Artist talk and demonstration

Lewis Bryden will discuss the making of "Nature as Muse"

Artist and sculptor Lewis Bryden will give a talk at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 24 on the making of his bronze sculpture, “Nature as Muse,” which is a permanent installation in the Mallinckrodt Garden at View. The talk will be held in Gould Hall at View, where Bryden will present a series of short videos that show the different stages of making this sculpture. There is no admission charge to attend the talk.

"Nature as Muse"
Bronze sculpture by Lewis Bryden
in Mallinckrodt Garden at View

Bryden, who has been a professional artist for 30 years, used a process called “lost wax casting” to create “Nature as Muse.”

“I chose the lost wax method, in which the finished clay sculpture is remolded in wax, coated with ceramic material, and then poured with molten bronze. Everywhere the wax was, the bronze now takes its place,” he said.

Bryden created the full-size clay sculpture and then collaborated with other artisans to create the bronze cast. The process is complicated and can permanently destroy the sculpture if anything goes wrong.

“[The process] involves many steps of repeated creation, destruction and recreation all of which are beautiful in themselves,” he said. “The process is, in a way, a perfect example of the need for communal effort and mutual trust.”

The videos that Bryden will show demonstrate the lost wax process and highlight the skills involved in creating such a large sculpture.

As part of the creative process, Bryden created a maquette, or small scale model of the sculpture, which is of a young girl reaching up to a bird. “It helps the artist and others to visualize the sculpture and to identify problems early,” he said. He also did a portrait study as an exercise to explore the character of the young girl.

The portrait has been donated to View’s permanent collection, and the maquette has been given to View as a raffle to raise money for View. Both the portrait and the maquette will be on display before the talk and raffle tickets will be available for purchase.

Bryden is well-known as a landscape painter, but in the last three years he has turned his attention to three-dimensional work in marble and bronze.  “Nature as Muse” was a gift to View last summer by Bryden and his wife Betsy Mallinckrodt Bryden to commemorate the lives of Betsy’s grandparents, Elizabeth Elliot and Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr., who were longtime summer residents of Old Forge and avid art collectors.  

For more information about View, visit www.ViewArts.org or call (315) 369-6411.

 

--By Leslie Bailey, View staff

Home Grown Attractions

Home grown attractions

By

Mart Allen

Column for the June 18, 2013 Adirondack Express 

     Have you ever thought about home grown attractions? I have and it never ceases to amaze me how local people often times take them for granted. Maybe it’s not so much that they are taken for granted but that it takes time to really appreciate such things and time is a precious commodity. In the workaday world locals pass by what others travel miles, spend days and pay to experience without ever noticing what they are missing. Time is the key component in this scenario and in every other facet of our modern lives.

     There are a great many attractions here in this recreational oriented area in which we live but finding the time to enjoy them is a huge problem. In every day and every way technology is making it harder to apportion our time. The older people get the greater become the demands on their time. I have just recently become more cognizant of that fact. The past weekend of the eighth and ninth brought that fact home loud and clear. We had three different occasions that we wanted to be a part of and agonize over before deciding to split our allegiance. My wife went one way to a family obligation and I to the community day invitation to View.

     View, is the Arts Center, as most people who frequent the area know. It came about as a result of a great deal of planning and hard work by many people. Of those people none deserves more credit than Miriam Kashiwa. The original Arts Center location across from View stands out in my memory as a happy place where my grandchildren went to preschool. It is being carried on as part of the activities at View.

     It was my first opportunity to visit the center and I was impressed as I am sure all others viewing it for the first time are. I have to admit however that I was not surprised because to use an old Adirondack expression its predecessor was no cotton sock outfit. Impressive in every aspect is the way I would describe it.

     The architecture interested me almost as much as the exhibits. The workmanship was grandiose to say the least. The planning and layout of the exhibits and the flow from them to the other functions is a revelation. Professionalism is what I would have to say it exudes, and now for the art work.

     I could not pretend to know how to describe the artwork. It was incredible. How any human being can create the paintings and woodwork on display is unimaginable. The pottery exhibit and workshop followed along the same lines. I have never before been exposed to such a variety of art on the scale exhibited there. I was truly impressed.

     My favorite room was the one dedicated to Hank Kashiwa with its display of Adirondack flora and fauna. I could relate to that more naturally than the art work, but that in no way diminished my appreciation for it. Hank was one of my favorite people. I regret that I did not get to know him better. But once again that all goes back to the matter of time. We both had growing families and commitments that came ahead of everything else.

     The people that created and made View can be extremely proud. Not many if any communities the size of ours can boast of anything as professional. It has to be seen. To waste something as beautiful would surely be a sin.

     Old Forge has more of one thing than any other community I ever knew and that is spirit. View is not the only attraction worth seeing. They are all worth a local taking the time to see from the inside what our seasonal visitors do.  

