hudson valley mercantile

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live. work. play.

March/April 2012

Mercantile March 2012 Mercantile March 2012 Page 2

Mercantile March 2012

contents

P.O. Box 178Red Hook, NY 12571845-546-3051

a publication of

Jim Gibbons: [email protected]

Heather Gibbons: Creative [email protected]

Contents ©2012 Rising Tide Communications, LLC No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher

Contributors:Brian PJ Cronin

Kristen CroninKathy Leonard Czepiel

Robert EverhartMargaret Moebius

Elayne SeamanJoel Weisbrod

Special Thanks:Town of Red Hook

Bicentennial CommitteeMercantilehudson valley

On the Cover: ‘Clearwater off Tellers Point’, oil on canvas, 11” x 14”, by Rick Gedney. Born and raised in the suburbs of New York, Gedney developed an early appreciation for the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. He started his academic life studying art at Franklin College, Indiana under the guidance of realist landscape artist Thomas Locker, and Luigi Crispino, an abstract expressionist. After many years he rediscovered the works of Thomas Cole and his contemporaries and followers and visited many of the locales that brought them inspiration. Gedney describes the underlying motive in all his work “is to express a sense of peace and harmony, of gentle beauty, and inspiration.” See Gedney’s work in person at RiverWinds Gallery in Beacon through April 7. Learn more at http://www.riverwindsgallery.com.

Long Days, Short Years by Brian PJ Cronin 6

Seasonal Palette Calendar begins 11

A Short History of Longreach Artists’ Cooperative by Elayne Seaman 21

New Art Classes in Rhinebeck by Margaret Moebius 21

Photo Editing: Understanding the Terminology by Joel Weisbrod 23

Live! On Stage Calendar begins 24

Sounds of Spring Calendar begins 26

Take the Kids Calendar begins 29

Readings, Signings & Screenings Calendar begins 32

Bright Green Valley Calendar begins 36

Town of Red Hook Bicentennial: Part III: Red Hook’s Violet Past 38

Miscellaneous Calendar begins 43

Why Do Your Trees Need You in the Spring? by Robert Everhart 47

by Kathy Leonard Czepiel


have two new role models for fatherhood. One of them is the celebrated astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Dr. Tyson is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History and holds over a dozen honorary doctorates. He also hosts several television shows on PBS and is the author of numerous best-selling books.

The other is a champion competitive eater who goes by the name “El Wingador.”

They each have their role to play.Like all sane and rational adults, I want my child to grow up to be

exactly like me, only better. Cooper will love playing baseball, but his chief strategy for getting on base will not be to close his eyes and pray a pitch hits him. He will enjoy playing guitar, but it will not take him 21 years (and counting) to master bar chords. And he will love science, but he will not get a D- in it. No, he will be a natural born scientist. I asked Dr. Tyson for his help on how to make that last dream a reality. And by “asked” I mean “I watched him being interviewed on YouTube.”

Dr. Tyson’s advice for encouraging young scientists is to get out of their way. He says that all too often, overly protective parents and the harsh buzzkill of “rules” root a child’s natural inquisitiveness out of him. That is why, in his house, kids are allowed to touch anything, drop anything, destroy everything in the process of exploring the world around them.

This is all very good advice. What Dr. Tyson fails to mention is that he lives in a magical marshmallow castle with no sharp objects or hard surfaces.

As all parents know, if you put a child in a room with 99 amazing toys and one pair of scissors hidden underneath them, it will take the child approximately two and a half seconds to find the scissors. Once he finds it, he will want to play with nothing else. I am not sure what evolutionary advantage this innate death wish infers. I asked Dr. Tyson, but he has not yet responded to my YouTube comment.

I know that accidents are inevitable. As Kristen recently told some friends of ours, “I WANT Cooper to bump his head a little. If he doesn’t, he won’t learn to NOT bump his head.” But there’s something else that I found hard to put into words until I discovered the liberating, ancient wisdom of the man known only as El Wingador.

Perhaps you have seen the documentary about El Wingador that Errol Morris recently shot for The New York Times. If not, do go online and check it out. All it will cost you is your appetite.

In the film, El Wingador explains the intricacies of his numerous training techniques. These include smooshing 100 Tootsie Rolls together into a baseball-sized über-roll and swallowing it whole in order to sufficiently loosen his jaw and throat muscles. When this gets too easy, he moves on to those rawhide bones you buy for German Shepherds. Don’t worry about the sharp, stabbing sensations you’re feeling in your stomach right now, those are simply the sharp stabs of envy.

At the end of the film, El Wingador tells the filmmakers about the only thing that he is afraid of. You may wonder what could possibly strike fear into the heart of a man who can eat over 200 chicken wings in the time it takes most people to figure out where they put their keys. Heart attack? Salad? Having to compete against someone who can swallow a Yule log?

“The only thing that worries me is my kids getting hurt,” he says. “You feel vulnerable, and you don’t want to be, but…” and he trails off, shrugging his massive shoulders. “It’s life.”

And that is what me and a man who can eat a pizza the size of a kiddie pool in 19 minutes and then take his wife out for seafood have in common. Much has been written about how there is no greater love than the love a parent feels for their child, but there is also no greater fear than the fear a parent has that something bad will happen to their child. It can turn a 300-pound Colossus into a blubbering mess, so you can imagine what it does to me. You understand why “helicopter parenting” happens. You understand why Finding Nemo had to be made.

So, I hover there, caught in the equidistant gravitational pulls of Dr. Tyson and El Wingador, orbiting around me. One tells me to let go, one tells me to hold on tight, and I’m left floating in space, watching Cooper crawl ever closer to the sharp cornered table, trying to figure out when I should hold out my hand.

by Brian PJ Cronin, photo by Kristen Cronin

Brian PJ and Kristen Cronin live in Beacon with their four cats, and their son Cooper James Cronin. Check out their blog A Rotisserie Chicken and 12 Padded Envelopes at hvmercantile.com, and view more of their photos at www.flickr.com/teammoonshine.

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2012Summer

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P A L E T T Es e a s o n a l


Albert Shahinian Fine Art Upstairs Galleries22 East Market Street, Suite 301, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Through April: “15: Artists from Ulster County,” an expanded reprise of the May 2011 exhibition at the Brooklyn Artists Gym (BAG)”. Curated by BAG director, Peter Wallace, and Ulster County artist Christie Scheele, this major showcase of contemporary work includes 15 mid- and late-career artists working in diverse mediums (painting, printwork, photography, ceramics, assemblage and mixed media). On the roster: Kim Alderman, Leslie Bender, Yale Epstein, Bernard Gerson, Chris Hawkins, Heather Hutchison, Mark Kanter, Lenny Kislin, Polly M. Law, Tom Luciano, Kate McGloughlin, Rosalind Robertson, Meredith Rosier, Christie Scheele, Judy Sigunick, and Anique Taylor. Artist Demonstrations: Saturday, April 28, 4-6 p.m.Hours: Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. & by appointment or chance.Information: 845.876.7578; [email protected]

Albert Shahinian Fine Art @ Prudential/Serls6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Through April: “15: Artists from Ulster County,” see description above.Hours: Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. & by appointment or chance; daily during office hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Information: 845.876.7578; [email protected]

Art POP! Gallery7516 North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571March 16-April 22: “Small Works, Big Ideas,” original paintings, drawings, art prints, photography, all no larger than 11” x 14”. Find that small gem that will fit anywhere. Hours: Saturday & Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; and by appt.Information: [email protected]; rhcan.blogspot.com

Barrett Art Center55 Noxon St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601March 31-April: “1/2 Your Age,” an exhibition featuring work by artists who have collaborated on one work, or a set of works with an artist half their age (or twice their age). All media. Hours: Wed.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; and by appt.Information: 845.471.0407; http://www.barrettartcenter.org

bau Gallery161 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508Through April 8: “Marina @ bau,” featuring work by artists represented by Marina Gallery in Cold Spring, NY: John Allen, Ada Cruz, Tim D’Acquisto, Barbara Smith Gioia, Grace Kennedy, Grace Knowlton, Martee Levi, Maria Pia Marrella, James Murray, Ann Provan, David Provan, Ursula Schneider, Lucille Tortora and Marina Yashina. Artists from bau will simultaneously show work at Marina Gallery through April 1, in a show called “bau spring.” Hours: Sat. & Sun., noon-6 p.m.Information: 845.440.7584; baugallery.com; http://themarinagallery.com

Beacon Institute Gallery199 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Through October 7: “Harnessing the Hudson, Waterwheels to Turbines,” a photographic history of how people have harnessed the renewable energy of the Hudson River from early sawmills of the 18th century to the hydroelectric turbines of the early 1900s. This exhibit is on loan from the Chapman Historical Museum in Glens Falls, NY and contains a collection of archival photos with accompanying descriptive text.Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.; open until 8 p.m. Second Saturdays. Information: 845.838.1600 x 19; http://bire.org

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P A L E T T Es e a s o n a l

‘Toward Hook Mountain’, Oil on Canvas, 18 x 34, by cover artist Rick Gedney is on exhibit at RiverWinds Gallery in Beacon through April 8.

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‘Anemone Flight’ photograph by Claudia Gorman, a Longreach Artists’ Cooperative member. An exhibition celebrating the group’s 30th Anniversary is at The Mid Hudson Heritage Center in Poughkeepsie for the month of April.


continued from page 11 i


Betsy Jacaruso Studio & Gallery43-2 East Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572March 17-April 7: “Aqua Estuary,” paintings by Betsy Jacaruso. Plus, new work by Cross River Artists. Opening reception: Saturday, March 17, 5-7 p.m.Hours: Wed.-Sat., 1-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.; and by appointment or chance.Information: 845.516.4435; http://www.betsyjacarusostudio.com

CCS Bard Hessel Museum of ArtBard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504March 18-May 27: “Matters of Fact,” an exhibition that will revisit a number of key encounters from the institutional history of the Hessel Museum of Art: between collector and artist, curator and exhibition, art and art history. Co-curated by Tom Eccles, Nathan Lee and CCS Bard graduate students Suzy M. Halajian and Alicia Ritson.Hours: Wed.-Sun., 1-5 p.m.Information: 845.758.7598; [email protected]; http://www.bard.edu/ccs

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center9 & 12 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 126019 Vassar, April 9-May 30: “Printemps,” a group exhibit featuring multi-media pieces that evoke signs of spring.12 Vassar, April 1-May 30: Chine Colle prints by Emma Crawford.Information: 845.486.4571; http://www.cunneen-hackett.org

Dia:BeaconRiggio Galleries, 3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY 12508Permanent Collection: In addition to the permanent collection, Dia Art Foundation is currently exhibiting:Through September 4, 2012: “Circa 1971: Early Video & Film from the EAI Archive.” Circa 1971 presents a selection of video and film works by key figures in early video art from the collection of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), a nonprofit organization that fosters the creation, exhibition, distribution, and preservation of moving-image art. Through December 31, 2012: Jean-Luc Moulène, “Opus + One,” the first comprehensive exhibition in North America devoted to the work of this Paris-based artist. The installation will comprise objects and images created over the past two decades and will be accompanied by a new project at the Dan Flavin Art Institute in Bridgehampton, NY, as well as a major publication. Ongoing: “24 Farben – fur Blinky (24 Colors – for Blinky), 1977,” Imi Knoebel’s cycle of 21 shaped paintings. Ongoing: “Sol LeWitt, Drawing Series,” Dia’s presentation of wall drawings by Sol LeWitt from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s was selected by the artist himself. It highlights his monumental Drawing Series-Composite, Part I-IV, #1-24, A + B (1968), a four-color rendering of which is executed here for the first time.. Tickets: $10; $7 seniors and students; children under 12 freeHours: Thurs.-Mon., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.Information: 845.440.0100; www.diaart.org

‘Anemone Flight’ photograph by Claudia Gorman, a Longreach Artists’ Cooperative member. An exhibition celebrating the group’s 30th Anniversary is at The Mid Hudson Heritage Center in Poughkeepsie for the month of April.


