Nigra Arts Center announces award recipients for 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the award winners for its second annual Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale. The show is a recreation of the former Fulton County Art Show that the Congregational Church in Gloversville held for many years. It includes work from artists who live and work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties and a special exhibit of the work of featured artist Rhea Costello, a painter and ceramic artist from Gloversville. The show also features work created by students from Boulevard, Kingsborough and Park Terrace Elementary Schools, Gloversville Middle School, and Canajoharie, Gloversville and Mayfield High Schools.

The public opening reception for the 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show was attended by Miss Fulton County Chelsea Cirillo and Miss Montgomery County Sara James, who presented the awards to the winners. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Melissa Ellis with Sara James; Katelyn Frisch with Sara James; Paul Steenburgh with Chelsea Cirillo; “Avery” by Paul Steenburgh; “Ceci N’est pas une Pomme” by Katelyn Frisch; and “Sea Salt” by Melissa Ellis.

Awards were presented at a public opening reception on Thursday, April 19. The reception was attended by hundreds of artists and members of the community.

Artists who submitted work to the Fulton Montgomery Art Show selected the winners of the Community Artists’ Award from the work submitted by high school students. Katelyn Frisch of Mayfield High School won first place with her oil painting “Ceci N’est pas une Pomme.” Juliana Buyce, a senior at Mayfield High School, won second place with her painting “The Storm.” Louie Hand, a senior at Canajoharie High School, won third place for his drawing “Hands.” The runner up in this category was Naomi Liebers, a freshman at Mayfield High School.

Local artist and former art teacher Kathie W. Raneri sponsored and selected the Kathie W. Raneri Award for 3-D Design, given to a student who shows skillful and creative use of form and space. The winner in this category was the soapstone sculpture “Untitled” by Zoe Spanga Santoro, a senior at Gloversville High School.

Local artist and former art teacher Cindy Sheeler sponsored the Cindy Hood Sheeler Award, given to a student whose 2-D or 3-D work shows vivid, imaginative use of color. The winner in this category was the painting “Is This Love?” by Sierra Luck, a senior at Mayfield High School.

The Traditions Award, given by local artist and former art teacher Kathryn M. Zajicek, was presented to a young artist whose work shows the inspiration, creativity and excellence that best reflect the tradition of this show throughout the years. The winner in this category was the painting “Sea Salt” by Melissa Ellis of Johnstown.

The winners of the Best in Show categories among the community artist exhibition are as follows:

Best in Show – Photography
First Place: “Just Intonation” by Jane Riley
Second Place: “Cattails” by Bob Buck
Third Place: “Predator at Square Falls” by Sandra Peters

Best in Show – Drawing
First Place: “Avery” by Paul Steenburgh
Second Place: “New Years Eve at Fallingwater” by Thomas Armstrong Third Place: “Farm Days” by Lynda Naske

Best in Show – Other Media
First Place: “Mergansers on the Mohawk” by Karen Slezak
Second Place: “Nesting Bird of Paradise” by Kathryn Bartscht
Third Place: “Brown Trout” by Jonathan Swartwout

Other artists featured in the show include Amy Andujar, Jeffrey John Ardizzone, Christine Biche, Linda Biggers, Margaret Bromford, Joshua Brooks, Ross Carangelo, David D’Amore, Richard Joel Davis, Francis Dempsey, Katherine L. Ehle, Melanie Fay, Richard Freeman, Katey Germain, Warren Greene, Dolores Haberek, Deborah Handy, Carol M. Hesselink, Alexandra Higgins, Linda Hinkle, Jack Horning, Michele Johnsen, Nancie Johnson, Carl Jurica, Gail Kessler, Juliet Konieczny, Marion Kratky, Nancy LaPorta, Maria Licciardi, Garlyn MaGinnis, Carrie Moxham, Christian O’Callaghan, Laura Penge Burda, Sarah Ralson, Thelma Senecal, Cindy Sheeler, Sandra Ann Sparks, Beth Spraggs, Julie Takacs, Paul Valovic, Lynne Vokatis and Kevin Wright.

The Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale will hang until May 14 at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The majority of the pieces on display are for sale. The public is welcome to view the show throughout its run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The admission fee for the gallery is $5 per person. Members of the Nigra Arts Center and artists who have work in the current show are exempt from the admission fee. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

FLAME to Perform at Colonie Center to Honor Autism Awareness Month!

Rhea Costello announced as featured artist in Fulton Montgomery Art Show

Rhea Haggart Costello, a painter and ceramic artist, will be the featured artist at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts’ 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show. Her pieces will be displayed alongside work from artists who live and work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties as well as the work of students from the region’s elementary, middle and high schools.

