Art Garage To Host Rural Public Transit Panel

COOPERSTOWN—The Art Garage will host a panel discussion as its final program associated with the “Passages” exhibition on Wednesday, September 6 at 5 p.m. “Rural Public Transportation: Challenges and Opportunities” will feature Mohawk Valley Economic Development District Planner Anthony Swann-Marris, Bassett Research Institute scientist David Strogatz and a representative from Getthere, a Binghamton-based rural mobility agency. Reservations for the talk are recommended but not required, and guests are reminded to park on the gallery lawns rather than the road.

“Artists, by nature, think outside the box,” said Art Garage Founder and Director Sydney Waller. “The work they create can also inspire thinking outside the box.”

Swann-Marris will speak about the history of public transportation in rural areas, including its prevalence before aggressive automobile marketing caused municipal policymakers to neglect or actively undermine other transit options in the mid-20th century. He will also touch upon a few 21st-century approaches and solutions he is working on. Swann-Marris grew up in rural Oneida County and was often “frustrated and perplexed” by the lack of transportation options, an experience which pushed him towards his career in community planning. He helped improve service on the Seattle area’s bus, train, light rail and streetcar options and now works at MVEDD to improve transportation access in rural communities.

Strogatz and Getthere will describe their respective perspectives and projects, particularly related to the challenges older citizens of an automobile-centric society face when they can no longer drive.

The gallery will open at 4:30 with light refreshments and an opportunity to view “Passages,” featuring work based on artists’ metro rides. The exhibition closes on September 9. The Art Garage is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and daily by appointment; call (315) 941-9607 or contact leartgarage@gmail.com.