Beacon artists to open studios this weekend
By Alison Rooney
Samantha Palmeri, the director of Beacon Open Studios, has some advice for newcomers among the more than 60 artists participating in this year’s event, which takes place Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29.
“New artists have a lot of questions for us, because they don’t know what to anticipate,” she says. “Some think they will be hanging out, but you have to work. You’ll be having conversations about your art, all day long. This comes naturally to some, but not for all. It’s a very social event, and a lot of sales can be made.”
Open Studios, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, is a project of BeaconArts. The works on display include sculpture, drawings and paintings, but there are also writers and musicians, dancers and other performers. There will be demonstrations of encaustic painting (with beeswax) and print-making, a writing workshop, live music and children’s performances.
Maps with four suggested walking routes are available at beaconopenstudios.org and at various locations around the city. The Oak Vino Wine Bar at 389 Main St. is serving as headquarters.
Friday, April 27
Kickoff Party and Exhibition
6 – 9 p.m. Oak Vino Wine Bar
389 Main St.Saturday, April 28
Artist Studios Open
Noon to 6 p.m.Encaustic (Painting with Beeswax) Demonstration
12:30 p.m. 420 Liberty St.Live Jazz
1 – 4 p.m. Oak Vino Wine BarMusical Previews
1:45 & 3 p.m. Beacon Performing Arts Center
327B Main St.
Sneak peeks of Little Mermaid Jr. and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeImprovisation Workshop with Ruth Danon
2 p.m. 1 East Main St., No. 204Sunday, April 29
Artist Studios Open
Noon to 6 p.m.Open Rehearsal for Spelling Bee
Noon – 2:30 p.m. Beacon Performing Arts Center
*Contains adult humorImprovisation Workshop with Ruth Danon
2 p.m. 1 East Main St., No. 204Printmaking Demonstration with Beth Weintraub
3:30 – 5 p.m. 34 Talbot Ave.Funky Spunky Literature Night and After Party
6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Quinn’s, 330 Main St.
Palmeri has led the all-volunteer event for the past two years after becoming involved as an artist after she moved to the city four years ago and rented a studio at the old Beacon High School.
The event’s founder, Theresa Gooby, was inspired by similar events elsewhere. She and Ed Benavente, Robert Brush, Erica Hauser, Thomas Huber, Jackie Skrzynski, Greg Slick, Susan Walsh and Jayoung Yoon are exhibiting their works in an alumni show curated by Palmeri at Big Mouth Coffee Roasters, adjacent to Oak Vino, through May 13.
Palmeri said organizers this year focused on encouraging artists to register. “We’ve tried to step up that part of it,” she says. “Although there has been an influx of artists moving up to Beacon from the city in the past few years, the number of Open Studio participants has remained fairly stable” at 50 to 70.
Below, a gallery of work by some of the artists participating in Beacon Open Studios
