Ending with a Thankful Heart

It is with a thankful heart that I formally acknowledge the end of the Belfast Organization for Artists project. 

Since 2009, BOFA has been a charitable project of SheilaLynnK Art Studio created in memory of Amanda to uplift and unify local creators in the Belfast, NY area and amplify the work they make. Promoting creative unity and accessibility to arts and culture in our rural community has been a rewarding experience that helped me to connect to a wide variety of local makers and the reasons they continue to create using diverse methods and media.  

As I've retired from Community Action, Direct Support and Arts Services, I must acknowledge the long-standing dedication and hard work of our Events Coordinator, Kathy Garrison, whose invested interested in preserving local access to cultural experiences and historical knowledge was essential to the achievement of the goals of this project. 

Kathy with one of our founding members, Marie Nix

In addition to guiding, planning, and facilitating local BOFA members' and volunteers' participation in quarterly Unfinished Objects Days and the Annual Lions Christmas Trees in the park decorations and activities, Kathy has spent many hours planning and coordinating our Annual Art Shows and securing sponsorship to support local cultural activities.  

2025 BOFA Christmas Tree 

A few 2024 Entries

Every year she has reached out to our participating members to seek their recent art for display in our annual exhibit, compiles an extensive description of the works submitted, and provides a printed copy for library patrons to view while they browse the wonderful projects our creators share with the community.  

In collaboration with the Belfast Public Library Staff, she always ensures that the small works exhibit fits the space and has a powerful impact.  

As an active member of the Belfast Historical Society, Kathy also ensured that BOFA had an active role in the Belfast Bicentennial Events and Activities. 

 

A designer in her own right, Kathy also generously included her fabric art for display in our local exhibits and helped BOFA be an active participant in our collaboration with Women Arts to amplify the work of women artists during Allegany County Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) Days. A charitable project of the studio celebrated locally from 2014 to 2020, SWAN Day is an international global event that began at Women Arts and we were truly honored to be involved in such an empowering and unifying event. 

SWAN Day is a celebration of women's creativity and gender parity activism which was co-founded by Martha Richards of WomenArts and Jan Lisa Huttner of FF2 Media. WomenArts led SWAN Day from 2008-2018 and selected Statera Foundation to lead SWAN Day in 2019. 

 

Wendy Skinner and the Fountain Arts Center generously assisted BOFA as we launched our local participation in this annual event. Local libraries and entrepreneurs joined us as the project grew into an assortment of empowering projects and events serving local creators to last through March and into April in Allegany County.

2015 Article by Kathryn Ross

An annual event in the Western NY Wilds, SWAN Day Allegany County NY has been held in honor of the many creative people working hard to keep the arts accessible to all members of our rural community. 

I'd also like to thank Susan Doran of the Belvidere Cornerstone and the other members of the Allegany Arts Association for their encouragement and willingness to participate in events and activities provided by BOFA over the years. 

As I close the Belfast Organization for Artists I recognize it as a truly collaborative and unifying effort that has been the most empowering creatively charitable endeavor I have ever attempted. I am confident our members, makers, and volunteers will continue to advocate for and participate in local cultural events and activities.  

I am extremely thankful to the volunteers, members, sponsors, and private patrons who made it possible for this project to happen.  

Going forward, you may be interested in supporting or participating in these creative and cultural events and activities and resources. 

Allegany Artisans

Art For Rural America Wellsville, NY 
Arts Services Initiative of Western NY 

The Belfast Public Library and Building a Better Belfast Brick by Book 

The Belvidere Cornerstone Belmont, NY 
The Fountain Arts Center, Belmont NY 
The Tri-County Arts Council serving Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties
The Arts Council for Wyoming County serving Allegany and Wyoming County and the ACWC grant programs serving artists in these communities. 
New York Foundation for the Arts 

The Wellsville Creative Arts Center

The Amanda Nicole Curcio Memorial Scholarship Fund 

The Amanda Nicole Curcio Scholarship has moved to the Allegany County Area Foundation
This Perpetual Scholarship still "benefits Belfast Central School students who reflect Amanda’s care and concern for others and display a solid academic record, with special consideration given to applicants showing an interest in creative writing and/or intent to pursue this at the college level.
BCS seniors and graduates may apply for the scholarship through the Allegany County Area Foundation application which opens on November 1st.
This scholarship was originally created in 2007 and school-based before being moved to ACAF in Summer of 2022.

The Jodi Patterson Fund for Art, Culture, and Rural Empowerment

This donor-advised fund supports efforts to present art, culture, and opportunity to the residents of Midland County, MI, and Allegany County, NY.

