Muralthon Artist Rachel Henrich Shares Her Colorful Mural

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to another one of the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, Rachel Henrich, whose mural is meant to inspire the senses with a bold flow of color.

Tell us about yourself!

I am a Jane of many trades and working towards mastering a few. I feel that almost all aspects of life feed and inspire other areas, such as health, spirit, and energy — they are almost never mutually exclusive. Everything we do eventually reflects back as we create our stories; our masterpiece. 

It has been a natural progression for me to study many fields of interest and learn to love and appreciate how they all flow into a brighter and more aligned life. I am an artist and healer by trade, and for me these two especially flow together because to learn art is a pathway for your own genius to shine, while to learn to work towards your own health is also a brave undertaking that often involves things like growing practices of visualization, connection, conscious consumption, movement, creativity and awareness. Practices that written on paper may sound easy but truly ask a lot of you. Advocating for yourself and living the life you want to live is not always easy but it is definitely worth it.

I am from South Glens Falls, and I am a 2002 graduate of South High. I studied art and photography in college and have been traveling the world since I was 21, studying art and medicine with teachers and travelers from different cultures — some certified and others internships just to learn. I have a great love for quantum energy and plant medicines and I feel the future of medicine lies in a mixture of these with western practices. It’s growing quite rapidly and I love the increasing acceptance and curiosity.

I just moved home a year ago from Costa Rica and have since enrolled myself in studies at UAlbany to continue my deep love for medicine and healing, with potential plans to study Osteopathic Medicine. We will see how it unfolds — life always has its plan next to mine. 

On Becoming an Artist

Art has supported me as I’ve traveled around the world. Commissioned pieces are my most lucrative channel with art. 

It just kind of happens, at events like dance parties on the beach or dinners in new homeowners homes where conversations start and then end with a plan for new art to be made. It's been a dream actually, and a seamless one at that. I have made incredible friends and connections through art and I am forever grateful for being able to continue to express my passion through paint and other mediums.

Currently, I am working on building business practices like a website and art studio here in Glens Falls where people can stop in and see my work. I will always love to travel but building a foundation has been feeling really good these days. It takes time after moving for so long. 

On Inspiration

My work in Muralgarten was all about color play, color theory, and inspiring the senses with the bold flow of color. Color is medicine and we (our systems) are directly affected by it on deep levels whether we are aware of it or not. 

On Adapting When Creating

For this piece I was drawing my lines out with a ruler and taping to get really nice crisp lines. It is easy in theory, but I didn’t factor in the variegated metal and was met with some challenges getting lines and paint down nice and clean. In the end the rippled metal made for an added dimensional effect on the piece and I wouldn't want it any other way. There are always surprises when creating — you learn to adapt while having fun as best as possible.

On Art and Life

I think that everything we do in this life is art.

How we treat each other, how we deal with situations, how we perceive the world, it’s all art.  

I see everyone as an amazing artist painting their canvas of life. Everyone is at a different level of creating their magic.

Art is not always a pretty process. You learn techniques to help shade colors and add brightness to make certain parts shine that maybe sat dull for a while. A key component to making good art is always to step away and get some new perspective and let new energy inspire your life. 

I hope that people know and believe that they have so much power to create their reality and it can be super fun while supporting your life. One of the best steps in this direction is to get out, explore your passions, and be ok with not being good at things. Part of the art is that step alone. Be open and enjoy creating and exploring — it will change your life. 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite downtown place to eat has always been Mikado. From the old school days on South Street to their expansion on Glen, they always get my patronage and make a pretty solid Ramen. It's great to see Glens Falls growing and keeping its sweet small town essence along the way. 

Rachel Henrich
Instagram

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Rachel is also a certified breathwork facilitator offering transformative breathwork classes in the area - follow @breathwork_journeyz for more info.

Muralthon Artist Jade Warrick Shares Her Spray Painted Mural

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to another one of the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, Jade Warrick, whose spray painted mural sits opposite Rock Hill Bakehouse! 

Tell us about yourself!

I’m from Los Angeles, California. I lived there for the majority of my childhood, and then I ended up in Houston, Texas and spent about eight years there. After that I moved to Albany so that I could be with my grandmother and care for her while she healed from an illness. She’s since gotten better, but I ended up really liking it here. I currently live in Troy. It’s a little cold for me, but at the end of the day, this place was the most supportive of me being an artist, which I really like.

On Becoming an Artist

I would consider myself a visual designer and strategic developer. I got into art when I was really young. My mother, father, and close family members are artists, so I grew up around art. I think there was a natural genetic component to it, but my family definitely fostered it.

I have seven siblings, and we grew up poor. We couldn’t afford to spare funds on Pokemon cards or even a Monopoly board. So we used to just make those ourselves. We would make our own Pokemon cards, and I would draw the little creatures and their stats. I think that really inspired me and motivated me to create art. From there, I started making my own comic books and then I just stuck with it because I was good at it.

I went to college for Business and Marketing, and it took going into that field and not being happy with it to realize I should’ve focused on my art instead. Once I realized that, I took it further and realized I wanted to focus on art with other people as well, which is why I got into youth mural programming and youth programming in general. I want kids to have an easier path to creating art professionally than I did. It’s what motivated me to start my program Amplified Voices with my best friend Eugene O’Neill, where we just teach kids how to mural and give them access to art techniques, but also teach them wellness through art, like meditation, movement circles, and that kind of thing.

I feel like my purpose on this planet is to give access to others, not necessarily to inspire them, but to help them learn to inspire themselves.

On Inspiration

The inspiration behind this particular mural was based on the artists in this project being able to paint whatever we wanted to. A lot of times you’re asked to make a very specific thing, and I think that’s why a lot of us felt good about this project.

With this mural I wanted to focus on spray paint because I’ve only spray painted three other times before and this allowed me the opportunity to practice. There wasn’t too much other inspiration besides me freestyling. A lot of my art tends to be very graphic, colorful, and cartoony, so I just wanted to work with some color and paint unapologetically.

I have to give all of my praises to Hannah and everyone involved in this project. This is one of my favorite projects I’ve worked on because of that freedom and because of the support. They really did this in a very equitable way for the artists and that’s rare to see.

On Community

I always say, it’s the community aspect of art that makes it thrive and flourish. The more isolated and insular we are, the worse it is for everyone. If we all work together and we’re on the same team, we can give each other more opportunities. It’s then that you see the shifting behavior of business owners, building owners, and developers in terms of acceptance and excitement around public art.

A Chat with Muralthon Artist Rodney Allen Bentley

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to another one of the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, Rodney Allen Bentley, and his yellow breasted chat mural, which was inspired by the spirit of upward movement after the pandemic.

On Becoming An Artist

I recall my 2nd grade teacher whispering to my mother during Parent Night, “Rodney’s painting is very good”. The bright colored finger painting expressed both wonder and silence, reflecting the morning’s hush of falling snow softly coating a postman delivering Christmas cards. The scene seemed rhythmic and reflective childhood feelings of joy, calmness and comfort. Throughout high school, I learned different art techniques and tools from a very talented instructor until graduation. I never followed the path of creativity after graduation, as I was recruited and rewarded with a lengthy JCPenney corporate management career.

Twenty five years later, following a fall at my residence near Philadelphia, I was rushed to a hospital specializing in neurology and induced into a coma. My diagnosis included a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) reflecting in three subdural hematomas (bleeds in the brain) and upper spinal damage. Being at the critical level, surgeons informed my family that my possible survival rate was twenty percent or less. During the ongoing recovery process I relearned reading, writing, arithmetic and speaking. I did not realize at that time that creativity would become a healing catalyst for me.

My family, which includes my mother and my siblings, recognized the seriousness of my condition and ensured I was returned to my birth town, Glens Falls, near where they reside. I felt it was important to become a positive contributor to the community.

Spot Coffee would soon officially open and unknowingly become my public art studio for a number of years, allowing me to become unofficially recognized as “artist in residence”. From early morning until late night, I practiced pencil and charcoal drawings as cafe patrons passed by and complimented my work. Before long I was commissioned and began creating pet portraits and holiday scenes followed by historic architecture, residential architecture and much more.

My gallery work has been exhibited and sold both locally and nationally, as well as internationally awarded. I am honestly humbled and spiritually enlivened to share and open unknown doors through creativity. I have begun writing my memoir, reflecting upon many humbling life moments and hoping to inspire many. Limited samples of my work may be viewed at www.rodneyallenbentley.com and I take requests for family portraits, pet portraits, home renderings, commercial renderings or holiday work via email at thruhishands@gmail.com

On Inspiration

The inspiration for this mural came from my feelings during COVID. I was very limited to paint colors and supplies as factories were closed worldwide. Although most people felt fear and darkness during that time, I somehow felt solace and enlightenment.

The wide black border and the brilliance of the Utah blue sky backdrop shows the contrast between the darkness of COVID and newness arriving. The yellow breasted chat vibrates with brilliant yellow, soft oranges and hint of salmon, all representing a new sense of calmness. I chose the chat’s wings spread to support an angelic sense of movement upward toward the celestial orb. Adding a soft gray to the whiteness of the leaves hinted a three dimensional view. The orb, in the upper right, supports divine enlightenment and spiritual upwardness and inwardness for those that passed during COVID.

On The Process

The metal shipping container was a very unique canvas as the approximate size of a shipping container is 8 feet high, 8 feet wide and 40 or so feet in length. They are designed with 8 inch continual waves within the metal so they can interconnect similar to Legos. The waves of metal, however, do not easily allow a straight line to be drawn, so adjustments are necessary and seeing the completed work at different angles allows viewers to see it differently as well. 

Eric Unkauf, the owner of the property, took great care in prepping the surface by sanding and sealing, thereby allowing paint to adhere nicely. I purchased the best quality exterior latex paint and took great care in choosing and mixing the correct paint colors to complement and reflect brilliantly in the completed 8’x10’ canvas. Initially, I painted the entire large backdrop of the canvas with double coats of a single brilliant color which then allowed pieces of white chalk to sketch in the vision. The process is technical initially, as planning is a must, but once the chalk is sketched in, the work comes to life.

Lastly, once the mural is completed, a strong clear sealer is administered to protect from weather and any other oddities that attach on the canvas.

I want to express deep appreciation to both Hannah Williams and Eric UnKauf and their long term Muralgarten vision as well as all of the board members. 

On Glens Falls Favorites

Glens Falls has many wonderful places to visit. We have the Hyde Museum, the Chapman Museum, the Children's Museum, LARAC and a tremendous amount of fine dining establishments supporting various cuisine. We also have have the Glens Falls Orchestra, Park Theater and the Wood Theater. 

I don’t necessarily land at one exact location after completing my work as I am very social and love conversations at different places allowing different ideas. I may be seen visiting with neighbors, watching televised sport events or listening to many talented  live musicians. Wherever I may land downtown in the evening my drink of choice is seltzer, cranberry, lime, and laughter.