    The thought for the week is: A person should be like a pencil.

1.      Everything you do will always leave a mark.

2.      You can always correct the mistakes you make.

3.      What is important is what’s inside of you.

4.      In life, you will always undergo painful sharpening’s, which only make you better.

5.      To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

--Posted by Leslie Bailey, View staff
Re-printed here with permission from Mart Allen and the Adirondack Express.

View Celebrates its 62nd Year

Press Release



View, open year-round, is celebrating its 62^nd year in Old Forge.    A $4.5 million-dollar campaign is underway to sustain View into the future.  Since its launch in 2010, the Moving Mountains campaign has raised $1,618,428.   View’s development committee is actively working to meet its 2013 goal to raise $1 million.  

“View’s Board of Directors is very pleased with the progress we have made since moving in 2011,”  said Helene McAleese, President.  “Our programs continue to grow each year, and View is increasingly becoming a destination for Adirondack residents and visitors alike.”

View welcomes three new staff.  Linda Bamberger of Old Forge began work in April as part-time Operations Manager, overseeing finance, human resources, guest services and information technology.   Wende Carr of Old Forge is serving as Interim Exhibition Manager. Pam Caryl of Otter Lake begins work at the front desk beginning June 13.  Searches are underway to fill two key positions-- Exhibitions Manager and Marketing Manager (see View’s website for details).  

A full schedule of performances, workshops and exhibitions is scheduled for Summer 2013 at View, the arts center in Old Forge.    With more than 20 performances ranging from jazz, blues, folk and classical music to plays and musicals, View’s Gould Hall will resound with performing artists.   The galleries will show off pastels, woodworking, ceramics, photography, watercolors, “Little Things,” quilts and more.

Workshops for artists of all ages and levels of experience from beginners to seasoned artists are on tap working in media ranging from glass to painting, pottery to basket making, photography and writing.   Yoga and Zumba are offered most days.   View’s website has the full schedule of classes and programs at www.viewarts.org.

Special events this year include Forge Festival of Arts and Crafts, the 39^th Annual Antiques and Vintage Show and Sale, View’s Annual Gala, House Tour by Boat, Plein Air Art Auction, Stems and Steins and Running Colors.  In addition, there are eight weddings scheduled at View this summer and fall.    These events help support View’s operations.

Since moving to its new facility in 2011, View’s staff has increased from 5 to 12, membership has increased by 25 %, admission has increased 13%, and registration in workshops has increased 34%.   Many of View’s performances sell out during the summer so regular patrons have learned to purchase tickets in advance.

Board member Deb Carhart said, “View faced many challenges as we transformed the organization in recent years.  The board and staff have worked hard to ensure that View can be sustained well into the future.  Not only are the arts programs strong but View has quickly become an important regional economic driver and community gathering place.”

Jennifer Potter Hayes, View’s Executive Director, welcomes all to participate in this summer’s festivities.  “Everyday offers something special for visitors at View.   Check the website for all the details !   We invite everyone to stop in, to enjoy a performance, tour the exhibits including the ever-popular Kashiwa Eco Gallery, or take a class. Bring your family and friends to see what View has to offer!”

 

--Posted by Leslie Bailey, View staff

An Intern's Prom Experience

By Nicholas Daniluk, Performing Arts Intern

This entry is a little bit late. We've been pretty busy, and there have been a lot of changes here at View. I'll fill you in on the details next week. But for now, here is the last post I wrote: June 3rd, 2013
Day 13
I have known for a while that View was going to be hosting a local prom, and that staff members would be needed to supervise their use of our space. Events like proms are the kind of thing I am used to from my years of working for the student activities department of Pratt Institute. There we had a couple of sorority dinners and dances in our student union space where I was in charge of monitoring their use of our tables, chairs, and sound equipment while also making sure they cleaned up after themselves. I imagined that this prom would be similar so I volunteered to help out. Though to be honest, previous experience was not the only reason I volunteered.
I did not go to my own prom in high school. Which is not something I regret. My late teens were more troubled and awkward than most, and knowing what I was like back then going to prom would have been a horrible experience. But who I am now would probably have enjoyed it. And I have always been a little bit curious as to what a prom is actually like outside of portrayals in popular culture. Additionally a good friend of mine owed me a date after I had accompanied her to her friend’s wedding. A job I know well, a friend to dance with, and getting to see the real thing. Plenty of reasons to volunteer.
Sadly, my date had to cancel on me. But other than that the evening went quite smoothly. The kids were there for set-up early and got the job done with time to spare. The DJ they hired sounded pretty good in our space and the kids danced the night away. Though I question the taste of some of the songs played. Two trouble-makers and a thunderstorm were the only things that put a damper on the kid’s fun.

