BeaconArts is the group behind the changing art on the bus shelters in Beacon, and the time has come to change the art again. After a recent round of fundraising which included a benefit concert, BeaconArts raised the funds needed to refresh the artwork on 5 bus shelters located throughout the city.
BeaconArts is excited to announce the Bus Shelter Art Project Fundraiser: A Benefit Concert on Wednesday, June 21, 7-10pm, at Dogwood Bar, located at 47 E Main Street, Beacon, NY. The event will include a night of music, raffle prizes, and drink specials.
The Bus Shelter Art Project was initiated in 2017 in partnership with the city of Beacon to install and maintain artwork at five Beacon bus shelters. This effort coincided with the new branding of the Beacon Free Loop bus in 2018. Since the pandemic, the artwork, which was meant to be changed regularly, is in great need of renewal and repair. BeaconArts is asking for sponsors and donors to help with the cost of installing five new artworks for the shelters. The goal is to raise $5,000. This will enable BeaconArts to change the artwork every two years. Artwork will be chosen by committee, and all active artist members of BeaconArts will be eligible to submit their art.
Dogwood Bar, a longstanding community hub in Beacon, has generously offered to host the fundraiser. Ticket holders can expect discounted drinks at the bar, the opportunity to win raffle prizes donated by local businesses, and a line up of amazing musicians including: Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble, a fiscally sponsored project of BeaconArts; Tony DePaolo, featuring Gwen Laster, Peter O’Brien, and Damon Banks; Paul Byrne & The Bleeders; Mimi Sun Longo; Marsh King’s Daughter, featuring Emily Hague, Jon Slackman, Rafi, and Sekaya; and other special guests.
Tickets are limited and should be purchased in advance at https://gofund.me/8c63126c. Ticket prices start at $25, with additional sponsorship levels of up to $1000. All proceeds will go directly to the Bus Shelter Art Project. BeaconArts is grateful for any and all support of this project.
Celebrate summer solstice with BeaconArts! A fun night of good music and friends, for a great community cause!
It’s been since 2018 since piano notes twinkled from alleyways, gardens and front lawns during BeaconArts’ city-wide installation, “Keys To The City,” a fiscally sponsored project of BeaconArts. The interactive installation is going to happen again in the Fall of 2023, and they need volunteers to help make it happen.
Writer Izdihar Dabashi captured the mood in the fall of 2018. The last time the pianos were played, she wrote: “Auburn leaves danced in the wind, wisps of hair and tangles of scarves flit about in the cool weather. Softly, Adele’s voice weaves into the moment creating an ambiance that is undoubtedly autumn in New York. As if singing ‘Hello’ to myself isn’t dramatic enough, the universe seems to encourage my bout of melodrama, as evidenced by the several pianos adorning Main Street. I was tempted to ignore the peculiar sights and continue to sonder, but the tinkling sounds of the pianos rang through the air and lured me to their sights.” Read her full article here, and see pictures of the pianos past.
BeaconArts has put out the call for volunteers. They are looking for volunteers to help with project management and piano logistics. People who are interested are instructed to contact Ian Murdoch here.
People with a variety of skills who want to install and monitor pianos during their weeks on display are encouraged to inquire. Even if you are not super technically handy, there might be something you can do, if this is a volunteer opportunity that matches your desires.
You could fret about cooking a turkey and finding a gravy recipe, or you could put that stress aside to instead apply in time for the possible $1,000 you could be granted from the Clara Lou Gould Fund For The Arts, managed by BeaconArts.
According the BeaconArts: “The Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts funds arts projects in Beacon including individual artist’s projects, unique exhibition, performance or public art projects, arts education programs, and community programs that promote area artists and arts activities, drawing attention to the valuable role of arts and culture in our community.”
Clara Lou Gould was Beacon’s Mayor for 18 years. “BeaconArts created this special Fund for the Arts named for Beacon’s former Mayor, Clara Lou Gould in honor of her 18 years of service as Beacon’s Mayor, and in recognition of her support of arts and culture in Beacon.”
Applications for grants are being accepted until November 28th, 2022, and the application doesn’t look too complicated. “While this fund is directly administered by the Community Foundation of Dutchess County, a committee of representatives from BeaconArts makes funding recommendations based on its knowledge of community need and offerings,” says their website.
