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Rensselaer County

STEAM + A = Creative Activism : A Conversation with Kristen Holler

January 19, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I first met Kristen Holler in her role at the Albany Barn. I have had the opportunity to work with her on projects there and in Schenectady at the Electric City Barn involving ACE! and my own production work with my company 2440 Design Studio. So when I was included on an email from Steve Pierce announcing her new position as Executive Director at the Sanctuary for Independent Media, I immediately knew that this could be a tremendous match for her and the organization. Focused and tireless, Kristen has a deep arts and community background. Though fresh on the job, I wanted to be a part of launching an awareness about her transition and have her share a quick update with us all about the amazing STEAM based approach that the Sanctuary is bringing to a neighborhood community and beyond.

Kristen Holler : Executive Director at The Sanctuary for Independent Media | Photo: Provided

Can you tell us a bit of your background and what you did before this?

Prior to coming to the Sanctuary for Independent Media I was the Executive Director of Albany Barn – a nonprofit org that supports artist development through a wide variety of technical assistance and subsidized/shared resource programs – from 2013 until 2022. In that time I helped to drive the opening of Electric City Barn in Schenectady, and served as a project manager for the Capital Walls public art initiative in collaboration with Albany Center Gallery. My professional background has been almost exclusively in the nonprofit space, but has been a combination of direct service and administrative roles across housing, employment, health, and arts organizations.

Live Performance at Freedom Square | Photo: Provided

The Sanctuary is so many things – from performance art, to science to activism…can you give us an idea of what the main areas of focus will be for you and why this position was attractive to you?

I think the thing that resonates most for me is that although the Sanctuary ‘is so many things,’ each of those things is linked back to the pursuit of social justice, and the use of creativity and independent expression as tools in that pursuit. I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Steve Pierce and Branda Miller – two of the organization’s founders – in my time at The Barn.

Branda Miller and Steve Pierce sitting with daughter Masha, and dog, Rose Fang. | Photo: Provided

It is an honor to step into this beautiful space that they’ve created, to build upon their legacy. My focus will be strengthening continuity and sustainability across the varied initiatives and programs and to provide strategic leadership in a time of transition.

Event Audience at Sanctuary for Independent Media. | Photo: Provided
Collard City Growers participants work the permaculture garden. | Photo: Provided

Can you share with us some meaningful ways in which the Sanctuary is making a difference in the lives of those who are in the neighborhood and beyond?

The Sanctuary’s varied programming really provides something for everyone, and the community of individuals who have created and driven this organization forward for the past 20+ years have shown a true dedication to remaining independent from corporate control and responsive to community input.

Collard City Growers participants work the permaculture garden. | Photo: Provided

One of the major ways that The Sanctuary has impacted the immediate neighborhood is through investment in vacant lots and buildings, reactivating them for community use including Freedom Square – a public performance and gathering space; Collard City Growers – a food justice, arts, and permaculture project; NATURE Lab – a community science lab; and People’s Health Sanctuary – a community-led mutual aid health initiative. Another space where I think The Sanctuary has had real impact is in creating STEAM programming where the arts, sciences, and media are not silos, but an intersection of related disciplines where the arts are tools for scientific discovery, the sciences are a tools for creative expression, and media is the vehicle for sharing the process and the outcomes in ways that are accessible to a wider audience. (Editors Note: This!!)

The Sanctuary for Independent Media Main Entrance. | Photo: Provided

There has also been a consistent effort to develop and maintain strong community relationships with individuals and other organizations through these connections. The Sanctuary has helped to get important community-led initiatives into the media – including stories that depict a more positive image of the N. Central Troy community. Outside of the immediate neighborhood The Sanctuary’s media content and performance series have drawn visitors virtually and in person from other states and countries.

Nature Lab (Water Justice Project) participants testing Hudson River water samples. | Photo: Provided

What are the primary funding sources for the organization?

The organization is funded largely by individual donors and sustaining contributors – particularly Sanctuary Radio and Sanctuary TV. Additional funding is provided by NYSCA, DEC, NEA, McCarthy Charities, Howard & Bush Foundation, and The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region.

