Seldom Scene, making the scene at Caffe Lena Sept. 1. Photo provided by Christopher Lindsay.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — With a body of work stretching back to 1971 and early collaborations with Emmy Lou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Jonathan Edwards, Seldom Scene are one of the most recognizable bluegrass bands on the circuit with a non-traditional approach that stretches the genre’s boundaries.
The ensemble will perform two shows at Caffe Lena – at 5 p.m. and at 8 p.m. – on Friday, Sept. 1.
Since forming nearly 50 years ago, The Seldom Scene has brought both freewheeling joy and immaculate musicianship to their inventive take on bluegrass, offering up spirited interpretations of songs from multiple genres: country, rock, and pop with ease and deep familiarity.
On their latest recording, “Changes,” the band sharpens its focus on songs first recorded in the 1960s and early ’70s – rooted in the archetypal storytelling of classic singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt.
For tickets and more information, go to: caffelena.org.
Unrecorded Tibetan artist, Situ Panchen VIII Chökyi Jungné (1700-1744) Acting as a Patron, 19th century, distemper on cloth, 29 1/2 x 21 1/4 inches, The Jack Shear Collection of Himalayan Art.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery announces a new exhibition – “Forms of Awakening: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection of Himalayan Art” – will be on view Aug. 19 through Dec. 10.
“Awakening” is a fundamental concept in Buddhist thought. It refers to the event in which one opens their consciousness to true knowledge and freedom. The word “buddha” itself is translated as “the awakened one.” For centuries, Tibetan artists have used paintings, called thangka, sculpture, divination mirrors, and initiation cards, or tsakli, as objects of veneration, guides for meditation, and tools for teaching and learning about awakening. Traditional thangka generally used established imagery, such as the mountains and valleys of Himalaya, sacred architecture, and the bodies of buddhas.
“Forms of Awakening: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection of Himalayan Art,” presents traditional Tibetan objects from the Jack Shear Collection alongside work by contemporary artists of Tibetan heritage in three sections: landscape, architecture, and the body. Together, the work reveals how such objects can transform our perceptions and awaken us to aspects of reality unnoticed in our daily lives.
“Art opens us up to new ideas and ways of thinking, and seeing an object in a new context can elicit new meanings and inspire new teaching,” said Dayton Director Ian Berry. “Placing traditional objects alongside fantastic contemporary art by Nyema Droma, Tenzin Phuntsog, and Palden Weinreb is sure to expand our understanding and lead to new paths of study and research.”
A series of public events will be held in conjunction with the exhibition. All events take place at the Tang Teaching Museum, unless otherwise specified. Friday–Saturday, Sept. 22–23: Tibetan Buddhism and Poetry Symposium; Saturday, Oct. 14: Tenzin Choegyal in Concert at the Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College; Thursday, Oct. 19: Dialogue with artist Tenzin Phuntsog; Saturday, Oct. 21: Curators’ Tour with artist Palden Weinreb and Fall Reception; Friday–Saturday, Dec. 1–2: Scholars and Artists Symposium.
The exhibition is curated by Ben Bogin, Associate Professor and Director of the Asian Studies Program, Skidmore College, with Rachel Seligman, Malloy Curator, Tang Museum, and Ariana Maki, Associate Director of the Tibet Center and Bhutan Initiative at the University of Virginia.
For more information, call the Tang Visitor Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit https://tang.skidmore.edu.
Royal Brown, opening reception Aug. 26 at Spring Street gallery.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring St. in Saratoga Springs, welcomes artist, shaman and mystic Royal Brown, with an opening reception 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 26.
Brown shares intimate spiritual creations born from life experience, meditation, creativity, engineering and mechanical skills. His focus is to bring about a new way of seeing that is normal and projected to be perceived as supernatural in “The Evidence of Things Unseen.”
