The Lexington Foundation awarded $49,500 by the New York State Council on the Arts for Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts.

GLOVERSVILLE, NY – The Lexington Foundation, which operates the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, announced a grant award totaling $49,500 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded over $80 million since spring 2023 to over 1,500 artists and organizations across the state.

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Research confirms what we’ve always known here in New York: arts and culture are a powerhouse, with a staggering return on investment for our economy and our communities. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity nationwide in 2022 and New York’s unparalleled arts and culture sector is leading the way to benefit our residents, our students and our visitors every day. I commend these grantees on their achievements and look forward to their contributions in the coming year."

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls added, “Thanks to the unwavering support of Governor Hochul and our Legislature, NYSCA is so proud to support the work of organizations and artists from all across New York. Spanning the entire breadth of the arts and culture sector – from world-renowned performers to after-school programs, from long established museums to community arts collectives – these organizations and artists together are a powerful driver of health, tourism, economy and education for our residents and visitors. On behalf of Council and staff, congratulations to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts and thank you for your perseverance, your creativity and your tireless service to New York State.”

Wally Hart, Executive Director of the Lexington Foundation said, “We are extremely grateful for this award and the support of NYSCA.  We applied for grant funding to assist with the expansion of the operations and to broaden the offerings at the Nigra Arts Center. When the pandemic restricted the ability to offer in-person classes, the Nigra Arts Center quickly offered virtual classes and helped to connect to all who were interested in participating in art classes, workshops and performances. Our primary goal is to engage the community in the arts and to bring people together in-person to explore, learn and create. The grant funding will allow the Nigra Arts Center the opportunity to expand staffing, classes, resources and experiences for everyone with a goal to bring more people into the fully accessible facility. We want to reengage our broader community and expand programming that will allow more people of all abilities to enjoy our programs, classes and events.”

THE NIGRA ARTS CENTER IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Nigra Arts Center to Unveil New York State Summer Art Show and Adirondack Life Art Show

Combined show on display July 30 to September 25

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will soon unveil its fifth annual New York State Summer Art Show as well as its second Adirondack Life Art Show in a combined exhibition. The shows will be on display July 30 to September 25, with a public opening reception on August 6.

The New York State Summer Art Show will feature only the works of artists who live or work in New York, as well as the work of featured artists Cheryl Horowitz of Johnstown and Terry Van Genderen of Broadalbin, both of whom specialize in oil landscapes.

In addition to works by the featured artists, the show will display 157 pieces by 53 individual artists and three groups of collaborators from Saratoga Bridges Creative Endeavors Art Center, Liberty Through the Arts and the Transitions program. Artists displaying work include Bill Ackerbauer, Jeffrey John Ardizzone, Brian Benton, Tiina Bockrath, Vartan Bonjukian, Janene Bouck, Daniel Bridge, Joshua Brooks, Antonio Bucciferro, Doreen Calhoun, Bobby Carr, Jonathan Delcoro, Jacquelyn Dostie, Terry Failing, Richard Freeman, Katey Germain, Warren Greene, Dolores Haberek, Deborah Handy, Carol M. Hesselink, Jack Horning, Nancie Johnson, Bridget Kennison, Gail P. Kessler, Elizabeth Knapp, Juliet Konieczny, Marion Kratky, Jennifer LaMarche, Connor LaPort, Gary Larsen, Carol McCord, John Morrette, Lynda Naske, Kirk Playford, Timothy Prendergast, Heather Purtell, Regina Quinn, Sarah Ralston, Chris Rogers, Kimberly Ruggeri, Heather Shalhoub, Ken Shumaker, Laurie Snell, Carol Stack, Kim Stewart, Caitlin Sweet, Chris Taylor, Paul Valovic, Darlene Van Sickle, Karlene VanDeusen, Gerald Wein, Jeff Wheadon and Bernie Wren.

The 2020 Adirondack Life Art Show is an invitation-only exhibition of images from photographers who have had their work published in Adirondack Life magazine. Some of the featured pieces are winners of Adirondack Life’s 2020 Photography Contest, alongside other works by the winning photographers. The goal of this show is to expose to a larger community the photography of talented artists who are inspired by the beauty of the Adirondacks. 

