The Greatest NIGHT OUT Coming to Nigra Arts Center!

The Lexington Foundation’s annual Night Out will take place at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts on Thursday, September 20, at 6 p.m. The arts center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

The theme of this year’s fundraiser gala is The Greatest Night Out, inspired by the hit movie musical The Greatest Showman. The party will feature live music from Flame and Our Secret Love Society, food and cocktails from Union Hall Inn Restaurant, roaming performers, raffle and silent auction items, and plenty of circus-themed surprises.

At the event, Lexington will be honoring businesses and individuals who have helped make Lexington what it is today. Century Linens of Gloversville will be recognized as the Employer of the Year for their partnership with Lexington. Century Linens has a strong record of hiring individuals with disabilities to be employees at their business. Assemblyman Marc Butler will be acknowledged for over 20 years of supporting Lexington and the men and women it supports. The Assemblyman retires at the end of 2018. Jack and Shirley Scott, owners of WENT Radio will be thanked for supporting Lexington from the day they bought the station in 1986. Jack and Shirley have been strong advocates for Lexington and individuals with developmental disabilities. The life and contributions of the late Brian Hanaburgh will be honored at the event. Brian served as Chair of the Transitions and Nigra Art Center Advisory Board and for over 20 years he served on the Lexington Foundation Board. Anita Hanaburgh and family members will be on hand to accept the tribute to Brian.

Proceeds from this special event benefit the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, a community arts center open to the public that hosts rotating art exhibitions, concerts, fun family events, theater performances, day camps for children, and classes in music, dance, fine arts, yoga, cooking and more.

The Greatest Night Out will also celebrate the achievements of the students in the Transitions program and raise funds for its Elmore Scholarship Fund. Transitions is a post-secondary program that provides training in skills young adults with autism and other learning differences need to live independently and follow their college and career dreams. Its evidence-based curriculum covers social skills, health and wellness, independent living, self-management, and self-advocacy and leadership. Transitions offers weekend Mini Camps, weeklong specialty camps, summer programs, year-long programs and a Certificate of Completion in Career and Life Studies in collaboration with Fulton-Montgomery Community College.

“This is a great opportunity to gather and support Transitions and the Nigra Arts Center, two of Lexington’s newest programs,” said Shaloni Winston, Transitions founder and executive director of The Arc Lexington. “It is also a wonderful way for us to honor and thank those who have been so supportive of Lexington over the years. They have helped us become who we are and supported us to build programs such as the Nigra Arts Center which benefits the entire community and Transitions where we are helping to change the lives of young adults with learning differences throughout the northeast, and we are excited to welcome the public to share in our students’ success. We hope you will support our work by attending the Greatest Night Out and contributing to our scholarship fund.”

Individual tickets for the Night Out are $100. Young professionals under the age of 40 can purchase tickets for $75. Tables for 10 and several sponsorship levels are also available. For more information, visit http://thearclexingtonfoundation.org/2018-night-out.

The Usual Suspects fo Perform at Nigra Arts Center!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will host a concert featuring The Usual Suspects on Friday, September 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available by clicking HERE or by calling 518-661-9932.

With their mix of contemporary pop, country, classic rock, blues, jazz and oldies, The Usual Suspects entertain audiences with original music and uniquely interpreted covers. Hailing from Schenectady, NY, this five-piece group of veteran musicians perform a multi-genre song list covering such artists as Wilson Pickett, Zac Brown, Junior Parker, The Grateful Dead and Van Morrison as well as Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic, Sister Hazel and local singer/songwriter Andy Chestnut.

This concert is part of the Nigra Arts Center’s 2018 Concert Series, featuring ten local acts in a variety of genres and styles. All shows are open to the public and will take place in the center’s Grand Gallery at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

Seeking Vendors for Shop, Sip & Savor Event!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts in Gloversville is happy to host this year’s Shop, Sip & Savor: An Evening for Women on Friday, November 9, from 5-8pm at the Arts Center, located at 2736 Route 30.

