Essex CountyArts Council announces Awards for Artists

The Essex County Arts Council announces that 10 North Country artists have received ECAC’s Sunburst Awards for individual artists.  This micro-grant will help these artists to realize a project that will advance their career.  Artists were chosen by an independent panel of art enthusiasts, and will each receive a grant of up to $500 in support of their projects. Rebecca Kelly, ECAC President, commented: “We are proud to support the artists of our communities and pleased to invest in their creative journeys.”

This year’s Sunburst Award recipients applied for funding to support a wide range of artistic genres, including writing, photography, storytelling, music recording, and a variety of workshops to be offered free to the public. In the coming year, you will see and hear about projects throughout Essex County that feature our Sunburst Awards recipients.

*Lauren McGovern of Wilmington is the recipient of a special Sunburst Award made in memory of Westport artist Meredith Johnston by the Westport Heritage House.  Lauren will use her award to offer two graphic narrative writing workshops in 2025.

Congratulations to all! 2024 Sunburst Award recipients include:

Jane Boxall, Lewis

Robert Fountain, Au Sable Forks

Kelsey Francis, Lake Placid

Martha Gallagher, Keene

Karen Glass, Keene Valley

Susan Granfors, Westport

Lauren McGovern, Wilmington*

Anastasia Osolin, Saranac Lake

Stacey Prime, Keene Valley

Sue Anne Walton-Godlewski, Au Sable Forks

(Photo credits: Martha Gallagher and her harp, Hope; Anastasia Osolin, assemblage)

In Case You Missed It

We have two wonderful story tags today—enjoy!

From North Country Public Radio

Combining art and safety on the new Westport Chair Trail

NCPR’s Amy Feiereisel profiles the Westport Chair Trail, 12 larger-than-life Westport chairs — the predecessor to the Adirondack chair — that were decorated by local artists and placed around the downtown.

Learn more and listen in HERE.

From the Adirondack Explorer

Rating autumn’s leaf season: A disappointing display? Adirondack photographers, artists seek beauty amidst subdued fall colors

Tim Rowland chats with ADK photographers and artists and this autumns colors. Read the article HERE.

Heidi Gero of Au Sable Forks draws inspiration for her watercolors from autumn leaves. Image courtesy of the artist.

Caroga Arts Presents

The Witches & Warlock Ball

Friday, October 25,  7 – 11 pm

One of the most spellbinding events of the fall, Caroga Arts Collective’s The Witches & Warlock Ball is a Halloween Party featuring dancing, a costume contest, tarot card reading, and other Halloween-themed fun.

Live Music by Monkberry & DJ Nick Ashlawn

Learn more and get tickets HERE.

Sherman’s Park, W Caroga Lake Shore Road, Caroga Lake

Trillium Chamber Players

The North Country’s beloved classical chamber music ensemble playing music from the Baroque to modern day, for flute, oboe, viola, soprano, and piano.

The Wild Center Presents

Exploring the Interconnectedness of Nature and Humanity

Saturday, October 26  1 – 8 pm

The Wild Center is proud to host TEDxTupper Lake for “Exploring the Interconnectedness of Nature and Humanity,”an enlightening event that will both inspire and educate attendees on the natural connections between humans and the world around us. Attendees will gain fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities to build a more harmonious relationship with our environment, and partake in engaging conversation around local and global ideas.

TEDxTupper Lake will feature thirteen renowned speakers who will share their insights, research and knowledge on how humans connect with their environment, including: 

• Cammy Sheridan, Professor of Social Science
• Curt Stager, Scientist, Educator and Author
• Echo, Artist, Creator and Learner
• Jenna Audlin, Author and Student
• Justin Oliver, Outdoor Enthusiast, Cyclist and Entrepreneur
• Katsitsionni Fox, Artist, Filmmaker and Educator
• Keeley Jock, Environmentalist and Climate Justice Fellow
• Michale Glennon, Wildlife Ecologist and Fiber Artist
• Randi Renate, Artist, Sculpturist and Naturalist
• Rose Beauchamp, Dancer, Educator and Activist
• Stephanie Ashenfelder, Storyteller, Educator and Artist
• Talking Wings, Storytellers and Movement Weavers
• Tyler Dezago, Musician, Storyteller and Educator

Additional details and purchase tickets HERE.

The Wild Center, 45 Museum Dr, Tupper Lake

The Haunted Hamlet

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Every October, Essex transforms into the Halloween capital of the Adirondacks! Join us for a tour of our haunted town hall and a community costume party on Main Street!

The Haunted Town Hall will open its doors from 4:30 –8 pm (it’s FREE)!
Come early for a “no scare” tour! From 2:30 -4 pm the lights will be off but no actors will jump out at visitors to the Haunted Town Hall.

The Main Street Carnival runs from 2 – 8 pm. Enjoy s’mores around the campfire, browse craft vendors, and monster mash to spooky dance tunes!

Pumpkin Painting behind Town Hall 2 – 4 pm

Haunted Hayride Tours Time tbd‍

Shop local: The Adirondack Art Association, The Barn Door Tavern, Essex Book & Leaf, The Essex Ice Cream Café, The Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast, The Neighborhood Nest, The Old Dock Restaurant & Marina, The Pink Pig Café & Cottage Antiques‍

Food trucks: Indian Bay Pizza on Point, Irma’s Tamales, Papa Duke’s BBQ and treats from the Willsboro Diner

Essex Town Hall and Main Street, Essex, NY

Lake Placid Center for the Arts and Improv With JoeConto Present

Improv Stars of Montreal

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 8 pm

Get ready to experience a night of uproarious laughter and unscripted entertainment as the Improv Stars of Montreal joined by local improvisers grace the stage at LPCA!

Locals JoeConto (of Improv With JoeConto), Amy Coddington Burnett and Nathalie Thill will be featured players, joined by some of Montreal’s best improvisers. 

Together they will make up scenes and stories on the spot for your enjoyment and laughs. Last year’s show sold out and tickets are going fast for this one! Visit HERE or call 518.523.2512 to order tickets. See you there!

More info and tickets HERE.

LPCA, 17 Algonquin Drive, Lake Placid

The Mill Presents

GEORGE

Saturday, October 26, 7:30 pm

Known as the leader of the prolific and constantly surprising Claudia Quintet, drummer/composer/bandleader John Hollenbeck formed GEORGE remotely during the pandemic. The group finally met in Montréal to record 2023’s Letters to George, followed that summer by shorts, four re-composed remixes based on improvisations from their initial remote recording session. 

With Anna Webber tenor sax/flute, Sarah Rossy voice/keyboards, and Chiquita Magic keyboards/voicealongside Hollenbeck, GEORGE’s sound is firmly planted outside any categories or labels, but “magic happens in the margins and the middle, between analog and digital textures, genre detours and a collective will which is dogmatically subject to change” (DownBeat). 

From vintage funk to infectious electronic futurism, this energetically enigmatic group “likes to blur the distinctions between the knotty virtuosity of jazz and the broad appeal of pop” (Pitchfork).

Additional details and tickets HERE.

The Mill, 6679 Main Street, Westport