Richard Friedberg, well known in Oneonta artistic circles, discusses “Big Wave,” one of nine sculptures based on natural disasters that go on display Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute in Utica. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
UTICA – “Terrible Beauty,” an exhibit of monumental sculptures by an Oneonta-area artist, Richard Friedberg, will open Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Museum of Art in Utica.
Developing a novel aluminum mesh as his raw material, Friedberg’s nine sculptures in the show are based on such catastrophes as BP’s Deepwater Horizon wellhead blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and the Fukushima nuclear accident and resulting tsunami.
WINTER PROGRAMS – 1 – 3 p.m. Bring the kids for some learning fun over February break. Choose from programs ‘Forest as a Habitat’ featuring interactive games on how action of animal & humans affect the forest, or ‘New York State Breakout Box’ families try to open the Breakout Box with their knowledge of NYS social studies. Free, open to public. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org/index.htm
PLAINFIELD – Janet Kay Johnson Talbot, 64, retired CFO at the House of the Good Shepherd, Utica, passed away peacefully with her family beside her on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019,at MVHS Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in New Hartford.
Janet was born on May 17, 1955, in Herkimer, a daughter of the late Elmer and Katharine (Oliver) Johnson. On Oct. 1, 1977 she married the love of her life, David Talbot, and enjoyed many years of blessed matrimony.
Anna D’Ambrosio, Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute president, examines delicate Floriform vases, a Tiffany specialty.
UTICA – Heat wave be damned — at the Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute is bringing the fire.
“The Hot Glass Road Show” – The Corning Museum of Glass’ mobile glass-blowing studio – will be here from Friday – Aug. 2 – until Aug. l1, with demonstrations, classes and live glass-blowing exhibitions, all parked on the MWP’s front lawn at 310 Genesee St.
It’s part of the institute’s Louis Comfort Tiffany exhibit, on view through Sept. 8. “To see this Tiffany glass in person, you really understand why it is the pinnacle of stained glass,” said Anna D’Ambrosio, MWP president. “He was painting with color and light in 3-D.”
The exhibit – a traveling show that was last at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa – contains 60 pieces from the private Driehaus collection in Chicago, including the “River of Life” window.
LECTURE – 6:30-8 p.m. Learn the basics of converting lawn to a wildflower meadow from OCCA/Mohican Farm Be Informed Lecture Series. Mohican Farm, 7207 State Route 80, Cooperstown. Info, occainfo.org/signup/, 607-282-4087.
WOODSMEN’S FESTIVAL – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Festival celebrates way people use, work with wood. Features lumberjack events, woodworking demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, local vendors, mill tours, food, music, crafts, science exhibits, more. Cost, $9/adult. Hanford Mills, 51 Co. Hwy. 12, East Meredith. 607-278-5744 or visit www.hanfordmills.org
FALL ART SHOW – 1 – 3 p.m. Fall show features works by Leatherstocking Brush & Pallete Club, local artists. Includes bake sale to benefit Springfield Historical Society. Gym, Springfield Community Center, 29A, Springfield Center. 607-264-3375 or visit springfieldhistoricalsocietyny.org
Awaiting President Trump in downtown Utica, members of “Indivisible Mohawk Valley” speak to a large crowd in the plaza of the State Office Building. The President’s arrival in the city brought out 1,000s of demonstrators, both in support and opposition of to the president. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
FAMILY DANCE – 6 p.m. Put on your semi-formal best and bring the whole family for a fun night out, families of all sorts welcome. Cost, $25/family. Unitarian Universalist Soceity of Oneonta, 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Call 60-7-386-1508 or visit www.facebook.com/otsegopride/
ART CLASS – 3:15 – 5 p.m. Kids learn about “The Great Wave” print by Japanese artist Hokusai, then make their own prints. Cooperstown Art Association. Call 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com/for-kids.html
CHESS NIGHT – 7-11 p.m. Chess enthusiasts of all levels welcome to play. Includes free lessons for beginners. Hunt Union Cafeteria, SUNY Oneonta. Call 607-386-3589
Jessica M. Gaston and her beloved Rottweiler, Shiva.
EDMESTON – Jessica M. Gaston, 33, of Utica, an athlete and accomplished singer while attending Edmeston Central School, passed away unexpectedly in Utica, where she was working for Bank of America.
Jessica was born on Jan. 1, 1984 in Norwich, the daughter of William L. and Tammy M. Martin Gaston Jr.
She is survived by her parents William L. Jr and Tammy M. Martin Gaston of Edmeston, sister April Gaston of NJ, brother William L. Gaston III of Edmeston, nieces Saffiyah, Zainab, and Rose, nephews Mohammed, and Riley. Also surviving are many aunts uncles and cousins.
3-D DESIGN WORKSHOP – 3:30-5 p.m. Come tinker with your designs for 3-D printing. Create your own Fidget Spinner. Ages 8+. $4 material fee to print your spinner. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. hmloneonta.org/calendar/
COOPERSTOWN – Bassett Healthcare is looking to bring Oneida Healthcare into the Cooperstown-based network as a “full member” at the end of a two-year agreement reached this month, Bassett President/CEO Vance Brown reported today in a letter to employees.
“Under the terms of the two-year agreement (signed Dec. 9), OHC will remain an independent organization governed by its current board,” Brown wrote. However, “if the initial working relationship proves beneficial for both organizations, it would be both parties’ ambition to bring Oneida Healthcare into BHN as a full member.”
The Bassett CEO calls Oneida Healthcare “an ideal partner,” as it is financially sound and has a 101-bed acute-care hospital on Genesee Street in the City of Oneida, “just down the road from Bassett’s primary care clinic in that city.”
Here is the full text of the memorandum of understanding:
We still have 6 families in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program in need of a benefactor this holiday season. CLICK HERE to learn how you can help them.
HIGH SCHOOL WINTER CONCERT – 7:30-9 p.m.. Auditorium, Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Ave., Cooperstown. Info, www.cooperstowncs.org
SANTA’S SECRETS – 2 p.m. Learn the Secres of Santa’s Cooperstown Cottage with Santa. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, (607)547-0600.
LEGAL AID SOCIETY – 10 a.m. Board meeting of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-new York, Inc. 268 Genesee St., Utica. Info, maria.gregorka@lasmny.org or call (315)793-7057 or visit www.lasmny.org
ALBANY – Alain Kaloyeros, the now suspended president/CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, pleaded not guilty in Albany City Court today after he was arraigned on the three felony charges for alleged bid-rigging of development projects in Albany as well as central and western New York, the Times Union of Albany reports.
He, along with high-ranking members of the Cuomo Administration and private businesspeople in criminal complaints unsealed yesterday by Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District.
“Sharbat Gula,” McCurry’s most icon portrait looks back at Austin, eye to eye.
UTICA – Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell, it is unlikely you have not seen McCurry’s work. Many of the 60 works, spanning three decades of work over six continents, will be easily recognized. Entering the exhibit you are met by the penetrating gaze of his most famous photo, of Sharbat Gula, or, as the world first knew her, “Afghan Girl”.
After she appeared on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic, her photo became as iconic and recognizable as the Mona Lisa. It is considered the most famous portrait in the world, and with good reason. Standing before this piece, you feel like it is not only looking at you, it is looking into you.
Her eyes fixed in an expression that seems to change from fearful, to predatory, to vulnerable and beyond. The color of the eyes mirror the green of her shirt and the wall behind her is contrasted by her red shawl. It is a perfect photograph. It captures the moment that two cultures, alien and strange to each other, are locked in observing the other for the first time. And, like all great art, it makes us reflect and question ourselves and our place in the world.
