Saturday, July 11, 2009

Things to Do in Glens Falls, Summer 2009


The Hyde Collection is now offering the exclusive exhibition, "Degas & Music" featuring works from its own, national and international collections (such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Musee d'Orsay, Art Institute of Chicago and the Detroit Institute of Arts).

I spoke with David Setford, Executive Director of the Hyde and the curators (and Degas experts) Jill DeVonyan and Richard Kendall. David brought me around the exhibit showing the themes through the lens of music in the different exhibit rooms. One thing to say about the exhibit is it is overwhelming, shortly after leaving I felt almost drunk! David pointed out the subject of one piece, Rose Caron, was a famous singer. In another he showed how the meticulous Degas was using brushstrokes in such a way as to even suggest musical notes.

I asked David, how does one know precisely what pieces have inspired these paintings, particularly when Degas has been more traditionally associated with themes of dancing, light and motion. David said, I know just the people you should ask that question.

To say I felt daunted before Degas experts Jill DeVonyan and Richard Kendall is an understatement. I feel it pretentious to say that I am a blogger. It is more honest to say that I assemble a modest calendar of things for a very small, specific area only for my curiosity's sake. But still I said I was a blogger. Richard asked how one sells that and I admitted I do not know.

So I then proceeded to ask my one question, how was specific music for these pieces researched? It seems an easy answer is in Degas' own journals and letters (these are a very nice indication of specific works he admired), but still more connections were discovered by some interesting investigations. For instance, there was a record in the 1890s of an outdoor music event that Degas organized. There is a painting from Smith College (Dancer on the Stage) that was connected to a specific Gaetano Danizetti opera because of specific details in the costuming portrayed in the costuming (even her pillbox hat is a clue!).

Jill says Degas seemed particularly partial to Mozart with 9 or 10 pastels from the opera "Don Giovanni" alone. There are many records of Degas at the opera because when he became a subscriber to the opera, the company kept records of subscribers coming to the green room backstage. Degas would come there 3-4 times a week. He saw one particular opera (a four hour-long opera) 37 times over 7 years.

But Degas' love of music was not confined to operas or to the musical soirees of higher society. Much like how his output evolved over many styles over many media (from renaissance copies of oil at the Louvre, to charcoal, to print-making, to heliotypes, to sculpture, to pastels, etc.), so his input from music would range to the more popular, to the cabaret's love songs, political songs and gutter music. Richard likened Degas less to the conservative artists of tradition and more to the multi-media Andy Warhol. Richard says Degas was the edgiest artist around. That edginess provides the energy to leave this exhibit weak in the knees feeling a little bit drunk. This exhibit is something I will drink again soon.

Thank you to Chris Hogan-Kilburn who encouraged me to step out beyond the events calendar and take a more active role in describing this amazing exhibit, as well as provided me access to these amazing and talented curators and director.





Crandall Public Library

Fall Film Program

Tuesday, September 1, 6:30 pm
Love Conquers Paul Set in Glens Falls, this is the story of Paul, a twenty-something recluse with a secret. He retreats behind the lens of his camera, researching the women of his dreams and using his findings for a series of staged encounters. He learns all about these women -- their likes, their dislikes, what makes them tick -- and for a fleeting moment, he is everything they've every wanted in a man. Unfortunately, the façade inevitably wears thin, and he is conquered by his lack of self-confidence. He can never take these encounters to "phase two." A genuine chance encounter with a free-spirited artist named Esoterica provides the spark that ignites his first passionate relationship. She changes the way he looks at love and life and introduces him to the person he could be, inspiring a new confidence. But just as soon as their fairy-tale romance begins to sizzle, Paul discovers that Esoterica has a secret of her own....

Tuesday, September 8, 6:30 pm
Film TBA

Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 pm
Film TBA

Tuesday, September 22, 6:30 pm
Film TBA

Tuesday, September 29, 6:30 pm
Film TBA

Library Events

Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 pm
Jon Katz Reading and discussion with favorite local farmer/author/photographer Jon Katz. His new book is Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm. Will be held in the Community Room (downstairs) of Crandall Library.

Wednesday, September 9, 7:00 pm
Happy Traum--2009 Music Series Happy Traum began playing guitar and 5-string banjo as a teenager, and was an important participant in the legendary Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1950's and 1960's. His avid interest in traditional and contemporary music has brought him recognition as a performer, writer, editor, session musician, folklorist, teacher, and recording artist. Free. Community Room. Funded by the Friends of Crandall Public Library.

