Potsdam, NY, Jan 04, 2013 — The new year marks the start of a new chapter for the St. Lawrence County Arts Council. The group's new executive director, Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton, who began her new duties this week in Potsdam. Hilary Oak, former executive director of the Arts Council, stepped down at the end of December to pursue other interests.

Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton is a photographer and graphic designer with a keen interest in fostering working relationships between artists and their communities. She spoke with Todd Moe about her arts career that has taken her from teaching high school visual art in Colorado to serving in the Peace Corps in Southwest China for the past two years.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Dec 13, 2012 — A new art exhibit that connects First Nations history and culture in Quebec with a variety of printmaking techniques opens at BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake on Friday night. Todd Moe talks with Kahnawake Mohawk artist Martin Loft about the exhibit titled, "Tsi Nón:we Tewèn:teron" or Where My Home Is. The show includes a wide range of works on paper created by thirteen young Mohawk artists.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Nov 20, 2012 — Part of an exhibition of Rockwell Kent's work at St. Lawrence University explores his literary side. Kent was one of America's most famous 20th century artists, and owned a dairy farm in the eastern Adirondacks. Two exhibits of his work are on display through December 15 in St. Lawrence's Brush Art Gallery and the Owen D. Young Library's Special Collections.

Rockwell Kent: The Once Most Popular American Artist is a display of dozens of works in a variety of media. Kent's prominence as an artist, author, adventurer and socio-political activist made him a media phenomenon. He died in 1971.

In this second of a two-part series of conversations, Todd Moe toured the exhibit in Special Collections in the ODY Library. He spoke with Cathy Tedford, Brush Art Gallery Director and Special Collections Curator and Archivist Mark McMurray about the university's collection of Kent correspondence, original prints, books and other ephemera -- including some recent acquisitions.  Go to full article

Rochester, NY, Nov 16, 2012 — Kodak has launched a free digital application to help photography enthusiasts in the U.S and Europe work more easily with film.

Kodak officials say they hope the app will attract a new generation of users to their legacy technology.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Nov 16, 2012 — An exhibition of one of America's most famous 20th century artists, and an Adirondack farmer, is on display through mid-December at St. Lawrence University. Rockwell Kent: The Once Most Popular American Artist is a display of more than 75 works in a variety of media, including some recent acquisitions by the university, in the Brush Art Gallery and at the Owen D. Young Library Special Collections.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Nov 08, 2012 — Todd Moe talks with Hillary Oak, director of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council, about this weekend's 25th annual Artists' Studio Tour. It's opportunity to meet artists and see the creative process first hand.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Nov 06, 2012 — Traditional Arts in Upstate New York kicks off its tenth annual Sugar & Spice gingerbread contest and exhibit later this month. And to help would-be bakers and builders get into the mood, TAUNY is hosting a couple of workshops.

Todd Moe spoke with TAUNY folklorist Hannah Harvester about this year's contest, and the history of gingerbread houses. The tradition began in the mid-19th century when the story of Hansel and Gretel and a witch's candy cottage become popular. But Harvester says, in some cultures, baking gingerbread goes back centuries.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Oct 24, 2012 — After more than ten years at its helm, the executive director of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council says she's stepping down, as soon as a replacement is found. Hilary Oak made the announcement earlier this season, and will stay on until her replacement is properly trained.

Oak joined the Arts Council in 2001 as board president and was named executive director in 2005. She, board members and volunteers have revived the group over the last decade. Under her leadership, the Arts Council has grown to include a gallery and gift shop in Potsdam and dozens of art education classes on the second floor of downtown Snell Hall.

Hilary Oak says it's time for someone with new energy, skills and creative ideas to lead the organization. She spoke with Todd Moe about the joys and challenges of helping to rebuild and strengthen the arts community in the North Country.  Go to full article

Glens Falls, NY, Oct 10, 2012 — A new exhibit at the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls features old doors transformed into new works of art by area teens. Todd Moe talks with the Hyde's curator of education, June Leary, about The Door Project.  Go to full article

Oct 05, 2012 — Artist Frederic Remington's bronze sculptures of cowboys, native Americans, and cavalry are considered prized collector's items. The Remington Museum in Ogdensburg is using the latest digital technology to reproduce one of Remington's first and most popular sculptures, The Bronco Buster. Original sculptures, cast in multiples, were made and sold during Remington's lifetime. The museum is using an original casting in its collection as a model for a series of 3-D laser-scanned copies.

Todd Moe visited the Remington Museum for a chat with curator Laura Foster and executive director Ed Lavarnway about using computers and high tech cameras to create hyper-accurate reproductions of Remington's art.  Go to full article