upstatecreative

MAKERS 365, the monumental photography exhibit by Richard Lovrich, is arriving at Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs, its second stop of an 8-county tour. The MAKERS Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, September 16, 5-8pm, with a Panel Discussion on Wednesday, October 11.

The MAKERS 365 exhibit is curated by Tony Iadicicco of Albany Center Gallery,and features photos of a huge array creative people who live, work, or passed through the Capital Region during Lovrich’s yearlong project. MAKERS 365 began as a social media project and became an exhibit that will tour the region. Stay tuned for more MAKERS events!

Lumberyard Contemporary Performing Arts is an exciting new addition to the upstate arts community. Its inaugural upstate season in summer 2018 is fast approaching and construction is underway for a state-of-the-art performance campus adapted from a historic lumberyard in the Village of Catskill, set to open in fall 2018. In the meantime, LUMBERYARD has been eagerly fostering relationships with its local community and neighboring arts organizations to demonstrate its commitment to partnership and revitalization.

LUMBERYARD is the only organization in the United States dedicated to providing technical residencies that culminate in premieres for performing artists finishing cutting-edge work. LUMBERYARD’s soon-to-open Catskill theater is designed with the ability to recreate many of the country’s most prestigious stages to ensure that artists can accurately design for their premiere.

This direct connection between Catskill and the world of contemporary performance is poised to bring lasting benefits to the region. “Our seasons will attract audiences from across the valley and the region— highlighting the critical role that tourism plays in the economic renewal of its immediate and surrounding communities,” said Willis. “The economic impact from LUMBERYARD will be substantial and felt by local arts organizations and Main Street businesses. This will deepen ties to the region for tourists, weekenders and the local community that calls the Hudson Valley home.”

Renovations to the remaining waterfront campus will create vibrant public spaces, studio space, a multi-disciplinary public courtyard as well as community and commercial investment opportunities. This fall, LUMBERYARD also launches a new community arts education program, LUMBERYARD Young Performers, which will provide free weekly afterschool workshops across a dozen performing arts disciplines for children in the Greene County School District ages 9-16. The program is offered in collaboration with the Catskill Community Center and combats significant cuts to school arts funding in 2008 that have left the community with virtually no free arts education opportunities. “This is our commitment to the youth of our community: that the transformative power of the arts will be a lifetime benefit,” said Willis.

In recognition of LUMBERYARD’s impact on the future of both American contemporary art and Hudson Valley’s economic growth, the organization has recently announced a partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), as well as the receipt of a $5 million social impact loan from the Rudolf Steiner Fund (RSF). Governor Cuomo has also pledged significant financial support as early leadership in a multi-year capital fundraising effort. While these partnerships have given the project momentum, we must all support LUMBERYARD to ensure it has the financial resources it needs to succeed. Visit thelumberyard.org/support to learn more.

LUMBERYARD invites the upstate community to its second annual End of Summer Shindig celebration at the LUMBERYARD campus. The event features a preview of Urban Bush Women’s highly anticipated new work, SCAT!, and bluegrass music from Steve Lutke and Appalachian Uprising. Attendees will sample local craft beer from Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company, cocktails, and American Glory BBQ while watching the sun set over LUMBERYARD’s waterfront studio. Tickets can be purchased at thelumberyard.org.

Fashion Upstate visited MA+CH Textile Studio in Schenectady on July 27 for a fantastic studio tour, where founders Charles and Marika Contompasis gave in-depth, hands-on explanation of the patented processes they use to create the high-end textiles and garments they ship to boutiques throughout the country. MA+CH was founded in 2002, and employs 15 in their Schenectady factory.

“MA+CH is a family company created by Schenectady natives, therefore it was a pleasure to host an event which brought other creative minds in the area together,” said MA+CH Marketing Director Sarah Contompasis, who recently relocated to this region from the West coast, after building a Marketing career in New York City and San Francisco. “My aunt and uncle, designers Marika and Charles, both graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and value Upstate New York’s close proximity to the New York City Marketplace. We appreciate being based in Schenectady as it supports inventiveness and is a business-friendly, art-aware, and naturally beautiful place to live and work.”

A sample sale, pastries by Crisan Bakery, and live modeling rounded out a high-energy evening.