Business and art do mix, to good results

MILLERTON — The village’s “Fall for Art� initiative has taken on a bit of a festival vibe.

Everyone seems to want a part of the action, as judged by last weekend’s events. From Friday night to Sunday afternoon, it was a true weekend for all things “Fall for Art� related, as the successful initiative managed to bring hundreds of visitors to the village for what is now the third time in a row.

According to a head count conducted by The 14th Colony Artists, a collective currently showcased in the building that housed the David Gavin Salon, approximately 750 visitors came through their doors.

Fall for Art, as well as its counterpart, Spring for Art, is presented by The Millerton Business Group. Businesses sponsor artists, giving them space in their stores to display their work. In return, the businesses stay open late, offering refreshments to visitors who flood into the village for the event.

Thirty-five businesses took part, with only two unable to stay open (they offered window displays instead). The rest welcomed the traffic and the atmosphere that the event brought to Millerton.

More than 60 artists exhibited, meaning several shops had multiple artists. At Harney & Sons Fine Teas, for example, the main tea shop and the tea bar offered starkly different artists, one working with old pieces of wood and natural earth-tones while the other showcased vibrant comic book panels.

At Country Gardeners Florist, a last-minute change in the lineup allowed 9-year-old Stone Scasso, the owner’s son, to show off an impressive array of works dabbling in oil and spray paint. Stone’s collection dates back a number of years and he’s even expanding his horizons, working with metal.

Fall for Art was Stone’s first art show, and he had good company, with Dover Plains painter George Bell.

“I’ve learned a lot from him,� Stone said.

“And he keeps me on my toes,� Bell answered in return.

The event has expanded a little, giving the stores more time to be open, lasting from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. And to informally kick things off, a Friday night event appropriately dubbed “Fall for Sound� was held as a fundraiser for the North East Community Center, featuring local musicians.

“I could see this turning into an all weekend thing, with live music and people out in the streets just hanging out and having a good time,� said Stephen Tesch, who also attended Spring for Art earlier this year and was supporting a friend whose art was on display.

A new addition to the event this time around was the program treasure hunt. Previously, visitors had their brochures stamped at each store they went into and anyone who visited all of the shops was entered into a drawing for one of three gift baskets with items from the local stores.

This year, in an effort to further engage the visitors, the ante was upped a bit. Visitors were required to guess the answers to clues in the program corresponding to the art featured in the stores to enter in a drawing for prizes. More than 50 people entered, which event organizer Jan Gilmor said was definitely a success. First place went to Karen McGinness, with 13 correct answers; in second was Stacey Moore with 11 correct; and third place was Deborah Davidson with 10 correct.

When asked why the event appeared to resonate with so many people each time it’s been held, Gilmor said that Fall for Art and Spring for Art are unique because they are truly interactive experiences.

“Anything that’s experiential has a bigger value to people,� she said. “If you can participate, it makes it more tangible. Making it hands-on is definitely a good thing.�

Some of the stores hand-picked artists while others were paired together, some with surprisingly cohesive results. With little preparation time, the rainbow of hues in the yarn and knitting shop, Twisted, turned out to be an aesthetic fit for artist, Marcia Cooper, whose recent “Freshly Baked� series had plenty of bright colors to spare.

And in Nick Bee’s on South Center Street, a last-minute decision to bring in a hat maker gave the store a few surprises, said co-owner Nicki Russell.

“An opera singer came in and, trying on one of the hats, burst into song!� she said, laughing.

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