The Arts

By Mary Fairchild & Sarah Taft

Remnants at Galerie BMG

Galerie BMG is pleased to host an exhibition by West Coast artist Mary Daniel Hobson, entitled Remnants. Combining images selected from several of her recent photographic series, the exhibition is a testament to Hobson’s creative use of mixed media and collage to express her passion for photography as well as her fascination with surrealism.

In her “Mapping the Body” series, Hobson explores, via layered photographic collages, the emotions and experiences that become imprinted on our body and enter beneath the surface of the skin to become part of our inner worlds. “Milagros,” a series dedicated to hope and positive change in the world, combines photographs of people’s arms and hands with symbolic images along with their own handwritten messages expressing their wishes for miracles or positive change in their lives. The more recent images in the “Evocations” series combine a sense of mystery and fantasy using constructions of bottles with photographs, old maps and art papers.

The exhibition’s various themes are unified by the creativity, intensity and beauty inherent in Hobson’s images. The use of symbols and objects of mysterious significance intensifies the dreamlike quality, the emotional awareness of a fragment of memory which remains just out of reach.

Remnants will be on display through December 31, with an artist’s reception on Friday, December 7 from 6 to 8 pm. The public is also invited to an artist’s talk on Sunday, December 9 at 12 noon. Regular gallery hours are Friday through Monday, 11 am to 6 pm or other times by appointment. For further information, please contact the gallery at 845 679 0027 or visit www.galeriebmg.com.

Contemporary Landscapes at Carrie Haddad Gallery

Carrie Haddad Gallery is proud to present an exhibit of four contemporary landscape painters from upstate New York. The works of Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, Leigh Palmer, Harry Orlyk and Laura Von Rosk will be on exhibit from December 13 through January 20, 2008. An opening reception will be held on Saturday December 15 from 6 to 8 pm.

Jane Bloodgood-Abrams received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1987 and a Bachelor of Studio Arts degree from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY in 1985. She is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and is listed in “Who’s Who in American Art.” In 2002 Jane Bloodgood-Abrams was inducted into the National Association of Women Artists. Her work has been chosen for numerous regional, national and international exhibitions, including the New York State Biennial at the NY State Museum in Albany, and exhibits in Austria, Italy and Germany.

Leigh Palmer’s work pays homage to the long tradition of landscape painting from the area where he lives, but he conveys the physical beauty of his surroundings in a way which does not attempt to imitate the paintings of those 19th century artists. He paints in larger formats with oil and wax on prepared paper. Palmer’s paintings, with their turbulent skies and burning fires in the distance, suggest a dark commentary on the unsettling world situation in which we find ourselves.

Harry Orlyk works out of the back of his van, recording the landscape around his home in Salem, New York, and in so doing offers a journey into the serenity of the American countryside. Orlyk uses a free-spirited style with thick strokes of paint that glisten as if in motion. There is no struggle between man and nature in Orlyk’s paintings; all is harmonious, productive and beautiful-rural America at its finest.

Laura Von Rosk works on a small scale creating voluptuous, sensual landscapes which refer to the human form as much as they do valleys and mountains. She states, “I used to think these paintings were about specific places, or a certain experience of a place. In many ways this is true. But I notice now there are forms repeating—certain shapes, or a certain kind of space: an enclosure or a fold or a dip (all those ditches), and much of this is emphasized, manipulated, or just plain made up.”

Carrie Haddad Gallery is located at 622 Warren Street in Hudson. For more information, call 518 828 1915 or visit www.carriehaddadgallery.com

The Emerson County Store Hosts Quilt Show from Manhattan Quilters Guild

The Emerson Country Store, the oldest component of the Emerson Resort & Spa and home to the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope, is now hosting a magnificent quilt exhibit featuring works by the Manhattan Quilters Guild, all with New York City themes.

“MetroTextural” is the latest group exhibition of twenty-one new works by members of the Manhattan Quilters Guild, an eclectic group of professional fiber artists who meet in New York City. The Emerson appearance of the exhibit is the only one schedule for New York State until the very end of 2008.