Muralthon Artist Lexi Hannah Shares Her Jungle Inspired Mural

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, starting with Lexi Hannah, whose jungle inspired mural sits opposite Rock Hill Bakehouse! 

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a full-time artist specializing in commissioned artwork, murals, and live event painting. My studio is at Albany Barn. I feel incredibly grateful and lucky to support myself with my artwork! I’ve been connected to Hannah Williams for a long time via social media, and she introduced me to Muralgarten. Having grown up in Latham, I've explored the Adirondacks, but I've never really come to know Glens Falls the way I do now. It's so satisfying to see the great artwork popping up around town, and I'm excited to see Muralgarten's plans take shape.

On Becoming an Artist

I’ve been painting pretty constantly since I was very young, but I was commissioned for my first mural in 2011 — my first big artist gig! I was asked to create a custom mural for the SUNY Geneseo gym, which led to many more murals there. I started taking painting commissions of everything from portraits to animals to landscapes, and I eventually was featured by outlets like Insider, Instagram, and Sony, which really helped my career take off (they took interest in my “drip paintings” of colorful animals, which played into my mural design’s inspiration). I’ve been fortunate in having a steady stream of clients since then, which allows me to work full-time as a freelance artist — a dream come true! 

On Inspiration

I’ve been painting murals for over a decade but I’ve never been granted an opportunity like this where I could play with a design of my own choosing in a public space. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity by diving into subjects that I really love to paint, and for me, that’s nature and animals. I figured a jungle would allow me to paint those kinds of objects while remaining both intentional and free with the design (for example, I could be loose with splatters and drips and still create the impression of a specific scene). 

On The Process

One challenge was the heat! But it was, after all, July in upstate New York. The metal shipping container would warm up as well, which could make painting on a ladder a little spooky. I also temporarily developed some numbness in my right hand from getting a little too wild and free in flicking my arm to create paint splatters. But overall, it was just so much fun, and this experience has helped prepare me for doing future works on this type of surface. I also really loved meeting all the locals while painting the mural!

A Glens Falls Favorite  

I’m vegan, so I was stoked to discover the amazing Rock Hill Bakehouse right behind my mural spot! Their food is awesome, and the staff is wonderful! 

Lexi Hannah Art and Design
Website / Facebook / Instagram

On the Arts Trail: Miranda Kent

Did you catch the new art that popped up on electrical boxes downtown last fall? Part of the Arts Trail and the Arts District of Glens Falls, these works have added so much personality to our little city. We’re excited to introduce you to another of the talented artists behind this series - Miranda Kent! You can see their work on Exchange Street, just before Juicin’ Jar - the perfect spot for a fruit design, right? Read on for our chat with Miranda about their background, inspiration for the project, and the beautiful things that can happen when you set your mind to something…

Tell us about yourself!

After graduating from Shenendehowa High School in 2016, I went on to get my Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY New Paltz from 2016 - 2020. During my undergraduate degree, I majored in Art Education so I could fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming an art teacher and then took on a Psychology Minor and Ceramics studio concentration as well. Currently, I am a few months out from finishing my Master’s Degree also at SUNY New Paltz within the field of Art Education to ensure permanent NYS teaching certification.

While finishing up my first student teaching placement at Saratoga High School during Spring of 2020, I was lucky enough to get an incredible interview opportunity for my first teaching job just days before Covid-19 hit New York in March. Despite only being 21 at the time and on the cusp of graduating and getting official teaching certification, I was still called in to interview as a potential candidate for one of the two High School Art Teacher positions opening up at Glens Falls High School. After an exciting first interview that I was convinced wouldn’t go anywhere due to my pending certification requirements, I was asked to come back for a final interview with the Superintendent as the only candidate being pushed forward for the Pottery position. I was thereon welcomed into the amazing Glens Falls City School District as the next full time High School Pottery Teacher and have never looked back since. I’m now almost done with my third year of teaching Pottery I, Advanced Pottery, Sculpture, and Studio Art here at Glens Falls High School and truly wouldn’t have it any other way! Working here has truly been the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m so lucky to work in such a positive educational environment with some of the best, most talented teenagers you’ll ever meet. They constantly push me to be a better person, artist, and educator and I wouldn’t be writing this today without their support (and the support from my fellow Art Department members)!

Finally, I have lived in the Upstate New York area my whole life and have many connections to this beautiful area. After my parents got divorced when I was 5, I moved from Galway to Clifton Park and began my tumultuous voyage through grade school. As someone who was aggressively bullied my entire K-12 journey, I had a lot of trouble growing up trying to develop a solid sense of self and figure out who I am and want to be. Two things that got me through these challenging years was pushing myself to get my First Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and basically living and breathing art in every other free moment I had since it was one of the only things that truly helped me with my mental health. Both of these things greatly contributed to my development of confidence, important life skills, and provided me with needed perspective that I am so much more than what others expect me to be or not be. That being said, once I got to college I truly felt safe enough to explore my identity and become the unapologetic and proud person I am today! 

How did you get your start as an artist?  

In terms of my journey as an artist, it dates all the way back to when I could first simply hold an art material in my hand. I’ve always loved drawing, painting, and creating with any material thrown in front of me ever since I was a little kid and even went as far as “playing art teacher” with my stuffed animals to practice for my future career. Since both of my parents are creatives and educators, they consistently have given me support and guidance throughout my life in terms of my artistic endeavors and future goal to be an art educator. My dad is actually a High School Art Teacher and an incredible photorealism artist among other things and specifically is one of my biggest sources of artistic inspiration in my life. He’s worked hard throughout my life to not only be there for me as a parent and friend, but also as a future art education colleague and well versed artist through our countless art museum trips together. Both of my parents, grandparents, sister, best friend, coworkers, and my partner of 11 years are all significant support systems of my artistic growth and who I am as a person, which I am eternally grateful for. 

In terms of more professional experience with my art, I consider this shift to have started in college. After I finished High School and began taking art courses at SUNY New Paltz, I finally started getting out of my comfort zone of drawing/painting and exploring different art mediums. I went from strictly being a 2D artist that absolutely despised any and all 3D mediums to now a primarily 3D artist who’s favorite medium to work with is Ceramics. Creating functional and sculptural work that can serve a higher purpose than a drawing that forever lives in a sketchbook or on a wall gave me perspective and new goals as a maker that I’m still trying to push further today. In more recent years, I’ve set a focus on expanding my horizons as an artist by applying for and taking on much larger projects such as exterior murals, electrical box and fence painting, and making/selling wearable jewelry and ceramic vessels.  

Additionally, I’ve been a part of multiple art shows over the course of the last 5+ years as well. While doing my undergrad, I was picked to be part of the President’s Residence Show in 2018-2019 and curated/created some of my own art education student based shows on campus. Post college, I most recently have been involved in a handful of virtual market shows through Celebrate845 and had my work up in Glens Falls City Hall from September to December of 2022 as part of the GFSD Art Educators Show.

What was the inspiration behind your work on the electrical box? 

As a pretty fruity and upbeat person myself, it only felt right to submit a proposal that was fruit based for this call of electrical box paintings. I actually submitted 3 proposals total for this call with the others being based around wildflowers or mushrooms, but am really happy the fruit design was chosen. I originally made the concept art for fruit design back in June of 2022 for fun and so I could upload it on my Redbubble to make merchandise out of. 

Tell us about your process! What challenges did you face and what did you love about painting downtown on an electrical box? 

Back in April of 2022, I applied for my first public art initiative through the Lake George Arts Project for their very similar electrical box painting initiative. After having my Glens Falls building mural plans rejected multiple times, I was ready to give up on this artistic dream of being a mural artist, that is until I applied for the Lake George electrical box. To my absolute surprise, I was picked for that project as a 23 year old without public art experience among a handful of more established local artists with relevant experience. Being picked for that project really proved to me that if I set my mind to something with my artwork, even if I receive some rejections, something will eventually work in the end.

Fast forward to September of 2022, I immediately applied for the Glens Falls Arts District call for the second set of electrical box paintings. Since I finally had experience with exterior murals through the Lake George Arts Project and being hired to paint Halloween themed fences for “BooTown” in Fort Ann over the summer, I felt confident going into this third public art project I landed in a span of 4 months (while also doing my Masters and teaching full time). I think completing this painting in particular was the most challenging out of the three, mainly because of the short timeline we had to finish these and the impending doom of winter closely on the horizon. My box in particular is also home to years and years of tags and graffiti, so simply covering that and painting over the very uneven surface of the metal was hard in itself. Something else that I found cool about working on all of these projects was the interactions I shared with locals and tourists who were very eager to chat with me as I painted. Almost every one of these conversations was positive and complimentary which was unexpected but greatly appreciated. I did have some kind local Glens Falls folk warn me about the potential of my work getting tagged, which it did, but I thankfully was able to fix it back to its original glory!

What’s your favorite downtown spot to visit after you’re done painting? 

One of my favorite parts about living in Glens Falls is going to the wide range of amazing restaurants and local businesses that line the downtown area. Of course I had to stop by Juicin’ Jar a couple times since they graciously embraced my fruity painting outside their fruit-based business, but I also frequently visited Downtown City Tavern after a long shift of painting. My next favorite spot to visit when I’m done painting is my apartment so I can chill with my two amazing cats, Mocha and Biscotti, and my partner!

Anything else you’d like to share?

I want to finish off by thanking the lovely network of people who have believed in me the last 20+ years and pushed me to keep fighting so I could reach this enriching stage of my life. Specifically, I want to give a shout out to both of my parents, grandparents, sister, best friend, coworkers, students, and my partner for being significant support systems of my artistic growth and who I am as a person - I am eternally grateful for your love and wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you as well to the Glens Falls Arts District and Lake George Arts Project for taking a chance on me and allowing me to cross things off my bucket list I never would’ve imagined doing at my age. If anyone is particularly interested in my work or my story, you’re more than welcome to check out my socials and reach out. I am always down to do commissions for fans of my art and have public accounts on Instagram, Etsy, and Redbubble all under my studio name - Studio Rosebud! ♡

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Downtown's New Alleyway Mural Celebrates City History

Take a stroll down the alley between the Wood Theater and Spot Coffee and you’ll take a trip down memory lane. Mike Ferrarell and Nick Capozzoli of Chicago just finished up their incredible mural downtown (part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls) that celebrates the history of our city. We caught up with them to find out how they gathered inspiration, some of their favorite illustrations within the mural, and a few highlights of their experience here in Glens Falls…

Nick Capozzoli (left) and Mike Ferrarell

Tell us about yourselves!

I’m Mike Ferrarell and this is Nick Capozzoli. We’re both from Chicago. We design and paint historic murals that include a lot of nostalgia and things that are relevant and significant to the makeup of smaller towns. 

The two of us linked up at a screen printing studio. We were both working out of the same studio space and we started bouncing ideas off of each other and helping one another with projects. We both have similar interests in terms of art, history, and Americana.

How did this opportunity catch your eye? 

