Early Wednesday evening, a small group of local artists claimed a spot among rows of tables in the basement of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Watercolors, pastels and oils soon covered each countertop. A heavyset Golden Retriever waddled from table to table, begging for a head rub. The windows shook as a thunderstorm-turned-tornado began to take down some of the church’s landscape, eventually blocking some of the artists from leaving the driveway.
None of these distractions stopped the passion-driven crowd, however. While a few ventured home in fear of losing power, the rest braved the storm and continued working on their pieces.
“When I retired in 2000 as a junior high art teacher, I said, ‘Now it’s time for me,’” said Paula Haavind, of Glenville, as she shaded in a bird with colored pencils Wednesday, May 29.
Haavind is one of the more than 250 members of the Colonie Art League, a group that gathers around the Capital District for art workshops, demonstrations and to feature their own work in local exhibits.
All day every Wednesday, members of the group stop by the church to work on any project they’d like, share comments with one another and create a local artistic support system.
“It builds such a sense of camaraderie,” Colonie Art League President Kristin Woodward said. “I think the Art League is pretty tight knit as far as supporting other people. It’s really a wonderful thing, the sense of community that we have.”
From humble beginnings
Developing that community has taken almost 40 years. The Colonie Art League was first established in 1974 by local artist Russ McMahon, who wanted to develop the art world right in Colonie. The league started with only about 20 members and had one of its first exhibits with the Troy Fence Show, which is still continued today with the long-running Troy Night Out.
Now, membership includes people from all over the Capital District and beyond. The organization provides workshops taught by national and regional artists and helps exhibit work, including in Colonie Town Hall, the William K. Sanford Library and local galleries.
Woodward, originally from Rhode Island, joined the league in 1978 when she first moved to the area while looking for a job in advertising. She fell in love with the art world, decided to embrace being “artsy-fartsy” and become a professional painter. Now, she teaches classes and exhibits work in the Capital District and Rhode Island.
Woodward began dedicating much of her time to the league, spending 13 years on and off as president. The league accepts artists of any level and age, though Woodward said most of the members are of the “boomer generation.”
“Part of our mission is to inspire people who think they can’t draw anything but a stickman and to find out that they can,” Woodward said.
Mission includes community
Woodward has been in charge of finding some of the national artists to teach workshops to the group. Many spend about a week in the area to do a public demonstration for the members. Some artists that have been featured include Judi Betts, Tom Lynch and Janet Walsh.
The league also gives back to the community. Every summer for the past 12 years, group members teach a weeklong summer art program at the Pruyn House to select students from North and South Colonie school district. This year’s program, “Journey into Art Media,” will run from June 24 through 28.
Each year, the league also gives out a scholarship to a graduating senior from both Colonie high schools who is going on to study fine arts or art education in college. One of the students who attended one of the first Pruyn House summer camps, Woodward said, just graduated college with a fine arts degree and was also one of the students to receive a scholarship from the league.
“It makes us feel great,” Woodward said.
A place to call home?
There never seems to be a dull moment with the league itself, either. The group holds meetings on the first Tuesday of every month for art demonstrations. Over the past 39 years, members of the league have exhibited their work at several galleries in the Capital District and up until recently, the league owned two different members-only galleries: Local Color Art Gallery and Broadway Art Center. Both galleries were closed due for financial reasons. The league is also completely member-funded.
Currently, the league has more than 40 paintings hanging along the walls on the second floor of the Colonie Town Hall. The exhibit will run through June 28.
Jack Berkery has one of his paintings of a landscape in Ireland hanging in the exhibit. Berkery joined the group when it first started in 1978, but took a break from the league for 35 years to raise a family and career. He rejoined the league when he retired in 2011.
“After retirement, my wife told me, ‘Don’t just sit around and vegetate.’ So I got back into the art world,” he said. “It fills the time, it’s relaxing and stress free.”
Berkery added that he likes “schmoozing” with the people in the league and spending the time preparing for shows.
“They’re really strange types of people, and I love that,” Berkery said.
For a full listing of Colonie Art League’s exhibits or to become a member, visit colonieartleague.com.