Developing story based narratives at Sanctuary Radio. | Photo: Provided

Anything coming up on the horizon we should be aware of or keep on the lookout for?

People can tune into Hudson Mohawk Magazine daily at 7am, 9am, and 6pm for independent coverage of local news and topics impacting our Region. The People’s Health Sanctuary will have a series of open houses in the winter and early spring that are in the final stage of scheduling. The Sanctuary will continue with its signature annual events including Freedom Fest in the summer and Story Harvest in the fall. Information on upcoming events can always be found on our website.

Freedom Square entrance at the Sanctuary for Independent Media. | Photo: Provided

WEB: mediasanctuary.org

Joseph is Doling Out $510K in Statewide Community Regrant Funds : Find Out How to Get Yours

December 19, 2022 By upstatecreative

ACE! connected with Joseph Mastroianni (Vice President of Programming / Statewide Community Regrants Coordinator) of the Arts Center of the Capital Region to find out more about the large pot of money that is being made available to artists and non profits in a two phase round of funding awards. Read on below to find out more about how to submit and qualify.

Joseph Mastroianni – VP of Programs / SCR Grants Coordinator | Photo: Provided

What is the Statewide Community Regrants program?

The Statewide Community Regrants program is an initiative of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and administered by local arts organizations in New York’s 62 counties.

“The SCR program, fosters the continuing development of arts and cultural resources in response to the needs of local communities in each of New York’s counties. The SCR program invests NYSCA funds to serve all communities and people who comprise New York’s citizens and visitors. SCR sites are a network of non-profit organizations that serve local and regional cultural organizations and artists through three categories of support: Community Arts, Arts Education, and Individual Artists.”

The Arts Center represents Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties in the SCR program. In 2023, thanks to a generous one time increase in funding, we will award $510,000 in two rounds.

How much money is available this round?

In Round One, we will distribute $200,000. In Round Two, we will distribute $300,000. Additionally, $10,000 will be available for rolling mini-grants.

Who is eligible?

The SCR program has four categories: Community Arts, Arts Education, Individual Artists, and Pop Up Mini Grants.

In Community Arts, eligible applicants must be or be in partnership with a 501 ©3 nonprofit organization in Albany, Schenectady, or Rensselaer Counties. This category is for public art and fostering creative communities.

In Arts Education, eligible applicants must be either artists over age 18 and in partnership with a community organization, or community organizations. 501©3 status is not required in this category, but all proposed projects must have an educational component, whether in-school or after school.

In Individual Artists, eligible applicants must be artists 18 years of age or over and reside in Albany, Rensselaer, or Schenectady Counties. Projects should all be original work.

In Pop Up Mini Grants, eligible applicants are artists over age 18 or 501©3 organizations based in Albany, Schenectady, or Rensselaer Counties. Mini Grants are for small-scale projects and do not have to include an educational component.

Artists who work in any or all media are encouraged to apply; there is no priority.

Downtown Schenectady Improvement | Photo: Provided

What types of projects are prioritized in the funding?

All projects must have some type of community impact component and there are funding caps for each grant type.

In Community Arts, the maximum award is $5000. In Arts Education and Individual Artist, the cap is $2500. Artists may apply to all three categories if they are eligible; the maximum award any single artist or arts organization will receive is $5000.

Downtown Schenectady Improvement Mural | Photo: Provided

How do I learn more about applying?

We have grant seminars and office hours! At our virtual grant seminars, I’ll go over each type of grant available, so bring your creative ideas and ask questions! At the office hours, I’ll be able to answer very individualized questions about your projects and the application process. Remaining grant seminars are December 20, and January 5, all from 4-5 pm. They are free, but you do have to register to get the zoom link.

REGISTER HERE

Office Hours are Thursdays from 3-4 pm, starting January 12. Office hours may be over the phone, google meet, or email. No registration is required.

Electric City Arts – Jazz on Jay | Photo: Provided

Anything else we have missed we should know about?

Important dates!

ROUND ONE APPLICATION : Opens January 6 and closes March 1. Panel Review will be April 1, and awards will be announced on May 15. Projects must happen between June 1 and December 31 2023.

