An Evening With Degas: En Plein Air @ SPAC, 8/14/09
In conjunction with the Hyde Collection’s exhibition “Degas and Music” in Glens Falls, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center also explored the connections between music and art on Friday, August 14 with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s program “An Evening With Degas.”
Professional and amateur visual artists from throughout the Capital Region were invited to bring their easels and paintbrushes, set up on SPAC’s lawn and work on their art – in exchange for free admission for the artist and a guest.
Approximately 40 artists were seen painting, sketching and sculpting on the lovely Friday evening prior to the program which featured guest violinist Gil Shaham.
SPAC president and executive director Marcia J. White described the art-meets-music event as “an opportunity to engage our local artistic community in the SPAC experience.”
photographs by Andrzej Pilarczyk
The “Evening with Degas” invitation to Paint on the lawn at SPAC and open to alll artists was a really fun evening. Luckily the weather cooperated. I enjoyed participating and am working on finishing a really sweet painting. However oil takes awhile to dry so it won’t be displayed until next year when I hope you do it again! Visual artists need to be visible and I don’t feel that they are getting much attention from the press. Our area offers tremendous and diverse visual talent. Oftentimes artists work quietly & alone and people do not realize the process. This brings artists and the public into closer proximity and KUDOS to SPAC. Sandy Dovberg
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for your perspective on this. We thought it was a super idea and would love to see it repeated in that it’s inspirational for everyone – the artists, the performers and the rest of the audience.