“We believe in the fluidity of the Hudson Valley arts community and as such this fund is designed to support projects and activities in the Greater Beacon community, including those that may be initiated beyond city limits.”
Apply now, and/or email Suzanne Ball Suzanne@beaconarts.org with questions.
BeaconArts, the multifaceted art organization that started in 2002 and helped revitalize Beacon by making arts projects accessible through their fiscal sponsorship programs, is holding their annual meeting to go over financials and revised bylaws, and to elect or re-elect board members on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at Industrial Arts Brewing Company from 6:30 to 8 pm. (Read our recent feature on Industrial Arts and the food truck you’ll find there, Eat Church.)
Additional candidate nominations are being accepted via email through Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Email meghan@beaconarts.org with a nomination. You must be a current member of BeaconArts to vote. You can renew or start your membership here.
BeaconArts can be credited with being involved with or a fiscal sponsor of several projects you are familiar with, including Beacon’s new free bus, the Beacon Free Loop (the G line), art in the bus stations, Beacon 3D (public art sculptures throughout town), Beacon Open Studios, and more. It is because of their work, and the energy and and enthusiasm of their members, that Beacon maintains its unique vibe.
During 2019, the Board of Directors consisted of:
Co-Presidents: Meghan Goria & Karlyn Benson
Vice President: Angelique Devlin
Treasurer: Aaron Verdile
Secretary: Christina Jensen
Members at Large: Michelle Alumkal, Jonathan Berck, Donna Mikkelsen, Terry Nelson, Chris Neyen
Ex-Officio: Ed Benavente, Kelly Ellenwood
Past BeaconArts Presidents: Theresa Goodman, Rick Rogers, Kelly Ellenwood, Dan Rigney, Linda T. Hubbard, Sara Pasti, Ricardo Diaz
Beacon has had a bicycle tree representing its welcome into the holidays for the last nine years. For the last eight of those years, this tree was the only ceremonial tree that was lit up at Beacon’s welcome intersection at the corner of Main Street and Wolcott, which is also the location of Beacon’s Welcome Center.
A large evergreen tree stands rooted in the ground next to the Welcome Center, and it has had lights on it, but it wasn’t being used for the city’s official tree lighting. The tree of wheels was. This year, the City of Beacon will have a tree lighting - of the earth-rooted tree - but the Beacon Bicycle Tree will not emerge.
Why? Why did Beacon have a tree of bicycle wheels for its annual lighting in the first place? Some people wondered this silently, while enjoying the annual tradition, and others wondered it aloud, in criticizing manner, a manner of complaining that this was a tradition imposed upon them.
Exploring The Bicycle Tree, And Why It Was Created
The real reason the Bicycle Tree was created, according to Ed Benavente, the artist behind the interactive sculpture, is that there simply was no ceremonial tree lighting prior to his sculpture version. Nothing was lit up in a ceremony of any kind at Beacon’s front door. If no tradition existed at all, then the experience was a blank canvas that Ed was tempted to fill - with the help of some of his friends.
For the past several years, the City of Beacon has not been an investor in public events. The public events that people enjoy, like the Spirit of Beacon Day, the kids Halloween parade, and other such events, are the result of groups of people feeling so strongly about an event that they get together and organize it. The Bicycle Tree became one such project; Ed gained support from BeaconArts to produce and promote the work. Eventually, the City of Beacon also got behind it financially, and became a partner in the tree lighting.
At the time of the tree’s inception, Beacon’s art scene was thick with artists filling in the voids where festivities were not happening. BeaconArts as an entity started as a way to help promote artists, but adopted a lot of business promotion since that was lacking as well.
Ed explained to A Little Beacon Blog his inspiration to start the Bicycle Tree:
“I started this project along with the Beacon Arts Community Association at a time when public Christmas celebrations seemed to be waning and lacking a central event. I wanted to see if we could create a related art project that was different and meaningful in spite of having no funding. By incorporating the themes of recycling and transportation, I cobbled together the first Bicycle Tree. A half-dozen or so people then gathered around it to sing Christmas carols led by Kelly Ellenwood (an opera singer) and Stephen Clair (founder of Beacon Music Factory). The spirit of the season was invoked and a tradition was born. My intention was to do this once or twice, but the enthusiasm grew, more volunteers stepped up, more bicycle parts were donated and Beacon Arts eventually partnered with the city Park and Recreation Department to establish an annual event drawing an estimated 500 people one year for the lighting ceremony.”