Rhea Costello

Originally from New York, Rhea saw her first glimmer of wonder in the glittering Tappan Zee Bridge on the Hudson River, which she could see from her family’s apartment. From there they moved to upper Westchester County, where the backyard was a wonderland of woods and brooks to explore. Art was a constant presence in Rhea’s childhood.

“Mom constantly kept my sister and me busy with projects,” Rhea said. “The focus I had on completing them, done as well as possible, left an impression. In school, we were especially fortunate with the art department’s projects, even in elementary school. I still look back on them with appreciation.”

Rhea moved with her family to northern California in 1970, when she was 13. Her journey as a serious artist started there, as art classes became her sanctuary and she focused on her craft. Rhea credits her upbringing in the open skies of California for inspiring the characteristic and oft-praised depiction of light in her paintings, but also believes that “anywhere an artist travels adds to their mind’s eye of light, color and composition.” In addition to many beautiful places in the United States, Rhea has had the opportunity to visit Italy, Greece, Germany, France and Switzerland.

In 1978, Rhea moved back to New York, to the Adirondack Mountains that have provided a backdrop for so much of her work. She continued perfecting her art while working at other occupations and teaching private art classes. Teaching gave Rhea an avenue for growth in her own work as well as a network of friends who encouraged her to take it further. She took their advice, and in 2001 Adirondack Rustics Gallery became the first to accept a piece of her work. The piece sold within two weeks.

That first sale started a momentum that has carried Rhea through the past 17 years. Work sold quickly to homes across the country, and Rhea worked continuously to produce detailed, “experiential” art on commission. She became involved with Adirondack Experience’s Rustic Furniture Fair, collaborating with woodworkers to embellish their furniture and commissioning them to build unique rustic frames for her paintings. Since 2005, she has been one of five painters juried into the Rustic Furniture Fair, as well as a returning artist in residence.

She was also invited to show work and be an artist in residence at the Lake Placid Lodge. After the original Lodge was lost to fire in 2005 and re-opened in 2008, she worked with John Graham to produce its signature painting and The Cabin Collection. In 2015, Graham invited Rhea to be an artist in residence and instructor at Twin Farms, where she created landscapes of the beautiful Vermont property as well as a special style bowl for Chef Nathan Rich. Other commissions of note include the signature painting Rhea produced for Clear Path for Veterans in 2011 and artwork The Point requested for their 80th Anniversary.

Along with those previously mentioned, Rhea has also exhibited original work and prints at the Adirondack Museum Rustic Furniture Fair, William Coffey Gallery, Adirondack Rustic Expo, Southern Adirondack Art Show, Gold Mountain Gallery, Old Forge Center for the Arts, Adirondack Living Show, Adirondack Art Society Show, Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming, and many more galleries and shows. 

Rhea’s landscapes and wildlife oil paintings exemplify the Adirondack Rustic Art genre. Her style combines intricately orchestrated detail with subtle open space to create the movement and silence found in nature. Working in the studio allows Rhea the time for this meticulous work, but she is also an enthusiastic plein air artist. When she paints in nature, her brush flows loosely to capture the essence of the day and place she experienced. 

“I focus on landscapes, wildlife and historical interests,” she said. “I enjoy expressing richly rooted traditions and capturing the movement of trees, depth of details and luminous light.” 

Rhea’s work is her own vision, resulting from the time spent studying the beauty of the outdoors, but it has been compared to the Hudson River School artists. Her paintings are often finished with unique natural-edged frames made by her son, Larry Costello.

The first time Rhea touched clay was in December of 2013. Her incentive for taking pottery lessons was to find a new canvas on which to print original oil paintings, through ceramic decals. She couldn’t find pottery that matched her vision, so she decided to try to make her own.

“At that first class, I felt the overwhelming sensation of my hands opening to a new ability, as well as the discovery of a life-altering gift,” Rhea said. 

In January of 2014, after only three classes, she bought her own wheel and set up a pottery studio in her own home. A kiln followed that February and she began spending every spare moment experimenting and discovering her own unique style. The idea of creating decals faded fast as she developed a look that celebrated the clay’s natural structural beauty.

“Clay has memory,” Rhea said. “It takes on movement of its own. With every step to change its configuration, you get the opportunity to feel what it wants to turn into. Its areas of strength and weakness are enhanced the more you work with it, and this enables it to move as a body. It’s like a dance, feeling the clay move between my hands and allowing it to make the next move.” 

