suns along the Mohawk

. . Lawrence Circle is the heart of the Stockade neigborhood and center of the Outdoor Art Show . . 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you for coming to see our “coverage” of the 2022 Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show.  There are well over 200 images in the posting. Note that the original section with Show Winners and their art was inadvertently deleted Friday evening (Sept. 16). Rather than trying to reconstruct that section, I’ve inserted columns of Square Tiles here of the Award Winners. Other photos from the deleted section have been added to the extensive Strolling Section. Please enjoy.

• • • click on a square tile for a full, larger version of the image; scroll over for description.

. . Grand Prizes . .

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. . honorably mentioned . .

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. .above: closer look at HM winners by Kathy Klompas [L] Lisa Burton [M], Helga Pritchard [R] . .

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. . special awards . .

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. . Lawrence the Indian waits for the Awards Ceremony . . 

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STROLLING THE OUTDOOR ART SHOW

My art show stroll always starts on Front Street at North Church St.  On the right (south side) there is a long wall bordering the yard of 22 N. Church Street. Most of that stretch has been occupied by Stockade neighbor Bob Laper for many years, but Bob decided to be an art browser rather than exhibitor this year. Also, half of the wall had to be torn down and is in the process of reconstruction.

• Click on an image for a larger version of the photograph

DAVID HINCHEN set up along that wall, in Bob Laper’s absence, and displayed his “architectural art.”

. . above: Hinchen painting with unfinished brick wall in the background; in 2017, the painting won Third Place at SOAS . . 

 

Here are one Hinchen painting showing Albany icons and two depicting Schenectady buildings:

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PHILIP PARKER set up this year on the north side of Front Street, because the brick wall that had been his background is being reconstructed.

. . where he shared space with his talented mother, CECILIA PARKER,

It was clear that the day would bring interesting changes and juxtapositions, along wit  exhibitors who had pleased art lovers in prior years.

HOLLY VAN VOAST

For example, HOLLY VAN VOAST’s array at 25 Front Street, again hosted by Olivia and Emmanuel:

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Joanne Van Genderen set up at 24 Front Street:

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R.P. Fiorillo had 26 Front Street’s glowing foliage as a background:

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LINDA STARR

LINDA STARR has spread an extensive exhibit in front of 29 Front Street the past couple of years. The sun glowing in the foliage behind her helps make the display special.

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CRAIG PETREIKIS

. . Lawrence Circle being prepared for the Awards ceremony

One pleasant surprise was seeing that neighbor Craig Petreikis had turned his talents to sculpture.  You’ve seen his winning Second Place effort in our Winners display (it is also guarding Lawrence Circle in the photo above-right). Its sidekick (on the right) earned quite a few smiles, plus a large but unattributed space in Sunday’s Daily Gazette.

  . .   As he did last year, when he won the grand prize with the painting to below, Craig strolled the art show streets with a broad smile (even before he won), stopping frequently to admire exhibits. Of course, Craig did bring some canvases, too.

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C.C. MOSES-ROGOWICZ

 The amiable CC Moses-Rogowlcz contingent had also returned to 33 Front Street bringing a tribute to the home’s blue door.

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ERIK RITVIK‘s large canvases, including his new elephant portrait, had natural light and shadows.

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LINDA BIGGERS

 . . Much to my surprise, the next tent held LINDA BIGGERS, who I had not seen in years, with her mosaic art. When I last saw Linda at SOAS (2015?), her daughter Molly was displaying her own photography.  Molly has moved on to other endeavors. Thankfully, Linda still loves creating eggshell mosaics:

NIKKI JONES/ICKIBONES

Next to the Biggers tent, another mother was helping her daughter set up her first Stockade exhibit. NIKKI JONES, who does her artistic business under the name ICKIBONES, had many representations of her sculpture art and illustration skills.