Thursday, September 17, 7:00 pm
Rick Bolton and the Dwyer Sisters--2009 Music Series After more than a decade together, Rick Bolton and the Dwyer Sisters are about as close to "fine" as you're likely to find. Their concert will include a mix of rock, folk, blues and original tunes. Free. Community Room. Funded by the Friends of Crandall Public Library.

Wednesday, September 23, 7:00 pm
Big Spike--2009 Music Series Big Spike plays Bluegrass the right way. With a good-natured sense of humor, they evoke the "golden age" of bluegrass. The band plays hard-driving traditional bluegrass music with an emphasis on 3 and 4 part harmonies, twin fiddles, and solid original music. Free. Community Room. Funded by the Friends of Crandall Public Library.

Friday, October 16, 7:00 p.m.
Richard Russo & Joe Donahue Acclaimed author Richard Russo will be interviewed by WAMC's Roundtable anchor Joe Donahue. Russo will read from his new novel: That Old Cape Magic. Signing, and reception to follow. Will be held in the Community Room (downstairs) of the Crandall Library.

Charles R. Wood Events


Tuesday, August 18
Wednesday, August 19
Woodfest: JOHN STEINBECK'S "OF MICE AND MEN" Under the direction of John Ruggiero. Painted Pony Ranch Productions. Info: 696-5353

Thursday, August 20
Friday, August 21
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb Jimmy Webb, the only artist to ever receive Grammy awards for music, lyrics and orchestration and has written landmark songs such as "Didn't We," "Worst That Could Happen," All I Know" and "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress" that have been recorded by major recording artists from Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand to Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt and R.E.M will appear at the Charles Wood Theater at 207 Glen St Glens Falls, NY on August 20 and 21, 2009 @ 8:00 pm. All tickets are $30.00.
Accompanying himself of piano, Webb will perform and tell the stories behind his greatest hits such as "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," and "MacArthur Park." He will also introduce lesser known gems from his vast career as one of America's greatest songwriters.
Jimmy Webb is a member of the NAPM Songwriter's Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame, and he is the 2003 recipient of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award. The National Academy of Songwriters gave Jimmy their Lifetime Achievement Award and "By The Time I Get to Phoenix" has been the 3rd most performed song in the last 50 years. Frank Sinatra, Glenn Campbell, Joan Baez, Art Garfunkel, The Righteous Brothers and Judy Collins are just a few who have recorded his music. Frank Sinatra declared "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" as "the greatest torch song ever written," and said he enjoyed singing Jimmy Webb tunes because "he has been blessed with the emotions and artistic talent of the great lyricists."
As a performer, Webb has released several solo albums including his 1993 album, Suspending Disbelief - produced by Linda Ronstadt and George Massenburg - which received enormous critical acclaim, and led New York Times critic Stephen Holden to state that this album, "may very well be the songwriter's perfect moment." Ten Easy Pieces is a collection of the songwriter's hits as he performs them the way they were originally written. In 2007 Webb released his first live CD, Live and At Large, and is currently working on an album with his sons, "The Webb Brothers," as well as beginning preparation for a new solo effort.
Webb has also added his inimitable genius to a number of film and television projects beginning in 1968 with the title song "Montage" for the James Garner-Debbie Reynolds comedy, How Sweet It Is! followed by a dazzling score for the highly successful animated film The Last Unicorn. Webb also collaborated with Alan Silvestri for Twentieth Century's 1992 release, Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest, recorded by Sheena Easton. For information and tickets call the Wood Theater 518-874-0800 or 518-798-9663 or on-line www.woodtheater.org

Saturday, August 22
Sunday, August 23
Woodfest: JOHN STEINBECK'S "OF MICE AND MEN" Under the direction of John Ruggiero. Painted Pony Ranch Productions. Info: 696-5353

