Stagecoach Run Art Festival Gets Back on Track First Weekend of July

By TERESA WINCHESTER
FRANKLIN

After a three-year hiatus, the Stagecoach Run Art Festival got underway once more over the weekend of July 1-2. The event is so-named because the majority of exhibits are located along a route once known as the Catskill Turnpike, which ran from Catskill in Greene County westward to Unadilla and on to places north. Upwards of 50 artists displayed their works in their homes, studios, galleries, barns and in other venues in the Village of Franklin and its neighboring hamlet, Treadwell. Both are in Delaware County. Attendees were provided with maps to facilitate self-guided tours of the 24 possible stops.

As stated on the event’s website, “The festival’s original mission was to use an open-studio model to strengthen (sometimes forge) relationships between creatives and their neighbors in an authentic way while simultaneously demonstrating the undeniable financial and cultural value that artists can add to a community.”

Phil Warish, proprietor of Blue Farm Antiques and Letterpress Printing in Franklin, and one of the principal organizers of the festival, expressed satisfaction with how the all-volunteer undertaking has evolved from a 30-person event to one that has at times exceeded 60 artists.

“The festival has changed in character from open invitation to vetted artists only. It has grown in quality and professionalism,” Warish said, adding that while he did not yet have an official count for attendance, more than 180 people visited his shop on June 2 alone. Warish customarily hosts another artist at Blue Farm for the event—this year, still-life artist Judith Lamb.

Three artists—ceramic artists Elizabeth Nields and Esperanza Rancero, along with stylist and designer Helen Quinn—exhibited their work in an architecturally interesting straw bale house in Treadwell.

“It was wonderful…so much positive energy, and I was thrilled to be exhibited in Margoli Veillon’s straw bale house. The organizers worked tirelessly. They were so professional,” Quinn said.

Besides viewing artwork on display, the festival also offered multiple demonstrations: pottery techniques (Rhonda Harrow-Engel); various methods of painting (Sandra Finkenberg, Elissa Gore, Abbey Koutnik, Gail Robinson); printmaking (Amy Silberkleit); and sculpting (Diana Hall). Tim Carbone demonstrated methods of discovering the grain patterns for pictures while Kathleen Hayek gave demonstrations for basic papermaking and pulp spraying.

On the evenings of July 1 and 2, Franklin Stage Company presented admission-free performances of “Good People,” written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Chris O’Connor.

“It was such a pleasure to have Stagecoach Run Art Festival return after the hiatus. So many talented artists live in this area! I am already looking forward to next year,” said Franklin resident Lynne Kemen.