Kenan Center To Present Art Exhibit Featuring Three Lockport Artists

Manning McCandlish has a Bachelor of Arts with an Art Major from the University of Arkansas. Upon graduating, she worked at Hallmark Cards as an artist and a supervisor in the Finished Art Department. After moving to Lockport in 1978, McCandlish taught watercolor classes and workshops for many years. She worked as a staff person in charge of the gallery and related art venues at the Kenan Center during the 1990’s. At the present time she is the chairman of the Kenan Art Committee and is an active volunteer in the hanging of shows in the Kenan Gallery. McCandlish is a member of several art societies, holding various offices in each, and she has participated in many society and gallery art exhibits, winning numerous awards. She works primarily in transparent watercolor.

Michael McMahon, a native of Michigan, came to Western New York in 1969. After graduating from Lewiston Porter High School, he attended NCCC, the Pennsylvania School of Fine Art, and the Ontario School of Art where he majored in Communication and Design. McMahon served as an artist-in-residence at Artpark for three years, participates in numerous exhibits throughout Western New York, teaches workshops both locally and in Canada, and was the recipient of the Allentown Art Festival Purchase Award in 1996. He has been working in transparent watercolor since 1972.

For Shirley Murdoch, a native to Western New York, art is not merely a hobby. It has been an expression and outlet, as she worked full time as a Registered Nurse/Industrial Health Nurse and mother of five.

Murdoch has taken numerous workshops from California and New Mexico to Maine, as well as auditing classes at the State University College at Buffalo and Niagara University. She has taken additional training locally with accomplished artist, Margaret Martin, and through her Signature Membership in the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society.

Murdoch uses watercolors, oils and pastels to capture images from Europe, Central America, Western New York and America's scenic Southwest. A member of the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society and the Kenan Art Council, she has shown her work in these venues as well as the Market Street Art Gallery.

TEA & TOUR TAKES PLACE MARCH 4. A special Tea & Tour will be held on Sunday, March 4, where guests will enjoy a selection of hot teas and light fare, with introductions to the exhibit works by the artists. Cost is $20 per person. Advance reservations will be taken through March 2 by phone by calling 433-2617, or in person at the Kenan Center Business Office open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

An active exhibition space since 1966 when it featured the works of Charles Burchfield, the Kenan Center House Gallery averages eight exhibits annually of local, regional and national artists. For more information, call (716) 433-2617.

Kenan Center to Hold Wine and Beer Fest

Co-chairs Mark Jaekle and Kellena Kane say that enthusiasm for a wine and beer festival has been high ever since the conversation began over a year ago. “There’s been a tremendous amount of interest in a festival that showcases the exceptional wineries of the Niagara Wine Trail as well as the artisanal products of the local farms, and with the Kenan Center located right at the doorway to the wine and agricultural region, it seemed like a natural event for us to undertake,” says Kane.

Wineries that will be participating in the event are: Arrowhead Spring Vineyards, Black Willow Winery, Chateau Niagara Winery, Eveningside Vineyards, Freedom Run Winery, Honeymoon Trail Winery, Niagara Landing Wine Cellars, Schulze Vineyards & Winery, Victorianbourg Wine Estate, Vizcarra Vineyards, and the Winery of Ellicottville. Blackman Homestead Farm and Murphy Orchards will offer tastings and products for sale, and a variety of breweries will also be on hand. Additional vendors are still being confirmed. Live music, food, and a Chinese auction will round out the evening. Each guest will receive a souvenir tasting glass and twenty tasting tickets; additional tickets can be purchased. Tasting journals will be provided for jotting down favorite wines and beers.

The Niagara Wine and Beer Fest joins another annual favorite—100 American Craftsmen—as an event the Kenan Center expects to have wide regional appeal, bringing many from outside the area to Lockport. “The Canal Tourism Task Force recently acknowledged 100 American Craftsmen and the Holiday Gift Show–both Kenan Center events--as two of Lockport’s important cultural assets in terms of attracting visitors from outside the area,” says Executive Director Susan Przybyl. “The addition of the Niagara Wine and Beer Fest not only serves as an important source of revenue, but also brings a new event to Lockport that has proven to be a very successful fundraiser for many other non-profits who have added wine and beer festivals to their calendars of events. We’re very enthusiastic about the growth potential of the festival.”