The Adirondack Life Art Show will feature 28 images by seven photographers. The featured photographers include Karl Fisher (2020 Second Place – Landscape for “Summer Day on Indian Lake”), Tom Gladd (2019 Honorable Mention – Landscape for “Adirondack Loj Road”), Gary Larsen (2018 Grand Prize for “Fog on Tupper Lake”), Chris McManus (2020 First Place – People and Places for “Late on Long Lake”), Stefanie Obkirchner (2020 Grand Prize Winner for “Reverse Angle”), Janice Prichett (2020 Third Place – Landscape for “Morning Sky, Route 86, Lake Placid, NY”) and Brad Wenskoski (2020 Third Place – People and Places for “Man for All Seasons, Traverse v13”). 

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions. Award winners will be announced on the Nigra Arts Center Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PaulNigraCenter. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, awards are not able to be presented publically. 

A Meet the Artists Opening Reception is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 3-7 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free reception to view the show and speak to some of the featured artists. There will be new policies in place to ensure safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing measures and a limit of 50 visitors at a time inside the building.

The public is also welcome to view the show at any time during its run. The Nigra Arts Center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville, and its hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Gallery admission is a suggested $5 donation. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free. The show will also be available to view virtually on the Nigra Arts Center Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PaulNigraCenter, and website, www.pncreativeartscenter.org, after the August 6 Opening Reception.

The Nigra Arts Center offers annual memberships to anyone who seeks to support the arts and community events at the Center. Membership levels start at just $25 per year and carry benefits such as discounted admission to classes and art exhibitions, mailing list access, invitations to special events, charitable tax deductions and more. For additional information about memberships and to sign up for one, please visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org/membership or call (518) 661-9932.

For more information about this exhibition or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Nigra Arts Center Announces Further Changes in Schedule Due to COVID-19 Disruptions

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts would like to provide an update on changes in their schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will no longer re-open in May, as previously announced, due to changed recommendations and mandates from the state.

According to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s guidelines for New York Forward and information from the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, the earliest the Nigra Arts Center can re-open is Wednesday, July 1, subject to change if guidelines shift in the future.

Some of the schedule changes and updates for the rest of the spring and summer are as follows:

• For the first time, the Nigra Arts Center has released a virtual tour of its current show, “Women’s Movement: Art By, About and For Women,” on its Facebook page for the enjoyment of guests who did not have the chance to see the show in person. This virtual tour can be found at www.facebook.com/PaulNigraCenter.

• The Nigra Arts Center’s next art show will be the 2020 New York State Summer Art Show. This show is expected to be on display July 30 to September 25, and will include the special exhibition of award-winning photographers featured in Adirondack Life magazine that was previously intended to hang alongside the Regional Art Show.

• The Nigra Arts Center has been exploring ways of offering virtual art classes for its members. Plans should be finalized by the end of the month, and members should watch their email inboxes for more information on how to participate.

•  Due to restrictions on travel and social gatherings necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigra Arts Center must cancel all of its remaining bus trips for 2020. Anyone who purchased tickets for these excursions will be contacted for options on refunds or deferment for future trips.

• The Lexington Golf Tournament, originally scheduled for June, has now been tentatively rescheduled to Thursday, August 27, at Hales Milles Country Club.

The priority of the Nigra Arts Center at this time is establishing new policies and procedures to keep guests, artists, instructors, employees and visitors safe and healthy when they do re-open. While the Nigra Arts Center is closed to the public, its staff remain available to address any questions or concerns the public might have. They may be reached at (518) 661-9932 or info@pnarts.org.

Up-to-date news on any further changes to the Nigra Arts Center’s operations can be found on its website, www.pncreativeartscenter.org, and its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PaulNigraCenter. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville.

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts Seeks Artists for Regional Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to announce its fourth annual Nigra Arts Center Regional Art Show, formerly named the Fulton-Montgomery Art Show. This exhibition will feature only the works of artists who live or work in Fulton, Montgomery and neighboring counties. It will also showcase the work of featured artists Cheryl Horowitz of Johnstown and Terry VanGenderen of Broadalbin, both of whom specialize in oil landscapes.

The Nigra Arts Center’s Regional Art Show will display submissions from individual and group artists in all media. It will hang alongside a special exhibition of work by student artists from Fulton and Montgomery Counties’ regional schools. Students who are interested in submitting should approach their art teachers for submission forms. Artwork from students in grades 9-12 will be judged and eligible for awards.