Rhea’s ceramic work combines throwing pottery with carving to create imitations of leather and metal paired with sculptures of animals and elements of nature. She has sold countless mugs, pitchers, pie plates, vases and bowls to buyers around the country, as special gifts and collector’s pieces as well as for simple everyday use.

Rhea’s paintings and pottery together tell their own biography of Rhea’s life. Her history is not only contained in a progression of education and exhibits, but also in the everyday life of immersion in her work and joy of discovering new techniques. Her work reflects hours of hiking with her son and dogs, or staying up late into the night at her easel or sculpting pedestal. The concentration of intricate detail in her work, such as sparkling light shining through leaves, pebbles lying under the flow of a brook and snake-like roots coiling at the base of a tree, speaks as much to Rhea’s lifetime as an artist as it does the grand scale of her subject – the natural beauty that inspires her to devote long hours in the studio in the first place.

The Fulton Montgomery Art Show will run from April 11 to May 14 in the Nigra Arts Center’s gallery at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, April 19, 6-8 p.m., to meet Rhea and the other artists and view the works free of charge. After the opening reception, the public is welcome to view the show throughout its run weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon, for a $5 admission fee. For more information, visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org or call (518) 661-9932. For more information about Rhea, see www.facebook.com/rheacostelloart or www.paintingsbyrhea.com.

New York Players are Coming to the Nigra Arts Center!

New York Players will perform a concert at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts on Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at pncreativeartscenter.org or at the door.   The concert is sponsored by Stewart’s Shops. 
 

Billed as New York’s Dance Party Experts, New York Players is well known for entertaining with a wide range of dance music at corporate and private events, nightclubs, concerts and festivals throughout the area and beyond.

This concert is the first of the Nigra Arts Center’s 2018 Concert Series, featuring ten local acts in a variety of genres and styles. All shows are open to the public and will take place in the center’s Grand Gallery at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. For more information and to buy tickets, call (518) 661-9932 or visit pncreativeartscenter.org.

2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show Call for Artists

Show Dates: April 11 – May 14, 2018
Submission Deadline: March 18, 2018

Exhibition Details:
The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is pleased to announce its second annual Fulton Montgomery Art Show, featuring only the work of artists living and working in New York’s Fulton and Montgomery Counties. This show and sale is a recreation of the former Fulton County Art Show that the Congregational Church in Gloversville hosted for many years. The Fulton Montgomery Art Show will display submissions from individual and group artists working in all media alongside the work of a special guest artist and pieces by student artists from the Fulton/Montgomery region’s schools.

The featured artist of this show is Rhea Costello, a painter and ceramic artist from Bleecker, NY. Her landscapes and wildlife paintings exemplify the Adirondack Rustic Art genre with their intricate detail and peaceful mood. Her ceramic work combines throwing pottery with carving to create imitations of leather and metal paired with sculptures of animals and elements of nature. A primarily self-taught artist, Costello has exhibited work at the Adirondack Rustic Expo, Southern Adirondack Art Show, Adirondack Rustic Furniture Fair, Lake Placid Lodge, Old Forge Center for the Arts, Adirondack Living Show, Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming, and many more distinguished galleries and shows.

All works must be submitted via the website www.OnlineJuriedShows.com.

Awards:
Through the generous donation of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes for this show.

Eligibility:
•    All works must be original works of the artist.
•    All entries must be of original design and personal execution created within the past 2 years.
•    Artwork previously shown at Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is not eligible for submission.

Fees:
The fee for entry of up to three (3) works will be $25 for non-members ($10 per additional entry) for a total of five entries. Members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts may submit three entries for $15 ($7 per additional entry) for a total of five entries. Payment should be made at www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Entry fees are non-refundable and must be paid by the entry deadline.

Legal:
•    All works must be of original design and copyright of the artist.
•    The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts reserves the right to utilize all images submitted to the Statewide Summer Art Show in promotion of the exhibition and for the general promotion of the arts center.
•    The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts may rescind the right of hanging any work unsuitably presented or misrepresented.

Selected Works:
•    Selection notification will be sent by email by March 22, 2018.
•    Selected works must be received at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts during the following days: Wednesday, April 4; Thursday, April 5; and Friday, April 6, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to noon.
•    Works that are shipped to the Nigra Art Center must be received by April 7, 2018. The mailing address for the Nigra Art Center is 2736 New York 30, Gloversville, NY 12078.
•    The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will retain a 20% commission on all works sold.
•    Selected artwork must be suitably framed and ready for installation.
•    All shipping is at the expense of the artist. There will be a $10 handling fee for each package shipped to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. The handling fee covers condition reporting and photographing of the work as it arrives, and follow up condition report at the conclusion of the exhibition. You must include a prepaid shipping label for the return of the work. Accepted artists will receive detailed information regarding shipping and handling requirements.

