Earth Day

It is a chilly spring day but at least there is SOME green showing for Earth Day. 


What's happening now that the sun is back? 

Some BOFA Members and Allegany Artisans will be participating in the Tulip Trail this Saturday. 

Support local retailers by joining in the annual Tulip Trail this Saturday, April 25. Watch for the tulip signs in northern Allegany County for participating businesses. -- Arts, Crafts, Quilting, Gifts, Bulk Foods, Consignment Clothing & Furniture, Antiques, Maple Products, Lodging, and More.















Rainbows have been sited on numerous occasions lately. Today I just saw this post from From Mitchell Beattie '17 — at Houghton College.

Looks like I am NOT the only one who is ready for Spring. 

Angelica Community Radio at WRAQ is hoping to Go Live on FM to support local live music. 


Cattaraugus County Arts Council has opened nominations for the 2015 Celebration of the Arts Awards. Anyone can submit a nomination including those for your own organization or for yourself. Winners will be chosen by a review panel.
Nominations are due by May 4, 2015.

The Foundation for Art & Healing is celebrating this Poetry Month  by accepting submission for their project "Haiku from the Heart". Anyone can participate. 

April 30, 2015 1-4pm will be the next Unfinished Objects Day at the Belfast Town Hall.

Join Kathy for this  FREE opportunity for local Artists and Artisans to come together to work on projects in progress in a community setting with like-minded people. No registration is required. Walk-ins are welcome. But, you can sign up to let others know that you are coming on our Event Page.

STRUM ACCORD is happening again this year! 

 STRUM ACCORD, a music festival in Allegany County NY, highlights the yearlong accomplishments of student musicians in a showcase of acoustic and garage band talent! Help ACCORD support local youth programs! ACCORD Corporation is a non-profit Community Action Agency located in the rural rolling hills of Allegany County, New York. Established in 1972, we have a history of dedicated service. With several locations and programs throughout the county, we continue to strive for excellence in alleviating poverty and fostering economic development and growth. 

New T-shirts are available for pre-sale during the month of April.

STRUM ACCORD Vendor Applications have been released. They are due no later than April 30th! We look forward to seeing you there!

WE ARE ALSO STILL SEEKING A BELFAST VENUE FOR OUR BOFA OPEN MIC NIGHT. LET US KNOW IF THERE IS LOCATION THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING IT. 

However, there is great live music available in Angelica, NY at the Black-eyed Susan Acoustic Cafe. 

Their next open Mic Night will be May 7th. 

SWAN Day 2015 Re-Cap

Our SWAN Day 2015 Party in the Wellsville Daily Reporter ~Kathryn Ross

THE BIG QUESTION: 
What IS SWAN Day??

SWAN Day – History

Jan Lisa Huttner
Film Critic & Founder of
WITASWAN

"The idea for SWAN Day grew out of a collaboration between WomenArts and Chicago’s WITASWAN (Women in the Audiences Supporting Women Artists Now).  WITASWAN is an informal alliance of women who are using their power as consumers to increase opportunities for women artists.  It began as an initiative of the Illinois chapter of the American Association of University Women.  The complete history of WITASWAN is at www.films42.com/witaswan.asp. "...."Jan Lisa Huttner invited Martha Richards, the Executive Director of WomenArts, to speak at an American Association of University Women conference in Bloomington, IL in April 2007.  (For pictures of this historic meeting seewww.films42.com/witaswan/martha-richards.asp).  The idea for SWAN Day was born during the car ride between Bloomington and Chicago, as Huttner and Richards discussed ways to build more direct connections between women artists and women audience members." Full Story at Women Arts.org.

SWAN Day is celebrated annually on the 4th Saturday of March. However, events observing this occasion are schedule around the world from March 1st to April. There are many ways to Join this Celebration of Women Artists. To celebrate and support local women artists and influential women in art history this year in Allegany County, NY; the community was invited to attend a SWAN Day Party at the Fountain Arts Center in Belmont, NY.  

