El Primer Abrazo: Kico Govantes Solo Show Searches for Meaning and Connection
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ALBANY, NY < PERMIT #486 Published by the Greene County Council on the Arts, 398 Main St., Catskill, NY 12414 • Issue 104 • May/June 2015 El Primer Abrazo: Kico Govantes Solo Show Searches for Meaning and Connection Above: Esperando la Primavera (Waiting for Spring II) Enrique “Kico” Govantes. 11” x 14” Oil on canvas Left: Kico Govantes in his Catskill, NY Studio. Photo credit: Molly Stinchfi eld, 2015 Right: City of Men: Health Crisis, Kico Govantes. Oil on Canvas, 1982 Greene County Council on their hands to quench their one day gift it as a memorial to It’s the greatest feeling in the and San Francisco. Pulse the Arts presents “El Primer thirst; now some are privileged the history of HIV/AIDS. world.” Magazine, Ulster Publishing, Abrazo: Kico Govantes Solo enough to draw clean water Govantes’ work tells a Govantes was born in Register Star, Independent Show” featuring Govantes’ from a tap thousands of miles lifetime of stories, bleak and Havana, Cuba surrounded Bay Area Reporter and Bay vibrant and dynamic stick from its source while others die celebratory alike. The images by art. His grandfather was Area Guardian and others have fi gure paintings. His remark- from a lack of it. are layered, scraped away the Minister of Public Works, reviewed his work. able exhibit runs from April Kico transforms the vessel and repainted over time. Like his father an architect. Paul “El Priner Abrazo” runs 25 through June 6, 2015. Meet into a human torso: a symbol of a great tale, it takes years Smart wrote in his article through June 6. Gallery hours the artist at the reception on our emptiness, a void waiting to to fi nish one canvas so he on Govantes, “Ace of Cups,” are Monday through Friday Saturday, May 2 from 5 to 7pm. be fi lled by knowledge, culture, develops them simultaneously, (Ulster Publishing. April 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and The GCCA Catskill is located at spirituality, and community. In his attic studio in Catskill a tidy 2005) that although they did Saturday’s noon to 5 p.m. In 398 Main Street in Catskill. an early series of paintings, he homage to organized chaos. It not support the Batista regime, conjunction with the show, Enrique “Kico” Govantes’ depicts the gay male response is a human-sized scrapbook of the Govantes were exiled from there will be a fundraising paintings stem from a deep to the unfolding AIDS epidemic a lifetime of experiences. Castro’s Cuba with only the event, “between the lines” on reverence for the cup-vessel in San Francisco. The energy Amidst the bustling art they could carry in their Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. to carry water from the river of the fi rst colorful paintings constellation of human vessels suitcases. at the Catskill Mill located at to the home, which he views is electric with stick fi gures yearning to be fi lled, another He has presented solo 361 Main Street, Catskill, NY. as a crucial development dancing, holding each other, painting stands out in its shows at Rensselaer Poly- You won’t want to miss this of civilization. In Govantes’ and enjoying life. The show simplicity and whimsy. Two technic Institute in Troy; very special event featuring live visual language, the cup is sold out completely, except for fi gures stand in el primer Nicole Fiacco/MODO Gallery music and movement based on the root of every story. It one painting. The stark painting abrazo, the fi rst embrace, with in Hudson; Hunter’s Point sketches by renowned artist symbolizes our ability to that remains in his collection pink houses tumbling open in Naval Shipyard; Terrain; Kiki Smith, a live auction and move away from the source, shows fi gures standing stiffl y the background. This painting Carlson Gallery; Zuni and dance party. Proceeds go to our dependence on clean without touching one another. is homage to Govantes’ late the Art in Transit Program in GCCA’s Visual Arts Program. water, and our cultural sepa- Govantes has received dozens partner. “He turned my world San Francisco. He contrib- For schedule and ticket options, ration from nature. Without of off ers for this painting, but he upside down,” Govantes said. uted to group exhibitions in please visit www.greenearts. a vessel, humans must cup is saving it in hopes that he can “All people should fall in love. the Catskills, New York City org or call 518-943-3400. GCCA’s Living Linear Language: and Dancing More is More “between Group Drawing Exhibit the Leaps off the Page lines” Linear Language: More is More, an elec- for trifying group exhibit that revels in the energy of horror vacui (the need to fi ll the space) that will be a fundraising event on Saturday May 16 GCCA runs through June 6, 2015 at the Greene County at 7:00 pm at the Catskill Mill located a few steps Council on the Arts Catskill Gallery located away at 361 Main Street, Catskill, NY. You