This show will be on display from April 9 to May 12. Throughout its run, the arts center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until March 15 through www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Please note that this is not a juried show, but this website is used for ease of submission and selection by the curators. Artists who wish to submit should visit the website and scroll down until they find the 2020 Nigra Arts Center Regional Art Show or visit https://bit.ly/2T7D70M. Further submission guidelines are available there. Student artists who enter work through their art teachers do not need to submit through Online Juried Shows.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions.

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by March 18 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are April 1-3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 4 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold a public Meet the Artists opening reception and awards ceremony, where the greater public is invited to view the show, on Thursday, April 16, from 6-8 p.m. Attendees of the reception will receive free admission to the gallery. The public is also welcome to view the show throughout its run. The regular gallery admission fee is $5. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Nigra Arts Center Seeks Artists for 2020 Art Show Celebrating Hundredth Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville, NY, is seeking artists to participate in its 2020 art show “Women’s Movement: Art By, About and For Women.” This exhibition will celebrate the hundredth anniversary of women’s right to vote. Art in all media and from any artist that celebrates women is welcome.

The year 2020 marks the hundredth anniversary of the ratification of 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. Johnstown native Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the leading figures in the women’s suffrage movement who campaigned to make this possible. To celebrate the centennial, the Johnstown-based Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women’s Consortium is planning a series of special events themed around women’s rights and history, including their 7th Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women’s Symposium, “Empowering Women,” on March 28. Their keynote speaker is Kristen Visbal, a bronze sculptor who created the famous Fearless Girl statue that stood temporarily on the Bowling Green in Manhattan’s Financial District. Visbal will also be a guest speaker at the “Women’s Movement: Art By, About and For Women” show’s closing reception on Friday, March 27, 2020.  

“Women’s Movement: Art By, About and For Women” will be on display from January 16 to March 31, 2020. Throughout its run, the Nigra Arts Center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until December 22 through Online Juried Shows at https://www.onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=42143. Further submission guidelines are available there. Submission forms are also available on-site at the Nigra Arts Center, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the Nigra Arts Center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions.

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by December 30 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are January 8-10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and January 11 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold a public closing and Meet the Artists reception on Friday, March 27, 2020, from 6-8 p.m. This reception will feature special guest Kristen Visbal, who will speak about the creation of her famous Fearless Girl statue. Attendees of the reception will receive free admission to the gallery. The public is also welcome to view the show throughout its run. The regular gallery admission fee is $5. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free.

For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Nigra Arts Center is Looking for Community Input!

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts Looking for Community Input for Its Programming for 2020
Online survey available for opinions on classes, workshops

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is looking for community input as it puts together its programming for 2020.  The Nigra Arts Center encourages people to fill out an online survey about its offerings at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JQZNX85.

The survey will only take 3-5 minutes to complete.  Paper copies of the survey are also available at the Nigra Arts Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 8am-6pm and Saturdays from 9am-12pm.  The survey will be open until Friday, November 15.

If you have any questions or need further information please call (518) 661-9932.

Looking for vendors for our 2019 Shop, Sip & Savor event on Friday, November 15!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is looking for vendors to participate in this year’s Shop, Sip & Savor Event. Last year’s event was a huge success, with more than 30 local vendors participating. You don’t want to be left out! Click here for a vendor application. More information and pre-sale tickets to come soon!

Nigra Arts Center Seeks Artists for Fall Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville, NY, is looking for artists to participate in its 2019 Fall Art Show. This show is open to works of all media from artists across the nation and beyond. All artists are welcome to submit.

The 2019 Fall Art Show will be on display from October 30, 2019, to January 7, 2020. Throughout its run, the Nigra Arts Center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until October 6 through www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Please note that this is not a juried show, but this website is used for ease of submission and selection by the curators. Artists who wish to submit should visit the website and scroll down until they find the Fall Art Show. Further submission guidelines are available there.  

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the Nigra Arts Center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions.

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by October 10 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are October 23-25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and October 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold a public opening and Meet the Artists Reception on Thursday, November 7, from 6-8 p.m. Attendees of the reception will receive free admission to the gallery. The public is also welcome to view the show throughout its run. The regular gallery admission fee is $5. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free.

For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Nigra Arts Center unveils first-ever Membership Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to unveil its 2019 Nigra Arts Center Membership Art Show. This show is its first to feature only the works of members of the arts center. On display are over 100 pieces in all media by both local artists and those from outside the region, including New Jersey, Ohio and North Carolina. The show will hang from June 13 to July 17.