“You just don’t see quilts of this quality every day,” said Lydia Castiglia, general manager of the Emerson Country Store. “The artistry that goes into each one, with all of them having such a unique style, it is truly incredible. These quilts really must be seen to be fully appreciated and we anticipate great interest during the exhibit’s time here at the Country Store.”

The rules for creating “MetroTextural” quilts were relatively simple: Create a quilted work measuring 36 inches square that relates to the concepts of texture and the city. This exhibition celebrates the visual feast of New York City, from serendipitous juxtapositions of signage and advertisements to the surface ornamentation of historic buildings. The works created specifically for this exhibition include vibrant abstractions, architectural details, witty interpretations of the grid, and the visual rhythm of New York voices. Techniques range from scintillating piecework and illusionistic appliqué to painting and photo transfer.

Of her own quilt, quilter Sandra Sider exclaimed, “My favorite view of New York City is the skyline of Manhattan at night, when many of the historic buildings are illuminated in brilliant colors. This quilt is my interpretation of the Chrysler Building in glowing bands of polychromatic light, with small sequins flickering across the surface.”

The “MetroTextural” exhibit will be viewable at the Emerson Country Store through January 5, 2008.

For further information about the “Metro Textural” exhibit and the Manhattan Quilters Guild, please visit www.quiltart.com/metro/.

One New Work in Andes

The Chace-Randall Gallery presents One New Work from December 1 through December 31. The exhibition is comprised of one brand new piece by each of the gallery’s 18 permanently exhibiting artists. A reception for the artists is scheduled for Saturday, December 1 from 5 to 7 pm.

One New Work is designed to guarantee gallery visitors and collectors the opportunity to see the latest work of Chace-Randall’s superb troupe of artists. “Customers sometimes visit the gallery and remember seeing a particular painting or photograph from another show. Perhaps it is hung in a different place and, although still enticing, it has been seen before. This show offers the public a chance to see what is most currently emerging from our artists’ studios. Each piece is fresh and new—all 2007 and never before exhibited,” says Gallery Owner/Director Zoe Randall. “It’s the perfect way to close our 2007 season, offering a glimpse of what is to come in 2008,” Randall says.

The participating artists are Kim Alderman, Rimer Cardillo, Keith Cardwell, Grant Collier, Laura Di Nello, Deborah Freedman, David Hornung, Judith Lamb, Inverna Lockpez, Patrick McCay, E. Ira McCrudden, Jenny Nelson, Fawn Potash, Alberto Rey, Christine Rodin, Christie Scheele, Nat Thomas and Marie Vickerilla. Work varies in medium from representational and abstract painting to prints, photography and sculpture. All artists are of stellar caliber, many museum exhibited and collected.

Further, this exhibition is an opportunity to see work unlike pieces exhibited in the gallery these past years. Inverna Lockpez, having just closed a sell-out exhibition of her final barn series, unveils a new series: Railroads and Bridges of Delaware County. Christie Scheele has melded her love for found objects, minimalist landscape painting and samplers in a piece entitled Trove. Rimer Cardillo fuses the age-old process of the woodcut with high-technological printmaking, rendering a gorgeous pond series for next summer’s Chace-Randall exhibition; he will submit one piece for this show. London photographer Keith Cardwell continues his Cuba series, but moves from black and white into a burst of color. And Kim Alderman veers from her Moonbird series into Marking Time, a new series in smoke-fired ceramic sculpture. It is a show of closure and beginnings, as internationally renowned artist and SUNY Distinguished Professor for Research and Creative Activity, Alberto Rey joins the gallery with his striking trout paintings in oil on plaster.

The Chace-Randall Gallery is located at 49 Main Street in Andes. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday and Holiday Mondays from 11 am to 5 pm and by appointment. For more information please call 845 676 4901 or visit www.chacerandallgallery.com.

The Winter Salon Show at Mark Gruber Gallery

The Mark Gruber Gallery celebrates the holiday season this year with a classic European style Salon exhibit, the Winter Salon Show. In this season of reflection and thanksgiving, regional artists show us the beauty that is inherent in our world. We are fortunate to have such a cornucopia of incomparable talent in the Hudson Valley. Enjoy the bounty!