Brown’s spiritual and creative journey will also be featured in these upcoming programs: Artist talk, Sept. 17 from 3-4 p.m.; Discussion with special guest speaker Awo Onianya Aikulola (Miki Conn), Living with Orisha: Walking the Path of African Spirituality, Sept. 30, noon – 1 p.m.; art workshop, Ships from Found Objects, provided by Black Dimensions in Art (BDA), Oct. 14, noon – 2 p.m.
Brown is a Wiccan practitioner earning the grade of first-degree. He is a devotee of the Yoruba tradition of Ifa, quantum physics, and Kabbalah. Brown, or Ifarinmoade was initiated as a Babalawo, or priest of the shamanistic Yoruba tradition of Ifa, and holds LCSW and practices as a licensed clinical social worker. His artwork originates from these artistic, psychological and spiritual explorations.
A portion of the sales of this exhibition will benefit Black Dimensions in Art (BDA). For more information visit: springstreetgallerysaratoga.org.
Caffe Lena hosts a special tribute night honoring Joni Mitchell, featuring an all-star local cast of musicians.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Caffe Lena will host a special tribute in honor of Joni Mitchell on Saturday, Nov. 4, just days before her 80th birthday.
While Mitchell has never played Caffè Lena, organizers point to Mitchell as representing the values that have driven America’s longest-running coffeehouse since its opening night in May, 1960: strong ties to the folk tradition, a fierce independence, a close connection with humanity and a relentless musical vision of what the future can be.
Produced and hosted by Capital Region Michael Eck, “Both Sides Now: Songs of Joni Mitchell” – a benefit for Caffè Lena, features performances of classics from all phases of the artist’s career with a stellar lineup including Sara Ayers, Buggy Jive, Kate McDonnell, Kate McKrell, Rosanne Raneri and Angelina Valente.
The event will take place 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 4, at Caffè Lena, 47 Phila St. Tickets are $12.50-$25. Call 518-583-0022, or visit: www.caffelena.org.
Christie Lenée performs in Saratoga Springs this month. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Celebrated singer/songwriter Christie Lenée – named “Acoustic Guitarist of the Year” by the musicians’ website Music Radar – performs at Caffe Lena 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20.
With sound ranging from transcendental folk-pop to virtuosic instrumentals, Lenée has been described as “Dave Matthews meets Joni Mitchell and Michael Hedges,” integrating melodic pop lyricism with catchy hooks and percussive, harmonic textures. Her latest album is “Coming Alive.” For more information, go to: caffelena.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater will hold open auditions for their October/November production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written by Christopher Durang and directed by Barry Streifert.
The auditions will be held on Monday, Aug. 14 and Tuesday, Aug. 15, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Home Made Theater’s headquarters at the Wilton Mall (near the Saratoga Hospital annex, across the hall from Home Goods).
Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike centers on middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia who share a home in Bucks County, PA., where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha.
Rehearsals will begin Sept. 12 and will generally be held Sunday through Thursday at Home Made Theater’s headquarters in the Wilton Mall.
For the audition: bring a current photo (cannot be returned) and a resume. Be prepared to list all potential conflicts from the first rehearsal (with the exception of tech week and performances, conflicts can be worked around if known about in advance).
For a detailed flyer with character descriptions and other audition information visit Home Made Theater’s website, www.homemadetheater.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arts has sent out its annual Open Call to all Artists across the Capital Region.
This is open to both members of Saratoga Arts as well as non-members and gives all artists the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional setting. You must be a resident of one of the 11 counties of the Capital Region.
Entries are collected by Saratoga Arts and a jury of arts professionals from the area is put together to review all submissions and create five exhibitions per year, featuring four artists each.
Apply by September 1. Details and instructions, go to: saratoga-arts.org/Open-Calls.
James Patterson and Mike Lupica launch their new book “12 Months To Live” at the Saratoga Springs City Center Sept. 25.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — “FOR THE LAST TIME,” my client says to me. “I. Did. Not. Kill. Those. People.”
So begins the new 386-page novel “12 Months To Live” by James Patterson and Mike Lupica, set for publication on Sept. 25 via Little, Brown and Company.