Thursday, August 27, 8:00 pm
Friday, August 28, 8:00 pm
Satursday, August 29, 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 30, 2:00 pm
Wednesday, September 2, 8:00 pm
Thursday, September 3, 8:00 pm
Friday, September 4, 8:00 pm
Saturday, September 5, 8:00 pm
Sunday, September 6, 8:00 pm
Monday, September 7, 2:00 pm
Woodfest: Rest in Pieces Marcia Wallace (“The Bob Newhart Show”) and Richard Kline (“Three’s Company”) will star in a new comedy play entitled “Rest, In Pieces” by Steve Bluestein and directed by John Bowab (“Mame” on Broadway; TV: ‘The Cosby Show”, “The Bonnie Hunt Show”, “The Facts of Life”, etc). "Rest, In Pieces" is a fresh, hysterical, dramedy about a family: father, mother and son and the unique journey through the family’s life as they deal with the loss of a loved one. This three-part fantasy is full of laughter, tears, and startling revelations. Tickets are now available for all productions by calling Wood Tickets @ 518- 874-0800 or at www.woodtheater.org. For information on all programs call the Wood Theater 518-798-9663

Red Fox Bookstore

Thursday, August 20, 5:00 p.m.
Third Thursday Art Walk--Dolores Thompson Reception for ceramic artist Dolores Thompson.

Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 pm
Reading & Signing: Jon Katz At Crandall Public Library. Reading and discussion with favorite local farmer/author/photographer Jon Katz. His new book is Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm. Will be held in the Community Room (downstairs) of Crandall Library.

Tuesday, September 15, noon
Book Club The Degas-inspired book club continues with Sue Roe's Private Lives of the Impressionists. Bring a bag lunch.

Friday, September 25, 7 pm
Lucyna Prostko & Paul Pines Book Signing Local poets Lucyna Prostko and Paul Pines will celebrate the release of their new books with a reading and discussion.

Saturday, October 10, 1 pm
American Girl Harvest Program How would each girl celebrate the harvest? Stories, snacks, and a craft.

Monday, October 12, 9-11 am
DWK4 PARTY! Celebrate the release of Diary of a Wimpy Kid #4: Dog Days with us on Columbus Day. Donuts, games, raffles, and fun. Preorder and take 20% off.

Friday, October 16, 7:00 pm
Richard Russo & Joe Donahue At Crandall Public Library. Acclaimed author Richard Russo will be interviewed by WAMC's Roundtable anchor Joe Donahue. Russo will read from his new novel: That Old Cape Magic. Signing, and reception to follow. Will be held in the Community Room (downstairs) of the Crandall Library.

Rock Hill Bakehouse

Our Progressive Film Forum memberships are just $25/yr ($15 Seniors/Students). Members can borrow films without charge. There are plenty of thought-provoking DVD's to choose from as we use our membership dollars exclusively to buy and screen new films.

Our Lending Library We have amassed a collection of interesting books and are excited to share them with you. So, please feel free to borrow books from our collection. We ask that you make a real honest effort to return them though so that others can enjoy them, as well.

Our Current "Artist in Residence" ... Rosalind Cherney Next up ... Kate Austin

Thursday, August 20, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
THIRD THURSDAY ART WALK On the 3rd Thursday of each month, our current "Artist in Residence" holds a reception. Wander the other participating downtown locations and end up at "the Rock" to grab a bite, meet our artist & check out Open Mic. glensfallsartwalk@yahoo.com www.third-thursday.org

Thursday, August 20, 7:00 pm
OPEN MIC NIGHT hosted by our very own Cory Avon Sing, play, read or just watch and listen. Free.

Friday, August 21, 7:00 pm
SUMMER FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL: THE IRON GIANT Brad Bird (1999) 86 min. In October of 1957, America had plenty to be worried about. Rock ’n’ roll. Television. The bomb. And on the fourth day of that month, the Soviets successfully launched the first man-made satellite,... In October of 1957, America had plenty to be worried about. Rock ’n’ roll. Television. The bomb. And on the fourth day of that month, the Soviets successfully launched the first manmade satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. The space race had officially begun. The Cold War just got colder. People were unsure about their neighbors, even questioning their friends. In the small town of Rockwell, Maine, Annie Hughes (Jennifer Aniston) is just worried about putting supper on the table for herself and her nine-year-old son, Hogarth. A single mother holding down a job at the local diner, Annie has her hands full with Hogarth—headstrong and imaginative, always on the lookout for the latest attempted takeover by mutant aliens or subversive invaders. So when a local fisherman comes into the diner with a tall tale about a huge metal man falling into the sea, the only one to pay him much attention is Hogarth, who sets out exploring to find the enormous robot. What he does find is a 50-foot giant with an insatiable appetite for metal and a childlike curiosity about its new world. Rumors of everything from an alien invasion to a Russian secret weapon bent on destroying Rockwell soon spread through the small town, prompting the arrival of government agent Kent Mansley. Keeping one step ahead of Mansley, Hogarth convinces his beatnik friend Dean (Harry Connick, Jr.) to hide the Iron Giant (Vin Deisel) in Dean’s junkyard. But it isn’t long before the rumors turn into paranoia—the situation escalates and the possible destruction of Rockwell looms. Hogarth turns to his friend, the Iron Giant, who ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving the town’s residents from their own fears and prejudices. In times like these, you really find out what your friends are made of…sometimes, it’s even metal.

