Beacon’s Tiniest Gallery. The miniature gallery is a project she helped start with her friends when the isolation of the pandemic took over and they craved connection to their community. When she’s not painting or documenting the gallery’s newest acquisition, she photographs life-size humans at a studio she manages in NYC. Born in the Ukraine; raised in Brooklyn; graduated from SVA. Darya says Beacon, "feels like home."

Bringing back Beacon Open Studios certainly helps Beacon feel like home to all who live here.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE BEACON OPEN STUDIOS
From July 22, 2022 - July 24, 2022, you can join Beacon Open Studios for an exciting self-guided tour of Beacon’s artists studios. Including 60+ artists, multiple group shows and their music artists showcase.

7.23 - 7.24 - Artist Open Studios (see here for locations) from 12-6pm. Go visit over 60 artists.

7.22 - Opening Reception at The Landmark from 6-9pm

7.23 Music Artist Showcase at Reserva Wine Bar from 4-7pm

7.9-8.7 Beacon Open Studios Artist Group Show (month long exhibit) at Hudson Beach Glass Gallery from 12-6pm

A Little Beacon Blog is a happy and proud media sponsor of Beacon Open Studios.

Full Artist LIst Here
Map Of Artists

A Sampling Of Artists You Can Visit During Beacon Open Studios

A few artists are displayed below of who you can go visit their studios. But don’t miss out on all 60 of the artists you can visit.

Click for Map of 60 Artists
See All 60 Artists