DGAF Gallery428 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Through May 1: “Battle for Legacy: Comic Book Art vs. Photography,” gallery owner and photographer Catello Somma goes head-to-head with controversial comic book artist and illustrator Louis Petersen. Also, work by “Kustom Kulture” artist Chris Machin. Information: 845.202.7004; http://www.dgafgallery.com

Frances Lehman Loeb Art CenterCollege Center, Main Building, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604Through April 1: “Marco Maggi: Lentissimo,” a solo exhibition of 14 colorful new works by Marco Maggi made expressly for the occasion of this exhibition. April 13-June 17: “Excavations: The Prints of Julie Mehretu,” one of the most prominent artists working today. This retrospective exhibition, organized by Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis (MN), showcases Mehretu’s engagement with printmaking, which stands at the heart of her art. It is the first retrospective exhibition of her prints. The viewer will see the evolution of her personal language of lines and marks in 20 prints made since 2000 with publishers in the United States and Europe.Opening Lecture & Reception: Friday, April 13, 5:30 p.m. with guest lecturer Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, a gallerist, art advisor, independent curator, collector and tastemaker. She served as a judge during season one of Bravo TV’s “Work of Art.” Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m.Information: 845.437.5632; http://fllac.vassar.edu

Gallery @ the Howland Cultural Center477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Through March 31: “Some Girls of Beacon,” an exhibition in celebration of Women’s History Month that includes artwork of local women artists. Hours: Thurs.-Sun., 1-5 p.m.Information: 845.831.4988; http://www.howlandculturalcenter.org

Hudson Beach Gallery162 Main St., 2nd floor, Beacon, NY 12508Through April 8: “2abstract,” with works by Mike Childs and Patricia Zarate. Childs has developed a minimal, mainly abstract language of patterns, symbols, structural logic and colors derived from photographs of Modern buildings he has taken in Toronto, Canada and New York.Zarate’s work is a slow process that is fueled by images conjured from observation, memory, visuals, words, and music. Presently, color and light occupy her; how the placement and relationship effects our perception.The exhibition includes, paintings, drawings and 3-dimensional works.April 14-30: Beacon Open Studios Kickoff Show. Beacon Open Studios takes place April 28 & 29. Event catalogs available at Hudson Beach Glass, Riverwinds Gallery and Tas Kafe. Kickoff party April 27, 7-10 p.m.Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.Information: 845.440.0068; http://hudsonbeachglass.com

Marion Royael Gallery460 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Through April 1: “Graceland: The Fabulous Grace Knowlton,” featuring the artist’s sculptures, paintings, drawings and photographs.Hours: noon-7 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. & by appt. Information: 541.301.0032; http://www.marionroyaelgallery.com

The Mid-Hudson Heritage Center317 Main St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601April 1-30: “Art 3’ x 3’: A 30th Anniversary Celebration of Longreach Arts,” featuring work by member artists: Mildred Cohen, Staats Fasoldt, Stacie Flint, Susan Fowler-Gallagher, Jose Gomez, Claudia Gorman, Rob Greene, Trina Greene, Robert Hastings, Carol Loizides, Basha Maryanska, Ellen Metzger O’Shea, Carol Pepper-Cooper, Elisa Pritzker, Nancy Scott, Elayne Seaman, Michelle Squires, Marlene Wiedenbaum.Opening reception: Saturday, April 14, 4-7 p.m.Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Information: 845.214.1113; http://midhudsonheritage.org/events/longreach-arts-cooperative

Mill Street Loft ARTS at the River CenterLong Dock Park, Red Flynn Road, Beacon, NY 12508Through April 29: “Hudson River Waterfronts; Beacon & Newburgh, Yesterday & Today,” a special art exhibition focusing on two important and historic Mid-Hudson River waterfronts. The exhibition will feature paintings, drawings, prints and photographs of the Beacon and Newburgh waterfronts from the 1860’s – present. The Historical Societies of both Beacon and Newburgh have loaned some of their historic works and images to MSL Arts for this beautiful and educational exhibition. The historic works will hang alongside paintings and photographs by contemporary professional artists working in the region today.Hours: Tues. & Thurs., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Information: 845.471.7477; [email protected]; millstreetloft.org

Mill Street Loft Gallery 4545 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601March 31-May 5: “Exposure,” the 8th annual juried high school photography exhibition presented by The National Art Honor Society of The Art Institute of Mill Street Loft.Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Information: 845.471.7477; [email protected]; millstreetloft.org

Montgomery Row Second Level6423 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Through March 31: “In the Field,” an exhibition of paintings and photographs by local artists Sally Lyon and Rosemary Hanson.March 31-April 29: “Oz and Abstraction,” solo photography exhibit by Sean Mekas. Reception: Sunday, April 1, 5-7 p.m.Information: 845.876.0543; [email protected]

RiverWinds Gallery 172 Main St., Beacon 12508Through April 7: “Richard Gedney: Hudson River Landscapes,” paintings of the Hudson River expressing a sense of peace and harmony, of gentle beauty and inspiration. Inspired by the aesthetics of 19th century American painting, poetry and literature, and their contrasts and similarities to the present day, Rick Gedney’s original artistic vision is realized in this collection of Hudson River landscapes. April 14-May 7: “Exactly,” drawings by Chris Sanders. Chris Sanders’ work as a natural history/contemporary realist honors an evolutionary trail of local riches and begins to move beyond, to predictions of the past. Reception: Saturday, April 14, 5-8 p.m.Hours: Wed. - Mon., noon - 6 p.m.; Second Saturday, noon-9 p.m.Information: 845.838.2880; http://riverwindsgallery.com




RiverWinds Gallery @ Wells Fargo Advisors6423 Montgomery St., Suite 10, 2nd Floor, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Through April 23: “Animal Kingdom: A Group Art Exhibit.” The Animal Kingdom in this show spans the domestic to the exotic. There are exquisite images of eagles to penguins to seagulls to winter birds; elephants and lions and tigers and moose, horses, a bear. There are fish and a frog, dogs, goats, sheep and even a dinosaur, plus many more. The artists captured an intimacy and connection to these creatures that brings the viewer to a closeness and appreciation of the diverse and amazing world of these animals. Artist Reception: Saturday, March 17, 5-7 p.m.Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and by appt.Information: 845.838.2880; http://riverwindsgallery.com

School of Jellyfish183 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Through May 4: “The King and I: An Account of a Daily Courtship by The Hudson River.” Photographs and story by Lily Zand. Information: 845.440.8017; http://www.schoolofjellyfish.com

Tivoli Artists Co-op60 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Through March 25: “When Art Meets Science” group show.April 6-29: “Rokeby Show,” featuring work by Ania Aldrich, Alex Kahn, Sophia Michahelles, Marina Michahelles, Louis Munroe, Steffen Hyder, Tesha Zaloga, and Val Shaff. Reception: Saturday, April 7, 5-7 p.m.Hours: Fri., 5-9 p.m.; Sat., 1-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m.; and by appt.Information: 845.757.2667; http://www.tivoliartistsco-op.com

Columbia.

BCB Art116 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534Through April 8: “This Land,” work by Julian Opie, Kay Rosen, Peter Seward, Patti Smith, Barbara Friedman, Lynn Dreese Breslin, Ed Ruscha, Eric Hanson and others. Hours: Thurs.-Sat., noon-6 p.m. Information: 518.828.4539; http://bcbart.com

Carrie Haddad Gallery622 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534Through April 15: “Richard Merkin on Film and Literature,” a wide-ranging survey of the late Richard Merkin’s paintings on Film and Literature. The show runs the gamut from fantastic and tragic intellectual literary figures to the absurd and comical. There are almost 70 works on exhibit exploring the famous and infamous. April 19-May 27: “Photography: New Work,” featuring works from David Halliday, Birgit Blyth, Kim McLean, Anna Collette, Kahn & Selesnick, Lisa Frank, David Seiler, Lependorf & Shire, David Lebe, Melinda McDaniel, and Jeri Eisenberg.Reception: Saturday, April 21, 6-8 p.m.Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.Information: 518.828.1915; http://www.carriehaddadgallery.com

Columbia County Council on the ArtsCCCA Gallery 209 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534March 24-May 11: “Juried Student Art Showcase,” multi-media works of local high schools from Columbia Green Community College’s Annual Juried Student Art Show. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Information: 518-671-6213; http://artscolumbia.org

Columbia Greene Community College4400 Route 23, Hudson, NY 12534Kaaterskill Gallery, through March 29: “Germantown Central Schools Art Show” featuring student works.Kaaterskill Gallery & Blue Hill Gallery, April 3-29: “Hudson City Schools Art Show.”Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Information: 518.828.4181; http://www.sunycgcc.edu



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Davis Orton Gallery114 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534April 6-May 13: “The Liminal Portrait,” photographs by Richard Edelman; “Drag Queen 2011,” photographs by Keiko Hiromi; “Portfolio Showcase: The Self-Portrait,” featuring work by Moira Barrett and Michael Darough.Reception: Saturday, April 21, 5-8 p.m.Hours: Fri.-Sun., noon-6 p.m.Information: 518.697.0266; http://davisortongallery.com

Hudson Opera House327 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534Through March 25: “CCCA’s 16th Annual Juried Art Show,” celebrating the diversity and quality of the work being produced by both Columbia County and regional artists.March 31-April 29: “Unnatural Selections: Gammy Miller,” an exhibition of small-scale mixed media drawings which are part of an amateur naturalist’s exploration into one of the tenets of the evolutionary process: natural selection. The drawings are pen and ink with areas of collage and thread. Underlying all is an appreciation for close work, detail, repetition, process and the natural sciences.Opening Reception: Saturday, March 31, 6-8 p.m.Hours: Daily, noon-5 p.m.Information: 518.822.1438; http://hudsonoperahouse.org

John Davis Gallery362 ½ Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534Through March 25: “Joyce Robins: Sculpture.” March 29-April 22: “Paul Hamann: Photographs,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of self-taught photographer Paul Hamann. Inspired by the work of the great landscape photographers and armed with a keen interest in natural mathematics, Hamann’s photographs seek to reveal the patterns and sequences in the natural landscape in a way that transcends the subject matter and draws us into a space that surrounds the subject of the image. Opening Reception: Saturday, March 31, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.5907; http://johndavisgallery.com

Old Chatham Country Store639 Albany Turnpike Rd., Old Chatham, NYThrough March 28: “Photography in the Landscape Exhibition,” an exhibition that calls attention to the natural and agricultural beauty of Columbia County. Information: http://clctrust.org

Omi International Arts CenterCharles B. Beneson Visitors Center Gallery & Fields Sculpture Park, 1405 County Route 22, Ghent, NY 12075Year ‘round, The Fields Sculpture Park, during daylight hours: More than 60 acres of rolling farmland, wetlands and wooded areas, The Fields Sculpture Park presents the works of internationally recognized contemporary and modern artists, offering the unique possibility to experience a wide range of large-scale works in a singular outdoor environment. Founded in 1998, The Fields offer nearly 80 works of art on view–with several pieces added or exchanged every year.Information: 518.392.4747; http://artomi.org

Workshops & Special EventsCommunity Free Days Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508Saturday, March 17: Residents of neighboring counties Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester are invited to visit Dia:Beacon free of charge on select Saturdays. Please bring a driver’s license or other government-issued ID for entry to the museum. Information: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org

Folds, Surface, Space: Exploring Sculptural Forms through OrigamiDia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508Saturday, March 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m.: Hands-on tour and workshop for young participants and their parents exploring folds, surface, and space via paper projects that will be crafted within different galleries of Dia:Beacon. Led by teaching artist Emily Weiner, a painter and writer based in New York City. For ages 5 and up, no experience necessary. Reservations recommended.Tickets: Free with museum admissionInformation: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org

Site as Sculpture: Robert Irwin and Dia:BeaconDia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508Saturday, March 17, noon: An outdoor tour with landscape architect Naomi Sachs to discuss artist Rober Irwin’s vision and process in transforming the former Nabisco box-printing factory’s site and buidling into a world-class museum.Tickets: Free with museum admissionInformation: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org

‘equivaleants’ photograph by Arthur Baker, on exhibit at Old Chatham Country Store in the Colubmia Land Conservancy’s ‘Photography in the Landscape Exhibition’ continued from page 16 i


Third Saturday at the Elmendorph InnCorner of North Broadway & Cherry St., Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, March 17, 8:30 p.m.: Artist Juliet Harrison will give a brief talk about her artistic subject, medium & creative process during the set break of the Inn’s Third Saturday Acoustic Medicine Variety Show. Harrison is a fine art equine photographer. Her work will be on exhibit and available for purchase during this event. Each month, a new artist will be featured. Information: http://elmendorph.org

The Art of Drawing with Leslie BenderThe Fountains at Millbrook, 79 Flint Rd., Millbrook, NY 12545Tuesdays, March 20, 27, and April 3, 2-4 p.m.: Exploring composition and analysis of line and form, students crate dynamic artworks from still life and photographs. All levels of skills welcome. Fee: $15/session, nonmembers; $5/session, seniorsInformation: 845.677.8550 x 8014; http://www.barrettartcenter.org

Business Practices for the Emerging ArtistArtPop Gallery, 7516 North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571Saturday, March 24, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Red Hook painter Kari Feuer leads a workshop on the business aspects of being an artist. Topics covered include: writing a resume and artist’s statement; marketing and publicity; applying to exhibit venues; working with galleries; alternative ways to sell your art; taxes and budgets; getting organized and keeping records. Tickets: $25, includes light breakfast (byo coffee)Information: [email protected]

Gallery Talks at Dia:BeaconDia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508Saturday, March 24, 2 p.m.: Erica Battle on Bruce Nauman. Erica Battle is a Project Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.Tickets: Free with museum admissionInformation: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org

Printworks: A Survey of Collaborative Projects with Contemporary Artists in PrintmakingTaylor Hall Room 203, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604Monday, March 26, 6 p.m.: Master printer Craig Zammiello of Two Palms Press discusses the ways in which contemporary printmaking has evolved into a fluid and interdisciplinary medium.Information: 845.437.5370; http://arts.vassar.edu

Gallery Talks at Dia:BeaconDia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m.: Eva Respini on Jean-Luc Moulene. Respini is the Associate Curator of Photography at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Tickets: Free with museum admissionInformation: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org

Artists Being ArtistsAlbert Shahinian Fine Art Upstairs Galleries, 22 East Market Street, Suite 301, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, March 31, 4-6 p.m.: A lively talk moderated by “15: Artists from Ulster County” exhibition curator Peter Wallace. Free!Information: 845.876.7578; [email protected]

Second Saturday BeaconMain St., Beacon, NY 12508Saturday, April 14, noon-9 p.m.: A city-wide celebration of the arts held on the second Saturday of every month when galleries and shops stay open until 9 p.m. Gallery openings, music are just some of the ongoing events. Information: http://beaconarts.org

Ribbon Cutting Celebration & Grand OpeningBetsy Jacaruso Studio & Gallery, 43-2 East Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, April 21, 2-5 p.m.: Join Betsy to celebrate the opening of her new studio space and gallery in Rhinebeck Village. Information: 845.516.4435; http://www.betsyjacarusostudio.com

Artist DemonstrationsAlbert Shahinian Fine Art Upstairs Galleries, 22 East Market Street, Suite 301, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, April 28, 4-6 p.m.: Three exhibiting artists present demonstrations of their craft. Free!Information: 845.876.7578; [email protected]

‘Blue Door’ photograph by Kate Frank Cohen, on exhibit at Old Chatham Country Store in the Colubmia Land Conservancy’s ‘Photography in the Landscape Exhibition’


years ago, in April of 1982, after six years of operating the Seaman Studio Gallery, a decision was made to close the gallery. At the same time it was suggested to the gallery artists that a cooperative be formed. Happily, the idea was greeted enthusiastically by a majority of the gallery’s artists and other well known and admired artists in the region. In June of that year, the newly formed group was invited by the Mid-Hudson Arts and Science Center (MASC) to mount its first exhibit in the Center’s large gallery, with the opening to be held in July. Having accepted the welcome invitation, a meeting was held at MASC to discuss the upcoming exhibit and to choose a title for the group. During the discussion the phrase summer group show was often used. With much laughter and delight the suggestion that the group be named Summergroup was accepted. The Summergroup Artists Cooperative became well known in the Mid-Hudson Valley, with invitations to exhibit in galleries and educational institutions throughout the region and in New York City.