Mike: The Arts District put out a call for artists in the spring, so I applied then, but didn’t hear anything. They asked me to resubmit in August for this new opportunity that seemed like a better fit, and we got word that they wanted to move forward.  

What was the inspiration gathering process like for this mural? 

Mike: Typically the client [The Arts District, in this case] throws out a couple of links for us to review. From there I kind of go nuts with it and see what I can learn and find. I’ll go on Newspapers.com to review old newspaper articles, or go on Flickr and type in “Glens Falls” and go through 15,000 photos that pop up. Then we compared notes with The Arts District to find out what concepts were good and what they thought maybe wouldn’t be as well received. They also put out a call for concepts to get the community involved in submitting ideas, and we narrowed it down. A lot of lists getting combined and narrowed.

What initially jumped out at you from your research about Glens Falls that made it to the finished mural? 

Nick: For me, it was the photograph that we illustrated of the men logging on the river from the 1800’s. Just thinking about the amount of trees that were cut down at the time of that photograph, and Chicago wasn’t even an established city yet! 

Mike: The logging one is great because it was just this old photograph. Nick illustrated that one, and the challenge was figuring out a way to get it on the mural without having a very line heavy photo, so we came up with the idea of putting it on the newspaper to make it a bit more graphic. 

I also like the bridge illustration. There’s a lot of history with bridges here, and we could probably do a whole mural just about the different bridges that have existed here over the years. I think it’s a fun image - kinda wonky - that brings the history of the bridges to life. 

What are some of the challenges you encountered while painting this week? 

Mike: It looks like there’s a lot of straight lines, but there isn’t a single one. There’s a lot of taping involved, a lot of finessing to make things look straight. 

Also, the brick on this particular building doesn’t get any sun, so it’s been really cold this week.

Nick: Paint doesn’t like to stick to cold brick!

Mike: Right, and also the paint takes a little longer to dry. 

Nick: There were some sections where the brick was really porous so we really needed to spend more time packing paint into those areas. 

Mike: Some of the bricks that have more wear were almost like painting over dust. So in those areas, when we took tape of, some of that paint would come off with it, which could get frustrating.

Have you had much time to explore and experience Glens Falls? 

Mike: We were able to go to the hockey game, and that was sick. We love live sports and had a great time. Really great energy there. 

There’s no shortage of places to eat and drink around here! We haven’t been able to do much, but we’ve enjoyed grabbing food at The Bullpen, or right here at Spot Coffee - their sandwiches are great. 

Nick: It was impressive to see the turnout from the Halloween event [Boo2You]. It was packed! It looked like a really good time. 

Another thing that stands out is all of these old buildings. It’s so nice that you guys still have a lot of these. It looks like 221 [Glen Street] just had the facade redone and it’s just - wow. There’s a real sense of preservation about it. 

What’s your take on murals and public art moving forward? 

Mike: It’s a big part of downtown revitalization. It’s a super accessible way to experience art. And with social media to help increase the exposure, hopefully it gets more people out and about in these communities to experience it. 

Hometown Artist Hannah Williams Completes Downtown Mural

Little did we know that when we chatted with Hannah Williams last fall about her artwork on the Bay Street electrical box, we’d be talking to her again so soon about an even bigger project! Hannah just finished up her amazing mural downtown on Warren Street - one of two murals that are part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls. She shared the inspiration for the project, the challenges and rewards along the way, and more…

For those that don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself!

I was born in Glens Falls and raised in Queensbury! I am a self-taught artist, painting consistently for more than twelve years, and a full-time artist for the past three years. I have been in the mural painting business for a decade. I’m honored to be featured for the second time on Glens Falls Living! Without being too redundant talking about myself and background, folks can return to my first interview where they can learn more about me and my roots in Glens Falls. 

On Pursuing Art as a Career

I am fortunate enough to have figured out my passion as a child - and stuck to it. Ever since I can remember I have been involved with art somehow. I’m mostly self taught, but I have taken a variety of art classes from middle school through community college. 

My business started in 2014 following a year of live painting and vending at music festivals and painting my first mural in 2013. My biggest issue getting started was still being very young and needing to figure out the logistics of what I wanted out of a career in the arts. I had to learn to be patient. I was 20 years old when I painted my first mural. I struggled for a handful of years, working two jobs on top of any opportunity to make money with my art on the side. 

From 2016-2017 I had the opportunity to work at Adirondack Studios in Argyle, NY. I learned so much about the discipline, production and logistical side of painting murals. 

Then in 2020 with the temporary loss of my two jobs during the pandemic, I was able to hone in on my business and create art full-time. 

In the past 10 years, I have painted 22 murals within the Capital Region.

On Local Opportunity

This mural opportunity caught my eye because I am a true advocate for public art and have been desperately wanting Glens Falls to welcome murals for many years. If you know me, you have heard my many rants about this. It’s just something I have been hoping for for so long. 

The application process was typical of any public art submission and I was prepared. When you submit to a public art call, it’s not just showing your portfolio. You need your art resume or CV, you need to show your public art experience, propose a budget and concept sketch, and be comfortable with things like navigating contracts and operating a lift.

On Inspiration

The submission required that the subject for the mural be Glens Falls related. The past few years, I’ve noticed I have gravitated towards nature as a recurring theme with my public art for a few reasons. Most importantly, I want people to connect with nature. It’s universal imagery everyone can relate to, and it can create an interactive and educational purpose.

Originally I chose native flowers that could be found throughout the streets of Glens Falls or in Coles Woods. The interesting thing about the public art process is that the subject can evolve drastically from concept to end result because of all the parts and people involved. Once the Arts District landed me a building owner, I collaborated with them on a revised design because, of course, their opinion matters too. Once I was able to sit down with the building owners to brainstorm a design, it turned out that we all have the same love for nature in common. It took the three of us just one hour to figure it out. Basically, I had them run down everything in nature they loved, from animals, plants, space, insects and earth elements. I created a design that more-so tells a story of where Glens Falls is geographically. There are elements of nature you could find within the city and at the foothills of the Adirondacks, including the bear and owl.

That whole experience collaborating with the building owners completely reignited my excitement for the whole project.

On Challenges and Rewards

The challenges I encountered were typical of any large project, but even more so due to this being the start of a mural program here in Glens Falls. There was so much planning, revision, back and forth, and city approval before I got to the fun part of painting. Truly nonstop for many months, including getting certified in the boom lift, acquiring general liability insurance, figuring out materials, and so on.

The city board meeting for approval was quite the event. There was public pushback, comments and concerns. I stood in front of the room with Kate Austin as she represented the Arts District and I represented the artists. Nothing felt better than having the city board hear us and approve the project unanimously.

I also faced social and societal hurdles, including not being taken seriously by taking this project on by myself. The challenge there was simply not giving up and being my own advocate.

As far as the actual painting process, the most challenging part was painting the barred owl. Such intricate details, as well as wrapping it around on two different planes. It took days to figure it all out to where it translates correctly at a certain angle.

I loved every second of painting this mural. It was truly an emotionally validating experience. This was my first large scale building mural and I am so proud. It’s exactly the career path I've been wanting to go down — to be able to travel anywhere and paint large building murals.

On Supporting Local

A very large chunk of my budget was dispersed back into the local economy, and that was very important to me. Everything that I needed or used was purchased locally, down to the paint, lift rental, insurance and so on. I didn’t want to cut any corners for the sake of profiting more because in the end, the preservation and quality of the art itself is more important. Shout out to: Colbra Painting, Sherwin Williams, Action Equipment, O’Brien Insurance Agency, Liberty Graphics, and March First Media.

On Support

Many folks had different designated titles for my boyfriend, Tyler. My bodyguard, PR appointee, and Humble Assistant to name a few. For anyone wondering, “Who’s that guy that was always sitting there?!”  That was my lovely partner. He deserves recognition for the amount of support and assistance he provided for me every day on the job. He promoted me and my business, handing out cards and telling everyone about the process. He had no complaints about always handing me a tool I needed, cleaning up, or making sure I was hydrated, fed, and had sunscreen on. 

I am extremely humbled by the amount of support the community showed me. I heard every honk, compliment and cheer that came by. This project brought my family together, and other families too. It was something different and exciting to witness and check up on everyday. I made friends and connections. Many thanks to the following people for making this project a more enjoyable experience: Tyler Mammone (boyfriend), Cathy & Brad Williams (Mom and Dad), Ryan Williams (brother), Aunt Lisa & Uncle John, Aunt Gail and new friends Jane & Craig. All of these people stopped by every single day to show their support. 

On Visiting the Mural

Please visit the mural not only in the day, but at night as well. It’s quite magical how the street lights illuminate the moon, stars and other objects giving off a whole different vibe!

Also! There will be a Meet the Artist event at the mural (20 Warren Street) this Wednesday, September 21st at 5pm. Looking forward to connecting with community then!

Hannah Williams Art
Instagram / Website

On the Arts Trail: Jesse Melanson

We caught up with Jesse Melanson this week, who you’ve probably all seen hovering on a lift above Centennial Circle, painting one of two murals that are part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls. He shares a bit about his background, the inspiration behind his design, and some impressions of our little city over the course of his time here…

Jesse Melanson in front of his completed mural | Photo: Bri Lyons

Tell us about yourself!

I'm from Truckee, California, which is North Lake Tahoe for those who don't know that area. I’ve been painting murals since 2019. I've done maybe a dozen across the country, ranging from smaller walls like 10x12 feet to as big as this current one, which is almost 50 feet high by 100 feet wide. This is the largest square footage mural that I’ve done. I painted one in Malden, Massachusetts that was 65 feet high by 45 feet wide, so that was a little higher, but the square footage was a little less.

How did you get your start as an artist?  

I moved to Austin, Texas from Tahoe during a career transition. I had a hard time finding a job in Austin and adjusting to the city life and culture, but eventually I got a job as a digital art teacher at a high school. I did that for a year. I'm not a teacher. I'm not very good at it. So I quit and I was back in a transition period.

There were a lot of murals around Austin, and I saw that they had a public arts division for community and culture. In Austin, 2% of the total cost of new construction has to be allocated to the arts. It's a booming city, so we're talking about millions of dollars. So, I started going to informational meetings just to figure out how I could get involved. From there, I applied and landed my first mural in Austin, and continued to build my portfolio in cities across the country.

How did this opportunity catch your eye?

Actually through an Instagram follower. She had seen this opportunity on a Facebook group and forwarded it to me. I applied right away.

It was also a plus that I have a connection to the Lake George area. My mom’s side of the family is from Latham, and she grew up there. As a kid, we spent a lot of time at our condo on Lake George.

What was the inspiration behind your mural?

My main inspiration was the Adirondacks. I know there’s not necessarily a waterfall here like the one pictured, but I thought it was a nice tie to the mountains farther north. As for the fox, it’s just an animal I admire, and I love the contrast of its colors with the greens and blues. Originally, there was a 50 foot moose where the hot air balloons are, but I was told there’s no moose in the city. Apparently there are hot air balloons!

