suns along the Mohawk

 . . Except for some pesky breezes, Sunday September 7th, was a very good day for holding the 74th Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show. With more blue sky and fluffy white clouds than we had expected, the postponement to the Sunday Rain Date seems like a wise choice, despite the unavoidable inconveniences. In the four hours of the Show, I enjoyed the people, the art and the good vibes, while taking almost 300 pictures.  The full posting of images from the Show was completed late Thursday evening, with about 200 images, and I hope it captures to some extent the elements that make the Outdoor Art Show so beloved.

As always, I thank the many people from our Stockade community who made the event possible and successful.  Special thanks go out this year to Steve Kowalksi and Zoe Oxley, who are handing over the reins of the Outdoor Art Show to the Stockade Association, after many years directing the Show.

. . my 1st & last photos . .

. . Our Outdoor Art Show category has links to 15 years of prior coverage. .

.. click this thumbnail to see the Official List of  Awards and Winners . . 

THIS YEAR’S WINNING ART AND ARTISTS 

OVERALL WINNERS (Grand Prizes)

FIRST PLACE: RICHARD SACCHETTI

. . Rick’s 1st Place Painting. .

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SECOND PLACE: MARY OCCIOGROSSO

. . Mary’s 2nd Place Painting. . . .

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THIRD PLACE: JOHN MORRETTE

. . and his painting:

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HONORABLE MENTION . .

. . scroll over a square to see artist’s name and click on it for a larger version . .

  . . Caroline‘s . . Lisa’s .

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. . Maryanne’s . .

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YOUNG ARTIST AWARDS

1st PLACE: HARRISON FLANDERS

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2nd PLACE: COLETTE WHITBECK

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THIRD PLACE: JOHN HAND

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BEST FIRST-TIME EXHIBITOR: BRANDON TOEPER

BEST DEPICTION OF THE STOCKADE: DAKOTA RIDGE

. . Click for a larger version of the painting:

BEST DEPICTION OF THE HUMAN FORM: JULIA OMELKO

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. . Click for a full image of the painting 

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GILLIAN [OAKROOM ARTISTS] AWARD: DON COOPER

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PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD (by public ballot): ANDY MORAN

 

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STROLLING THE ART SHOW [with frequent posting throughout this week]

As always, there was so much to see and enjoy on Front Street. It was no surprise for me,

. . finding friends right away . .

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 . . and a talented, friendly artist, too – CECILIA PARKER:

 . . click for a larger image. .  

 . . Cecilia’s Lawrence is the first of many depictions of Lawrence the Indian and the Stockade that I found gracing the Show. 

. . Stockade sunflowers and architure always attract fans . .

. . ANPING LIU and DANI MORETTE each brought more than one Stockade image:

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. . above: Liu told Lawrence’s story in images and words, Mandarin and English

. . and Morette recalls Art Shows past, including a flyover. .

. . I didn’t notice this depiction of the stoop at 109 Union St. (purportedly the “oldest house in the Stockade”) until Monday afternoon; the artist’s name not yet determined by me . . 

.  . it was hidden in a Front St. exhibit. . .

The color and movement on PETER WATROUS‘ canvases didn’t only catch my eye:

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 . JEFF LEAVITT brought robots and other fun again. . .

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Veteran exhibitor SANDY JUNG (with her alcohol-based paints) was set up right across the street from the first-time exhibitor OLIVIA MCQUEEN. (Scroll over an image for its caption and clip on it for a larger version):

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. . Caroline’s sign:

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First-Timer BECK DODD had moral support from his teacher, and plans to be back next year.

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 . . a raisin break for a young art lover .

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. . diverse talent and personality made ANDY MORAN the People’s Choice . .

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. .  The ACEVEDOs , Alec, Hector and Diane, shined bright as ever outside Arthur’s Market:

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. . . .  KATHY KLOMPAS is an artist I expect to see often at the Winners’ Circle. She is among the Honorable Mention winners presented earlier in this posting. Here are more images from her exhibit tent.

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MARY OCCIOGROSSO

Mary is also a perennial winner at SOAS.  The red slippers that captured the 2nd Place Ribbon this year were a pleasant change of pace. Her expansive exhibit (see above image) has been located at the same spot on Front Street for several years (or more) with her gorgeous floral watercolors, such as these:

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CHRISTINE MOSES-ROGOWICZ again brought calm beauty.

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. LISA BURTON returned with her impressive eye for detail.

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JILL EVANS brought works with equine and floral beauty.