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Organizers of the Niagara Wine and Beer Fest expect that more than 100 volunteers will be needed for various roles during the event which will run from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Volunteers will work an average of two-and-a-half hours and will be able to enjoy the event prior to or after their shift. Any one over the age of 21 is invited to participate. Sponsorship opportunities are also available at a variety of levels. If interested in either volunteering or sponsorship, please contact Doug Levy at 433-2617, ext. 205 or send an email to info@kenancenter.org.

Pre-sale tickets are $20 through January 27 at the Kenan Center Business Office, 433 Locust Street, or at the Kenan Center Arena, 195 Beattie Avenue. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.NiagaraWineAndBeerFest.com. Admission at the door will be $30. This is an adult only event, and only those age 21 and over will be admitted with proper ID.

The Kenan Center is a regional community center located in the historic home of Lockport businessman and philanthropist William R. Kenan Jr. It provides diverse arts, education and recreation programs to the community and greater Buffalo Niagara region.

For more information, call 716-433-2617 or email info@kenancenter.org.

Ensemble ACJW To Perform at Kenan Center

Ensemble ACJW is an inspirational collective of outstanding young professional musicians from The Academy--a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education--that has earned accolades from critics and audiences alike for the quality of its performances as well as its fresh and open-minded approach to performance and programming. The Academy is a two-year program that supports musicians as they develop careers as top-quality performers, innovative programmers, and dedicated teachers who are fully engaged with the communities in which they live and work.

Support for the program is provided by NYSCA ArtWORKS for Young People, the Thelma L. & Milfred R. Beck Bequest Administered by the Niagara Area Foundation, a division of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo; the Kenan Arts Council; Lockport Union Sun & Journal; and Lockport Inn & Suites.

For more information, call 433-2617 or go online to www.kenancenter.org.

Kenan Center Presents "Catherine Parker: Resonance"

The Kenan Center is proud to present a solo exhibit of painter Catherine Parker’s works. Titled “Catherine Parker: Resonance,” the exhibit represents the artist's first major solo exhibit in over a decade. Nearly 45 paintings are on view, and available for purchase through November 13.

Parker’s intensely pigmented watercolors are inspired by poetry, music and places. An acute observer of her surroundings, Parker revels in small and large occurrences, finding ideas both in the boundlessness of travel, and the intimacy of watching a flower grow on her kitchen windowsill. The artworks featured in the show span a period of creative output encompassing the last two decades. Many new pieces, created especially for this event, will be on view.

Parker’s recent work has included artistic collaborations, combining art, poetry and music. In October 2010 she joined with the Buffalo Chamber Players (featuring members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) to present a concert and art exhibition based on composer Olivier Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time.” Prior to that she partnered with highly regarded Buffalo-based composer Roland Martin to create an original concert and art experience based on the poetry of Pablo Neruda titled “A Rose Beside the Water.” An accompanying book and CD were also published.

“The Kenan Center is especially pleased to present Catherine Parker’s work,” said Susan Przybyl, executive director of the Center. “Aside from being the first exhibit of Catherine’s art at the gallery, her show has additional significance; our first gallery exhibit, 45 years ago in 1966, was an exhibition of works by her father, noted American watercolorist Charles Burchfield. We are pleased to be contributing to this ongoing family and artistic legacy.”

The Kenan Center House Gallery is located in the Kenan House, 433 Locust Street, Lockport. Regular gallery hours for this exhibit will be Monday-Friday, noon to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 2-5 pm. The Gallery will be closed November 11.The Kenan Center 2011 gallery exhibitions are sponsored by M&T Bank.

Situated on 25 beautiful acres in historic Lockport, New York, the Kenan Center is a regional community center for arts, education and recreation. For more information, please call (716) 433-2617 or go to www.kenancenter.org.

Kenan Center To Present Exhibit of Civil War Art

The exhibit will open with a free public reception on Friday, August 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and run through 5:00 p.m., Sunday, October 2. The gallery, located at 433 Locust Street, will be closed Saturday, August 27 and September 3-5 for the Labor Day holiday. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sunday, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The gallery is admission-free.

Mr. McGrath will provide guided public tours on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 25. Times will be listed on the Kenan Center website at www.kenancenter.org. Field trips will also be available for school students, which can be arranged by calling the Kenan Center Business Office at (716) 433-2617. Bus tours and groups are welcome with advance notice.

