Art Show Run Sept. 18, 2011 The Armonk Outdoor Art Show is celebrating its fiftieth year in Armonk this entire week.
In 1961 local artists displayed their art work along a farm fence outside the library. The show has since moved to Community Park and attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of artists from around the world. Volunteers dedicate time and devote their expertise to produce a top-ranked outdoor show.
On Sunday afternoon, the Friends of the North Castle Library introduced a new event to the Art Show week, a foot race. Kids dashed, and students and adults ran and walked a 5K. It was a beautiful day, sunny and cool for a race. Participants were met along the course with water and friendly encouragement from North Castle Citizens NC4 volunteers. A pleasant addition to the course was the foot bridge over I-684. At the finish line, art show volunteers offered food, water, and medals. This event, like the rest of the Art Show, is made possible thanks to these wonderful volunteers.
Friends' President Sean Ryan organized the race and said it was a perfect day. This is one of the latest additions to the art show festivities, and kicks off a week of the community involved in "50 Ways to Love the Art Show". Ryan looks forward to the race attracting more participants next year.
The Armonk Outdoor Art Show's 5K Run/Walk
August 21, 2011 In support of the North Castle Public Library, Armonk Outdoor Art Show is holding a 5K race/walk on Sunday September 18 (rain or shine). Sean Ryan, President of Friends of the North Castle Library, has teamed up with Jane Ellen Gertz, who has coordinated the PTSA Fun Run for the past three years. Ryan says that Gertz has been immensely helpful in setting up the race and is part of this year's team. The race kicks off a week-long community celebration of the 50th year of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.
Ryan says the sponsors of the race have been great participants both in the race and in the "50 ways to love the art show". One of the sponsors is Hickory & Tweed which will hold a 50% off tent sale on the day of the race. "The sponsors enable us to pull this off and still give a lot to the library," says Ryan.
Different races will be held for the entire family, starting with two-year-olds and up. The race will start at the Wampus Brook Park Gazebo. The Petits Picasso's 100-yard dash will start at 10am. The Monet Mile follows at 10:30am, and the races will end with the Running Rembrandt 5K at 11am.
The race will finish at the library with food (including Beacakes' famous doughnuts), concerts, crafts and a series of events that will be held all day at the Armonk Library. The race is intended to bring the community together and families together at the library.
Ryan, an Armonk resident, is in his fourth year as the cross country and track coach at Briarcliff High School, the high school he attended. "Running has been a passion of mine forever," Ryan says. Cross Country is his favorite season because he is not just running around in circles.
Ryan says the race is the one of the Friends' first new ways of fund-raising for the library in a long time. One of the first fundraisers was at the Art Show 50 years ago. Ryan says proudly that the relationship between the Friends, the Art Show and the Library is thriving, to the community's benefit. The Friends' fundraising supports the library's free events and museum passes, the transformation of new technology and media, and much more.
Friends of the Library Award to Art Show Co-Chairs
June 15, 2011 At
the Friends of the North Castle Library annual meeting on June 14,
2011, the Board of Directors presented the Friends of the Year Award to
three of the co-chairs of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, Marian Hamilton,
Stan Berman, and Debbie Heidecorn. Two other co-chairmen, Sylvia Rogers
and Stacy Wilder, could not attend the meeting.
Hamilton says it was great to be acknowledged. She thanked everyone who
volunteers to help the Art Show, and looks forward to an exciting show
in September.
The Art Show committee works tirelessly year round and is gearing up to celebrate 50 consecutive years of the art show. Sean Ryan, who is serving his third year as President of the Friends of the North Castle Library, says the art show touches thousands of people and is evidence that North Castle is a great place to live and work. Through the years, the art show has raised millions of dollars for the Friends of the Library.
Ryan attributes the success of the library in providing the public a wealth of cultural events, educational material, new technologies, books and movies to the team effort of the officers, executive committee, and members of the Friends of the Library, and to its terrific working relationship with the Library's trustees and staff. But he says we can't rest on our laurels; he wants to make the library more relevant to the community.
Library Director Cris Ansnes says the library could not deliver so many kinds of services without the Friends. Her goal for the next five years is to have a virtual library with a downloadable collection of books to add the current collection of over 500,000 free downloadable songs. "The Friends are a major contributor to the past and future success of our library. The community wanted us to continue adult programming in the summer, and so this summer we offer a film series, and continued musical performances." She says our Friends are the envy of every library in Westchester County, and other library directors look to Ansnes for guidance on how to build a similar relationship with their communities.
During the past year, the Friends have donated almost $100,000 to Whippoorwill Hall facilities, library programs, technology and media. Under Program Director Fran Davies, library programs have expanded dramatically and are 100% Friends-supported. 902 unique programs have taken place at the library during the past year with 16,000 people attending.
