GO ART!

For most of his life, Gary Harkness has been collecting the curios of Genesee County. A locally produced bottle here, a knickknack there, anything, really that could be tied to his home community.

This collection, of course, includes pictures, lots and lots of pictures, from rare photos to unique posters and advertising broadsides.

GO ART! has helped Harkness curate this collection into a show at its Batavia gallery for the month of September.

There is an open house for the show at 5 p.m., Friday.

Gena Korn and Jennifer Gray are creating a bit of chalk artwork in front of City Hall this morning to help promote GO ART!s Chalk the Walk event Aug. 15 during Summer in the City. (Photo by Howard Owens).

Press release:

GO ART! will be presenting the second annual Chalk the Walk on Aug. 15^th from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. during Summer in the City. Artists, professional and amateur and young and old, will be able to purchase a square section of concrete by the City Center to decorate with chalk pastels. There will also be a children’s section for fun scribbling.

Using materials available, artists will follow the theme “GO ART!...Where does art take YOU?” to create inspired pieces for a crowd of more than 2,000 people. Prizes will be awarded to those whose pieces are most outstanding. Adult First Prize will be $250. People’s Choice Award will be a $20 Alex’s Place gift card, two T-shirts, and two mugs. The Youth Prize will be a basket of goodies worth over $50.

A jury will select the winners for Adult First Prize and the Youth Prize. People’s Choice will be chosen by the general public by way of donation voting (ie: the art piece that receives the most donation money will be the People’s Choice winner). All donations collected for the People’s Choice Award will go to funding GO ART! youth programs.

To sign up for this event, people need to register online at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or register in person at GO ART!, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, from Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. People can also sign up and pay the day of the event but it is highly encouraged to do so ahead of time.

Remember, no one is officially registered until payment is received. Fees are $20 for adults (18+) and $10 for Youths (17 & under). Every registered artist will receive a box of chalks and a drink to get them started. There will be a chalk swap area where people can trade out their chalks for other colors they need. Artists are encouraged to bring their own chalks as well.

It is important to assure that each artist and their work, as well as the event itself, is respected, so there will be rules and regulations. These are available on the Web site at athttp://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/.

People can find updates on Chalk the Walk by going to the Web site:http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or by following Chalk the Walk on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BataviaStreetPaintingFestival.

Please consider participating! It's going to be a great event! If you have any questions, please feel free to phone 585-343-9313 or visit americorps@GOart.org.

Press release:

The Batavia Improvement District’s Summer in the City festival presents GO ART!’s Chalk the Walk. As part of the bash that is Summer in the City, which is sponsored by the Batavia Improvement District, there will be some extra artistry and competition.

GO ART! will be presenting the second annual Chalk the Walk on Aug. 15th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artists, professional and amateur and young and old, will be able to purchase a square section of concrete by the City Center to decorate with chalk pastels. There will also be a children’s section for fun scribbling. Using materials available, artists will follow the theme “GO ART!...Where does art take YOU?” to create inspired pieces for a crowd of at least 2,000 people.

Prizes will be awarded to those whose pieces are most outstanding. Adult First Prize will be $250. People’s Choice Award will be a $20 Alex’s Place gift card, two T-shirts, and two mugs. The Youth Prize will be a basket of goodies worth more than $50.

A jury will select the winners for Adult First Prize and the Youth Prize. People’s Choice will be chosen by the general public by way of donation voting (ie: the art piece that receives the most donation money will be the People’s Choice winner). All donations collected for the People’s Choice Award will go to funding GO ART! youth programming.

To sign-up for this event, people need to register online at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or register in person at GO ART!, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, from Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. People can also sign up and pay the day of the event but it is highly encouraged to do so ahead of time. Remember, no one is officially registered until payment is received.

Fees are $20 for adults (18+) and $10 for Youths (17 & under). Every registered artists will receive a box of chalks and a drink to get them started. There will be a chalk swap area where people can trade out their chalks for other colors they need. Artists are encouraged to bring their own chalks as well.

It is important to assure that each artist and their work, as well as the event itself, is respected, so there will be rules and regulations. These are available on the Web site at at http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/.

People can find updates on Chalk the Walk by going to the Web site: http://www.goart.org/chalk-the-walk/ or by following Chalk the Walk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BataviaStreetPaintingFestival.

Chalk the Walk is currently seeking financial sponsors to make this exciting event happen and those interested should e-mail or call Gena Korn at americorps@goart.org or at (585) 343-9313.