This weekend we have the Spitfire Grill, a musical based on the hit movie of the same name. It's about a feisty young woman working at Hannah's Spitfire Grill. I've never seen it, nor heard of it. But my supervisor is excited, and that is a good sign.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

View seeks nominees for Board of Directors

Press Release--

View, the arts center in Old Forge, is looking for people who are interested in serving on its Board of Directors or in serving on the Nominating Committee. Board members are required to be a member of View and to attend 10 board meetings annually in person or by teleconference.  Each board member serves on at least one committee and is expected to be actively engaged in View activities. The Nominating Committee is charged with reviewing names for the Board of Directors and presenting a slate to be voted on at View’s annual membership meeting (this year on Tuesday, August 27).  

If you are interested in serving, or would like to submit names of individuals whom you believe would be interested, please contact Leslie Bailey at (315) 369-6411, ext. 212 or Lbailey@viewarts.org with contact information and a brief bio, as soon as possible. Names submitted will be shared with the Nominating Committee.

View was founded more than 60 years ago, and is a year-round, multi-arts presenter of visual and performing arts located in Old Forge. Its signature exhibition schedule includes pastels, watercolors, fine arts, and quilts. Performances include music, theater, dance, and film. The member-based, non-profit organization also offers workshops, lectures, and special events. The facility, a 28,000 square-foot, LEED-certified building on Route 28, is also used for weddings, meetings, and community events.

View is a growing organization, currently employing 12 people with seven interns in the summer. As part of its mission, View serves as a catalyst for encouraging the creative spirit that has long been an Adirondack tradition. The Board of Directors guides the organization in meeting its mission and reaching its goals.

--By Leslie Bailey, View staff

 

 

An Interns First View Performance

By Nicholas Daniluk, Performing Arts Intern

I was excited for Sunday’s performance of Great American Songbook as done by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts as it was the first time I would be truly put to task as the Performance Intern. The first time I would actually be setting up lights, sound, and bar for an act here at View. Load in was scheduled to start sharply at 10am, but was delayed. By around 11am the sound tech from the ALCA had arrived and we began to load in some equipment.

Here at View we have some recently purchased QSC K12 speakers, and Presonus Studiolive soundboard. Excellent equipment for a performance space like Gould Hall. The sound tech had apparently been working several venues which did not have their own audio systems and was very relieved to see not only that he would not be required to unload his own soundboard and speakers. We disconnected channels 1-5 in the sound booth and did a direct input line to his wireless microphones.

As part of my in-office work I have been reading the manual on our Presonus board, and have learned several things. This is a unique system in that it does not have separate frequency gain  knobs for each input channel, but has selection button on each channel which links to a single more expansive chain of adjustment knobs. This gives you more options for each sound input that are clear and easy to read without taking up more space on the board. This whole system is something I have yet to toy with myself, though I was able to instruct the ALCA tech on this feature.

The performance itself was quite stellar. I will admit, I am not the biggest fan of musicals but the performers did such an exceptional job as to even get me to smile and hum along. I particularly enjoyed one young woman’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. In addition to the songs, the pianist told the audience about the composers, some history, and humorous anecdotes, which added to the experience and drew the listener deeper into the songs, watching for specific lyric or melody structures which the various composers were known for.

Coming up on June 7, at 7:30om we have the International Jazz Trio, a performance I am more excited for as it will be not only a fantastic opportunity to learn more about running an event, it is also a chance to hear some good tunes.

This has been an excellent first week at the View, and I am looking forward to many more experiences like this.

New Performances Intern: Nicholas Daniluk

Hello there!
To all of the readers and attendees at the lovely View arts center I would like to introduce myself. My name is Nicholas Daniluk and I am one of the fresh new interns here. Specifically, I am the Performing Arts intern. I will be helping with lightboard, soundboard, and various other aspects of putting on the various acts you see here. So you most of my ramblings will be about the events we have coming up in Gould Hall, but will also be filling you in on some of the day to day details of an outsider learning about life in this mountain town.

A little bit about me; I am originally from Dryden, New York, a small town outside of Ithaca and I graduated from Pratt Institute in 2011 with a bachelors in Fine Art, after completing the two year foundation program at Munson Williams Proctor in Utica, New York. My concentration was in drawing, and I have mostly been working with chalk pastels the past four years, though I have recently started working with oil paints again. You can find my work here. <http://facebook.com/nicholasromanoviii> . I am hoping to spend this summer gaining experience which will expand my career opportunities while also developing my portfolio for graduate school.

This weekend will be my first day working a performance here at View; the Great American Songbook at 2pm. The  Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts will be putting on a show with songs from American musicals from the 1920’s all the way to the 1960’s. Classic americana on memorial day eve. The performers will be bringing in most of their own sound equipment, so I believe I will mostly be working lights. But you never know what will happen, and everything that needs to be done. I will be sure to let you know how it goes, and what it’s like setting working with these, and all the other performers at View.