The Bicycle Tree Artist’s Statement On Why It Is Not Getting Built This Year
As Ed shared his scoop with A Little Beacon Blog, he was removing his well-known hammer sculpture that resided in front of Brett’s Hardware on West Main Street, set up as part of the outdoor public art exhibition, Beacon3d. That event has just ended, as it always does at this time of year. PS: You can always buy any of these Beacon 3D sculptures… They become part of our lives as we walk past them daily or weekly, but really they are just on display. Contact the artist to find out how. Usually artists are not salespeople and they might forget to mention that.
Ed shared the news with a bit of an Eeyore tone. Not entirely happy about it, yet solid in his decision. He tried describing the current status of the Bicycle Tree, that it was pushed aside, under his summer lawn equipment, that was going to take a long winter’s nap until the artist shed got cleaned out come spring.
“Each year brings new challenges,” reflected Ed. “Each year, I wonder if it can be done. Each year I have been encouraged and supported by a team of volunteers and the community at large. This year, I have to concede that my own time and energy is lacking and it's time to take a break.”
According to Ed, his grand visions of the Bicycle Tree were never fully realized. Each year, he did add new interactive elements to it. Kids could turn gears and make wheels move over here or over there. New lights were brought in and strung up.
To dig into the mind of Ed, to discover more about why he designed this design, one would check out his Artist Statement. That’s where artists state what drives them. According to this statement at the Austin Art Projects, Ed was the perfect fit for an interactive project like this, that involved religion and meaning and the human experience:
The work of Ed Benavente is largely focused on the illustrative portrayal of the human condition. Whimsical yet often with a footnote of serious thought and contemplation.
We may never know what his engineering vision was. “Although the Bicycle Tree will be absent this year,” says Ed, “the Bicycle Menorah may still make an appearance, as well as the Bicycle New Year's Ball drop at Fountain Square (Dogwood). The Bicycle Reindeer might also make an appearance here and there.”
Is There A Tree Lighting In Beacon?! Yes.
“Christmas tree fans should not despair,” encouraged Ed. “There will be a traditional, real, live Christmas tree lighting event on Saturday, November 30 at Polhill Park, complete with music, snacks and Santa!” Details about that lighting are here.
Just so you know, Ed used to pedal Santa down Main Street in his mysterious Bicycle Reindeer bike. At this point, the bike is not scheduled to be anywhere. So the only chance you have to see it is … keep your eyes peeled for its red glow and musical sounds as it makes its way through Beacon - maybe.
Report back if you hear or see it.
PPS: If you want to send Ed your thoughts and memories of the tree, you can email him at ed@beaconarts.org
He has received one such comment, via ALBB’s Instagram, from @emilymac8: “Ed Benavente, if you're seeing this please know your work was a magical part of Beacon childhoods, especially my daughter who was born in 2009. Thank you for filling what was a void, and filling it in a quirky fun interactive way.”
Happy Second Saturday for May 2019! New shows are opening all around Beacon. Some of them include, clockwise from top right: Martin D. Fowler at Big Mouth Coffee Roasters; the Rain Taxi Review of Books at Photo Book Works; Alessandro Keegan at Mother Gallery; and Meghan Spiro at Hudson Beach Glass.
Happy Second Saturday, people of Beacon! It’s time once again to head out into that fresh late-spring air, and see some art. Consider it a warm-up for your tour of Beacon Open Studios, opening (studios) next weekend! Get all the details in our Art Gallery Guide.
Beacon Open Studios was one of the first annual events I ever encountered in Beacon while out for a jog one day. It embodies one of the things that makes Beacon so easy to love - there is always something going on, and every day offers the chance to stumble across something magical.
That is why we are once again a proud sponsor of this year’s Beacon Open Studios. This is a chance for artists to open their homes or studios to the public, so that the public can see how the art gets made. In the past, this has been garages, sheds, apartments, offices, and other nontraditional venues of viewing art.
SPONSORS Businesses and individuals can sponsor by clicking here and following the Donate button after you fill out the form. Just type in the sponsor dollar amount your are opting in for.