CONTACT PERSON: GENA KORN
PHONE #: 585.343.9313
E-MAIL: americorps@GOart.org

Local photographer Jim Burns is featured for the next three months at Muller Quaker Dairy with some of his photos. 

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) rotates photos at the dairy for people that come to visit to take tours and also for employees to view. 

The display will be up until Sept. 30^th. 

More of Jim Burns' work can be found here: Jim Burns Photography

Doug Fancher, of Basom, and his 3-year-old grandson Callum, of Batavia, play shadow baseball under the giant flag at GO ART!'s annual Picnic in the Park in Centennial Park on Saturday.

Fancher said Callum is obsessed with baseball. At the Muckdogs' game the other night, he peppered his grandpa with questions about the game. He loves the Yankees and also thinks the Pirates are pretty cool.

Here are more pictures from Saturday...

Big plans abound here for the Fourth of July weekend.

The Muckdogs kick things off at 7 p.m. with a game against Mahoning Valley. There will be a fireworks show after the game, and with the Muckdogs on the road tomorrow, that serves as your local Independence Day weekend pyrotechnics.

On the calendar tomorrow morning is the Kiwanis 5K, with a start time of 9 a.m. at Centennial Park. There's also a chance of rain in the morning, potentially the one blemish on the weekend weather.

In the afternoon, GO ART! hosts its annual Picnic in the Park at Centennial Park.

Sunday, it's time once again to ramble on down to Jackson Square (and School Street and Center Street) for the annual Ramble Music and Arts Fest.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) presents the 37th annual “GO ART! Picnic in the Park” this Independence Day. The festivities run from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 4th, in historic Centennial Park on Richmond Avenue in Batavia. As is tradition, this year’s “Picnic in the Park” is a free, family-friendly event that will once again include all-day live musical entertainment, an arts and crafts show, folk arts programs, food vendors, children’s activities, and much more!

Introduced just last year to great response, the event will be preceded by a “Kiddie Parade” kicking off the day. Families with children ages 12 and under are invited to bring their bikes, scooters or strollers to the northwest corner of Centennial Park – between the Main Stage and Richmond Avenue - at 11 a.m. to decorate them for an old time “kiddie parade.” Decorations will be provided, and the parade will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Ellicott and Park avenues.

Live entertainment is presented on two separate stages, the Main Stage and “Stage II,” which has traditionally featured performances that engage kids and families. MAIN STAGE entertainment commences at noon with the “Picnic” staple Batavia Concert Band playing its traditional mix of Sousa-style marches and Big Band numbers.

Founded in 1924, the Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during World War II. The Concert Band itself consists of 40 to 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from advanced high school musicians to 50-year veterans. Many have professional performance experience; the rest are advanced amateurs. All love to play. The Band's musical repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, style and period, and includes marches, Broadway show tunes, favorites from hit musicals and movies, pop, jazz and even rock numbers arranged for band. Join the Band for weekly concerts during the summer on Wednesday evenings in Centennial Park.

Directly following Batavia Concert Band’s performance, Vibrant Batavia’s Centennial Committee will do a short presentation honoring the City’s 100^th Birthday which will include cupcakes to be distributed to all who attend. 

A wide variety of bands featuring local and traditional music will follow on the Main Stage through the rest of the afternoon:

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Henrie Brothers: Old-time music has been a family matters since the early 1970s, when Bill, the oldest, tookd up the fiddle and helped his younger brothers John (mandolin), Bob (guitar), and Doug (bass) learn their instruments. Since then they have performed at leading music festivals and venues throughout the Northeast, performing bluegrass, old time, contradance, swing and jazz, all to consistent critical acclaim. At Picnic in the Park, the brothers will return to their roots in old time, early country and Irish music that gave them their start. 

2:45-3:45 p.m. – The Niagara River Dancers combine students at the Tuscarora Indian Elementary School located at the center of the Tuscarora Nation, with members of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) tribes from throughout NYS.  Many of the students stay after school for an extra hour to learn traditional dancing on a weekly basis. They not only learn the Haudenosaunee dances, but also dances from other Native communities around the country. The dancers wear beautifully beaded outfits, many in the Tuscarora raised-beadwork style, which are often made by their parents or other relatives. Traditional musicians accompany the dancers, who include explanations of the dance patterns, stories and history.