Based on last year’s smashing success, this is an opportunity to reach hundreds of women who are looking to do their holiday shopping! We suggest being creative with possible promotional materials for your business and really showcase what you have to offer in one of our beautiful rooms. The room rental is $75. All participants will also be asked to create a basket or a give-away to be raffled off during the festivities.

If you're interested, please call (518) 661-9932 or fill out the vendor application and email it to Lynette May at mayl@thearclexington.org.

Those who respond first will have first dibs on our gorgeous rooms!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Call for Singers!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts in Gloversville is introducing the formation of The Sacandaga Singers, an adult (18+) choir which will rehearse weekly and feature a repertoire of popular and classical vocal compositions. Besides performances at local events, concerts will be held bi-annually at the arts center with a holiday concert in December and a spring concert in May.

Participants must able to commit to the rehearsal/performance schedule and become members of the Nigra Arts Center.  In addition to being part of choir, membership benefits include discounts on admission to exhibitions, workshops, classes, select performances and special events at the arts center.

For more information and to schedule an audition, please contact Tom Simek by email at sacandagasingers@gmail.com. 

Seeking Artists for 2018 Fiber, Textile Art and Quilt Show!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to host its first-ever Fiber, Textile Art and Quilt Show. This celebration of fiber art will feature works made primarily of fiber, fabric, textiles and/or related materials such as hand-dyed silk, felting, weaving, fiber sculpture, fashion, crochet, lace and quilts. All artists who work in these media are welcome to submit.

Quilts submitted must be no larger than 96” square and must have a 4-inch sleeve attached for hanging purposes.

The show will hang from October 4, 2018, to January 9, 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 September 2 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 Fiber, Textile Art and Quilt 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 September 6 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are September 26-28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and September 29 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, October 11, 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 announces award recipients for 2018 New York State Summer Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the award winners for its third annual New York State Summer Art Show. The show features work from artists who hail from cities throughout New York State, including Ballston Spa, Castleton, Delanson, Fort Plain, Gloversville, Hadley, Lake Pleasant, Lockport, Mayfield, Milton, New York City, Niskayuna, Olmstedville, St. Johnsville, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady and more. Awards were presented at a public opening reception on Thursday, July 12. The reception was attended by dozens of artists and members of the community.

Awards were presented to winners by Brenda Dwyer, gallery administrator of the Nigra Arts Center, and Wally Hart, executive director of the Nigra Arts Center. Pictured in the first row, from left to right, are Linda Wilkinson, Tiina Bockrath, Constance A. Dodge and Sandra Hildreth accepting their awards. Pictured in the second row are “Marble Quarry” by Linda Wilkinson, “Koi Pond – Feeding” by Tiina Bockrath, “Hope Falls” by Constance A. Dodge and “Barnum Brook, May” by Sandra Hildreth. Pictured in the third row are Deborah Angilletta, Lewis Bryden, Timothy Prendergast and Margaret Bromford accepting their awards. Pictured in the fourth row are “Fly Creek Evening” by Deborah Angilletta, “Seafood” by Lewis Bryden, “Mike’s” by Timothy Prendergast and “Meet the Onion Family” by Margaret Bromford.

The winners of the Best in Show categories for the show are as follows:

Best in Show – Photography
First Place: “Fishing” by L. Paul Masto (Amsterdam, NY)
Second Place: “Marble Quarry” by Linda Wilkinson (Amsterdam, NY)
Third Place: “Koi Pond – Feeding” by Tiina Bockrath (Cambridge, NY)

Best in Show – Landscape
First Place: “Hope Falls” by Constance A. Dodge (Edinburg, NY)
Second Place: “Barnum Brook, May” by Sandra Hildreth (Saranac Lake, NY)
Third Place: “Fly Creek Evening” by Deborah Angilletta (Scotia, NY)

Best in Show – All Media
First Place: “Seafood” by Lewis Bryden (New York, NY)
Second Place: “Mike’s” by Timothy Prendergast (Scotia, NY)
Third Place: “Meet the Onion Family” by Margaret Bromford (Johnstown, NY)