Thirty-two member artists are displaying more than 100 pieces in this show. The featured artists include Jeffrey John Ardizzone, Lew Cowan, Cyndi Daigler, Deja Donde, Connie Duross Chamberlain, Karl Fisher, Dick Foster, Carol M. Hesselink, Jack Horning, Cheryl Horowitz, Michele Johnsen, Anna King, Elizabeth Knapp, Marion Kratky, Gary Larsen, Tammy McCue, Sharon Miller, Beth Moore, John Morrette, Lynda Naske, Stefanie Obkirchner, Sandra Peters, Joanne Petrozzi-Jones, Timothy Prendergast, Paul Rappleyea, K. Santomartino, Laurie Snell, Beth Spraggs, Terry Van Genderen, Jean VanPelt, Sean Walmsley and Brad Wenskoski.

A Meet the Artist reception will be held on Thursday, June 20 from 6-8 p.m. This reception is open to the public. Attendees will receive free admission to the gallery. The public is also welcome to view the show through July 17. The regular gallery admission is a suggested $5 donation. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free. 

The Nigra Arts Center offers annual memberships to anyone who seeks to support the arts and community events at the Center. Membership levels start at just $25 per year and carry benefits such as discounted admission to classes and art exhibitions, mailing list access, invitations to special events, charitable tax deductions and more. For additional information about memberships and to sign up for one, please visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org/membership or call (518) 661-9932.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org. 

Nigra Arts Center Selected as a Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program Beneficiary

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of June.

The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, which launched in April 2014, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work. The Nigra Arts Center was selected as the June beneficiary of the program by store leadership at the Hannaford located at 235 5th Avenue Ext., Gloversville. The Nigra Arts Center will receive a $1 donation every time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at this location throughout June. 

“We are honored to have been chosen to participate in this great program, which benefits the environment as well as the Nigra Arts Center. The public has always given generously to support us in the past and we hope they will continue to do so,” said Wally Hart, Executive Director of The Lexington Foundation, which operates the Nigra Arts Center. “Proceeds from this program will go toward our efforts to offer fun, inclusive, arts-themed activities and events to the public, including our upcoming New York State Summer Art Show and our six-week summer kid camp program, which starts in July.”

The Nigra Arts Center is a non-profit community arts center based in Gloversville, NY. Founded in 2015, it provides art classes of all kinds, rotating art exhibitions, day camps for children, performances, special events and more to the community at large. Learn more about by visiting www.pncreativeartscenter.org or calling (518) 661-9932. The Nigra Arts Center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. It is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information on the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com.

Nigra Arts Center to Offer Six-Week Summer Day Camp Program for Children!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to offer a six-week summer day camp program for children ages 5-12. The program, which begins the week of July 8 and ends the week of August 12, celebrates learning and creativity through arts of all kinds as well as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) for a safe, fun, enlightening and educational experience. Activities also include collaborative life lessons about the environment, volunteerism and giving back to the community.

Campers will be divided by age, with children ages 5-8 following one schedule and ages 9-12 following another. Camps run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an hour of activities with trained staff available before and after each session for drop-off and pick-up convenience.

Each week of camp offers three to four courses with projects that build throughout the week. Week one, July 8-12, features classes and activities in percussion, cooking, making music videos and bringing popular video games into the real world with art projects and games inspired by Minecraft and Fortnite. Week two, July 15-19, features classes and activities in painting, animation, pottery and arts in nature, which will bring campers outdoors to learn about and create in the natural world.

Week three, July 22-26, features a drone workshop, Art Around the World, a Great American Bake Off and Go STEAM Crazy, which combines mixed media art activities with science and technology experiments. Week four, July 29 to August 2, features classes and activities about comic strips, robotics, space exploration and chemistry-inspired art.

Week five, August 5-9, features classes and activities in theater, creative writing, superhero creation and “Trash to Treasure” upcycling art projects. Finally, week six, August 12-16, features classes and activities in beauty and cosmetics, fitness and throwing a carnival-themed party.

Children may attend for the full six-week program, for individual weeks or for single days. However, campers will receive the best results from each camp by attending for a full week as most camps involve cumulative projects. The cost is $45 per day or $165 per week, with discounts available for members of the Nigra Arts Center, children from the same family and Lexington employees. Payment is due in full at the time of registration – only payment secures the child’s spot in the camp.

This camp program is generously sponsored by National Grid. For more information and to register, please visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org/camps, call (518) 661-9932 or email Lynette May at MayL@thearclexington.org. Camps will take place at the Nigra Arts Center’s facility at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville, NY.