Jim McGrath is a lifelong resident of Lockport, New York, a historic city that holds the distinction of operating the only remaining double-set of working locks on the Erie Canal. A retired member of the University of Buffalo Police Department, and a Vietnam veteran, McGrath’s deep interest in the Civil War—especially artworks—is evidenced by his collection of more than 100 prints and paintings, many of which will be displayed in this exhibit. For the past seven years, McGrath has lectured at historical societies around the region on his collection, providing enormously detailed accounts of the stories behind the works. McGrath is a frequent visitor to Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields, and attends numerous seminars on the Civil War at Hagerstown, Maryland, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust, Save Historic Antietam Foundation, Main Street Gettysburg Inc, and the preservation of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg.

The Kenan Center is an ideal location to view these massive historical prints that capture a pivotal time in America’s military history. Built in 1859, the Italianate style house was the former residence of Lockport businessman, William R. Kenan, Jr., whose family has a rich history in North Carolina politics and education, including the establishment of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Kenan’s lineage also includes several notable military servicemen including his great-great-grandfather, James Kenan, a hero of the Revolution and later appointed brigadier general of the Wilmington militia district. Mr. Kenan’s father, William Rand “Buck” Kenan, joined the “Duplin Rifles,” Duplin County’s first military company, at the age of eighteen, following in the footsteps of his brothers Colonel Thomas and James Kenan, both of whom were wounded and captured at Gettysburg.

William R. Kenan, Jr. was also related through the marriage of his sister, Mary Lily, to wealthy industrialist, Henry M. Flagler. Mr. Kenan later became the CEO of the Flagler enterprises after Flagler’s death, and later inherited a substantial portion of Flagler’s estate after the death of his sister, Mary Lily in 1917. His 25-acre estate now serves as a regional community center with a year-round gallery in the former residence, landscaped gardens, two converted carriage houses which serve as an intimate 153-seat theatre and nursery school, respectively, and a modern sports facility built in the 1969. The Kenan Center provides diverse arts, education, and recreation programs to Lockport and the Eastern Niagara region, and attracts visitors from across the country for its annual 100 American Craftsmen show, and to enjoy the historic architectural features of the Kenan house at 433 Locust Street.

Kenan Center Presents "A Walk in the Garden Exhibit", July 8-August 21

Artists represented in the show are: Jacqueline Albarella, Marg Carney, Amanda Dzierzanowski, Phil Eaton, Maggie Eaton, Linda Gardell, Kathleen Giles, Violet Gordon, Eileen Graetz, Joan Hambleton, Sally Johnson, Tracy Jung, Suzete Martins, Alec Maslowski, Maureen Matthews Toth, Manning McCandlish, Margaret H. Morgan, Shirley Murdoch, Cindy O’Mara, Todd Overturf, Danielle Perla, Jon Rex, Robert Rimmer, Joan Saba, Patricia Sciandra, Mimi Swados, Sandra Tyler, and Dody Walter.

Juror for the exhibit was Elizabeth Licata. Licata has been working as a professional journalist for over 20 years. Her writing on the arts has been published in the Village Voice, The Buffalo News, Art in America, Art & Antiques and many other publications. Her writing on gardening has been published in Horticulture magazine and her blogs, the award-winning GardenRant.com (www.gardenrant.com) and Gardening While Intoxicated (gardeningwhileintoxicated.com). Licata is the author of the book Garden Walk Buffalo and is the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Spree, Buffalo’s city/regional glossy.

The exhibit runs through August 21. During Lockport in Bloom, July 9 and 10, the gallery will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the garden walk, visitors will also be able to pick up a complimentary copy of Buffalo Spree’s summer HOME Magazine, while supplies last. Normal gallery hours resume on July 11, and will be M-F, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays, 2:00-5:00 p.m. The Kenan Center House Gallery is located at 433 Locust St, Lockport, inside the 1800s Kenan House.

An active exhibition space since 1966 when it featured the works of Charles Burchfield, the Kenan Center House Gallery presents works by local, regional and national artists throughout the year.

For more information, call (716) 433-2617 or go online to www.kenancenter.org

Kenan Center to Present Landscapes from Gerald Mead Collection

Over a period of 24 years Mead has assembled a private collection of over 550 artworks in all media by over 470 artists associated with Western New York. This encyclopedic group of work represents a unique cross section of the art history of this region. The paintings, prints and photographs selected for this exhibition focus on landscapes from his collection and range from an 1888 copper etching of the Niagara gorge by Amos Sangster to a collage painting with field imagery that Timothy Frerichs completed in 2011.

