GO ART!

The winning piece in this year's NY-27 Congressional Art Competition was executed with exemplary technical skill and creative energy, said Mary Jo Whitman, education/SCR director for GO Art!, and competition judge.

The winning painting was a self-portrait by Sarah Durkin, a senior at Iroquois High School. Whitman praised it its technical execution in part because of the difficulty of the medium, oil pastel.

"It's not just traditional portraiture but putting it in the setting and the way she executed the interior of the car,  the complementary colors between the blues and the reds, the sunset in the car," she said. "It was just very well executed and had a kind of very postmodern feel to it."

Heller was unable to attend today's event because she was at a university accepting a scholarship.

Second place went to Kaylee Ziobro of Eden HS, and third to Kendall Heller, also of Iroquois.

Heller's painting will hang in the hallway that leads from the congressional office to the Capitol Building for a year, said Rep. Chris Jacobs, who was on hand to meet the young artists who entered the competition and present the awards. 

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reversed the names of the first and third place winners.  It's corrected now. The Batavian regrets the error.

There’s one thing for certain with the City of Batavia lately: entertainment is not taking a back seat to anything.

Live and DJ music, arts, a dunk tank, parades, dancers and food will be filling up calendars from May 30 to July 2 now that City Council has reviewed the requests and passed them on to a business meeting for official votes.

During its Monday conference session, the council looked over several requests for downtown events, from an old standby, the Memorial Day parade, to a new happening of a carnival.

Participants will be lining up at Eastowne Plaza the morning of Memorial Day and walking along Main Street to Bank Street, settling into the city parking lot on Alva Place. A yearly event to honor military veterans, the parade is being organized by City Council member Bob Bialkowski. It’s to begin at 9:45 a.m. and end before 11 a.m.
For more information about this event, go to: www.batavianewyork.com

Next up is a GLOW OUT 5K Run and Celebration that begins and ends at Centennial Park. This event is set for 5 to 9 p.m. on June 9.

GLOW OUT also has scheduled a parade and festival from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 11 at Batavia City Centre parking lot downtown. Some 15 vendors and an estimated 600 participants are expected for the event, according to the organizer, GLOW OUT President Gregory Hallock. It begins on Richmond Avenue in front of Centennial Park and winds around Bank and Ross streets, Washington and Ellicott avenues and back to Centennial.

Also on June 11 (expected to be very busy Saturday), is the Eli Fish Brewing Company Carnival in Jackson Square. Various food dishes from Eli Fish, beer, carnival games, a dunk tank, live entertainment and vendor booths are on the event menu from 4 to 10 p.m.

Council members had few, if any, questions or comments about the events, all of which have completed event request forms and supporting documentation. Council President Eugene Jankowski noted that the GLOW OUT parade is on the same day as the carnival, but there shouldn’t be any conflicts.

“I know these are two on the same day, one is in the square and the carnival itself is not going to require anything from the city,” he said. 

For more information about the carnival, go to: https://www.facebook.com/elifishbrewing/

A former Ramble event that now includes a GO ART! Music and Art Festival, is set to run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 2 downtown. Two stages for music from 20 to 30 bands, an Artisan Alley of artist demonstrations, an arts and craft vendor fair, food trucks, a folk art stage with dancers and other performers and a children's craft area will spill out from Jackson Square onto Jackson and School streets and into a portion of the Save-A-Lot parking lot.

Costs for these events include $2,571 for the Memorial Day parade, with $922 for city police and $1,649.17 for the Bureau of Maintenance; $538 each for the GLOW OUT 5K Run and Celebration and parade and festival ($1,076 total); $538 for city police and $919.29 for the GO ART! Music and Art Festival and no costs involved for the Eli Fish Carnival. 

The following disclaimer is included on the Event Summary page of the council’s meeting packet: 

“Event sponsors are responsible for any costs that may be incurred from their event and have been made aware of estimate costs, if any.”

Bialkowski wanted to clarify how conference meetings work, given that council seems to be voting once at a conference and then once again at a business meeting. 

“I think we’ve been remiss in conference meetings,” he said. 

Council gives a general consensus agreement about moving the agenda item forward to a business meeting, Jankowski said. “There’s been some confusion that we’re voting twice,” he said. The consensus is merely a group agreement to put the official vote onto the business agenda after discussing details in a conference work session, he said. 

The next council business meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 9 in Council Chambers, second floor, City Hall.

Author Barbara Knight held a reading of her new book “Lily’s Healing Journey” at GO Art! this evening.

The book is the story of a little girl who is happy and loves to sing, until something “yucky” happens in her life. She learns over the course of the story she realizes how deep her hurts are and finds a way to bring hope, healing and happiness back into her life.

