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ARTS
the
lively arts
(clockwise
from top left) Regional documentary filmmaker Penny Lane presented
the voices of women who have had abortions in The Abortion
Diaries; Dorian Blues producer Mary-Beth Taylor and director
Tennyson Bardwell celebrated the opening of the locally made
independent film at the Spectrum 8 Theatres in February; Saratoga
Springs sculptor Noah Savett earned acclaim for his works
in metal; and Emily Rawitsch began a movement to sew bras
into birds to raise cancer awareness, which were featured
in a show at Troy’s Pi Naturals.
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PHOTO:
Alicia Solsman
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Alicia Solsman
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more
lively arts
(clockwise
from top left) A stroll through Jacob’s Pillow in Becket,
Mass., brought visitors in contact with a myriad of dancers
and dance genres; Adam Zaretsky, part of a lively bioart scene
in Troy, turned himself into a lab rat; Hollis Palmer, in
costume, conducted summer site tours of lively 19th-century
murders in Saratoga Springs; and the Dance Flurry survived,
albeit in abbreviated form, a February high-wind storm that
knocked out power to Saratoga’s downtown.
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PHOTO:
Alicia Solsman
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PHOTO:
Alicia Solsman
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PHOTO:
Shannon DeCelle
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PHOTO:
John Whipple
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LIVE
put
’em up
(clockwise
from top left) Kris Kristofferson gave a stirring, personal
performance in his solo show at the Egg in March; Hugh Masekela
and his band had fans grazin’ in the grass at the Egg in April;
Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band made a big
folking sound at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in June;
Chris Robinson and the Black Crowes spread good cheer at their
July SPAC show.
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Martin Benjamin
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hummin’,
strummin’
(clockwise
from top left) the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas said “We’re
number one!” at the Washington Avenue Armory in October; Broadway
belter Audra McDonald wowed the crowd at Proctor’s Theater
in November; the Red Hot Chili Peppers made a big funking
sound at the Pepsi Arena in October; Sabina Sciubba of Brazilian
Girls stole the show at the weekend-long Camp Bisco at Hunter
Mountain in August.
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
John Brodeur
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PHOTO:
Martin Benjamin
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MUSIC
local
players
(clockwise
from top left) Alison Jacobs found her blues soulmate in young
guitarist Matt Mirabile; 16-year-old Berkshires singer-songwriter
Sonya Kitchell made it clear that she’s ready for the big
time, which is good, because the big time is ready for her;
Hudson-based quirky rock quartet the Luxury Flats told us
about lawn games, living together as a band, and doing it
DIY style; local rap star Dez drank, rapped about things that
matter like politics and social issues, and drank some more.
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:Shannon
DeCelle
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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making
the scene
(clockwise
from top left) Greg Mankes, aka DJ Milkdud, dished about the
rising presence of electronic music in the Capital Region
music scene; the Velmas celebrated the release of a new original
CD and label deal; the Kamikaze Hearts explained the dynamics
of their band—good and bad—and how their growth as a unit
helped them release a potent new album and get signed; Troy-based
Last Call celebrated 10 years of rocking.
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:Shannon
DeCelle
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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POLITICS
politicos
(clockwise
from top left) Congressional candidate Kirsten Gillibrand
(D-Greenport) gave a thumbs-up after hearing that she had
just unseated incumbent John Sweeney (R-Clifton Park) in the
20th District; soon-to-be New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer met
with one of his young supporters; Assemblyman John McEneny
(D-Albany) spoke to longtime rival Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings
after winning a seat in the Albany County Democratic Committee;
Jonathon Tasini rode his bicycle across the state to launch
his unsuccessful bid to unseat New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
John Whipple
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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closing
up shop
(clockwise
from top left) Steve and Rocky Roy closed their Albany music
store, Music Shack, an institution for nearly 40 years; Troy’s
Hudson Duster, known for its over-the-top hardcore scene,
shut down after a spate of violence; the Lark Street Bookstore
packed up its books and closed its doors after nearly four
years in business; Elonge Ekalele, host of Africa in Motion,
was “fired” from WRPI after a run-in with the station’s student
management.
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PHOTO:
John Whipple
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PHOTO:
John Whipple
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PHOTO:
Alicia Solsman
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PHOTO:
Kathryn Lurie
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speaking
out
(clockwise
from top left) Sex-education advocate Shelby Knox told Albany
teens about her struggle to get sex education in her Texas
high school; peace-loving grandmas asked the military to “take
us instead” while protesting at recruitment offices in Colonie
Center; MoveOn.org members brought their “Caught Red Handed”
campaign to the streets of Saratoga and to the Clifton Park
offices of John Sweeney; Troy-native Anthony Aversano remembered
the 5th anniversary of 9/11 by honoring his father, who died
during the attacks, and imploring Americans to end the cycle
of violence.
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Teri Currie
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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taking
a stand
(clockwise
from top left) Ten years later, David Kaczynski reflected
on his decision to turn in his brother, “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski;
May Saffar, a cofounder of the Muslim Defense Committee, spoke
out in defense of her fellow Muslims; Melissa Van Head of
New York State Peace Action shared her experiences in Iran
in an attempt to bridge gaps between cultures; Mike Stark
kept calling right-wing talk shows and they kept answering,
and later in the year, Stark was rewarded for his persistence
with a beating from the staff of Virginia Sen. George Allen.
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PHOTO:Joe
Putrock
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PHOTO:
John Whipple
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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won’t
back down
(clockwise
from top left) Four years and $100,000 later, George Sarris
continued to battle his neighbors and Clifton Park over his
animal sanctuary; Kurt Mausert used his computer to track
down the man who murdered his brother 27 years ago; three
filmmakers from Oneonta continued to challenge the official
version of events surrounding 9/11; Canada geese made themselves
at home in a Scotia park and narrowly escaped a death sentence
from town leaders.
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Martin Benjamin
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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making
the world a better place
(clockwise
from top left) Susan Witt spearheaded the BerkShares project
that provided Western Massachusetts residents with a local
currency; Tess the dog gave children an incentive to read
books at the Albany Public Library; Karate master Tony Butler
mentored Albany children in martial arts and discipline; the
Albany PAL Show Stoppers Team showed off their moves at the
8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. and Labor Celebration at
Albany’s Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology.
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PHOTO:
Jason Houston
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PHOTO:
David King
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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making
the world a more interesting place
(clockwise
from top left) Bob Alexson and his Schenectady bed and breakfast
raised many, um, eyebrows in the Capital Region by hosting
private swingers parties; the three pastors of Troy’s Terra
Nova church looked casual after bringing their rock &
roll brand of evangelical worship to Revolution Hall; two
state workers filled their lunch breaks with explorations
of Albany’s graffiti scene and its abandoned buildings; Troy
saw something of a rebirth as intrepid investors descended
on the city with money and vision.
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PHOTO:
Martin Benjamin
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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PHOTO:
Joe Putrock
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PHOTO:
Chris Shields
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Classifieds