In 2006, the cooperative received a request from a company in Thailand to purchase the Summergroup domain name. After discussions and negotiations with the company, the Summergroup name was sold. Requiring another name and wanting to have its identity connected with the Hudson River and the valley, Long Reach Arts was chosen. The river has a long reach, a straight length of water that sail boats can sail without tacking. Since the phrases “Hudson River” and “Hudson Valley” had been adopted by many organizations, the group felt it was necessary to choose something original that still made the connection to the river. In 2007, the year of the cooperative’s 25th anniversary, the name Long Reach Arts was adopted. The cooperative continues to thrive, in its 30th year, with that name.

In celebration of Longreach Arts’ 30th anniversary, The Mid-Hudson Heritage Center in Poughkeepsie is hosting, “Art 3’ x 3’: A 30th Anniversary Celebration of Longreach Arts.” Longreach members will demonstrate their techniques during the exhibition, April 3-28 (see schedule below). An opening reception, Saturday April 14th, from 4-7 PM, is free and welcomes the public to attend. To learn more, call 845.214.1113, or visit www.longreacharts.com, or http://midhudsonheritage.org.

ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS SCHEDULE

Friday, April 6th at 4 PM Staats Fasoldt and Rob Green demonstrate watercolor painting techniques. Each artist will create a complete painting during the demonstration and discuss his concepts and materials.

Friday, April 20th at 5:30 PMClaudia Gorman demonstrates the technique of hand coloring a black -and-white photograph with oil paints.

Friday, April 27 at 6 PMElayne Seaman demonstrates how she creates her incised paintings and drawings. She will discuss the materials she uses, as well as offering different examples of her work.

Saturday, April 28th at 4 PM Basha Maryanska demonstrates and discusses Automatism, a movement in Modern Art that allows the release of the subconscious mind and enables free expression beyond words and concepts. She will demonstrate techniques that encourage the creative energy within, eliminating blockages and leading to abstract art.

Spring Happenings 2012

Gallery Exhibits

cunneen-hackett arts center is a funded member of DCAC

9 & 12 Vassar Street • Poughkeepsie, NY • 845-486-4571

cunneen-hackett.org

�� Ongoing classes in Ballet, Tai Chi, Jazz,

Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Journaling And More!!��

New Summer Camp Partner fopr 2012- Redwing Blackbird Puppet

��

# 12 Vassar Street GalleryApril 1 - May 30

��

multi-media pieces that evoke signs of Spring

# 9 Vassar Street Hallway GalleryApril 9 - May 30

��April 13 - 23

The Cunneen Hackett Arts Center presents

��Set in 1906, was written by author Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical version of the novel was penned

by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon and enjoyed a long Broadway run in the 1990s and again in revival.

For information call 845-486-4571


A new studio and gallery offering art classes has opened in Rhinebeck. The Betsy Jacaruso Studio and Gallery recently moved from Red Hook to The Courtyard behind Bread Alone in Rhinebeck. Betsy teaches watercolor classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and Monday evenings 6-9 p.m.. Other classes currently offered are: Drawing and Pastel with Keith Gunderson, Gouache painting with Michael Cohen, and Oil Painting with Jim Stevenson. In May, a Teen art class (6th grade and up) will be offered with Christine Livesey.

Classes are open to all levels of students, from beginner to advanced, and students may register anytime. There are no minimum requirements for number of classes to attend, although Betsy does offer discounts for two or more consecutive classes. More information can be obtained by calling 845.516.4435, or by visiting Betsy’s website www.betsyjacarusostudio.com.

Betsy Jacaruso is a Dutchess County native, has studied drawing in Switzerland, and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors from the Pratt Institute of Art and Design. She specializes in botanicals, landscapes, and still life, and draws visual inspiration from her travels throughout the Hudson Valley, the Southwest, and Tuscany. Her work has been featured in regional and international exhibitions, and represented in private collections throughout the United States and Europe.

Betsy’s gallery holds opening receptions Third Saturdays of each month from 5-7 p.m. Currently on exhibit is “Aqua Estuary” a series of luminous landscape watercolors by Betsy. One wall of her new gallery is devoted to watercolors by Cross River Fine Artists, a group of 19 of her students who exhibit in various venues throughout the Hudson Valley.

A Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening will take place in The Courtyard on Saturday, April 21, from 2-5 p.m. The Ribbon Cutting is sponsored by the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce, and will also include two neighboring businesses, Bumble and Hive, and Rustica Market and Café.

new

years ago, in April of 1982, after six years of operating the Seaman Studio Gallery, a decision was made to close the gallery. At the same time it was suggested to the gallery artists that a cooperative be formed. Happily, the idea was greeted enthusiastically by a majority of the gallery’s artists and other well known and admired artists in the region. In June of that year, the newly formed group was invited by the Mid-Hudson Arts and Science Center (MASC) to mount its first exhibit in the Center’s large gallery, with the opening to be held in July. Having accepted the welcome invitation, a meeting was held at MASC to discuss the upcoming exhibit and to choose a title for the group. During the discussion the phrase summer group show was often used. With much laughter and delight the suggestion that the group be named Summergroup was accepted. The Summergroup Artists Cooperative became well known in the Mid-Hudson Valley, with invitations to exhibit in galleries and educational institutions throughout the region and in New York City.

In 2006, the cooperative received a request from a company in Thailand to purchase the Summergroup domain name. After discussions and negotiations with the company, the Summergroup name was sold. Requiring another name and wanting to have its identity connected with the Hudson River and the valley, Long Reach Arts was chosen. The river has a long reach, a straight length of water that sail boats can sail without tacking. Since the phrases “Hudson River” and “Hudson Valley” had been adopted by many organizations, the group felt it was necessary to choose something original that still made the connection to the river. In 2007, the year of the cooperative’s 25th anniversary, the name Long Reach Arts was adopted. The cooperative continues to thrive, in its 30th year, with that name.

In celebration of Longreach Arts’ 30th anniversary, The Mid-Hudson Heritage Center in Poughkeepsie is hosting, “Art 3’ x 3’: A 30th Anniversary Celebration of Longreach Arts.” Longreach members will demonstrate their techniques during the exhibition, April 3-28 (see schedule below). An opening reception, Saturday April 14th, from 4-7 PM, is free and welcomes the public to attend. To learn more, call 845.214.1113, or visit www.longreacharts.com, or http://midhudsonheritage.org.

ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS SCHEDULE

Friday, April 6th at 4 PM Staats Fasoldt and Rob Green demonstrate watercolor painting techniques. Each artist will create a complete painting during the demonstration and discuss his concepts and materials.

Friday, April 20th at 5:30 PMClaudia Gorman demonstrates the technique of hand coloring a black -and-white photograph with oil paints.

Friday, April 27 at 6 PMElayne Seaman demonstrates how she creates her incised paintings and drawings. She will discuss the materials she uses, as well as offering different examples of her work.

Saturday, April 28th at 4 PM Basha Maryanska demonstrates and discusses Automatism, a movement in Modern Art that allows the release of the subconscious mind and enables free expression beyond words and concepts. She will demonstrate techniques that encourage the creative energy within, eliminating blockages and leading to abstract art.

by Margaret Moebius

Betsy Jacaruso demonstrates watercolor techniques to a group of students. Photo submitted.

Art Briefs

art classesin Rhinebeck

l o n g r e a c hArtists’ Cooperative30

by Elayne Seaman

a short h i story o f


Before you start editing (or changing) your photographic images, it is important to understand what will happen as you make these changes. As I said in a previous column, “less is more” so try to limit your changes to only what is really necessary. Here are some photo-editing terms and descriptions that will help you get started.

Some Frequently Used Photographic Editing TermsExposure - Sets the overall image

brightness, with a greater effect in the highlights. Adjust the exposure until the photo looks good and the whites are at the right level. Exposure values are usually in increments equivalent to f stops. An adjustment of +1.00 is similar to increasing the aperture 1 stop. Similarly, an adjustment of –1.00 is similar to reducing the aperture 1 stop.

Brightness: Adjusts image brightness, mainly affecting mid-tones. Large brightness adjustments can affect shadow or highlight clipping, so you may want to readjust the exposure, recovery, or blacks after adjusting brightness.

Contrast: Increases or decreases image contrast, mainly affecting midtones. When you increase contrast, the middle-to-dark image areas become darker, and the middle-to-light image areas become lighter.

Hue: Changing the hue alters the balance of the color (for example shifting red to yellow or magenta). As hue affects all colors in the image, it is rarely a good choice when editing. If the white balance is correct, the colors will likely be correct and not need any hue adjustment. If your photo seems too “cold” or too “warm”, a slight hue change might help but will look better if done with a White Balance change.

Saturation: Changing the saturation alters the strength of the color. If you desaturate (remove all color) you will be left with a monochrome (black and white) image. Limit saturation adjustments as noise is introduced whenever you increase color density.

Cropping: Cropping involves cutting out and keeping part of a photographic image. You might crop to focus attention on the real subject, or to remove extra areas that spoil the picture. Another popular reason for cropping is to create a specific size image. Most cameras produce an image that will print completely as a 4” x 6” print. When you try to print a 5” x 7” or 8” x 10”, parts of the

image are cut off. Use the cropping tool to create the exact size you need while including the important parts of the image.

Burning: Burning means darkening part of a photograph. In the darkroom, it’s done by blocking some of the light that would normally reach the rest of the photo. In digital photo editing, it’s usually a paintbrush-like tool built into the application.

Dodging: Dodging is making a section of a photo lighter. When this is done in the darkroom, it’s usually by blocking some of the light from reaching other parts of the picture and then re-exposing. In a photo editing program, it’s a paintbrush like tool that lightens instead of painting.

SummaryPhoto editing is an art and mastering the techniques involved

requires time, patience, and practice. In addition to the short list of terms above, there are dozens of additional terms and techniques available to the photo editor. If you are serious about editing, consider taking a photo editing course or private instruction (such as those listed below). In the next column, we will discuss the how and why of Photoshop layers.

Note: Not all software products will use all these terms or allow these individual adjustments. In addition, while the basic concepts will all be the same, the actual effects from any may vary from one software product to another.