Thursday, August 27, 7:00 pm
OPEN MIC NIGHT hosted by our very own Cory Avon Sing, play, read or just watch and listen. Free.

Friday, August 28, 7:00 pm
SUMMER FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL: THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE Sylvain Chomet (2003) 81 min. In this animated French film, a boy named Champion trains relentlessly for the Tour de France, with the help of his loyal grandmother and overweight dog, Bruno (who loves to bark at passing trains). When the big race comes, Champion and a few of his fellow racers are kidnapped by some box-shouldered thugs who spirit them off to Belleville (a surreal impression of 1930s-1950s Manhattan) where they are forced to pedal as part of a clandestine gambling operation. Bruno and Grandma set out across the sea in a paddle boat to rescue their boy, but once ashore they soon become lost, hungry and penniless -- that is, until the frog-eating Triplets of Belleville, former scat-singing jazz prodigies turned experimental musicians, come to their rescue. Filled with inspired, twisted imagery, this nearly dialogue-free film is a crowd-pleaser of unusual power, with the strange, measured pacing of a dream, and a great soundtrack of bizarre, alternate-reality '30s jazz. It also offers a touching and believable evocation of a dog's life. A great throwback to the time before animation became dominated by CGI effects, Triplets Of Belleville is a very strange, very loving, and very French salute to obsession, affection, and persistence.

Hyde Collection

Degas Film Series All Degas Film Series movies will be shown free of charge at 6:00 pm in the Museum’s Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Seating is limited so those interested in attending are asked to call The Hyde at 518-792-1761, ext. 17 to make reservations.

Thursday, August 20, 6 pm
The Hydes, Degas, and Music Presented by The Hyde’s Chief Curator and Deputy Director Erin Coe, this lecture will explore the history of the works by Edgar Degas that were collected by Museum founders Louis and Charlotte Hyde and the Hydes’ musical associations with these works. Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public and will be held in the Museum’s Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Seating is limited so those interested in attending are asked to call The Hyde at 518-792-1761, ext. 27 to make reservations.

Friday, August 28, 7:30 pm
Cabaret Event: Degas: His Life, His Women and His Art A companion event to The Hyde’s Degas & Music exhibition. Catherine Reid and Laura Roth present songs from contemporary shows, as well as an original ballet composed by Reid to highlight important moments, relationships, and aspects of Degas’ life. Patrick Doyle will portray Degas as an old man reviewing his life, Charlotte Pines will play fellow Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt and Julie Delfs and Debbie Gecewicz will play other figures in the artist’s life. It will be held at 7:30 pm in the Museum’s Helen Froehlich Auditorium. General admission is $15 per person, and seating is limited so reservations are suggested. Call 518-792-1761, ext. 20.

Sunday, September 13, 2 pm
Degas & Opera Lecturer Peter Wynne will explore Degas and his love for opera. Tailored to The Hyde Degas & Music exhibition, Wynne will explore the relationship of the artist’s work with those paintings and sculptures which directly relate to contemporary opera performances of the period. Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public and will be held in the Museum’s Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Seating is limited so those interested in attending are asked to call The Hyde at 518-792-1761, ext. 27 to make reservations.

A final lecture by guest curators of The Hyde’s Degas & Music exhibition (July 12 through October 18) is also scheduled for Saturday, October 3. This talk and following reception will be free for Hyde Collection members; $8 general admission.

For details on Season of Degas events, visit www.hydeseasonofdegas.blogspot.com or find information on the Degas & Music exhibition – July 12 through October 18, 2009 at www.hydecollection.org.