4-5 p.m. – Steel Alchemy Community Steel Band was formed in 2001 by Director Ted Canning as the Livingston County Community Steel Band, with assistance from the Decentralization grant program of the NYS Council on the Arts.  Several members have been playing with the band since its inception, including the Palermo family from Mt. Morris. In 2007 the band released its self-titled CD recording, which prompted them to come up with their current name, Steel Alchemy. They perform a variety of music including Caribbean traditional and popular songs, American pop, and music written especially for steel bands. The band is open to people ages 13 and older, with no prior experience required. Anyone interested in learning more can contact Ted at panloco@rochester.rr.com.

STAGE II:

12:30-1:30 p.m. -- Cut Off (A cappella Group) will perform their first performance of the day. The group was founded in the summer of 2010 by recent college graduates looking to continue performing in a contemporary a cappella setting. This co-ed group’s debut performance was in January 2011 at Lovin’ Cup in Rochester. The group participated in the first ever Boston Sings A cappella Festival (BOSS) in April 2012, where they took part in a workshop with Canadian-based group, Cadence. They were also proud to have performed at the Rochester Fringe Festival in September of 2013 at the TheatreROCS Stage at Xerox Auditorium. Cut Off just released their first CD, "Get Cut Off," in March of 2013 with Liquid 5th Productions (Raleigh, N.C.) and in 2014, the group was nominated for 2 Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for Best Country Song (Good Girl) and Best CAL Song (LaserLight). 

2-2:30 p.m. -- Thai Kwon Do Demonstration by Refuse 2 Lose Martial Arts

3-4 p.m. -- Cut Off (A cappella Group) -- Second Performance

THROUGHOUT THE DAY in Centennial Park, other activities include horse-drawn wagon rides by Hartland Carriages, pony rides and petting zoo by North Forty Pony Express and the Wildlife Educators Coalition returning with its wide assortment of animals. Geoffrey Clough offers his popular interactive program of children’s songs called “Cookie Songwriting,” and of course juggling and other roving entertainment in the park.

The GLOW Area YMCA will have its bounce house and inflatable obstacle course on site, and the Explore Art! Tent invites kids and families to do their own hands-on art activity, all materials provided, and free caricatures will be available near the tent. The Genesee County Park will be featuring a larger display this year with interactive activities and they will also have their resident turtle on hand to visit. The Park is celebrating its 100^th Anniversary this year!

Along the Richmond Avenue side of Centennial Park, artists and crafters representing an amazing diversity of arts and crafts are featured in an ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW AND SALE. Additional attractions consist of booths by community nonprofit organizations, including Genesee County ARC information & recycling education, Genesee County Historians Association, Batavia Assembly of God dunk tank and sand art, Batavia Players pizza & show info, GO ART!’s Picnic in the Park 50/50 Raffle and many others.

“Picnic” always offers up tantalizing food by a variety of vendors, such as Abbott’s cones, sundaes, milkshakes and root beer floats, Lonsberry fresh-squeezed lemonade and soft pretzels, and, of course, the Batavia Jaycees’ famous ‘dog and burger stand in its traditional location.

The event is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Program with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Picnic Level sponsors ($500 and up) include Batavia Rotary Club, Turnbull Heating & Air, Batavia Jaycees, Steve Hawley, CY Farms, The Batavian, and The Daily News.

Admission is free to the “Picnic in the Park.” Please call GO ART! at 585-343-9313, e-mail info@goart.org or visitwww.goart.org for more information.

GO ART! hosted an Appraisal Fair today at Seymour Place.

Appraiser H.P. Prazer with John Seartz and Louis Call.

Appraiser Jason Helenbrook of Gold N Time.

Lori Doeringer is the chairperson of the GO ART! Appraisal Fair, which is this Saturday, with her own interest in getting a couple of items appraised by one of the eight experts who will be on hand to provide those who bring antiques and items of value that need appraised to the fair.

The fair will be held at Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Appointments are encouraged. Call (585) 343-9313.

The event is a fundraiser for GO ART! The first item is $20 and a second item is $10. GO ART! members can get a third item appraised for free.

Press release:

Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council -- GOART! -- seeks an energetic, organized, communicative manager for a two-county regional arts council. The deadline for applicant submissions is Friday, April 24.