A boy crouches to play a tiny piano outside of Towne Crier. Photo Credit: Lisa Marie Martinez; Piano Artist: Miss Vickie
Back before the peak fall foliage season of September, and before the first blizzard of the pre-winter season hit us, A Little Beacon Blog planned a big feature on the Keys to Beacon project from BeaconArts. This is the outdoor, interactive art installation, in which 11 pianos covered in some kind of artistic expression were placed at locations throughout the city.
We sent out an essayist to find and experience as many pianos as she could in real life. Please meet Izdihar Dabashi, a writer, poet and college student, and follow along on her discoveries, and read how the pianos touched her and those around her.
Keys To Beacon 2018 - An Exploration
by Izdihar Dabashi All Photos by Izdihar Dabashi Izdihar is studying Psychology. She is a writer, loves fiction novels and writing poetry. When she is not writing, she is reading a novel with a strong heroine and drinking tea in a faux fur coat.
Auburn leaves danced in the wind, wisps of hair and tangles of scarves flit about in the cool weather. Softly, Adele’s voice weaves into the moment creating an ambiance that is undoubtedly autumn in New York. As if singing “Hello” to myself isn’t dramatic enough, the universe seems to encourage my bout of melodrama, as evidenced by the several pianos adorning Main Street. I was tempted to ignore the peculiar sights and continue to sonder, but the tinkling sounds of the pianos rang through the air and lured me to their sights.
Piano at Bank Square at Polhill Park Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi
Across the street from Bank Square at Polhill Park, a white-speckled black piano bathed in the autumn sun. Strikes of sheer gold paint the surface of the piano, balloon-like blobs of paint float amidst the spectacular design. A trio of city girls tinkered with the keys, flooding the afternoon light with airy chimes and tittering smiles. Leaves of maroon and honey weaved through the air pushing me forward to my next location, humming “Colors of the Wind” underneath my breath as the scenic fall weather emitted a Pocahontas-like movie moment from me.
I found myself outside of City Hall facing a grand piano. Blends of scarlet fade into citrus, bursting out smooth blues and shocks of violet; the sophisticated rainbow design contrasted beautifully against the sleek ebony body. I seated myself on the sturdy bench, stretched my dainty fingers, and summoned a tune so beautiful and strange all of Beacon peeked out from their windows, traffic stilled, even the birds turned their ambitious chirps into humble murmurs.
Kidding - it took about five minutes for my short stubby fingers to figure out how to gracefully lift the fall board. I could understand why BeaconArts placed this particular piano outside City Hall, because the glorious sight was enough to reinforce the visual legacy Beacon holds, an enticing city full of expression.
Piano at Beacon Historical Society on South Avenue Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi
Somehow, my suede camel boots clicked their wooden heels all the way to Beacon Historical Society. A tangerine piano with magenta circles brought me back to the days of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast , a popular children’s cartoon show. Childlike-wonder surrounded the theme of this piece and graced a smile on a little girl’s face. She happened to be the pianist of the hour, and a runaway from the birthday party hosted next door. Setting down her fairy wand and birthday party hat, she clambered to settle onto the orange bench. Her happiness was contagious and soon a small crowd formed, finding joy in her clumsy tune as she confidently bobbed her head. We should have exchanged autographs.
Making my way back to Main Street, immersing myself in the hustle and bustle of the weekend flow, I came across the next piano. Situated a few feet away from the Rick Price mural, a sky-blue piano covered in paintings of a garden and a chubby Garfield-like cat invited a young couple to playfully serenade one another. It was disgustingly cute, a scene straight out of a Rom-Com.
Piano at Key Food. Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi
Flickering flames mask the small black piano outside of Key Food. An adorable little boy dressed in black and red fit the aesthetic of the piano; the scene was too cute for me not to stop and take a photo of him.
Piano outside of Beacon Pantry. Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi
Outside of Beacon Pantry, a chalkboard piano waits for me to scribble my signature all over it. A bucket full of colorful chalk is screwed into the top of the piano, inviting people to temporarily leave their mark. I left my autograph then followed the scent of sharp cheese and fresh bread for a heavenly sandwich from Beacon Pantry.
Piano at Howland Cultural Center. Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi
The piano next to the Howland Cultural Center is covered in sheet music and children’s handprints in an array of vivid colors. This piano seems to play on its own, simply needing the wind to tinker with the keys. Soft blue spikes decorate the surface of the bench hosting a young pianist. Her bright smile crinkled the corners of her cinnamon eyes, her joy as distinguishable as her vibrant magenta shirt. My inner babushka managed to resist pinching her cheeks.
