This class takes students inside the homes, studios, and galleries of contemporary Hudson Valley artists. Presenters are the artists or gallery owners who will speak about their inspirations, processes, and careers. Students will experience multiple visual art forms, including abstract paintings, installation art, natural realism, ceramics, and large-scale sculptures. Tours are indoors; two tours feature outdoor sculptures. Standing is required.
Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
March 19, 26; April 2, 9, 16, 23 (6 classes)
Week 1. Studio of Jenny Nelson, Woodstock. Nelson is an abstract painter and a painting instructor. She begins each canvas with layers of color that are improvised, abstract, and even chaotic. Through a process of addition and subtraction, she brings each painting into balance with sensitivity and attention to detail.
Presenter: Jenny Nelson, BFA, attended Bard College as well as SCAD Lacoste in France. A former resident of the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, she instructs in Woodstock and exhibits at numerous galleries, including the Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson.
Week 2. Hotel Tivoli. The hotel is in a century-old building situated in the historic town of Tivoli. Opened by painters Brice and Helen Marden, the property is filled with an eclectic collection of furniture, lighting, and art.
Presenter: Janett Pabon has worked at Hotel Tivoli since 2014. She previously worked at NYC’s Chanterelle and the Balthazar Restaurant Group. She is a Certified Tourism Ambassador and was awarded Dutchess County Tourism’s Hospitality Service Award of Distinction.
Week 3. Studio of Donald Elder, Saugerties. Elder’s abstract impressionist paintings are influenced by and have an emotional rapport with nature. His works are infused with mystical light.
Presenter: Donald Elder began his education in New York. He later lived and studied art in France and Italy. His focus is on Abstract Impressionism, reflecting fantasy, mystical light, romanticism, and nature. He teaches at the Woodstock School of Art.
Week 4. Studio of Samantha French, in Rifton. French’s work includes public murals in Kingston and Bushwick. Her current work featuring swimmers explores the transitory qualities of memory and water, as light moves both above and below the surface. Her paintings and murals provide a subtle respite from everyday life.
Presenter: Samantha French, BFA, a Minnesota native, attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and now lives and paints in the Hudson Valley.
Week 5. Elena Zang Gallery, Woodstock. This fine arts gallery is set on an idyllic property in Woodstock. It includes a sculpture garden and a working ceramics studio and exhibits contemporary fine art by internationally known and regional artists living in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Presenter: Alan Hoffman owns the Elena Zang Gallery, which represents a variety of prominent regional artists. An artist currently working in ceramics, Hoffman has a studio with a walk-in kiln on the premises.
Week 6. The Spiral House, Saugerties. Sacred geometry revealed in stone. Artist Tom Gottsleben (1950 - 2019) designed and built a five-story, stone, spiral house. Surrounded by his outdoor stone and crystal sculptures, one experiences the beauty and harmony inherent in nature’s patterns.
Presenters: Patty Livingston with her late husband, Tom, created the Spiral House and surrounding landscape. A philanthropist, her focus is on the environment, protecting the land in perpetuity, public access, and environmental education.
Ronnie Shushan is a writer, editor, and graphic designer of books and magazines. She co-authored the book The Spiral House (2019) with Patty and Tom.