Supported by the Friends, the Armonk Players has been transformed by Anne Nisenholtz and Ron Aaronson. Recently they began a co-production with a Pleasantville theatre group. They are working on the first Westchester community playhouse production of "The Drowsy Chaperone," to open in the fall.
Treasurer Richard Baum says the Friends' operation finances are sound. The yearly net profit of the past few years of the Art show has been around $60,000. He says this is due to the fine work of the Art Show staff. Direct contributions to the library this year were $17,000, up $5,000 from a year ago, which given the economy, is a tribute of the community's support.
Library Trustee President Charles Bishop says that the enhancements in programming during the past five years have made a difference in the way the library reaches out to the community. "The Friends have made our library a better place."
Susan Geffen, a past president of the Friends, is also a founding member of the Armonk Players, and is also involved with the Art Show. Her contributions are endless, and she says the changes to the library will include a redesign of the circulation desk and the Charles Elson Room, with programs expanding to different parts of the building.
Ryan says the library is improving by providing more programs for more people every day.
Armonk Outdoor Art Show 2011
Art Show A group of 300 volunteers put together a superb Outdoor Art Show celebrating the 50th year. Top artists travel from around the country for the weekend. Many of the artists say that Armonk's show is among the best outdoor shows they've attended. Meet some of the artists and see some highlights from Sunday's show here. Sept. 25, 2011
Art Show Watch the many different ways to to enjoy the Armonk Outdoor Art Show. Sept. 24, 2011
50TH ANNIVERSARY ARMONK ART SHOW WEEK ACTIVITIES BEGIN September 18!
18 Sunday, First Annual Art Show 5K Run/Walk! - Rain or shine. For on-line registration and information, visit www.friendsncpl.org . 10:00 am - Children's Races for ages 2-8 years 10:30 am - Races for ages 8-13 years 11:00 am - 5k Foot Race for ages 13+
12 noon - 4:00 pm - Runners reception, awards, refreshments, concerts and children's activities at NCPL following the races !
12:00 pm - Face painting in the children's room 1:00 p.m. - City Winds Trio, music for all ages in the children's room
18 Sunday, 1:30 pm - Poetry Reading by Sally Bliumis-Dunn. A Modern Poetry and Creative Writing teacher at Manhattanville College, Ms. Bliumis-Dunn has been recognized for writing excellence and is a frequent reader at literary events. She will be reading from her books Talking Underwater and Second Skin.
18 Sunday, 3:00 pm - NCPL Sunday Music Sessions Presents: "Hillary's Step" a NYC-based acoustic band whose songs feature an eclectic mix of styles, from rock to reggae and jazz to pop. Their lush vocal harmonies as well as tight and unusual instrumental arrangements form a sound that is both unique and accessible Their latest CD is entitled "Note to Self." In the magazine/media room.
19 Monday, 4:00 pm - Van Gogh craft, ages 4+ 19 Monday, 10:30 am - Mother Goose Story Hour - North White Plains branch 20 Tuesday, 7:00 pm - Young Adult Book Discussion - North White Plains branch 20 Tuesday, 11:00 am - Toddler Music with Lori Siegel 20 Tuesday, 6:00 pm - Digital Film Club for ages 11+. Join a group of local teens and 'tweens to share ideas about shooting, editing and writing music for your personal movie projects. 21 Wednesday, 11:00 am - Story time craft, ages 2+ 22 Thursday, 8:00 pm - Organ and Choir Concert: The Gabriel Fauré Requiem in D minor, Op. 48 sung by a choir composed of 30 of Westchester's finest choral singers conducted by James Turner at St. Stephen's Church, 50 Bedford Road, Armonk. A special FREE concert in celebration of Art Show Week.
22 Thursday, 11:00 am - John Geller Preschool Music 23 Friday, 4:00 pm - Calder craft, ages 4+
23 Friday, 7:00 pm - Two Art Films and Commentary with Pace University Professor Valerie Franco, FREE in Whippoorwill Hall: 7:00 pm - "Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film," Directed by Ric Burns in 2006, this film looks at the early years in Manhattan and Warhol's collection of colleagues that made up The Factory. 9:00 pm - "Camille Claudel" Directed by Bruno Nuytten in 1988. This romantic drama examines the relationship between Auguste Rodin and the young, French sculptress, Camille Claudel. Starring Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu.
24 Saturday, 1:00 pm - Arts and Crafts for Children - North White Plains branch
50TH ANNIVERSARY ARMONK ART SHOW WEEKEND!