The person selected will be responsible for:

• Staff of two full-time and three part-time employees;
• Annual budget of $338,000;
• Working collaboratively with county and municipal government agencies;
• Writing and supervising grant applications and projects, including approximately $138,000/year of New York State Council on the Arts regrant funds;
• Working with a diverse clientele including other arts organizations (historic preservation, music, visual and performing arts), individual artists and groups;
• Administering an Historic Landmark facility in Downtown Batavia, New York and seven local and regional galleries;
• Supervising GOART! sponsored and/or based events including annual July 4^th “Picnic in the Park";
• Working with a volunteer Board of Directors, currently 11 members representing both counties;
• Leads development and fundraising efforts including locating possible sources of funds.

Candidate submissions must include:

1. Letter addressing why the candidate would be a good choice for GOART! (Please see the GOART! Executive Director Job Description on the GOART! Web site at http://www.goart.org/news/)

1. Résumé.

1. Two (2) Reference Letters (may not be from a relative of the candidate) – at least one (1) Reference Letter must be from a community leader, an educator, or a person working in the artistic community.

If submitting electronically, submit all documents in .pdf or .docx format to:

GOARTDirectorSearch@gmail.com

If submitting via U.S. Mail, mark envelope as Confidential and mail to:

Executive Director Search Committee

GOART!

201 E. Main St.

Batavia, NY 14020-2205

Attn.:  Diana Kastenbaum – Search Committee Chair

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED BY FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

GO ART! hosted a presentation ceremony Friday evening at its home at Seymore Place in Batavia for it's annual Reach and Ripple grants.

There were a total of 28 grants awarded this year for more than $46,000.

The Genesee Children's Chorus, directed by Heather Loveless, performed three opening numbers.

For a list of recipients, click here.

Bob Knipe, president of the board of directors, with opening remarks.

Josh Pacino, with Legislator Gregg Torrey and Interim Director Heather Grant, accepted awards on behalf of the Batavia Concert Band and Genesee Symphony Orchestra.

Shelley Falitico, from Genesee ARC, accepted the grant for the Sprout Film Festival.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is pleased to announce the Decentralization Regrant recipients for 2015 in Genesee and Orleans counties, funded by the NY State Council on the Arts.

Reach Grants: This year GO ART! received 31 applications for this program requesting a total of $79,476. With $41,600 available, 26 applicants were awarded grants (GC's listed below).

GO ART! is also pleased to re-grant two Ripple Grants ($2,500 each; GC's listed below) to provide funding for the creation of new work by local individual artists who wish to involve the community in their creative process.

2015 GO ART! Reach Grant Program Awards for Projects in Genesee County:

Genesee Symphony Orchestra -- GSO Takes Flight -- $1,500

Le Roy United Methodist Church -- Ides of March -- $500

Byron-Bergen Public Library -- Arts & Music in the Community -- $2,530

Tale for Three Counties Council -- 2015 Tale for Three Counties -- $1,000

Batavia Players -- 2015 Summer Youth Production -- $1,000

Batavia Players -- Shakespeare Production -- $1,000

Genesee Chorale -- 2015 Season -- $1,250

Genesee Chorale -- Children's Chorus -- $750

Le Roy Christian Community Project -- After School Theater Program -- $2,000

Gillam-Grant Community Center -- Culture4Communities -- $2,800

Genesee ARC -- Sprout Film Festival -- $2,300

Mental Health Association in Genesee County -- Community & Art Show -- $800

Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, sponsored by Genesee Chorale -- Spring/Fall Concert Series -- $500

Encore! Theatre Arts -- Fall 2015 Musical Performance -- $500

Woodward Memorial Library -- Everyone's an Artist -- $1,285

Batavia Concert Band -- 2015 Summer Concert Season -- $1,500

Town of Le Roy -- Music in the Park Concert Series -- $1,200

2015 GO ART! Ripple Grant Program Award

Bill McDonald -- Travelling Towpath Troubadors Concert Series along Erie Canal -- $2,500

Supporters of GO ART! and local music fans enjoyed an energetic show Saturday night at GCC's Stuart Steiner Theatre of the Haley & Alexis Band.

The twin sisters hail from Atlanta, but have roots in Genesee and Orleans counties, and the front row was filled with relatives.

It's the first time the band -- nominated for the Georgia Country Music “Best (Regional) Country Band Award” -- has played north of the Mason-Dixon line. 

Hiram Kasten was the evening's emcee. 