Other artists represented include painters Raphael Beck, Jeanette Blair, Robert Flock, Charles Houseman, Carl Illig, Wes Olmsted, Catherine Parker, Peter Stephens, James Vullo, and William West, photographers Irene Haupt and Percy Murray and printmakers Frank Eckmair and Julius Richter. Structured as a brief historical survey of this genre, this exhibition illustrates the broad range of styles and techniques artists have used when approaching landscape as subject matter and highlights the artistic achievements of artists affiliated with regional organizations such as the Photo-Pictorialists of Buffalo, Buffalo Society of Artists, Buffalo Print Club and Art Institute of Buffalo.

The Gerald Mead Collection, profiled in the Buffalo News, Buffalo Spree Magazine, Artvoice and the Niagara Gazette, continues to grow, and works have been loaned for exhibitions at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo Museum of Science, Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, University at Buffalo Anderson Gallery and numerous other college galleries and public venues in Western New York.

An active exhibition space since 1966 when it featured the works of Charles Burchfield, the Kenan Center House Gallery presents works by local, regional and national artists throughout the year.

For more information, call (716) 433-2617.

Image shown: Untitled Landscape from the Remembrance Series, 1997 by Robert Flock.

Kenan Center Announces Artisan Selected for 100 American Craftsmen Show

108 artisans have been selected for this year’s show including five “master craftsmen,” who are past recipients of the show’s highest award. They are clay artists Bryan Hopkins, Buffalo; Jim and Pat Reno, Mayville, NY; and Sally Danforth, East Aurora, NY; glass artisan Karen Hibbs, New Haven, CT, and paper artisan Christopher Stangler, Lockport, NY. Artisans represent eleven states as well as Ontario, Canada.

Additional artisans selected are:

Basketry: Jan Ferries

Wearable Fiber: Kristine Baker, Pamela Bartl, Jane Bartlett, Arleen Behrens, Shengizhu and Gene, Bernardin, Lois Bosworth, Margaret Cherre, Kathy Dinsmore, Heather Kidson, Dahlia Popovits, Lori Ross, Amanda Shero-Granstrom, Barbara Jean Weingart

Non-Wearable (Decorative) Fiber: Leslie Bowman-Friedlander, Hillary Fayle, Anne Garretson, Fran Zaborowski

Decorative Glass: Kurt and Lynda Carlson, Catherine O’Connor, Richard Seegers and Donna Fein

Leather: Bob and Ellen Chandler, Pong Gaddi, Harvey Greenwald, Pat Halpen, Tom Hayward

Decorative Metal: Timothy Dunn and Marc Gaiger

Mixed Media: Linda Berryman, Scott Bowman, Elizabeth Cooper, Patti Harris, Jim and Ann Jackson, Ronald Lee, Dennis MacDonald, Dan McClure and Antoinette Magaletta, Mark McDermott, Cheryl and Don Olney, JoAnn Vanderheite, Gary and Kathy Yatteau, Lubna Zahid

Paper: Pat Sorbini

Wood: David Barclay, Patrick DelMonte, Mark Diebolt, Mike and Roz DuFlo, Sharon Hammill-Diebolt, Carol Joos, William Peck, Paul Petrie, Kenneth Schosek, Scott Sober, Charles Willard, Dave Zaborowski

Glass Jewelry: Gretchen Lapp Hamlin, Susan Lichtenthal, Linda Maher Hoffman, Marie Shaw, Betty Stephan

Metal Jewelry: Linda Becker, Debra Bet, Betty Ann Bosworth, Dale Bosworth, Cheryl Brooks, Winnie Chai, Cindy Cook, Mylessa Corlew, Melissa Crowell, Eileen DelDuca, Mark and Katie Sallander, Irwin Franco, Julie Hammet-Cone, Cynthia Hand, Steven Kolodny, Geri Lynn, Nancy Miller, Alexis Russell, Victor Silva, Sharon Teaman, Carly Wright

Other Jewelry: Sarah Blackman, Helen Calhoun, Patricia Cancilla, Louisa Kim, Laurie Leonard, Julia Skop, Kelly Waldt

Jurors for this year’s show included Gerald Mead, Buffalo artist, arts writer and instructor; Marvin Bjurlin, ceramic artisan; Nina Freudenheim, owner of Freudenheim Gallery; and Marie Via, Director of Exhibitions, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester.

100 American Craftsmen is a weekend full of activities including live music, gourmet food vendors, an indoor café, wine tastings, herbal plant sale (Saturday, 10 am-3 pm), children’s craft activities, and a fine art exhibit in the Kenan House Gallery. In addition, every visitor gets a raffle ticket for a chance to win an original piece of craft art donated by the exhibiting artisans.