Thursday, September 17, 6:00 pm
Ratatouille. The most recent of the series, is the animated, 2007 film about a food-loving rat who saves a young chef’s job by assisting him in the kitchen.

Thursday, October 15, 6:00 pm
Charade. This 113-minute 1963 Technicolor film, set in Paris, stars Audrey Hepburn as a widow trying to figure out where her late husband left his fortune before killers who want the fortune for themselves find it, and her. The all-star cast includes Cary Grant, Walter Matthau, James Colburn, and George Kennedy.

Exhibitions
Saturday, July 11, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm see our review on Degas & Music

Now through Sunday, October 18, 2009
Degas & Music Edgar Degas, known throughout the world as "the painter of dancers," was equally inspired by the world of music. This exhibition will bring together works that reflect the French Impressionist's fascination with music, including portraits of musician friends, dramatic images of cabaret singers, and stunning scenes of the music-filled world of the ballet. Degas & Music presents an engaging subject that has never been explored in depth or chosen as the subject of an exhibition. Degas & Music is organized by The Hyde Collection and curated by guest curators Richard Kendall and Jill DeVonyar. Admission is $10; $8 for seniors and students with ID, and $5 for Hyde members. Children under the age of 14 are admitted free.
Approximately thirty-five paintings and other works from major national and international collections, as well as The Hyde’s own holdings, will be included in the Degas & Music exhibition. As part of the exhibition, The Hyde will display for the first time its collection of rare heliotype Degas prints never before exhibited by the Museum. According to Erin Coe, the Hyde’s chief curator, “Music as inspiration for the premise of a Degas exhibition is groundbreaking and its contribution to Degas scholarship has international significance.”
In addition to the Degas & Music exhibition, The Hyde is collaborating with more than 40 arts and community organizations to present the Season of Degas - a series of lectures, exhibitions, performances, and community events - all with Degas-related themes. The project brings together more than forty arts institutions and community organizations that will host programs from New York’s Capital District north to Blue Mountain Lake. More than seventy Degas-themed events will be held in six upstate New York counties through November, 2009.
“We are tremendously proud to be bringing this level of exhibition to upstate,” said David F. Setford, The Hyde’s executive director. “It is our hope that the excitement surrounding Degas & Music will translate into many more visitors, not only to The Hyde, but to the Glens Falls & Lake George regions and beyond.”

Other Events

Thursday, September 3, 6:00a - 8:30p
Road Trip to Historic Houses: Lyndhurst and Boscobel The Hyde Collection’s Travel Committee has announced plans for a day trip on Thursday, September 3, 2009 to two historic houses in southern New York.
The first stop will be Lyndhurst, America’s premier Gothic Revival mansion located in Tarrytown and designed by renowned architect A. J. Davis and located on beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking the Hudson. A docent-led tour will be followed by time to browse and explore the grounds. The visit will conclude with a box lunch in a charming carriage house on the property. To enhance the traveler experience, Hyde’s Director of Education Sara Hallberg will offer an exclusive illustrated lecture about Lyndhurst at 3:30 PM on Sunday, August 30, 2009 in The Hyde Froehlich Auditorium.
The second stop, Boscobel, is situated on breathtaking grounds high above the Hudson, opposite West Point. The house, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the country, contains an enviable collection of furniture and decorative arts from the Federal period. The docent-led tour at Boscobel will conclude with refreshments and time to explore and visit an exhibition on the near-demise, rescue, and restoration of the hisotric house. Those interested should note that the house at Boscobel is not handicapped accessible.
Buses will depart Queensbury from Northway Exit 19 at 6:00 am and will pick up additional passengers at Exit 15 at 6:30 am and at Exit 8 at 7:00 am. Travelers are expected to return between 7:30 and 8:30 pm, depending on their exit location.
The cost per person, which includes pre-trip lecture and reception, transportation, two museum admissions with docent-led tours, lunch plus refreshments, and all tips, is $124 for Hyde members and $149 for all others. The reservation deadline for this trip is Monday, August 17, 2009.
For more information on these trips, visit www.hydecollection.org. For additional details or to make a reservation, contact Dede Potter, membership manager at The Hyde Collection, at 518-792-1761, ext. 13 or email dpotter@hydecollection.org.

