Paul Nigra Center launches annual end-of-year show

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts has unveiled its annual Fall/Winter Art Show, featuring works in a variety of media by artists from across New York State. The show will be on display until January 22, 2021, with a public opening reception on November 19.

The show includes a special collection of work from featured artist Linda Finch, a Northville artist whose folk art-inspired paintings depict the Sacandaga area in historic context. The body of work she is displaying represents actual scenes from the region, with details extensively researched for historical accuracy. The 13 paintings pay homage both to everyday scenes and to the historic process of clearing the Sacandaga Valley of seven villages to make way for damming the area to create the Great Sacandaga reservoir. Finch’s exhibition was made possible by Saratoga Arts, with an Individual Artist Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

In addition to works by the featured artist, the show will display 91 pieces by 31 artists. Artists displaying work include Jeffrey John Ardizzone, Tiina Bockrath, Tyrel Buchanan, Ruth Crotty, Stacey DeLaney, Marilyn Fairman, Ben Fliederbaum, Katey Germain, Deborah Handy, Carol M. Hesselink, Michele Johnsen, Nancie Johnson, Marion Kratky, Gary Larsen, John Morrette, Lynda Naske, Sandra Peters, Paul Petrie Jr., Elizabeth Phillips, Timothy Prendergast, Regina Quinn, Laila Raslan, Amy Silberkleit, Anna M. Socha, Patsy Suydam, Maddie Swart, Darlene Van Sickle, Karlene VanDeusen, Sean Walmsley, Gerald Wein and Janet Marie Yeates.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions. Award winners will be announced on the Nigra Arts Center Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PaulNigraCenter. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, awards are not able to be presented publically.

A Meet the Artists Opening Reception is scheduled for Thursday, November 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free reception to view the show and speak to some of the featured artists. There will be new policies in place to ensure safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing measures and a limit of 50 visitors at a time inside the building.

The public is also welcome to view the show at any time during its run. The Nigra Arts Center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville, and its hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Gallery admission is a suggested $5 donation. Members of the Nigra Arts Center, children under the age of 18 and participating artists are admitted for free. The show will also be available to view virtually on the Nigra Arts Center Facebook page, and website, after the November 19 Opening Reception.

The Nigra Arts Center offers annual memberships to anyone who seeks to support the arts and community events at the Center. Membership levels start at just $25 per year and carry benefits such as discounted admission to classes and art exhibitions, mailing list access, invitations to special events, charitable tax deductions and more. For additional information about memberships and to sign up for one, please visit their website or call (518) 661-9932.