Knight said she hopes that the book will touch hurting hearts and bring hope and healing. 

Grandmaster Yuanming Zhang, a master of the ancient Chinese medicine of Qigong, which involves exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being, has been in Batavia this past week giving seminars to area residents of all ages.

Last week, he taught children calligraphy as well as a form of Qigong known as a five-animal play.

Yesterday, he conducted a class for adults in Qigong using essential oils. 

And today, his seminar was on pyramid meditation.

In 2005 Zhang established the World Federation of Reflex Medicine and in 2006, in conjunction with the World Reflexology Association, held a Conference for academic exchange at the United Nations Headquarters. 

According to his website, Zhang, now a resident of Laguna Beach, Calif., was born into the Yellow Emperor Concealed Transcendent family lineage in Sichuan province in 1963. His entire life has been devoted to Internal Kung Fu and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He traces his lineage through renowned Zhang family ancestors back to the sage Laozi (Lao Tzu) and even further back to the Yellow Emperor of China. One of his ancestors was Zhang Liang, the 80th generation descendent of the Yellow Emperor.

Dr. Catherine Homrig, a veterinarian with Pumpkin Hill in Byron, said she has studied with Zhang for a number of years. She arranged for his visit to Genesee County and said one of his goals is to increase awareness of ancient cultural practices in China.  He also wants to help people improve their health.

"One thing for people to learn about is the benefits of Qigong as a healing art and also a way of exercising, releasing stress, finding balance, and restoring good health," Homrig said. "And then again, cultural awareness. Master comes from a long lineage and so his (teaching) is the ancient traditional style. And with that comes strong energy. And they're probably not going to experience that in many places besides going to China."

Zhang teaches one more seminar, Om Fire Drago Qigong, during this visit, at 6:30 p.m. tonight at GO Art!, 201 East Main St., Batavia. No experience is necessary. Beginners are welcome.  Wear comfortable, athletic clothing and non-skid shoes.  The cost is $35 a person.

First two photos by Howard Owens.  The remaining photos were submitted by Dr. Catherine Homrig (she is on the left in the photo below).

Lucine Kauffman, right, reacts to a generous tip she received during Friday night's celebrity bartender challenge at GO Art! in Batavia.

Lucine, former supervisor for the Town of Elba, was up against her husband, local author Bill Kauffman.

The winner on Friday was Lucine, who earned $65.32 in tips to $62.01 for Bill.

All the tips are donations to GO Art!

Willow Amherein dances in her rehearsal for a green screen video production during the final day, today, of GO Art!'s spring week-long art camp for children.

GO Art! offers art camps during school breaks -- winter and spring -- to expose children to as much art as possible.

Many of the classes during the camp were taught by guest artists. The artists included:

• Blanca Rodriguez from Avon, originally from Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico. She demonstrated and helped the campers make traditional foods: tortillas, pico de gallo and a drink, agua de jamaica (Hibiscus flower "tea".)
• Womba Africa, a Ghanaian drumming and dance group from Rochester. Their leader is Quaye Odai, and two other members of the group came on Friday, Odai and Raymon. They came to the U.S. in 2019 and settled in Rochester. They perform for all kinds of community events, concerts and do assemblies or visits to schools.
• Grandmaster Yuanming Zhang, who earned international recognition for his expertise in medical qigong, internal martial arts, energy painting & calligraphy, practical application of the Yi-Jing, and remote energy healing. He did Calligraphy with the kids.

The students also painted and made 3D mosaics.

At the end of an interview, Mary Jo Whitman, education/SCR director for GO Art! as a group working at paintings on a nearby table, "What is art?" and Kashmarae Wissinger spoke up immediately: "It's everything!"

"That's right," Whitman said. "It's everything and that's the goal of our program."

Photos by Howard Owens

Jodi Fisher working with students on their green screen video projects.

Mary Jo Whitman mixing paint for a student.

Thera Sanchez helping a student with her art project.

The Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council, GO Art!, handed out $107,000 in grants to about three dozen arts organizations and artists on Thursday.

These "re-grants" are state-sponsored and in a program designed by the Legislature to promote the arts in every region in the state.  All 62 counties in the state have organizations that are in charge of ensuring the grants are distributed to worthwhile local arts projects.

"The goal is to make state arts support available to geographically, economically, and ethnically diverse segments of the state’s population.," said Mary Jo Whitman, program chair.

The grants are available through four programs: Reach, Ripple, Spark, and the Restart NY Regrant Program.

Here is an explanation of the programs and a list of the recipients:

Reach :
The GO ART! Community Arts Grants (Reach Grants) provide seed grants to individual artists, collectives and arts organizations for projects and activities that enable Genesee and Orleans County communities to experience and engage with the performing, literary, media, and visual arts. Each year the program supports over arts projects, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more. 