Like the famous European Salon shows of yesteryear, the gallery will be filled with the best artists of the region. The Winter Salon Show opens on Sunday, December 2 and runs through the month of January, 2008. Holiday refreshments will be served at the opening reception on Sunday, December 2, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. The public is cordially invited to attend this free event.

As in true Salon spirit, this group exhibition showcases artists in a variety of media and styles. You’ll find landscapes and still lifes in oils, pastels, and silkscreens by such talents as Eric Angeloch, Paul Abrams, Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, James Coe, Kevin Cook, James Cramer, Mirielle Duchesne, Carolyn Edlund, Keith Gunderson, Lorna Massie, Christie Scheele, Robert Trondsen, John Varriano, Marlene Weidenbaum and Danielle Wexler among others.

As always, Hardie Truesdale’s large format photographs of local scenes are on display. Leonie Lacouette’s clocks add a touch of whimsy and elegance to the show. Visit the Museum Store for unique art oriented gifts.

Custom framing is always available at the gallery. The experienced staff is helpful and creative. There is a large selection of moldings in every price range.

The Mark Gruber Gallery is located in the New Paltz Plaza in New Paltz. Gallery hours are Monday from 11 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 12 to 4 pm. For more information, please contact Mark Gruber at 845 255 1241.

Made In the Hudson Valley at the Pritzker Gallery

If you think you need to go out of the area to find the best crafts and fine arts, maybe you’ll change your mind if you visit the Pritzker Gallery. Elisa Pritzker, gallery owner and director, had the opportunity to promote a call for artists and invite other for this colorful exhibit at the right time for the holidays.

Made in the Hudson Valley celebrates the works 21 artists that are bringing unique and affordable art to the public. Featured artists include Jose Acosta, Judi Boruta, Felicia Flanagan, Stacie Flint, Ana Laura Gonzalez, Nanci Hawkins, Susanah Lor, Susan Minier, Franc Palaia, Claudia Pflueger, Karin L. Ruoff, Micky Shorr and Marlene Wiedenbaum. The show will also include gallery artists Barbara Bash, Alicia Belo, Jennie Chien, Elena Davicino, Jordanna Hysell, Joyce Pommer, Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz and Laura Wilensky.

A reception is planned for Sunday, December 2 from 2 to 5 pm.

The Pritzker Gallery @ Casa del Arte, in its 7th year of art exhibits and special presentations for artists, is housed in Ulster County’s architectural unique wonder dedicated to the Arts. It is located at 257 South Riverside Road in Highland. Gallery hours are Friday and Saturday from 12 to 5 pm and by appointment. For more information, call 845 691 5506 or visit www.pritzkergallery.com.

Kairos: A Consort of Singers

Kairos: A Consort of Singers will perform Benjamin Britten’s beloved Ceremony of Carols at the Central Valley United Methodist Church, 12 Smith Clove Road, Central Valley, on Sunday, December 9, at 3:00 pm. Call 845 256 9114 for more information. Kairos is a small vocal ensemble dedicated to the performance of unaccompanied choral literature from the Medieval period to the present. Kairos takes its name from the Greek word for cyclic time. It denotes the state of mind they aim to achieve in their music, a time-out-of-time, in which past and future merge with the present in the listener’s experience.

The Kairos Consort will also present two concerts this month at the Holy Cross Monastery, Route 9W in West Park. On December 16 at 4:00 pm they will perform Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols along with seasonal motets, anthems,and carols. Then, on December 30 at 4:00 pm, it will be J.S. Bach’s Cantata 122, “Das neugeborne Kindelein” Call 845 256 9114 for information.

Ghent

The Ghent Playhouse presents its annual traditional English Christmas pantomime, with Judy Staber and the Pantoloons. Panto is a popular form of theatre throughout the British Isles, and incorporates song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, in-jokes, audience participation and mild sexual innuendo. Plots are often loosely based on traditional children’s stories, and this year at Ghent it’s “Hair Loom! Rapunzel and Rumplestiltskin in Dis-Tress” Written by Judy Staber, with lyrics and embellishments to the original script by the Pantoloons, this panto merges two fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, with the usual gender bending, craziness, and fun for the whole family. The fun runs through December 9. Call 518 392 6264 for information.

