Event Calendar
I AM: Coarc Exhibition
May 4 - June 2
Exhibition Opening Reception:
Saturday, May 4, from 5 to 7 pm
I AM: Coarc is a collection of self-portrait photographs and paintings created by adults with disabilities in Homegrown Project workshops led by Sasha Sicurella, directing founder of the I AM: International Foundation. Over the course of six sessions, individuals from Coarc programs participated in storytelling, drawing and observation exercises that focused on personal identity. They used a high-resolution camera mounted on a tripod and a remote control to take their own photographs, then selected their favorites for print. They also created self-portrait paintings using large and small transparent overlays and acrylic medium.
The project provided a platform for the artists to explore and reflect on their own images and to understand their importance and beauty as unique individuals. The I AM: Coarc exhibition celebrates the results of this process while communicating acceptance, ability and shared emotions to the wider community. Works are on display at the Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street in Hudson, NY, from May 4 through June 2, 2013. The opening reception is Saturday, May 4 from 5pm to 7pm. The project was supported by the Coarc Arts Endowment, Kinderhook Bank and donations to the Coarc Polar Plunge.
Sasha Sicurella is a Canadian-born arts education specialist, photographer and the Director of Education at Omi International Arts Center in Ghent, NY. She established the I AM: International Foundation in 2009 as a nonprofit organization that works to provide world-wide opportunities for children to explore identity through art and self-portrait photography. Serving more than 1,000 children, projects include I AM: Mongolia, I AM: India, I AM: Ethiopia, I AM: Israel, I AM: France, I AM: Jamaica, I AM: Italy, I AM: Romania, I AM: Mexico, I AM: Cambodia, and I AM: Thailand, with exhibitions in galleries, museums, and contemporary art centers in cities such as Mumbai, Addis Ababa, Tel Aviv, Milan, and Ulan Bator. The I AM projects have increased the visibility of non-governmental organizations around the world while celebrating children as extraordinary individuals. The Homegrown Project Series acknowledges local needs through similar projects for people of all ages within nearby communities such as Pittsfield, Albany, Chatham and Hudson. Information about the I AM: International Foundation is available at www.iaminternational.net
Hudson Opera House History
On Display in the West Room
This exhibition includes photographs, drawings, reproductions, and objects that relate to the extraordinary history of the Hudson Opera House. Community members with related material are invited to bring work to the Opera House for inclusion in the exhibition. Any old photos or items related to the history of the building will be greatly appreciated.