Important Dates:
Deadline for submission: March 18, 2018
Notification of acceptance: March 22, 2018
Work to be received at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts by: April 7, 2018
Selection of Awards: April 9, 2018
Notification of Awards: April 9, 2018
Private Artists-Only Opening Reception: April 14, 2018, 5-7 p.m.
Public Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony: April 19, 2018, 6-8 p.m.
Exhibition Closes: May 14, 2018

Entering Your Images:
You can enter your images online at www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Entry form must be filled out in its entirety. List sizes up to the nearest inch. Submitted images must not include matting or frame. Crop the photos to include only the artwork. Be sure your images are right-side-up.

Before uploading your images, make sure they are smaller than 4MB, but at least 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi. Images should be in JPEG format, sRGB color space. Help in photographing your work and properly sizing your images can be found at: www.OnlineJuriedShows.com/help.aspx. If you need help entering your images or are unable to, please write to us here: https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Contact.aspx

Please add Services@OnlineJuriedShows.com and Manager@OnlineJuriedShows.com to your safe senders list to ensure notifications are received.

Location: Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 New York 30, Gloversville, New York

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts unveils 2018 Winter Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the opening of its 2018 Winter Art Show.

Wild Horses by Mikyle Woodward

The show hangs from January 18 to April 4. It features work in a wide variety of media from both local artists and artists from other states, such as North Carolina, Rhode Island and Utah. With the snow falling and the temperatures plunging, what better way to bring warmth and color back into your life than by visiting a gallery full of beautiful art?

More than 36 artists are exhibiting more than 100 pieces in this show. The featured artists include Amy Andujar, Barney Bellinger, Linda Biggers, Janene Bouck, Margaret Bromford, Bob Buck, Donald Cooper, Ron Dennis, Richard Freeman, Katey Germain, Hope Morrow Glidden, Warren Greene, Carol M. Hesselink, Michael Hine, Scott Hook, Nancie Johnson, Linda Kollar, Faith LaFountain, Caroline Locatelli, Garlyn MaGinnis, Maryanne Malecki, Ed McDaniel, John Morrette, Paul M. Murray, Lynda Naske, Christian O’Callaghan, Joanne Petrozzi-Jones, Kathie Raneri, Kashyra Tomlinson, Paul Valovic, Darlene Van Sickle, Lynne Vokatis, David Waite, Sean Walmsley, Mikyle Woodward, Setsuko Yoshida and collaborators from the Saratoga Bridges Creative Endeavors Art Center.

Through the generous support of donors, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions in this show. Award winners will be announced at the Meet the Artists Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 25, from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome to attend, see the show and meet some of the featured artists. Light refreshments will be served.

The public is welcome to view the artwork in the Nigra Arts Center’s Community Gallery throughout its run. The gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Winter Funderland Day Camp Returns to Nigra Arts Center

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is offering its third annual Winter Funderland Day Camp this winter break for children ages 5 to 10. On December 27, 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., campers will enjoy a wide range of winter crafts and activities at the art center’s facility at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

Campers will experience something different each day as the instructors keep them active, engaged and using their imaginations. Kids will have a blast with arts projects, cooking, yoga, square dancing and more. 

Campers should bring their own labeled lunch, snack and water bottle. Refrigeration is available. The cost is $130 for children who pre-register or $150 for children who register at the door. For more information and to register, visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org/camps or call (518) 661-9932.

Flame to Debut Sixth Album, "Christmas Classics," at Release Party

The band Flame will celebrate the release of their new album, “Christmas Classics,” on Thursday, December 7, with a CD Release Party. The party will take place 6-7:30 p.m. at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. There is no cost for admission.

At the party, Flame will perform songs from their new album. Attendees will be the first to have the chance to purchase “Christmas Classics” at a one-time special price of $10. There will also be snacks, raffles, autograph opportunities and more. 

Flame recorded “Christmas Classics” in April at SUNY Schenectady County Community College’s (SCCC) School of Music’s Vianna-Brignola Recording Studio. Hailey Lozier, at the time a Music Audio Technology major at SCCC and intern with the band, acted as lead engineer under the direction of Sten Isachsen, assistant professor in the SCCC School of Music. The album’s six-song track listing includes classics such as “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “Run, Run Rudolph,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Santa Baby” and “Where Are You Christmas” as well as the original song “Wide Awake.”

