Archive by Author

Artists Rock Too

50for50_larger

The influential artist Marcel Duchamp once said “I don’t believe in art. I believe in artists.” Although Duchamp was only half right, he made an important distinction between art and artists. Here at ArtsWestchester, we too believe in artists. They are an essential force in any creative community. Many venerable artists and philosophers have tried to explain the value […]

Continue Reading

In Memory of Sylvia Rogers

It is spring, theoretically, that is, and I suppose it is time for me to put it out there for all to know. As a golfer, my game leaves a lot to be desired.  What leads me to this admission are my thoughts about my dear friend, former board member and good humored golf companion […]

Continue Reading

The Queen of Collage

Ann Ladd is known around our digs as the Queen of Collage.  That’s because she trolls her White Plains neighborhood for what she calls “bits and pieces” that she turns into works of art. Recently, her work was on view at my local Chappaqua Library, in a show curated by artist Larry D’Amico who keeps […]

Continue Reading

Crossing Borders

Many refer to America as a nation of immigrants. It is after all a country shaped by generations of people who have come here from somewhere else. Some have come seeking opportunity. Some have come seeking freedom. Some to study. Some to escape. Some against their will. It is an ever expanding diaspora phenomenon as […]

Continue Reading

Starting a Chain Reaction

When we think about the concept of critical mass, we think about the amount of a substance needed to start a chain reaction. Those are the nuclear physics that ArtsWestchester was pondering when we started planning the ARTSEE festival. How can we start a chain reaction? What we were envisioning was an explosion of people […]

Continue Reading

Designing Woman Does It Her Way

Frank Sinatra struck a chord when he sang “I did it my way.” Artist/designer Denise Proctor heard the call. It defined her life. She poured her artistic spirit and her soul into her vision for a school for little fashionistas – the Westchester Fashion Institute. From her perch on the 6th floor of ArtsWestchester’s building, she […]

Continue Reading

Katonah Museum Honors Regional Artists

Walk into Kiyoshi Otsuka’s studio (if you can get past the door) and you’ll be reminded of Jackson Pollack. The paint splattered floor is dripped with layers of spattered hues, all of which are colors of paintings past and present. Stacks of work line the walls and fill the overhead shelves making it somewhat of […]

Continue Reading

A Recipe for Lemonade

The weather outside was frightful as I struggled my way back to Westchester last Monday evening. As my plane prepared to land, LaGuardia Airport closed its runway. Fortunately, Newark Airport welcomed us just before their runway closed.  As we circled the airports and landed to cheers, we heard the media warn that “this blizzard will […]

Continue Reading