Joel Weisbrod is a published author of a book on digital photography and the owner of jwArtWorks Photography in Rhinebeck. In addition to portrait, commercial, event, and other photography, Joel teaches Photography for Red Hook Central Schools Adult-Education as well as private one-on-one photography classes. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

Photo editing is an art and mastering the techniques involved requires time, patience, and practice.

by Joel Weisbrod

8

PHOTOGRAPHY MADE EASY

photo editing

understanding the terminology


Pack of LiesThe Ghent Playhouse, 6 Town Hall Place, Ghent, NY 12075March 16-April 1, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.: All lies. One lie is wrapped in more lies. Who do you trust? Espionage, danger, suspense! Set during the cold war and based on real events where neighbors spy on neighbors. Sometimes things are not what they seem... Tickets: $18Information: 518.392.6264; http://ghentplayhouse.org

Solas An Lae: SOULThe Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Fri. & Sat., March 16 & 17, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 18, 3 p.m.: Drawing from a musical landscape of classic American and European neo-soul music, Solas An Lae explores through dance, sign posts and current perceptions in society that are ushering in a new world of hope and promise. Tickets: $20; $18 seniors/childrenInformation: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Waiting for GodotCocoon Theatre, 6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 March 16-April 1, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: Cocoon Theatre presents Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” a tragicomedy in two acts. Made possible by special arrangement with Dramatist’s Play, Inc. Tickets: $25, pay at the door by cash or checkInformation: 845.876.6470; http://www.cocoontheatre.org

Bread & Puppet Theater: 4 Shows from the Republic of CardboardTime and Space, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534Thurs.-Sat., March 22-24, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 25, 2 p.m.: A new

series of shows created and directed by Peter Schumann and performed by a five-woman cast. Appropriate for 15 and up. Tickets: $12.50;$7.50 studentsInformation: 518.822.8448; http://www.timeandspace.org

A Family Celebration of BroadwayCunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Fri., March 23, 7 p.m.; Sat., March 24, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sun., March 25, 2 p.m.: This special fundraiser for Half Moon Theatre’s School of the Arts is a high-energy musical extravaganza featuring your favorite songs from Broadway classics like The Sound of Music to the hot pop sounds of Wicked, to the teen TV phenomenon Glee. Tickets: $30 advance; $25 door; seniors/kids, $20/$25Information: 888.718.4253; http://halfmoontheatre.org

A Man for All SeasonsCenter for Performing Arts, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572March 23-April 1, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: Tudor England comes to life in Robert Bolt’s superbly written, Tony Award-winning play based on actual historical events. When Henry VIII sets out to divorce his wife to marry Anne Boleyn, he seeks the support of Sir Thomas More – revered scholar, lawyer, and churchman. The Lord Chancellor’s quiet defiance ignites a ferocious battle as he struggles to avoid the dreadful inevitable choice – between King and conscience, loyalty and execution. Tickets: $20; $18 seniors/childrenInformation: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

TREE: A Dance by Susan OsbergBeacon Yoga, 464 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Fri.-Sun., March 23-25 & March 30-April 1, 7 p.m.: “TREE: A

Scene from Cocoon Theatre’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ photo by Kathy Cassens.

live! on stage


Dance” celebrates trees that we see, trees that we dream, trees of our lineage. This is the newest in a series of Susan Osberg’s environmental choreography projects in Beacon. Seating is limited. Tickets: $15 Information: 845.831.1832; http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/230305

Spring Dance: Moderation Dance ConcertRichard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Theater Two, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504Fri.-Sun., March 23-25, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., March 25, 2 p.m.: Performed by Bard students, this concert gives students a chance to use the language of dance, applying what they have learned during their first years in the Bard Dance Program. Tickets: Free, reservations required.Information: 845.758.7900; http://fishercenter.bard.edu

Ulster Ballet Company Festival of DanceUPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401Saturday, March 24, 8 p.m.: This year the 29th Annual Festival of Dance is extremely pleased to present New York City Ballet principal dancers, Daniel Ulbricht and Erica Pereira. Other top notch dance companies rounding out the program will be: Ballroom Dancing for Tough Guys, Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, RFX Swing, Solas An Lae, Vassar Repertory Dance Theater, Energy Dance Company and Ulster Ballet Company. Tickets: $19; $15 students/seniorsInformation: 845.339.6088; http://bardavon.org

New Paltz Ballet Theatre Presents CoppeliaBardavon Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Sunday, March 25, 3 p.m.: New Paltz Ballet Theatre is proud to present Megan Fairchild and Andrew Veyette both principal dancers with New York City Ballet in their revival of Coppelia. Tickets: $20Reservations: 845.473.2072; http://arts.vassar.edu; http://bardavon.org

The Bystander ProjectGermantown Central School, 123 Main St., Germantown, NY 12526Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m.: Concrete Temple Theatre, a New York City based multi-disciplinary company that emphasizes the creation of compelling new theatre works, incorporating drama, dance, puppetry, and the visual arts, focusing on the individual’s struggle for identity and society’s struggle for cohesion, will present The Bystander Project, a stage adaption of the celebrated James Preller anti-bullying novel for young adults, “Bystander.” Tickets: Free and open to the public.Information: http://hudsonoperahouse.org/calendar.html

Nearly LearHudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534Friday, March 30, 1 p.m. & 8 p.m.: Straight from Broadway, HOH presents actress Susanna Hamnett, a one-woman tour de force, playing the Fool—and every other character—to tell a very personal and poignant story that borrows from the words of William Shakespeare. Co-created by Susanna and Edith Tankus, Nearly Lear upends expectations of what a Shakespeare play should be. Tickets: $15; $10 youthInformation: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

Hudson Valley Philharmonic IV Russian CaravanUPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401Saturday, March 31, 8 p.m.: Music and dance concert featuring the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Vanaver Caravan Dancers, Vassar College Chamber Choir, Cappela Festiva Chamer Choir performing works by Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev.. Tickets: $26-$48Information: 845.473.2072; http://bardavon.org

Henry VIIIThe Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572April 6-15, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: One of Shakespeare’s least produced plays tells the story of England ’s most well-known king. Played on The Center’s Globe stage and in period dress, Henry VIII will be the companion piece to The Center’s production of Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons, also played on the Globe and in period.Tickets: $20; $18 seniors/childrenInformation: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Hedda GablerDutchess Community College, James & Betty Hall Theatre, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Thurs.-Sat., April 12-14, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 15, 2 p.m.: This adaptation of Ibsen’s timeless drama presents a sympathetic, yet striking and powerful, Hedda in the classic tale of her struggle to find a means of escape from a loveless, ordinary existence.Tickets: Free and open to the public.Information: 845.431.8000; http://sunydutchess.edu

Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood:Whose Line is it Anyway?UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401Saturday, April 14, 8 p.m.: Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy nominated Whose Line Is It Anyway? have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Using their quick wit, Colin and Brad take contributions from the audience to create hilarious and original scenes.... Just like a live version of ‘Whose Line’! Throughout the evening, the show becomes truly interactive as audience members are called to the stage to participate in the fun. Tickets: $30.75-$44.75Information: 845.339.6088; http://bardavon.org

Senior Playwright Project: The Story of Life Before Life EndsRichard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Resnick Theater Studio, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504Thurs.-Sun., April 19-22, 8 p.m.: A man slips into his subconscious where his only lifeline is the woman of his dreams. A play about looking back before moving forward. Each graduating senior at Bard is required to complete a Senior Project. Students majoring in theater choose a concentration of directing, acting, or playwriting. This spring the new play, The Story of Life Before Life Ends by Andrew Levy ‘12, will be directed by Gavin Price. Tickets: Free, reservations required.Information: 845.758.7900; http://fishercenter.bard.edu

Next to NormalHudson High School, Harry Howard Ave., Hudson, NY 12534Fri. & Sat., April 20 & 21, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 22, 3 p.m.: Presented by Two Of Us Productions - This intriguing new musical, which just finished a triumphant run on Broadway, is widely acclaimed for the sensitive and true to life telling of the Goodman family’s struggle to have a life that is “at least next to normal” while dealing with the after-effects of losing their first child. Tickets: $18; $14 students & seniors; $12 groups & families.Information: 866.811.4111; http://www.thetwoofusproductions.org


Folk Guild Coffeehouse Series: Melissa HollandUnitarian Fellowship, South Randolph Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.: Singer/songwriter, flutist and keyboardist Melissa Holland tells stories with her music. Her style is a mixture of pop. folk, classical, sometimes even jazz and country. Tickets: $6Information: 845.229.0170; [email protected]

Crystal Monee HallHudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534Saturday, March 17, 8 p.m.: Hall’s music combines the sounds of folk, gospel, jazz and blues. Crystal was a featured vocalist with the nationally touring and Broadway productions of the Tony Award winning musical Rent and has worked with Jason Mraz and Sir Elton John. Tickets: $20; $18 membersInformation: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

Staind’s Arron Lewis: Solo & AcousticUPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401Saturrday, March 17, 8 p.m.: Aaron Lewis rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Staind. He will present a solo acoustic performance, playing the band’s hits including It’s Been Awhile, Outside, and So Far Away, as well as new songs from his Country Boy album, in addition to taking requests from the audience. Tickets: $44 & $39Reservations: 845.473.2072; http://bardavon.org

The Acoustic Medicine Variety ShowElmendorph Inn, 7562 Route 9, Red Hook, NY 12571Saturday, March 17 & April 21, 7-10 p.m.: Live music by featured artists. Tickets: $10; good for 2 beverages and snacks. Pizza sold separately. Information: 845.758.5887; http://www.elmendorph.org

Strawberry Hill Fiddlers: Jamming for Scotlandwith Jay Ungar and Molly MasonBardavon Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Sunday, March 18, 3 p.m.: Strawberry Hill Fiddlers are a group of fiddling teenagers from various high schools in and around Dutchess County, New York. This concert will feature Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian, southern American old-time, bluegrass, Mariachi, and French Canadian fiddle tunes and songs. Special guests Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will join the fiddlers and present their own set of timeless American roots music. Tickets: $20; $15 students/seniorsReservations: 845.473.2072; http://bardavon.org

Wind Soloists of New YorkHowland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Sunday, March 18, 4 p.m.: The Wind Soloists of New York brings together leading wind players from New York City. For this concert they will be joined by pianist Pedja Muzijevic, who has played previously in our Piano Festival, to perform a Beethoven quintet, a Saint-Saens Caprice, a Jean Françaix quartet and a Poulenc sextet.Tickets: $30; $10 students Information: 845.297.9243; http://howlandmusic.org

Bard Percussion Spring ConcertRichard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504Wednesday, March 21, 8 p.m.: Performed by percussion students of the conservancy and members of So Percussion. Tickets: Free and open to the public.Information: 845.758.7900; http://fishercenter.bard.edu

Sybarite5 performs at Gardiner Theater in Pawling on March 30.sounds of spring


Cellist David Heiss & Pianist Warren JonesVassar College, Skinner Hall of Music, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604Friday, March 23, 8 p.m.: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra cellist David Heiss and world-renowned pianist Warren Jones (named as “Collaborative Pianist of the Year” for 2010 by the publication Musical America) join Vassar faculty member Robert Osborne, bass-baritone, in a concert of works for cello and piano, solo piano, and voice, cello, and piano. Free and open to the public. Information: http://music.vassar.edu

Ethos Percussion GroupVassar College, Skinner Hall of Music, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604Friday, March 23, 8 p.m.: Recently hailed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as “extraordinary musicians... (who) played with equal subtlety and power,” Ethos Percusion Group will present works for percussion influenced by cultures from around the world. Free and open to the public. Information: http://music.vassar.edu

Imani Winds QuintetMontgomery C. Smith Intermediate School, Hudson, NY 12534Friday, March 23, 8 p.m.: The Grammy nominated Imani Winds Quintet has established itself as one of the most successful chamber music ensembles in the US. Works by Pavel Haas, Brian DuFord, and Valerie Coleman, as well as works by Debussy and Stravinsky will be performed. Tickets: $15; $10 youthInformation: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

LifeFormsHowland Cultural Center, Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Friday, March 23, 8 p.m.: Imagine a fender guitarist using every nook and cranny of the guitar neck with a natural confidence and slick improvisation that can only be experienced through world class musician Chris Crocco. Chris will finish up his tour in Paris and Rome, with a burning performance at Howland. His trio is always represented by some of the best musicians in the industry. Plus, video artist Cristin Hughes will show a series of video art 30 minutes before showtime, and metal sculptures from DGAF Gallery (artist Vitek) will be on view.Tickets: $15 advance; $20 doorInformation: [email protected]

Cellist David Heiss & Pianist Warren JonesVassar College, Skinner Hall of Music, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604Sunday, March 25, 3 p.m.: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra cellist

David Heiss and world-renowned pianist Warren Jones (named as “Collaborative Pianist of the Year” for 2010 by the publication Musical America) join Vassar faculty member Robert Osborne, bass-baritone, in a concert of works for cello and piano, solo piano, and voice, cello, and piano. The program will include songs and arias with cello obbligato by Verdi, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Borodin, and Stravinsky; Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces for cello and piano; and Brahms’ Three Intermezzos, op. 117. Free and open to the public. Information: http://music.vassar.edu

F.W. Vanderbilt Garden Association Concert FundraiserFDR Presidential Library & Museum, Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, 4079 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538Friday, March 30, 7 p.m.: Theatre Street Productions presents “Glitter and Gold: Operatic Jewels of the Gilded Age.” Proceeds benefit the maintenance and rehabilitation of the Formal Gardens by the F.W. Vanderbilt Garden Association. Tickets: $12Information: 845.229.6432; http://www.vanderbiltgarden.org

Solaris VoicesHowland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Friday, March 30, 7:30 p.m.: Benefit concert for the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Solaris Voices, a group of accomplished opera and Broadway singers, will perform songs and arias from Purcell to Puccini to Rogers and Hart. Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 door Information: 845.831.4988; http://www.howlandculturalcenter.org

Donald & Kathleen Pearson Memorial Organ RecitalVassar College Chapel, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604Friday, March 30, 8 p.m.: A graduate of Indiana University and Northwestern University, Janette Fishell is a recitalist and teacher of international standing. She has performed in many of the world’s greatest concert venues and has been a featured recitalist and lecturer at five national conventions and five regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). Dr. Fishell is Professor of Organ and Chair of the Organ Department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her eclectic recital will include works by Bach, Hindemith, Alain, as well as American composer Calvin Hampton’s “Five Dances for Organ.” Free and open to the public. Information: http://music.vassar.edu

Sybarite5Trinity Pawling School, Gardiner Theater, 700 Route 22, Pawling, NY 12564Friday, March 30, 8 p.m.: This group of talented young musicians has changed the perception of chamber music performance. From the moment that their bows hit the strings they juxtapose the likes of Stravinsky with Radiohead, or Dvorak with Led Zeppelin – a very exciting ride! Tickets: $30; $15 students Information: 845.855.3100; http://www.trinitypawling.org