ROUND TWO APPLICATION : Opens on April 6 and closes on June 1. Panel Review will be July 6, and awards will be announced August 15. Projects must occur between September 1 and December 31 2023.



FREE TICKETS to the Albany Symphony’s ‘Classics for the Holidays’

November 14, 2022 By upstatecreative

We partnered up with the multiple Grammy winning Albany Symphony Orchestra and are making available a block of FREE TICKETS (a $65 value each!) to the annual holiday extravaganza ‘Classics for the Holidays’ performance! Availability is first come first serve so jump on this asap if your interested. There is a two tickets per person limit.

Albany Symphony Orchestra at the Troy Music Hall.

This December you are invited to enjoy a night or afternoon with the Albany Symphony as Music Director David Alan Miller conducts the ASO in a program of ‘Classics for the Holidays’. Come experience one of J.S. Bach’s beloved Christmas Cantatas featuring singers from the Bard Vocal Performance Program and his famous Double Violin Concerto featuring the ASO’s own Mitsuko Suzuki and Funda Cizmecioglu, plus a sinfonietta by influential 20th Century Black American composer and conductor Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson, and Mozart’s stunning Symphony No. 39.

Classics for the Holidays | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30pm | Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3pm

Order free tickets to the Saturday Evening or Sunday Matinee performance by using offer code ACEGUEST at checkout, or by calling the ASO Box Office at 518.694.3300.

PRO TIP: If for some reason you get a ‘seats unavailable’ message try a different location.

Violinists Mitsuko Suzuki and Funda Cizmecioglu | Conductor David Allen Miller

Opalka Gallery Pop Up Beer Garden and Neighborhood Block Party

September 13, 2022 By Corey Aldrich

ACE! Amplified Series Opening Event

Join us for the opening event of our 4th Annual 2022 Pop Up! Beer Garden and Neighborhood Block Party series at the Opalka Gallery in Albany, NY.

This series opener will feature the main reception for the 2022 SCREENPRINT BIENNIAL featuring a curator talk with Nathan Meltz & Josh MacPhee’s GRAPHIC LIBERATION installation. On the hops and barley front we welcome back our good friends at Druthers Brewing and series newbies Shmaltz Brewing.

For those who are hungry, we arguably have the best line-up to date with Meadowlark, La Capital Tacos and desserts by O’Malley’s Oven. The live stage will welcome back series favorites the Graham Tichy Trio and series newcomer Caity Gallagher.

All this and lawn games and great conversation. Bring the family and enjoy what is sure to be an amazing evening.

This is an ACE! (Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy) sponsored event and FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SERIES CENTER : HISPANIC HERITAGE EVENT

There will be two more dates in the overall beer garden series on each of the following Fridays. The second event in the series will be a HISPANIC HERITAGE month celebration that will be on Friday the 23rd.

Series Center | Hispanic Heritage Event

Back by popular demand, the second event of our 2022 Pop Up! Beer Garden and Neighborhood Block Party series will be a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The 2022 SCREENPRINT BIENNIAL & Josh MacPhee’s GRAPHIC LIBERATION will be on display in the gallery for review. Pop Up Brew vendors include the dynamic duo of Rare Form Brewing and Nine Pin Ciders.

Come hungry as we will have both Grammy’s Tamales, Oaxaquena Triqui and Mayan themed drinks and chocolate by Primo Botanica.

Finally, get you dancing shoes on for a return of DJ RVMBA and Joe Barna’s Latin Ensemble featuring Stacy Dillard.

All this and lawn games and great conversation. Bring the family and enjoy what is sure to be an amazing evening. Event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SERIES CLOSING EVENT : A TROY NIGHT OUT

Series Closing Event | Troy Night Out at Sage Park

Our series closing event will be tied in solidarity for the first time ever to the Russell Sage College’s Troy Campus on Troy Night Out. And what a night it is! The ‘unofficial‘ event will be part of the city wide kick-off of the first year of Baccanalia, a SXSW style, distributed music festival.

Beer for the evening will be provided by Frog Alley and Fort Orange Brewing.

On the food front we will be featuring gourmet mac and cheese with the Mac Factor food truck and ice cream with Emac and Bolio’s.

Enchanted City Steampunk festival performers Frenchy and the Punk are back in town with an opening set by Jules Olson.