In Hudson

The Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre, Inc. of East Durham presents the world premiere of On The Expectation of White Christmases, by Greene County resident Brian Petti at the Columbia Greene Community College on Friday, December 7, and Saturday, December 8, at 8:00 pm, and on Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 pm. Eleven-year-old Mary awaits the arrival of her long-estranged father on Christmas Eve. Her grandmother, the unquestioned authority in her home, is decidedly against the prospect of hosting a dinner for the man who abandoned his family. With equal parts humor and pathos, On the Expectation of White Christmases is a heartbreaking examination of the trials of familial love, the resiliency of hope and the price of redemption. Tickets can be reserved by calling 518 634 2286.

There are a number of performances at the Hudson Opera House this month. On Sunday, December 2 at 7:00 pm, join Michael Merenda & Ruth Ungar Merenda of The Mammals as they perform original folk and pop songs on guitar, fiddle, banjo, ukulele, harmonica and glockenspiel. Then on Tuesday, December 4 at 8:00 pm, the Eric Mintel Quartet, performs new arrangements of classic jazz standards, along with original songs. Then, at the opening concert of a series that continues through March, the Diamond Opera Theater and the Hudson Opera Theater present a performance titled “The Art of Song Deconstructed” on Saturday, December 8 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. This concert features the Italian art song. DOT Artistic Directors Mary Deyerle Hack and Keith Spencer lead a discussion with the audience and singer after each performance. It’s sure to be a delight to students of music, song-lovers and those who are curious about song performance and composition. Call 518 822 1438 for more information.

In Woodstock…

Woodstock Renaissance, a vocal octet specializing in early and traditional music, will sing two concerts on the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday, December 15 and 16. Both concerts will start at 2:00 pm, and both will take place at the Overlook United Methodist Church at 233 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For more information, call 845 679 9160.

The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, David Leighton, artistic director, performs at Pointe of Praise Family Life Center in Kingston on Saturday, December 8, at 8:00 pm and at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on Sunday, December 9, at 3:00 pm. You can order tickets online using Paypal at www.wco-online.com.

And in Stone Ridge…

Nationally celebrated folk musicians and beloved Ulster County citizens Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will present a concert on December 1, 2007, at 7:00 pm in Quimby Theater on the SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge campus. The concert will be a winter holiday extravaganza with a number of special guests, including Genticorum and Mike and Ruthy Merenda. The music will range from traditional and contemporary American and Quebecois fiddle and accordion music to vintage jazz, western swing and original songs—all in the spirit of winter and the Holiday season. For more information on these concerts, contact SUNY Ulster’s Office of Community Relations at 845 687 5262.

A Celtic Christmas in Kingston

Cherish the Ladies have grown from a one-time concert concept to an traditional music sensation, literally the most successful and sought-after Irish-American group making Celtic music today. Taking their name from the name of a traditional Irish jig, Cherish the Ladies has a unique, spectacular blend of virtuoso instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements, and stunning step dancing. It’s powerhouse group that combines all the facets of Irish traditional culture and puts it forth in an immensely humorous and entertaining package. They will present “A Celtic Christmas” at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston on Saturday, December 16 at 7:00 pm. UPAC is at 601 Broadway. Call 845 339 6088 for tickets and information.

Saugerties Pro Musica Presents an Evening of Standards and Holiday Selections with Robert Edwin, baritone

On December 9 at 3 pm, Saugerties Pro Musica presents Robert Edwin, baritone, and his piano accompanist, Joseph Krupa, in a concert that will include a variety of standards and Holiday selections. Especially entertaining will be their “Pop goes the Classical” segment, which features segments of classical piano pieces that became popular songs.

Robert Edwin has gained international recognition as a singer, composer, teacher and writer. He has sung Bach cantatas in church cathedrals and rock songs in Greenwich Village coffeehouses. He has appeared in Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, recorded for Avant Garde and Fortress Records, and toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad. His TV and radio credits include several NBC Christmas Specials, as well as commercials for everything from politicians to hot dogs. An ASCAP lyricist and composer since 1967, this active and ecumenically-minded Lutheran has shared his music with all of the major Christian denominations. His songs, hymns and choir anthems are sung in churches around the world.

Robert Edwin preaches what he practices at his large private singing studio in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. He is an Associate Editor for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Journal of Singing, and a member of the prestigious American Academy of Teachers of Singing.