The full lineup of award winners on Saturday, includes, from left: Michael Bonafede, of Albion, for his role as a musician and his work in planning many community events; Kim Buczek (Linda Blanchet Award) for earning doctorate in music arts and performing in the Cincinnati area; Jim Hancock, of Medina, for his volunteer work with many community causes and events; Albion native Lance Anderson, president of the Lake Plains Players – a community theater group; Cassandra Prong (daughter of honoree Bill Hayes – honored for his years of support for GO ART!); Vincent Pastore, a lifelong Batavian and accomplished musician; and Leslie DeLooze, accepting on behalf of the Richmond Memorial Library, which offers many arts and cultural programs throughout the year.

Photo and caption courtesy Tom Rivers, Orleans Hub.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council presents its 14th Annual Community Arts Awards Gala and Auction tonight. The event applauds the efforts of seven who have contributed significantly to art and culture in the Genesee-Orleans Region.

Nominations were sought from the public for individuals, organizations or businesses representing all facets of our artistic and cultural community. The festivities will take place at Terry Hills Golf and Banquet Facility, 5122 Clinton Street Road (Route 33), Batavia beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s Genesee County honorees are:

Community Arts Awards

Vincent Pastore

Vincent “Vinny” Pastore is a lifelong Batavian with well-established roots through family and friends in the Genesee County area. Vinny is an accomplished musician – he started playing violin at the age of 6 and now plays multiple instruments, such as violin, guitar, mandolin, piano, horns and more. He has played with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Youth Orchestra and has performed internationally. At the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music, Vinny earned a bachelor degree's in Violin Performance and played at the Lincoln Center in New York City with the Hartford College Orchestra. He has been concert master of the Avon Orchestra, conducted by Lisa Toth, and in 2004 he went to Italy with a music festival and played with the Genesee Orchestra and Choir, performing Donazetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.”

In addition, Vinny has been a member of many local rock bands since high school, from bluegrass to heavy metal. In 1997, he was in a band “OZ Willis” along with his three nephews, and he currently plays in three bands: the Old Hippies (which are providing the evening’s entertainment), The Sky Cats and The LPs. He has written many original songs, composed them himself and played all the instruments, then recorded and mastered the songs. He also plays in a jazz duo for local nursing homes. Vinny’s unique musical talents allow him to join in and play with other bands in the spur of the moment, such as on a vacation in Key West and at his niece’s wedding in California. In his “spare time,” Vinny enjoys sharing his love of music, experience and expertise by teaching students of differing levels of ability at Roxy’s Music Store in Batavia.
 
Richmond Memorial Library

Celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year, the Richmond Memorial Library (RML) is being honored for its continuous and significant role in providing quality arts and cultural programming to the community. According to their nomination, “Their service is multigenerational and the breadth of their cultural sphere goes well beyond the boundaries of books and the traditional perceptions of a library.” As a member of the 1958-chartered NIOGA System (Niagara, Orleans, Genesee), RML brings the fruits of this collaborative relationship to residents with access to a larger collection and improved information services. Beyond the focus on the literary arts, however, RML offers programs such as Reel Discussions, Saturday Morning Family Movies, Genealogy assistance and Arts and Crafts Classes. They also present musical events for all ages, such Bart and Kevin, Celtic Music, The Tin Dipper, Genesee Chorale, a cappella groups, and Batavia’s young soprano Brittany Mruczek.

The RML Gallery Room hosts changing monthly exhibits by local artists and arts/cultural groups, including a student art show every March and biannual shows by the Batavia Society of Artists. They frequently collaborate with other area organizations on cultural programs, such as holding a Mystery Dinnery Theater at the library with Batavia Players and the presentation of a series of programs and a traveling exhibit “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, 1910-1965” with partners GO ART!, Temple Emanu-El and Roxy’s Music Store. The popular “Tale for Three Counties” was the brainchild of the RML – an area-wide "one book" project for Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties in Western New York State, presented by the 19 public libraries in these counties, Genesee Community College, The Daily News, and Genesee Valley Educational Partnerships School Library System. Richmond Memorial Library, which formally began in 1889, has been committed to the cultural enrichment of the lives of those in the Genesee region for 125 years and counting.