• Orleans County YMCA – YMCA Visual Community Culture - $4,500
• Village of Albion -  Concerts on the Canal - $2,410
• Lyndonville Lions Club – I Hear the Music - $5,000
• Cobble Stone Museum – The Cobblestone Museum Arts Series for 2022 - $5,000
• Village of Holley- Concerts in Canal Park - $220
• Yates Community Library – More than just books - $4,950
• Village of Medina – Painting of Murals - $3,460
• Eric Weatherbee – the Humble Bard Presents - $2,500
• Gilliam Grant Community Center – Collage of Art - $4,450
• Bergen Historical Society – Silent Film Series - $3,000
• The Elba Betterment Community – EBC Presents Art around Town - $2,350
• Holland Purchase Historical Society – Holland Land Office Museum Guest Speaker and Concert Series -$3,250
• Genesee Symphony Orchestra – The Genesee Symphony Orchestra’s 76^th Season - $5,000
• Batavia Central School District Foundation – Pop Up Art Show - $1,685
• Byron Bergen Public Library – Art and Music in Our Community – Enriching Lives Through the Arts - $4,459
• Batavia Players – 2022 Theatre Season - $5,000
• Genesee Chorale – Genesee Choral 2022 Season - $5,000
• Batavia Concert Band – 2022 Summer Concert Series - $5,000
• Hollwedel Memorial Library – Shake on the Lake presents MacBeth - $5,000
• Batavia Community Garden – Community Garden in Bloom
• Oakfield Betterment Community – Labor Daze - $5,000
• Genesee County Chamber of Commerce – Genesee County Mural Trail - $4,500
• Woodward Memorial Library – Art on the Go - $1,286
• Haxton Memorial Library – Talented Thursdays - $5,000

Ripple :
The GO ART! Individual Artist Commission (RIPPLE Grant) supports local, artist-initiated activities, and highlights the role of artists as important members of the community. The Commission is for artistic projects with outstanding artistic merit that work within a community setting. 

• Eric Weatherbee – The Humble Bard Magazine - $2,500
• Mandy Humphrey – Beacon Street Mural - $2,000
• Bart Dentino – Concert in the Classroom: Can you see what you hear? - $2,500

Spark :
The Arts Education Program (Spark Grant) supports arts education projects for youth and/or senior learners. Emphasis is placed on the depth and quality of the creative process through which participants learn through or about the arts. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process.

• Judd Sunshine – Erie Canal Songwriting Project - $3,300
• Bart Denton – The spaces Between the Leaves - $2,500

The Restart NY Regrant Program (grant cycle July 1, 2021, and June 31, 2022) $35,000 in grants.
The Restart NY Regrant Program was developed as part of an initiative to spur the revitalization of New York's creative economy. The program was administered through a network of local and regional organizations through a transparent peer panel funding process and was available to artists and organizations in each of the state's 62 counties. Organizations or individuals with a fiscal agent that met NYSCA and GO ART! criteria could request regrant funds. 

Through the Restart NY Regrant Program, GO ART!, NYSCA and the New York State Legislature hoped to provide immediate support to promote arts experiences and fuel the reopening and recovery of performance organizations and groups. Grants opportunities were prioritized for organizations and artists planning live performing arts projects, those planning projects and events that are open to and engage public participation and audiences in Genesee and/or Orleans counties, were encouraged and eligible to apply for funding. 

Grantees:

• Oakfield Betterment Committee
• Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden
• GLOW Out!
• Gilliam-Grant Center
• Batavia Concert Band
• St Mark’s Episcopal Church
• The Landmark Society of Genesee County

Top Photo: Ryan Duffy, director of the Holland Land Office Museum, makes a brief statement after receiving a grant on behalf of HLOM while City Council President Eugene Jankowski and Mary Jo Whitman look on.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Mary Jo Whitman

GO Art! Board President Stuart McLean

Tom Tiefel, Bergen Town Historian.

Pauli Miano, with Kelly Dudley, of the Elba Betterment Committee, accepts a grant on behalf of their organization.

By contracting with GLOW OUT, an organization dedicated to providing services for those identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (questioning), Genesee County is opening the door to “a friendly place” for youth -- free from bullying and discrimination.

That’s the view of Lynda Battaglia, director of Mental Health & Community Services, and William Schutt, Youth Bureau director, who presented a resolution this afternoon to the County Legislature’s Human Services Committee seeking $4,000 in start-up funding.

Schutt informed the committee that the idea for a support group in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming county) region – similar to the established GLYS, WNY, Inc. in Buffalo – started after he learned about a student who was being bullied at school “for a perception of being LGBTQ.”