Seeking artists for New York State Summer Art Show!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is pleased to announce its fourth annual New York State Summer Art Show, celebrating the work of artists from across New York State. All artists who live in New York are welcome to submit work in any medium.

The New York State Summer Art Show will hang from July 25 to October 23. Throughout its run, the arts center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until June 30 through www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Please note that this is not a juried show, but this website is used for ease of submission and selection by the curators. Artists who wish to submit should visit the website and scroll down until they find the New York State Summer Art Show. Further submission guidelines are available there.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions.

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by July 4 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are July 17-19 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and July 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Nigra Arts Center to Offer American Red Cross Babysitting Course for Teens!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is offering an American Red Cross Babysitting Course at its facility at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The one-day course will be held on Saturday, May 4, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $125. 

The purpose of this course, recommended for ages 11-15, is to provide youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly care for children and infants. Students will develop leadership skills, learn how to build a babysitting business, gain skills to keep themselves and others safe, develop techniques to help children behave and learn about basic childcare and first aid. 

Other topics covered in this comprehensive course include communication skills, decision-making models, finding babysitting jobs safely, recognizing and fixing safety issues, identifying typical behaviors for children based on their ages and stages of development, the different types of childcare, recognizing and taking action during an emergency, and basic childcare skills such as diaper changing and holding and feeding infants and toddlers. 

For more information about this course or to sign up, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Mother's Day Concert and Brunch Featuring Stringwynde

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will host a concert and brunch in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 5, 11:30-1 p.m., in their Grand Gallery at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. Tickets are $35 and available at pncreativeartscenter.org or by calling 518-661-9932.

The brunch menu will include quiche, stuffed French toast, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salad greens, refreshments and desserts. The concert features Stringwynde, a duo comprised of flautist Melanie Chirignan and harpist Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher.

Stringwynde, formed in 2017, hails from the southern Saratoga region. Chirignan and Rees-Rohrbacher each hold graduate degrees in music and regularly perform in a variety of genres. As individual performers, their appearances have included solo recitals, chamber ensembles, symphonies and private events. They are also versatile educators who have both taught music privately and in classrooms at area public and private schools.

Rees-Rohrbacher holds a doctoral degree in vocal performance and literature. Initially trained as a classical vocalist and pianist, she begin studying the harp after moving to Upstate New York and has since pursued a multi-faceted career as a harpist, arranger, singer and conductor. Her musical skills have taken her from formal, orchestral concerts to intimate chamber performances wearing historical costumes. She is a well-known composer whose harp arrangements are sold internationally, and she has published many articles in harp journals.

Chirignan has a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and Music Education from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s in Flute performance from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. Originally from Hauppauge, NY, Chirignon has collaborated with many performers and ensembles, including the New York Chamber Players Orchestra, the Chelsea Symphony and the Hartt Independent Chamber Orchestra. She has also worked closely with many other composers to premiere new works by a variety of artists, several of which are available on iTunes and Amazon.

Richard Freeman announced as featured artist in Saratoga Arts-funded Fulton Montgomery Art Show

Richard Freeman, a Johnstown painter and mixed media artist, will be the featured artist at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts’ 2019 Fulton Montgomery Art Show. His pieces will be displayed alongside work from artists who live and work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties as well as the work of students from the region’s elementary, middle and high schools.

The third annual Fulton Montgomery Art Show, which opens on April 4, was made possible in part due to a Community Arts Grant from Saratoga Arts. The grant supported this show as well as an upcoming project to build a labyrinth on the arts center’s grounds. The show will hang until May 1, with a Meet the Artists Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 11, 6-8 p.m. Admission to the reception is free, while regular gallery admission through the rest of the show’s run is $5 or free to members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under 18 and artists who have work in the show.

Richard Freeman is a frequent entrant into the Nigra Arts Center’s exhibitions, having had his work featured in six shows there since 2016. Born in Mount Pleasant, PA, he moved to New York as a small child and attended kindergarten in Fonda. He later went to school in Perth and Johnstown and attended high school in Amsterdam. After his schooling, Freeman worked at the Townhouse restaurant, formerly the Rainbow Restaurant, in Johnstown for more than 22 years. After it closed, he worked at Sam’s Seafood and Steakhouse, then the kitchen at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. Freeman’s work experience has allowed him to cultivate a love for the culinary arts as well as the visual.