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PETER WATROUS

. . show judges Gary Shankman and Jackie Watsky stop at Watrous exhibit

Across from the Nikki Jones exhibit, a veteran of many Stockade art shows (and frequent award winner), PETER WATROUS, was presiding over his typical display of varied subject matters and styles. I told Peter that I had forgotten to take his picture last year. He must have been trying to help me do better, when I was snapping this image:

He stayed out of the way for my next couple of shots:

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EDITOR’s NOTE:

 . . Oakley at 2021 SOAS

With the occasional exception of Oakley (above left), and the Hodgkins Kids, I try not to use photos of cute puppies or children to drive traffic to my websites. Nonetheless, I am not above using images of koi and blue heron to do so. Thus, I am arbitrarily inserting here, on the right, a Chinese ink painting of koi by Niskayuna resident Anping Liu. And, immediately below, a watercolor image of a great blue heron painted by Scotia’s Christine Mezzo, who was 70 on Art Show day, and rightly proud of it. Ms. Mezzo makes those wooden frames, too.

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GEORGE DIROLF

Crossing back to the north side of Front Street from the Watrous display, I passed a tent that deserved more attention than I gave it. Had i known GEORGE DIROLF was going to win the First in Show ribbon at the awards ceremony a couple hours later (for this piece), I would have come home with more than just two shots from the outside of the tent. I’m sorry, George, but at least I know now you don’t need my help for success at the Stockade Outdoor Art Show. I’m glad the location of the Dirolf exhibit gave me the urge to take one more photo of one of my favorite Stockade homes, 39 Front Street, which is also a favorite backdrop for artists:

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RITVIK SHARMA

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RITVIK SHARMA was another familiar face I was pleased to see on Saturday. He brought his special brand of calm intensity.

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KILAARTS

 A couple of yards away from the Sharma display, Kimberly Leahey constructed another KILAARTS playland, giving us all her annual dessert cart barge of visual treats.

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THE ACEVEDOS

We can always count on colors glowing at the ACEVEDO compound, located the past few years along the Front Street side of Arthur’s Market. ALEC ACEVEDO’s canopy was at the corner, and his parents HECTOR and DIANE set up theirs a little further down, near the rear of Arthur’s.

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PINA CALABRO

PINA CALABRO crossed over to the northeast corner of N. Ferry and Front Streets this year, right at Lawrence Circle, but her soft-hued work had all the Sicilian charm and hospitality I first encountered last year. I urged her to get a website that would give us all access to her art.

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. MAXIME TACCARDI

MAXIME TACCARDI’s first day at the Stockade Outdoor Art Show was a good one. As told in the Awards portion of this posting, above, Maxime was chosen the Best First TIme Exhibitor by the Show’s art judges, and his full exhibition was given the Gilliland-Weinheimer Oakroom Artists Award. His art got a lot of attention and comments.

Click on a square tile below for a full, larger version of an image.

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ANNA SOCHA

ANNA SOCHA’s photographs provided a good lesson in the beauty and mystery of flowers, and I wish I could remember their names. (Of course, even I could identify sunflowers after passing 29 Front Street so often this summer.*)

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*SUNFLOWER THANKYOU. This a good place to thank Lynn Bodden Carman and Peter Carman for giving their neighbors a growing, evolving work of art annually along their white picket fence on the “Art Show block”, at 29 Front Street. If I were not focused on photographing the Art Show, I would have displayed some of my Stockade photos this year, and surely celebrate the 29 Front Street sunflowers, with this beauty (or this one), snapped on July 14, 2022:

A couple blocks away, Gloria Kishton and Bob Limmerman grace us with a grand array of sunflowers at 207 Union St. Thanks, G & B!

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KAYLA COONS

KAYLA COONS of DEVOUR-CREATIONS appeared this year for the first time at SOAS. Her exhibit was behind Lawrence, at the corner of N. Ferry and Front Streets. There was a lot to take in:

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INSIPID RUBIO? Yes. As I was stepping away from her display, Kayla Coons pointed me a few feet away to another exhibit by an SOAS first-timer, Insipid Rubio. I don’t have an “a/k/a” for Rubio, but here are two images from his exhibit:

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. . WEDNESDAY EDITION . .