won’t Submitted by at 398 Main Street in Catskill, NY. Meet the want to miss this very special event featuring selected artists and view their works at the live music and movement based on sketches by Nancey Rosensweig opening reception on Saturday, May 2 from 5 to renowned artist Kiki Smith, a live auction and and Todd Whitley 7 p.m. In conjunction with this exhibit and the El dance party. Proceeds go to GCCA’s Visual Arts Primer Abrazo: Kico Govantes Solo Show, there Program. For schedule and tickets, please visit www.greenearts.org. Choreographer Judith Moss (pictured with Dan Wagaoner) Photo Credit: Lois Greenfi eld. Linear Language: More is More, showcases detailed, obsessive and repetitive drawings by “To me, art, like life, happens in its truest form between the Hudson Valley contemporary artists, including lines....between what we’re told to do or be, taking into consid- Henrietta Mantooth, Ken Polinskie, Ruth eration our passions, and our joys and disappointments, which Leonard, Wendy Ide Williams, Matt Bua, and sometimes exist in contrast to the reality of our daily lives,” notes Sara Pruiksma, among others. The exhibit Greene County Council on the Arts (GCCA) Board member, explores drawing as a way of developing and Nancey Rosensweig. What happens in that liminal space has recording a language, mapping one’s personal been the motivation behind Nancey’s concept for the aptly titled history and evolution of thoughts. fundraiser. Henrietta Mantooth, recipient of Pollack Set for Saturday, May 16, 2015 ‘between the lines’ will be Krasner, NYFA, and Joan Mitchell Foundation held at the newly renovated Catskill Mill at 361 Main Street, grants, as well as a Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation Catskill, NY. A spring fundraiser for GCCA, this event was Painting Grant and a Dryfus Fellowship from designed to attract GCCA supporters who missed the Beaux the MacDowell Colony, uses her multimedia Arts Ball in March, as well as create an opportunity for younger art to witness and give voice to the nameless members of our community to contribute in a way that accommo- dates all income levels. people reported on in the media: “refugees, The evening will be presented in three parts: an auction, rebels, farmers, men and women who tend and a dance performance and a dance party. A reception defend their land, homes, children, animals and preceding the performance, featuring delectable Vietnamese ideas.” This social responsibility is rooted in her appetizers donated by the Catskill Mill Food Truck, a cash Missouri childhood, where she witnessed the bar and a silent auction preview will begin at 7 p.m. eff ects of segregation, inequality and poverty The performance will begin at 8 p.m., followed by the Live on her family and neighbors during the Great Auction at 8:45. The dance party starts at 9:30 p.m. Above: Pistachios by Ruby Silvious. Depression. GCCA off ers several options for tickets for the evening. Painted pistachio shells. Artist Ken Polinskie will unveil a group of VIP Tickets at $50 include entry to the entire evening, two Above Right: Threading by ink and gouache panel drawings of cross-hatched drink tickets and a chance to win two tickets to the Hudson Wendy Ide Williams, mixed media. continued on page 14 continued on page 2 www.greenearts.org Presenting Cultural Events & Opportunities for the Twin Counties Page 2 May/June 2015 ALIVE Registration will begin on May 5, 2015 for Sprouts, the GREENE Greene County Council on the Arts long awaited and highly COUNTY GCCA ‘Sprouts’ anticipated summer arts program throughout Greene County. Best COUNCIL ON of all and thanks to corporate, municipal and private donations THE ARTS the Sprouts Program is free for children ages 3 to 7 who live in Registration Greene County! Week-long sessions of Sprouts will take place on the following dates and locations. BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Slutzky, President Begins May 5! Windham-Ashland-Jewett Elementary School Bill Deane, 1st Vice President July 6-10, 2015 Paul Poplock, Treasurer Lawrence Krajeski, Secretary Coxsackie Athens School Campus Jeff Friedman (Exact location to be determined) Kico Govantes July 13 –17, 2015 Liz Kirkhus Nancey Rosensweig Cairo-Durham Middle-High School (Rt 145 in Cairo) Laura Segall July 20-24, 2015 John Sowle Brenda Taylor Greenville –St. John’s Catholic Church (Rt. 81) July 27-31, 2015 Sheila Trautman BOARD OF ADVISORS Hunter Mountain Learning Center August 3-7, 2015 Casey Biggs, Chairman Karl T. Anis Catskill Elementary School, 77 Embought Road Jared Aswegan August 10-14, 2015 June Battisti Ava Barbour Young Sprouts students begin their Susan Beecher The Sprouts program takes a bit of a twist this year and off ers four week-long project constructing and painting “Alien” separate workshops to choose from, focusing on Art, Music, Theater Dick Brooks objects of art for the end of the week theater production Andrea Cunliffe in one of the 2014 Sprouts workshops.