suns along the Mohawk

Despite a dismal and risky weather forecast, today’s 58th Villager’s Outdoor Art Show lived up to its Stockade tradition — giving neighbors, visitors and artists an enjoyable day focused on fine art and good spirits.  Many thanks to the hard-working Committee and to everyone who exhibited art or joined the crowds. [Click on a photo for a larger version and scroll over it for a brief description. And, please let me know if I’ve mislabeled art or artist.]

. just a little drizzle .

. . painters Judy Haller-D’Angelo and Crysal Frascatore on N. Ferry St. . .

This weblog post cannot do justice to the artists or the crowd, much less the organizers and helpers.  There’s no way I could photograph and present a comprehensive account of the day.  So, I apologize in advance for all my omissions.  I spent an hour at the Art Show this morning, schmoozing and snapping a few pictures, and then came back in the afternoon for a final two hours of random pointing, clicking, strolling and chatting.  My photo choices were rather arbitrary, and I often sought out a bit of color to offset the gray day.

. . .

. . approaching the Show at Front and Church Sts., it was already difficult to decide where to start . .

The three major prizes went to Erik Laffer, Rob Gavel and Jamie Murray.  In case I run out of steam this evening, I’m going to focus first on them.

. . .

. . Erik Laffer won first place with another painting from his Cartography Series, Digital Boundary (2009) 48”x48” Oil on Canvas (click to see last year’s 2nd Place winner by Erik) . .

. ……………. .

. . . Rob Gavel’s silkscreen of brightly colored “Doors of the Stockade” won the 2nd Place Prize and the Ernest A. R. Cohen award for Best Depiction of the Stockade Neighborhood . . .

. . .

. . Jamie Murray’s colorful painting took 3rd Place . .

. . click to see the list of winners . . .

Here, with no particular order or organization are more photo impressions of the day, along with more winning artwork:

…

.. fun at St. George’s with Larry Meyerhoff’s Celtic Music (video sampler)..

. . time well-spent with sites and folks on N. Ferry St . . . . .

e.g., photographer Glen Marsh of Ballston Spa, with his biggest fan

Gregg Millett and Ann Parillo (who did a segment on the Outdoor Art Show, featuring Karen Johnson and artist Karen Rosasco, on Schenectady Today, September 2, 2009,)

Stockadian Steven Kowalski won two awards, including Best of Our Neighbors. You can see his transition from morning worry to award-winning smile:

. . .

Frankly, I missed a lot of great photos, because a certain Stockade politician stepped in front of my camera a half dozen times or more at the award ceremony. She was, however, willing to pose for a representative head shot:

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Mia Simone’s Best Young Artist piece drew a lot of attention .

As did this year’s winner of the Nicholas J. Colangelo Award for First Time Exhibitors, by Shanta Nair.

. . .

. . work, work, work to make the Art Show work so well . .

Here’s a pair I really like, but I did not get the name of the artists.  If you know, please let us know with a Comment below:

 . . .

. . . always nice to see friends . .

Finally, for a taste of the variety and quality of art at the Show, here are four racks displaying pieces submitted by artists to the contest jury (click on them to enlarge; I apologize for not knowing the names of the artists):

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Again, thanks to all those who participated — organizers, artists and art-loving crowds — and gave us another successful Outdoor Villager’s art Show.

afterthought: If, like myself, the Art Show kept you from visiting the Schenectady Little Italy Street Fest on Saturday, check out Michelle Ardolina’s coverage at the TU‘s The Schenectady Blog.

BONUS: This might put things into perspective.  Here’s what I saw, walking up Green Street at the end of the afternoon, when I glanced across the First Presbyterian Church’s parking lot and cemetery (add your own labels):

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p.s. Special thanks, as ever, to Lawrence the Indian, who presided over yet another Stockade event with stoic dignity — and never refused to pose for a photograph. To wit: