Author: Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Congratulations are in order for local blues duo Mark Tolstrup & Jill Burnham, who secured the winning slot in the Capital Region Blues Network Solo/Duo Blues Challenge on Oct. 3 in Albany.

Winning the event qualifies Mark & Jill to compete in The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee in January. 

Steeped in the roots of gospel, jazz, and blues, Mark & Jill is a duo with traditional and original songs featuring seasoned Saratoga blues artist and NY Blues Hall of Fame inductee Mark Tolstrup accompanied by sultry vocalist Jill Burnham. 

Mark & Jill will be performing a send-off to Memphis show at Caffe Lena on Friday Jan. 7.

SARATOGA — October is the month when fall leaves crinkle underfoot, jack-o’-lanterns flicker in the moon’s beaming light, and pumpkin spice lattes are cradled by passers-by. October is also a month of remembrance. National Domestic Violence Awareness month is when survivors bravely speak out to tell their stories with the hope that their words can reach ears that have become deafened from constant threats, beatings, and torment. 

One in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will be the victim of domestic abuse or violence during their lifetime.  The National Domestic Violence Hotline receives more than 20,000 calls each day. Twenty men and women are abused every minute by an intimate partner, and 1 of 2 females and 1 in 13 male murder victims are a result of domestic violence. 

Local Harley Quinn cosplayer, Harleen, is raffling off two autographed graphic novels, “Harley Loves Joker,” and “Harley Quinn: A Celebration of 25 years,” to benefit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

“I am a statistic, a victim of domestic violence. I have struggled for years with the post-traumatic effects from being physically, emotionally, and mentally abused. I found my solace through cosplaying, or the portrayal of a character in comics, television shows, movies, video games, and pop culture,” says Harleen. 

Harley Quinn, a character created by DC Comics in 1992 to be the Joker, Batman’s nemesis’ sidekick,  first appeared in Batman the Animated Series in the episode “Jokers Favor” and through her journey in the show as well as in her comics, the abuse that Joker put her through swiftly emerged to the audience. 

“I get a lot of questions about why I cosplay Harley Quinn, and the truth is, she left her abuser, the Joker, and that gave me the strength and courage to leave mine.” 

Both graphic novels were donated and signed by Harley Quinn’s creator, Paul Dini. All of the proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, whose mission is to “lead, mobilize and raise our voices to support efforts that demand a change of conditions that lead to domestic violence such as patriarchy, privilege, racism, sexism, and classism. We are dedicated to supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable and supporting advocates.” 

For a link to the raffle link, go to: go.rallyup.com/sweetheartharley. 

For more information about the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, go to www.ncadv.org 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Stories, poems and song will be shared Oct. 17 at The Frederick Allen Elks Lodge where C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios hosts “Erasing Spaces and Faces” – workshop which gives marginalized members of community a chance to share their experiences of displacement, particularly in the aftermath of urban renewal in Saratoga Springs. 

The Oct. 17 event, which is free and takes place 2-4 p.m., will include stories, an open mic hour, and an opportunity for attendees to participate in creating a mural of the Congress Street area prior to the 1960’s, guided by local artist Marcus Anderson. 

The Frederick Allen Elks Lodge is located at 69 Beekman St., Saratoga Springs. For more information about C.R.E.A.T.E., go to: www.createcommunitystudios.org 

CAMBRIDGE — Buy art, save farms. An in-person sale opens noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 in the historic barn at Maple Ridge, located at 172 State Route 372 in Cambridge. 

The Landscapes for Landsake Art Sale and Exhibition is billed as a celebration of the land by a community of local artists and is the region’s largest art buying event of the season and the Agricultural Stewardship Association’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Participating artists generously donate 50% of their proceeds to support ASA’s farmland conservation work. This year’s exhibition features the work of 58 artists. Approximately 180 works of art will be displayed in the barn at Maple Ridge and over 600 works will be available on www.LandscapesforLandsake.com. Many of the artists will be on hand to discuss their work on the Columbus Day weekend event.

Since 1990 the Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) has worked to accomplish a singular mission: protect the farms and forests, rich soils and agricultural landscape in Washington and Rensselaer counties for future generations. In that time, ASA has managed to conserve over 26,000 acres on 150 farms. 

Admission is a $10 suggested donation. ASA will be limiting the number of people allowed in the barn at a time. Reserve a time slot with an advanced ticket at https://bit.ly/3z0wdf7. The gallery is also open from 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10. Masks required in the barn for all visitors. 

The online sale will be available October 10-30 on www.LandscapesforLandsake.com 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sessions, workshops, talks, readings and more will headline the Saratoga Book Festival, which will take place Oct. 15-17 at various locations in Saratoga Springs.   

Keynote events feature bestselling authors Joyce Carol Oates, and Russell Banks. 

The opening ceremony for Saratoga Book Festival 2021 will take place 7 p.m., Friday, Oct.  5 at the Inn at Saratoga. 

Events throughout the weekend include various genres such as poetry, nonfiction, historical fiction, dystopian and fantasy, YA, popular/literary fiction, crime fiction, graphic novels, memoir/true crime and more. 

For a full listing of scheduled events and ticket information, go online to the website: www.saratogabookfestival.org 

GLENS FALLS — Local favorites The Gibson Brothers will stage a show at the Park Theater on Oct. 29. The venue is located at 14 Park St., Glens Falls. Tickets are $30 advance, $35 day of show. 

The 2021/22 season also includes upcoming engagements by Rochmon Record Club on Oct. 27, when host Chuck Vosganian will stage a listening party to focus on The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. Tickets are $12.    

For the full performance listing or to purchase tickets, visit: www.parktheatergf.com 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces its fall 2021 family programs, both in-person and online every Saturday from Oct. 9 through Nov. 20:

• Family Saturdays: a series of in-person multigenerational creative collaborations at the Museum geared toward kids 5 and older with an adult companion, usually from 1 to 2:30 pm.

• Teen Open Studios: a series of in-person workshops in which Skidmore College Educator Interns lead teens from 13 to 18 in exploring and creating artworks in response to social justice ideas such as race, gender and identity, usually from 3 to 4:30 pm

• Tang at Home Studio: a series of online workshops that brings the Family Saturday experience into participant’s homes via Zoom. Session run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m..

All programs include looking at art in an exhibition or from the Tang collection, discussing and sharing ideas, and engaging in a hands-on art activity inspired by those conversations. Fall exhibitions include Opener 33: Sarah Cain—Enter the Center, Ellsworth Kelly: Postcards, Elevator Music 41: Laura Ortman—Dust Dives Alive, and Un-Representation.

All programs are free and all materials are provided. Registration is required for all events, as space is limited. For the health and safety of all participants at in-person events, proof of vaccination is required for those 12 and older and masks are required for all regardless of vaccination status.

The Tang Teaching Museum is located on the campus of Skidmore College. For more information about the programs, call the Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit the Tang website at www.tang.skidmore.edu 

GLENS FALLS — For the sixth year, Adirondack Theatre Festival (ATF) will produce the Adirondack Film Festival — this time in a hybrid model which allows both in-person and virtual attendance.

Audiences may choose a traditional in-person pass to attend screenings at the Charles R. Wood Theatre and the Park Theatre; or a virtual pass to screen film festival content on-demand at home; or an all-access pass to enjoy both options throughout the festival. 

All passes — passes range from $55 for an individual virtual pass to $140 for a household all-access pass — are available for purchase at www.adkfilmfestival.org. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all inperson events. 

The vast majority of the content will be identical for both the virtual and in-person experience, but a few offerings will vary. 

This year’s festival will include over 70 films including narrative features, documentaries, shorts, music videos, and more. Highlights include Language Lessons, an audience award-winner at Austin’s SxSW Film Festival that features Natalie Morales (Parks and Recreation, Abby’s) and Mark Duplass (The Morning Show, Togetherness); Lie Hard, a madcap comedy featuring Catherine Curtin (Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black) and Melanie Chandra (Code Black); and Keep the Music Going, a sci-fi short featuring Holly Curran (Fear the Walking Dead) which will be accompanied by a “Stage to Screen” panel with artists who work in both theatre and film. Additional events including parties, popcorn bars, and live-streamed panel discussions For more information, go to: www.adkfilmfestival.org