David Roth Workshop & ConcertHyde Park Library Annex, 2 Main St., Hyde Park, NY 12538Saturday, March 31, 2-4:30 p.m.: Singer-songwriter David Roth offers a songwriting workshop in advance of his evening concert at the library. Workshop fee: $30; package pricing available to include concert Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.: David Roth performs. Featured guest, Mitch Katz. Tickets: $15; reservations strongly recommended Information: 845.229.7791 x 205; http://hydeparklibrary.org


Imani Winds Quintet photo by Chris Carroll


Songs Without WordsChrist Church Episcopal, 431 Union St., Hudson, NY 12534Saturday, March 31, 5 p.m.: Columbia Festival Orchestra’s Claverack Landing concert series continues with renowned flutist Paula Robison, who will be joined by guitarist Frederic Hand. A co-founder of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Ms. Robison has played under Leonard Bernstein and as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic. Tickets: $30; $45 with reception Information: http://columbiafestivalorchestra.org

Daedalus String QuartetHowland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Sunday, April 1, 4 p.m.: Howland Cultural Center’s Chamber Music Series presents the Daedalus String Quartet, recipient of many glowing reviews, and an established leader among young string quartets. They will be joined by cellist Edward Arron. Tickets: $30; $10 students Information: 845.297.9243; http://howlandmusic.org

Matt Finley and Rio JazzDrumlin Hall, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Tuesday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.: Multi instrumentalist Matt Finley has played professionally for nearly 50 years and has performed and recorded with many of the finest jazz musicians in the world. He studied composition with Edgar Curtis, Director of the Albany Symphony Orchestra. A CD of Matt’s compositions, “Brazilian Wish” has garnered international recognition, and two of his compositions were finalists at the Los Angeles Music Awards. He is featured on four CD’s released in 2010. Information: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/lyceumseries.html

The SongwritersHelsinki Hudson, Hudson, NY 12534Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m.: Three veteran songwriters - Michael Eck, Liv Cummins, and Rob Skane - perform their best songs ‘in the round’, and offer insights into their process and journey in the music world. A cocktail hour kicks off the evening. This event is a fundraiser for Columbia Arts Team (CAT) in advance of their annual “Hudson Valley Songfest” music conference and showcase.Tickets: $20 Information: http://www.columbiaartsteam.org

The Longy Conservatory OrchestraRichard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Theater Two, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.: With conductor Julian Pellicano and soloist Kenneth Radnofsky, saxophone. Tickets: Free and open to the public.Information: 845.758.7900; http://fishercenter.bard.edu

Spring Fiesta with SoñandoRed Hook Firehouse, Firehouse Lane, Red Hook, NY 12571Saturday, April 14, 7 p.m.: Well known for its high-octane horns and infectious Latin rhythms, Soñando is sure to get the dance floor packed. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Red Hook Public Library. Tickets: $20; $12 children 6-12 yearsInformation: 845.757.3031; http://www.redhooklibrary.org

Halley’s Comet: Around the Piano with Mark Twain & John DavisHudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534Saturday, April 14, 8 p.m.: Pianist John Davis pays musical tribute to our country’s celebrated and influential author whose career, like Davis’, lies at the intersection of white and black culture and high and low culture in American society. The Twain-related works “play powerfully and with a rich palette” according to The New York Times. The program features works of the

Georgia slave, Blind Tom Wiggins, an autistic savant piano player who toured the US extensively and appeared at HOH on four occasions from 1868 through 1871. Tickets: $20; $18 membersInformation: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

April Music FeteKaatsbaan, 120 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583Sunday, April 15, 4 p.m.: Kaatsbaan in partnership with Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra presents pianist Babette Hierholzer performing Shostakovich, Piano Concerto No. 1 with string orchestra and Stephen Luck on trumpet. Tickets: Call to reserve.Information: 845.757.5106; http://www.kaatsbaan.org

’Til the End of TimeKaatsbaan, 120 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583Friday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.: Adrienne Haan, songs from The American Songbook. Tickets: Call to reserve.Information: 845.757.5106; http://www.kaatsbaan.org

Voxare String QuartetHowland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508Sunday, April 22, 4 p.m.: Another young quartet gaining prominence, the Voxare has received an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, and they often appear in alternative venues. The New York Times has praised their “penetrating tone and lucid textures.” They will be playing Copland’s Two Pieces, Terry Riley’s Cadenza and Dvorak’s American quartet. Tickets: $30; $10 students Information: 845.297.9243; http://howlandmusic.org


Mark Twain photo portrait. One of a series of photographs taken by A.F.

Bradley. US Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division


Bard Math CircleStarr Library, 68 W. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, March 17, 1-3 p.m.: Bard Math Circle is a mathematics enrichment program for upper elementary and middle school students, families, and teachers. Activities such as games, puzzles, and problem sets are presented to participants in an enthusiastic and encouraging manner, allowing students, educators, and volunteers to explore mathematics outside of the typical school curriculum. Both creative and hands-on approaches and teamwork are highly encouraged, introducing a stimulating community aspect to a subject often thought to be dull and isolating. No pre-registration required.Information: 845.876.4030; http://bardmathcircle.blogspot.com

Starlab Planetarium Show & Museum Late NightMid Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Saturday, March 17, 6 p.m. & 7 p.m.: Enter the inflatable planetarium to explore seasonal constellations and learn fun facts like, why Polaris, the North Star, never seems to move. Gaze up at a clear starry night while an educator tells about the wonders of it all. Reservations are required. The Museum is open until 8 p.m. this night and Museum admission from 5-8 p.m. is free! Tickets: $4/person for Planetarium show.Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

Welcome Spring at Stony Kill FarmStony Kill Farm, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappinger Falls, NY 12590Sat. & Sun., March 17 & 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Visit the barn to see the baby lambs and other farm animals. The Greenhouse will also be open and reasonably priced ($1-$4) jade and spider plants, succulents, chicks and hens, coleus, and philodendrons will be available for purchase. Information: 845.831.1617; http://www.stonykill.org

Maple Sugaring Open HouseBowdoin Park, 85 Sheafe Rd., Wappinger Falls, NY 12590Sunday, March 18, noon-4 p.m.: Learn the age old art of maple sugaring. Explore both modern and Native American methods used to make maple syrup. Includes demonstrations on tapping a sugar maple tree, boiling sap with hot rocks and by evaporator, and starting a fire by friction. Free for all ages.Information: 845.298.4600; http://www.dutchessny.gov

Development Check UpsTivoli Library, Watts dePeyster Hall, 86 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Tuesday, March 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Astor Early Childhood Programs, United Way of Dutchess County and the Tivoli Free Library are offering free developmental check-ups for children 4 months to 5 years old. Call 211 for your appointment. Information: 845.757.3771; http://www.tivolilibrary.org

Hudson Valley Philharmonic Young People’s ConcertBardavon, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Tues. & Wed., March 20 & 21, 10 a.m. & 11:45 a.m.: One hour concert, “Fantasy & Fairy Tales: A Musical Exploration of Great Stories,” suitable for grades 1-5. This year’s theme introduces students to a musical exploration of great stories from folklore and fantasy to the quintessential fairy tale. For this program, the Bardavon works in collaboration with Lincoln Center Institute Teaching Artist and former Atlantic Philharmonic Principal Violinist Jessica Meyer. Actors Shawn Randall and Sophia Raab Downs add another element to the concert presentation. Shawn and Sophia have collaborated with Jessica and the Bardavon Executive Director Chris Silva, to create a visual and spoken word element as a part of the classical music presentation. Tickets: $10 Information: 845.473.5288 x 106; http://www.bardavon.org


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Tail Waggin’ Tutors is held at 4 p.m. on Thursdays at the Germantown Library.


Tail Waggin’ TutorsGermantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526Thursday, March 22, 4 p.m.: A weekly program for children who would like to read to volunteer therapy dog, Gwen. She’s sweet and attentive and won’t ever judge, although she may offer a lick of encouragement. No reservations needed. Repeats most Thursday afternoons (check website calendar to be sure).Information: 518.537.5800; http://germantownlibrary.org

From Sap to SyrupHand Hollow Sugar Shack, County Rte 34, New Lebanon, NY 12125Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m.-noon: Warm days and cold nights are the perfect recipe to get the sap flowing in sugar maples across the northeast. Join us at a local sugar bush to learn about the modern and traditional techniques of tapping trees, collecting sap, and boiling the sap down to syrup. Local maple experts will explain the present day gravity fed collection system, and if the conditions are right, fire up the evaporating pan to start the sap boiling. You may even have the chance to taste the sweet syrup as it comes out of the pan. Registration required.Information: 518.392.5252 x 210; [email protected]

Puss in BootsCenter for Performing Arts, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m.: A puppet production by Michael Graham’s Spring Valley Puppet Theater featuring beautifully crafted hand puppets, a life-sized Ogre and clever scenic design. Tickets: $7 children; $9 adults & seniors.Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Shadow Tales with Rick AdamJames & Betty Hall Theater, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m.: Discover the timeless magic of hand shadows. Using hands and simple cutouts this program illustrates familiar stories, tales and fables with shadow. Audiences will learn, firsthand how to cast shadows on a wall and create worlds where anything is possible. Tickets: FreeInformation: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/famfest.html

8th Annual Build a Blue Bird BoxSchor Conservation Area, 58 Shoreview Dr., Canaan, NY 12029Saturday, March 24, 1 & 3 p.m.: Celebrate the arrival of spring by building a nesting box for the Eastern bluebird. Using pre-cut lumber with all materials and tools provided, everyone gets to make and take home a bluebird nesting box. In the springtime in Columbia County, some birds (like robins) build an open nest, but others prefer nesting in cavities of decayed trees or stumps. Cavity-dwelling birds, like bluebirds, will substitute a nest box for a tree cavity. Free! Registration required by noon March 23.Information: 518.392.5252 x 210; [email protected]

Signs of SpringMud Creek Environmental Learning Center, 1024 Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075Saturday, March 24, 2 p.m.: Spring is in the air! The birds are singing and the trees are budding. Learn about the tell-tale signs of spring

and hike Mud Creek’s trails searching for wildflowers, spotting birds, and listening for the croak of frogs. Experience spring in all its glory! Wear shoes that can get wet— spring showers bring mud to Mud Creek. Information: 518.828.4386 x 3; http://www.ccswcd.org

Spring Amphibian Egg HuntCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Tpke, Millbrook, NY 12545Sunday, March 25, 1 p.m.: Join educators for a family-friendly guided hike on the grounds of the Cary Institute. Explore vernal pools and discover early spring life while searching for amphibian egg masses. Learn about the extraordinary diversity of life that inhabits vernal pools as well as their ecological importance. Participants should be prepared for the possibility of getting their feet wet!Information: 845.677.7600 x 121; http://ecostudies.org

2012 Summer Camp FairElmendorph Inn, 7562 Route 9, Red Hook, NY 12571Tuesday, March 27, 5-7 p.m.: Meet camp directors from area summer camps -- all under one roof! Sponsored by the Red Hook Area Chamber of Commerce.Information: http://www.redhookhamber.org

Amazing Magical MargoThe Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, March 31, 11 a.m.: Award-winning magician Margaret Steele returns with a new family show guaranteed to delight children of all ages. Tickets: $7 children; $9 adults & seniors.Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Red Hook Spring Egg ScrambleLinden Avenue Middle School, Red Hook, NY 12571Saturday, March 31, 12:30 p.m.: Annual egg hunt with prizes and candy, plus costumed characters and bag decorating. Sponsored by Rhinebeck Savings Bank and The Village of Red Hook.Information: 845.758.1081; http://redhooknyvillage.org

Amidst an Awakening LandscapeOlana, Wagon House Education Center, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534Sunday, April 1, 2-4 p.m.: Many signs of spring are beginning to animate Olana’s charming forests, fields and wetlands. Join NYSDEC’s Craig Thompson on an outdoor foray to search for bluebirds, robins, white trillium and other colorful signs that spring has sprung.Information: 518.828.1872 x 109; http://olana.org

Jack and the Beanstalk Puppet ShowMid Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 North Water St.,

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Wednesday, April 4, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.: No Strings Marionette Co. presents “Jack and the Beanstalk,” a well-loved tale retold with all the

magic and mischief beautiful marionettes can muster. Advance registration recommended.

Tickets: $6 per person, does not include museum admission.Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org


Wood frog. Photo by Brian Gratwicke.