“That student was told that he could go to the (school’s) GSA (Gay Straight Alliance group), but he said, ‘Then I would out myself for sure in a place where I don’t really feel comfortable in.’”

That set the wheels in motion for Schutt to contact GLOW OUT President Gregory Hallock, who also is executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council in Batavia. GLOW OUT rents space from GO Art!

Following a presentation by Hallock and board members’ training with GLYS personnel, Schutt said everyone had a better idea of how the organization could make a positive difference in the lives of youth (ages 12-21) in that specific population.

“It’s giving somebody a friendly place to go for a couple hours, a couple times of month, for them to be themselves,” Schutt said.

Battaglia said she, as director of community services, has the responsibility “to identify gaps or holes and services in the community for all populations that fall under health services – mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.”

“It is a service that’s needed,” she said. “To put it in … context, if you think of what social determinants of health are -- so you are in the center and you can think about these positive determinants that you need in order to live a healthy and whole life.

“So, like education, at school, maybe community supports, family supports, access to medical care, access to mental health care -- all of these things that encompass you, as a person, and what LGBT youth are faced with is a very difficult and challenging ability to acquire these positive social determinants of health.”

Battaglia said LGBTQ youth face a significant amount of stigma and shame, and are at a high risk of bullying in school and in their families.

“They're at high risk for substance abuse. They're at high risk of becoming a runaway, becoming homeless, which leads to a whole host of other negative aspects, including medical and mental health,” she added. “And when we think about suicide, in general, for individuals ages 10 to 24, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States for youth that identify as LGBTQ. They contemplate suicide three to four times more so than their peers.”

GLOW OUT will offer mentors, allies and a safe space to talk about life issues, she said, noting that the $4,000 already had been budgeted for special projects.

Referrals from school personnel and families are high right now, Battaglia said, making it doubly important to establish a support group outside of the school setting.

She said if a student is being bullied at his or her school because he or she identifies as LGBTQ, the likelihood of that person wanting to get additional supports within that school is minimal.

“They face further shame, stigmatization and bullying, so they’re not going to the GSAs,” she said. “And when a student gets to our mental health agency, and if this is an area that they need assistance with, we don't have anywhere to refer them to. So, this is a vital service that’s essentially non-existent right now in the county.”

Battaglia said she will be contacting her counterparts in the other three counties to see if they would also provide funding. She also said grants are available for these types of programs.

The Human Services Committee approved the request to appropriate $4,000 for the rest of the calendar year, moving the resolution to the full legislature for consideration.

Downtown Batavia will be booming with live music once again this summer, organizer Paul Draper says.

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the annual Ramble event will resume on July 2 at Jackson Square.

“We’ve partnered with GO ART! this year to help us not only grow the entire event but also bring more of a presence to the ‘arts’ side of the festival,” Draper said to The Batavian Wednesday. “We are very excited about the partnership and are looking forward to bringing them into the fold.”

The event’s name has been tweaked to The Batavia Ramble Explore Art & Music Festival. Downtown Batavia is to be filled with art displays, family-friendly activities and, of course, a line-up of hometown bands for a Saturday full of live music.

There are sparse details on the GO ART! and Batavia Ramble Facebook pages, but both promise updates as they become available. Executive Director Gregory Hallock was not available for comment. GO ART! staff posted about the long-awaited return:

“It’s going to be an incredible festival with a ton of great bands, artists, vendors and food. Applications for vendors/bands/artists will be available soon!”

Batavia Ramble has posted an application for bands, with the fair warning that slots are filling up fast for this year.

For more information, go to: facebook.com/thebataviaramble

Press release:

Set the date aside for a fun night on April 12 from 7 to 9 PM at the GoArt-Seymour Art Center at 201 E.Main St.  Batavia Society of Artists is proud to be able to present the opportunity for its members as well as guests to experience the intuitive painting process. This process is a tool to allow artists the experience to be inside color, paint, and process. Reference has been made to being spontaneous and to not over-think your painting. Taking away all expectations for your art may free your mind from the normal constraints of “getting it perfect”.

Batavia Society of Artists will have a program in collaboration with the Genesee Wind Ensemble, led by Conductor Philip Briatico, who has been in the music education field for 15 years. His background includes music education at  Buffalo State College and the University of Buffalo. He has extensive experience in conducting and holds the GIML Level 1 certificate. Mr. Briatico has been a member of Genesee Chorale and the Eastman Community School Music Educator’s Wind Ensemble and is also co-manager of the Batavia Swing Band. He currently works at Niagara Falls City School District and has worked at Elba and Warsaw Central Schools. 

