Press Releases

Spencertown Academy Arts Center, in collaboration with the Austerlitz Historical Society and Edna St. Vincent Millay Society at Steepletop, presents the second annual Intersection Austerlitz regional celebration of art, literature, and history on Saturday, September 17 from 9:00am to 4:30pm. This year’s program, titled “Costume and Culture: Designs for Life,” focuses on the innovation, practicality, and creativity found in fashion and fabrics. The three organizations, which are located within minutes of each other, will jointly host workshops, exhibits, and demonstrations.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents exhibitions by painter Scott Thomas Balfe and photographer Jane McWhorter, who were the winners of last year’s Spencertown Academy juried regional art exhibition. Carrie Haddad, of Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, NY, judged the show, awarding first prize to Balfe and second prize to McWhorter. On Saturday, September 24, there will be an opening reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the exhibitions will remain on display through October 9. Gallery hours after the opening are Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free and the artworks are for sale.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents a jazz concert by The Quartet on Saturday, October 1 at 8:00pm. The group features Stuart Quimby (flute), Tony Kieraldo (piano), Terence Murren (base), and Peter O’Brien (drums). General admission tickets ($20/$10 for students) may be purchased in advance via www.spencertownacademy.org and will be available at the door.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents “Mysterious and Unexpected: the Merger of Art and Science” exhibition featuring artists Carrie Crane, Kay Hartung, Larry Kagan, Gwenn Mayers, Karen Schoolman, and Catherine Wilcox-Titus. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, July 23 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and the show will remain on display through August 14. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s 12th annual Hidden Gardens Tour, an annual gateway to summer in Columbia County, is scheduled for Saturday, June 18. It includes an array of events designed to inform, inspire, and intrigue garden enthusiasts. The theme of this year’s Hidden Gardens Tour is “Artful Landscapes: Village and Country Gardens.” Broken Arrow Nursery’s Adam Wheeler will give a morning lecture about deer-proof landscaping. Shoppers can pick up items at the Garden Market on The Green and take a workshop about hummingbird-friendly planters. The “From the Garden: Still Life” art exhibition will be on display at the Academy and the Twilight in the Garden Cocktail Party will take place at a bucolic private home. Spencertown Academy Board members Madaline Sparks and Vivian Wachsberger are co-chairs of Hidden Gardens; proceeds benefit the Academy.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents Paul Green and Klezmer East on Saturday, May 7 at 8:00pm. The concert will spotlight traditional and contemporary klezmer favorites, including Freilachs, Horas, and hits from the Yiddish Theater. Directed by clarinetist Green, Klezmer East features Pete Sweeney (drums), Bruce Krasin (saxophone), and Alan Gold (piano/keyboards). General admission tickets ($20/$10 for students) may be purchased in advance via www.spencertownacademy.org and will be available at the door.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents the Intentional Jazz ensemble on Saturday, February 13 at 7:30pm. This talented sextet brings a fresh return to the rich tradition of jazz from the Blue Note era exemplified by the likes of Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and many others. Led by Rob Fisch, Intentional Jazz brings together some of the finest jazz musicians from northeastern New York, western Massachusetts, and southern Vermont, including Rob Fisch (trumpet), Aaron Dean, (sax), Dave Pickard (trombone), David Bartley (piano), Dave Christopolis (bass), and Steve Collins (drums). General admission tickets ($20/$10 for students) may be purchased in advance via www.spencertownacademy.org and will be available at the door.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s Handmade Holiday Pop-up Shop will run Friday through Sunday, November 27, 28, and 29 and Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day. Holiday gift shoppers and art lovers “go local” at this curated sale that features cards, ceramics, jewelry, quilts, cutting boards, knitwear, felted puppets, fired glass, baskets, paper crafts, and edible delicacies made by dozens of Columbia, Ulster, and Berkshire area residents. Admission is free.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents its 2nd annual juried regional art exhibition titled “Fur. Fin. Feathers.” Carrie Haddad of Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson served as judge, selecting 56 oil paintings, watercolors, engravings, monoprints, mixed media assemblages, and photographs created by 27 local artists. On Saturday, October 31, there will be a festive opening reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the artists and the show will remain on display through November 22. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free and the artworks are for sale, with prices ranging from $50 to $2,500.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center is pleased to announce the winners of its first-ever Teens’ Short Story Contest, selected by judge Lauren Oliver, a New York Times bestselling young adult novelist. The contest was open to Berkshire and Columbia County teenaged writers in grades 9 through 12. The top three winners received cash prizes ($100, $75, and $50 respectively) and were invited to read their stories at the 10th annual Festival of Books over Labor Day weekend.