By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Cathy and Glenn Savage — founders of the Greater Cazenovia Art Trail — were honored with a reception at the Cazenovia College Art Gallery in Reisman Hall
During the event, the Savages were surprised with an award recognizing their dedication to the establishment and continuation of the annual Art Trail — a free, self-guided tour that provides the public with the opportunity to meet and interact with artists in their working environments or in local “art hubs.”
The first of its kind, the award was presented jointly by the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA), CazArts, the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Art Trail steering committee.
“The Art Trail has impacted the community in several ways,” said CACDA Executive Director Lauren Lines. “It brings many people to Cazenovia on the Art Trail weekend, demonstrates that Cazenovia is a community that supports the arts, and it has established a strong community of artists who are now connected to one another.”
Multiple Art Trail participants spoke during the reception to express their gratitude to the Savages and to describe the impact of the annual event on their lives and art.
“[As artists,] we are all tucked away in the nooks and crannies of Cazenovia,” Mary Padgett, a local painter, said. “We work alone, [so meeting and developing] friendships with others pursuing creative passions here in our community has meant a lot to me. We inspire one another. Each year we’ve all gathered for an Art Trail after party — organized by Cathy — which has been a great social occasion to grow our networking and friendships . . . I’ve made many sales on the Art Trail. It has also been an opportunity to get the word out to potential students [about] my workshops and tours. During the event I’ve talked about my work and my Art Trail guests give feedback, helping me to [grow] with new ideas and directions. And, most significantly to me, many visitors on the trail have now become dear friends and I have to say it doesn’t get better than that . . .”
The Savages were inspired by an art trail event they attended while living in Sonoma, California.
Suspecting that a similar program would be successful in Cazenovia, the couple assembled a committee, raised funds, and organized the first event in fall 2012.
“We wanted to bring the same experience . . . that we so greatly enjoyed here to our new home,” Cathy said. “ . . . Cazenovia is a great place with great people. We had the full support of CACDA to get us started and wonderful people to join in the fun.”
Over the years, the event has continued to expand.
The 2019 Art Trail weekend — held Sept. 28 and 29 — featured more than 20 stops and a number of additional special events.
“We are very proud of the way the Art Trail has grown over the years,” Cathy said. “We can’t have the Art Trail without artists in our community participating and supporting the event . . . Artists work in isolation most of the time. To step out and see the art in the world around you is an amazing thing. Taking time to travel around your community and truly learn about others will make you a better person. For us to have gained all the friendships we have by connecting artists to each other and to the public reminds us on a regular basis why we became Cazenovians.”
In addition to a framed award, the Savages were also presented with a gift of appreciation on behalf of the many artists who have participated in the art trail.
“We are happy to present this platter created by our own Art Trail artist and ceramist Shawn McGuire,” said painter Jennifer Hooley, who helped organize the event. “The platter is adorned with artist signatures and art organizations representing our gratitude for your work and supporting us all of these years. Here’s to many, many more. Thank you Cathy and Glenn.”
To learn more about the Cazenovia Art Trail, visit art-trail.org.