As the ensemble plays in various parts of the facility, artists and guests are invited to “let the music take you” and practice this free-form, loose style of painting. This promises to be a new experience for many painters and may even inspire a new category at local art shows.  No over-thinking or evaluating your work….. after all, it’s ART!
All members are welcome, the non-member fee is $5.00

Press release:

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Karen Crittenden on Tuesday at Go-Art/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St, Batavia at 7 p.m.

She will be doing a Drum Fun hands-on demo with African Drums. Also doing a transfer of a Mandela onto a drum.  Non-Members are welcome for a $5 fee.

When it comes to uncovering and writing grants to “elevate” the status of local arts and culture, the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is leaving no stone unturned.

Appearing before the Genesee County Legislature’s Human Services Committee on Monday afternoon, Gregory Hallock reported that he is committed to locating funding for capital projects at the GO ART! building at 201 East Main St. – with the installation of a new elevator at the top of the list – as well as for programs and support of community artisans.

“We received over a half-million dollars in grants this year,” he said. “I’ve been working my butt off writing grants. So, we’re kind of excited about everything that we’re going to be doing – excited about giving out more money.”

Hallock said the majority of the $500,000 went for building repairs, but some was used to subsidize programming and $50,000 from Restart NY was given out to deserving organizations in the two counties.

He said he missed out on the latest round of funding for an elevator at the three-story facility, but is hoping that a grant that he is applying for through the NYS Preservation League could pave the way for the $400,000 or more needed to put in the elevator.

“It’s an historical building, so we’re looking for the preservation league to do an updated study and include an update to the elevator study that we started,” he said. “We need to see what we can do with the empty spaces, including the use of the third-floor attic. I also have heard a rumor that a state grant for handicapped accessibility is possible.”

Hallock said GO ART! will be receiving $40,000 more than it got this year to fund Reach Grant (Community Arts), Spark Grant (Arts in Education) and Ripple Grant (Individual Artist) awards.

“This year, we gave out more than $44,000 in Genesee County for our cultural happenings, which is part of a $70,000 pot split between Genesee and Orleans … and next year, we’ll be giving out $107,800 in grants,” he said. “So, we’re really excited. We got a top end score with the state, which is awesome.”

This year saw the completion of several projects, including the library, podcast studio and dance studio, Hallock said.

He noted that “some massive grants” are coming out for artists in residence.

“We’ll be applying for those for artists coming out to our area to plaster Genesee County with murals. We are concentrating on the cultural aspects of it and the folklorist traditional aspect of it. We want to represent all of the communities within our counties.”

Hallock said he has been conducting extensive research of grant databases at the main libraries in downtown Buffalo and Rochester, and has developed a connection with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

“The foundation just gave millions of dollars to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (for arts and culture in the region) and we’re involved with them, hosting meetings with them,” he said. “I'm hoping that this means something for our future. But I got myself on the panel during that time because I want to make sure that funding comes here.”

In related action, the Human Services Committee voted in favor of a $7,500 allocation from Genesee County to GO ART! for 2022.  The funding -- $1,000 more than what was appropriated in 2021 -- is subject to approval by the full legislature.

Bob Knipe's passion for the arts, community, media, and technology are all symbolized by the new podcast studio at GO Art!'s home, Seymour Place, in Batavia, according to his son, Tom Knipe, and Knipe's wife, Linda Knipe, who both spoke Sunday prior to a ribbon-cutting at the studio.

"My dad was somebody who this is just such a fitting thing to do in my dad's honor," said Tom Knipe, who currently runs the industrial development agency in Ithaca. "He was a college media guy. He was a radio guy. He, he loved really good sound. He was an audiophile since forever. I remember him putting huge headphones on my head when I was two years old. Listen to this. So it's very fitting."

Knipe was involved in numerous community organizations, most of them around the arts.  He was on the board for GO Art! (and continued to be actively involved after his term on the board expired), as well as playing with and volunteering for the Genesee Symphony Orchester, Batavia Concert Band, and the Genesee Wind Ensemble.  He was also a Rotarian and served on City committees.

"He saw all of his activities as critical contributions to the local community and its economic development," Linda said. "He told us some time in those final days that music brought meaning to his life. He said, 'without music life is kind of a cruel joke. I believe that there is music to the atmosphere, the sciences, the flow of electricity, the beat of the heart. Music is fundamental to everything.' And volunteering was fundamental to Bob's character and upbringing as well."

GO Art! Executive Director Gregory Hallock recalled the arduous path he took to get his job.  He first applied in 2015 and didn't get the job.  He said it was Knipe who called him to say he didn't get the job.  He told him, Hallock said, that he wasn't ready. When the job opened up again in 2016, Hallock applied again.  Again, Knipe broke the sad news but this time with an alternative offer:  Hallock could become the assistant director, a position that hadn't existed before and would need to be funded through a grant.