This is Flame’s sixth album and second Christmas album. “Christmas Classics” and the rest of Flame’s discography are available for purchase at the Nigra Arts Center’s gift shop and online at www.flametheband.com. It is also available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby and for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and Napster.

Flame is a ten-piece band comprised entirely of musicians who happen to have disabilities. They formed in 2003 at a talent show put on by Lexington, a chapter of The Arc New York. Flame has a repertoire of more than 100 classic rock, pop, country and blues songs from the past 50 years as well as some original tracks. In the past 14 years, they have produced six albums and a single. They tour the northeastern United States in a custom bus and play more than 70 shows per year. Some of the biggest venues they have played include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the House of Blues in Cleveland, New York City’s Apollo Theater, Harvard Law School, the Greek Ministry of Education building in Athens, Greece, the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, and the 19th International Festival of Different Abilities in Carpi, Italy. Flame has received press from Good Morning America, People magazine, Metroland magazine and the Daily Mainichi News in Tokyo, Japan. 

For more information about Flame, please visit www.flametheband.com or contact Maria Nestle at (518) 661-9932, ext. 164 or nestlem@lexcenter.org.

Polar Express Celebration Returns to Nigra Arts Center

On Saturday, December 9, the Polar Express Celebration will return to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts for the third consecutive year. The event, sponsored by Fidelis Care, will take place from 12-3 p.m. at the center, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville.

Admission is $5 per person to benefit the Nigra Arts Center or a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Toys for Tots.

The popular gathering will feature hot chocolate (free with admission), crafts, a holiday basket raffle, entertainment and all kinds of family fun inspired by the classic tale “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg. Concessions will be available and so will Santa Claus, who will make an appearance for photographs.

In addition, the event will feature Sensory Santa, who will be available from 12-2 p.m. Sensory Santa is ideal for children with special needs who may want to meet Santa in a quieter setting without being overwhelmed by large crowds, bright lights and loud music. Sensory Santa’s suit will be extra soft for a comforting sensory experience and there will be no nearby distractions such as elves, colorful decorations or blinking lights. 

Call for Artists - 2018 Winter Art Show

Show Dates: January 18 – April 4, 2018
Submission Deadline: December 18, 2017

Exhibition Details:

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is pleased to announce its 2018 Winter Art Show.

When the leaves fall off the trees and the weather goes cold, what better way to bring warmth and color back into your life than with a gallery full of beautiful art? Help us chase away the winter blues by submitting your 2-D and 3-D pieces to this dynamic show. Works of all media and themes are welcome.

All works must be submitted via the website www.OnlineJuriedShows.com.

Awards:
Through the generous donation of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes for this show.

Eligibility:
•    All works must be original works of the artists.
•    All entries must be of original design and personal execution created within the past 2 years.
•    Artwork previously shown at Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is not eligible.

Fees:
The fee for entry of up to three (3) works will be $25 for non-members ($10 per additional entry) for a total of five entries. Members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts may submit three entries for $15 ($7 per additional entry) for a total of five entries. Payment should be made at www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Entry fees are non-refundable and must be paid by the entry deadline.

Legal:
•    All works must be of original design and copyright of the artist.
•    The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts reserves the right to utilize all images submitted to the Statewide Summer Art Show in promotion of the exhibition and for the general promotion of the Art Center.
•    The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts may rescind the right of hanging any work unsuitably presented or misrepresented.

Selected Works:
•    Selection notification will be sent by email by December 22, 2017.
•    Selected works must be received at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts during the following days: Wednesday, January 10; Thursday, January 11; and Friday, January 12 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday, January 13, from 9 a.m. to noon.
•    Works that are shipped to the Nigra Art Center must be received by January 13, 2018. The mailing address for the Nigra Art Center is 2736 New York 30, Gloversville, NY 12078.
•    The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will retain a 20% commission on all works sold.
•    Selected artwork must be suitably framed and ready for installation.
•    All shipping is at the expense of the artist. There will be a $10 handling fee for each package shipped to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. The handling fee covers condition reporting and photographing of the work as it arrives, and follow up condition report at the conclusion of the exhibition. You must include a prepaid shipping label for the return of the work. Accepted artists will receive detailed information regarding shipping and handling requirements.

Important Dates:
Deadline for submission: December 18, 2017
Notification of acceptance: December 22, 2017
Work to be received at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts by: January 13, 2018
Selection of Awards: January 15, 2018
Notification of Awards: January 17, 2018
Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony: January 25, 2018
Exhibition Closes: April 4, 2018

Entering You Images:
You can enter your images online at www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Entry form must be filled out in its entirety. List sizes up to the nearest inch. Submitted images must not include matting or frame. Crop the photos to include only the artwork. Be sure your images are right-side-up.

