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ARTBEAT
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GREAT TRADITION: Salem’s Arts 220 Gallery & Studio
is now offering an exhibition of African artifacts from the
private collections of Kay Tomasi and Caroline Hooke.
According to the gallery, “from sculptures and bowls to textile-based
works, the exhibit offers a broad representation of various
pieces from Africa.” Such as this Bougoni doll (pictured)
from the Republic of Mali, which comes with a story about
the doll’s life—that guitar the doll’s holding is called a
“cora.” The exhibit, the first of their fall season, continues
in the Arts 220 Gallery & Studio (Route 22, Salem, in
the blue building across from the train station) through Sept.
30. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday (call for
times), and by appointment. For more info, call 854-3406.
GREETINGS, HERR DIREKTOR: The Tang Teaching Museum and
Art Gallery, which is, of course, on the campus of Skidmore
College, has found someone to assume the post of director,
succeeding Charles Stainback. (Stainback has long since decamped
for SITE, a contemporary art space in Santa Fe. It’s John
Weber, who most recently served as curator of education
and public programs at the San Francisco Museum of Modern
Art. According to the press release, Charles M. Joseph,
Skidmore’s vice president of academic affairs, expressed delight,
praising Weber as a director who “combines a sophisticated
sense of contemporary art with substantial experience at the
cutting edge of museum-based education.” Qualities which,
given the museum’s mission, should fit the Tang perfectly.
For his part, Weber seems equally pleased, and expressed his
enthusiasm for the Tang’s undeniable dedication to experimentation
in its programming. Sounds like the honeymoon might last a
while.
OH VEGETABLE GENTLEMAN: It’s that time of year again. Schenectady’s
Congregation Agudat Achim is hosting their 26th annual
Carrot Festival, which will take place Sunday (Sept.
12), “rain or shine.” There will be the usual delights: fresh
organic produce from Schoharie County; honey and plants; over
40 craft tables; fun for the kids; and, of course, the Walking
Carrot. The theme of this festival is The Journey, in
celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Jewish arrival
in America. And one of the highlights may prove to be the
accompanying art exhibit, The Over 90 Art Show.
You heard that right: the three featured artists, Johanna
Takaroff (quilter), Jeanette Neisuler (weaver)
and Eve Wasser (painter), are all indeed over 90 years
old. (While the festival only lasts one day, the exhibit continues,
in the Michael Handelman Room, through Oct. 30.) Congregation
Agudat Achim is located at 2117 Union St., Schenectady; the
festival runs this Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more info,
call 393-9211.
FOXY BERNIE: Maybe you’re not one of those folks who attended
a home screening party for the Fox News channel-bashing documentary
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism.
Then this Monday (Sept. 13) is your lucky night. Images
Cinema (Williamstown, Mass.) is hosting a presentation
of the snarky little flick, and U.S. Representative Bernie
Sanders, that independent’s independent from Vermont,
will be on hand to watch and discuss the hit indie film by
director Robert Greenwald (Xanadu). Showtime
is at 7 PM; call (413) 458-1039 for the inside information.
—Shawn
Stone
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