100 American Craftsmen hours are: Friday, June 3, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m; Saturday, June 4, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with awards presented at 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 5, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission at the door is $6.00. Parking is free.

Major Sponsors: First Niagara, The Buffalo News, Phillips Lytle LLP and Travers Collins & Company. Additional support provided by: Lamar Outdoor Advertising, WGRZ-TV, The Zenger Group, Ulrich Sign Company, Lockport Union Sun & Journal, WBFO, WLVL, and The Premier Group.

For more information, go online to www.kenancraftshow.com.

Kenan Center to Present Works by Buffao Niagara Art Association

Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, Noon to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The gallery will be closed May 28-30. The exhibit will be open for special hours during 100 American Craftsmen, June 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and June 5, from Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Artists represented are: Dennis Bertram, Anna Boccio, Paula M. Borkowski, Catherine Brown, Karen Carbonara, Thomas S. Coyne, Kathleen E. Dworak, Kristine Gazzo, Joan Hambleton, Mary Hamilton, Patricia Hamm, Jean Jain, Paul Klonowski, Patricia Kraus, Maureen Matthews, Manning McCandlish, Kathleen McDonnell, Kaaren Metcalf, Cindi O’Mara, Marie Prince, Margaret J. Raab, Len Rusin, Matthew Ryan, Kath Schifano, Joan Langley Shaw, DeEtta Silvestro, D. Ann Stievater, E. Jane Stoddard, Mimi Swados, Richard Tomasello, and Jody Ziehm

Buffalo Niagara Art Association (BNAA) is a diverse group of artists with styles ranging from photo realism to lyrical abstraction. The mission of BNAA is to foster a bond between artists, promoting understanding and interest in the creative arts. Originally known as the Amherst Society of Artists (founded in March 1955), the Buffalo Niagara Art Association changed its name in 2006 to reflect the more diverse geographical area in which members live.

For more information, call 433-2617 or go to www.kenancenter.org.

Award Recipients Honored at 26th Annual Storrs All High Photo Show

Thirty-five schools in all participated in this year’s show, with 313 works on display. Additional top award winners were:

Best of Show Student Processed, Liz Merrill, Williamsville North
Best Black & White, Lisa Kowalewski, Akron High School
Best Color, Jeff Lavin, Tonawanda High School
Best Urbanscape, Andrew Mathner, Amherst High School
Best Landscape, Heather Lucke, Clarence High School
Best Architecture, Courtney Lafferty, Greece-Athena High School
Best Sports, Sean Dunn, Palmyra-Macedon High School
Best Floral, Danielle Szary, Lancaster High School
Best Portrait, Veronika Denisovich, Sweet Home High School
Best Waterscape, Michael Alexander, C.W. Baker High School
Best Still Life, Samantha Snyder, Cassadaga Valley High School
Best Animal, Allison Brock, Lewiston-Porter High School
Best Computer Generated, Kelli France, Randolph Central High School
Next Vision Award of Excellence, Kelly O’Shea, Pembroke High School
Best Documentary/Photojournalism, Christine Cockayne, Newfane High School

One student from each school received a merit award ribbon. Winners were:

Akron High School, Shannon Winney; Alden High School, Christina Striewing; Amherst Central High School, Matej Stetkar; C. W. Baker High School, David Didio; Cassadaga Valley, Meghan Brown; Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School, Ron Macchioni; City Honors School, Samantha Peterson-Borins; Clarence High School, Marissa Peltier; Depew High School, Dana Frantz; Fillmore Central School, Thomas Rhett; Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, Lisa Beedham; Greece Athena High School, Andrea Pollotta; Kenmore East High School, Katie Brown; Kenmore West High School Keelin Burke; Lancaster High School, Steve Meidenbauer; Lewiston-Porter High School, Jacquie Leonard;Lockport High School, Samantha Mussari; Lyons Central Schools, Collin Donald; Marcellus High School, Alex Sheridan; Medina High School, Cody Stanek; Newfane High School, A.J. Messina; Palmyra-Macedon High School, Mitch Falanga; Pembroke High School, Joshua Duttweiler; Pioneer High School, Jenn Conrad; Randolph Central School, Taylor Wright; Skaneateles High School, Erin Herr; Southwestern High School, Sara Ryan; Springville Griffith Institute High School, Sarah Wach; Sweet Home High School, Pam Koons; Tonawanda City School, Leah Parkhurst; Warsaw High School, Olivia Gelsinger; West Seneca West High School, Hannah Kelley; Wheatland-Chili High School, Samantha Lang; Williamsville East High School, Abby Dry; and Williamsville North High School, Allison Corretore.

