SaratogaArtsFest coming to town and campus June 7-10
SaratogaArtsFest, a collaboration of more than 40 community arts organizations, will present a packed schedule of events and activities for the sixth annual citywide celebration of the arts, June 7-10. The festival will once again offer something for everyone - from the seasoned arts aficionado to families with young children - with programs spanning music, dance, visual art, film, theatre, and literary art.
"The heart of our programming comes from local arts organizations, all of which have a proven ability to create an amazing array of events and activities," said Mary Ellen O'Loughlin, executive director of SaratogaArtsFest. "When you combine that with the artists we draw from the national and international arenas, you get a powerful mix of talent and a wide breadth of artistic expression."
Kirstin Hersh
Other performers from the area will include the Saratoga Chamber Players, presenting "The Art of the String Quintet," featuring performances of works by von Dittersdorf, Onslow, and Dvorak. TheAlbany Symphony Orchestrabrass quintet, led by noted trumpeter Eric Berlin, will offer a varied program ranging from Renaissance and Baroque selections to big band jazz and Broadway show tunes. The Boston-based Duo Sonidos, a chamber music duo of guitar and violin, will also perform.
The SaratogaArtsFest line-up will feature such well-known artists as singer-songwriter Don McLean, whose 1971 hit "American Pie" has become a popular music classic.His other hit songs include "Vincent" ("Starry, Starry Night"),"And I Love You So," "Castles in the Air," and "Crying" (written by Roy Orbison).
The Bill T. Jones Dance Company(Paul B. Good)
A number of the performances will cross traditional boundaries. In "Undercover Playground" the Ellen Sinopoli Co. dancers descend upon a local playground to leap, twirl, and glide along swing sets, monkey bars, and slides, accompanied by Ghanaian percussionist Zorkie Nelson. In "Keeping Company with Cage"choreographer Debra Fernandez and artist Margo Mensing collaborate with pianist (and Skidmore president emeritus) David Porter tobring together dance, recorded sounds, live video, and the experimental music of composer John Cage?all to celebrate the centennial of the composer's birth.
The full festival schedule is available at SaratrogaArtsFest.org
Festival Admission Packages
The ARTSPASS, the festival admission package for adults and seniors, provides access to most festival events as well as discounts and perks at area shops and eateries during the festival. The ARTSPASS also includes year-round benefits and discounts at area arts organizations, including galleries, theaters, and museums.
Among the many programs for children will be the
Hudson Vagabond Puppets
The prices for the admission packages are adults and seniors $35, students (18 and older with student I.D.) $20, military $15, youth (ages 5-17) $5. Children under age 5 are free.
All admission packages can be purchased online at SaratogaArtsFest.org or in person at the Skidmore College Bookstore and three downtown locations?Impressions on Broadway, Mimosa Gallery on Broadway, and Saratoga Beads on Henry Street.
Beginning May 15, Admission Packages will be available for sale and pick-up at the SaratogaArtsFest Center and Gallery, located at 38 Van Dam Street. SaratogaArtsFest thanks the Golden Family, owners of 43 Van Dam Street, for their generous donation of gallery and office space for this year's festival.
Goals and sponsors
The mission of SaratogaArtsFest is to promote Saratoga Springs, N.Y., as a premier arts destination. The annual festival showcases local arts organizations through the programming of established and emerging artists from the local, national, and international scenes. ArtsFest is made possible by an alliance of community partners committed to increasing appreciation and enjoyment of the arts, expanding arts audiences, and strengthening year-round cultural tourism in the Saratoga region.
Major sponsors of SaratogaArtsFest 2012 to date include Adirondack Trust Company, Designsmith Studio, Fingerpaint Marketing, Interactive Media Consulting, L'esperance Tile Works, Modern Mix Marketing, Skidmore College, Sperry's Restaurant/Circus Caf , CBS 6, Star 101.3, Saratoga.com, the Times Union, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, and WMHT.
