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ALBANY, NY PERMIT #486 Published by the Greene County Council on the Arts 398 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414 • Issue 126 • January /February 2019 Coping: Art to Process Illness, Decay, and Loss JANUARY 26 – APRIL 13, 2019 OPENING RECEPTION Kimono JANUARY 26, 2019, 3-5PM by Claudia Waruch: With the death of elderly parents your own mortality comes to the fore fr ont. Th e Future Kimono symbolizes that mortality and the premise of “being in that state of decay”. Th e work originated fr om my photo of a decaying tree. Being visually sensitive to that imagery and I knew I would eventually incorporate it in my work. Th e decomposition of organic matt er creates wonderful sculptural lines, complex textures and worn patt erns, rendering the decay curiously stunning. Th e juxtaposition of those components allows the notion of Apophenia or Patt ernicity. Th e idea deals with the human cognitive experience of seeing patt erns or connections where none Maureen Bagshaw: actually exist. Th e original photo altered in Photoshop and transferred on My Mother suff ers omfr severe Alzheimer’s disease. I painted this multiple pieces of vellum, silk-screened abstract reverse painting on glass as it refl ected what I was trying to on nine coordinated hand pulled panels, capture in the horrible disease—dark, dismal and colorless. printed using Stonehenge paper. Maureen Bagshaw. 10 x 8 inches, oil and acrylic reverse painting. Th is 48” x 58” silkscreened piece is draped over a handmade cherry fr ame. Th e Kimono format stems fr om a childhood fantasy and the third of a series created in 2013. Claudia Waruch Have you turned Coping: Art to Process Illness, Decay, was previously featured in the 2010 GCCA 26 from 3-5pm when several of the artists and Loss explores these questions through exhibition A Sense of Place. in the show will be present. The GCCA to your art supplies the work of artists who are using the The exhibition will highlight the works Catskill Gallery hours are Monday – Friday in a time of trauma? creative process to work through health of Maureen Bagshaw, Shelley Davis, Ashley 10-5pm and Saturday, 12-5pm. Public crises, mental illness, and the loss of loved Garrett, Heide Hatry, Bruce Hopkins, programming will include a fi lm screening, of loss? of feeling ones. There is renewed focus on the role Connie Frisbee Houde, Philip Howie, artist talk and book signing, details to of viewing art in improving health— the Ellen Levinson, Claudia McNulty, Ricardo follow. For additional information, please not yourself? concept has long been used in the prac- Mulero, Kevin Nordstrom, Linda Psomas, contact Marline A. Martin, 518- 943-3400 or tice of art therapy, and it has recently Elaine Scull, Meryl Shapiro, Susan Togut, email [email protected]. been brought up in the news of Canadian Sheila Trautman, Claudia Waruch and Brian Curator bio: Ashley Hopkins-Benton How does the doctors prescribing museum visits to Wood. These poignant works of art include is the Senior Historian/Curator of Social process of creation patients. The therapeutic effect of creation paintings, drawings, sculptures, journals, History at the New York State Museum. can be seen on a broad scale in the popular poetry and reproduced images. For many Her recent research has focused on the help us to heal? activity of grown-up coloring books, which of the artists in the show, art is a way to fi ght for women’s suffrage (she served as are touted for their calming and stress cope and better understand their own co-curator for the 2017 exhibition Votes to cope? relieving impact. This exhibition seeks to conditions and that of a loved one. for Women: Celebrating New York’s explore the way artists in our community “Using artwork to understand the Suffrage Centennial) and the fi ght for use their chosen media for catharsis. experience of illness and loss may be LGBTQ+ rights in New York State. She is the How does the Curated by Ashley Hopkins-Benton, viewed as Outsider Art or not qualifi ed co-author of Votes for Women: Celebrating Senior Historian/Curator of Social History for a museum setting,” states Marline A. New York’s Suffrage Centennial (with creative process at the New York State Museum, the inspira- Martin, Executive Director, Greene County Jennifer Lemak, 2017, SUNY Press) and change as we begin tion for this exhibition came in part from a Council on the Arts. “However, there are the author of Breathing Life Into Stone: The conversation with her uncle, Bruce Hopkins. several notable artists who struggled Sculpture of Henry DiSpirito (Fenimore Art to think about Bruce has been exploring aging and end of with a variety of disorders and illnesses Museum, 2013). Hopkins-Benton earned life through sketches of decaying leaves, as including