"He had this plan," Hallock said. "He wanted me to come in as the assistant director because I wasn't from the area. He said you don't know anybody but you're meant to be here. He said, it's not your time. You need to be under somebody. So they hired, they got a grant to hire me, and brought me in, in February of 2016 so that I could work for a year under somebody else and then take over."

Linda Knipe said Bob always saw potential in Hallock and Hallock said Bob Knipe was always there for him.

He painted the main gallery.  He built art displays. When Hallock floated the idea of a library in Seymour Place, Kniped showed up with books to donate.  That was nearly five years before the library opened.

Whenever Hallock put the call out to board members, and even though Knipe was no longer on the board, he was always the first to respond.

"I always got a phone call or text from him, saying, 'What do we have to do? How do we make this happen?' Hallock said. 

Linda said Bob loved Batavia and wanted to see it prosper and its people do well.

"Those of you closest to Bob probably understood his motivations but he loved people," Linda said. "His efforts were to change people's lives for the better, individually through programs and through building a community that was fun, interesting, and fulfilling to live in. He worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for people to grow."

Top photo: Bob Knipe's grandchildren, Alice, Eleanor, and Alder, along with Linda Knipe and Tom Knipe, cut the ribbon in the new podcast studio.

Tom Knipe.

It was a busy night at Seymour Place, 201 East Main St., Batavia, on Thursday night with GO Art! hosting two art show openings and a Celebrity Bartender Challenge.

In the challenge, Lauren Humphrey and Mandy Humphrey faced off in a tip-fund raiser for the arts council.

Artists Adrian Morris and Rita Mallison opened, for each of them, their first solo exhibitions.

Morris, above, is originally from Ireland. He married a gal from Stafford (they're now divorced) and moved to Genesee County about a decade ago.  He said he's been painting and drawing all of his life and enjoys his membership with GO Art because being part of the local community of artists is like being with a family (his family is all in Ireland, and he may return there at some point, he said, because his mother is getting older).

"I love the supportive nature," Morris said. "It gets me out of the house and I meet a lot of other artists and we socialize and network here."

He has given art demos at Seymour Place, most recently a pallette knife demonstration in which he produced an Irish landscape painting.

He specializes in landscapes and portraits and said he's done numerous portraits on commission for local residents and is available for more portrait commission work.

There is another Celebrity Bartender Challenge at GO Art! tonight featuring Rebekah Ireland vs. Ryan Duffy starting at 6 p.m.

Rita Mallison, a long-time Batavia resident, started painting just a few years ago.  She specializes in portraits of nuns, priests, saints, and religious heroes.  She took up the subject after her conversion to Catholicism but said she has long been fascinated by nuns and wanted to be a nun when she was a little girl.  She said she could never afford to buy paintings sho she keeps the prices of her paintings low.

In the main gallery is a show of work by William Mathews, which opened previously.

Press release:

Artists of all kinds are invited to submit work to GO ART! for our 5th Annual Art of the Rural Juried Show. GO ART! is so excited to have the opportunity to open our Bank of Castile Main, Oliver’s, and Batavia Club galleries to a variety of artists for this show. 

Gallery Coordinator Mary Jo Whitman said  “We are thrilled to be able to bring back the “Art of the Rural” Juried Exhibit this year.  We have always had such a great turnout and community response to this annual exhibit.  It is a fabulous opportunity for artists of every level to showcase their talents while exploring the theme ‘rural’.”

Entries of any media, no larger than 36”x48” will be accepted from February 23rd through March 4th at 201 E Main St in Batavia (Seymour Place) durning gallery hours. All works must be original and created by the submitting artist. No previous submissions are permitted.  Entries must be accompanied by an entry form as well as an entry fee of $30 that will cover the submission of 5 pieces for Members and 3 for Non Members, additional submissions will cost $5 each. Entry forms can be found at goart.org/upcoming-exhibitions. Absolutely no entries will be accepted after March 4th. A jury of selection will review all entries and will choose artwork to be displayed in the exhibit. Notification, by email, of the jury’s decisions will be made by March 12, 2022. 

Accepted art will then be displayed in our The Art of the Rural Exhibit that will run from March 16th through April 30th, with an Opening Reception to be held on March 22nd from 6-9pm. All are invited to this free reception! Tavern 2.o.1 will be open and on reception night cash prizes will be announced and awarded. 

Press release:

“Feet shuffling beyond his metal door blends with nightly screams from Room 5. Perfect at everything in life, being trapped inside the Asylum at Saint’s Hospital isn’t where Jacob imagined he’d spend his senior year. How dare people do this to him. His days are monotonous: go to a meal, see the doctor, and squeeze in some yard time, all of which is scattered between hours in a tiny cell waiting for someone else to decide his fate.”