Other artists featured in the show include Cheryl Bielli, Joshua Brooks, Lacy Brower, Bob Buck, Doreen Calhoun, Donald Cooper, Richard Joel Davis, Carollee Duross, Bob Fisher, Dick Foster, Jutta Gloeckner, Lawrence Groesbeck, Deborah Handy, Alexandra Higgins, David Holly, Jack Horning, Nancie Johnson, Elizabeth Knapp, Leena Kutti, Maria Licciardi, Garlyn MaGinnis, Maryanne Malecki, Carol McCord, Shannon Meers, Alan Montinari, John Morrette, Sandra Peters, Joanne Petrozzi-Jones, Margo Singer, Paul Valovic, Darlene Van Sickle, Lynne Vokatis, William W., Sean Walmsley, Gerald Wein and Kevin Wright.

The New York State Summer Art Show and Sale will hang until September 25 at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The majority of the pieces on display are for sale. The public is welcome to view the show throughout its run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The admission fee for the gallery is $5 per person. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, artists who have work in the current show and children under the age of 18 are exempt from the admission fee. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Paul Nigra Arts Center for Creative Arts to Host Glimmerglass Festival young Artists Program Concert

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is honored to host a special concert featuring The Glimmerglass Festival’s Young Artists program on Tuesday, July 17, at 7 p.m. The Young Artists will present a mix of Glimmerglass’s 2018 season repertoire of opera songs as well as favorites from the opera and musical theater canon.

This concert is generously sponsored by John and Sunday Blackmon and The Glimmerglass Festival. It is free for the general public to attend and open to all. Donations will be accepted at the door.

The Glimmerglass Festival is an opera company in Cooperstown that hosts four opera productions and a variety of other musical performances and guest speakers each summer. The Glimmerglass Festival’s Young Artists program is an apprenticeship program for singers, directors, conductors and coach/accompanists. The program provides training and experience for talented artists in the early stages of their professional career. The Young Artists perform in mainstage productions, concerts and Glimmerglass’s Lounge series, and they cover principal roles. To learn more about The Glimmerglass Festival, visit www.glimmerglass.org.

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

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts unveils 2018 New York State Summer Art Show!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the opening of its 2018 New York State Summer Art Show. The show will hang until September 25. It features work in a wide variety of media from artists all around New York State, including local cities, Ballston Spa, Cambridge, Castleton, Delanson, Edinburg, Fort Plain, Hadley, Lake Pleasant, Lockport, Milton, New York City, Niskayuna, Olmstedville, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Scotia, St. Johnsville and more.

Forty-five artists are exhibiting more than 110 pieces in this show. The featured artists include Deborah Angilletta, Cheryl Bielli, Tiina Bockrath, Margaret Bromford, Lacy Brower, Lewis Bryden, Bob Buck, Doreen Calhoun, Donald Cooper, Richard Joel Davis, Constance A. Dodge, Carollee Duross, Bob Fisher, Dick Foster, Jutta Gloeckner, Lawrence Groesbeck, Deborah Handy, Alexandra Higgins, Sandra Hildreth, David Holly, Jack Horning, Nancie Johnson, Elizabeth Knapp, Leena Kutti, Maria Licciardi, Garlyn MaGinnis, Maryanne Malecki, L. Paul Masto, Carol McCord, Shannon Meers, Alan Montinari, John Morrette, Sandra Peters, Joanne Petrozzi-Jones, Timothy Prendergast, Vanessa Rhodes, Margo Singer, Paul Valovic, Darlene Van Sickle, Lynne Vokatis, William W., Sean Walmsley, Gerald Wein, Linda Wilkinson and Kevin Wright.

Through the generous support of donors, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions in this show. Award winners will be announced at the Meet the Artists Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 12, from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome to attend, see the show and meet some of the featured artists. Light refreshments will be served. Attendees of the reception will receive free admission to the gallery.

