For some, it is a lifelong calling that impels them to reach for the paintbrush or sit behind a potter’s wheel and create compositions with colors and textures that draw the audience in. For others, it is the happenstance of an unexpected splash of color on canvas that opens doors to an avocation that will only truly blossom later in life when they have time to explore their talents to the fullest.
We may never really know the full story of art and how it reveals itself to the artist and the audience. But the connection has existed for centuries, and the relationship says a lot about who we are and who we can become, since it goes to the very heart of creation.
Making that vital connection between the artist and the audience is what motivates Kristen Schweigard every day she goes to work. An educator with the Albany Institute of History and Art, she spends much of her time developing programs and connecting with those who have never stepped foot in an art gallery or seen a painting in person.
I always enjoyed art as a child, Schweigard said. `It touched me in so many different ways. I think it may have helped me build my self-confidence and played a part in making me who I am today.`
In more recent years, her programming has acquired a well-earned reputation.
`We try to have programs that actually give young people a hands-on opportunity to create their own works of art like the Vacation Art Break program we put together for the upcoming holiday break,` said Schweigard.
`That way the kids can see the connection between their art and the pieces we exhibit, and it can have a major effect on them,` she said. `For many, it helps bring them out of their shells and you can see it in their self-confidence and their self-expression. It really is a very positive experience.`
A staple of the Capital District’s cultural scene, the Institute is the home of more than 20,000 objects, including a mummy and one of the country’s most extensive collections documenting the life and culture of the Upper Hudson Valley from the late 17th century to the current day.
It also contains a series of contemporary exhibits with local connections including brightly colored fabric compositions by Estelle Kessler Yarinsky, a local artist and grandmother.
Highlighting little-known historical figures, Yarinsky’s fabric portraits mark a clear departure from the conventional paintings and sculptures exhibited throughout the Institute.
The Institute is located at 125 Washington Ave. in Albany, a block west of the State Capitol. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
During the Vacation Art Break, kids will learn how colors affect one another when mixed together or placed side by side. The basics of composition will also be discussed, and kids will integrate color and design. The following sessions are being offered from 1 to 4 p.m. for kids 6 to 13 years old :
Wednesday, Dec. 26: Drawing and design
Create decorative papers using printing, cutting, and painting techniques to explore design and collage compositions.
Thursday, Dec. 27: Color Theory
Play artistically and geometrically with color by using paint and oil pastel.
Friday, Dec. 28: Still Life Painting
Explore the process of painting to capture color and form in art. Participants will learn about the methods and techniques used in paintings in the galleries. They will gain an understanding of color, hue, saturation, value, texture, light and composition.
For information, contact Schweigard via e-mail at [email protected].“