Pique your interest? Wondering what comes next in Jacob’s life?

If so, you’re invited to join Sammy D. as he reads passages from his debut self-published novel, Count to Six, at GO ART!’s Seymore Place, 201 East Main St., Batavia, at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The reading is an open, free event, and GO ART’s Tavern 2.o.1 will be open. Sammy D. will also be selling copies of his book at the event.

Sammy D. is a fiction author living in Western NY. He currently writes general fiction, and believes that the messy stories and struggles of life are stories that need to be told. He is currently working on a second unconnected novel.

Links to purchase digital copies of his book can be found on his website -- www.svdbooks.com.

Here’s a bit more from his book:

“Sessions with Dr. Forster are fine until a strange box is brought out and chords are attached all over Jacob’s body. Electric shocks are thought to be the cure but Jacob doesn’t feel cured. Instead, he struggles to hold onto the remaining pieces of himself and of Charlie as each zap takes a little more away. His saving grace is the three freaks he befriends in ASH.”

Press release:

GO ART! has partnered with more than TWENTY local shops, vendors and artists to give TWO happy couples the wedding of their dreams.

The contest is free to enter! To enter, the couple needs to send us a video of why they deserve to win, and fill out an application form. These can be found at goart.org/wedding. All couples are welcome regardless of gender or sexuality, we just ask that both marriers be 21+. We'll be sharing their stories on social media for everyone to vote on the winners, starting February 14, 2022, so we ask that all contestants follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GeneseeOrleansARTS/)!

These special Batavian weddings will take place at GO ART!'s own Seymour Place (1) at 201 E Main St. The historic Seymour Place has facilities for a ceremony, reception for up to 35 guests plus a wedding party of six, a cash bar with bartender provided, dance floor, and bridal and groomsmen's suites for the wedding party to prepare.  The reception will be catered by either Eli Fish or Main Street Pizza, see details below for a full list of what we'll be providing! 

Provided for the big day: 

• Hotel stay for the couple and $25 per person of free play at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel 
• Photographs (2) by Iburi Photography
• Invitations from Applied Business Systems  

Ceremony: 

• Officiants: Thomas Jennings or Valeria Antonetty 
• Rings (3) by Valle Jewelers 
• Ceremony Pianist - Jeff Fischer
• Flowers (4) by Beverly's Fowers & Gifts 

Reception: 

• Wedding Cake (5) by KMC Custom Cakes
• DJing by DigiTill Media Arts 
• Champagne courtesy of YNGODESS
• Favors from Oliver's Candies 
• Linens from Sterling Tents 
• Centerpieces by Trunks Up Company 

Wedding Party Pampering:

• Tuxedo rentals (6) will be provided by Charles Men's Shop
• Wedding Party Updos (7) by Wisteria 
• Wedding Party Barbering (7) by My Cut Barbershop 
• Makeup (8) by Carrie Richards & Kristen Geroult owners of Glam Spa Studio inside of Wisteria Studios
• Wedding Party Pedicures (8) by Artemis 

Each couple can choose one of the following ahead of your wedding! 

• Couple's Dance Lesson(s) by The Dancing Place Dance Academy
• Couple's Tattoos (9) at Synapse Artistry 
• Two Massages from Mandy Taylor LMT 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Couples must allow their images to be used for promotional purposes, both as part of their applications and all wedding photography & videography.

No profanity or nudity is allowed in submitted videos.

(1) Wedding must take place on a weekday, dates are subject to availability of GO ART!'s facilities and vendors. 

(2) Services include up to 8 hours of coverage, final images will be edited and uploaded to a personal gallery for viewing online; additional add-ons are available for purchase i.e. hours, prints, albums, USB, etc. 

(3) Select rings or a $150 credit towards the purchase of two rings 

(4) For a wedding party of six

(5) Select cakes or $250 credit 

(6) up to three tuxedo rentals, additional costs to be agreed upon between vendor and marriers

(7) barbering and updos for up to six people total, taken in any combination

(8) for a wedding party of six (total for both sides of the party), does not have to be used in its entirety

(9) Value of $60 per person, no combining, final design pending artist approval 

** IMPORTANT NOTICE: **

HOW TO ENTER

For giveaways, there is no purchase necessary to enter. 

When you provide your email and enter in the giveaway you are also added as a subscriber to all the local shops, vendors and artisans involved in the giveaway. 

Giveaways are open to ANYONE 21 and over.  In this case, both people to be married must be 21.

GIVEAWAY

No physical product/s will be mailed out.  The winner's names will be on file with the local shops, vendors, and artisans. If at any point the specific giveaway is no longer available, GO ART! reserves the right to substitute the giveaway to a similar and comparable product/s.