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ART NIGHT SCHENECTADY has spearheaded a movement that has greatly increased our ability to experience and appreciate the art created in our City and region. As they say on their Instagram page, it is “A Schenectady celebration of our local and regional creatives on the 3rd Friday of every month!”  I hope their intriguing display at SOAS helped spread the word and nurture enthusiasm for our local art and creatives. Special thanks to Stockade neighbor Craig Petreikis for his efforts and spirit.

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NEAR MISS: I almost missed two artists who set up behind other large exhibits, and I’m glad I did notice them the second or third time I passed their locations.  Veteran SOAS exhibitor T. HEROUX was on Front Street and newcomer JULIA OMELKO had her stunning display along St. George’s former rectory.

T. HEROUX is known for his black silhouettes and they were a welcome sight, as were the other styles he has been perfecting:

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JULIA OMELKO was new to me, but I hope to see her talent and style frequently. The haunting eyes of the young boy that brought her honorable mention on Sunday (image above left) are only part of her repertoire. Here are a few more examples.

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A REAL MISS: THE MARGARET WATROUS EXHIBIT

I am embarrassed and disappointed, because I realized yesterday that I never stopped to see one of my favorite artists, Peggy Watrous, during SOAS 2025.  I have no reasonable explanation, especially since I talked and walked with her husband John at the end of the Show as he was retrieving their car to pack up the exhibit. For me, seeing neither Peggy nor her art is a big loss. The best I can do today to make up to Peggy and to readers of this webpost is present images I took of her exhbits in prior years.

PEGGY WATROUS at 2024 Stockade Outdoor Art Show:

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PEGGY WATROUS at 2023 Stockade Outdoor Art Show:

I urge you to click on the two prior images for a better look at Peggy’s creations.

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PEGGY FLANNERY

Peggy’s honorably mentioned painting was one of my favorites in the Show.  She is shown with it above in the Winners Section.  Here are scenes of and from her exhibition tent.

 

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YOUNG ARTISTS in SOAS seem to have actively caring, helpful, proud parents. And seeing their interactions makes me hopeful for the arts and families in general. This Slideshow shows some of the YA exhibits.

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BRANDON TOEPER , with his hand pressed prints, was this year’s Best First-time Exhibitor. I enjoyed talking with him about the process of making the prints, and I wish I had taken more shots at his exhibit. I hope this one conveys the quality and precision of his work

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GAVIN had the last exhibit on Front Street and I’m glad I got to see his lively paintings.

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PINA CALABRO . . .

One of the highlights for me of the Stockade Outdoor Art Show each year is my visit to the exhibit of Pina Calabro. She paints scenes inspired by the town and region of her birth in Sicily.  Pina’s paintings and her warm personality are about as close as I ever get to feeling the soft light and colors and hospitality of my ancestral Sicilian homeland. I hope the beauty and serenity come through in these images.

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DELAY: It is going to take me longer than I had hoped to complete this review of the 2025 SOAS. I still plan to cover the exhibits on Green and N. Ferry Streets over the next few days. I’m aiming to have it completed by Saturday, Sept. 13.  I’ll be adding photos and comments each day, and appreciate your patience and thank all who have stopped by to share the Stockade Outdoor Art Show with me.

. .  . . “Explosion” by Sherrie L. Mackey

GREEN STREET

Green Street had a nice mix of repeat and first-time exhibitors. The artists included:

ICKIBONES (a/k/a NIKKI JONES) was at SOAS for the 2nd time. She shared an exhibit with newcomer THIRD EYEBALL.

. .  ICKIBONES creates all sorts of fun items in different mediums, many of which she brought her first time at SOAS in 2022, but she has also been focusing on wood-burning (pyrography) and helped me learn a bit about that process. Here are samples of her work.

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. . . THIRD EYEBALL paints an array of subjects, as you can see from her half of the exhibit.

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KAREN ZAHRAY returned this year with another exhibit filled with her intriguing art.

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KSENIYA OSTROVSKA exhibited at SOAS for the first time this year, and brought a tent full of beautiful floral images.

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. . by Maryanne Rappaport .  .

MARYANNE RAPPAPORT received another Honorable Mention award this year. She said she’s been traveling often, and brings back images like the one above from Houston’s riverfront. Here are a few more pieces found at her display this year.

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LINDA TRACZ returned this year with more eye-catching artwork.

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DAKOTA (“KOTA”) RIDGE was a the end of the Green Street exhibits and well worth the walk. Early in the post, you will find him accepted the Best Stockade Depiction Award for his smile-making scene of bambini surrounding Lawrence and filling the Circle. (Click on a circle below for a full version.)