With these projects, it’s important to get feedback and make sure that it’s a collaborative effort to come up with the final artwork. These things shouldn’t just be about the artist, it’s about the community. It’s about making sure everyone feels involved, connected, and included. I would never want the art to be directed at only one audience. I prefer that it’s open to interpretation, and that everyone can somehow see themselves represented in it.

Mural in progress: just prior to adding the hot air balloons

Tell us about your process. What challenges did you face and what did you love about painting this mural?

The wall was in really bad shape. It was crumbling. Anytime I sprayed it, it would spray pieces of brick back at me. I put about 50 gallons of masonry sealant on it. The sealant helped to harden the surface and also helped to flatten it, which helps when painting it.

I always prep the walls for my murals myself, and I always end the project saying I should have hired someone else to prep it. But at the end of the day, it’s rewarding to know that I did it all myself — and saved myself some money, too.

Prepping the wall took about four days, and once that was done, I completed the painting in eight days. I’ve had a couple of people say that seems fast, but when you’re focused on one thing for 10 hours each day, you’d be surprised how much you can get done. And that applies in all of life!

Mural in progress: the first spots of color over the “doodle grid”

How has your experience in Glens Falls been? What was your favorite downtown spot to visit after you were done painting for the day? 

Glens Falls seems pretty hip! I can see it’s moving in a positive direction. It’s a nice mix of the new and old, but I can see it’s becoming a little bit more modern, more contemporary.

I really liked Raul’s. They were really sweet and generous, and I loved having one of their margaritas after a long day. Mean Max was another favorite. I truly liked every place I stepped into. They were all equally welcoming.

So many people have stopped to say hello, or to say how much fun it’s been to watch, or to say thank you. Everyone has been really gracious, and it’s so nice to hear that something I’m doing is creating a positive impact.

Jesse Melanson
JMEL Art & Design
Website / Instagram

On the Arts Trail: Rodney Bentley

Have you seen the art popping up on electrical boxes downtown? Part of the Arts Trail and the Arts District of Glens Falls, these works have added so much to our little city already (and we’re hoping this is just the start!). We’re excited to introduce you to another of the talented artists behind this series - Rodney Bentley! You can see his work on the corner of Ridge and Maple Streets, right in front of Morgan and Company.

Tell us about yourself!

I was born in February at Glens Falls Hospital. As a child, I was surrounded by my five siblings and my caring, supportive, and spiritual mother, Bertha. I spent my childhood up in the Adirondacks. I graduated from Warrensburg Central School and attended local college with my sights set on a political or legal career. During college, JCPenney hired me as an internal auditor, supporting overall store operations and loss prevention. I was promoted through advanced district, regional and corporate positions, which allowed me to relocate to Rochester, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and metro New York City.

Due to the Great Recession, I found myself unemployed while living in the Philadelphia area. It was during that time that I fell in the bathroom at my residence and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). My fiancé, Janet, with wonderful grace and care, had me rushed by paramedics to the intensive care unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Many issues surfaced due the TBI including memory, aphasia, confusion and speech problems. My siblings and my mother helped me to return to the Glens Falls Region to heal and start a new life.

On Becoming an Artist

When I returned to the Glens Falls Region, I was not healing well and I began to sedate myself with alcohol to search for some form of comfort. I found myself in Saratoga County Jail due to back to back DWIs. While incarcerated, my family hired a local legal firm to assist me in being released from the facility. I declined to leave prison, as I knew I truly needed help and returning to society was not right for me at that time.

It was during my 108 days of incarceration that I became an artist without knowing it. It started with a rather large inmate, named Tiny, sitting at a table across from me with tears in his eyes. He asked me if I could draw something for him. I thought it was a joke at first but then I asked what I would draw and why. He explained it was for his 6 year old grandson’s birthday and that he liked dragons. I felt sympathy as I looked beyond his tears and into his eyes. I asked for a pencil and paper, which a guard provided. I started to sketch and magically a beautiful powerful dragon appeared on the paper.

I began to create an inmate gallery in prison. In the evening, I would place my newest work on the tables in the cell block and inmates would tour my work and make comments. Guards took notice of my work as well, and I began to create personalized work for both inmates and guards as requested. I look forward to sharing my prison work with the world when I feel the time is right.

The Inspiration

In the midst of COVID, art supplies became challenging to acquire. I was feeling a sense of solace, peace, beauty, and softness in some odd way. The split background of soft pink and violet on canvas evokes that simplicity. The tree branches and leaves are captured in mostly white with the soft hint of grey for depth, but not distraction. The brilliant monarch butterflies seem to offer a hint of softness, with brilliant color and clarity representing souls flowing upward to a sense of newness, peace and overflowing love. The yellow orb, which the butterflies are floating towards in the upper right portion of the electrical box, represents the most powerful unconditional love ever felt.

On The Process

The process was a learning curve. I followed instructions on how to remove graffiti, stickers and additional oddities that I found on the box. It very helpful that LARAC provided wonderful directions regarding cleaning the box, priming the box and finally sealing the box when the project was completed.

I really loved the interaction with the public while painting the electrical box. Car drivers passing by would wave their hands, smile and make great comments. People walking by wanted to take photos and create wonderful conversations. What a great experience!

Some Glens Falls Favorites

I reside on the property known as the historic and magnificent Morgan and Company restaurant which happens to be where the utility box is located. There are many wonderful spots I enjoy in Glens Falls, including Fenimore’s Pub, Mean Max Brew Works, Davidson Brothers Brewing Co., Downtown Social, Raul’s Mexican Grill, Downtown City Tavern, Mikado, Spot Coffee and many other relaxing establishments.

I find biking invigorating and enjoy riding along the extensive Glens Falls Feeder Canal, along the banks of the mighty Hudson River, and into Lake George and Hudson Falls. I find the Hyde Museum beyond inspirational, as well as shows at the Wood Theater and Park Theater.

Rodney Bentley
Website / Facebook / Instagram

On the Arts Trail: Shelley Fairbanks

Have you seen the art popping up on electrical boxes downtown? Part of the Arts Trail and the Arts District of Glens Falls, these works have added so much to our little city already (and we’re hoping this is just the start!). We’re excited to introduce you to another of the talented artists behind this series - Shelley Fairbanks! You can see her work on the corner of Warren and Church Streets.

Tell us about yourself!

I graduated from Granville High School in 2011 and attended SUNY New Paltz as a painting and drawing major. I ended up finding myself at SUNY Empire State College along the way and graduated with my bachelor's in Arts Management.

I have lived in Upstate New York my whole life and absolutely love the beauty of the Adirondacks. I grew up right near Hick’s Orchard in Granville so I was spoiled in the cider donut department. I was lucky to grow up on a huge piece of property with a nature trail behind my house. My parents instilled in me a huge love of nature, animals, and art. Going to Glens Falls was always a treat for me as a young kid. This was the big city! A bit embarrassing but funny to recall the fact that I often mistook Glens Falls for New York City.

I moved to Glens Falls over two and a half years ago after I started working at the Charles R. Wood Theater as the Box Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. It has truly been a dream job! I love to see what's happening on Glen Street every day, being so close to so many amazing restaurants, working with an incredible team, and of course dog watching!

On Becoming an Artist

My dad was an incredible artist and art educator. Painting was always a huge part of my life as I got to spend a lot of time in my dad's studio. He taught me everything about the great masters (Vincent was a stand out), mixing colors, using acrylics, composition, and how a little bit of blue paint can go a long way! I used to attend all sorts of gallery exhibits and art shows with him and even got to sell some of my own work at his outdoor shows when I was very young. My 25 cent cat paintings were a hit! My dad even painted a portrait of me titled "Shelley at Work" where I'm preparing cat masterpieces for an outdoor exhibit. It hangs in my downtown apartment currently.

I am very thankful for all of the opportunities I have had. I always wanted to be an artist (with the exception of when I briefly changed my career path to primatologist in 6th grade) and started seriously working toward those goals toward the end of high school. During my stay at SUNY New Paltz I won a few college competitions and that really pushed me to a place where I felt confident in what I was creating. I am still playing around with different mediums, styles, and subject matter and have been fortunate to have some pieces featured in various local shows and exhibits.

My dad passed in 2017 and I really owe most of my artistic success to him!

The Inspiration

I am a huge animal lover! But what really inspired my "Dogs of Glens Falls" mural was all of the adorable dogs I get to see downtown on a daily basis! As previously mentioned I LOVE dog watching at work. During the pandemic The Wood Theater was shut down for over a year and during that time my coworker Eric Potter installed a "doggie cam" security camera facing the outside window. It was truly his magnum opus and kept myself and my other half/coworker Emily Murphy and I sane while we both worked from home. We would post a "dog of the week" on our Facebook and it also helped me get to know our local furry friends.

We not only allow, but encourage dog owners to bring their pups into the theater if stopping to buy tickets for a show. Please note that if you're reading this, have a dog, and are thinking of coming to an upcoming event. I included dogs I met through working in the box office (Thatcher, Arthur & Avalon, Zuzu) and the rest are dogs I either know personally, know their owners, or know because a stranger reached out to me with a story. I put a lot of time and care into selecting the pups.

Of course I also have to give Murray Murphy a separate shoutout (son of Emily Murphy) who I often refer to as my "best fren". He is front and center if you are facing the street. From being named Thomas's English Muffins #1 Fan to reaching TikTok fame and starring in a movie (filmed by local filmmaker Cailtlin Stedman who's pup Vinny is also featured) he has really touched the lives of so many!

On The Process

This was definitely a challenge for me but one that I was super excited to take on! I'm so thankful to the Arts District for allowing me to step out of my comfort zone and work with a completely new medium. A LOT of research went into painting on a metal surface from how to prep and sand the box, finding the right primer, paints, and top coats.

I loved getting to interact with all of the people walking and driving by. The support was increible and completely overwhelming at times. One of my favorite moments was when a dog owner walked by with their German Shepherd puppy as I was painting another Shepherd on the box. The pup was very curious and watching me as I painted and I remember getting emotional as the owner said "she's painting what you will look like when you're older!" It was the purest thing!!

I have a busy work schedule so I was out painting almost every day after work even when it got dark and cold. I told all of my friends that when I had any free time in October "assume I am at the electrical box". I have done some public art and murals sporadically but I am still relatively new to the public art/mural scene so this was an all around wonderful adventure and fun opportunity to stretch my artistic wings!

Some Glens Falls Favorites

If you drove or walked past me at night around 7pm or 8pm you may have seen me with an AACC roll from Mikado. I usually ate during my painting sessions (being very careful to know what was paint water and what was drinking water). In the mornings when I had the day off to paint I would stop by Birch Bark to grab some specialty donuts. Spot Coffee is of course a standard go-to for me! I definitely had a few breakfast burritos by my side while painting. For a treat I LOVE pasta night at Gourmet Cafe (plus the amazing desserts made in house by Chef Francis!).