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 information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Color Splash Fun Run & Walk Coming to Nigra Arts Center!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold a Color Splash Fun Run & Walk on Saturday, July 21. Participants will run on the grounds of the arts center at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. All proceeds will benefit the Nigra Arts Center.

Registration takes place from 9-10 a.m. and the run begins at 10:30 a.m. Throughout the family-fun course, runners and walkers will be splashed with washable, non-toxic color dust. The race will not be timed. There will be fun items such as sunglasses, socks, rainbow wigs and tutus for sale, as well as water, food concessions and music during the Color Splash Party.

The entry fee is $25 per person for those who pre-register or $30 for those who sign up in person on the day of the event. Children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information and to register, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Each participant will receive a free t-shirt as long as they register by July 9. Children 5 and under do not receive a free shirt. The rain date for this event is July 28.

Summer Kid Camps Offered at Nigra Arts Center

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is hosting a series of day camps for children this summer. Camp themes range from music and theater to cooking and outdoor adventure. Each camp also includes plenty of arts, crafts and fun activities for kids of all ages. Extended hours are being offered at several of the camps, which will take place at the center, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville.  Members of the center receive a discount. For more information and to register, call (518) 661-9932 or visit pncreativeartscenter.org.

Rock & Roll Kid Camp – Session One
July 10-12 | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 5-15 | Cost: $130 pre-registration/$150 at door

Popular music instructor Tom Simek is back with this super fun camp! Children will enjoy three days of music education as they learn about songwriting and how to create a music video. On the last day of camp, they will perform for friends and family.

Kid Cooking Camp
July 17-19 | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 6-12 | Cost: $130 pre-registration/$150 at door

This is the camp where kids cook up a storm and then gobble it all up! Campers will work alongside our chef instructors to make three gourmet lunches in our professional teaching kitchen. Kids will also make fun food-related art projects to take home.

Rock & Roll Kid Camp – Session Two
July 24-26 | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 5-15 | Cost: $130 pre-registration/$150 at door

Tim Simek is back with more music and tons of fun! Campers will learn about songwriting and working together to make rockin’ music. On the last day of camp, family and friends will be treated to a live performance.

Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF) Camp
July 31-August 3 | 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
All ages welcome | Cost: $150

This is an educational/performance program for musicians of all ages and abilities. The program is directed by Kyle Barrett Price and faculty from the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF). Camp-goers will experience a unique music-making experience in small and large groups organized by age and ability level. The camp will include lessons, classes and close tutoring with the world-renowned faculty musicians of CLMF. The camp will conclude with a celebration concert featuring the groups and collaborations between camp-goers and CLMF musicians.

Summer Stage Camp
August 6-10 | 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Ages 6+ | Cost: $159

Instructor Roberta Esposito will take campers from audition to performance in one week! Campers will be broken into groups as they work with instructors to discover the many elements that go into putting on a show. This hands-on experience will involve campers in each step of the creative journey as they work on everything from acting and music to costumes, props and set pieces. At the end of the week, campers will perform for their families, friends and loved ones.

Adirondack Adventure Camp
August 14-16 | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 5-15 | Cost: $130 pre-registration/$150 at door

Our campers always have a blast in the great outdoors during our Adirondack Adventure Camp! Activities will range from scavenger hunts to art projects with an outdoor theme.

Living Storybook Camp
August 21-23 | 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Ages 5-10 | Cost: $95 pre-registration/$115 at door

This storytelling experience puts campers in control of the story! Children will use their imaginations as they work with counselors on characters, story, setting and even costumes. At the end of camp, children will become the storybook in a special video parents will be able to share with the world!

Senior Soirée Returning to Nigra Arts Center!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will host its third Senior Soirée on Friday, June 22, on its campus at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.  The Summer Senior Soirée runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes lunch, mingling and the opportunity to explore many artistic offerings at the Nigra Arts Center.

Participants can choose between classes in yoga and meditation, essential oils, jewelry making, POUND exercise, cooking, sign making and smartphone photography. They are also welcome to view the solo show in the Nigra Arts Center’s Community Gallery, featuring the wood sculptures, paintings and drawings of local artist Tyler Schrader, in between classes.