GO ART! Board of Directors Special Recognition Award

Bill Hayes, Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning

The GO ART! Board of Directors is delighted to be presenting this award to Bill Hayes, president/owner of Turnbull Heating, Air Conditioning & Commercial Refrigeration in recognition of his patronage and generous support of arts and cultural programs and community service. Bill Hayes is a Rochester native and a graduate of John Marshall High School. A United States Navy veteran, Bill enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering Technology degree specializing in Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Solar Design at Alfred State College. He was recruited upon graduation to work in Boulder, Co.; he and his wife, JoAnn, moved back to the Buffalo area where he worked for a mechanical contractor in Buffalo for eight years. After the owner passed away in 1989, Bill met Roy Turnbull on an incentive trip to the Caribbean Islands. As fate would have it, Roy approached Bill two years later to purchase his business in February 1991. More than 23 years later, Turnbull HVAC has grown to serve over seven counties and employ an average of 25 employees throughout the year.

Bill is an avid and long-time supporter of a long list of local cultural organizations and events, including the GO ART! Picnic in the Park, Genesee Symphony Orchestra, GCC Theater, Batavia Players, Encore Theatre Arts Shows, Genesee Ballet Repertoire Company, and many more, not to mention many other nonprofit organizations and service clubs. Bill has been a member of the Lions Club of Batavia since 1991, is a graduate of the Leadership Genesee Class of 2008, has served in the role of Jaycees Instructor through the Business Education Alliance and has participated on several local boards. He is a member of Northgate Free Methodist Church, where he has been a Senior Teen Leader, a marriage mentor and is currently on the Administrative Board and is a Delegate of the church. He sponsors the Roy Turnbull Memorial Award, a scholarship awarded annually to a student of the trades at GVEP. This past May, the Boy Scouts of America recognized Bill as their 2014 Distinguished Citizen Award for Genesee County.

Growing up in Batavia, both of Bill’s daughters were active in the arts playing violin in the Genesee Symphony Orchestra as well as in a String Trio together. They also were active in Batavia Players’ Summer Youth Theatre, church choirs, and other musical groups. Today, Christina is working as a dentist and Cassandra as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. He is recently a proud grandfather twice in a year’s time, with another expected in December.

Linda L. Blanchet Award

Kimberly Buczek, Ph.D

A native of Elba, Kimberly Buczek has recently achieved her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree at the prestigious Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and is pursuing a career combining performing and university level music education in the greater Cincinnati area. Kimberly specializes in opera, and continues to perform both locally and regionally while holding teaching positions at four different universities. She performed just this past summer with the Queen City Chamber Opera in the role of Sieglinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre. Buczek states that “music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” and that though there were limited performance options growing up in a small town, she is thankful in particular that Linda Blanchet gave her the opportunity to be involved in the Batavia Rotary shows from 1995-2000. She was also fortunate to receive a GO ART! Community Arts Award in 2001, the very first year of the awards, when she was only a senior in high school. She explains, “13 years have passed since receiving that award, and I can honestly say that the artistic experiences I had growing up in Western New York directly affected my artistic path and career choices.”

This is the second annual Linda L. Blanchet Award, which was established to provide financial support to a young artist in any discipline who endeavors to work in an artistic field after pursuing education at an institution of higher learning in the field of his/her chosen artistic discipline for the purpose of contributing to art and culture in the community. The award is intended for a current or former resident of Genesee or Orleans county who is pursuing a career in the arts locally, nationally or internationally. In addition to the award, the selected applicant receives $500. Kimberly Buczek, Ph.D, is being honored for both her academic and artistic accomplishments. Sample recordings and videos of her performances may be found on her Web site at www.kimberlybuczek.com <http://www.kimberlybuczek.com

I was driving to Centennial Park on July 4th afternoon when we got the call for the fire in Bethany, so I didn't make Picnic in the Park until things were winding down.

I did get to meet Hiawatha and her owner Brian, which was fun, and I enjoyed some great Celtic music by Gan Ainm.

To purchase prints, click here.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) presents the 36th annual “Picnic in the Park” this Independence Day. The festivities run from noon until 5 p.m. on Friday, July 4th, in historic Centennial Park on Richmond Avenue in Batavia. As is tradition, this year’s “Picnic in the Park” is a free, family-friendly event that will once again include all-day live musical entertainment, an arts and crafts show, folk arts programs, food vendors, children’s activities, and much more!

Introduced just last year to great response, the event will be preceded by a “Kiddie Parade” kicking off the day. Harkening back to earlier times, families with children ages 12 and under are invited to bring their bikes, scooters or strollers to the northwest corner of Centennial Park – between the Main Stage and Richmond Avenue -- at 11 a.m. to decorate them for an old time “Kiddie Parade.” Decorations will be provided, and the parade will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Ellicott and Park avenues.