September 24-25 Saturday and Sunday, 50th Anniversary Armonk Art Show, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, rain or shine. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (free for children 18 and under.) This fine art and fine crafts juried show is sponsored by the Friends of the North Castle Public Library, Inc. Proceeds benefit the NCPL and its Whippoorwill Hall theatre. Your support of this nationally recognized event helps make our year-round programs possible!
LIVE MUSIC ON THE ART SHOW GROUNDS ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 12 -1:00 pm - Mardi Gras in September! The White Pepper Carnival Band 2:00 - 3:00 pm - Ted Piltzecker, Vibraphonist 3:00 - 4:00 pm - Dylan Meek, Jazz Piano
24 Saturday, 8:00 pm - Lagond and Friends 50th Anniversary Jazz Concert in Whippoorwill Hall! A legendary performer and educator, Charlie Lagond has played on the premier stages of Europe and the USA, with jazz legends from Buddy Rich and Chuck Mangione to The Jackson Five and Natalie Cole. Some of his amazing friends to join him in an all-new, musical journey through new interpretations of timeless standards and original compositions - jazz, Latin and beyond...Doors open at 7:00 pm-don't miss this FREE concert!
LIVE MUSIC ON THE ART SHOW GROUNDS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25 12 - 1:00 pm- Mardi Gras in September! The White Pepper Carnival Band 2:00 -3:00 pm Alex Alexander and Spiros Exaras, Jembe and Guitar 4:00-5:00 pm - Doug Munro, Jazz Guitar
Armonk Outdoor Art Show Turns 50
June 27, 2011 Twice a year fine artists flock to outdoor art shows in important cities around the country -- Miami, San Francisco, Chicago’s gold coast, New Orleans -- to a host of famous locations. They also come to a pinpoint on the national map, Armonk, a hamlet of 4,300, to participate in the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Artists come because the annual event, sponsored by the Friends of the North Castle Library and slated for Sept. 24 and 25, is ranked among the top 20 fine art festivals nationwide by Art Fair SourceBook. The guidebook congratulated its organizers saying, “There are literally thousands of art fairs across the country each year; achieving a Top 100 ranking is a truly significant accomplishment.”
Hundreds of Artists, Thousands of Visitors
Last year 185 fine artists and fine craft artists came from 33 states and 3 foreign countries attracting 8,000-10,000 visitors, reports Susan Geffen, an Armonk resident and a principal organizer for many years. Mixed-media winners Steven and Cheryl Ward of West Dundee, IL, explain the appeal: “We do shows from Miami to Park City, Utah, and have tried most of the major art fair events in the U.S. There are bigger shows but not necessarily better shows than Armonk…. Out of 35 shows a year, Armonk typically ranks in the top eight for us.”
Artists come to Armonk because they know they will find “a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic art crowd,” said Steven Potts of Palmetto, Georgia, a best-in-show winner last year. Mark MacKinnon, a photographer who crisscrossed the country to 25 shows in 2010, says that “Armonk was one of my best... upscale, sophisticated patrons.”
To ensure a high level of quality, the Friends jury each artist’s work before acceptance. Judy Moniz, Registration Chairperson, says some years only a third of the applicants are accepted. Over the years the show has grown in size and diversity and now awards prizes to exhibitors in eight categories: oils/acrylics, watercolors, mixed media, printmaking/drawing/pastels, sculpture, wearable art, fine crafts and best-in-show.
Kiosks of local restaurants offer lunch at the exhibition has an added attraction for everyone. Ward wrote, “We were at Coconut Grove in Miami last weekend and a photographer was complaining about the tough chicken they were eating for lunch and I said if you go to Armonk, you can get a lobster roll!”
Town to Celebrate for a Week
The five experienced co-chairs -- Marian Hamilton, Debbie Heidecorn, Stan Berman, Sylvia Rogers and Stacy Wilder – are planning a weeklong celebration for the countdown to the golden anniversary, beginning with a 5K “Run for the Library,” on Sunday, September 18. Events include activities for children and participation by local merchants in special promotions celebrating “50 Ways to Love the Art Show.”
The show began in 1961 with a simple display of local artists’ work on a church lawn to raise money for the North Castle Public Library. (Armonk is one of three hamlets that comprise North Castle.) It has outgrown three locations and now involves over 300 Armonk residents, all volunteers, who delight in the community rite of autumn that has doubled the size of the library over the years and hosts a rich program of lectures, classes, theatrical productions and children’s activities year round, all funded by the Friends of the Library.
The show is held on North Castle’s spacious, 2.5-acre, tree-lined Community Field, part of a 23-acre gift from IBM. The field is accessed through a corporate park off Route 22 on Business Park Drive.
The Armonk Outdoor Art Show is conducted from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. No dogs, please. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, children under 18 free. For further info and discount coupons, visit www.ArmonkOutdoorArtShow.org.