If the giveaway is to be canceled/closed, GO ART! will notify entries/subscribers.

The winner of the giveaway assumes all responsibility of the product/s received.

WINNER SELECTION

The winner will be selected on the date specified for each campaign or post.

The method of selecting the recipient is votes cast by a panel(s) and social media subscribers.  GO ART! reserves the right to choose or eliminate and participants.

NOTIFICATION

You will be notified within a week of the final tally/decision. You will receive an email or phone call stating that you are the winner.

CLAIMING OF GIVEAWAY

You have five business days to respond back to the notification that you are a winner. As soon as you confirm your acceptance of the giveaway, you will receive all the official paperwork to be signed and returned within two weeks.

We are not responsible for the unclaimed giveaway after the 5 business days mentioned. If the giveaway is unclaimed within the above-mentioned period, it will be given to the next couple in line for the winnings.

When accepting this giveaway, the winner acknowledges and accepts that as a give-away only. The winner is responsible for providing the correct email. GO ART! or any participating shop, vendor or artisan is not responsible for any email deleted, spammed, or accidentally lost. The winner is responsible for checking their spam folder. This giveaway is for gift purposes only and cannot be replaced with cash.

The winner releases and forever discharges GO ARY!., its partners, its representatives, and contractors from any and all actions, causes of actions, claims, and demands, for damages, creative differences, loss or injury, howsoever arising, which heretofore may have been or may hereafter be sustained by us in connection with the giveaway product provided by GO ART! including all damages, loss or inquiry not now known or anticipated but which may arise in the future and all effects and consequences thereof.

GIVEAWAY CANCELLATION & CHANGES

GO ART! reserves the right to revise, cancel, or close giveaways at any time. Should this occur, all entries/subscribers will be notified.

ODDS OF WINNING

The odds of winning do not get enhanced when you enter multiple times. Please note that you only need to enter once.

BANNING

GO ART! reserves the right to prohibit entry from any person we believe to be abusing these rules.

TECHNICAL ERRORS

GO ART! or its affiliates cannot be held responsible for technical failures on the part of the website, entry form, software, or human error, which could result in missing or invalid contest entries.

GO ART! and its affiliates are also not responsible for email notifications rejected or that do not reach a contest winner. GO ART! reserves the right to cancel a contest at any time or to correct results to rectify software, technical or human errors.

LAWS

The contest is subject to all applicable Federal, Provincial and Municipal laws.

These rules are subject to change without notice.

• Organization: Genesee Orleans Arts Council (GOART!) 
• Contact: Allison Hamilton 
• What: Go Art’s Wedding Give Away 
• When: Nominations / Entry Now, Contest Opens on Social Media on 2/14/22
• Where: goart.org/wedding
• Cost: FREE; 21+ 
• Number for more information: 585-343-9313
• Website: goart.org
• Event Email: info@goart.org 

Batavia City Council president Eugene Jankowski and City Manager Rachael  Tabelski faced off in GO ART!’s Celebrity Bartender Challenge at Seymour Place tonight.  Tabelski and Jankowski both said they weren't really competing and that tips would be combined, though.  All tips are donations to the arts council. 

Press release:

Join GO ART! on January 21st from 6-9 p.m. at Tavern 2.o.1 for a very special Celebrity Bartender Challenge! Our first competitors of 2022 are Batavia City Council president Eugene Jankowski Jr. and City Manager Rachael  J Tabelski. 

Started in 2018 GO ART!’s Celebrity Bartender Challenges raise funds for arts programming in Genesee and Orleans Counties. In these challenges, amateur bartenders compete at GO ART!’s Tavern 2.o.1 to see who can wow the crowds and earn the most tips for our donation jars. From community leaders to local characters these nights allow the community to come together to support local arts! Bartender Challenges occur most third Thursdays and Fridays. 

For 2022’s first bartender challenge Batavia’s City Council is sending two hardworking public servants to serve the public and bring in big tips!

Lifelong Genesee County resident Rachael J. Tabelski is eager to celebrate her new role as City Manager! Appointed in 2021 she plans to manage the bar with the same skill and friendliness that she manages Batavia’s administration. Eugene Jankowski Jr. has been City Council President since January 1, 2018- a graduate of Batavia’s own Notre Dame High School, a retired City of Batavia Police Officer and a competitive shooter Eugene will bring his quick shot to the bar. 

Batavia's leaders visit with old friends, make new ones, and support arts and culture-  a cornerstone of our community in the most welcoming historic building in the City.  Come chat with Geno and Rachael while supporting Go Art! If you have not been to Go Art! Or have not been in a while, this is an open event to explore the space and connect with the community and the art that makes it special. This event is 21+, bring cash to tip, and may the best bartender win!