I also took some breaks to sit in City Park, shopped at 42 Degrees, browsed the new arrivals at Laura's Vintage, and warmed up at the Wood Theater which was a nice "home base" for me.

Gratitude

I would just like to again thank everyone for the incredible support. Cam Cardinale and Jeannette LaPointe for taking some professional photographs of me at work, Emily Murphy for hyping me up every step of the way, and the entire Arts District for all that is being done to make this city a beautiful home. I also just wanted to say how impressed and proud I am of every single artist that has been outside painting! I am humbled and inspired by all of their creativity and dedication.

I also wanted to thank Jereme Young who sat with me for hours while I worked just to keep me company. He proposed to me the week after completing the electrical box. I never knew I would end this project as an engaged woman!

I also dedicate my project to my two pups that have crossed the rainbow bridge, Alice and Penny. Dogs are a gift to humanity!

Shelley Fairbanks
Instagram

On the Arts Trail: Hannah Williams

Have you seen the art popping up on electrical boxes downtown? Part of the Arts Trail and the Arts District of Glens Falls, these works have added so much to our little city already (and we’re hoping this is just the start!). We’re excited to introduce you to the talented artists behind the paintings, starting with Hannah Williams! You can see her work on the corner of Washington and Bay.

Tell us about yourself!

I grew up in Queensbury, and graduated from Queensbury High in 2011. I went on to receive an Associates Degree from SUNY Adirondack in 2013.

I have always been interested in art, ever since a young age, and I am mostly self-taught. I had mentors along the way, through my involvement with independent art studies in high school and courses through college. I always have to give credit to my parents, Brad and Cathy, for being supportive, and my grandmother, Gloria, who sat me in front of Bob Ross a lot when I was little. 

Although I grew up in Queensbury, I have concrete roots in Glens Falls as far as my family goes. Both parents lived and went to school in Glens Falls. Growing up, we were always participating in activities downtown. I was always in awe of the architecture and community involvement. A big part of my childhood was attending the hockey games with my brother and grandfather, Harold “Hal” Williams. I’m putting his name out there because some may remember him fondly - he had a coaching career of 60 years, part of it at Glens Falls School District for JV Basketball, and he was the Director of Adult Education. He even managed the Glens Falls Civic Center parking lots and drove the bus for the Greater Glens Falls Transit System.

On Becoming an Artist

It has been a constant evolving thing as soon as I realized creating art was my life passion and a much needed necessity to cope with everyday life. I have been painting seriously for about 12 years, which has slowly turned into many ventures over the past decade as I’ve worked hard to get to a point of doing it full-time.

The big jump was live painting at music festivals and vending work. From there, I realized my love of painting large scale, which transferred over to painting murals. My very first opportunity was at Cote Insurance Agency in South Glens Falls. I will always be grateful that they believed in me then, because my mural work has been ongoing ever since. I also had the incredible opportunity to work for Adirondack Studios in Argyle, NY from 2016-2017, getting hands on experience painting very large scale murals – sometimes 100 ft. x 20 ft. in length. 

I have been doing art full-time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Murals and public art are my top priority, but what really keeps my work consistent are my commission services like dog portraits.

The Inspiration

Given the opportunity to have my work shown in a very public location, I really wanted to create something positive and inspirational to remind people that there is magic in this world, and to encourage them to stay in awe of the natural beauty around us. I really geared it towards children because I wanted them to keep their sense of wonderment engaged and to inspire them to get creative. Lastly, I wanted to give the art an educational focus by labeling each flower I painted. Each plant I painted represents night-blooming flowers that actually exist in nature, in hopes that people will connect with the theme and appreciate that they exist. 

On The Process

I have worked with painting on metal a few times, but this project was absolutely unique and involved a whole new learning process that was exciting. The important thing is to do solid research on different surfaces before painting them. Metal is interesting because it is a non-porous surface. Paint is a friend to porous surfaces because it has something to hold onto, so you have to figure out the steps to make a slick and smooth surface, like metal, more textured. Every single artist who participated put in a lot of prep work with cleaning, sanding, and priming to make sure it was ready to withstand the outdoor elements. I had only constructive challenges, the biggest of which was the weather as well as working in a highly trafficked area and having to stay aware of surroundings. I loved every second engaging with the community and made many connections from people wanting to stop and chat. As the progress went on, more and more people showed amazing support and positivity, which was greatly appreciated.

On Public Art

I am thrilled that Glens Falls is starting to create more of a public art scene. My hope for the future here is that public art and murals are increasingly embraced. As a passionate muralist who has had the privilege to travel around the country, I have witnessed first hand the importance of public art. It not only beautifies a location - it brings extreme value, increased business, positive community morale and most importantly – makes art accessible to all.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

I love being a regular at the ever-evolving coffee hub at 140 Glen Street, which is now Kru Coffee. That place only keeps you going until late afternoon though. 

My hands down favorite spot to visit after a long day of painting is Alif Cafe. The minute you walk in, it feels like you are embraced with a warm hug. You are instantly hit with the range of aromatic spices and herbs used in their dishes of modern Pakistani food and traditional chais. Don’t even get me started with their set of beautiful chais and espresso. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu - it’s all fantastic. This is a place to truly be embraced. I love any chance to go.

Hannah Williams Art
Instagram / Website

In the Studio: Jenny Hutchinson

We’re excited to step into the studio with Jenny Hutchinson (who you may recognize from her role at The Hyde Collection) to chat about her amazing contemporary art. She shares how she got started, what inspires her creative process, and a bit about renovating an old barn on their city property to serve as her studio!

On Beginnings 

My mom says my first friend was my crayon box and that is about what I remember too. From an incredibly young age, I loved to color. You would often find me spending time head down, lost in a coloring book or later creating my own images. I remember getting in trouble once because I doodled on someone’s scrap paper in kindergarten. I was trying out a color before using it on my coloring page. I remember feeling so ashamed, but now I think - what an artistic thing to do.

Growing up I was the artsy kid, but I was also very athletic which was quite a unique combination. I gravitated to both these activities because it was a way for me to shine without having to speak and it was the only way I was comfortable being front and center. Art and athletics provided me with a voice, and it was where I had the most courage and confidence to be myself.

Chrysanthemum • Courtesy of Jenny Hutchinson

It took me a long time to learn what a career in the arts looked like. It really did not come into full focus until I was working. It sounds wishy washy but even though I did not know what career I would specifically pursue, from a young age I was very driven and focused on succeeding in the arts.

One thing that I think is very important for students pursuing creative careers to know is it’s okay not to know, because if you’re open to new possibilities and trying new things, you will have more opportunities. Jobs in the art field are not many, so I like to tell students to think of your future arts career as a meandering river not a highway.

On Inspiration 

I have many artistic muses and heroes, but I have always been a bit on my own course. Something inside me just cannot get on board with doing something because someone else is doing it and I am most happy when I follow wherever my intuition leads me. My artistic process is a blend of creating from observation and utilizing abstraction. 

Tree Symphony Inspiration • Courtesy of Jenny Hutchinson

I am inspired most by what it is in front of me. I choose subjects I find interesting and then once I have created the blueprint (initial drawing) then I move into abstraction. One choice (use of color, line, shape, or texture) inspires my next move. Therefore, I often compare my artistic process to alchemy. I create something from all these disparate elements and using intuition as my guide the materials combine to become something else.

I do not consider my work to be incredibly original when considering it in a macro context of the art world. I think being driven to do something no one has done before is a bit of a fallacy these days, everything truly has been done and it is also okay that it has because no one is you. My work is unique because I am comfortable with having the courage to do what my inner voice is saying I need to do. I feel my most successful works are my most honest works. 

Tree Symphony • Courtesy of Jenny Hutchinson

I tend to be drawn to plants, people, and landscape. All subjects provide a platform for me to transform them into something other. I do not usually have a vision of the final destination this transformation takes, but it unfolds as I make decisions about the design of the artwork. My work whether of a plant, person, or landscape tends to have bright colors and I often introduce linear abstraction or texture. Both embed the subject with a certain energy that I am drawn to exploring. It is a bit metaphysical - I do believe in the energy of things, and I think that is why it finds a way into my artwork. This energy I am portraying has no scientific or spiritual basis, it is very rooted in what is or what exists in that moment. 

On Motivation

My interest can wane depending on the task - of course creating something the first time is my favorite but there are many aspects of my work that need to be repetitive in order for it to evolve or for me to build something.

One of the things I have learned most from teaching is that you must put things down sometimes to move forward, or often sometimes the best thing you can do is start over. That can be so hard to do! Artists by nature are such deep thinkers and a bit obsessive, which is why we can work so long on things. I have learned to recognize when I am not feeling something, that is time to make a shift. I walk away from it for a bit or even just decide it is not working and start over, and I am always better for it.

I always say art is a process in which you learn a lot about yourself, your strengths, and the things you need to work on. That is why it can be so therapeutic.

Lilium • Courtesy of Jenny Hutchinson

On the Creative Process

I sketch out things, but only to work them to a finish. I do not doodle, I usually do not do thumbnail sketches, I create an under drawing or painting then work it to a finish. I did not start out that way, it was something I grew into as I became more specialized and skilled.

I create a finished drawing, then I either build upon the drawing adding color and other materials or I recreate it on another surface. The recreation is usually because I am changing the scale or material it will be created in. From the initial drawing things become completely transformed, I invent new colors, add layers, cut out pieces of the composition, add or collage pieces to the composition. I also tend to use materials that are hard to work with, like paper. Paper is not the most durable or useful material to work in a sculptural process. Oil paint is also not extremely versatile, but both are my favorite and I use them in ways that could potentially cause a work to be compromised so I have to be very careful so that the structure does not become compromised.

Above: Peony in process and complete • Images courtesy of Jenny Hutchinson

Some Advice for Artists…

Keep the work personal but once it is made, take the personal out of it or understand that your feelings about a work are yours and no one can take that away from you. Your work has value because it has value to you, others will develop their own relationship and opinions of your work no matter what you do. You can only control what you can control - what you can control is the relationship you have with your art so focus on that and let the rest happen. Be open, resilient, and constructive.

On Renovating a Barn into a Studio

We have been renovating the bottom floor of the barn on our property to become a woodshop and art studio with future plans to eventually move the art studio upstairs. What used to be one large area with horse stalls and no windows now has a large enclosed back room with windows (that will be the art studio) and the front room will be the woodshop and stairs to the eventual upstairs. The area that will first be the art studio I am hoping can become a future workshop space to host classes and/or serve as gallery space. We are on target to have my studio ready for winter but like all renovations it has certainly been full of surprises!

Barn and stable, before • Courtesy of Jenny Hutchinson

Barnwood doors and accent wall, mid-renovation

Jenny Hutchinson

Website / Facebook / Instagram

In the Studio: Ken Wheeler

We’re excited to kick off our In the Studio series with local artist Ken Wheeler! His Blue Plate Special series featuring paintings of local diners like Steve’s Place and New Way Lunch caught our eye, and we were thrilled to catch up with him to hear more about how he got started, his process, and his take on art as a business - read it all below!

