Written By WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH
Photos Provided
If you’ve ever wished you could watch artists work and ask questions — to determine your own creative path, perhaps, improve existing skills, or broaden your artistic knowledge—then plan on traveling the SVAN Art Trails the weekend of August 19-20. From 10 to 4 daily, this self-guided, educational tour enables visitors to interact with diverse artists within home studios and public galleries throughout the Sacandaga Valley region.
The Sacandaga Valley Arts Network (SVAN), which offers this yearly event, provides a brochure with a detailed map indicating each artist’s location and specialty. The trail winds through multiple communities, including Wells, Hope, Benson, Northville, Edinburg, Broadalbin, Vail Mills, Mayfield, Gloversville, and Sammonsville. Past Art Trails have featured sculptors, photographers, oil, acrylic, and mixed media painters, weavers, woodworkers, furniture makers, and more. A thumbnail photo of each artist’s work, included in the brochure, enables you to choose the art forms that interest you, plot your course, and hit the road.
Stained-glass artist Carolyn Wilcox of Hope coordinates this inspiring event. “I love talking to people about how I create my art, from concept to process. Because Art Trails is an educational experience, most of the people who take the trail are there to learn something new, not necessarily to buy something. People who ‘take the journey’ can select what locations interest them most. Maybe they are a painter themselves so they’d rather learn more about weaving, or a different type of painting. We really have it all on the trail! It’s a great event for the Sacandaga Valley as a whole,” she adds, “because it highlights the wonderful and varied artists we have in Fulton, Hamilton, and Saratoga Counties.”
Last year, hundreds of people traveled SVAN Art Trails, including visitors from as far away as California, Florida, Maryland, and New York City. Sculptors Caroline Ramersdorfer and John Van Alstine welcomed more than 200 people to their 8-acre sculpture garden and riverside studios just off Route 30 in Wells. Ramersdorfer’s internationally-renowned works utilize marble, granite, and sometimes steel to create spiritually calm interior spaces. Van Alstine’s equally impressive stone and metal work is explored in depth in the recently-released book, “American Vistas: The Life and Art of John Van Alstine” by art critic/journalist Tim Kane.
Twenty-six years ago, Adirondack painter Constance Dodge—with the help of other artists and dedicated volunteers—founded the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network to support, encourage, and assist local artists, promote diverse cultural programming, and inspire and improve the quality of life throughout the Sacandaga region. A regular participant in SVAN’s Art Trails Weekend, Dodge looks forward to welcoming visitors to her lakeside home gallery.
“People appreciate meeting the artist, seeing the unique space in which they create, and getting a sense of the artist’s personality. It’s an opportunity to see current work as well as work that’s been done over the past many years. Seeing the space in which a piece is created helps people to envision a more personal link between the art and the artist.”
Years ago, after purchasing and gutting a derelict lakeside house, Dodge designed and recreated the space in such a way that her home, today, is a work of art in itself. Dodge’s actual studio is located upstairs, but the entire house serves as her gallery.
Northville plein air and folk artist Linda Finch always enjoys talking with Art Trails travelers on her home turf. “Every artist’s home and studio situation is distinctive, and that’s part of the fun for visitors,” she asserts. “Seeing where an artist comes from is important because the home’s orientation is oftentimes reflected in their art. During Art Trails, I hold my show on our big, long, 60-foot front porch. There’s plenty of parking, it’s sheltered from the rain, and there are just two steps—unlike my second floor studio! Last year, we had between 120 and150 people stop by. Being at home, I’m really comfortable and relaxed, so I can have nice long conversations with people. I have many gardens, too, and I enjoy seeing people wander around them. The Art Trails weekend is great fun! I don’t have to pack up my paintings and go somewhere. People come to me.”
SVAN Art Trails is facilitated by a grant from the Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Regrant Program, a program funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor’s Office and the NYS Legislature. “The grant allows us to keep our artist fees low, just $30,” Wilcox points out. “The only real costs to this event are advertising and the beautiful brochure/map, designed by Linda Hinkle. The grant covers the brochure publishing, and we use the artist fees for social media advertising and road signage.”
To date, more than 15 artists have signed up for this summer’s Art Trails, but a final list of all participants will be released in late May. Brochures will become available in late June, both online and at galleries and businesses throughout the region. For an immersive weekend sure to get your creative juices flowing, be sure to take to the road this August for an awesome artistic adventure!
For more info, visit www.svanarts.org/art-trails,
www.facebook.com/events/724372408243569, or
www.instagram.com/svanarttrails