 Turning onto Green Street during the Show, I had no idea how long I would be happily talking with the artists on that short block of exhibits.

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  CINDY SINOR, a first-time exhibitor, had her tidy display on the southside corner of Green Street. It was clear that Cindy “likes rocks”, expecially smooth ones that she can paint. Stroll down her Instagram homepage to see her extensive, palm-size, portraiture painted rock collection, and much more.

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CHRISTINE MEZZIO

Scotia’s CHRISTINE MEZZIO, as I mentioned in my blue-heron Sneak Peak above, was proudly celebrating her 70th birthday on SOAS day. When pressed to name her favorite bird image, she walked over to the owl (below), which was next to my favorite, the great blue heron. There were surely many others, plus flowers, that other viewers would choose.

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KAREN ZAYJAH‘s tent was next to Ms. Mezzio. I hope Karen enjoyed the day enought to return next year. Here are four representative examples of her art.

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ANPING LIU and XIAOPING (“SHERRY”) XU

This friendly couple from Niskayuna were two of my favorite exhibitors in 2021, and I was happy to see them back. Sherry was eager to show me a very recent painting that she explained meant “Purple Chi from the West.” (below) .

 Ms. Xu also modeled a skirt she painted to jibe with the new painting, calling it Art on Fashion. Barb Lennox got to see it, too, later in the day.

 I do not know whether any fashion has yet been created (perhaps a tie or scarf) to go with this piece, another new Xu painting.

Unlike his spouse, ANPING LIU (above at his display) again brought Ink Brush Paintings to the Stockade Outdoor Art Show. Here are three examples:

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VAL ROBERT‘s expansive display was my next pleasant surprise. It was a revelation for those who think they know what a “Val Robert” looks like, after seeing only the SOAS Winners Circle over recent years. [see his website to explore Val’s many moods and modes]  Even I might not have guessed that the lovely piece to the right, with no sharp edges, was one of Val’s pieces. His wife assured me it is, and named it “Galaxy”.

Click and of the mosaic tiles below to see a larger version of “Last Resort,” “Red Bird”, and “Playhouse” by Mr. Robert.

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SUPINA, a/k/a SUSAN BARCZAK from Niskayuna, was next down the block, and I met her for the first time. She uses her lovely maiden name for her art work (or, at least, her business cards), which I applauded. Here are two of her images I wanted to share:

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BRITNEY PRIME

  You met BRITNEY PRIME (a/k/a Britney Knudsen), and her joyous balloon painting, near the top of this posting, as the People’s Choice winner. A first-time exhibitor this year, her Stockade painting on the left is a refreshingly different depiction of our historic district.

Here are two more examples of her artwork:

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JOANNE DESTEFANO

The Destefano Exhibit was back at the southeast corner of N. Ferry and Green Streets this year (above photo, Joanne in green top). My brain was too weary (after about 4 hours of nonstop snapping and schmoozing) to say how much I liked their straw hats when they complimented mine.  Well, I do like their straw hats. And, Joanne’s watercolors, too.

At first, on the sidewalk, I mentioned that Joanne had not brought her large paintings as in prior years. Well, this was the scene when I stepped out into the street:

May we need straw hats again at the 2023 Stockade Outdoor Art Show, and say hello at North Ferry and Green.

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RICHARD SACCHETTI

It must be difficult for a shy guy like RICK SACCHETTI, winning prizes year after year at the Stockade Outdoor Art Show, and having to stand at the Winners Circle, pausing for a ribbon, a check, and a photograph. You’d think he’d be used to it by now. This year it was “merely” another Third Place prize.

When I got to his grand display on Saturday, I snapped the photo at the top of this section, and was drawn to voices behind the façade of the exhibit. It seems rabid fans of his wanted Rick’s picture with the pudgy orange fish. The artist was so shy, however, he held the painting in front of his face, and I captured the moment. [photo to the left]

Happily, there were two paintings out front that reminded me what Richard looks like next to a fish.