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I grew up here in Queensbury where I graduated from Queensbury High school, class of 76. My wife Holly is from South Glens Falls. We married in 1980, the same year we started our sign business, K.D. Wheeler Custom Signs. We have operated our business out of a studio/workshop next to our home since 1985. We have two daughters, the oldest, an art teacher with the Queensbury High school and our youngest is a journalist who writes for Bloomberg Law.

In addition to my artistic pursuits, my wife and I have been buying foreclosed properties, about one every 5 years, and rehabbing them as rentals. I love restoring old houses. Model railroading is another of my creative passions, and I am currently the President of The Upstate Model Railroaders, Inc., located in South Glens Falls.

On Beginnings

I am a self taught artist / craftsman and graphic designer. My father, a land surveyor and cartographer also dabbled in drawing, so I would say he was my earliest and greatest influence. I began my interest in fine art about the same time I started making signs. I started painting in oil, however, with the birth of our first child, I switched to watercolor, due to the chemicals and smells associated with oil painting.

I took my first watercolor lessons from a local artist, George Hartwell, through a BOCES adult learning program. I became a member of LARAC and within a few years, I was serving as a board member. In the beginning, we marketed our signs through the LARAC June Arts Festival and within the first few years, I was also exibiting and selling my watercolors at the show as well. We were regular exhibitors at LARAC for over 20 years. I joined the Upper Hudson Valley Watercolor Society in the late 80’s were I served over ten years as their President. I am now an honorary life member.

I am a juried, signature member of the North East Watercolor Society, a member of the Glens Falls Elks Lodge 81.

In 2004 I recieved an individual artist grant through the NYS Arts initiative, facilitated by LARAC. My Blue Plate Special series was a result of that grant, and includes 10 paintings of diners in and around the community. The goal was to draw attention to the cultural significance of these icons of Americana, while we continue to see their slow decline as they succumb to the large chain coffee houses and eateries.

On Inspiration

My watercolors have been for the most part, landscapes and antiquities of the surrounding area. However, I am beginning to work in pastels and I am hoping to build my skills as a painter of life (figures), and hopefully portraits. I love the work of Winslow Homer for both his watercolors and his oils and I love the loose style of John Singer Sergant. I am inspired by so many of the professional and emerging pastel artists who can be found on the internet today.

On the Creative Process

I do work from photographs, but I prefer to work from photos I take. I also work from life and sketch on location when time allows. I almost always do a value sketch prior to starting a painting. I think, like a lot of artists, I suffer from insecurity and anxiety with every piece I do. Each work is not only a learning experience for me, but also a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. Working through the lows on each piece is the most difficult and some pieces stay on the easel for weeks before I get back to them, some get filed away and have been known to resurface years later. I try very hard to find something I feel is a success about every painting or drawing I do. I never throw anything out.

On Art as a Business

I am not currently involved with exhibiting. I do try to enter one show each year through the North East Watercolor Society, but for the most part, I am working on re-developing my style and want to build new body of work before venturing back out. When I do, it will most likely be through the internet, where I have a website and domain as kenwheelerstudio.com where I sell originals and prints as well as a greeting card line . I think social media is the new marketplace for art and I feel it is important to build a brand. I plan to launch a new version of my website in the coming months where I hope to engage visitors with the process of creating art, which I hope will inspire them to visit often and hopfully purchase works they follow.

Ken Wheeler Studios
Website

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This story was made possible by Doc’s Restaurant and The Park Theater.

Have you been back to Doc's yet to try out their new summer menu? Between the great food, the ambiance of the gorgeous patio (complete with summer blooms, string lights overhead, and friendly serice!), it’s the perfect summer night out. Too hot or rainclouds in the sky? The classic charm of the main restaurant inside the Park Theater never disappoints. Staying in? Take-out is available too! Book your table for this coming weekend here - Doc’s orders ;) 

Thanks for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!

En Plein Air: Joy in the Little Moments

High above the streets of New York City, artist John Sloan (1871–1951) watched as newcomers to the city snuck a few minutes of escape from the cramped, hot quarters of tenement buildings. From afar, the artist watched women hang freshly scrubbed laundry, men train pigeons, groups gossip, and families sleep in the open air.

Each moment Sloan captures in From the Rooftops: John Sloan and the Art of a New Urban Space, an exhibition at The Hyde Collection that runs through September 15, could have passed unnoticed, just another bit of everyday beauty overlooked.

In this gorgeous region — where the mountains and lakes inspired the likes of Winslow Homer, Asher Durand, and Georgia O’Keeffe, and the people were fodder for Norman Rockwell and Seneca Ray Stoddard — we too often take for granted the beauty around us.

From August 7 to 11, The Hyde Collection celebrates the grandeur of Glens Falls and its surrounding communities with its second Plein Air Festival. Artists from throughout the northeast applied to participate in the four-day festival; seventeen were accepted.

Beginning Thursday, August 8, talented plein air painters will hit the streets, hills, and riverbanks to capture the incredible scenery we drive by every day without taking notice. Prizes, determined by guest juror and accomplished plein air artist George Van Hook, will be awarded in categories that include Nocturne, Best in Show, Water, and Structure.

Last year’s festival resulted in paintings of scenes so pretty, we can’t help but notice them, like the still water of Crandall Pond reflecting a picturesque pedestrian bridge in Kate Edwards’ Crandall Park (outdoor still life category winner) or Tom Ryan’s Evening Entertainment at Davidson’s (nocturne category winner) capturing the beauty of Hometown USA’s bustling downtown just after dusk. But we also saw, perhaps for the first time, how stunning the mill looks, steam melding into the clouds at day’s first light in Eden Compton’s Morning at the River (waterways category winner), or the serenity to be found on train tracks winding along a wood, with silos in the distance in Elissa Gore’s Tracks (historic buildings category winner).

John Sloan and his contemporaries in the Ashcan School of art chronicled life of the poor in New York City, but their images still portray a sense of living in the moment and not letting the ugliness of the world dampen the joy that can be found in all the little moments that make up a life.

Seeing the world — especially our idyllic little corner of it — through an artist’s eyes reminds us to appreciate the sunset, to stop and look at the roofline of that old building, to bask in the sheer beauty of the people and places around us.

Certainly, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found right here in Glens Falls.

Rhonda Triller is the Director of Communications at The Hyde Collection, a historic house and fine art museum at 161 Warren St., Glens Falls.

The Hyde Collection’s Plein Air Festival will be held August 7 to 11 throughout Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Queensbury, South Glens Falls, and Lake George. Each artist will display four works of art created during the Plein Air Festival at Community Day, from noon to 5 pm Sunday, August 11, at The Hyde. Get all the info about this free day of activities here.

Shows to See in August

The August arts calendar in Glens Falls is chock full of fun! So many reasons to make a plan to go downtown! Restaurant patios are filled with yummy food, live music, happy diners and great energy. After a bite to eat, there are oodles of options for entertainment just a stroll away. So get out and enjoy all that is wonderful about living in and visiting Glens Falls this summer!

August 5-9 •  Beau • Adirondack Theater Festival • The Wood Theater

Another spectacular summer of original theater concludes with the musical Beau. Eight actor-musicians tell the story of Ace Baker, who spends the first decade of his life fatherless. At 12 years old, a phone call reveals that his grandfather, Beau, has been alive all his life…and his mother knew. Family secrets unravel as Ace rushes to make up for lost time with a man who changes his life and puts a guitar in his hand. I can’t resist a musical!! Get your tickets here.

August 11 • Community Day • Plein Air Festival • The Hyde Museum

Every year, The Hyde Collection offers a free day of art, fun, and inspiration to thank the community for its support and to introduce newcomers to the Museum. Purchase artwork of local scenes painted by plein air artists during that week, enjoy live music, food, museum tours and a great day celebrating great art! Here are all the details.

August 11 • Mipso • Cafe Lena 

I have been a fan of Mipso since I first saw them play when they were students at UNC Chapel Hill. They frequented the coffee shop I managed in North Carolina and I have enjoyed their Appalachian Americana folk sound ever since.  I saw them the last time they came to Cafe Lena and it’s the perfect intimate venue to really enjoy their 4-part harmony.   Grab the info here!

August 24 • Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience • The Park Theater

I asked music lover and avid theater goer Kathy Clarke what was on her calendar this month and this was one of her picks. Kathy’s looking forward to hearing a style of music she’s not had a lot of exposure to. Grammy award winning artist Terrance Simien will transform the Park Theater into a Zydeco club and Mardis Gras party.  A fun way to celebrate the end of summer! Here are the details!

A few more of Kathy Clarke’s picks:  

The Man in Black, a Johnny Cash tribute on Aug. 23 and Footloose - Broadway Upstate’s youth production (always great shows) from Aug. 15 - 18 … both at The Wood Theater!

Grandma’s Table • August 18: A family style, al fresco dinner in front of The Queensbury Hotel with fresh, locally grown ingredients. A wonderful afternoon of food and fellowship to benefit LARAC, the farmer’s market and the GF Collaborative.

Susan Siplon is a singer, actor, artist and arts enthusiast who has been both on the stage and behind the scenes as a producer, festival director and venue manager. Susan recently moved to Glens Falls after living all over the country and in Fiji and New Zealand and has found the arts scene in this area to be one of the most vibrant and easily accessible that she has ever experienced.

Road Trip: Open Studios Tour

Have you ever been on the Open Studios Tour in Washington County? It’s coming up July 19 - 21, and after the little sneak peek we had this past week, we couldn’t be more excited to venture out on the full tour. Cruising the back roads of the county past beautiful old farmhouses and barns, exploring historic and charming towns, and meeting the most creative, talented, and kind artists - each in their own studio - is an ideal day in our book. Read on for just a small sampling of what you can expect on the self-guided tour, and plan to experience it for yourself in just a couple of short weeks!

The Artists

The Tour features 15 artists who work across a variety of mediums - painting, clay, sculpture, photography, and more! Below are just a few of the artists who will be featured on the tour, and you can find the full details here.

Gyula Varosy | Greenwich: We were delighted to meet Gyula and his wife Hannie (and their dogs!) at their studio - a restored barn in Greenwich. Trained as an architect, Gyula found himself pursuing art alongside his work in New York City, and moved north with his family in order to focus further on his art. He noted his inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, but the focus is ultimately on form. Pulling from his background in architecture, his sculpture is a constructive and additive process. And, he joked, much like life - the process is not predictable or linear, and comes with many changes along the way. Don’t leave without taking a stroll on the trail around their property and enjoying the barn, the woods, and the stream!

Jacob Houston | Greenwich: Having just missed Jacob’s show at The Hyde recently, we were doubly thrilled to meet him at his home to view his gorgeous acrylic paintings on display there. Jacob’s paintings are almost like a dream, with vivid colors and intricate details, and we found our eyes being pulled into each corner of the painting to discover more of the story within. His paintings take anywhere from 1.5 months to about 5 months (!) depending on the size, and with that time commitment, it was easy to understand why he has a few favorite originals that he just can’t part with (but you can buy prints here!). We were immediately drawn to the painting of Nubble Light (where Tom proposed!), and loved the whimsical and fun take on such an iconic landmark.