Representatives from the Belfast Organization For Artists (Kathy Garrison), the Wellsville Art Association (Kristen Kruger), SheilaLynnK Art Studio (Sheila L. Kalkbrenner), and the Fountain Arts Center (Wendy Skinner) attended.  

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN ARTISTS AND CHANGES IN HOW WE KNOW THEM

We began the event with a brief description of the history of SWAN Day followed by a short film, Famke Jannsen Discusses Louise Bourgeois & SWAN Day from Women Arts. As a tribute to a few of the influential women painters and sculptors initially excluded from the History Books, we watched and discussed a Great Museums presentation, A Woman's Touch: The National Museum of Women In The Arts (with Founder, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay , Chief Curator Susan Fisher Sterling; and Founding Board Memeber, Martha Dippell ).  "More than 50% of artists in the United States today are women."

Among the amazing historical and contemporary women artists' works and stories preserved and documented in the collections at the National Museum of Women In the Arts featured in the video were:  Lavinia Fontana, Clara Peters, Maria Sabylla Merian, Marianne Loir, Angelica Kauffman, Suzanne Valadon, Camille Claudel, Mary Cassatt, Lilla Cabot Perry, Georgia O'Keeffe, Grace Hartigan, Alice Neel, Audrey Flack, Lorrie Goulet, Elisabetta Sirani, Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun, Adelaide Labille-Guiard, Alice Bailly, Frida Kahlo, and Joan Mitchell .  

[See more videos about Swan Day and women in the arts on Sheila's SWAN Day video playlist. ]

OUR FAVORITE WOMEN ARTISTS

After the video, we shared light refreshments and discussed our favorite women artists. Featured in this discussion were the works of Rose Marie Shave of Nunda, NY and Eleanor Cott of Wellsville, NY. Kathy Garrison shared original watercolor paintings by Rose Shave from her personal collection, as well as, a 100 year old family fabric art quilt created under the substantial creative familial influence of Ms. Shave. The quilt displayed delicate master-embroidered hand-stitched botanically correct depictions of flowers from K.G.'s great grandmother's garden as well as flowers painted under the tutelage of Rose Shave. Kathy stated that these works have influence her by giving her the courage to try new things in her own art work. Kathy is a designer and fabric artist living in Belfast, NY. 

Kristen shared her digital gallery of another local artist, Eleanor Cott's, detailed landscape watercolors and lively natural scenes from her collection of painted works. She says that Eleanor frequently worked from photographs and is especially thankful to own a painting of a scene from a location they had visited together. "Eleanor personally encouraged me to create and share my own art," Kristen said. She was also inspired by discovering the diverse collection of media and materials that Eleanor had used in the making of her own art. 

Sheila shared, The Art of Asking, a book by Musician and Performing Artist, liberal arts graduate,  Amanda Palmer. After discovering Amanda Palmer via her TED Talk shared at a business workshop for creative entrepreneurs, she is inspired by Amanda's bold and generous approach to trusting and communicating with her audience via couch-serving, crowd-surfing, AND modern means of connecting to humanity via sharing art and keeping it affordable to the general public. After very publicly fighting her way off of her recording label, Amanda now uses crowdfunding via Kickstarter and Patreon to offer her work to as many people as possible around the world, for FREE. Her fans and followers voluntarily provided her with a record- breaking $1.2 Million to allow her to continue making the work that they love. 

"We've been asking the wrong question, How do we make people pay for music? What if we started asking, How do we LET people pay for music?" ~Amanda Palmer

"Formerly of the Dresden Dolls -a music/performance group I had never really listened to, I had never heard of Amanda before this business class. So, I sought out her music. My current favorite piece is, In My Mind, a song about loving and accepting ourselves as we are RIGHT NOW. A celebration of her own acceptance of her human journey, this is also an inspiring message for her audience. " ~Sheila

This first Allegany County, NY SWAN Day event evolved into a majorative tribute to women in the visual arts. SWAN Day is designed to celebrate and support women working, past and present, in all of the creative genres. 

Outcomes and updates will continue to be posted on the Event Page. 