Edging closer to Beacon Falls, an ivory piano blanketed with a crocheted burst of warm orange and yellow sits across from Loopy Mango, the chunky yarn store. I was in the middle of explaining to my parents how I wanted to take a photo of the piano when my mother whipped out her phone and took several photos of my father modeling. Le sigh.
Piano near Beacon Falls, along the Fishkill Creek. Piano created by the artist Lori Merhige. Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi
Crimson wings hide out under a cover of branches across from Beacon Falls. The massive red piano settled beneath the serenity of the clusters of trees attracted several city goers to an otherwise abandoned spot. I expected a magical dragon to appear and summon me to a quest, or perhaps the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland to lure me to another dizzying sight of magic. I stumbled across a family of three celebrating their father’s birthday, and another cluster of friends creating tunes out of thin air.
Locations For All Of The Pianos
BeaconArts volunteers (including local artists and musicians) provoked conversation and inspired feelings of awe by placing 11 pianos around Beacon. This year's locations have been City Hall, Beacon Historical Society, Polhill Park, the pop-up park at Cross and Main streets, Key Food, Howland Library, 380 Main St., Howland Cultural Center, Fishkill Falls Park, Memorial Clock (across from Loopy Mango), & Hudson Valley Brewery.
To follow the fate of the pianos as they were moved around the city, and to see other performances and activities around the pianos, visit the Keys to Beacon website.
To learn how to support the project with a donation, or to donate a piano, see their support page.
Happy Friday... Black Friday, that is! We hope you are continuing to have a wonderful holiday weekend. The shops in Beacon have been decorating to create a delightful experience for you. Visit them, and tag us with what you find! You must stop into the new shop, La Mère Clothing + Goods, who just joined with A Little Beacon Blog as an editorial sponsor partner! That means we get to gush about what's inside their store...
BLACK FRIDAY DEALS We're kicking it off with a few hot deals from the shops around you!
Find shops' addresses in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide: La Mère Clothing + Goods: All-day deals including 15% off your purchase from 10 am to 1 pm; 10% off your purchase from 1 pm to 7 pm; free "Beauty Blender" with $50 purchase (while supplies last). All purchases of $200 or more will be entered to win the Holiday Survival Kit (quilted makeup bag, super-soft ringer tee, beauty masks, OPI nail polish, Brooklyn Candle Studio travel candle, and more!) Luxe Optique:
Receive 15% off your glasses purchase when you have Luxe Optique check what your insurance covers out of network. Yeah - it's that simple. Lambs Hill Bridal:
Come into the boutique and see their new "Moonlight Windows" at night. King & Curated: (the high-end, hand-crafted jewelry store next door to Lambs Hill)
Save 15% on purchases $100 and over, and 20% on purchases of $500 or more. Jake's Main Street Music: (near Towne Crier) Sale on musical gifts, instruments and stocking stuffers. Includes select instruments like ukuleles, mandolins, banjos, violins, and more. Beetle + Fred:
Insane deals on fabric, from to 20% to 40% off almost any fabric in the store, including some new patterns, and clearance. Whoa. Bra Fit Expert:
10% to 20% off bras, panties and pajamas. beBhakti Yoga:
Get 40 days of unlimited yoga for $99 (expires 12/31/18) or one year of unlimited yoga for $999.
Roger’s Folly’s Presents La Familia Swinging Blues Band
Day: Saturday, November 24, 2018 Time: 8 to 11:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Christmas Tree Lighting at Visitors Center in Polhill Park
Day: Saturday, November 24, 2018 Time: 3 to 5 pm (rain date set for Saturday, December 1) Location: Polhill Park, intersection of Main Street and Wolcott/Route 9D, Beacon, NY Information >
Broadway In Beacon Presents Happy Holidays
Day: Sunday, November 25, 2018 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
Pre-Holiday Vintage Pop-Up @ Colorant
Days: Saturday & Sunday, November 24 & 25, 2018 Time: Saturday, 11 am to 9 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm Location: Colorant, 146 Main St, Beacon, NY Information >
Kaleidoscope Pop-Up at Zora Dora's
Days: Popping up 'till the end of February Time: 9 am to 7 or 8 pm, days may vary Location: Zora Dora's, 201 Main St., Beacon, NY
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
Gifting glasses from Luxe Optique is totally possible and easy - even if your gift-giver is out of town. Simply call Luxe Optique at (845) 838-2020 and they can arrange everything. To "Get Luxed" is truly an experience. You are sure to find a pair of glasses that fit your personality.
BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE
L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street www.instagram.com/lamereclothingandgoods
You're going to find so much inside of one of Beacon's newest boutiques, L a M è r e Clothing + Goods. Think comfort paired with fashion, like hoodie sweaters, jeans and boots, as well as scarves and chunky blankets. Store owner April completes your ensemble by selling perfume and OPI nail polish. Find things for the home as well! Black Friday deals are on - see the top of this edition for details, or check right here.
This charming and newly renovated home in Newburgh is filled with sunlight, and situated close to things to do. It is listed at $199,900 and has three bedrooms and one bathroom. According to Realtor Sarah Beckham Hooff: "A super chill neighborhood is within walking distance to the best bagel shop in Newburgh called Lox Stock & Bake." This home includes a walk-up attic, which is great for storage. Be a part of the change happening in Newburgh now... Details + Pictures >
BeaconArts Menorah Lighting: Starting Sunday, December 2 at 5:30 pm, one wheel will be lit for Hanukkah each night. Note: On Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8, lighting will be at 4:30 pm. Each wheel will be illuminated in honor of something special. See the honorees here.Details about the lighting > Bicycle Tree Lighting: Saturday, December 8. Activities start at 4pm. 4 pm: A festive “Kick Off” with dancers from Yanarella Dance Studio 4:30 pm: Seventh Night of Hanukkah – BeaconArts + Beacon Hebrew Alliance Bicycle Menorah Lighting 4:45 pm: Community Caroling with Gina Samardge and Compass Arts 5 pm: Santa arrives, led in by the Beacon Music Factory’s one and only Women’s Drum Corps! Santa's arrival will be followed by a countdown to the Bicycle Christmas Tree Lighting. Santa will be staying to greet families until 6 pm.
A Little Beacon Space
Bring the eggnog! 'Tis the season for Holiday Business Parties! Looking for a space for your special event? There is still time to book with A Little Beacon Space.
A Little Beacon Space SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, December 8, 2018
A Handmade Pop-Up Shop for one day only! Featuring Allegory (jewelry), Anna West (paintings), Teller Hill (eco-friendly dog accessories), Reklaimed (fabric flowers and more, from the creator of Beacon's original pop-up shop Cherry Bomb!), and Moss Pocket (small-batch ceramic wares). Details >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Antalek & Moore can find the best insurance for your home, car, business, event, and more. You can still work directly with the insurance company you go with, like Progressive or Travelers, like if you want to pay your bill over the phone or ask a question. For no extra cost, the folks at Antalek & Moore do the research for you and act as your advocate if you need to file a claim or if anything else goes wrong.
Call them today at (845) 831-4300, or visit them at 340 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508.
Tin Shingle
Tin Shingle is having a Black Friday sale on membership. Save 25% off the yearly plan, and 20% off the half-year plan. Get the Details >
Katie James, Inc. NEW Special Rate: "The Do It Together" hourly rate is designed for people who use Squarespace and MailChimp, and want to get work done on their websites or newsletters. During this session, sit with Katie as she makes the changes with you to your website. The session can include design and strategy during your time. Studio rate is $350/hour, but the Do It Together package is $150/hour. Zip through your to-do list - quick! Contact for Details >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is available to all businesses in Beacon, as well as others nearby. Membership and event opportunities are available to help connect businesses. Learn More >
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way.
Piano created by the artist Lori Merhige. Photo Credit: Jeff and Anita Cashman
Just because you needed a little love note today, we wanted to pass along to you this email sent by a reader early this week. As you may have noticed, Beacon is decorated right now with pianos in seemingly random locations. You may occasionally hear the sound of Beacon from several street corners as people sit down to play whenever they feel the need. In fact, A Little Beacon Blog has published an essay by Izdihar (Izzy) Dabashi capturing the sounds and beauty of most of the pianos - read it here.
Dear A Little Beacon Blog,
Just wanted to share these photos of our winged bear with you.
We were New York City middle school teachers for 30 years...music and drama. About a month after 9/11, our school received a gift from J.C. Penney - hundreds of teddy bears arrived delivered in giant boxes - one for every student, teacher and employee in our school.