Rebecca Sparks | Shushan: With her studio steps from the Battenkill River (and her beautiful gardens!), it wasn’t hard to see where Rebecca gets her inspiration from. In fact, it was the crows getting together for their morning “coffee chats” on her lawn that inspired her to start creating her ceramic birds (which by the way, start as an “egg” of clay - how fitting!). She’s been working with clay for over 20 years, and it was fun to see the evolution of her creations in her studio - from the slip casting molds to the finished birds, and from the carving to the patterns on her tableware (especially loved her blue glazes!).

Leslie Peck | Greenwich: We’ve long admired Leslie’s gorgeous paintings of the farm animals of Washington County (those cows!), and we were excited to finally see them in person, along with her new series featuring taxidermy subjects. Like many other artists along the tour, Leslie has made her studio in a converted barn behind their home in the village of Greenwich - an area which provides an endless amount of inspiration in the way of farms, barns, and animals. We loved the bold colors in her paintings, along with the life and personality in her subjects. Yes, she does commissions, and we both left knowing we’d love to have her to paint our dogs some day.

Clarence King | Cambridge: As admirers of landscape paintings, we were instant fans of Clarence’s work. We were also instant fans of his 1700’s colonial that he and his wife are restoring room-by-room, but that’s a story for a different day :) Rather than working as a plein air painter, Clarence works from a drawing done on site, along with a photo, and adds paint back in studio - up to 4 thin coats - which helps to give his paintings that vibrance and luminosity that is so striking. The beautiful views and changing seasons of Washington County provide him inspiration, and we love the contrast in colors between his summer landscapes lush with green to the crisp whites of his winter scenes.

Where to Eat + Drink

It wouldn’t be a road trip without stopping for a bite to eat along the way. Even if half of our stops were just for cookies ;) Here’s a few of the many great places to grab a snack or sip…

Greenwich Village Cafe + Bakery | Greenwich: Tucked just off Main Street, we popped into the adorable Village Cafe to grab a few cookies (so good!) as a quick snack. They’ve got the perfect patio to enjoy breakfast or lunch (or cookies!) outside, but we opted to take ours to go as we were eager to get to our next stop. Can’t wait to visit here again to try their breakfast!

Round House Bakery Cafe | Cambridge: Always a favorite stop in Cambridge, this was the perfect spot to grab lunch between artist visits. Reminiscent of an old general store, we love the ambience inside and always gravitate toward the counter to enjoy our sandwiches (our go-to: the Mediterranean). And don’t leave without a cookie - or two! We love the Ginger Spice, and you can never go wrong with their traditional chocolate chip.

Argyle Brewing Co. | Cambridge: Our first time here (and definitely not our last!). We couldn’t get over the uniqueness of the space (an old train depot!), and it was fun to imagine it bustling back in the day - and to see it bustling again as a tasting room! Tom was a big fan of the Hop to It IPA (which came highly recommended from a gentleman at the bar who proclaimed himself the president of the Hop to It fan club! :), and as a big cider fan, I was thrilled to see a couple of local options - Slyboro and Saratoga Apple. The perfect stop for a cold beverage on a hot day.

Gardenworks Cheese + Cafe | Salem: Another favorite of ours, we find our way out to Gardenworks whenever we can - especially in the summer for their Cheese + Cafe! Situated amongst the flowers in front of their gorgeous barn, this was the ideal spot to end the day. We opted for a panini and a slice of quiche (both amazing!), and went with local favorites to sip on - a can of beer from R.S. Taylor and a glass of wine from Victory View Vineyard. Don’t leave before perusing the shop, taking a peek in the barn gallery, and picking some blueberries (they should be ready next week!).

See you on the Tour! Grab all of the details on artists and locations here.

P.S. We just heard about an amazing Farm to Table dinner happening at Lakota’s Farm in Cambridge on Friday, July 19th! Gorgeous setting, local craft beer and cider, and a delicious menu - grab your tickets here before they sell out!

*This post was in partnership with our friends at Washington County NY Tourism. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to share some of our favorite places in the county with you. Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living.

Five Shows to See in July

July is the time when Glens Falls truly earns its distinction as “Hometown USA”! With the Glens Falls Symphony and fireworks at Crandall Park on the 3rd, ATF shows at The Wood, Monday night Glens Falls City Band in the City Park gazebo, Wednesday Take a Bite downtown, Thursday night music and food trucks at The Shirt Factory, and Friday night movies in City Park, the city comes to life! As it gets hotter out, it will be a nice relief to step inside to cool off! Here are some of my picks to put on your calendar this month.

July 7 • Charles Cornell Album Release Party • The Strand, Hudson Falls

Charles Cornell is an internet sensation for his really fun short musical parodies and he’s a great jazz-fusion pianist. It will be very fun to see him at The Strand! Grab your tickets here.

July 9 • “Section 130” Book Reading • Katrinka Mannelly • Crandall Public Library

Just thrilled to support my sister-in-law (Jim’s sister) as she travels around the country from Tacoma, WA with her book of short stories about Bigfoot, faeries, demons, sirens and other supernatural beings. I’m loving this book and I know her reading will be magical! Here are the details!

July 11 - August 31 • Hound of the Baskervilles • Lake George Dinner Theatre

Looking forward to seeing this play and enjoying dinner at the same time! I remember reading the book in high school and just loving the Sherlock Holmes story (luckily I forget how it ends). The Lake George Dinner Theatre is “the most intimate dinner theatre in America” and has been putting on shows for nearly 50 years - I can’t wait to go check it out! Find out more info here.

July 22 • Glens Falls Music Academy Drum Corps • East Field

I’ll admit I’m not a big football fan, but I have always loved halftime with the marching bands and drum corps! Here’s a way to see some of the best drum corps in the country (without having to sit through a football game). I’ll be at East Field in Glens Falls to enjoy “Marching Music’s Major League”, a unique and exciting opportunity! Get the details here.

 July 26 and 27 • GEM Fest • Downtown Glens Falls

Glens Falls Entertainment & Music Festival (GEM Fest) keeps getting bigger and better every year! This year it’s now two days and Glen Street in downtown will be closed off for part of the event. Bands from throughout the region perform in downtown venues, gallery spaces feature work from local artists, The Park Theater hosts Short Stuff production, live comedy and a Film Festival, GEMbouree for kids is in City Park and the streets come alive with art and music. This is going to be a very fun weekend! Here are all the details!

Susan Siplon is a singer, actor, artist and arts enthusiast who has been both on the stage and behind the scenes as a producer, festival director and venue manager. Susan recently moved to Glens Falls after living all over the country and in Fiji and New Zealand and has found the arts scene in this area to be one of the most vibrant and easily accessible that she has ever experienced.

Five Shows to See in June

Summertime and the livin’ is easy...with lots of choices of events in and around Glens Falls! I’ll make it a little easier for you to decide what to do by sharing a few of my favorite picks.

June 5 • Charlie Chaplin Silent Shorts with Live Piano Accompaniment • The Park Theater  

The Park Theater started showing silent movies in the early 1900s, when they were the only movie theater in upstate New York! I love the idea of seeing these Chaplin shorts as they would have been shown originally with a live pianist. And kids only pay 5 cents! Purchase tickets here.

June 14 - 22 • Calling All Kates • Adirondack Theater Festival • The Wood Theater

The first show of the ATF season is a romantic musical comedy and it is the start to a season of original shows that I look forward to all year! We are so fortunate to have some of the best actors, writers and directors right here in Glens Falls all summer long! See the schedule here.

June 15 - 16 • Larac June Arts Festival • Glens Falls

City Park in Downtown Glens Falls comes alive with tents (about 150 of them) filled with crafts, art, jewelry, and delicious food. It is such a fun atmosphere with local musicians performing on stages that are dotted throughout the festival. The perfect old fashioned hometown event that is yet another reason why I love living in walking distance to downtown! Find all the details here.

June 19 • Opera Saratoga Season Preview • The Sembrich

Last year I went to The Sembrich for the first time for the Opera Saratoga season preview. I was overwhelmed with joy listening to these spectacular voices a few feet away from me in this intimate and historic space, all while watching the sun set on Lake George. I can’t recommend it enough - even if you aren’t an opera fan - you will be after this! See all the details here.                   

July 2 • Barefoot Movement • Bolton Landing Brewing Company

In case you missed one of my favorite North Carolina bluegrass bands when they played at The Park in April, here is another chance to see them! Just some fun and fabulous music! And craft beer!! Find out more here.

Susan Siplon is a singer, actor, artist and arts enthusiast who has been both on the stage and behind the scenes as a producer, festival director and venue manager. Susan recently moved to Glens Falls after living all over the country and in Fiji and New Zealand and has found the arts scene in this area to be one of the most vibrant and easily accessible that she has ever experienced. 

Hometown Talent: Charles Cornell Goes Viral

Today we’re catching up with our pal Charles Cornell! If his name rings a bell, it’s because you and approximately 20 million others have seen one of his videos on social media over the last couple of weeks!

Originally from our area and now living in Denver, Charles is a talented videographer whom we shot this video in Washington County. Shortly thereafter, Charles invited us to check out his band at The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls. Long story short, after he and his band blew the doors off the place we knew there was something special going on.

Like the great explorers who came before us, Charles and the gang packed up and headed west to Denver, Colorado looking to expand horizons and share their talents with more of the world. Apparently, there’s something in the water in Denver. Somewhere between here and there, Charles sat down in his new apartment, plugged in his video camera, flipped on his mic, fired up his keyboard, and proceeded to put a dent in the universe with some of the most uniquely entertaining, hilarious, and talent-filled content the interweb has ever seen. And it seems like he’s just getting started.

To sum it up, spanning almost every social media plattform, Charles has officially gone viral. In about two weeks (!!) and as of the writing of this story, he’s somewhere around 207k followers on TikTok, 108k followers on Instagram, 10k on Facebook, 10k on Twitter, and somewhere around 8k subscribers on his YouTube channel. So by my math, that’s around 340k followers / subscribers. Yea, that’s fun, but it’s the approximately 20 million views of his videos that is the mind boggling part.

We were fortunate to catch Charles in between writing, singing, playing and recording his next piece to get some questions and curiosities answered. Let’s get right to it….

Photo courtesy of Charles Cornell

First, tell us about your ties to the area… where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in Hartford, NY, just east of Glens Falls in Washington County. I went to Hartford Central School from pre-school through graduation. My family has been in the greater Glens Falls area for generations!

It’s clear you’ve been doing this a while… Tell us about your musical origins! Why the piano? How’d that happen? 

