Out and about in Central New York

Last week I treated myself to a visit to the Sam and Adele Golden Foundation's Open Studio event.  What a treat it was!

Their residency program is one month of living in a renovated barn in the hills of upstate NY, with an unlimited supply of Golden Paint products (aka paradise!)  The 3 artists really took advantage of the opportunity.  All the work was wonderfully innovative and fresh.

I was so enthralled by the display and the lively conversations there that I completely forgot to take photographs unfortunately.

You should check out the artists involved at their websites:
 

Kimberley Lillywhite, Canada http://www.kimberleylillywhite.com/
Linda Lee Nicholas, NY http://www.lindaleenicholas.com 
Derek Dunlop, Canada http://www.derekdunlop.com

You'll be happy you did!

If you're interested in being one of next year's lucky residents, there's still time to apply:

 http://www.goldenfoundation.org

Somebody's watching me! Plein Aire Painting at the Tug Hill Paint Out

The Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is an organization that helps protect over 5,000 acres here in upstate New York and among their fundraisers is the annual "Paint Out" in September. We set up our easels near the Salmon River Falls and spent a beautiful fall day painting and chatting with the hikers and one-another. At the end, the paintings were sold at auction with the proceeds going to help fund the organization.
There were a total of 16 professional Artists set up along the trail and at the fish hatchery that day. The quality and variety of the art was impressive. I had a wonderful time meeting these talented artists and "talking shop." Particularly fun was re-connecting with watercolor Artist Gail Marks. She and I went to art school together and even lived in the same dormitory suite. We had lost touch through the years and it was great to have the time to laugh about the old times and catch up on one another's lives. Gail took the above photo for me (I cropped it though, because after a full day in the woods, it was a really bad hair day!

2010 Regional Fine Arts Exhibition at the RACC

I hope all the serious artists will forgive me, but above is a photo of the absolute coolest part of the show (and a delicious part of the reception!) The artwork was of superior quality of course. It only seems to improve every year. Pat Besl's pastel piece "Jack" won the best of show prize and quite deservedly so, it was just beautiful!

I was also impressed by the variety of arts represented. Sculpture, painting and photography along with etchings, fiber arts and collage. All this in only 57 pieces. Mary Murray, contemporary art curator at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute did a fabulous job, not a 'dud' in the bunch!