Live entertainment is presented on two separate stages, the Main Stage and “Stage 2,” which has traditionally featured performances that engage kids and families. MAIN STAGE entertainment commences at noon with the “Picnic” staple Batavia Concert Band playing its traditional mix of Sousa-style marches and Big Band numbers.

Founded in 1924, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during World War II. The Concert Band itself consists of 40 - 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from advanced high school musicians to 50-year veterans. Many have professional performance experience; the rest are advanced amateurs. All love to play. The Band's musical repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, style and period, and includes marches, Broadway show tunes, favorites from hit musicals and movies, pop, jazz and even rock numbers arranged for band. Join the Band for weekly concerts during the summer on Wednesday evenings in Centennial Park.

A wide variety of bands featuring local and traditional music will follow on the Main Stage throughout the rest of the afternoon:

1 p.m. -- Stephanie Pietrzak, “America’s Polka Sweetheart,” takes the stage with her “Honky Polka Band” to perform their lively Polish polka music. Having played for more than 45 years in the polka industry, the much-heralded Pietrzak was inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame in 2010. She began her polka music career at age 7 on the accordion but soon switched to the Polish concertina, a larger, square-shaped type of accordion with a distinctive sound, loved by Polka musicians. For more than 25 years she performed as a duo with her mother, Wanda, and the two were dubbed “America’s Polka Sweethearts.” They toured extensively across the United States and Canada and performed on numerous radio and television broadcasts, and with other well-known Polka musicians such as The Versatones, Marion Lush and Li’l Wally. Sietrzak continues to perform with her own band and has recorded several albums, including her own compositions. She developed her own radio show celebrating the music she loves at Polkasonline.com and continues to win awards for her work as a concertina player, vocalist and songwriter.

2:30 p.m. – “Trilogy” is a four piece classic rock and roll band that has been playing family-oriented music in the Western New York area for the past 26 years. The band features Dana Hurlburt on lead guitar and vocals; Guy Macaluso on bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals; Eric Kelly on guitar, keyboards and vocals; and Tom Kwiecien on drums. Be prepared to sing along and have fun!

4 p.m. -- Gan Ainm (pron.: gahn ahn'-um) performs Irish and Irish American traditional music, led by John Ryan. Meaning “without a name,” Gan Ainm recognizes the innumerable tunes that are passed on from one musician to the next, known as a "reel," "jig," "polka," or "hornpipe" that may be nameless, or ascribed to a person or event that fits the moment. The group includes players who have grown up in the active Irish music and dance community of the Rochester area, performing on button accordion, concertina, fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, bodhran, as well as vocals. They will invite you into the high energy dance tunes, soulful ballads, and easy camaraderie of an Irish session.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY in Centennial Park, other activities include horse-drawn wagon rides by Hartland Carriages, pony rides and petting zoo by North Forty Pony Express and the Wildlife Educators Coalition returning with its wide assortment of animals. Geoffrey Clough offers his popular interactive program of children’s songs called “Cookie Songwriting,” and of course juggling and other roving entertainment in the park. The GLOW Area YMCA will have its bounce house and inflatable obstacle course on site, and the Explore Art! Tent invites kids and families to do their own hands-on art activity, all materials provided, and free face painting will be available at the tent. Also, Stage II, the “family stage,” features interactive programs for kids and families, including family entertainer Janice Spagnola’s “The Extra Fun Balloon Show,” magic and puppet entertainment with a twist…a balloon twist that is! Balloon puppets will come to life along with amazing balloon magic. And finally, a surprise performance written and performed by the audience itself in a classic “choose your own adventure” style finale.

Along the Richmond Avenue side of Centennial Park, artists and crafters representing an amazing diversity of arts and crafts are featured in an ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW AND SALE. An amazing variety of arts and crafts are represented, such as gemstone jewelry, photography, seasonal indoor/outdoor woodcrafts, puppets, hand-woven textiles, glass jewelry, clay creations, nautically inspired furniture, and much more. Additional attractions consist of booths by community nonprofit organizations, including Genesee County ARC information & recycling education, Genesee County Historians Association, Batavia Assembly of God dunk tank and sand art, Batavia Players pizza & show info, ACORNS Genesee County Park info, GO ART!’s Picnic in the Park prize giveaway and many others. “Picnic” always offers up tantalizing food by a variety of vendors, such as Abbott’s cones, sundaes, milkshakes and root beer floats, Lonsberry fresh-squeezed lemonade and soft pretzels, Kernel Cravin’ Kettle Corn, and, of course, the Batavia Jaycees famous "dog and burger stand" in its traditional location.