The exhibit continues through April 22. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Class tours are welcome during school hours. Juror for this year’s show was Lockport photographer Dennis Stierer. Award support was generously provided by The Buffalo News and individual sponsors. The 2011 Kenan Center House Gallery Exhibitions are sponsored by M&T Bank.

Named in honor of Lockport artist, William Storrs, who passed away in 2005. An accomplished artist and long-time contributor to visual arts programming at the Kenan Center, Storrs was instrumental in starting the All High Photo Show which was designed to showcase the photographic work of high school students throughout Western New York, and was an active participant in the installation of the works as well as the awards presentation.

The Kenan Center is a regional community center for arts, education and recreation located on 25 beautiful acres in historic Lockport, New York. Facilities include a sports arena, a 153-seat theater, education building, outdoor recreational fields, and the Kenan house, an 1800’s Victorian mansion featuring a year-round art gallery and formal gardens. For more information call (716) 433-2617 or visit us online at www.kenancenter.org.

Students from 36 High Schools to be Represented in 26th Annual Storrs All High Photo Show

Fifteen category awards will be presented. They are: Best School Overall, Best of Show, Student Processed and Best of Show Commercially Processed; Black & White, Color, Urbanscape; Landscape, Floralscape, Portrait, Waterscape, Computer Generated, Still Life, Journalism/Documentary; Sports, and Animal. In addition, one student from each school is recognized with a merit award.

Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Class tours are welcome during school hours.

Named in honor of Lockport artist, William Storrs, who passed away in 2005. An accomplished artist and long-time contributor to visual arts programming at the Kenan Center, Storrs was instrumental in starting the All High Photo Show which was designed to showcase the photographic work of high school students throughout Western New York, and was an active participant in the installation of the works as well as the awards presentation.

The Kenan Center is a regional community center for arts, education and recreation located on 25 beautiful acres in historic Lockport, New York. Facilities include a sports arena, a 153-seat theater, education building, outdoor recreational fields, and the Kenan house, an 1800’s Victorian mansion featuring a year-round art gallery and formal gardens. For more information call (716) 433-2617.

Kenan Center to Present Australian Puppet Production During Its 30th Year Celebration Tour

“How exciting is it” said Artistic Director Frank Newman “that Terrapin’s ground-breaking puppetry is now finding audiences all over Australia and the globe. It’s a great testament to all the artists that have helped us create these brilliant shows. We’re thrilled to represent Tasmania on the national and world stage, and we’re thrilled to bring three new shows to local audiences in 2011”.

BOATS is a story about a man called Jof, told by his friend Nic. The two of them are life-long friends and sailors--two mariners fleeing their past and embracing adventure. But it is much more! BOATS is a performance in which the magic is created in front of you! Through classic story-telling, Jof and Nic transform the world in before the audience using everyday objects--a boat is made from a piece of bread, and ropes. An island is made from a hat. A circus is made from a jacket. And a storm is made in a teacup. Each scene is a unique and highly inventive use of space and puppetry. Plus, it’s a moving story with a twist at the end which will leave a lump in your throat and a smile on your face!

About Terrapin Puppet Theatre
Terrapin Puppet Theatre has a reputation for producing high quality puppet theatre. Under Artistic Director Frank Newman, the company is exploring digital puppetry, which uses new technologies and cross platform practice to continually challenge and redefine puppetry as a visual theatre form. Terrapin creates new works through research and developmental processes that are designed specifically for each work. While Terrapin reaches to the future in its exploration of form and story-telling styles, it does so with its feet firmly grounded in the age-old craft of puppetry and theatre’s rich traditions.

Quinn Griggs began training with Is Theatre while completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at UTAS in 2002. Since then he has performed and trained with Is Theatre, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Festival of Voices, AboutFace, The Mountain Festival, corporate performances and also presented a variety of independent works. From Shakespeare to Moliere to contemporary physical theatre, Quinn’s skills have seen him operate through a wide base of performance styles, and he has enjoyed playing many diverse and challenging roles. Quinn is just as happy improvising performance pieces or working to structure of script and director. For Terrapin, Quinn has appeared in Con Artists and Boats.