Admission is $25 per person. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit pncreativeartscenter.org.

Nigra Arts Center Seeks Artists for Little Gems Fundraiser

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is seeking artists to participate in its Little Gems fundraiser. To participate, artists must pick up a free 5”x7” canvas from the Nigra Arts Center, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The artist is then invited to complete the canvas as they see fit and donate the finished piece back to the Nigra Arts Center to be raffled off to benefit the programming and operations of the center.

An exhibition of all the Little Gems received will be placed in a prominent location during the arts center’s upcoming New York State Summer Art Show, which opens on July 5, with a public opening reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, July 12, 6-8 p.m. Raffle tickets for the Little Gems will be on sale throughout the summer, and winners will be drawn at Lexington’s annual Night Out gala on Thursday, September 20. Tickets cost $20 for five.

Artists who are interested in participating in this fundraiser should contact Brenda Dwyer at (518) 661-9932 or dwyerb@thearclexington.org for more details. For more information about the arts center, please visit pncreativeartscenter.org.

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts seeks artists for 2018 New York State Summer Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to host its 2018 New York State Summer Art Show, featuring the works of artists throughout New York State. All artists who live in New York are welcome to submit.

The show will hang from July 5 to September 25. 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 10 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 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 June 12 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are June 27-29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and June 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, July 12, from 6-8 p.m. Attendees of the reception will receive discounted 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.

Tyler Schrader Solo Art Show to Open at Nigra Arts Center

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is pleased to announce its first ever solo art show, “Nature’s Prospect,” featuring the work of local sculptor and painter Tyler Schrader. The show will open with a Meet the Artist Reception on Thursday, May 24, from 6-8 p.m. at the Nigra Arts Center, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville, and run until June 26.

Tyler Schrader is an up-and-coming artist from Johnstown. He graduated from Johnstown High School in 2013 and from Fulton-Montgomery Community College’s Fine Arts program in 2014. In 2017, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York at Purchase. He works out of his studio in Johnstown, producing drawings, paintings and sculptural woodworking pieces. Past solo exhibitions featuring his work include “Blue” at the American Hotel in Sharon Springs, September 2014, “Blue” at the SVAN Arts Gallery in Northville, January to February 2015, and “Equal Matter” at Fulton-Montgomery Community College’s Perrella Gallery, December 2016 to January 2017.

Inside Out by Tyler Schrader

When Schrader began his artistic career as a painter, the work he produced was frequently monochromatic and abstract, with bright colors and fluid, organic forms encased in rustic, sculptural frames. Now, he works in reverse: he builds wooden forms and paints using them as a guide. His figures appear to flow naturally in labyrinthine, garbled patterns. They are open-ended, leaving a cloudless path for discovery.

Schrader draws inspiration for his work from the way ecosystems function in nature. He emphasizes the importance of natural cycles through his art, shedding metaphorical meaning with his material and process. He sees each piece as a personal ecosystem that functions in its own realm.

“Within this process, I’m able to achieve true self-result, something special,” Schrader said. “This is the form of the collaboration that takes place between myself and the material.”

The public is welcome to view this show throughout its run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The admission fee for the gallery is $5 per person. Members of the Nigra Arts Center are exempt from the admission fee. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Nigra Arts Center to host Mother's Day Brunch Concert featuring Annie and the Hedonists

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to host a Mother’s Day celebration with a delicious brunch in its spacious Grand Gallery with a concert performed by Capital Region band Annie and the Hedonists. The concert and brunch will take place Saturday, May 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $35 and available at pncreativeartscenter.org or by calling 518-661-9932.

Known for acoustic blues, vintage jazz and swing, and folk roots Americana music, Annie and the Hedonists will perform while guests enjoy a menu that includes quiche, stuffed French toast, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salad greens, refreshments and desserts.  