Visual Arts for KidsHudson Opera House, Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534Beginning April 5, Thursdays, 3-4:30 p.m.: A visual arts workshop for kids ages 7 - 11 years old. Kids explore printmaking for the month of March, then create paintings, drawings and murals using various media and techniques beginning in April. Taught by Cara Turett. Information: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

Stone Soup by Kids on StageThe Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturdays, April 7 & 14, 11 a.m.: Acclaimed director Diana DiGrandi presents a new twist on a classic tale, featuring knights, dragons, princes and queens, performed by young actors in The Center’s after school workshop program. Tickets: $7 children; $9 adults & seniors.Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Production! http: hudson teen theatre projectHudson Opera House, Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534Mon. & Tues., 3:30 -6:30 p.m., orientation April 9 & 10, rehearsals ongoing through June: Led by theatre director Carol Rusoff. Participants will become immersed in all aspects of an exciting and innovative theatre production, culminating in a fully mounted theatre piece at the Basilica Hudson in June.Information: 518.822.1438; [email protected];http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

Birds of Mud CreekMud Creek Environmental Learning Center, 1024 Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075Saturday, April 14, 10:30 a.m.: Mud Creek’s wetlands and fields are home to many birds. Herons, ducks, hawks, waxwings, kingfishers, bluebirds, and warblers are just a few of the birds we can see and hear from the trail. Learn flight patterns and song calls as we search the skies for our feathered friends. Bring binoculars if you have a pair -- only limited number of binoculars available to borrow. Wear shoes that can get wet. Information: 518.828.4386 x 3; http://www.ccswcd.org

Pig Out on Reading StorytimeGermantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m.: Join Farmer Minor and his famous potbellied pig Daisy and pug Lily for a reading of some of Daisy’s favorite porcine tales. Kids will have plenty of time for “hogs and kisses” following storytime. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. Information: 518.537.5800; http://germantownlibrary.org

Discover Norrie Point: Signs of SpringNorrie Point Environmental Center, Norrie State Park, Staatsburg, NY 12580Saturday, April 14, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.: Wood frogs “quacking”, skunk cabbage flowers pushing up, and red maple buds popping are some of the first stirrings of new life we’ll look for as we ramble along Norrie Point’s forested trails. Program is free. Information: 845.889.4745 x 109

Weather Station Tour and Interpretive WalkCarey Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Main Campus Parking Lot, 2801 Sharon Tpke. (Route 44), Millbrook, NY 12545Sunday, April 15, 1 p.m.: Join Vicky Kelly, Manager of the Cary Institute’s Environmental Monitoring Program, for a tour of our Weather Station and hands-on stream monitoring activities. The Cary Institute has been recording environmental conditions on its property for more than 25 years. Learn how weather patterns have changed and find out how long-term data give us insight into how weather and land use impact water quality. Reservations required. Heav rain cancels.Information: http://www.ecostudies.org/events.html

A Brown Bear, A Moon and a Caterpillar: Treasured Stories by Eric CarleUPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401Tuesday, April 17, 10 a.m. & noon: Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s much-anticipated new production brings together old favorites and new friends. Featuring evocative usic, stunning visual effects and innovative puppetry. Repeats, Wednesday, April 18, at Bardavon. For Pre-K through third grade.Tickets: Call for information. Information: 845.473.5288; http://bardavon.org

Open Morning for Parents and Children at Hawthorne Valley Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, 330 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m.-noon: Experience a world of wonder during this morning of delightful activities for children up to age 6. Explore Hawthorne Valley’s Early Childhood Center and participate in one or more of the free offerings: 9:30 a.m., Watercolor Painting; 10 a.m., Circle Time: Farming Songs, Poems & Games; 11 a.m., Puppet Show.Information: 518.672.7092 x 103; [email protected]

The Chancellor’s Sheep & Wool ShowcaseClermont State Historic Site, Clermont Ave., Germantown, NY 12526Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: A family festival that celebrates historic fiber arts, culture, and craft. Shopping concourse featuring more than 30 skilled artisans and local craftspeople. Craft guilds will demonstrate spinning, weaving, and wool hooking throughout the day. Herding and sheep shearing—using three different historic techniques! Find crafts for kids, 18th century reenactors, and live traditional music all in one beautiful location. Rain date: April 22. Tickets: $8/vehicleInformation: 518.537.4240; http://www.friendsofclermont.org

City Winds Trio: Lullabies & Nursery Rhymes from Around the WorldGermantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526Saturday, April 21, 1 p.m.: A hands-on program featuring live music, movement games, introduction to rhythms, an art project and other fun activities. Children will also have the opportunity to try out a violin and percussion instruments. This program is geared toward children in Kindergarten through third grade. City Winds Trio educates young children through their school and library programs held throughout the East Coast that introduce classical music and the instruments found within an orchestra. Reservations suggested. Information: 518.537.5800; [email protected]; http://germantownlibrary.org


Tasty Tunes Weekly Open MicTaste Budds Cafe, 40 West Market St., Red Hook, NY 12571Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Free weekly music and spoken word open mic. Sign-up at 6 p.m. Information: 860.823.8605

James Morrow ReadingBard College, Bertelsmann Campus Center, Weis Cinema, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504Monday, March 19, 2:30 p.m.: Novelist James Morrow, the two-time winner of the World Fantasy Award and author of the Godhead Trilogy of novels (Towering Jehovah, Blameless in Abaddon, and The Eternal Footman) and Shambling Towards Hiroshima, will read from his novel The Philosopher’s Apprentice. Information: 845.758.6822; http://bard.edu

Talk & Book Signing: James F. SimonHenry A. Wallace Center, FDR Historic Site, Hyde Park, NYThursday, March 22, 7 p.m.: “FDR and Chief Justice Hughes: The President, the Supreme Court, and the Epic Battle Over the New Deal.” Free public event. Information: 845.486.7745; http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/publicprograms/calendar.html

Film: Gerhard Richter PaintingTime & Space Limited, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534Thurs.-Sun., March 22-25, 5:30 p.m.: One of the world’s greatest living painters, the German artist Gerhard Richter has spent over half a century experimenting with a tremendous range of techniques and ideas, addressing historical crises and mass media representation alongside explorations of chance procedures. The first glimpse inside his studio in decades, “Gerhard Richter Painting” is exactly that: a thrilling document of the 79-year-old’s creative process, juxtaposed with rare archival footage and intimate conversations with his critics and collaborators. Tickets: $7; $5 students & membersInformation: http://www.timeandspace.org

Film: Sherlock Holmes: Game of ShadowsJames & Betty Hall Theater, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Friday, March 23, 8 p.m.: Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. PG13 Tickets: FreeInformation: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/movies.html

Murder at the Morton: Stories & Poems of Edgar Allan PoeMorton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff, NY 12574Friday, March 23, 8 p.m.: The Rhinebeck Readers Theatre and Friends of the Morton present “Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.”Information: 845.876.2903

Discussion: Robert Fitts, “Banzai Babe Ruth”Oblong Books, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.: Discussion with bseball historian Robert Fitss, author of “Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage & Assassination During the 1934 Tour of Japan.” Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com

Keeping Your Child in MindRoe-Jan Library Community Room, 9091 Rte 22, Copake, NY 12529Sunday, March 25, 3-4 p.m.: Pediatrician, developmental psychoanalyst and author Claudia Gold, MD, discusses her new book, “Keeping Your Child in Mind.” Information: http://www.roejanlibrary.org

Author Lawrence Douglas Talk & Book SigningStaatsburg Library, 72 Old Post Rd., Staatsburg, NY 12580Wednesday, March 28, 7 p.m.: Lawrence Douglas is the author of two recent novels, “The Vices” and “The Girl with the Sturgeon Tattoo,” a hilarious parody of the best-selling novels by Stieg Larsson. Douglas is the James J. Grosfeld Professor of Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought

readings, signings & screeningsThe film ‘Gerhard Richter Painting screens at TSL March 22-25. Photo: Gerhard Richter working on ‘Abstract Painting, Catalogue Raisone: 910-1’


at Amherst College. He is the author of the novel “The Catastrophist,” a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, and others. Information: http://www.staatsburglibrary.org

National Theatre of London Live Simulcast: She Stoops to ConquerTime & Space, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534Thurs., March 29, 7 p.m. & Sun., April 1, 2 p.m.: One of the great, generous-hearted and ingenious comedies of the English language, Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer offers a celebration of chaos, courtship and the dysfunctional family.Tickets: $22; $15 children under 12Information: 518.822.8448; http://timeandspace.org

Film: Extremely Loud & Incredibly CloseJames & Betty Hall Theater, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Friday, March 30, 8 p.m.: A nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player and pacifist, searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father when he was killed in the September 11 attacks. PG13 Tickets: FreeInformation: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/movies.html

Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt vs. Supreme CourtJames & Betty Hall Theater, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m.: Jeff Shesol is a historian, communications strategist, and speechwriter. A founding partner of West Wing Writers, a speechwriting and strategy firm, Shesol is the author of “Supreme Power: Franklin Roosevelt vs. The Supreme Court.” His previous book,

“Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy and the Feud That Defined a Decade,” was New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a Washington Post Critic’s Choice. In 1997, President Bill Clinton invited Jeff to become one of his speechwriters. In his three years at the White House, Jeff became the deputy chief speechwriter and a member of the senior staff. Information: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/lyceumseries.html

The MET: Live in HD, Massenet’s “Manon”Bardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Saturday, April 7, noon: Anna Netrebko’s dazzling portrayal of the tragic heroine in Laurent Pelly’s new production travels to the Met from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Tickets: $23; $16 children 12 and underInformation: 845.473.2072; http://www.bardavon.org

Rock ‘n’ Remembrance: Tales of Survival and RebirthBasilica Hudson, 110 South Front St., Hudson, NY 12534Sunday, April 8, 6-11 p.m.: “Rock ‘n’ Remembrance: Tales of Survival and Rebirth,” featuring a book reading by Eric Erlandson, author of “Letters to Kurt” and the guitarist who founded Hole with Courtney Love; and a screening of the film “Hit So Hard: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel,” the story of Patty’s rise to fame (and nearly fatal fall from it). Patty Schemel, the acclaimed drummer of Courtney Love’s seminal rock band Hole, will be on hand for Q&A along with other members of Hole, who will also perform a short music set. Tickets: Call for information. Information: 518.822.1050; http://www.basilicahudson.com

Film:Who’s Afraid of Virginia WolffBardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Friday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.: With the help of alcohol a bitter, aging couple use a young couple to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other. Based on Edward Albee’s play and directed by Mike Nichols with Oscar-winning performances. Tickets: $5Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.bardavon.org

En Plein Air Workshop: Language and Mixed MediaOlana, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.-noon: Local writer/poet Kathe Izzo will lead a series of creative exercises ‘en plein air’ (out of doors) in the landscape to encourage a direct relationship with nature as inspiration for both writing and collage/mixed media. Exercises will include a “treasure hunt” on the grounds of Olana, Prompts from nature inspired writers such as A nnie Dillard, Mary Oliver, Rumi and an exploration of repetition in nature and on the page. Emphasis on creative process, a meditative process suitable for artists of all disciplines, visual as well as literary. Space is limited; register by preceding Thursday. Part II takes place 4/21.Fee: $8; $12 both classes; $5/$8, members Information: 518.828.1872 x 109; http://olana.org

Read Local, Red Hook! Literary FestivalRed Hook Village Hall, 7467 South Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: The Red Hook Community Arts Network in partnership with Oblong Books and Music presents a free, family-friendly festival celebrating local authors. The event kicks off with “Picture Book Story Time” at 10 a.m., featuring husband and wife team, Jacky Davis and David Soman (Ladybug Girl) and Peter McCarty (The Monster Returns); At noon, middle grade and YA authors Jennifer Castle (The Beginning of After), Michael Northrop (Plunked), and Robin Palmer


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(Lucy B. Parker), will participate in a Middle Grade/Young Adult Author Panel moderated by Nancy Castaldo (River Wild, Pizza for the Queen and others). At 2 p.m., enjoy an Adult Literature Panel moderated by Chronogram’s Nina Shengold (Clearcut) and featuring Thelma Adams (Double Happiness), Mary-Beth Hughes (Playdate), and Edie Meidav (Lola California). Author, screenwriter and filmmaker John Sayles (Moment in the Sun, film: Lady in Red, The Quick and the Dead, Apollo 13) will present the keynote talk at 4 p.m. Books by featured authors will be available for purchase and signing in the vestibule of the Village Hall immediately following their respective programs. A portion of the proceeds from books sold will benefit The Red Hook Community Arts Network. Space is limited, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is made possible, in part, with the help of the following sponsors: Community Partner, Red Hook Public Library; Media Sponsor: Hudson Valley Mercantile; Design Sponsor, Rising Tide Communications. The Red Hook Community Arts Network is supported by the Red Hook Chamber of Commerce. Information: [email protected]; http://rhcan.com (after April 1)

The MET: Live in HDVerdi’s La TraviataBardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m.: Natalie Dessay will put on the red dress in Willy Decker’s stunning production, in her first Violetta at the Met. Matthew Polenzani sings Alfredo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is Germont, and Principal Guest Conductor Fabio Luisi is on the podium. Tickets: $23; $16 children 12 and underInformation: 845.473.2072; http://www.bardavon.org

The MET: Live in HDVerdi’s La TraviataTime & Space Limited, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m.: See description above. Tickets: $25; $15 children under 12Information: 518.822.8448; http://www.timeandspace.org

Reading & Signing: Benjamin BuschOblong Books, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Sunday, April 15, 4 p.m.: Benjamin Busch, author of “Dust to Dust: A Memoir,” reads from and discusses his debut memoir, described as “a moing meditation on life and death, the adventures of childhood and revelations of adulthood.” Busch is a decorated Marine officer -- veteran of two combat tours in Iraq -- actor on the hit HBO series “The Wire” and the son of acclaimed novelist Frederick Busch.Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com

Alan Steinweis: Becoming a Professional Anti-Semite: Three Biographies from Nazi GermanyJames & Betty Hall Theater, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m.: Professor Alan E. Steinweis specializes in the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust at the University of Vermont. He is the author of three books: Art, Ideology and Economics in Nazi Germany: The Reich Chambers of Music, Theater, and the Visual Arts (University of North Carolina Press, 1993; paperback 1996); Studying the Jew: Scholarly Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany; and Kristallnacht 1938. Studying the Jew was designated a Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category. He is the series editor of the American edition of the Comprehensive History of the