Here are a couple more that caught my eye:

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. . and one I grabbed when Rick posed for Courtney with his 3rd Place winner:

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MARK MILETTA

. . above: Mark Milletta exhibit, SOAS 2019 . .

MARK MILETTA has been setting up his painting in a wide display on and along the wrought iron fence in front of St. George’s Episcopal Church for several years.  I love getting photos with St. Geo. festivities, cemetery markers, etc., behind Miletta paintings. (see 2019 photo above) So, I left the Sacchetti display expecting to chat for awhile with Mark and to try to decide which pieces to photograph. Instead, I found Mark in a great rush, trying to pick up and secure several of his paintings that had been knocked off easels and the fence by a strong wind-tunnel wind.

Instead of a forest of Miletta pieces, there were only two paintings left in view by the time I raised my camera. [photo above] Mark would not risk leaving any out. So, I’m featuring each of the upright survivors that were the last to be packed away.

. . there was a forest trail that is pure Miletta:

. . and, a fanciful depiction of 29 North Ferry Street, across from St. George’s:

I hope Mark’s canvases and easels are all undamaged. And, I hope he comes back for many years.

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Speaking of STOCKADE IMAGES, there were three others on that stretch of North Ferry:

JOHN MORRETTE had one of the sidegate to Joe Fava’s place:

. . and, VINCE FORTE had two:

 . . Stockade Market . . and,

. . 31 Front Street:

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BARBARA LENNOX

There was much to see at the Barb Lennox tent:

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. . Barb told me about the fluidity of alcohol ink.

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. . and, Sherry Xu stopped by for a look and demonstrated her Art of Fashion skirt. .

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DALTON & WALSH

Jaywalking, I backtracked a little to the exhibit of MEG DALTON, which she shared with her granddaughter, CARLEY WALSH.

As you may recall from the winners section at the top of this posting, the family did well at the 2022 art show:

. . above: [L] Best Stockade Depiction, by Meg Dalton; [R top] Youth Artist First Prize, by Carley Walsh . . 

  MEG DALTON

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   CARLEY WALSH

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MARK POHL

MARK POHL got to the Show early enough to grab the coveted spot right under the St. George’s steeple, and as a bonus got a blue sky and gauzy clouds. [Maybe I’m just projecting, ’cause I love photos with that steeple and cloudy blue skies.] His good fortune continued, with an Honorble Mention for his digital painting “October Sunday.”

Quite naturally, Mark brought along images of farm tractors, too, and I’m glad he did.

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LAUREL-LE LIPSKI

LAURA-LE LIPSKI had another display that draws you in with colors and images that please.

Her waves especially intrigued me:

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DON COOPER

DON COOPER again brought a tent filled with his dense, challenging digital art.

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NANCY NIEFIELD – TWO SPRUCE POTTERY

 It was good to see Nancy Niefield. Her pottery shop was once on the Jay Street Pedestrian Mall. Nancy’s three-figure sculpture (at the left) won Best Depiction of the Human Form this year. Here she is at her 2022 Exhibit:

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QQ:

Nice chickens, but I had to rush back to the Winners Circle before I could identify the artist. If you can help, please let me know in a comment or email.

CRISTINA DOUGALL

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. . Christina is 2nd from the Right . .

 The last exhibit I reached before rushing back to Lawrence Circle was CRISTINA DOUGALL’s display. I snapped one photo. There were many styles and subjects, but I did not have a chance to linger or chat with Cristina. It was only this evening (Sept. 15) that I discovered Cristina was the 1st Place winner of the Young Artist award in 2018. Checking my 2018 post on the Art Show, I recalled how much I was impressed with her work, chatted with her and her exhibit-mate for quite awhile, and wrote that I hoped she’d be back. It’s good to see Cristina still loves painting and is honing her skills.  Next time she’s at SOAS, I hope to have a conversation again with Cristina.

[Sept. 16, 2022] This is a good place to declare the First Draft of this posting complete. There may be tweaks or an extra photo or two added. Thank you for your patience as it eked out. Here’s my “thank you blue heron”, floating on the Mohawk off the Stockade riverbank on a fine autumn day.