More to be announced…

All this and lawn games and great conversation. Bring the family and enjoy what is sure to be an amazing evening. Event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

A FREE shuttle will be available from Albany to Troy and back for the duration of the event that will leave from the OPALKA GALLERY parking lot at 140 News Scotland Avenue and return to it after the event.

Shuttle times to be announced.

Street Art / Graffiti as Gravity – Part II of III : Cities with ‘Speak Art’ Vibes

August 3, 2022 By Taliesin Thomas

This 3-part series on the dynamic nature of street art, graffiti, and murals—as both symbols of cultural consciousness and cultural commodities—highlights these genres as viable assets within the regional and global creative economy of today. In this second segment, the author considers the financial side of local art initiatives.

I am pleased to share this second segment in my three-part series concerning dialogues around street art, graffiti, and public art projects in the Capital Region. In the first segment, I discussed these topics from a Troy-townie perspective.

Mural art in North Central Troy, NY | Photo: Corey Aldrich

For this installment, I explored the mural-street-art-graffiti-scene from the financial side of the equation. We all know that art is also about “biz-naz” at every level, so how does the money make its way into the street as street art? To understand more, I turned my focus to the creative economies of Troy, Albany, and Glens Falls as a trifecta case study. Each of these cities boasts a unique vibe with respect to murals and public art projects. I was delighted to communicate with several esteemed arts professionals for greater insight, including Elizabeth Reiss, Executive Director of the Arts Center of the Capital Region; Tony Iadicicco, Executive Director of the Albany Center Gallery; Chad Robinovich, Artistic Director of New Works for Constellation Stage & Screen; and Casey Polomaine, Executive Director of the Albany Barn.

Each of these conversations was lively and informative; herein I comment on some of the facts that were presented to me. Chad Robinovich—a champion of Glens Falls and a member of the Glens Falls Arts District Committee—spoke passionately about community endeavors to “beautify a beautiful city” that is also his home. Chad discussed the ongoing efforts of the New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), an organization that serves as a cornerstone of the State’s economic development program.

While Glens Falls already has an established arts district area, the DRI has supported the existing infrastructure while expanding local arts programming. Chad clarified the DRI is not only solely about funding the arts, however, some of the total $10 million grant for Glens Falls was indeed used for public art initiatives.

Painted electrical boxes in Glens Falls, NY | Images courtesy of Chad Robinovich

He also shared with me that a micro grant from the Touba Family Foundation resulted in a popular project that took place last year, where local artists—including Kevin Clark, Shelley Fairbanks, Leah Hofgesang, Stephanie Vaus, Rodney Bentley, Hannah Williams and Olga Aleksandrova—were awarded funds to paint electrical boxes around Glens Falls. He spoke sincerely about the impact of that project and how the community reacted so positively to the colorful designs, stating “a little bit goes a long way” with regard to the public reception for art.

During our call Chad spoke of Glens Falls as a place with a “speak art” vibe and he emphasized the “instant visual impact” of murals as a point of engagement. This year, the Glens Falls Arts District Committee put out a nationwide call for artists to apply for a large-scale mural project. Over the next two months, the committee will allocate approximately $75,000 to install three new mural designs around Glens Falls by artists Hannah Williams (Glens Falls, NY), Toni Ardizzone (Texas), and Jesse Melanson (Los Angeles, CA).

Murals off River Street near the Hudson River in Troy, NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas

Turning to Troy, we encounter a thriving local energy at the Arts Center for the Capital Region (ACCR). Director Liz Reiss is a seasoned arts professional with diverse experience overseeing art in the public realm. During our conversation, she emphasized her belief that “art belongs to everyone” and that art functions as a tool for revitalization. Liz also spoke candidly about the challenge to obtain annual funding and she considers the role of the institution as the “translator” of art for the community. She carefully posed various questions with respect to the best use of funding: What needs help? Who is asking for that change? Who is most likely to benefit? Liz cited city murals as one of several modes that bring local artists further into the public realm and she lauded the resounding success of the Uniting Line, a project that received funds from Bloomberg’s “Asphalt Art” initiative. This highly visible series of murals features artwork by Jade Warrick. Originally from Los Angeles, Warrick is a Capital Region-based visual designer who focuses on bringing art and wellness programming into BIPOC and marginalized communities.

