Arts in columbia county

Among the artists represented was Jean-Marie Gabriel, Haitian born painter. Azouke Legba's Haitian music group performed informally. Author and illustrator, Jackie Rogers, signed and sold her fascinating childrens' books. Barry Jackson, the thrid generation to run Jackson's Old Chatham House, served up hotdogs, hamburgers and veggie-burgers to the hungry crowd.

Thomas Locker gave a talk on the history of the Hudson River Valley in the 18th century, the painters of the Hudson River School, and his work that celebrates its landscape and heritage. Jan Hanvik and Anna Cinquemani of the CCCA organized a sales table for the many lucky artists who sold their work.

Local businesses including the Old Chatham Country Store, Blass Communications, the Town of Chatham Highway Department and the Park Row Gallery, all pitched in to make the day a big success.

More on Jean-Marie Gabriel:

Born in 1959 in Port-au-Prince, Jean-Marie Gabriel is an accomplished painter, showing distinct promise of future growth by his creativity and inventiveness. While painting is his main interest, he has also been involved in the theatre.

Gabriel completed secondary studies through the Second Form at the Lycée of Pétion-Ville. From 1979 to 1981, he studied at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. In 1983, he was an actor with the National Popular Theatre, and in 1986 worked under Pierre Bernay at the Franco-Haitian Drama Centre. He has written one play entitled "Litany". Gabriel has also served as a radio speaker and has done radio advertising.

Jean-Marie Gabriel is an articulate, cultivated person, whose art belongs to the modern school, which he describes as "Ethno-Figurative Cubism". Since 1983, painting has been his principal artisitic occupation, and he intends to make his career as a painter. His style and subject matter show this influence of his famous uncle, the late Jac Gabriel, under whom he studied until the death of Jac Gabriel in 1989. His compositions are often done in one plane and vivid in color. He works in acrylic on canvas and hardboard.

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Arts Walk 2005

The 11th Annual Hudson Arts Walk was held throughout the city of Hudson from October 1-10, 2005. We cannot estimate how many people attended, but if we add up the number of people and organizations contributing to the event's success, and assume that each of them had 5 friends who attended, that alone assumes several thousand people enjoyed the bounty of the region' artists, architecture and other attractions. Among the performers was Azouke Sanon, percussionist, performer and composer from Haiti.

The public in invited to attend the Arts Walk Opening Day which takes place on Saturday October 1st, from 6-10pm at the Pocketbook Factory, one of Hudson's Historic buildings on the corner of Washington and 6th Street.

All are welcome to enjoy fantastic food donated by Hudson's many local restaurants, refreshments, dancing to DJ Giovanni diMola and live drumming by Azouke Legba. The Haitian Community Development Project is a sponsor of the music and drumming portion of the event.

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NAKED SHOW AT CCCA

The Columbia County Council on the Arts (CCCA) show "Naked: An Artist's Interpretation of Bodies and Truth" opened on June 5 through July 24, 2004. CCCA members working in all media - fiber arts, sculpture, photography, painting, mixed media - submitted entries.

Among the artists selected in various media was Jean-marie Gabriel, a Haitian born painter, whose art belongs to the "modern" school, which he describes as Ethno-Figurative Cubism.

A total of 40 artists submitted work and 19 were chosen for the exhibition with work ranging from traditional figurative to fractured abstract. All media were represented with the strongest representation in painting.

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BAMBOCHE LAKAY AT ALBANY FIRST NIGHT

An exciting experience of sight and sound, this vivacious Haitian dance and drum troupe from New York City will amaze you with their energy! Haiti is celebrating is Bicentennial in 2004, and First Night Albany is just the start of the celebration. This inventive troupe will astound you with their infectious choreography, songs, rhythm and humor.

Midway to Midnight Ceremonies - 6pm
Palace Theatre

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POETRY AND MUSIC RESOUND IN ART GALLERY

Poetry, music and urban planning all converged in the first meeting of the county's newest poetry-music circle Nov. 1, 2003 at the Richard Sena Gallery. Sena dedicated the night to the author of Diamond Street, Bruce Hall, who had died the day before.

"He saw what this city could be," Sena said. "His book has a lot to do with the revitalization of the city. That colorful history brought a lot of people up here."

Hall went back to New York in 1997 thinking that Hudson would never change, Sena said. but the curator thought of the poetry circle as one of the many things that would prove his friend wrong about that.

The moderator was poet Craig Hancock, who brought his friends from the Kinderhok Writer's Group to read their works.

Ralph Sansarcq read a stoy based on an incident in his Haitian childhood. His family was attempting to cross a river, but there were no bridges. Instead, there were two men, who pushed the cars across while maintaining their footing with poles. The windows were shut tight to keep the water from coming in.

Carline Murphy of Hudson also grew up in Haiti and said the story "brought back memories" of a similar incident from her own childhood. "It's interesting you two were brought together tonight," said Sena.

There was more poetry as well, much of it from the Kinderhook group. Pam French read two poems, "Nightmare" and "Communion" about when she first moved to Spencertown. Irene Mitchell read a poem, "Much Obliged" which had been set to music.

There was also harmony at the musical level. Accompanying himsself on guitar, Hancock played his own paired-down composition called, "Love Me Gently." Tony Manes of Chatham also brought his guitar and played a song by Michelle Shocked based on the Appalacian Fiddle tune "Cripple Creek," accompanied by Hancock and Matt Bowe on mandolin.

And there was culinary harmony, as refreshments were available for the weary performers after just one go round.

Sena said the poetry music circle would continue to meet at 8pm on the second Saturday of the month at the Richard Sena Gallery, 238 Warren Street, Hudson.

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CARRIBBEAN ART AND DANCE AT THE JUBILEE RESTAURANT

The Jubilee Restaurant was packed to the gills Saturday afternoon, June 28, with the overflow crowd looking through the windows from the side hallway. The Haitian dance and drum troupe bamboche Lakay, from New York City had the large crowd transfixed with their inventive, infectious choreography, songs rhythm and humore. The event happened thanks to the Columbia County Council on the Arts, the Richard Sena Gallery and the Haitian Community Development Project.

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CCCA PRESENTS SPIRIT AND PASSSION: AFRO-CARIBBEAN ART

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence, and at the request of various members of Hudson's and the Capital Region's Haitian Community, the Columbia County Council on the Arts, with the sponsorship of The Diamond Street Collective, is mounting an exhibition of paintings and sculpture titled "Spirit and Passion: Afro-Caribbean Art".

Afro-Caribbean Art Events:

June 21 and 22:
Film at CCCA "Divine Horseman" 5pm

June 28:
CCCA Gallery Reception 4-6pm
Traditional Haitian Dace Performace 5pm
Diamond Street Collective Reception 6-8pm