Throughout his life, Freeman has loved art and sought opportunities to experience it in different forms and cultivate a personal style. He has devoted much of his free time over the years to exploring different aesthetics and experimenting with new techniques in search of ways to bring new elements into his work. Largely self-taught, Freeman also improved his skills through classes with Lexington’s Creative Expressions program and, more recently, at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts.

“I have always loved art,” Freeman said. “It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to see a piece completed. Art helps me relax and forget about the stress of life.”

Freeman uses oil paint for some of his pieces, preferring it over other media for its blending ability and the time it offers him to work through ideas and color combinations. His true focus, though, is in mixed media. His signature style involves using glue on a surface to create texture, then coating the piece in multiple layers of paint for depth. He finishes his pieces by rolling the raised areas with metallic paint to mimic metalwork. The results are unique, industrial-looking, dynamic pieces with a beautiful display of both visual and physical texture.

Freeman’s artwork has been featured in a number of galleries throughout New York, including the prestigious Arkell Museum in Canajoharie, the Sagamore Hotel in Bolton Landing and Northville Public Library. One of his pieces was selected to be featured in the Arkell’s 2017 The Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show, an exclusive exhibition featuring the work of artists from across New York. Several of Freeman’s pieces have earned awards at exhibitions, including a fourth place award at a 2013 Arc New York show at the Sagamore and an honorable mention at the 2018 Voice! exhibition at the Martin Mullen Gallery at the State University of New York in Oneonta. Freeman has participated for several years in SVAN Art Trails and was a featured artist at Gloversville’s Micropolis gallery in 2012.

Seeking Artists for 2019 Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to announce its third annual Fulton-Montgomery Art Show, featuring only the works of artists who live or work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. 

The Fulton-Montgomery Art Show will feature submissions from individual and group artists in all media alongside the work of a special guest artist and pieces by student artists from the Fulton/Montgomery region’s schools. Students who are interested in submitting should approach their art teachers for submission forms. Artwork from students in grades 9-12 will be juried and eligible for awards.

The Fulton-Montgomery Art Show will hang from April 4 to May 1. Throughout its run, the arts center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until March 17 through https://www.onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=34098. Please note that this is not a juried show, but this website is used for ease of submission and selection by the curators. Artists who wish to submit should visit the website and scroll down until they find the Fulton-Montgomery Art Show. Further submission guidelines are available there. Student artists who enter work through their art teachers do not need to submit through Online Juried Shows.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions. 

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by March 21 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are March 27-29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and March 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. 

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold a public opening and Meet the Artists Reception, where the greater public is invited to view the show, on Thursday, April 11, from 6-8 p.m. Attendees of the reception will receive discosunted admission to the gallery. The public is also welcome to view the show throughout its run. The regular gallery admission fee is $5. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free. 

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org. 

Seeking Artists for 2019 Winter Art Show!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is seeking artists for its 2019 Winter Art Show. All artists are welcome to submit work of any theme or medium.

The show will hang from January 16 to March 26, 2019. Throughout its run, the arts center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until December 16, 2018, through www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Please note that this is not a juried show, but this website is used for ease of submission and selection by the curators. Artists who wish to submit should visit the website and scroll down until they find the 2019 Winter Art Show. Further submission guidelines are available there.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer monetary awards to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions.

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by December 20 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are January 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and January 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold a public opening and Meet the Artists Reception, where the greater public is invited to view the show, on Thursday, January 24, from 6-8 p.m. Attendees of the reception will receive free admission to the gallery. The public is also welcome to view the show throughout its run. The regular gallery admission fee is $5. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Polar Express Celebration returns to Nigra Arts Center!

On Saturday, December 8, the Polar Express Celebration will return to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts for its fourth consecutive year. This family fun event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center’s facility, 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. Children are encouraged to wear pajamas!

This North Pole-themed event will include crafts, games, live entertainment, raffles and all kinds of family fun inspired by the classic tale “The Polar Express.” There will also be food for sale and opportunities for pictures with Santa Claus.

In addition, the event will host Sensory Santa from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sensory Santa is ideal for any child who may be overwhelmed by large crowds, bright lights and loud music. Children will meet with Sensory Santa alone in a quiet setting, where they will receive individualized attention. Sensory Santa’s suit will be extra soft for a comforting experience, and there will be no nearby distractions such as elves, colorful decorations or blinking lights.

Admission is $5 per person to benefit the Nigra Arts Center or a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Toys for Tots. Children age 1 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org or call (518) 661-9932.

