Join author/artists Scott Woods and Helena Pittman for a lively discussion on writing and painting on Sunday, December 2nd at 1 pm. WJFF’s Valerie Mansi will facilitate the discussion.
Helena has written and illustrated 17 books for children and her best-selling book “A Grain of Rice” has just been published in a new edition by Penguin Random House. On the origins of this book on exponential progression, Helena writes “Math was never my strength, anything but! But I worked out the transactions up to one hundred doublings of the numbers. Kids would love this, I thought. I hadn’t yet imagined the pictures the numbers would ultimately inspire me to conceptualize and draw—the book was published in black and white, its drawings in pencil. I was just taken with what the numbers did.”
Scott started his career illustrating boys’ adventure novels for Simon and Shuster, then moved on to the film business in LA, animating for Amblin’ Entertainment and DreamWorks. He spent his childhood summers in Callicoon Center and that landscape provided the inspiration for many of his later illustrations. Eventually the Catskills called him home and his recent book “We Hillfolk” describes his re-entry into country life, a real-life, grown-up boy’s adventure. He is a portrait artist and painter whose work captures the charm of each subject.
Ann Higgins, Elise Hornbeck, Valerie Taggart, Laverne Black and Kate Hyden, have created an early winter show featuring their vibrant watercolors and drawings of landscapes, wildlife, flowers and faces. This professional group of local artists and friends meet regularly, getting together to paint, share their expertise and have some fun.
Join us for an opening reception Sunday, November 18th at 1 pm. The show will run until December 16th.
Don’t know these artists? Ann Higgins is a former Liberty, NY teacher, a founding member of the Catskill Art Society, a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society (NEWS) and a renowned artist who continues to exhibit her work from the Adirondacks to Connecticut. Elise Hornbeck has a passion for drawing and painting the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, including the old covered bridges and barns of New York State. She is also a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society and has exhibited locally and throughout the region. Valerie Taggart is a former Art Teacher with an MA in Painting/Printmaking from SUNY Oswego. She is also a signature member of the Northeast Watercolor Society. Watercolor is her favorite medium, about which she says “it allows for direct and immediate expression.” Invoking the quiet solitude of rural life, she strives to create a sense of place in her work. LaVerne Black grew up on a small farm in Sullivan County and she holds dear the rural landscape and country lifestyle. She has exhibited widely throughout the region and in NY City. For many years she roamed the countryside photographing the rural scenes that were rapidly disappearing. She has returned to painting, drawing upon her photography for inspiration. Kate Hyden has a degree in Painting from FSU and is a resident of Livingston Manor, NY. She is a member of the North East Watercolor Society, Catskill Art Society and has exhibited in the area for the last several years. She is also a member of the Sullivan County Audubon Society. Her love of birds is reflected in her work. She created and participated in the three Audubon and Friends Too exhibitions in Sullivan County.
Two local authors will read and discuss their books on Sunday, November 11 at 2 pm. Both writers have set fictionalized stories in part in Sullivan County, each with historical backdrops; and both infuse government conspiracy theories into their work.
Gray Basnight will talk about his new political thriller, set against the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival and government crimes of the J Edgar Hoover era: Flight of the Fox (July 2018).
Bill Klaber will talk about his historical novel set in part in Sullivan County in the 1880s: The Rebellion of Lucy Ann Lobdell (2015), and his recently updated historical investigation: Shadow Play: The Unsolved Murder of Robert F. Kennedy (April 2018).
More About the Authors and Their Books In Gray Basnight’s new political thriller Flight of the Fox, an innocent math professor tries to decode a mystery file while hitmen chase him from Bethel to NYC and down the East Coast.Their goal is to suppress dark government crimes from decades past. His goal is for the truth to be told. The action switches between the historical backdrop of the J. Edgar Hoover era and the forthcoming 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival. The professor runs for his life, armed only with his wits and intellect, worrying whether the truth will be told, and if he’ll be seen as a hero whistle blower or a pariah. Basnight is deeply immersed in his third career — fiction writing, after almost three decades in broadcast news; preceded by a few years pursuing an acting career. His other published novels are The Cop with the Pink Pistol, a modern NYC-detective mystery with some scenes in the Catskills; and Shadows in the Fire, a Civil War historical novel about two young slaves on the edge of freedom as Richmond falls in April 1865. Basnight and his wife split their time between Sullivan County and New York City. He has lived in New York long enough to consider himself a native, though he grew up in Richmond, Virginia.
William Klaber, who lives a short way upstream from where Lucy Lobdell lived 160 years ago, originally set out to write a non-fiction account of her life after learning that the farmhouse he and his wife bought in 1980 had a history with Lucy’s legend.Klaber ultimately decided it would be better as a fictionalized account, tapping her story through echoes and dreams to create the award-winning novel The Rebellion of Lucy Ann Lobdell. Just-updated for the 50th anniversary of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy, Shadow Play explores altered evidence, ignored witnesses, and coerced testimony. It challenges the official assumptions and conclusions about this troubling, and perhaps still unsolved, political murder. It’s also the basis for a new podcast that debuted at #1 on the iTunes chart this year. Bill Klaber is a part-time journalist who has lived in an old farmhouse on a hill overlooking Basket Creek since 1980, where he and his wife raised their three children.
When Kate and Valerie asked us to host this party and show, I was thrilled and honored. I’ve been a fan of Ann’s work since the moment I saw one of her watercolors. We first met when I was looking for merchandise for our yet-to-be-opened store. She was living in Claryville at that time, and I had a wonderful afternoon visiting her studio and chatting with her and her friends.