Chapman Museum Events

Now - Sunday, October 18, 2009
All Cordially Invited: Entertainment in the North Country, 1850 - 1920 What did people in Glens Falls and other communities in the North Country do for entertainment before TV? The Chapman Historical Museum’s summer 2009 exhibit, All Cordially Invited, will explore forms of entertainment from 1850, when most North Country communities were quite isolated, through 1920 when the automobile and the radio radically changed how people socialized.
In the 19th century the ball or dance was a popular form of entertainment that drew people together, often to support a local cause. Other social gatherings included lectures, picnics, revival meetings, clam roasts, excursions and ice cream socials. Later, railroads brought the circus and Wild West shows to town. Agricultural fairs, baseball games and horse tracks attracted crowds of spectators. People also experienced such new forms of entertainment as vaudeville acts and nickelodeons -- to be replaced by movie houses. Soon to follow in the 20th century was the radio, which with the automobile ended the region’s isolation, changing social customs as it did.
"All Cordially Invited" is planned in conjunction with the Hyde Collection’s Season of Degas. From July 12 to October 18, 2009, The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, New York will present Degas & Music, an exclusive exhibition devoted to the music-inspired works of French Impressionist Edgar Degas (1834-1917). To enhance the experience of regional visitors and tourists alike, The Hyde Collection is collaborating with area arts and community organizations to present a full summer/fall calendar of Degas-related events. The Season schedule will include exhibits, musical performances, lectures, and family events complementing the Degas exhibition.

LARAC Events

Now through Sunday, October 4
IN THE SPIRIT OF DEGAS: ART INSPIRED BY MUSIC Juried exhibition: Work to be dropped off Aug. 1, 3, 4. Pick-up of work not juried into the exhibition: Aug. 6, 7, 8. Opening reception: Friday, August 14, 5-7 pm

Friday, October 9 - Saturday, October 31
THE WORK OF TOM MYOTTOpening Reception: Friday, October 9, 5-7 pm

UpstArt

Third Thursday Art Walk

Thursday, August 20, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Thursday, September 17, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Thursday, October 15, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Third Thursday Glens Falls Art Walk artist's receptions are held at various locations in downtown Glens Falls on the Third Thursday of each month from 5-8 p.m. Come experience the wealth of talent our area offers - visual artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers. Enjoy lectures, artist demonstrations and theatrical performances, as well as our annual Sidewalk Art celebration.

World Awareness Children's Museum

Now through Saturday, August 29
See Me As I See Me The World Awareness Children's Museum presents See Me As I See Me, an exhibit of portraits created by young artists from all over the world, at the Glens Falls North Country Art Center Gallery, in Glens Falls City Hall, on Ridge Street in downtown Glens Falls, through August 29. Hours for the gallery are Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Admission is free.
The exhibit features 19 portraits from nine different countries and includes bold portraits from Bulgaria, and art from Brazil, Taiwan, Lithuania, Japan and Romania, the Republic of Georgia and the United States, rendered in colorful detail and nuance. Some pieces depict Russian youth engaged in outdoor activities and young artists with family and friends. The art reveals how children living in these countries see themselves, and reveals the similarities and differences in their cultures.

Now through Wednesday, September 9
Beautiful Beasts
A new interactive exhibit for families, Beautiful Beasts, opens July 1 and runs through September 9 at Explore! at 103 Warren Street in Glens Falls. A free opening night party will be offered on Saturday, July 11, from 5 - 7 pm with food, crafts and fun for the entire family. Reservations are recommended, as space will be limited. Please call 793-2773 or email lrosenthal@worldchildrenmuseum.org for more information. Created by the World Awareness Children's Museum, the exhibit shows animals seen and loved by children in cultures worldwide. Visitors will see the fascinating roles that elephants, peacocks, dragons, goats, cows, dogs and other creatures, both real and imaginary, have played in different parts of the world. Children can help design an elegant elephant from India, create their own Korean dragon puppet, make thumbprint animal drawings, try on some costumes and masks, can learn about famous imaginary creatures, like the griffin and unicorn, and make some examples of their own. There will also be a seek and find game, with over 25 original works of art, made by young artists from all over the world.