SWAN Storming Ideas for future SWAN Day Events in Allegany County, NY

DO YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR SWAN DAY ALLEGANY COUNTY, NY??

PLEASE SHARE THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW OR ON OUR EVENT PAGE. 

BOFA Ready Or Not It's 2015!

Oh my goodness! February is already here! 

Groundhog Day Snow still coming down! 

The rest of the county is having a Snow Day today but, here at BOFA we are busy planning and getting ready for the events of this New Year.





In case you missed it, we had a Christmas Tree in the Belfast Park again in 2014. Many thanks to Kathy Garrison for making that happen!

"We had a Belfast Organization For Artists -
BOFA UFO (UnFinished Objects) Day
at the Belfast Town Hall Jan.29th...lots of quality
 fiber arts in progress.
BOFA members Kathy & Marie
were there along with their fellow
Northern Allegany County Quilters member Carol.
In spite of the nasty weather, we had a fun & productive day."~Kathy Garrison

Do you have Un-Finished Objects? 

Do you want to have fun? 

Do you want to do a little socializing? 

Bring your own supplies

 (and UFOs) 

No registration, just stop in 

BOFA Members interested in Open Mic nights, don't forget the Black Eyed Susan Acoustic Cafe in Angelica, NY is having Open Mic night Thursday Feb 5th. Mexican Fiesta starts at 6:00 pm. All Mexican menu; All are welcome to play covers or original tunes, or just listen and enjoy the music of others. Three songs minimum per performer. Sign in on arrival. Open Mic takes place from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Bob and Gena Decker have hosted the café’s Acoustic Open Mic night for nearly five years. They open the evening with some wonderful tunes of their own, and then introduce other performers in the order in which they signed in.There is no fee to participate and no cover charge. The Decker’s create a casual, relaxed and extremely supportive atmosphere for musicians.As a new twist, we now offer an all-Mexican menu on Open Mic nights. The café opens to the general public at 6:00 p.m. for sopas (soups); aperitivos (appetizers); ensaladas (salads); platos principales (main courses); and postres (desserts). The Fried Ice cream is a huge hit! Open mic begins at 7:00 p.m. and is open to players of all ages, all acoustic styles, and all levels of experience who gather at the café to make music, share a laugh and a good meal. 

Call 585-466-3399 to book a table"

SWAN Day 2015 Invitation MORE DETAILS 

It's time for the 8th Annual International SWAN Day 

Join us as we celebrate women artists at the Fountain Arts Center in Belmont, NY On March 21st from 1-4pm.Open to visual and performing artists & advocates for the arts

RSVP by 

February 20, 2015 via email, telephone or simply reply to this Event on our BOFA Facebook Page. 

Call For Vendors

With Continued Support and Affection for our talented local youth, BOFA will also be participating in the STRUM ACCORD Music Festival again this year at Belfast Central School. 

Members and Makers interested in being a vendor, applications are available Feb 6th at ACCORD TAB.

WHAT WILL YOU SUBMIT TO THE ART SHOW THIS YEAR? 

Members are already preparing work for the annual art show in August. We are looking forward to a great turn-out and more wonderful artwork. If you missed it last year, take a minute to revisit the 2014 Annual Art Show . As always the show is open to the public. Local artists of all ages are encouraged to participate. New Members Welcome! Watch for our Call For Entries to submit your work. 

Many changes and crazy busy at SheilaLynnK Art Studio so far this year. 

Looking forward to an eventful 2015 with the gifted artists and performers of all ages living in the Belfast, NY area. 

Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!

Don't miss this chance to see the wonderful hand-made Dolls and Accessories created by local Artisans.On  display at the Belfast Public Library during the month of November. 
This fun show is FREE and open to the public during regular library hours!
~Show guide and photos submitted by
Kathryn Garrison, Events Coordinator

Two of our local doll makers

Cecily on the Pandas doll quilt

Raggedy Andy & Raggedy Ann on the Sampler doll quilt

Hankie Tess & Hankie Annie having a tea party.The Teacup doll quilt is also at the tea party!!