I don’t remember this, but my Mom always talked about how when I was 3 or 4 years old, she heard me playing the Doxology from church by ear on an old piano outside on our porch. I don’t know if that’s a proud Mom beefing up the real story or if it actually happened that way. Either way, it sounds cool, so we’ll go with it. I didn’t start studying the piano formally until I was about 8 years old. I had the best first teacher any kid could possibly want - Grandma. My grandmother, Carol Cornell, is still the organist at the First Baptist Church in Hartford and has long been involved in many things throughout the Glens Falls area, including being a lifetime member of the Glens Falls Community Theater! I studied with her for a while before transitioning between a few different teachers throughout my elementary school years. Eventually, thanks once again to my grandmother, who made the initial contact, I was fortunate enough to study with Albany area jazz piano legend Lee Shaw. My relationship with Lee would continue for 5 years between 8th grade and when I left for college. She was absolutely key in my development as a musician and I owe her a tremendous amount of gratitude for the guidance she gave me before her passing in late 2015.

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I have so much respect for @johnmayer as a musician. I hope you enjoy this reimagined version of "New Light"! We'll be back to our regularly scheduled meme posting shortly. . . . . . . . #johnmayer #newlight #reharm #reharmonization #musicians #music #musicvideo #musicvideos #producers #musician #piano🎹 #pianogram #piano #pianocovers #cover

A post shared by Charles Cornell (@charlescornellstudios) on May 13, 2019 at 9:51am PDT

Do you play any other instruments? One you wish you could play? 

I’m fairly proficient at the drums, trumpet, alto saxophone and baritone, though I’d probably hesitate to try playing any of them professionally! I play an extremely limited amount of guitar, and that’s something I’d like to be better at. 

Favorite music genre? How long have you been writing your own music? Singing? Performing? 

Younger me would have unequivocally said jazz. I still favor music based in and around jazz, but I’ve learned over time that I have a wide variety of interests and I’m influenced by everything from classical and jazz to progressive metal and hip hop. I love good music. Regardless of complexity and regardless of genre. Music is meant to make us feel something and to move us. I don’t care what genre it is, good music will do that. I’ve been writing music since I was 12 years old. Singing since probably 8. I played my first “paid gig” at the old Country Meadows golf course restaurant when I was 11 years old. The restaurant is still there! Jeremy Treadway runs it as part of his ADK MX motocross facility. Haven’t played there since, though.

What gave you the inspiration to meld your musical and videography talents into the content that has resonated with so many?

I wish it was more of a light switch moment, but it really all happened when I pulled up an article curating some of the most hilarious Trump tweets. I was sitting in my car in a parking lot and I just started thinking about what the tweets would sound like if they were song lyrics. I started singing one in my head and I couldn’t stop laughing at how dumb it was. I just thought it would be fun to try! So I went home and made a few and found myself still laughing, so I posted them. Eventually, I found a video that I thought was pretty funny and I had remembered seeing videos from years ago where people would transcribe the notes of speech and play along to them. Those videos were always utterly hysterical, so I decided to give it a shot myself! Eventually, I made the Cardi B video when my girlfriend showed me some of her Instagram rants, which are pure gold. That one caught on and the rest is history!

What’s your best guess as to why your content has gone insanely viral? 

There’s something about hearing speech turned into music that’s just funny. Possibly because nobody ever meant for it to be turned into song. So when you do it, the music tends to jump around a lot in order to keep up. If, on top of that, it’s well executed and musically interesting, something about the wow factor plus the ridiculousness of it all just makes us laugh. In regards to the tweet songs, I just think it’s hilarious to put funny or hilariously-worded content into a seriously written tune. Even when I’m highlighting somebody like Donald Trump, I like to think that anybody can laugh at the tunes, no matter what side of the aisle you consider yourself on. Whether you love him or hate him for it, I think we can all agree that many of the tweets he has published over the years are just plain funny. I certainly aim to use music and comedy to bring people together rather than start arguments and further divide people. Thankfully, the feedback on those videos has been incredible and I’ve had people from all walks of life and all different viewpoints say how much fun they are.  

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I present to you, for your listening pleasure, the all-time classic standard...Covfefe. . . . . . . . #trump #jazz #trumpmemes #donaldtrumpmemes #meme #memes #memesdaily #musicians #musicvideo #musicvideos #music #jazzmusic #franksinatra #dankmemes #comedy #shitpost

A post shared by Charles Cornell (@charlescornellstudios) on May 16, 2019 at 9:25am PDT

It’s a bit tricky to put into words how to describe your content - so I’ll leave it to you! Tell us about how you would best describe your content… 

I think my Instagram bio is pretty conclusive. I make questionably performed songs out of tweets and videos. In short, it’s all complete nonsense and a ton of fun. 

What would you like folks to know most about your work? 

I want to make people laugh while also giving them music at a level they might be inspired by. There’s so much negativity in the press and in the world. I just want to give people something during their day that gives them a break from all of that. The world needs more positivity and fun. These videos are meant to be complete nonsense while at the same time, hopefully musically impressive. If that combination gives people a boost in positivity throughout their day, then I see that as a win.

If you could hang with any current musician, entertainer, band who would it be? Why? What would you want to play and what would you ask them? 

That’s a great question and one that I don’t think I could answer definitively. There are so many musicians in jazz who are far better at playing their instrument than I am. I could learn a ton from anyone on that list. I would love to hang with Jacob Collier. Playing some two piano duet stuff would be crazy fun with him. I’d probably ask him a bunch of super technical questions about polyrhythmic grooves and atonal harmony.  

Same question - you’re a time traveller - which one from yesteryear? 

I’d want to hear about the times that laid the groundwork for jazz and the music that would evolve from it. From Miles to Coltrane to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. I would want to learn about what it was like to play this music when it was at its peak of popularity and when bands were actually bands and traveled the country playing 6 nights a week 50 weeks out of the year. So many incredible legacies were born in that era and I’d simply want to know what that was like. 

We know you’re good… but you’ve also got an amazing band… What’s next for the band? 

I would be nothing and nowhere without the guys I’ve spent the most time playing with. Matt Niedbalski and Steve Kirsty have been my drummer and bass player respectively for about 10 years now. They’re my brothers in music and two of my best friends in the entire world. When you play with the same people for so long, you develop a musical relationship on the bandstand that functions almost like telepathy. We just know each others’ tendencies and can predict what we’re going to do as a unit. For the upcoming album, we had Nate Giroux join us on tenor saxophone. Nate is incredible and fits right into the group like he’s been there the whole time. We’re all great friends and we all have a tremendous amount of respect for each other as musicians. That goes a long way when you’re trying to make the best music possible. In terms of what’s next, I honestly have no idea. This new audience I’ve stumbled across is so new to me and I’ve never experienced anything like it before. I hope that it will bring us opportunities to play as a group in exciting places all over the world and that we’ll continue to develop our language together on the bandstand. 

What’s next for you? 

Again, I honestly have no idea. This is totally uncharted territory for me and I’m just grateful to have so many people interested in what I’m doing. I can’t thank my audience enough for the attention they’ve given me and for the enjoyment they’ve gotten from my content. I hope I can continue to make people laugh and give them something positive each day. 

And we have to ask, when you come home to visit, what’s a perfect Glens Falls area day? 

If it’s summer and my parents don’t need any help doing hay on the farm, I’ll be mountain biking at Gurney Lane, hitting Dirty John’s for some hot dogs or Mikado for some sushi, and then completing an extremely questionable diet day with a milkshake from Rob and Deb’s. In the winter, you’ll find me on skis. Anywhere in the area. I love night skiing at West, or spending a day at Gore or Killington. Even though I live in Colorado now and I absolutely love it, Glens Falls and the surrounding area is and always will be home.

Thanks, Charles! We can’t wait to see what’s next for you!

P.S. Read more about your Glens Falls neighbors here!

Five Shows to See in May

While spring is trying to find its way to Glens Falls, and leaves and buds are peeking out to see if it is safe, we have many reasons to come out of our homes to blossom. By listening to live music! Oh joy! There are so many choices in this area and I encourage you to add one or all of my recommendations to your calendar this month.

May 5 • Glens Falls Symphony • Glens Falls High School

It is amazing to have a world class symphony in our little city of Glens Falls. Truly something to celebrate and support. The Glens Falls Symphony season finale concert: Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Beethoven's spectacular Ninth Symphony will be performed with a chorus of around 180 voices from local choral groups, including Adirondack Voices and Queensbury High School Madrigals and Concert Choir. There are still tickets (get yours here!) but it looks like they are going fast! It will be a true ode to joy!!

May 5 - Albany Pro Musica - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

I would be attending the Glens Falls Symphony concert if I wasn’t singing on the same day with Albany Pro Musica! By far the best chorus I’ve ever sung with - we’ll be singing Mozart’s Mass in C Minor and a new commissioned work by APM Composer-in-Residence Ola Gjeilo. Two great options to choose from in one afternoon! Find more information here!

May 9 • Ustad Shafaat Khan • Crandall Public Library

Every Thursday I look forward to heading over to the library after dinner and popping in for the FREE concert series. I am amazed by the quality of the curation and how easy and accessible it is to attend. I have had a good amount of exposure listening to Indian music live - I lived in Fiji for a number of years where there is a large Indian population and sat for hours on a hard wooden bench during a wedding or puja and first heard the sounds of the sitar and tabla. I am looking forward to reliving some of these fond memories in the comfort of the library space listening to a world-renowned Indian classical musician, Ustad Shafaat Khan. I support world music performances in Glens Falls whenever I am able to as I value diversity and want to encourage more opportunities to open eyes and ears to the world. Music is a comfortable bridge that unites.

Ustad Shafaat Khan has performed all over the world and recently performed with Stevie Wonder at the world famous Bonnaroo Festival. And he’ll be right here in Glens Falls in the Crandall Public Library! Get the details here.

May 11 • Hui Cox and Laura Roth • Caffe Lena

When I first met Hui and Laura at Spector over a cup of coffee a few years ago, I understood why they were viewed as “celebrities” in Glens Falls. They are both so passionate about music and working together and they are fun and fabulous people! One of the highlights of my time at The Park Theater was having them perform there monthly. They put on a spectacular show and drew a loyal following. Laura has got a “show-stopper” voice and personality and Hui backs her with finesse on guitar. They will be celebrating the release of their new CD together “Karma Bound” at Caffe Lena and it will be a great night! Find all the details here.

May 17 • Traveler’s Tales • Hyde House

The Hyde Museum is one of my favorite spots to spend a rainy afternoon in Glens Falls. You can find me there a lot lately! I am excited to see it come to life theatrically as guests are lead through the museum and presented with tales of artwork from the perspective of guest characters. Art in the Public Eye is doing a fabulous job creating unique and enjoyable art opportunities for us to attend in Glens Falls! I’ll be at this one! More information here!

Susan Siplon is a singer, actor, artist and arts enthusiast who has been both on the stage and behind the scenes as a producer, festival director and venue manager. Susan recently moved to Glens Falls after living all over the country and in Fiji and New Zealand and has found the arts scene in this area to be one of the most vibrant and easily accessible that she has ever experienced.