Joseph Krupa holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Calgary, and a B.A. from Rutgers University. Recent solo performances include Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto with the Olney and the Chestnut Hill Symphonies, and a solo recital radio broadcast for the Cunningham Piano Hour.

An active member of the American Guild of Organists, Mr. Krupa is organist and pianist for the First Presbyterian Church of Salem, New Jersey, and has served as music director for the Cherry Hill Summer Theater program. He has been a private piano instructor and voice coach for over fifteen years.

As usual, the concert will be held in the United Methodist Church, at the corner of Washington Avenue and Post Street, in the Village of Saugerties.

A reception to meet the performers follows the concert. General Admission is $12 for Adults and $10 for Seniors. Students and children are always free. For more information see www.saugertiespromusica.org or call 845 246 5021.

At the Catskill Mountain Foundation (map)…

In the Gallery
Let It Snow: Fourth Annual Holiday Show
November 17, 2007–February 17, 2008
Catskill Mountain Foundation (map) Gallery
Hunter Village Square, Main Street, Hunter
In the shadow of Hunter Mountain is a veritable avalanche of artwork, hand crafted by local and regional artists for you and your home. Visit Let it Snow, the annual winter season exhibit at the Catskill Mountain Foundation (map)’s Fine Crafts & Art Gallery in Hunter Village Square. Amidst our wide selection of jewelry, textiles, ceramics, fine art and furnishings, you will find a one of a kind gift for that special someone. Don’t forget to warm yourself with a treat from the Farm Market/Cafe, and browse our Bookstore. Hunter Village Square will be decked out in its holiday finest, so be sure to make a visit part of your plans this season.

Catskill Puppet Theater
Saturday, December 8, 3:30 pm
Doctorow Center for the Arts, Main Street, Hunter
As winter bears down on the Mountain Top, Catskill Puppet Theater brings us a magical performance based on a Russian folktale, Ivan’s Three Wishes. When Baba Yaga sends Ivan on a quest to the North to find his wishes, he is guided across the Siberian ice fields by a magic wolf. Little does Ivan know that the Ice Wolf has been put under a spell and only the shimmering lights of the Aurora can transform her into her true shape…the beautiful daughter of Tsar Nikolas of the North!

The Marc Belenfant Holiday Spectacular
Saturday, December 15, 7 pm
Doctorow Center for the Arts, Main Street, Hunter
Come celebrate the holidays with a traditional/rock and roll Christmas show, featuring the rock stylings of the Marc Belenfant Holiday band, who will play all of your holiday favorites with a rock twist, Sabina Starr’s Catskill Dance Theater, and the smooth jazz piano of Christine Spero.

Call 518 263 2063 or visit www.catskillmtn.org for information about Catskill Mountain Foundation (map) events.

At Bard

The Music Program at Bard College is offering five concerts in December. On Tuesday, December 4 at 7:30 pm in Bard Hall, the Naumburg Award-winning Da Capo Chamber Players will perform a selection of new compositions and orchestrations by Bard students.

The Bard College Jazz Big Band and the Jazz Vocal Ensemble will perform on Monday, December 10 at 7:00 pm in room N211 of Blum Hall. Thurman Barker conducts, with Pamela Pentony leading the ensemble.

On Wednesday, December 12 at 8:00 pm in the Sosnoff Theater of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, James Bagwell will lead the Bard College Symphonic Chorus and Chamber Singers in a performance of Bach’s Cantata 21 (“Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis”) and Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major. Featured vocal soloists are tenor Rufus Müller and bass Arthur Burrows.

On Monday, December 17 at 8:00 pm in Blum Hall, the Music Program presents a performance by the Bard College Electro-Acoustic Ensemble. On Tuesday, December 18 at 8:00 pm in Olin Hall, the Bard College Orchestra, conducted by Nathan Madsen, will perform Gluck’s “Dance of the Blessed Spirits,” from Orpheus; Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5; Boccherini’s Sinfonia No. 18 in F, and Bard professor Joan Tower’s Made in America.

For information on events in Fisher Hall, call the box office at 845 758 7900. For other events at Bard, call 845 758 7250.