Tickets are $10 adults; $9 seniors; $8 children. To chrage by phone, call 433-2617 or visit the Kenan Center at 433 Locust Street, Lockport, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Support for the 2010-2011 Performing Arts Series is provided by the New York Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties. Additional support is provided by NYSCA ArtWORKS for Young People, Murphy Insurance Agency, Kenan Arts Council, Lockport Union Sun & Journal, and Lockport Inn & Suites.

Kenan Center Offering Two Paid Internship Positions for College Students This Summer

Students interested in applying for a workership position must be a college student who will be returning to his or her studies in the fall of 2011, or a high school graduate who has been accepted at an accredited college for fall 2011. The positions available at Kenan Center will be for an Administrative Staff Assistant and Marketing Assistant.

The administrative staff assistant intern helps to coordinate the business office during the summer months at the Kenan Center. Tasks involve clerical work including filing, mailing, answering phones; as well as research; scheduling; venue coordination; writing, and editing – giving good customer service to visitors. Computer aptitude is expected. Teamwork and good people skills are required as the ASA encounters many different staff people and volunteers. Computer aptitude expected, especially with Microsoft Windows Office programs.

The marketing assistant intern position includes those duties that assist staff in marketing, promoting, and record keeping for Kenan Center programs and events especially 100 American Craftsmen, annual meeting, and the preparation of marketing materials for the 2010-2011 seasons of diverse programs. MA assistant will learn various aspects of marketing as it applies to a non-profit organization including issues related to audience development; tracking and recording participation in events and preparing reports; cultivation of sponsors and advertisers; and maintaining accurate files and documents of marketing efforts. Teamwork and good people skills required as the intern encounters many different staff people and volunteers. Computer aptitude expected, especially with Microsoft Windows Office programs.

Both the administrative staff assistant and marketing assistant are expected to take part in appropriate meetings including the institution’s annual membership meeting, 100 American Craftsmen show, and other meetings and events as part of the learning experience.

Applicants for these positions need not attend college in Niagara County. For application, please call the Kenan Center at 433-2617.

Kenan Center To Present Niagara Artists' and Craftsmen's Association Exhibit

The purpose of the Niagara Artists’ and Craftsmen’s Association is the advancement of fine visual art and skilled crafts throughout Niagara County, New York and the presentation of the finest artistic and craft traditions by means of exhibitions and other activities favorable to artistic expression, and the development of friendly interchange among artists and craftsmen and those interested in the arts. Membership in Niagara Artists’ and Craftsmen’s Association is limited to residents of Niagara and Orleans Counties, New York, being part of the Lake Ontario plain.

The Kenan Center is located at 433 Locust Street, Lockport, Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, Noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The gallery will be closed Monday, February 21. For more information, go to www.kenancenter.org.

Kenan Arts Council Scholarships Available

Three $600 scholarhsips will be awarded to high school seniors who will be attending college next year majoring in art, design, music or theater. Applicant must meet high academic standards (minimum high school grade average of 80%) and be actively involved in extracurricular and community activities. Completed applications must be sent to the Kenan Arts Council, Attn. Scholarship Committee, 433 Locust St., Lockport, NY, 14094 by March 25, 2011.

The Kenan Arts Council is affiliated with the Kenan Center in Lockport. The Council raises funds throughout the year with various activities, such as its Holiday Gift Show and the annual plant sale to support Kenan Center programs, and to provide scholarships for area students.

Kenan Arts Council Arts Grants Recipients Named

Mini-grant recipients from the eastern Niagara schools are: Tracy Bloom and Martha Rogala, Niagara Wheatfield High School, "Public Sculpture Project"; Debra Yager, George Southard, "Intro to Band Instruments Through Song Flutes"; Susan Liddell, Starpoint High School, "Encaustic Painting"; Melissa Bowman, Barker High School, "Creating for a Cure"; Brian Baker, Wilson Middle School, "Schooling Fish"; Mary Lou Wiltberger, Charles Upson, "Music Education Using Orff Instruments"; and Karen Fish, Starpoint Intermediate, "Digital Portfolio for Instrumentalists."

The students' work will be displayed at the Kenan Center's Student Art Gallery at the Taylor Theater during the weekend of the 100 American Craftsmen show, June 3-5.

Kenan Center to Present Retrospective Exhibit of Works by Lockport Artist and Art Teacher Olivia McConnell

Born in Michigan in 1903, McConnell made Lockport her home from 1924-1976, later moving to Tuscon, Arizona where she lived until 1984. Despite being handicapped by crippling arthritis, McConnell turned out a profusion of work, primarily in oils and watercolors, as well as linoleum prints and etchings, many of which hang in public buildings and homes of private collectors, not only in Lockport, but around the world.