Before uploading your images, make sure they are smaller than 4MB, but at least 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi. Images should be in JPEG format, sRGB color space. Help in photographing your work and properly sizing your images can be found at: www.OnlineJuriedShows.com/help.aspx. If you need help entering your images or are unable to, please write to us here: https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Contact.aspx

Please add Services@OnlineJuriedShows.com and Manager@OnlineJuriedShows.com to your safe senders list to ensure notifications are received.

Location: Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 New York 30, Gloversville, New York

Senior Soirée Coming Back to Nigra Arts Center

On Friday, October 20, senior citizens are invited to participate in the Fall Senior Soirée at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. The event, sponsored by Fidelis Care, will take place from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the center, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville.

“We held our first Senior Soirée back in June and it was a huge success,” said Sue Nigra, director of the Nigra Arts Center. “The demand for a second soirée was overwhelming. We can’t wait to welcome more men and women to enjoy our next one.”

The Senior Soirée will feature lunch and live entertainment. Participants will be able to choose in advance from several classes, ranging from African drumming, chair yoga and painting to how to make holiday hors d’oeuvres. Other classes will include holiday bow making and accessorizing fall/winter fashions.

Admission is $25 per person. Space is limited and pre-registration is required by visiting pncreativeartscenter.org or calling the Nigra Arts Center at (518) 661-9932.

Durey Creek Bluegrass Band to perform at Nigra Arts Center

The Durey Creek Bluegrass Band will perform a concert at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts on Friday, October 20. The show begins at 7 p.m. The arts center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

The band, comprised of Bob Kilmer on bass, Marilyn Fegley on rhythm guitar and harmony vocals, Jeff Nasadoski on banjo and Nancy Purcell on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, originated in the North Bush United Methodist Church in 2008. They specialize in bluegrass and gospel music performed at churches, community events, fairs, festivals and other venues around Fulton County and throughout New York’s Capital Region.

Tickets are $10 and available at pncreativeartscenter.org or at the door.

This concert is underwritten by the generous support of John and Sunday Blackmon as well as other sponsors of the Nigra Arts Center’s concert series. It is the ninth of several the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is hosting on its grounds in 2017. The concert series features local performers in a wide variety of genres and styles. Visit pncreativeartscenter.org to see the full lineup.

The Zombies are Coming to Nigra Arts Center!

On Saturday, October 28, dress up as a ZOMBIE and prepare to scare up some fun at the Zombie Fun Run/Walk to benefit the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. The public is invited to participate in and/or sponsor this family fun event, which will take place on the grounds of the center, located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville.

Registration will take place from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and the Zombie Fun Run/Walk will kick off at 10 a.m. Participants will receive a free t-shirt as long as they register by October 20. The entry fee is $25 per person. Those who wish to register can do so at http://pncreativeartscenter.org/ or in person the day of the event for $30. T-shirts will be included based on availability. Children 5 and under are admitted free (no shirt provided).

Throughout the course, zombie runners and walkers will be greeted by friendly ghouls and creatures who will shower them with sweet treats while scaring up plenty of laughs – all in the name of good fun! The race will not be timed. Water will be available on site.

Following completion of the Zombie Fun Run/Walk, there will be a Zombie Party featuring live entertainment, a costume contest, creepy and cool face painting, and food for sale.

Businesses who wish to sponsor the Zombie Fun Run/Walk should contact Amanda Bowman at (518) 775-9863 or bowmana@lexcenter.org or Lynette May at (518) 774-3292 or mayl@lexcenter.org. For more information about this event, visit pncreativeartscenter.org.
The rain date is Saturday, November 4.

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts unveils 2017 Fall Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the opening of its 2017 Fall Art Show, “The Art of Disguise.” The submitted works celebrate fall with a little mystery and intrigue by interpreting the theme of disguise and camouflage. In addition to the regular gallery submissions, the Nigra Arts Center is also exhibiting a display of 3-D masks that fully embrace the Halloween season.

Butterfly Dreams by Linda Naske

The show hangs from October 5, 2017, to January 10, 2018. It features work in a wide variety of media from both local artists and artists from other states, such as North Carolina, Rhode Island and Utah.

