SaratogaArtsFest announces line-up and new features

What do "dueling organs," noted jazz musicians, children's theatre, Carnegie Hall, brimming art galleries, kids' art workshops, live bands on Broadway, and probing discussions with authors and artists have in common?  They are all part of SaratogaArtsFest 2010, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. 

SaratogaArtsFest, now in its fourth year, will take place June 10-13 and will once again present a citywide celebration spanning music, dance, visual art, film, theatre, and literary art. The festival will offer some 75 events and activities at venues throughout Saratoga Springs. The full festival schedule and program details are now available at www.SaratogaArtsFest.org.

A small sampling of this year's line-up includes the acclaimed Jose Limon Dance Company, jazz trumpeter Brandon Lee, pianist and sought-after jazz sideman Warren Bernhardt, the celebrated composer Richard Danielpour, Carnegie Hall's Ensemble ACJW, and fiction writer Alix Ohlin.  

These performances will be mixed in with dozens of events and activities for a wide-range of audiences?from the seasoned arts aficionado, to the live-entertainment enthusiast, to families with young children.

A celebration of local talent 

A key goal of SaratogaArtsFest 2010 will be to celebrate the talent of local artists, from those with established reputations to budding performers from nearby schools.

The area's musical talent will include the Albany Symphony Orchestra's brass quintet, Lake George Opera at Saratoga, Saratoga Chamber Players, Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, Ballston Spa Community Band, the Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society, and the eclectic Annie and the Hedonists. A number of youth choral and music groups will also perform.

This year's line-up will include the Albany-based Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company. Among the local visual artists who will display their works are sculptor Beverley Mastrianni and painters Michelle Winnie and David Arsenault.  

Area theatre will also play a key role in the festival, with two hard-hitting plays leading the charge. The Albany-based New York State Theater Institute will present a musical titled Orphan Train, the haunting story of orphans and "surplus" children of New York City who were sent West in the mid-nineteenth century for adoption.The Empire State College Foundation of SUNY will present Flashback, a play that explores the psychic repercussions of war. On a lighter note, Home Made Theater will present Runyonesque, an adaptation of Damon Runyon stories about Saratoga, gambling, and horse racing. 

New this year

SaratogaArtsFest 2010 will offer some fresh approaches designed to bring the arts together - and to bring the arts to the public - in new and creative ways.

Working Artist Studio Walk - For those who want a behind-the-scenes view of artists at work, this year's ArtsFest studio walks will be a real treat. On these self-guided tours, participants will have the opportunity to watch as painters, weavers, potters, and sculptors bring their creations to life. These open sessions will take place at some 20 studio locations throughout the city on Saturday and Sunday.

Center Stage  - ArtsFest 2010 will offer a new Center Stage feature, with ongoing programming on Friday evening and all day Saturday at a central downtown location?the parking lot between Lillian's and Cantina restaurants. A variety of music performances from local groups will be complemented by musical storytelling, family dance activities, and more.   The Center Stage will be the site of the popular Downtown Business Association Music Showcase from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, featuring bands playing rock, blues, folk, and soul.

Family Day  - On Sunday at Skidmore College, events for families will include a cabaret by the Saratoga Children's Theatre, the Amazing Kids Circus, hands-on art activities at the Tang Museum, a guided nature walk in the North Woods, and musical performances by students from the Saratoga Springs schools. The music events will highlight Skidmore's new Arthur Zankel Music Center and its acoustically tuned Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall.

Music and Motion - This dance and music collaboration will feature the music of composer Richard Danielpour and the choreography of dancer and Skidmore professor Debra Fernandez. Preludes will be played by Xiayin Wang, and string quartets will be performed by Hyperion Quartet.

"Opening the Box"  - A high-powered panel of artists and art experts will explore "Cross-Genre Collaboration in Today's Art Scene." Moderated by Yaddo President Elaina Richardson, the discussion will covercontemporary trends that are sparking artistic alliances.

The Saratoga Sculpture Project - Both indoor and outdoor sculpture will be showcased in a variety of locations throughout the city, with the artworks selected specifically for each venue. Locations will include the Tang Museum at Skidmore College, the Saratoga Arts Center on Broadway, the Saratoga Polo grounds, and the Saratoga Springs Amtrak station.

Purchase of the ARTSPASS Admission Package

The ARTSPASS provides access to some 75 events throughout SaratogaArtsFest as well as discounts and perks at area shops and eateries during the festival. Adult and senior ARTSPASS Admission Packages also include year-round benefits at area galleries, theaters, and museums.

The ARTSPASS Admission Package can be purchased online at www.SaratogaArtsFest.org and at three Saratoga Springs retail locations: Impressions on Broadway, Mimosa Gallery on Beekman Street, and Saratoga Beads on Henry Street.Beginning May 26, the ARTSPASS will be available for sale and pick-up at the SaratogaArtFest Center and Gallery, 543 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (above Stockade Imports, across from the Saratoga Hilton). 

The prices for the ARTSPASS Admission Package are listed below.

Adults	$35
Seniors (65+)	$25
Students (13+) and Military	$15
Youth (children 4 to 12)	$5
Children under 4	Free
Family Four Pack (2 adults, 2 youth)	$70

 

Alliances make the ArtsFest possible

Marie Glotzbach, president of the SaratogaArtsFest board of directors, attributes the success of the festival to alliances among groups representing the community, the arts, and education, as well as to the support of sponsors and patrons. "The ArtsFest is a truly the product of community collaboration, and seeing this wide array of groups come together with a common goal is fantastic," said Glotzbach.

Said Susan Brome, executive director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra, "We are excited to partner with SaratogaArtsFest. Bringing so many performance and visual artists together in one festival not only makes the arts more accessible to the public but also helps to broaden and diversify the artists' audiences.   The ArtsFest makes the public aware of the breadth and depth of the arts in this region."

Goals and sponsors

The mission of SaratogaArtsFest is to establish Saratoga Springs as a premier arts destination with a comprehensive, community-wide arts festival that showcases local, regional, and national artists. SaratogaArtsFest is committed to increasing appreciation for the arts, expanding audiences, and strengthening cultural tourism in the region.

Major sponsors of SaratogaArtsFest 2010 to date include Adirondack Trust Company, Designsmith Studio, Interactive Media Consulting, Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, Quad Graphics, Skidmore College, CBS 6, Star 101.3 fm, TheSaratogaLife.com, the Times Union, and WAMC Northeast Public Radio.