Holocaust, a monograph series sponsored by Yad Veshem, the Holocaust research and commemoration authority of the State of Israel. Information: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/lyceumseries.html

Poetry Lovers Unite: Open MicAdriance, Periodical Reading Room (main floor), 95 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m.: The Poetry Series happens on the third Thursday of the month, sometimes featuring a specific local poet, and other times simply providing an open forum for sharing of personal poetry in an open mic format.Information: 845.485.3445 x 3702

Dara Lurie: Great Space of Desire: Writing for Personal EvolutionOblong Books, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Saturday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.: In “Great Space of Desire: Writing for Personal Evolution,” memoirist and creative writing innovator, Dara Lurie, guides readers to discover for themselves how to the craft of writing can lead to personal evolution.Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com


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Acres Co-op Market702 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534Saturdays through March, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Winter indoor food market. The roster of producers participating in the indoor market, still in formation, includes: North Wind Farms (organic meat); Block Factory Tamales; Breezy Hill Orchards and Migliorelli Farm (vegetables, apples, cider); Berkshire Mountain Bakery; Tierra Farm (nuts, nut butters, coffee); and Amazing Real Life Food Company (cheese). Additional vendors will be announced. Information: [email protected]; http:/facebook.com/pages/Acres-Co-op-Market

Beacon Farmers MarketRed Barn Art Center, 8 Long Dock Road, Beacon, NY 12508Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: The Beacon Farmers Market has moved to its winter location. Local produce, foods and crafts all surrounded by art, and the Hudson River waterfront.Information: 845.597.5028; www.thebeaconfarmersmarket.com

Millerton Winter MarketGilmor Glass, 2 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546 Saturdays, March 24, April 14 & 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Local producers offer everything from artisanal breads, locally-grown fruits and veggies, gourmet baked goods, wool & sheep skins, maple syrup, pickles, grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and eggs, and so much more. Sponsored by the North East Community Center. Information: http://www.neccmillerton.org

Red Hook Winter MarketElmendorph Inn, North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571Saturdays, March 24 & April 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Featuring many local farms and foods, fruits, veggies, meats, milk, speciality foods, gifts and more. Information: 845.399.4582; [email protected]

Winter MarketRhinebeck Town Hall, E. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Sundays, March 18, April 1, 15 & 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Many of the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market vendors participate in this indoor winter market offering an opportunity to buy locally grown and produced food year-round. Information: http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com

Simple Organic Gardening WorkshopOlana, Wagon House Education Ctr., Rte 9G, Hudson, NY 12534Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Workshop focusing on the proper care and maintenance of your garden. Sharon DiLorenzo, Program Manager at Capital Distric Community Gardens, will discuss healthy soil, composting, pH levels, the benefits of mulch, planting a diverse garden, organic pest remedies and fertilizers, and proper watering and maintenance. Q&A to follow discussion. Tickets: $5Information: 518.828.1872 x 109; http://www.olana.org

National Climate SeminarTeleconference sponsored by Bard CEPWednesday, March 21, noon: Listen in real time to climate and clean energy specialists talk about the latest science, policy, law and

The Savanna Sparrow is one of the species of field birds found at the KEEP Germantown Preserve. A juried photography contest hosted by KEEP and the Germantown Library kicks off April 1. Photo by Donna Dewhurst, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee, source commons.wikimedia.org.

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economics of climate change. Send your questions prior to each call by emailing [email protected]. All calls are also available as podcasts. On 3/21, Auden Schendler, VP of Sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company, will discuss “Getting Green Done: Front Line Sustainability Work.” In 2006, Auden was named a global warming innovator by Time magazine. His book “Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution” was called “an antidote to greenwash” by NASA’s James Hansen. Call in number: 1-712-432-3100, conference code: 253385 Information: http://www.bard.edu/cep/ncs/

EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think to Create the World We WantCarey Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Tpke. (Route 44), Millbrook, NY 12545Friday, March 23, 7 p.m.: Frances Moore Lappé, author of Diet for a Small Planet and founder of Food First: The Institute for Food and Development Policy, will talk about her new book EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think to Create the World We Want. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.Information: http://www.ecostudies.org/events.html

The Living SoilHillsdale Town Hall, 2684 Route 23, Hillsdale, NY 12529Saturday, March 31, 11 a.m.: Hands-on workshop with garden expert Ruth Dufault of Bittersweet Garden. Benefit from her 30+ years in the landscape business to learn how, when and what to do to your soil to bring it to life and have it work best for your plants. Tickets: email for info Information: [email protected]

Organic Vegetable Gardening: Part IIThe Phantom Gardener, 6837 Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572Sunday, March 25, 10 a.m.-noon: Norbert, the Phantom Gardener himself, will talk about raised beds, planting techniques, companions, and rotation. Tickets: $25 Information: 845.876.8606; http://thephantomgardener.com

Juried Spring Photography Contest @ Germantown Nature PreserveKEEP Conservation Preserve, Orr Road & County Route 8, Germantown, NY 12526April 1-June 15: The KEEP Conservation Foundation and the Germantown Library present a juried spring photography contest, “Reflections on Life at the Germantown Preserve, Spring 2012.” Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit up to three photographs (film or digital) taken on the Germantown Preserve between the dates of April 1 and June 15, 2012, that reflect the photographer’s vision of life awakening on the preserve in springtime. There will be cash prizes in three divisions: adult professional, adult amateur, and youth (under 18). For complete details, and entry forms visit the Germantown Library’s website. Information: http://germantownlibrary.org

National Climate SeminarTeleconference sponsored by Bard CEPWednesday, April 4, noon: Send your questions prior to each call by emailing [email protected]. All calls are also available as podcasts. This week’s call features VP of Environmental Affairs for Green Mountain Coffee, Paul Comey. He will talk about “The Climate for Coffee.” Paul has a vision of accelerating Green Mountain Coffee’s leadership in the environmental arena by using climate change as a competitive

advantage. Call in number: 1-712-432-3100, conference code: 253385 Information: http://www.bard.edu/cep/ncs/

The Art of Farming Series: Sheep and Wool in Columbia CountyOlana, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534Sunday, April 15, 1-3 p.m.: Folks from all over the area will be gathering to celebrate the role of sheep in Columbia County. Join staff from Olana and Hawthorne Valley Farm’s Learning Center and Farmscape Ecology Program, as well as local fiber artisans, as we investigate the history and character of our “fleecy friends.” Special visit from Hawthorne Valley’s own gentle and tame sheep, Luna, Stella, and Lila. Take home a woven wool bracelet. Pre-registration required.Fee: $15; $5 each for additional family member; 5 and under free Information: 518.828.1872 x 109; http://olana.org

National Climate SeminarTeleconference sponsored by Bard CEPWednesday, April 18, noon: Send your questions prior to each call by emailing [email protected]. All calls are also available as podcasts. This week’s call Cynthia Rosenzweig, Senior Research Scientist at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University. She will discuss “Climate and Food Supply.” Call in number: 1-712-432-3100, conference code: 253385 Information: http://www.bard.edu/cep/ncs/

Save Our Land, Save Our Lives: The Ties That BindScenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY 12508Wednesday, April 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: A six-program series that explores our dependence on healthy land and the need to be good stewards of it. Each session begins with discussions, games and presentations that will enable participants to gain a fuller understanding of the services our land provides us and the threats it faces—from humans and nature itself. Then help Scenic Hudson staff and volunteers tackle projects that help avert some of these threats in its parks. Those participating in at least four programs will receive an Environmental Steward certificate.Information: 845.473.4440 x 251; http://www.scenichudson.org

Volunteer Training for Earth DayScenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY 12508Sunday, April 22, 9 a.m.-noon: Help monitor and maintain this very popular park, especially new plantings. Join Scenic Hudson staff and volunteers on Earth Day to learn how devoting just a few hours of your time each week to the park’s upkeep can make a huge difference in preserving its beauty. Later in the day there will be a massive shoreline cleanup, so stick around if you’re still feeling energetic.Information: 845.473.4440 x 251; http://www.scenichudson.org

Driftwood to Divine Earth on Earth DayScenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY 12508Sunday, April 22, 1-4 p.m.: A family-friendly shoreline cleanup at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park. Following the clean-up artists from Mill Street Loft will help turn your found objects into art treasures -- beautiful “Earth Flags” or “memory stones” that display your love for the home we all share. Information: 845.473.4440 x 251; http://www.scenichudson.org


t the turn of the twentieth century, Red Hook was home to a now-forgotten industry. In fact, many Red Hook natives are unaware that it ever existed. But at one time Red Hook, Rhinebeck, and the mid-Hudson Valley were known as “The Violet Capital of the World.” Look closely today, and you’ll notice little hints that remain: the name Garden Street, the greenhouses on the Battenfeld farm in Rock City. Some people even claim that the profusion of wild violets blooming in their back yards each spring are the descendants of cultivated violets that escaped from old greenhouses.

Cultivated “sweet violets” were brought to the Hudson Valley from England by William Saltford in 1886. The mid-Hudson Valley was the perfect location for growing violets for several reasons:

easy access to the major market of New York City via train, enough seasonal laborers (many of them women and teenagers), and an abundant supply of fresh soil, which was replenished in the greenhouses each year. At its peak,

Red Hook had 350,000 square feet of greenhouses belonging to 40 different growers. Milan and Poughkeepsie were also home to numerous violet farms, and Rhinebeck boasted 115 growers.

The violets were hardy flowers. If stored properly in tanks of cool water, some varieties would last for up to two weeks after picking, and Red Hook growers shipped their flowers throughout the eastern United States, to the Mississippi River and beyond. However, the violets were not easy to grow. The plants were vulnerable to diseases and pests such as botrytis, “green fly” and red spider mites, and they required careful attention, particularly in the early, hot months of the growing season. The flowers were

rural traditions, community connections

Part III: Red hook’s violet past

by Kathy Leonard Czepiel

...at one time red hook, rhinebeck, and the mid-hudson valley were known at

“the violet capital of the world.”

Photos courtesy Egbert Benson Historical Society of Red Hook; violet house of W.M. Van Steenburgh, Red Hook, NY, Losee Collection; above, interior view; below, exterior.

Aat its peak, red hook had 350,000 square feet of greenhouses belonging to 40 different growers.


grown in greenhouses, which allowed farmers to maintain the desired temperature for the cool-weather crop. In the summer, when the plants were young, air was kept circulating through the houses by opening ventilating panels in the roof, and sometimes the glass was shaded with a coat of lime. In the winter, coal-fired furnaces kept the flowers from freezing. Because they were growing indoors, the plants had to be watered by hand. In those days before most farms had electricity, this meant using a hand pump and a watering can.

The violets were tricky to pick as well. Because every possible foot of space inside the greenhouses had to be planted, aisles between the raised beds were narrow. In order to reach the back of the beds, pickers rested narrow wooden boards on the heating pipes at the far side and the edge of the beds closest to them, and inched their way out on the boards, lying on their sides to pick the flowers. This feat required balance and cannot have been a comfortable way to spend a nine-hour shift. Nevertheless, a strong picker could collect 15 to 20 bunches of 50 blooms each in an hour. The picking season ran from mid-October through Easter. For that end-of-season holiday alone, more than a million blooms were often shipped.

Each violet greenhouse was outfitted with a packing room, where workers would add decorative galax leaves, tie off the bunches, “boot” them to keep the stems moist, and pack them in cardboard crates for shipping. Wagons piled high with violet boxes could often be seen heading down to the railway express office. Residents recalled the especially pleasing aroma of the white violets, but the aroma of manure was always close by. In a 1997 interview with the Rhinebeck Historic Society, violet farmer Richard Battenfeld recalled buying manure from New York City and having it shipped up by box car. According to the interviewer’s notes, “Everybody liked the New York City manure because it was straw-based and had very few weeds.”

The demise of the violet industry has been blamed on a number of factors. The costs of heating and labor skyrocketed after World War I. By the 1920s the violets were seen as old-fashioned, a flower one’s grandmother might wear. Women’s fashions had changed; their clothing was no longer as sturdy, and it was impractical to pin a heavy corsage of fifty violets at the waist or the shoulder. In addition, a short-lived Broadway play, The Captive, about an illicit lesbian love affair, used violets as a love token, thus giving the flower

an association that, to many, seemed unsavory. The market was no longer booming, and backyard growers took down their greenhouses and gave up the business. The larger operations continued, although they, too, eventually succumbed to a continued downturn in the market. At one time, there were 400 violet greenhouses in the mid-Hudson Valley. In the mid-twentieth century, the violet enjoyed a brief resurgence in popularity, but even then, around 1956 there were just 50 or 60 houses left in Red Hook and Rhinebeck combined. The Trombini family of Rhinebeck, whose greenhouses stood near the Dutchess County fairgrounds, were the last to cease operations, in the late 1970s.

Nevertheless, nostalgic Red Hook residents can still purchase a nosegay of violets in season from Fred Battenfeld, who maintains one small bed of Frey’s Fragrant violets for old time’s sake. Battenfeld’s greenhouse is otherwise filled with anemones, the twenty-first century crop of choice.