More than 40 artists are exhibiting more than 78 pieces in this show. The featured artists include Amy Andujar, Joshua Brooks, Doreen Calhoun, Ross Carangelo, Bobby Carr, Douglas Countryman, Susan Dawkins, Francis Dempsey, Ron Dennis, Katherine L. Ehle, Richard Freeman, Katey Germain, Warren Greene, Jamie Hayner, Carol M. Hesselink, Alexandra Higgins, Linda Hinkle, Jack Horning, Michele Johnsen, Nancie Johnson, Linda Kollar, Edward McDaniel, Laurie Mickel, Sharon Miller, Hope Morrow Glidden, Paul M. Murray, Lynda Naske, Mary Alice Orito, Ellen Rae Panero, Laura Penge Burda, Abby Preston, Taylor Skinner, Patsy Suydam, Paul Valovic, Jean Van Pelt, Kevin Wright, Setsuko Yoshida and the artists of the Transitions and Creative Expressions programs.

Through the generous support of donors, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions in this show. Award winners will be announced at the Meet the Artists Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 19, from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome to attend, see the show and meet some of the featured artists. Light refreshments will be served.

The opening reception will also feature the raffle drawing for the Nigra Arts Center’s Little Gems Fundraiser. For this special exhibit, local artists donated works on 5”x5” canvases to be raffled off to benefit the arts center. Forty-six pieces were donated in total.

The public is welcome to view the artwork in the Nigra Arts Center’s Community Gallery throughout its run. The gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

NIGHT OUT Coming to Nigra Arts Center!

The Lexington Foundation’s NIGHT OUT will take place at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts on Friday, September 22. The event begins at 6 p.m. The arts center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

The NIGHT OUT will feature food and craft beer from Lanzi’s on the Lake, musical performances by Pat Decker and Flame, raffles and auctions, magician Shaun Robison, dancing and much more. Proceeds will benefit the Nigra Arts Center and Transitions.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is upstate New York's premier community arts center, providing classes in music, dance, art, yoga, cooking and more. The center houses exceptional art venues, hosts family fun events, and provides educational opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and artistic skills. Additionally, the Nigra Arts Center is a popular venue for private and corporate events.

Transitions is making a difference in the lives of young people and families by providing the training and skills needed for students to live independently and follow their college and career dreams. This outstanding college and career Apprenticeship program is uniquely designed for young adults with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, nonverbal learning disabilities and other learning differences.

Individual tickets for the NIGHT OUT are $100. Tables for 10 and sponsorships are also available. For more information, visit pncreativeartscenter.org or call (518) 661-9932.

CLMF Concert Showcase & Brunch to take center stage at Nigra Arts Center

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is presenting an exciting event that combines a delicious brunch in its spacious Grand Gallery with the incredible sounds of the world-renowned musicians of the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF).  The CLMF Musician Celebration Concert Showcase & Brunch will take place Sunday, August 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the arts center, located at 2736 State Highway 30.

The Caroga Lake Music Festival offers a series of performances and community outreach throughout the Adirondacks, Hudson Valley, New York City and beyond. The musicians of the festival have quickly become well known throughout Upstate New York for bringing outstanding musical artistry and diverse instruments to traditional stages as well as backyard and lakefront concerts.

Attracting audiences locally and nationwide, the CLMF is dedicated to increasing accessibility to chamber music, cultivating creative and interactive experiences, and showcasing some of the world’s top professional artists from the U.S. and abroad. The festival features unique multi-genre programming, from classical to contemporary music and small ensembles to orchestras.

The CLMF is directed by its founder, cellist Kyle Barrett Price. To learn more, visit carogalakemusicfestival.org.

Tickets for this special event cost $25 per adult and $15 for children under 10. The brunch menu will include quiche, stuffed French toast, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salad greens, refreshments and desserts.

Reserve your spot today by visiting pncreativeartscenter.org or calling (518) 661-9932. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

Call for Artists: The Art of Disguise

Help the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts celebrate the fall season with a little mystery and intrigue!  The center is seeking submissions for its 2017 Fall Art Show, “The Art of Disguise.” Pieces should consist of 2-D and 3-D works that embrace the theme of disguise.  Artists who are masters of this theme are welcome - as well as those who have simply found a subtle way to camouflage hidden images.

In addition to the regular gallery submissions, the Nigra Arts Center is also seeking 3-D mask submissions to fully embrace the season. There will be a bonus award for the most creative mask.

The show will run from October 5, 2017, to January 10, 2018. The deadline for submission is September 10. Works of all media are welcome. Pieces should be submitted via the website www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. This is not a juried show, but the website allows for ease of submission and selection by the curator.

