Annual Arts Driveabout highlights creativity in Schoharie County

SCHOHARIE - The second annual Schoharie County Arts Trail Driveabout will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, featuring nearly 20 stops and work by dozens of local artists.

Expanding on last year’s inaugural one-day event, this year’s self-guided tour – sponsored by the nonprofit Schoharie County Arts – coincides with the peak of fall foliage season.

“Our goal is for people to experience the scenic beauty of Schoharie County and the unparalleled creativity of local artists and artisans,” said Lisa Ovitt, Schoharie County Arts Board President. “It’s a unique way for the public to see studios firsthand and other spaces where art is created, displayed and sold.”

The SEEC Art Gallery at 287 Main St. in Schoharie will be featured on the Driveabout, with the exhibit “Seventy Years of Photography,” featuring work by renowned photographer Dmitri Kasterine, who will be on-site.

Other stops include: Elizabeth Apgar-Smith, an oil, watercolor and pastel painter; Shirley Hall-Garner, weaver, quilter and fiber artist; John Jackson, metal sculptor; Denise Misiph, mixed media artist; Phoebe McDonough, potter; Karen Tenney, hand weaver; and Suzann Kipp and artists at the Honey House in Sloansville, featuring photography, pottery, handmade cards and acrylics.

New artists participating this year include painter Annie Hayes and photographer Alan Hermann, in Judd Hall at the Jefferson Historical Society; Maria Lange, a dried floral artist in Sharon Springs; Glen Wiegand, Happy Dog Ceramics; Terri Jeremenko, painter; Amy Silberkleit, a lithographer who will be holding demonstrations; Joan Wissert and other artists from the Middleburgh Mercantile (Saturday only); and artist Jacqueline Farrara.

Landis Arboretum will showcase its metal and stone sculptures and barn murals on permanent display, set up among gardens and miles of nature trails in Esperance, and the Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave will present, “Unique & Individual: a Portrait of Autism,” by Mohawk photographer Angel Horn, which opens on Saturday. An opening reception and opportunity to meet the artist begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Schoharie County Arts works to promote cultural and arts-related activities, advances individual artists and organizations, and contributes to the county’s cultural and economic growth. 

“Our tagline is ‘strengthening the arts in Schoharie County,’” Ovitt, said. “The art is already there – it just needs to be promoted and celebrated.” 

For information and a map of participating studios and venues, go to https://www.schohariecountyarts.org or https://www.facebook.com/SchoharieCountyArtsNow.