McConnell graduated from Skidmore College and studied further with famed Western New York artists Raphael Beck, Robert Blair, and Charles Burchfield. Her works were included in exhibits at the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Museum of Science, Provincetown Art Gallery, and the National Institute of Rehabilitation in New York City, along with numerous solo exhibits in Lockport, Medina and Middleport, including a show at the Kenan Center in 1974 and a retrospective exhibit in 1992.

In addition to her recognition as an artist, McConnell gave art lessons to young people in her garage studio for many years. A number went on to become notable artists in their own right.

McConnell was a member of the Buffalo Chapter of American Pen Women, president of the Tuscon Chapter of Pen Women, a charter member of the Junior Service League, and member of the College Club in Lockport.

A special tea will be held on Sunday, January 23, bringing together former students and others to share fond memories of their years studying with Miss McConnell. Guests will enjoy quiche, a selection of hot teas, and dessert. Cost is $20 per person. Advance reservations will be taken through January 19 by phone or in person at the Kenan Center Business Office open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

An active exhibition space since 1966 when it featured the works of Charles Burchfield, the Kenan Center House Gallery averages eight exhibits annually of local, regional and national artists. For more information, call (716) 433-2617.

Kenan Center “Storybook Christmas Party” To Feature WNY Author

DiVencenzo, under the pen name Maria Wilkes, authored the books, Little House in Brookfield, Little House at the Crossroads, and Little Clearing in the Woods. Since returning with her family to Western New York, she has created her own publishing imprint, Winterlake Press, and recently published the childen’s book, The Scariest Dream Ever. The Star of Christmas has received the Mom’s Choice Award, Moonbeam Book Award, Gold Medal, and the Benjamin Franklin Best First Book Silver Medal. DiVencenzo also started a non-profit initiative called HeroConnect which provides the families of deployed service men and women with a copy of one of her books, read and recorded by their family member who won’t be home for the holidays. The cost of the book and DVD recording is paid for by sponsors and donations.

The Storybook Christmas Party takes place during the Kenan Center’s annual “Holiday House Festival of Trees,” an open house that started in 2002, and fills both floors of the Kenan House Gallery. The public is invited to visit the house, December 6 through 17, from noon to 5:00 p.m. The house will be closed December 11, with the special party event taking place on Sunday, December 12. Both are admission free. During Holiday House, the Kenan Center is encouraging visitors to donate non-perishable food items, and new gloves or mittens for both adults and children, which will benefit local families in need.

The Kenan Center is located at 433 Locust Street in Lockport. Groups of ten or more are asked to call the business office at 433-2617 in advance. Free ample parking is available. For more information, go to www.kenancenter.org.

Kenan Center Selects Winners in Lions International Peace Poster Contest

CALL FOR ARTISTS: 41ST ANNUAL 100 AMERICAN CRAFTSMEN SHOW 2011

100 American Craftsmen is an indoor juried craft show featuring fine quality crafts, and is one of the most noted craft shows in the region. The event benefits the Kenan Center, a regional community center for arts, education and recreation, and draws visitors from across Western New York as well as numerous out-of-state visitors. $2,200 in cash awards are presented, along with Honorable Mention Awards in 8 categories, and an Emerging Artisan award that seeks to recognize an artisan who has been practicing their craft for 6 years or less. Amenities provided to artists include a Friday night post-show artisans party; Sunday morning continental breakfast and feedback session; complimentary beverages throughout the weekend; booth sitters; on-site photographic services; and promotional tools.

The two and a half day event includes live music, indoor café, gourmet food vendors, wine tasting, a children’s art space, an herbal plant sale, and fine art exhibit in the Kenan Center House Gallery. Admission for the event is $6.00.

A panel of four jurors who are working craftsmen or experts in craft fields form the jury panel. This year, all images for jurying must be digital, and submitted on either CD or DVD disk. Applications must include a $35 non-refundable jurying fee and $200/$240 booth fee (additional $40 is for a corner booth request). Complete guidelines are detailed in the show application. Artists can request an application by emailing info@kenancenter.org or go online to www.kenancenter.org/arts/craftsmen.asp to download the guidelines and application form.

Kenan Soccer Turf and Annex Renovation Update

Play by Former NFL Saefty Bo Eason Highlights 2010/2011 Performing Arts Series