Kathy Leonard Czepiel was born and raised in Red Hook. She is the author of the historical novel A Violet Season, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in July.

t the turn of the twentieth century, Red Hook was home to a now-forgotten industry. In fact, many Red Hook natives are unaware that it ever existed. But at one time Red Hook, Rhinebeck, and the mid-Hudson Valley were known as “The Violet Capital of the World.” Look closely today, and you’ll notice little hints that remain: the name Garden Street, the greenhouses on the Battenfeld farm in Rock City. Some people even claim that the profusion of wild violets blooming in their back yards each spring are the descendants of cultivated violets that escaped from old greenhouses.

Cultivated “sweet violets” were brought to the Hudson Valley from England by William Saltford in 1886. The mid-Hudson Valley was the perfect location for growing violets for several reasons:

easy access to the major market of New York City via train, enough seasonal laborers (many of them women and teenagers), and an abundant supply of fresh soil, which was replenished in the greenhouses each year. At its peak,

Red Hook had 350,000 square feet of greenhouses belonging to 40 different growers. Milan and Poughkeepsie were also home to numerous violet farms, and Rhinebeck boasted 115 growers.

The violets were hardy flowers. If stored properly in tanks of cool water, some varieties would last for up to two weeks after picking, and Red Hook growers shipped their flowers throughout the eastern United States, to the Mississippi River and beyond. However, the violets were not easy to grow. The plants were vulnerable to diseases and pests such as botrytis, “green fly” and red spider mites, and they required careful attention, particularly in the early, hot months of the growing season. The flowers were

Part III: Red hook’s violet past

An illustration from British Entomology by John Curtis. Diptera: Pachygaster leachii (Leachian Pachygaster).The plant is Viola odorata (White Sweet Violet). 1820s

in order to reach the back of the beds, pickers rested narrow wooden boards

on the heating pipes at the far side and the edge of the beds closest to them,

and inched their way out on the boards, lying on their sides to pick the flowers.

...a short-lived broadway play, “the captive,” about an illicit lesbian love affair, used violets as a love token,

thus giving the flower an association that, to many, seemed unsavory.

❁


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Red Hook’s Historic HostelriesElmendorph Inn, 7562 N. Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571Sunday, March 18, 3-5 p.m.: The Egbert Benson Historical Society presents an illustrated talk on the history of Red Hook’s hotels, boarding houses, and B&B’s. How have travelers, visitors and summer boarders been welcomed in Red Hook over the years? Grand Dutchess’ proprietor Beth Pagano and EBHS president Claudine Klose will explore the early days of Red Hook’s hospitality industry.Information: 845.758.1920; http://www.redhookhistory.com

Hudson Valley Yarn CrawlYarn Shops & Farms throughout the Hudson ValleySat., March 24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., March 25, noon-4 p.m.: Twice a year, yarn shops and farms throughout the Hudson Valley participate in a yarn crawl. The goal of a yarn crawl is to create a social event where knitters, weavers and other fiber enthusiasts and artists travel throughout the region to visit independent yarn shops and farms to familiarize themselves with the unique yarns and accessories each shop and farm has to offer. Information: http://hudsonvalleyyarns.com

Big Ideas/small spaces ShowHouse Tours240 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534Sat. & Sun., March 24 & 25; Fri.-Sun., March 30-April 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The public is invited to visit the Big Ideas/small spaces ShowHouse built by ten professional area designers in collaboration with Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. Each designer has taken on the creative challenge of designing a room for the newly constructed home in Hudson. The project focuses on smaller, more efficient living spaces typically found in affordable houses but more recently seen as an emerging trend. Tickets: $10, all proceeds benefit Columbia County Habitat for HumanityInformation: 518.828.0892; http://www.columbiacountyhabitat.org

6th Annual Celebrity Waiters Brunch FundraiserThe Grandview, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Sunday, March 25, noon-3 p.m.: Extravagant brunch, unlimited signature cocktails, a decadent dessert and entertainment provided by local and well known celebrities! Waiters will serve brunch and walk the runway to compete for the title of: Best Legs in the Hudson Legs in the Hudson Valley, chosen by the audience! Proceeds benefit the Mid Hudson Children’s Museum. Tickets: $60 in advanceInformation: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

Technically Speaking: Computers 101 for SeniorsGermantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526Friday, March 30, 11 a.m.: Ruth Tourjee, a long-time library volunteer with interest in helping seniors with computer literacy, will teach this class (repeats Friday, April 6). Ruth will cover such topics as basic parts of the computer, handling the mouse, understanding applications, and the basics of web navigation. Please register as space is limited. Information: 518.537.5800; http://germantownlibrary.org

Exploring Family HistoryStarr Library, 68 W. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572Thursday, April 5, 6:30 p.m.: Discover your family ancestry and story. Learn where to begin the process, and what resources are available on-

line, in libraries and in public records. Beverly Kane, former librarian and genealogical researcher for more than 30 years, leads this workshop.Information: 845.876.4030; http://starrlibrary.org

Living Last SupperReformed Church, 70 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601Thursday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.: Staged portrayal of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. Watch as the Apostles wrestle with Christ’s fate and their lingering questions of the Messiah’s purpose. Free will offering.Information: 845.452.8110; http://www.poughkeepsiereformedchurch.org

Cesar Millan: The Dog WhispererUPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401Friday, April 6, 8 p.m.: The world’s most renowned dog behavior specialist will share his secrets on how to transform dogs and their owners in this unique and new live event that has wowed audiences across the US, UK, Canada, & Europe. Includes Q and A. For people only, no dogs will be allowed in the theater.Tickets: $50-$90Information: 845.473.2072; http://bardavon.org

Build a Bluebird BoxGermantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526Saturday, April 7, 1 p.m.: Join Master Artisan Kurt Holsapple and build a beautiful bluebird box. Kurt is a sculptor and master furniture and cabinet maker. He will guide participants and provide the pre-cut components for the bluebird box kits. The bluebirds in your neighborhood will be proud to call this one home! $15/kit; pre-registration required by March 24. No experience needed, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Tools will be available but feel free to bring your own hand drill and square screwdriver.Information: 518.537.5800; [email protected]; http://germantownlibrary.org

Hike with National Park ServiceRoosevelt Farm Lane, Route 9G, opposite entrance to Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, NY 12538Sunday, April 8, 1 p.m.: Moderate 1.5 mile hike on the Roosevelt Farm Lane led by a National Park Service Ranger who will talk about FDR’s lesser known career as a tree farmer while pointing out tree plantations managed by the President. Wear boots and dress for the elements.Information: 845.229.7770

21st Annual Antique & Classic Bicycle Auction and Swap MeetCopake Auction Inc., 266 County Route 7A, Copake, NYFri., April 20, swap meet, dawn ‘til dusk; Sat., April 21, 10 a.m., auction: A must-attend event for bicycle enthusiasts. Hundreds of bicycles, posters, photographs, ephemera, catalogs, parts, toys, and much more. One of the most popular and well respected antique bicycle auctions in the world. Free admission. Information: 518.329.1142; http://www.copakeauction.com

m i s c e l l a n e o u s

10 am - 5 pm


live. work. play.www.hvmercantile.com

literary festival

Saturday, April 14Red Hook Village Hall

FREE! events all daypicture book storytime

Jacky Davis & David Soman, Peter McCartyMiddle Grade/YA

Author panelJennifer Castle, Michael Northrop, Robin Palmer

moderated by Nancy CastaldoAdult literature panel

Thelma Adams, Mary-Beth Hughes, Edie Meidavmoderated by Nina Shengold

Keynoteaward-winning author/filmmaker John Sayles

Book sales &author signings

DESIGN SPONSOR: MEDIA SPONSOR:

john sayles

red hookread local

10 am

noon

2 pm

4 pm

all day

Thelma Adams

Nancy Castaldo

Jennifer Castle

Jacky Davis

Mary-Beth Hughes

Peter McCarty

Edie Meidav

Michael Northrop

Robin Palmer

John Sayles

Nina Shengold

David Soman

7467 South Broadway, Red Hook

This event is made possible, in part, with the help of the following sponsors: Community Partner: Red Hook Public Library; Media Sponsor: Hudson Valley Mercantile; Design Sponsor: Rising Tide Communications.The Red Hook Community Arts Network is supported by the Red Hook Chamber of Commerce.

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FREE Property

Site Analysis

(Limited offer)

√

Are You Ready for the NEXT STORM?Maybe you bought generator, or are considering one – but with a little advance planning, perhaps you won’t need it. Very often we can prevent mishaps and power losses due to fallen trees, especially when you have the control of keeping the trees on your own property in sound shape.

Call us for a FREE Property Site Analysis.We’ll recommend what needs to be done to preserve and protect your trees, your safety and your property.

Everhart Tree Care offers specialized tree services in Northern Dutchess and Columbia Counties.• Free tree diagnoses & free estimates • Small or large jobs • Insured • Competitive pricing

23 Orchard Road, Hudson, NY [email protected] • www.everharttreecare.com518.822.9154 • 845.489.3572

Robert Everhart – ISA Certified Arborist (NY 1180 A) • Member TCIA

Planting • Pruning • Removal • Cabling • Emergency tree care and removal • Tree beautification • Deep Root Fertilizing • Lightning protection • and More

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FARM-FRESH PRODUCE • BUTCHER SHOP • FISH MARKET

VAST GOURMET GROCERY, CHEESE & COFFEE SELECTION

DELECTABLE BAKED GOODS • SWEET SHOP • HOUSEPLANTS

GIFT SHOP • FLOWER SHOP • GARDEN CENTER • NURSERY

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P O U G H K E E P S I ERoute 44

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K I N G S TO NRoute 9W

845-336-6300

N E W B U R G HRoute 300

845-569-0303

WA P P I N G E RRoute 9

845-632-9955


he transition from winter to spring starts in March. Even though 2012 was the fourth mildest winter on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, now is still a good time to inspect your trees for winter damage. We tend to think trees are simply built to take whatever winter has to dish out, and that they don’t need our help. However, neglecting the well being of the trees on your property can sometimes have expensive and dangerous consequences. Even in early spring, high winds can cause weakened trees to topple or bring down unhealthy limbs.

It’s best to give your trees a thorough inspection during this transition, which may be sooner than you would think. Ironically, a mild winter can often lead to an even earlier spring, causing foliage to begin growing earlier than usual. Spring storms and winds can then have an even greater impact, because leafy branches are heavier. Identifying diseased and damaged branches can lessen the risk to the tree and surrounding property.

As one of the area’s few ISA Certified Arborists who actually works out in the field, I am able to spot a tree problem waiting to happen. I still “climb”, and I am in trees every day. Damaged limbs and branches are not something most people concern themselves with until one of them falls on their roof, car, or head. A certified arborist can inspect your trees and do so much more accurately before the leaves come out and hide the damage. Having full access to inspect a tree allows us to do what we do best: protect your tree, your property and your safety. We have found potentially hazardous situations and prevented them with some careful pruning or cabling. Rarely do we have to take down a tree if we get to it early enough.

Recently, while on a property owner’s land to fertilize a tree, I noticed that a large maple in close proximity to their home had a two-foot vertical crack down the middle of the main trunk, at the V-junction of the tree’s two major limbs. If the tree had split it could have done major damage to their house. I installed a cable between the limbs at a very high point in the tree. The cable is out of sight, yet prevents the crack from worsening and holds the limbs together.

Spring is also a good time to fertilize your trees. After the frost is gone, thoroughly water your trees, especially those that are near roads where de-icing chemicals have been used. Wait until the ground has completely thawed before fertilizing, to prevent runoff and the potential polluting of ground water. A certified arborist can advise you or perform this work for you if you are unsure about when and how to fertilize.

Trees should have any wrapping removed as the temperature warms. General pruning should be done before the leaves are out, and of course damaged branches should be cut when they occur. A certified arborist has the knowledge and skill to prune trees at any time of the year. However, in general it is best if deciduous trees are pruned in late winter or early spring (up through early April before the trees “leaf out”, as they are recovering from winter dormancy and need to reserve their energy), and evergreens in late winter or early summer.

It’s getting nice outside. Take a walk around your yard and look closely at your trees. Inspect each one’s trunk, bark, branches, deadwood and insect holes. Clear old mulch from the base of your trees and check for evidence of rodents. If your limbs or branches extend over your house or your neighbors’, and you are unsure about their safety, call a Certified Arborist; we’re trained to give you the best advice. If you can do the work yourself, great; or, we can do it for you. For larger, mature trees it is usually best to call in a professional to avoid dangerous scenarios or further damage caused by incorrect pruning. Incorrect pruning and shaping can also detract from the attractiveness of a tree.

Make sure that your trees are mulched and watered very well a few times each month, for leaf and stem growth and to prepare for the dryness of summer. When mulching, do not pile the mulch too high up on the trunk and lay down a wide ring about three inches deep.

Healthy, safe and well-groomed trees should provide you with beauty, shade and comfort for many years to come.

Robert Everhart is an ISA Certified Arborist (NY 1180A), a member of TCIA, and president of Everhart Tree Care, offering specialized tree services in Northern Dutchess and Columbia Counties. For free tree diagnoses, free estimates, and competitive pricing, contact him at 845-489-3572 or visit: www.everharttreecare.com

need you in the Spring?Treeswhy do your

by Robert Everhart, ISA Certified Arborist

❂

T

Northern Dutchess Hospital cares deeply for its community. And that’s what keeps us growing.

*As recognized by

www.Health-Quest.org

DEEP ROOTS PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH.

hudson valley mercantile

Documents

kids calendar

miscellaneous calendar

stage calendar

sounds of spring calendar

signings screenings

seasonal palette calendar

bright green valley

short years