Annie and the Hedonists features Annie Rosen on lead vocals; Jonny Rosen on guitar and vocals; Peter Davis on clarinet, tenor guitar, piano and vocals; and Don Young on bass and vocals. They have produced five albums since 2001 and perform regularly at festivals, swing dances and concert venues large and small across New York and the United States. To learn more about Annie and the Hedonists, visit annieandthehedonists.com.

Nigra Arts Center announces award recipients for 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the award winners for its second annual Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale. The show is a recreation of the former Fulton County Art Show that the Congregational Church in Gloversville held for many years. It includes work from artists who live and work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties and a special exhibit of the work of featured artist Rhea Costello, a painter and ceramic artist from Gloversville. The show also features work created by students from Boulevard, Kingsborough and Park Terrace Elementary Schools, Gloversville Middle School, and Canajoharie, Gloversville and Mayfield High Schools.

The public opening reception for the 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show was attended by Miss Fulton County Chelsea Cirillo and Miss Montgomery County Sara James, who presented the awards to the winners. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Melissa Ellis with Sara James; Katelyn Frisch with Sara James; Paul Steenburgh with Chelsea Cirillo; “Avery” by Paul Steenburgh; “Ceci N’est pas une Pomme” by Katelyn Frisch; and “Sea Salt” by Melissa Ellis.

Awards were presented at a public opening reception on Thursday, April 19. The reception was attended by hundreds of artists and members of the community.

Artists who submitted work to the Fulton Montgomery Art Show selected the winners of the Community Artists’ Award from the work submitted by high school students. Katelyn Frisch of Mayfield High School won first place with her oil painting “Ceci N’est pas une Pomme.” Juliana Buyce, a senior at Mayfield High School, won second place with her painting “The Storm.” Louie Hand, a senior at Canajoharie High School, won third place for his drawing “Hands.” The runner up in this category was Naomi Liebers, a freshman at Mayfield High School.

Local artist and former art teacher Kathie W. Raneri sponsored and selected the Kathie W. Raneri Award for 3-D Design, given to a student who shows skillful and creative use of form and space. The winner in this category was the soapstone sculpture “Untitled” by Zoe Spanga Santoro, a senior at Gloversville High School.

Local artist and former art teacher Cindy Sheeler sponsored the Cindy Hood Sheeler Award, given to a student whose 2-D or 3-D work shows vivid, imaginative use of color. The winner in this category was the painting “Is This Love?” by Sierra Luck, a senior at Mayfield High School.

The Traditions Award, given by local artist and former art teacher Kathryn M. Zajicek, was presented to a young artist whose work shows the inspiration, creativity and excellence that best reflect the tradition of this show throughout the years. The winner in this category was the painting “Sea Salt” by Melissa Ellis of Johnstown.

The winners of the Best in Show categories among the community artist exhibition are as follows:

Best in Show – Photography
First Place: “Just Intonation” by Jane Riley
Second Place: “Cattails” by Bob Buck
Third Place: “Predator at Square Falls” by Sandra Peters

Best in Show – Drawing
First Place: “Avery” by Paul Steenburgh
Second Place: “New Years Eve at Fallingwater” by Thomas Armstrong Third Place: “Farm Days” by Lynda Naske

Best in Show – Other Media
First Place: “Mergansers on the Mohawk” by Karen Slezak
Second Place: “Nesting Bird of Paradise” by Kathryn Bartscht
Third Place: “Brown Trout” by Jonathan Swartwout

Other artists featured in the show include Amy Andujar, Jeffrey John Ardizzone, Christine Biche, Linda Biggers, Margaret Bromford, Joshua Brooks, Ross Carangelo, David D’Amore, Richard Joel Davis, Francis Dempsey, Katherine L. Ehle, Melanie Fay, Richard Freeman, Katey Germain, Warren Greene, Dolores Haberek, Deborah Handy, Carol M. Hesselink, Alexandra Higgins, Linda Hinkle, Jack Horning, Michele Johnsen, Nancie Johnson, Carl Jurica, Gail Kessler, Juliet Konieczny, Marion Kratky, Nancy LaPorta, Maria Licciardi, Garlyn MaGinnis, Carrie Moxham, Christian O’Callaghan, Laura Penge Burda, Sarah Ralson, Thelma Senecal, Cindy Sheeler, Sandra Ann Sparks, Beth Spraggs, Julie Takacs, Paul Valovic, Lynne Vokatis and Kevin Wright.

The Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale will hang until May 14 at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The majority of the pieces on display are for sale. The public is welcome to view the show throughout its run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The admission fee for the gallery is $5 per person. Members of the Nigra Arts Center and artists who have work in the current show are exempt from the admission fee. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

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Rhea Costello announced as featured artist in Fulton Montgomery Art Show

Rhea Haggart Costello, a painter and ceramic artist, will be the featured artist at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts’ 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show. Her 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.

Rhea Costello

Originally from New York, Rhea saw her first glimmer of wonder in the glittering Tappan Zee Bridge on the Hudson River, which she could see from her family’s apartment. From there they moved to upper Westchester County, where the backyard was a wonderland of woods and brooks to explore. Art was a constant presence in Rhea’s childhood.

“Mom constantly kept my sister and me busy with projects,” Rhea said. “The focus I had on completing them, done as well as possible, left an impression. In school, we were especially fortunate with the art department’s projects, even in elementary school. I still look back on them with appreciation.”

Rhea moved with her family to northern California in 1970, when she was 13. Her journey as a serious artist started there, as art classes became her sanctuary and she focused on her craft. Rhea credits her upbringing in the open skies of California for inspiring the characteristic and oft-praised depiction of light in her paintings, but also believes that “anywhere an artist travels adds to their mind’s eye of light, color and composition.” In addition to many beautiful places in the United States, Rhea has had the opportunity to visit Italy, Greece, Germany, France and Switzerland.

In 1978, Rhea moved back to New York, to the Adirondack Mountains that have provided a backdrop for so much of her work. She continued perfecting her art while working at other occupations and teaching private art classes. Teaching gave Rhea an avenue for growth in her own work as well as a network of friends who encouraged her to take it further. She took their advice, and in 2001 Adirondack Rustics Gallery became the first to accept a piece of her work. The piece sold within two weeks.

That first sale started a momentum that has carried Rhea through the past 17 years. Work sold quickly to homes across the country, and Rhea worked continuously to produce detailed, “experiential” art on commission. She became involved with Adirondack Experience’s Rustic Furniture Fair, collaborating with woodworkers to embellish their furniture and commissioning them to build unique rustic frames for her paintings. Since 2005, she has been one of five painters juried into the Rustic Furniture Fair, as well as a returning artist in residence.

She was also invited to show work and be an artist in residence at the Lake Placid Lodge. After the original Lodge was lost to fire in 2005 and re-opened in 2008, she worked with John Graham to produce its signature painting and The Cabin Collection. In 2015, Graham invited Rhea to be an artist in residence and instructor at Twin Farms, where she created landscapes of the beautiful Vermont property as well as a special style bowl for Chef Nathan Rich. Other commissions of note include the signature painting Rhea produced for Clear Path for Veterans in 2011 and artwork The Point requested for their 80th Anniversary.

Along with those previously mentioned, Rhea has also exhibited original work and prints at the Adirondack Museum Rustic Furniture Fair, William Coffey Gallery, Adirondack Rustic Expo, Southern Adirondack Art Show, Gold Mountain Gallery, Old Forge Center for the Arts, Adirondack Living Show, Adirondack Art Society Show, Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming, and many more galleries and shows. 

Rhea’s landscapes and wildlife oil paintings exemplify the Adirondack Rustic Art genre. Her style combines intricately orchestrated detail with subtle open space to create the movement and silence found in nature. Working in the studio allows Rhea the time for this meticulous work, but she is also an enthusiastic plein air artist. When she paints in nature, her brush flows loosely to capture the essence of the day and place she experienced. 

“I focus on landscapes, wildlife and historical interests,” she said. “I enjoy expressing richly rooted traditions and capturing the movement of trees, depth of details and luminous light.” 