The event is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Program with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Picnic sponsors include the County of Genesee, LocalEdge and Rotary Club of Batavia. Table sponsors: Batavia Area Jaycees, CY Farms/Batavia Turf, Roger & JoAnn Triftshauser, and Turnbull Heating & Air. Contributor: Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. Flag Sponsors: Bouchard Financial Services, Bob and Linda Knipe, McGinnis Excavation & Plumbing, and Tonawanda Valley FCU. Friends include Max & Jane Mason and Paula R. Schumann. Additional support provided by City of Batavia DPW, Genesee County Chamber and the Porter Family.

Admission is free to the “Picnic in the Park.” Please call GO ART! at 585-343-9313, e-mail info@goart.org or visit www.goart.org for more information.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is pleased to announce the Decentralization Re-grant recipients for 2014 in Genesee and Orleans counties, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. This year GO ART! received 27 applications to the Reach Grant Program requesting a total of $65,696.00. With $41,600 available, 26 of the applicants were awarded grants.

GO ART! is also pleased to re-grant two Ripple Grants ($2,500 each) to provide funding for the creation of new work by local individual artists who wish to involve the community in their creative process. One Arts Education Grant (recently renamed the Spark Grant) was awarded as well in the amount of $2,000. This grant provides funds to individual artists to create programs to work directly with children in a K-12 public school setting.

Reach Grant Program Award Recipients in Genesee County

• Batavia Concert Band -- 2014 Summer Concert Series -- $3,000
• Genesee Symphony Orchestra -- "A Time for Music: 67 Years of the GSO -- $3,000
• Gillam-Grant Community Center -- "Cultural Connections" -- $3,000
• Mental Health of Genesee County -- film series about MH issues -- $2,600
• Genesee Chorale/Regular Season -- "Hitting the High Notes" -- $2,500
• Batavia Players/Summer Youth -- Production of "Tommy" -- $2,000
• A Tale for Three Counties Council -- 2014 Reading Program -- $1,510
• Genesee ARC -- Sprout Touring Film Festival & Art Show -- $1,315
• Byron-Bergen Public Library -- "Fill Our Community with Culture" -- $1,300
• Village of Corfu -- Corfu/Pembroke Community Winterfest -- $1,200
• Batavia Players/Shakespeare -- Production of "Much Ado About Nothing" -- $1,100
• Friends of Richmond Memorial Library -- RML Senior Academy -- $1,000
• Le Roy Christian Community Project -- After School Theater & Art -- $1,000
• Woodward Memorial Library -- Everyone's an Artist youth program -- $900
• Town of Le Roy -- Trigon Park Summer Concert Series -- $800
• Encore! Theatre Arts -- Fall 2014 Musical Performance -- $800
• Genesee Chorale/Children's -- Children's Chorus -- $800
• Village of Bergen -- Tulley Building Mural Project -- $500

2014 Ripple Grant Recipients (both in Batavia)

• Patrick Burk -- "Macbeth the Movie" -- $2,500
• Kevin Feary -- "Moments Shared -- Portrait Sketches of Our Community" -- $2,500

The Decentralization Regrant Program (known locally as Reach, Ripple and Spark) was first developed in 1977 by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in response to a mandate by the New York State Legislature to encourage greater participation in the state’s cultural funding at the local level. Local decision-making is the basic principle of the Decentralization Regrant Program in supporting a wide range of community-based professional and avocational arts programs in diverse communities throughout the state, and in helping to support the work of individual artists. GO ART! is proud to administer the NYSCA Decentralization Regrant Program in Genesee and Orleans counties.

The grant process begins in the summer with grant workshops held throughout Genesee and Orleans counties. Individuals, nonprofit organizations and local government agencies submit applications in the fall for community-minded artistic and cultural programs. These proposals are reviewed by a panel (there are separate panels for the Reach, Ripple and Spark grants), made up of artists, community leaders and educators from the two counties. The panel then submits funding recommendations to the GO ART! Board of Directors for approval, and grants are awarded. Through the Decentralization Regrant Program, GO ART!, NYSCA, and the New York State Legislature hope to expand, upgrade and increase arts and cultural programming in Genesee and Orleans counties.