Summer Ends

Another summer slips away!  Where did it go?  The days are noticeably shorter and the nights are cool enough that you pull a blanket up around your shoulders. Goldenrod is painting fields and roadsides with a splash of yellow, and wild asters are making their appearance throughout the Catskills.  The change of season offers many fresh opportunities to the landscape photographer.  Scenes that have become commonplace after weeks of summer are changed in ways both subtle and dramatic.  They invite renewed scrutiny and often yield beautiful images.  Heavy morning dew beads a spider web and creates a subtle pastel scene at sunrise, along the Neversink River.  What has the Gallery been up to?  Come see our work.  At the September 6 Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods, and the Fine Arts and Crafts Festival in Chatham, New Jersey on September 13.

Artists' Challenge -- Day One

by Buff

I don't know if you have noticed, but there's an artists' challenge running around on the internet -- to post three photos of work each day for five days.  My brother, Michael McAllister, nominated me (along with a few other  people, including his wife, Gail McAllister) for the challenge.  It's on Facebook, but I figured I might as well share it on our blog as well.

Today is day one for me, and I'm showing three pieces of recent work.  The first one is from my relationships series, and is called "Brief Encounter."  The other two are from my communications series; the first one is called "Right Brain, Left Brain," and the last one is "Soliloquy."  I'm combining woven strips of fabric with applique.

Beware, other members of CAG -- I'll be nominating all of you next!

Moon set

by Hank

 Winter is finally here; my Delaware River is slowing down.

LEAVETAKING

by Robert

As a founding member of the Catskill Artists Gallery, I have many wonderful memories of more than ten years of accomplishment and forging friendships.  We are colleagues who have created a successful group of exhibiting artists.  Members specialize in their own medium and explore it to the fullest extent, artistically and expressively.  The work gets more beautiful each year.

But best of all we support and encourage each other.

I am very sad to leave but will closely follow the gallery's progress.  Thanks Buff, Nada, Cate, Kathy, Tom and Hank.

Many thanks to you, Robert, for your art, your comradeship, your good humor and your support.  We will miss you. Buff

Happy Holidays!

by Tom

To all our friends, a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy 2015!

It's October -- Time for Sugar Loaf Craft Fair

by Buff

It's October and a chill is in the air in the evenings.  The fall foliage is almost at peak, and I brought in all my house plants in advance of the first frost -- any day now!  So it must be time for the Sugar Loaf Craft Fair!  Sugar Loaf is a whole craft village with wonderful things, and the fair just adds to the fun!  It's next weekend, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Columbus Day).  Check our events page for more details.  See you there!

Interactive Art

 By Tom

Corn fritters are a special treat that should be classified as interactive art.  They are best when made from fresh-picked corn and served hot off the griddle.  The participatory element involves the application of toppings.  Butter, maple syrup, or apple sauce? 

New York Botanical Garden

by Tom

Last Saturday, I visited the New York Botanical Garden with my wife.  It was a trip long overdue.  Pat is passionate about flowers and gardening, and enough of her enthusiasm rubbed off on me that we both thoroughly enjoyed the visit.  It is, I think, a trip best taken without children.  Of course there were kids at the garden with their parents, too well behaved, toddling alongside or being pushed in a stroller.  The only explanations I can think of is that they were foreigners, or they just got there.  My experience raising three boys is that any trip to New York with children that did not involve Dinosaurs, Jets, Animals or Rocks was destined to failure if it lasted more than 30-45 minutes.  But back to the garden:  There are an incredible variety of trees and plants, from old growth forest and exquisite flowers to common garden vegetables, all meticulously tended by invisible gardeners.  The carefully composed landscapes are truly works of art.  The eye flows effortlessly through each scene, and one can’t help feeling a deep appreciation for the skill and passion of those who created it.  You will want to bring a camera or sketch book. And one visit is not enough, because you can’t help but wonder how the garden will appear in other seasons!