Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brenda McMahon.
518.692.7742 or brenda@bluemoonclay.com
www.OpenStudiosWashingtonCounty.com
 

Professional Artists of Washington County
 Celebrate the First Annual Open Studios Tour

Twelve professional artists have joined forces in Washington County NY to debut the Open Studios Tour a celebration of Fine Art and the Cultural community. This free, self-guided tour will be held in the artists' studios along the country roads of southern Washington County on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22, 2007 from 10am – 5pm.

Two years ago, artist Serena Kovalosky, who had just returned to her native Whitehall, was looking for a way to connect to the art community and discovered Brenda McMahon at Blue Moon Clay Studio. Kovalosky spent 15 years in the tourist industry in Montreal before leaving it to become an artist. When she met McMahon they discovered they shared a vision for the professional arts community of Washington county. McMahon, who already successfully organized the Pottery Trail, an established tour of upstate ceramic artists had been looking for someone to collaborate with on this new project.

As the two women see it, the idea is a celebration of all the arts and agriculture that takes place here. Simply said, the fine arts, performing arts and culinary arts. “The three arts represent a profound trinity here in Washington County”, McMahon says, “our goal is to expand and underscore that in this beautiful rural community.” The performing arts seem to have a home and the culinary arts seem to be represented by the local food movement, the farmers markets and the slow food movement, but the visual artists were the only ones who were not represented. In 2005 Kovalosky and McMahon decided to join forces and expertise and thus the seed was planted for the Open Studios Tour: A celebration of the Fine and Cultural Arts of Washington County.

They have already successfully partnered with Hubbard Hall who will be holding performances of Shakespeare in the Park On Saturday, July 21 and Music From Salem, a chamber music concert on Sunday, July 22nd. In coming years they expect to expand to include the local food movement.

The Open Studios Tour is a collection of 12 professional artists who exhibit nationally and internationally; these artists were selected by an independent jury. All the artists had to participate, work and contribute funds to make this Open Studios Tour happen. The Open Studios Tour is generously funded in part by the Washington County Tourism Association in conjunction with I love
NY. Marge Mohn, Director of Washington County Tourism, has been an advocate for the Open Studios Tour from its inception and has secured public funding for the event in the form of a matching grant. The professional artists of Washington County are deeply grateful for her vision and commitment to public access to arts in this rural community.

The professional full-time artists include painters, sculptors, ceramicists, wood carvers and a basket maker. Each artist has a story that brought them to the rolling hills of Washington County.

Photographer George Forss began selling his photographs on the streets of New York City in the 1970’s. He first got a name for himself a decade later when his photographs were published. That discovery led to an appearance on The Today Show, where he was described as the “Urban Ansel Adams”. In 1989 he moved to Cambridge, NY.

Painter Leslie Parke has lived in Washington county for over 30 years. Parke spent 5 months as an artist-in-residence at the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny, France as part of an International grant. Her oil paintings are in collections nationwide and abroad.

Sculptor Gyula Varosy uses rough hewn tree trunks to carve his figuratively inspired sculptures. Varosy, who lives in Greenwich, became a full time sculptor after making his living as an architect in Manhattan for many years.

Painter, Leslie Anne Peck, a native of Buffalo, NY studied in Italy at the Scoula di Lorenzo De Medici in Florence before moving to New York City to pursue her career. She enjoyed two decades working as a cover illustrator for romance novels before moving to Washington County. Marriage to her husband and plans to raise a family brought her to Greenwich, where she turned her skills to the
inspiration around her, farm animals. Peck’s work has been showed both regionally and nationally.

Ceramic artist Brenda McMahon moved to the town of Easton 11 years ago when she heard news of a local potter selling his house and studio. McMahon’s fine porcelain has won her awards nationwide and later this year she will have her first international ceramic exhibit in Thailand. McMahon runs Blue Moon Clay Studios along the east bank of the Hudson River.

Woodcarver Ed Hepp, who is inspired by the master carvers of the carousel era, creates extraordinary rocking horses at his studio in south Cambridge.

Painter Adriano Manocchia, is a nationally acclaimed contemporary sporting artist who began his career as a photo-journalist in New York City. In 1983 he committed himself full time to painting. Manocchia has received numerous awards and his work is published widely in international magazines.

Ceramic artist Serena Kovalosky creates hand-built sculptures inspired by the work of the Native American potters of the Champlain Valley. She gathers her own clay from the banks of Lake Champlain. Kovalosky also creates exquisite gourdwork in her unique contemporary primitive style.

Other artists include basket maker Bliss White McIntosh, pastel artist and painter Virginia McNeice, textile artist & sculptor Anastasia Lee Nute and painter Joan Duff-Bohrer. Their work can be seen at
www.OpenStudiosWashingtonCounty.Com.

For more information, or to get on the mailing list to receive the Open Studios brochure, contact Brenda McMahon at 518.796.4207, brenda@bluemoonclay.com
or Serena Kovalosky at 518.282-9202, serenakovalosky@hotmail.com

The First Annual Open Studios of Washington County will be held from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, July 21 & 22nd, 2007.