Essex County Arts Council Out and About

In this edition of Out and About, Essex County Arts Council Arts Administrator Susan Hughes takes a look at the Tahawus Center’s Vanderburgh Watercolor exhibit.

Vanderburgh Watercolor exhibit at Tahawus Center

During the summer of 2022, I had the pleasure of getting back in touch with a dear friend, Larry Vanderburgh of Schroon Lake. While Larry and I had enjoyed several musical adventures over the years, our more recent contact was along the lines of visual arts. Larry is an accomplished watercolorist, and received a 2022 ECAC Sunburst Award, a mini-grant program for individual artists.

The $500 award supports his project, “Essex County Hidden Gems”, in which he proposes to paint some of the beautiful and out-of-the-way places of Essex County. Larry has invited people to submit photographs of their favorite “gem,” which he then plans to capture in watercolor. The grant will cover the cost of frames and mats.

You can enjoy a preview of Larry’s work, including some Essex County “Hidden Gems,” at a new exhibit called “Through Seven Lenses: respecting the ordinary, imagining the intangible” at the Tahawus Center on Main Street in Au Sable Forks, from April 22nd until June 18th. The Windows Gallery is open Saturdays from 1:00 – 2:30pm and also by appointment (TahawusCenter@gmail.com or 646-734-0703).

From the Tahawus Center:
Tipping boats, rusty trains, winding meadow streams, water rushing through rock formations…landscapes both familiar as well as hidden gems…. Larry Vanderburgh’s interplay with matter and energy, at times bold, sometimes delicate, always vibrant, and his use and juxtaposition of colors combine to express an eager, wide-eyed reflection and response to the world around him.

I was honored to be invited to the Opening Reception, and have shared some photos. Don’t miss this delightful exhibit!

Announcing the new, EXPANDED Adirondack Lakes Theatre Festival!

Festival will feature five productions through October, with four touring Adirondack communities.

ALCA is pleased to announce the lineup of performances coming this year as part of the Adirondack Lakes Theatre Festival. Formerly known as the Adirondack Lakes Summer Theatre Festival, this expanded lineup includes a romantic comedy, Shakespeare in the Park, a feel-good musical, an original drama, and the return of ALCA’s beloved song & skit show, Forever Wild!

See the full schedule and locations HERE.

Bob Rainville wins People’s Choice award at Adirondack Artists Guild juried show

Bob Rainville of Saranac won the People’s Choice award at the twenty-fifth annual juried show at the Adirondack Artists Guild for his photograph, “Apple Crisp.”

The prize is donated each year by a local friend of the arts. Visitors to the gallery can cast their ballots for their favorite piece, and at the end of the show the votes are tallied up. The competition encourages gallery-goers to look closely at all the work, think about it, and talk about it.

You can see more of Bob’s work HERE.

We’ll be closed for spring cleaning with a firm date to reopen on May 2. “Celebrating Flora” will open on May 5, Cinco de Mayo!, from 5-8 pm, along with the First Friday event downtown.

The Adirondack Artists Guild, 52 Main St, Saranac Lake

Whitcomb’s Gallery Series: Brian La Vallee Opening

Friday, April 28, 6 – 8 pm

The paintings in Brian LaVallee’s solo show range widely—from local scenes to larger political statements.

Brian himself wears many hats. Educated as a visual artist, he has taught Art and Engineering since 1996. In addition to pursuing his own art, he has acted in numerous plays at the Recovery Lounge in Upper Jay, culminating in a one man show last August. He is also a coach and husband and lives in Jay.

Brian’s show runs from April 3 through May 9. On Friday, April 28, Whitcomb’s Arts will host a reception and conversation with Brian about his work, his process and his ability to move fluidly between different art forms.

Whitcomb’s Gallery, 1598 NYS Route 22, Whallonsburg

Essay Contest: “My Dreams for My Community”

The Adirondack Center for Writing and Adirondack Voters for Change are proud to announce a new regional essay writing contest: My Dreams for My Community. The contest offers winners cash prizes totaling $1,400 for a five-page essay on the topics of community and change.

Submissions are open now until June 15, 2023 and will be judged by a panel of professional writers, educators, and community members.

The contest is open to those living in the counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Northern Herkimer/Old Forge area, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Northern Washington. Two age groups are invited to submit essays of up to 5 pages:

Ages 13-18
Ages 19-25

Prizes will be awarded for each age group as follows: $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, $100 for Third Place, and 3 Honorable Mentions.

The winning essays will be selected by our judges in July, and all applicants will be notified then. The contest will culminate in a celebration reading at Adirondack Center for Writing (15 Broadway, Saranac Lake) on Monday, July 24th at 7 pm.

See HERE for theme and submission guidelines:

The Bookstore Plus presents

Independent Bookstore SPIRIT WEEK

Monday, April 24, 9 – 6

Join us for Independent Bookstore Day SPIRIT WEEK!!
You can join in on the fun or just make sure to stop in to see what we are up to!

Monday: SILLY SOCK DAY
Tuesday: PLAID DAY
Wednesday: Wear a BOOKSTORE SHIRT
Thursday: DRESS UP AS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK CHARACTER
Friday: BOOKSTORE SPIRIT DAY

The Bookstore Plus, 2491 Main St, Lake Placid

2023 Arbor Day Posters Now Available

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Urban and Community Forestry congratulates Matthew Pecorella of Lindenhurst, NY on capturing the winning photograph for the 2023 NYS Arbor Day poster!

We received more than 100 excellent submissions for this year’s contest, making the selection process pleasantly challenging for the Arbor Day Poster Committee. Thank you to all the artists around the state for submitting your work. We hope you will continue to submit your artwork for future contests.

Posters are now available—contact your local DEC office to find a distribution point or arrange for a pickup.

And save the date—Arbor Day is Friday, April 28! Make this year’s Arbor Day a tree-riffic celebration as an individual, family, or community. Visit our website for ideas.

Pictured: 2023 Arbor Day poster featuring Matthew Pecorella’s winning photograph taken in Argyle Park, Village of Babylon, NY.