Northshire Bookstore will host an afternoon with the bestselling author duo at the Saratoga Springs City Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24. They will discuss the book and their work with Joe Donahue of WAMC / Northeast Public Radio.
“12 Months To Live” follows criminal attorney Jane Smith, a tough as nails ex-NYPD beat cop, who has received a terminal diagnosis and doesn’t have much time. The burning question: Is her own client trying to kill her first?
James Patterson is among the world’s bestselling authors. Among his creations are Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, and Maximum Ride. He has collaborated on novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton and has won an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, and the National Humanities Medal.
Mike Lupica has covered the world of sports for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and Esquire, and has written 17 New York Times bestsellers.
Single tickets for the event with the authors at the City Center are $40.98 (one general admission ticket and a hardcover copy of the book), and $56.73 (two admission tickets and one copy of the book).
The details: Copies of “12 Months to Live” purchased as part of your ticket package will be pre-signed by the authors and given to you when you arrive at the event. There will NOT be a post-event signing line. If possible, there will be additional autographed books available for purchase at the event.
Chris Morrow, co-owner of Northshire Bookstore in the summer of 2013, just prior to the opening of the Saratoga Springs store. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Northshire Bookstore this week celebrates 10 years in its Saratoga Springs location, at 424 Broadway.
Northshire Bookstore was founded by Ed and Barbara Morrow on Main Street in Manchester Center, Vermont in September 1976. The Saratoga Springs location opened in August 2013. Both Northshire Bookstore locations are now owned and operated by sisters Cathleen Ihasz, Nicole Ihasz and Ashley Ihasz-Austin.
“Saratoga Springs understood the value of a downtown bookstore and effectively lobbied, invested and supported us, later pouring into the aisles with friends and family in celebration of their new bookstore,” says Nancy Scheemaker, general manager of the Saratoga store. “We are of course deeply grateful for this passion and vision. We are grateful also for a decade of support that we could only have dreamed of prior to experiencing the real thing.”
Over the last decade, Northshire has presented more than a 1,000 author events in Saratoga Springs, hosted children’s programming and brought authors into area schools, partnered with local not-for-profits, and has worked with our customers to provide free children’s books to area children via our Book Angels program.
For more information about the store and events, visit www.northshire.com, or call 518-682-4200.
Joseph Bruchac, recipient of an Academy of American Poets Award, that will help see him work on projects with local students.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Academy of American Poets announced this week it is awarding a combined total of $1.1 million to its 2023 Poet Laureate Fellows.
Joseph Bruchac, earlier this year selected as the first Poet Laureate of Saratoga Springs, is among the 23 recipients across the nation chosen to receive $50,000 each to lead public poetry programs in their respective communities in 2023–24.
Bruchac will work with students at Saratoga Springs schools to create a poetry anthology that draws on Indigenous history, connecting them with Native students at the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation and the Onondaga Nation School. He will also arrange visits to Saratoga Springs and reservation schools by contemporary Native poets, provide poetry books to students, and bring together Native and non-Native students to read at Saratoga Arts.
Bruchac has authored more than 186 books in several genres and is a member of the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation Elders Council. He is the founder of the Greenfield Review Press, a pioneering publisher of Native American and African writers and bilingual (English/Abenaki) books.
“The Academy of American Poets celebrates the unique position poets laureate occupy at state and local levels, elevating the possibilities poetry can bring to community conversations and reminding us that our national spirit can be nourished by the power of the written and spoken word,” said Ricardo Maldonado, president and executive director of the Academy, in a statement. “We are inspired by these projects—which include intergenerational workshops, city- and statewide festivals, community-generated publications, and more—that the 23 Fellows will carry out, and grateful to the Mellon Foundation and the nonprofit organizations supporting this life-affirming work.”
Through its Poet Laureate Fellowship program, the Academy of American Poets — a leading financial supporter of poets in the United States — has awarded a total of $5.45 million in fellowships to one hundred and four poets’ laureate since 2019, plus more than $360,000 in matching grants to secure project support from forty-seven local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