Artists may submit up to three works with an entry fee of $25 and $10 per additional entry, for a total of five pieces maximum. Members of the Nigra Arts Center may submit three works with an entry fee of $15 and $7 per additional entry, for a total of five pieces maximum. Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer $450 in awards and prizes to outstanding submissions.

Notification of selection will be sent via email by September 13. Selected works can be delivered to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 27, 28 and 29, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Saturday, September 30, 9 a.m. to noon. Works that are shipped to the Nigra Arts Center should be received by September 30. The mailing address for the center is 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville, NY 12078.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold an Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 19, 6-8 p.m. All are welcome to attend, see the exhibition and meet some of the featured artists.

For more information about the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts and this show, please visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org or call (518) 661-9932. To submit work to this show, please visit www.OnlineJuriedShows.com and scroll down to find the Nigra Arts Center’s listing.

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts unveils 2017 New York State Summer Art Show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the opening of its second annual 2017 New York State Summer Art Show. The show, which will hang from June 15 until September 27, features work from artists who come from cities across New York State, including Latham, Niskayuna, Schenectady, Utica, Lake George, Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs, as well as local artists. 

South Beach by Linda Hinkle

More than 35 artists and 93 pieces are featured in this show. The featured artists include Amy Andujar, Linda Biggers, Joshua Brooks, Donald Cooper, Rhea Costello, Julius Cucinella, Ron Dennis, P. Dwyer-Orlosky, Richard Freeman, Sheridan Gowen, Jamie Hayner, Linda Hinkle, Nancie Johnson, James Leddick, Eva Marie Loucks, Greg Maklae, Maryanne Malecki, Carol McCord, Teresa Mielewski, Christian O’Callaghan, Allison Patnode, Reuben Peeler, Caroline Pendlebury, Sandra Peters, Michelle Raspanti, Lily Seeley, Brian Tanner, Bonnie Tompkins, Paul Valovic, Darlene Van Sickle, Jessica VanSlyke-Seeley, Lynne Vokatis, David Waite, Sean Walmsley and the artists at Saratoga Bridges Creative Endeavors Art Center.

Through the generous support of donors, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes for this show. Award winners will be announced at the Meet the Artists Opening Reception on Thursday, June 29, 6-8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served at this reception, which will be attended by some of the featured artists. All are invited to view the pieces and talk to the artists about their work.

The public is also welcome to view the artwork in the Nigra Arts Center’s Community Gallery throughout its run. The gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Color-A-Thon Run & Walk to Benefit Nigra Arts Center

Get ready for a rainbow of colors and fun during a Color-A-Thon Run & Walk on Saturday, July 15, to benefit the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts! The public is invited to participate in and/or sponsor the colorful event, which will take place on the grounds of the center, located at 2736 State Highway 30. Registration will take place 9-10 a.m. and the run/walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Participants will receive a free t-shirt and a color pack as long as they register by July 4.

Throughout the family fun course, runners and walkers will be splashed with washable color dust at “color bomb stations.” The dust is safe, non-toxic and completely washable. The race will not be timed.

Participants will be able to purchase fun items the day of the Color-A-Thon Run & Walk, ranging from sunglasses and socks to rainbow wigs and tutus. Water will be available on site. There will also be food for sale and live entertainment during a Color Blast Party!

The entry fee is $30 per person. Those who wish to register can do so at LexingtonCenterColorRun.com or in person the day of the event. Businesses who wish to sponsor the Color-A-Thon Run & Walk should contact Amanda Bowman at (518) 775-9863 or bowmana@lexcenter.org or Lynette May at (518) 774-3292 or mayl@lexcenter.org. For more information about this event, visit pncreativeartscenter.org.

The rain date is Saturday, July 22.

Maria Zemantauski brings flamenco-style guitar to Nigra Arts Center

The fourth concert of the season at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will take place Friday, June 23, with a concert featuring Maria Zemantauski. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. at the arts center, located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville.

Maria Zemantauski is one of the world’s few heralded female flamenco-style guitarists, and one of even fewer female flamenco composers. Her programs are a dynamic blend of artistic freedom, innovation and tradition. Maria believes that the expressive possibilities of the guitar are limitless and pursues her music with passion, confidence and grace. She has performed in Spain, Italy and across the continental United States and has produced four albums since 1997. For more information about her, visit www.mariazemantauski.com.

Tickets are $10 and available at pncreativeartscenter.org or at the door.

This concert is the fourth of several the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is hosting on its grounds in 2017. The concert series features local performers in a wide variety of genres and styles. Visit pncreativeartscenter.org to see the full lineup.