Rhea’s work is her own vision, resulting from the time spent studying the beauty of the outdoors, but it has been compared to the Hudson River School artists. Her paintings are often finished with unique natural-edged frames made by her son, Larry Costello.

The first time Rhea touched clay was in December of 2013. Her incentive for taking pottery lessons was to find a new canvas on which to print original oil paintings, through ceramic decals. She couldn’t find pottery that matched her vision, so she decided to try to make her own.

“At that first class, I felt the overwhelming sensation of my hands opening to a new ability, as well as the discovery of a life-altering gift,” Rhea said. 

In January of 2014, after only three classes, she bought her own wheel and set up a pottery studio in her own home. A kiln followed that February and she began spending every spare moment experimenting and discovering her own unique style. The idea of creating decals faded fast as she developed a look that celebrated the clay’s natural structural beauty.

“Clay has memory,” Rhea said. “It takes on movement of its own. With every step to change its configuration, you get the opportunity to feel what it wants to turn into. Its areas of strength and weakness are enhanced the more you work with it, and this enables it to move as a body. It’s like a dance, feeling the clay move between my hands and allowing it to make the next move.” 

Rhea’s ceramic work combines throwing pottery with carving to create imitations of leather and metal paired with sculptures of animals and elements of nature. She has sold countless mugs, pitchers, pie plates, vases and bowls to buyers around the country, as special gifts and collector’s pieces as well as for simple everyday use.

Rhea’s paintings and pottery together tell their own biography of Rhea’s life. Her history is not only contained in a progression of education and exhibits, but also in the everyday life of immersion in her work and joy of discovering new techniques. Her work reflects hours of hiking with her son and dogs, or staying up late into the night at her easel or sculpting pedestal. The concentration of intricate detail in her work, such as sparkling light shining through leaves, pebbles lying under the flow of a brook and snake-like roots coiling at the base of a tree, speaks as much to Rhea’s lifetime as an artist as it does the grand scale of her subject – the natural beauty that inspires her to devote long hours in the studio in the first place.

The Fulton Montgomery Art Show will run from April 11 to May 14 in the Nigra Arts Center’s gallery at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, April 19, 6-8 p.m., to meet Rhea and the other artists and view the works free of charge. After the opening reception, the public is welcome to view the show throughout its run weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon, for a $5 admission fee. For more information, visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org or call (518) 661-9932. For more information about Rhea, see www.facebook.com/rheacostelloart or www.paintingsbyrhea.com.

Nigra Arts Center Hosting Children's Camp with Special Guest Miss Fulton County!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold its annual Spring Break Escape camp April 3-5 at the center, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. The camp will operate daily from 9:00AM-2:00PM and is intended for children ages 6-12.

The three day camp will feature outside activities (weather permitting), music, dance, cooking and art projects children will bring home. Campers will also have an opportunity to meet 2018 Miss Fulton County Chelsea Cirillo. On April 5, Cirillo will speak with children about the importance of volunteering and work with them on an art project illustrating community spirit.

Campers should bring their own lunch, snack and water bottle each day. Refrigeration is available. Cost: $135 pre-registration or $155 at door. Members of the Nigra Arts Center receive a 20% discount. To register, call (518) 661-9932 or visit the arts center website: pncreativeartscenter.org.

New York Players are Coming to the Nigra Arts Center!

New York Players will perform a concert at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts on Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at pncreativeartscenter.org or at the door.   The concert is sponsored by Stewart’s Shops. 
 

Billed as New York’s Dance Party Experts, New York Players is well known for entertaining with a wide range of dance music at corporate and private events, nightclubs, concerts and festivals throughout the area and beyond.

This concert is the first of the Nigra Arts Center’s 2018 Concert Series, featuring ten local acts in a variety of genres and styles. All shows are open to the public and will take place in the center’s Grand Gallery at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. For more information and to buy tickets, call (518) 661-9932 or visit pncreativeartscenter.org.