As you can imagine, the teddy bears provided great emotional comfort for all and we have kept our bear all these years.
When we saw the beautiful winged piano in Beacon, we just thought our bear was a perfect match.
Many thanks to all who bring us these beautiful pianos each year... we play each one and look forward to their return next year.
Thank you Little Beacon Blog,
Jeff and Anita Cashman
The organization behind the pianos in Beacon is BeaconArts, known for their public art projects that appear and disappear all over town, all year round.
We have a feature story coming out about this, so stay tuned because that’s where you’ll be able to learn more. In the meantime, enjoy the pianos while they are here. They will be rolled away soon and stored for next year.
Artists and Businesses Merge to Make Main Street the Gallery
On Second Saturday, August 11, Beacon’s 1.5 mile long Main Street becomes a 24-hour, 7-day a week gallery space for the next month! Running through September 8, 2018, site-specific art installations are revealed in 26 Main Street storefront windows taking part in the public art exhibit, Windows on Main Street (WOMS). As you're walking around, do you notice that certain storefront windows are filled with something extra special?
“Artists are paired with local businesses, and together they create a site-specific work of art,” says WOMS 2018 director Diana Currie, who is also a participating artist with a window this year (you may remember her “yarn bombing” work of Beacon’s iconic Dummy Light in 2015, which triggered a public response to the yarn cozy knitted around the Dummy Light for days after the initial setup). Now in its 13th year, WOMS is a project of BeaconArts, the organization dedicated to organizing, promoting and nurturing the city’s multifaceted arts community.
“Windows on Main Street is a fantastic way for local artists - both newcomers and established - to really get more involved in our arts community, and in our community in general,” said Currie.
How to Find the Artists and Windows
A list of this year’s participants, locations, and artist statements can be found at www.windowsonmainstreet.com. Maps of the event are available around town at various locations, including Beacon’s Visitors Center, and participating businesses. You can read about each artist from the Windows on Main Street website when you click on their location. In fact, you should read about the installation "In Memory of Anthony Marra Jr." put on by his sister Catherine E. Marra at Mountain Tops.
The Windows on Main headquarters and “Tiny Windows” exhibit is located at Oak Vino Wine Bar, 389 Main St. Oak Vino and Windows on Main Street will host an opening celebration on August 11, starting at 6 pm. In addition to the “Tiny Windows" exhibit, there will be a live drawing/auction by artist Donna Mikkelsen, a DJ, and complimentary food. Windows on Main Street shirts and totes will also be available for purchase to benefit the project.
Funding Provided By...
This monthlong public art event is a project of BeaconArts, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster and encourage the advancement of the City of Beacon as a center for arts and culture. This means that Windows on Main is supported by BeaconArts' membership income, in addition to any fundraisers and sponsorships that the WOMS team organizes. BeaconArts' Ex-Officio and past president Kelly Ellenwood further explains: "It also means that BeaconArts will always support the event - both financially, and with deeper volunteer commitment."
Windows on Main Street 2018 was also made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature) and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. Sponsorships are also possible for businesses who want to directly sponsor the event. A Little Beacon Blog is a proud media sponsor!
Look for These Windows
Tag us in photos you see, and use the hashtag #WOMS2018 to light up Instagram with the art and add to that hashtag collection. Here's what we have found so far, courtesy of Instagrammers:
Window: The Chocolate Studio, 494 Main Street Artist: Jan Dolan Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: Big Mouth Coffee Roasters, 387 Main Street Artist: Sarah J. Berman Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: Vegetalien, 504 Main Street Artist: Kat Stoutenborough Photo Credit: Kat Stoutenborough
Window: Meyer's Olde Dutch (MOD), 184 Main Street Artist: Erica Hauser Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: NFP (New Form Perspective), 504 Main Street Artist: Kristen J. Macauley Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: Oak Vino, 389 Main Street Artist: Donna Mikkelsen Photo Credit: BeaconArts
Window: Ella's Bellas, 418 Main Street Artist: Judith Kepner Rose Photo Credit: Judith Kepner Rose Sculpture
Support for this publication comes in part from these businesses. We have highlighted what makes them special on their own dedicated pages. Want your business listed here? See the "Sponsor Spotlight" or "Event Promotion" option in our Advertising Page.
A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
Kaleidoscope Pop-Up at Zora Dora's