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ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT 

Through independent efforts and in collaboration with Belfast groups and clubs we wanted to: assist artisans to create work and make it available to the public, provide area artisans with links to information and resources, exchange ideas and skills knowledge with area artisans, create new opportunities to show work in the Belfast Area, provide publicity, collaborate with Allegany County Arts organizations, represent Belfast at the County Level, provide enrichment and service opportunities to community members.
This volunteer organization was funded by the private contributions of its founding members, affordable membership fees, and anonymous donations. All funds received have been directly applied to the cost of materials, marketing, and local creative projects and events. 

MORE ABOUT THIS AND OTHER CHARITABLE PROJECTS FROM THE STUDIO 

Subscribing Patrons, Sales of my drawings and illustrations, and Sales of my designs in my Artist Shop at Threadless helped fund the Art For Arachnoiditis Project and The Belfast Organization for Artists.
The most current studio content can be found on my Patreon Page.

Artful Happenings in Belfast, NY

 Artful Happenings In Belfast, NY

For our final Annual Art Show, as I retire from Direct Support, Community Action, and Arts Services; our Events Coordinator, Kathy Garrison, working in collaboration with the Belfast Public Library, has put together a show featuring the creative projects from participants in local art and craft workshops and independent creators in the Belfast area. 

Open to the public during regular library hours. 

As advocates for Arts Access, there is no fee to participate or attend this public event. 

The most current news and updates from the studio can be found on Patreon

Promoting creative unity, amplifying the work of local creators, and increasing awareness and participation in the arts in the Belfast, NY area since 2009, we are thankful to the creators, volunteers, members, sponsors, and patrons who've continued to make our mission possible.

You might also be interested in:

Belfast NY ~ Bicentennial Art Show (2024)

• "Little Things" BOFA Art Show 2023
• The Little Things Exhibit 2022
• "The Choice" & Our Virtual 2020SWAN Days Activities
• Annual Members Art Show ~Autumn News2019
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2025 Summer Arts at the Library

Youth (and adults) in Allegany County can join in on FREE Art! Check out the listings below at the Angelica Free Library, Wide Awake Club Library; Fillmore, NY, Steps Dance Studio, Fountain Arts Center, Angelica Lavender Festival, Whitesville Public Library, Boliver Free Library, Friendship Free Library, Cuba Circulating Library, David A. Howe Public Library, Rushford Free Library, Genesee Library and Canaseraga Essential Club Free Library. July and August.

Find this schedule on facebook here 

 

Calling all artists!

It’s time to MAKE YOUR MARK!

Enter the Make Your Mark Bookmark Contest with your most colorful, creative, or silly bookmark design. Kids, teens and adults can all participate. Your artwork could be featured at libraries across the Southern Tier!

Draw it. Doodle it. Shoot for the stars. Just make it yours!

Deadline: July 31st

Pick up a form at your local STLS library

Learn more: https://stls.libguides.com/makeyourmark

Unfinished Objects Day - Save the Date

 

SAVE THE DATE 

Unfinished Objects Day resumes 

May 29th 1-4pm 

at the Belfast Town Hall. 

No registration required. 

Kathy launched this event to bring our talented community of creators together in a local safe social space. 

BYO supplies and works in progress.

OTHER ARTSY NEWS FROM THE BELFAST PUBLIC LIBRARY

Each month, get Crafts for Kids when you stop in the Belfast Public Library Annex to pick up a free take-and-make craft kit.

"Art Workshops are back at the library. Starting April 29th, join every other Tuesday from 5-7 pm for some creative fun. These workshops are for adults and teens 16 and up, all materials are provided and yep, you need to register to save your spot! Click the link to sign up now. Come and make some art (and maybe a mess)." https://forms.gle/4ius9oWxYWxcs8Yi8 

Amanda Nicole Curcio; a birthday

 Remembering Amanda on her birthday and every day.

 Our lives have been irrevocably enriched by her.

[BOFA UPDATE 10.17.2024 For social media and email, online messages are monitored on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More Studio Contact details are here:
https://sheilalynnkart.com/contact.html ]

A charitable project of SheilaLynnK Art Studio, this volunteer organization is funded by the private contributions of its founding members, funding through fiscal sponsorship, affordable membership fees, my patrons, and anonymous donations.
All funds received are directly applied to the cost of materials, marketing, and local creative projects and events.
If you would like to make a Tax-deductible contribution to this and other future Charitable Art Projects and Events at SheilaLynnK Art Studio you can find out more about that and my Fiscal Sponsor here:
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/sheilalynnk-art...
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Founder, Creator, Page Admin - Sheila L. Kalkbrenner
Events Coordinator, Founding Member, Artist - Kathy Garrison

Though it's free to follow, subscribing patrons get the most art.