Uniting Line artworks by Jade Warrick, Troy NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas

Since staring the program in 2018, Liz confirmed the ACCR has spent approximately $375,000 on various public art projects around Troy, including the Uniting Line, Franklin Alley, School 2, Troy to Troy Murals (the bulk of which was used for the Uniting Line). The ACCR is currently working to realize the Troy Glo project that will present a distinct category of public art—light sculptures—and will feature the work of architects and designers as part of these plans. Troy Glo will launch in December 2022 to coincide with the annual Troy Victoria Stroll.

Street art by Joe Iurato as part of the Frankly Alley project, Troy NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas

Next I connected with Casey Polomaine regarding her work with public art projects in Albany. She spoke of the great success of the Capital Walls project, a collaboration between Albany Barn, Albany Center Gallery, and the Albany Parking Authority. The Capital Walls murals aim to inspire all walks of life with buoyant works of art installed in various locations around downtown Albany. Programming designed to promote and educate the community about these artworks include walking tours (docent led and self-guided), bike tours in partnership with the Capital District Transportation Authority, and the Artful Albany podcasts with Discover Albany.

Capital Walls murals by (back to front) Rosy Sunshine, Vanessa Mastronardi,
Arzu Fallahi, and NDA in Albany, NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas

Casey explained the ongoing efforts of the Capital Walls program, stating that the city is currently working to expand the program and is actively looking for new walls. She spoke of the sheer joy of public art that is made accessible to all and how the murals naturally “uplift your spirits” as works of art that break down barriers while also “putting money in the pockets of artists.”

Rounding out the trifecta focus, Tony Iadicicco provided additional information about Capital Walls. Started in 2016, the project now boasts 16 murals by local, regional, national, and international artists. Chosen from an open call, many of these artists are first time muralists while others are well-established. Tony indicated that each muralist was paired with an available, funded wall based on their style. Once selected, the muralist works closely with Tony and his team to create the work on-site. He indicated that over $150,000 in public art has been funded by Albany Parking Authority and an additional $72,000 was awarded to Albany Center Gallery as part of the DRI award (with additional partner Downtown Albany BID and Capital Walls partners).

Capital Walls mural by Rachel Baxter in Albany, NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas

Albany Barn also received additional funds for the Schenectady DRI for murals to be installed in Schenectady, along with a Capital Walls mural in Schenectady on Albany Street (completed in 2021). In an email to me, Tony included these comments from Matthew Peter of the Albany Parking Authority: “the murals act as landmarks, promote walkability and tourism, and restore a sense of place … At the same time, the city is able to attract and promote local art and artists and support the local creative economy, creating a win/win situation for all involved.” On a recent summer afternoon, I toured the Capital Walls murals and it was indeed a thrill to encounter these magnificent murals, each one both inspired and inspiring. As these and other arts professionals attest, the “speak art” vibes of cities such as Troy, Albany, and Glens Falls are a vital part of the artistic energy and business goals of our region as a whole.

Capital Walls mural by Sylvie Kantorovitz in Albany, NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas
Street art in downtown Troy, NY | Photo: Taliesin Thomas

PART III: In the next installment, we consider the “macro level” of these topics and explore how art initiatives in Capital Region fit into the arts ecosystem on a national—and international—scale.


For more check out Part I of the series : Street Art / Graffiti as Gravity – Part I of III : A Townie Perspective


Taliesin Thomas, Ph.D. is an artist-philosopher, writer, lecturer, and collector based in Troy, NY. Since 2007, she is the founding director of AW Asia, NY and the collection manager of Art Issue Editions, NY—two private art collections that are the foundation for collaborations and projects with artists and museums worldwide. Thomas has lectured and published widely on contemporary art. She is the director of the Artist Training Initiative and a critic for the Critical Forum program at the Arts Center for the Capital Region, NY and she is a faculty member at School of Visual Arts, NY. Thomas studied studio art, aesthetics, theory, and philosophy at Bennington College, Columbia University, and The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts.

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