Goya, van Gogh, Kahlo, O'Keefe, her MA in History Museum Studies from the the end of life well as using writing to stave off the effects Basquait and Rothko, among others. The Cooperstown Graduate Program and BA and our legacy? of Alzheimer’s. The leaf studies resonated works that they created during their time in art education/art studio with a focus on with her in particular—Ashley had worked of trauma served as the core process of photography at the State University of New on a project juxtaposing the rough, organic healing through art and the releasing of York College at Potsdam. She serves on forms of decaying natural materials with the their creative spirits. We hope that the the GCCA visual arts committee and is a cold clinical lines of pharmaceuticals while show will inspire more people to explore life-long GCCA member. processing her father’s cancer diagnosis. the link between art and the mind.” Bruce, currently a resident of Sioux City, The Coping: Art to Process Illness, Iowa, grew up in the Catskills, and is the Decay, and Loss exhibition will run from brother of the late Barry Hopkins (a long- January 26 through April 13, 2019 with an time GCCA board member). His writing opening reception on Saturday, January Presenting Cultural Events & Opportunities for Greene, Columbia & Schoharie Counties. www.greenearts.org 4 Page 2 2019 January/February ALIVE Will Barnds, Raphael Moser, Chuck Thanks to Board members Lisa Ovitt GREENE Pierce, Ken Tannenbaum and Robert and Anne Morton from Schoharie COUNTY President's Corner Tomlinson in the layout, mounting County for their efforts. We plan COUNCIL ON and lighting of the exhibit. Over 100 to expand GCCA’s programs in THE ARTS artists’ participated with over 350 Columbia County in 2019. works displayed. GCCA exhibits offer In 2018 GCCA’s administration A Message from BILL DEANE, artists the opportunity to exhibit, of the NYSCA/Decentralization GCCA President of the Board of Directors meet other artists and often-become Community Arts Grant Program BOARD OF DIRECTORS collected. Quite a few pieces have provided support for the many art already sold. I look forward to the forms fostering creativity, learning David Slutzky, Chairman upcoming roster of thoughtful and and development, public engage- Bill Deane, President As we begin the New Year I receive GCCA’s weekly e-news via the innovative shows in the 2019 season. ment and artistic performance in would like to thank all of the Members GCCA website. The Board of Director’s Greene, Columbia and Schoharie Nancey Rosensweig, Vice President and Donors who made the 2018 There is still time to view the Rebranding Committee continues counties. The 2019 Re-grant Program Jeff Friedman, Treasurer Holiday Year End Appeal successful. 2018 Members Salon and Handmade to work diligently on developing a provides a total of $126,000 in Lawrence Krajeski, Secretary The funds received in response to Holidays Exhibit and Sale at the meaningful new name for the organi- support to its awardees. GCCA also the appeal are a great help and give GCCA Gallery located at 348 Main zation. The plan is to unveil the new administers the Greene County’s Ava Barbour support to GCCA operations through Street in Catskill. The exhibit remains name at the Beaux Arts Ball. Two County Initiative Program (CIP). Both Kico Govantes the fi rst quarter of 2019. on display through January 12, 2019. other changes planned for early 2019 Re-Grant Programs provide a valued Please save the date for GCCA’s This annual show refl ects the diverse include establishment of term limits service connecting audiences to Deena Lebow st major fundraiser, the 31 Annual talent among our Artist Members for GCCA Board Members and the art. Look for events that have been Anne Morton Beaux Arts Ball on Saturday, April 6, and includes original works created consolidation of membership levels developed using these grants in our Lisa A. Ovitt 2019. We will once again return to by emerging and self-taught artists with a revised dues schedule and weekly e-news each, posted online The Copper Tree Restaurant at Hunter to award winning established artists an enhanced membership benefi ts in the Cultural Calendar at www. Beth Schneck Mountain to celebrate GCCA’s impact and artisans. The 2018 Salon is one of package offered to GCCA Members greenearts.org along with GCCA’s Laura Segall and accomplishments to our collec- the best I have seen. The works are as an incentive to experience the arts bi-Monthly “Arts Alive” reporting tive art community. We are working reasonably priced and worth adding throughout the three counties GCCA news and information. Thomas Silvious on making this special evening most to your collection. Thanks to the fi ne serves. We will continue our initiative Thank you for your on-going Sheila Trautman memorable for all.