Nested gift box dollhouse rooms. These are 1/2" scale.The doll quilt is Poinsettias

Sir Jingles by Sandy Lockwood & Jester with Marrote
 by Allegany Artisans Betsy Orlando.

Doll quilts & doll clothing

Fan Fantasy & Bearpaw doll quilts

More doll quilts & doll clothing hanging overhead

Enjoy the show!!! 

Belfast Organization for Artists 

Serving Belfast Area Artists Since 2009

contact Events Coordinator Kathryn Garrison 585-365-8856 for more information 

Because You Matter ~ in memory of Amanda on her Birthday

The Butterfly Effect; Everything you do matters~Andy Andrews

"You have been created as one of a kind.

On the planet Earth, there has never been 

one like you...and there never will be again.

Your spirit, your thoughts and feelings, your 

ability to reason and act all exist in no one else.

The rarities that make you special are no 

mere accident or quirk of fate.

YOU HAVE BEEN CREATED 

IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

...

The very beating 

of your heart 

has meaning and purpose

...

Your life...

 and what you do with it today...

MATTERS FOREVER." ~ Andy Andrews

The Belfast Organization For Artists and the Kalkbrenner-Carlton family donate this book to the David A. Howe Public Library in Wellsville, NY and to the Belfast Public Library in Belfast, NY in loving memory of 

Amanda Nicole Curcio October 17, 1989 ~ May 19, 2007

on her Birthday

and 

in dedication and consideration for 

anyone 

who has ever wondered 

"Do I matter?"

The Butterfly Effect Speech and Presentation video by Andy Andrews

Amanda Curcio Memorial Scholarship Fund

Suicide Prevention Resources:

Allegany County  ~ Allegany County Crisis Hotline (888) 448-3367

New York State Hotlines by County

Allegany County Suicide Prevention Coalition

Hillside Lifeline Resources for Allegany County (November 2013)

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Out of the Darkness Walks

Partners for Prevention Allegany County NY 

Allegany County Suicide Prevention Walk 2014

Suicide Prevention Center of New York

Pennsylvania Suicide Hotlines

Annual Art Show 2014

BOFA and the Belfast Public Library 
host Annual Belfast Area Art Show

I finally had the opportunity to venture over to Belfast, NY to see the wonderful work by the Belfast area artists.

AnnMarie Young ~
"Balancing Act With Fireworks"$75

AnnMarie Young ~ "Southwest Beauty"

"Padula Pearl" $45  and "Blues Bowl with Picot Edges" $65
Fabric Art From Belfast Braids Artist Peggy Ann Watts

 PeggyAnn Watts ~ "Stuart" $75

Belfast Braids Classes

Denise Atherton~ "Calling All Cows"

Denise Atherton ~ "Love of Liatris" $25

Katrina Barber~ "Sisterly Love" $25

Katrina Barber ~ "Foody Felts" 

Kathy Garrison ~ "Chiacoscuro" 

Kathy Garrison ~ "The Very Hungry Baby" 

Kathy Garrison~ "Path Not Taken"

Kathy Garrison~ "Rehoboth After The Storm"

Ron Young ~ "Dragon Flies" $60

Ron Young ~ "Fat Fish" $100

Sheila Kalkbrenner ~ "Panama" $90

Amanda Curcio Memorial Scholarship

The Belfast Organization for Artists was founded in loving memory of Amanda. 
There is a memorial scholarship set up at Belfast Central School to benefit a student who intends to pursue the arts. 




Donations can be mailed to 
Belfast Central School, 1 King Street, Belfast, NY 14711.  
Checks should be made payable to Belfast Central School, with a memo/note indicating it is a donation to the Amanda Curcio memorial scholarship. 

If anyone has any additional questions, they can reach either Teresa Heaney at 585-365-8297 or 
Bob Lingenfelter
CA BOCES District Treasurer
Serving Belfast (Mon & Thur) 585-365-8289 &
Friendship (Wed & Fri) 585-973-7618
Alternating between districts on Tuesdays 

Those who would like to support the Belfast Organization For Artists mission toward creative unity can also indicate if they would like a portion of that support to be applied to the scholarship.