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  RICK SACCHETTI had his impressive display at his traditional spot on N. Ferry near Green St.  He was also, as usual, at the Winners Circle, winning the First Prize.  Here is more of his artistry:

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KAYLA COONS returned with her style and intriguing images. 

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. . Klompas & Lawrence . .

 

NAHOMY RIVERA‘s art was new to me, and I’m glad I took some photos.

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. . by Shonli . .

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KATE HERRICK’s mom was was attending Kate’s table, but I wish I got to meet the first-time exhibitor, too.

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HELGA PRITCHARD always attracts my attention. 

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 . . so does FAITH WELDON

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 MARK MILETTA always has a bright array of unique paintings along the fence at St. George’s Church. But, much to his chagrin, and mine, Mark’s exhibit once again was pommeled (see the thumbnail at the head of this paragraph for the 2022 version) in the wind-tunnel that whips down St. George’s cemetery toward No. Ferry Street. I had scarcely snapped one photo when the wind knocked every Miletta painting to the ground. It’s a great location aesthetically, but may it never happen again. Here’s all the Miletta artistry I can show from SOAS 2025:

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DAVID FINGERHUT brings a fine selection of his Fine Art Photography to the Stockade every year.  It’s always worth a look.

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BARBARA LENNOX‘s exhibit is always a treat, as you can see. 

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ANPING LIU‘s ink wash brush painting, called “shuimohua” in Chinese (and “sumi-e” in Japanese), has brought beauty and serenity to the Stockade for several years. As shown earlier in this posting, Liu’s display also has pieces that tell the story of our Lawrence the Indian in words (Chinese and English) and brush strokes in several colors.  I hope the images here whet your appetite for more, and that Anpin Liu and his wife Xiaoping (Sherry) Liu both share their art with us in their next Stockade appearance.

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SUSAN L. MACKEY (a/k/a The Journey Tender) Click on a tile for a larger version.

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PAT POSILLICO . . Like Pat, I like the Saratoga Christmas carollers.

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MAUREEN KELLY . . My wide shot of Maureen’s exhibit was a little blurry, but I hope you like this pair.

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 CLAIRE SYTA . . Last year, Claire won both the Best Young Artist and Best First Time Exhibitor award. [see thumbnail above] This year, Claire might not have won an award, but her lovely gown shoulda been a contender. . I hope she’ll be back again in 2026. Click on a thumnail for the full version. 

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DAN PREDMORE ..  ..

Dan scaled down his exhibit this year, but it was still attracting art lovers. 

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RICHARD WANG . . I’ve seen Mr. Wang often at art events this past year. And, the Times Union recently had a major article about him – “Master Calligrapher from Niskayuna teaches healing through ink” (July 13, 2025). So, I was happy to see him at SOAS 2025 displaying his calligraphic art. [click on a tile for a full version of the image]

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P & M STUDIOS . . I’m always glad to see the art of TIM PRENDERGAST & JOHN MORRETTE at an event. 

 . . At the top of this posting, we pictured John Morrette at the Winners Circle after receiving the Third Place grand prize. Here he is with that painting (click here for a larger, sharper version of that painting):

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. . this table has a few more of John’s creations . .

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Tim Prendergast alongside one of his paintings: 

. . and, two more of his paintings displayed at SOAS 2025:

. . click this thumbmail to see their table at Mabee Farm on August 23, 2025

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UNSUBs: there were three exhibits I could not identify once I got back home from SOAS 2025. If you can identify any of them, please let me know in a comment or email. (click on a tile for a larger version)

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 . . I looked for a sign, but could not find one.

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FRANKENFLIES

When I got to their exhibit, Ryan Smithson and his daughter were having fun showcasing their wares. At frankenflyart.com I learned a bit about their special projects: “Welcome to Ryan Smithson’s world, where the unique Frankenfly Art meets the soulful tunes of live acoustic performances and inspiring tales from a military past.”

. . here are some of the sights at their exhibit. . 

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TINA JOHNSTON

Tina had a bright display of her “silk paintings.” Lots to enjoy.

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ROBIN ROSENTHAL

 . . Robin Rosenthal . .

Robin Rosenthal’s many fans love spending time at her giant display of paintings, many still lifes and more.

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DON COOPER . .

Don Cooper won the prestigious Oakroom Artists Award this year. He and a winning painting are seen in the Winners section of this posting and in the thumbnail just above this sentence. This award is for the artist’s entire exhibit. Here’s a small portion of his exhibit this year. 

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. .  THE END (except for some fine tuning). Thanks for coming by. And, thanks again to all who made SOAS 2025 another rewarding experience in art and community: Stockade organizers, neighbors, and all the visitors.