Dog Ate My Homework

Glens Falls Civic Center
Saturday, October 24, 3:00 pm
Saturday, October 24, 8:00 pm
JEFF DUNHAM and his OUTRAGEOUS suitcase posse Jeff Dunham brings his unstoppable laughs to the Glens Falls Civic Center. Dunham has taken the art of ventriloquism to new heights and has transformed it into a cutting-edge comedy experience that has gained worldwide appeal.
Time magazine declared him “perhaps the most popular stand-up comedian in the U.S.” Concurrently, Forbes named Dunham as one of the most powerful celebrity in the world on its Celebrity 100 list, noting in an accompanying article how Dunham is “third-highest-earning comedian in America behind Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock” and had the top-grossing North American comedy tour of 2008. And Dunham’s rise as well as the expansion of his reach and impact rolls on as he debuts a weekly TV series, publishes his first book, takes his highly-successful line of merchandise out to general retail and embarks on a 60-date Comedy Central Live tour beginning in September.
As Slate recently observed, “By every conceivable measure, Jeff Dunham is America’s favorite comedian.” And with his TV series, book, continuing tour appearances, merchandise and more within Dunham’s comprehensive deal with Comedy Central, even greater levels of popularity and record-breaking success are certain to follow.
For the first time ever, a pre-sale is available via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/GlensFallsCivicCenter) and Twitter (follow us at @GFCivicCenter).

Friday, November 6
Saturday, November 7
Adirondack Stampede Rodeo

Saturday, November 21
Sunday, November 22
NYSPHSAA Girls Volleyball Championship

Saturday, February 20, 8:00 pm
World Championship ICE Racing

Of Interest And Near-by

Thursday, August 27, 8 pm
Friday, August 28, 8 pm
Saturday, August 29, 2 pm
Saturday, August 29, 8 pm
Broadway in the Barn This cabaret-style show, titled Broadway in the Barn, will be performed on the stage of the 1866 Carriage House at the Historic Mansion Inn located at 801 Route 29 in the hamlet of Rock City Falls. This Saratoga area first will be held Thursday through Saturday, August 27 – 29. Evening shows will begin at 8 pm and a special matinee “young persons” performance will be held on Saturday, at 2 pm.
The four-person ensemble includes Queensbury native Adam Armstrong, fresh from another upstate production – Ordinary Days – held as part of the summer’s Adirondack Theater Festival (ATF) offerings in June. Ryan Michael Crimmins, formerly of Clifton Park joins the group for the Rock City Falls performances. Rounding out the quartet are Jaclyn Huberman, a familiar face in New York City cabaret scene, and musical stylist Andy Einhorn, who orchestrated the ATF Ordinary Days production in Glens Falls. Performances will include both solos and special group selections.
Tickets for the evening events are $20 per person and munchies, drinks, desserts and special coffees will be available during the shows. For A Family Broadway Review matinee, adult tickets are $15 each and student tickets are $10. During the matinee, ice cream sundaes, cakes, cookies, brownies, juice, and soda will be available.
To purchase tickets, call 518-885-1607 or visit Casswood Agency, 379 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. Seating is limited for each performance so reservations are suggested.
For additional details and directions, visit www.TheMansionSaratoga.com or email InfoDesk@TheMansionSaratoga.com.

Now through September 12
TODT: Products Installation by artist collective TODT at Ivy Associates Fine Art Gallery in Schuylerville, NY. Terry Ivy is proud and excited to present the internationally known artist collective TODT at the Ivy Associates Fine Art Gallery. Exhibiting as a collective since the 1980s and the longest running artist collective in the US, TODT primarily challenges ideas in science, societal views, historic events, and government. The name “TODT” refers to a German word meaning not just dead but very dead. TODT: Products is an installation that breaks down and reinvents farm equipment, spinning threshers into war machines, turning tools used for production into tools used for destruction. In the bucolic setting of Ivy Associates Gallery in Schuylerville, the juxtaposition of the peaceful and the timeless with impending sardonic doom and futuristic meta-science combine to make a powerful statement. TODT: Products is comprised of sculpture, installation, painting and drawing.

Friday, September 18, launch time TBA
Saturday, September 19, launch time TBA
Sunday, September 20, launch time TBA
Black Sheep Squadron Balloon Rally at Kingswood Country Club The Black Sheep Squadron of balloonists will be doing their ascensions this year from Kingswood. If anyone is interested in in flying at the Rally; please apply at www.blacksheepsquadronlta.com (also you can purchase some swag there as well). If you would like to attend the 3rd annual Black Sheep Rally, it will be on Sept. 18-20, 2009. If you would like to take a ride; call Todd Monahan at 518-796-0373 to book a ride.