Bio — A Grahamsville artist, Ann Higgins is a former Liberty, NY teacher, a founding member of the Catskill Art Society, a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society (NEWS) and a renowned artist who continues to exhibit her work from the Adirondacks to Connecticut.
Ann’s multimedia works reflect her keen observation and love of nature. Whether in a landscape, a pet portrait or other subject, her skill and distinctive style are always a joy to behold. She has exhibited locally at the Liberty Museum, Catskill Art Society, and DVAA, in NEWS member and international shows and in every Audubon and Friends Too show as well.
Ann stays active. If she’s not at the gym, gardening or playing her piano, she writes the NEWSletter, takes walks with her cat, publishes a calendar of her drawings every year and still makes time to paint with friends every week. And those are just the tip of the artist’s iceberg! She continues to be a world traveler and to chronicle the vistas she finds on her journeys in her sketchbook.
Kate Hyden, one of the “Friends of Friday” a group of artists who gather regularly, says “there is no single thing that most endears Ann to her friends and her family, be it her wry sense of humor, her kindness, her generosity, or even that all-encompassing spirit of joy which infuses her work and touches all who meet her.”
Locally Grown Flowers — We grow them, you enjoy them!
The region boasts many talented floral designers and florists who work creatively and diligently to make your wedding flowers stand out. There is another option for those of you who take a hands-on approach and/or have a strict budget. You can grow, pick and arrange your own wedding flowers, or choose some combination of the above.
If you are a gardener, your seed and bulb orders for the annuals should be completed soon. Pick varieties that will be in bloom at the time of your wedding and make sure to start the seeds at the right time. There are many easy to grow annuals that will provide gorgeous flowers; take care to select for color, height and number of days till bloom. If you have perennial gardens, note when those plants are in bloom and incorporate them or their foliage into your plan. If you don’t have a garden, you may have a gardening friend or two who would be honored to grow flowers as their wedding present to you.
Picking flowers is the easy part. Whether you pick in your own garden, a friend’s garden, or at a Pick Your Own Garden or Farm, this simple advice will help you to select the freshest, most beautiful flowers available and keep them that way.
Pick early or late in the day: The best time to pick flowers is early in the day when their stems are full of water and their sugar content is higher. Second best time is early evening.
Select for freshness: Flowers such as peonies and roses should be picked when the bud is just beginning to open and is starting to show color. Spiked flowers such as foxglove or gladiolus should be picked when the bottom three or four buds are in bloom. Delphinium and lupin should be picked when most of the spike is in bloom. Flowers such as zinnias, daisies, sunflowers and dahlias should be picked when they are fully open, but before they develop any pollen (a circle of yellow).
Use a clean bucket and sharp, clean flower shears: Cut the stem cleanly and at an angle so that there is more area for water uptake. Don’t mash the stem as you would if picking by hand, you will damage the stem and it will not be able to take up water. Place directly into a bucket filled with warm but never hot water, minimizing the possibility of air pockets in the stem. It is best to strip the bottom leaves before placing the flower into the bucket. Dirt can get into the water, blocking the stems and bacteria can begin to grow.
Bring friends and family: The time you or your friends and family spend picking and arranging flowers becomes an event within the entire wedding experience. Members of the wedding party and friends will spend time together catching up or getting to know each other as they work their way through the garden.
Look around the yard: Garden foliage such as ivy, fern, and hosta can add depth and interest to your arrangements. Look for wildflowers such as Queen Anne’s lace to help provide filler. Avoid plants such as ragweed which aggravate allergies.
Let the flowers “rest” a while before arranging: Store in a cool, dark place for several hours or overnight to help “condition” the flowers. Re-cut the stems, remove any remaining leaves that will be below water level and place in a clean bucket with fresh warm but not hot water. Some flowers need special treatment. If they have a soft stem and a heavy flower head, such as a tulip, wrap loosely in paper to prevent drooping. Woody stems should have an additional vertical cut to aid in water uptake. We don’t advocate the use of any floral preservative because the flowers are truly fresh and the use of clean water, vases and shears will ensure their freshness throughout the event. Treat the flowers as you would your most delicate guest – keep them well watered, shaded and cool.
Many brides are lucky to have friends or family who are accomplished flower arrangers and who gladly volunteer to help. While making wedding plans, include a plan for the number of arrangements you want and where they will be placed. Is there something special at your venue that will be made even more so with flowers? Make sure that you have vases, ribbon, and other supplies on hand. Vases should be clean, and there should be ample working space. Consider how the arrangements will be transported. Plan well in advance, be flexible and enjoy the added participation of family and friends.
Please Join Us for a Holiday Market!
Need the perfect gift? There’s a great chance you’ll find it at our Holiday Pop Up! Our regular vendors will be joined by local artists and crafts people offering beautiful hand crafted pieces. See offerings by Helena Pittman, Will O Wool Sheep Farm, Robyn Almquist, Light Curves, Light Touch, Heirloom Botanicals, Honeybee Herb Farm, Natural Valley Kitchen and The Plunk Shop. We’re also featuring a number of books by local authors, ceramics from Bryan Cronk, Sumari Arts and others, Fair Trade and US made gifts of all kinds. And, of course, our wide range of antiques and collectibles. Hope to see you!
Please Join Us for a Holiday Market!