Marketing and Website SEO Guru Heather Lutze to Present Seminar at Nigra Arts Center

A daylong marketing seminar is coming to the Capital Region on Thursday, November 15, hosted by the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. The seminar, held at the Nigra Arts Center’s facility at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville, will be led by renowned speaker and social media expert Heather Lutze, CSP, Dean and Master Trainer of Findability University. This high-energy and informative presentation will benefit people of all ages, professional roles and levels of tech fluency as they learn how to best attract customers and drive sales using online marketing.

Attendance is open to all. Registration will take place 8:30-9 a.m. The seminar will feature two separate presentations. The Findability Formula, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., is about the underlying strategy, tactics and tools you can use to successfully market your business and get found online, through a combination of strategies such as SEO, PPC and social media. It will cover how to be found online, what to do if you aren’t, finding top performing keywords to optimize your site, keys to pay-per-click advertising and tips for using social media successfully.

The Marketing Espionage presentation, 1-4 p.m., is about leveraging online competitive intelligence to dominate your industry. It will identify mistakes a business might make online and provide essential tools and solutions needed to fix websites fast. Attendees will learn how to discover their standings with Google, conduct advanced keyword research for the right phrases to get found fast, create content strategies that connect with and convert customers, and implement top non-technical strategies that improve findability. The presentation will also help attendees tap the psyches of searchers to meaningfully connect with customers, understand industry best practices for developing winning online marketing plans and gain a significant competitive edge by discovering competitors’ online strategies.

The cost to attend this seminar is $75 for one session or $125 for both. The discounted fee for members of the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce is $50 for one session or $100 for both. Those who attend both sessions receive Findability’s Mastery Vault, a $797 value, which includes a course of video SEO training, a workbook, access to a library of informational videos and resources, email support and more.

Attendees should bring a laptop computer and a boxed lunch. Lunches will also be available for purchase on-site. For more information and to register, visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org/events or call (518) 661-9932. 

The Nigra Arts Center is happy to provide the space for this seminar and share valuable connections and resources with local businesses. They also offer rental opportunities for businesses to host conferences, meetings, seminars, networking events and more. To reserve space for your next professional gathering, contact Lori White at whitel@thearclexington.org or (518) 661-9932. 

Nigra Arts Center Unveils 2018 Fiber, Textile Art and Quilt Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the opening of its first-ever 2018 Fiber, Textile Art and Quilt Show. This celebration of fiber arts features a variety of works, including quilts, tapestries, felted wool sculptures, hooked rugs, textile installations, hand-woven fabrics, dyed silks, knitted clothing and more, from both contemporary artists and artists from previous generations. In addition to local craftspeople, this show features artists living in Rhode Island and Costa Rica.

“Best in Show” winner, “Lost and Being Found,” a wall hanging made of wool, mohair, cotton and industrial felt by Kate Park.

More than 22 artists are exhibiting more than 50 pieces in this show. The featured artists include Susan Albanese, Liz Argotsinger, Cheryl Bielli, Doug Countryman, Judith Craddock, Deja Donde, Brenda Dwyer, Daniel V. Ehle, Eleanor Ehle, Katherine L. Ehle, Mary Jane Harford, Carol M. Hesselink, Alice Hudson, Janelle Krause, Kate Park, Kathie Raneri, Helen V. Riddle, Coty Rulison, Diane K. Seney, Lita Setchfield, Laurie Snell, Cecelia Tkaczyk, Toni Turner, Mikyle Woodward and Eileen Wrightsman. In addition, the show featured many more antique and handmade pieces loaned by local private collections.

Second place winner, “We Are the Dreamers,” a handwoven textile by Lita Setchfield.

This show will hang until January 9, 2019. Through the generous support of donors, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts was able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions in this show. Award winners were at the Meet the Artists Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 11. The first place “Best in Show” winner was “Lost and Being Found,” a wall hanging made of wool, mohair, cotton and industrial felt by Kate Park. The second place winner was “We Are the Dreamers,” a handwoven textile by Lita Setchfield. The third place winner was “Flowers Throughout the Seasons,” a hand-stitched quilt by Judith Craddock.

Third place winner, “Flowers Throughout the Seasons,” a hand-stitched quilt by Judith Craddock.

The public is welcome to view the artwork in the Nigra Arts Center’s Community Gallery throughout its run. The gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. The admission fee for the gallery is $5 per person. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and artists who have work in the current show are exempt from the admission fee. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. For more