Select a membership tier. Increase, Decrease, Cancel anytime.
https://www.patreon.com/c/SheilaLynnKart
(Patreon subscriptions are not tax-deductible. Please use my fiscal sponsor's link if you'd like to make a tax deductible contribution.)

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SCHOLARSHIP 
The Amanda Nicole Curcio Scholarship has moved to the Allegany County Area Foundation
This Perpetual Scholarship still "benefits Belfast Central School students who reflect Amanda’s care and concern for others and display a solid academic record, with special consideration given to applicants showing an interest in creative writing and/or intent to pursue this at the college level.
BCS seniors and graduates may apply for the scholarship through ACAF’s regular online application, which will open on November 1.
This scholarship was originally created in 2007 and school-based before being moved to ACAF in Summer of 2022.
https://alleganycountyareafoundation.org/make-a-donation/

BOFA educational exhibit at September Bicentennial Antique Doll & Toy Show

Featured Details from the Belfast Bicentennial Doll Show Event at the Belfast Town Hall 

In September, working with the Western NY Penn Doll Club  BOFA cosponsored the Antique Toy and Doll Show and Sale. Vintage Finds Treasured Memories displayed and sold antique toys at the show. BOFA members Cecy Curcio, Kathy Garrison, Andrew Struckman, Brenda Sisson, Wende Kenyon, Marie Nix, Leah Burgess, Sharon Beiter, and Dylan Mattina generously contributed to the show and/or helped with setting up. 

Belfast Organization for Artists (BOFA)

presents

The Art of Collecting

by Kathy Garrison 

As with all art, the creation of something can be an inspiration for future creativity in many directions.  The “something” created can take many forms, including acquiring a collection of objects.  Today’s exhibit includes collections of old and new dolls and toys, and even antique tools (see Joe Foley’s collection).  Collections can be started from inherited pieces, from a piece that intrigues the passerby, from interest in a deliberate study or research, from a gift, or possibly, from an example to be studied for creation of other items. 

Toys:

1)    The large toys in this exhibit are a fleet of trucks and tractors from the 1950s.  The 4 children who owned them acquired most of them from their grandfather who was a long distance trucker.  These children are now grandparents themselves.  This is a nostalgia collection and inspires fond memories of the people involved.

2)    The doll houses have examples of ½”, 1:12, and larger scale furniture (scaled to the size of the settings) and fall into 3 categories:

a)    Play inspired by the series of classic books of the small Madeline having various adventures in Paris, France.  The Madeline series is available through the Belfast Public Library.  This house encourages the player to think of further adventures for Madeline.  The Belfast Public Library, through interlibrary loan via the Southern Tier Library System (STLS), found all of the Madeline books for this exhibit.

b)   A very creative set of boxes that become a doll house or 2 doll houses.  Furniture and people are added by the player and can take any form.  This doll house is all about creation of scenes, stories, and anything else the player can think of. 

c)     The dollhouse player does not need walls or a roof to create scenes and stories.  The third setup is a sitting room with appropriately sized dolls to inspire the player.  The setting is defined by a paper square that has a wood floor printed on it.

The Dolls in this exhibit fall into several categories of collecting:

1)    International – some of these dolls were inherited pieces.  They became core pieces in growing collections of travel souvenirs.  Some of the dolls were acquired for costume study purposes and eventually inspired a doll couture business, some of the dolls just appealed to the passerby and were acquired and kept.  This exhibit involves multiple individual collections.

2)    Novelty – This is a miscellaneous collection of folklore and fantasy dolls, toy bears, and other stuffed animals.  Some of these items fall into the comfort category for small children.  Some are designed to lean against a pillow on a bed and wait for bedtime.  Some of the folkloric and fantasy pieces are inspired by literary genres.  There are also several dolls that survived the childhoods of some of the collectors and fall into the nostalgia category!  There are also several example dolls who were immensely popular over the last 60 years and became part of a whole franchise of associated items (alternate clothing, doll houses, cars, stories, movies, and many other play aids.)  One example is from the Barbie franchise (Barbie and Ken) and the other is from the Story Book Dolls series (Cinderella).

3)    Couture and fashion dolls – Some of these dolls were acquired for their costumes.  Some were acquired because they pleased the collector.  Different eras of couture are represented.  Many of these dolls were acquired for display and were not suitable for casual play.  

PICTURES COMING SOON!