After a 2022 lineup of events that included “The Man Behind the Camera: An Evening With Photographer Dimitri Kasterine” last May and readings by writers Paul Muldoon and Jean Hanff Korelitz in November, Schoharie County Arts is off and running in ’23.
Already this spring, SCA has hosted longtime writer and poet Sue Spivack at the Jeff Tufano Gallery; fueled by a couple of grants and optimistic about others, the group’s working toward what it hopes will become its signature event:
An Art Trail Drive-About set for Saturday, October 7.
SCA got its start in 2021 as part of CREATE Schoharie County under the Greene County Council of the Arts.
While CREATE will continue to run and administer the state’s arts grants program for Greene, Schoharie, and Columbia Counties, SCA’s goal is to bring a laser-sharp focus to local arts and artists.
“There’s so much here, artistically, culturally,” said President Lisa Ovitt.
“Our goal is to celebrate all of it, highlight what’s out there, and maybe make our communities a little better because of it.”
The Art Trail Drive-About is one of those ways.
Artists can get more information on the event and sign up on the SCA website, SchoharieCountyArts.org, but the idea is simple:
They’ll open their studios, maybe offer demonstrations, and sell their wares to art fans stopping by on a self-guided tour.
There won’t be a designated route, Ms. Ovitt said, and they hope to have every corner of the county represented.
“It’s something people have wanted to do for a long time,” she said. “We’re hoping to see it take off and grow.”
SCA has other irons in the fire as well.
They’re now responsible for managing SEEC’s gallery space at its 287 Main offices in Schoharie, where Friday, members joined Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce officials for a ribbon-cutting.
The gallery currently features the photography of Christine Harris; in the fall it will switch to a fiber arts exhibit.
SCA is co-sponsoring Arts in Bloom at the Schoharie Library Saturday, June 10, and will also be represented at other local events throughout the summer and fall.
“Any arts group depends on members and donations to operate,” Ms. Ovitt said.
“The more visible we can be everywhere, the more we can do. I think especially now, people welcome a chance to come together to celebrate what makes Schoharie County so unique.”
Joining Ms. Ovitt on what she called “the best board ever,” are: Christine Harris, secretary; Christina Hanks, treasurer; Jim Feldman, Laura Gagnon, Anthony Leberto, Jennifer Mosher, Pamela O’Connor, Georgia Van Dyke, and Sally Ziegler.