By Jason Emerson
Editor
People do not always know that Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia is a nationally and internationally recognized location for the creation and exhibition of artwork. From the more than 70 statues standing throughout the 103 acres of the Art Park, to the rotating exhibitions inside the John and Virginia Winner Memorial Gallery, and the artist-in-residence programs, the Art Park’s mission is to educate and engage the public through its programs and to provide a unique environment for showcasing art by emerging and established artists.
Starting June 1, the Art Park will open the doors on its spring exhibit, “Rise: Emerging Artists of 2018.” The exhibition will provide a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work in a professional gallery setting at the Art Park’s indoor John and Virginia Winner Memorial Gallery space. Collegiate, developing and mid-career artists submitted work, and park curators selected the work that will be on display.
“We received submissions from around the world and across the U.S. — from Israel, Norway, Texas, Ohio, Washing state, California, Georgia, Oregon and throughout New York,” said Sarah Tietje-Mietz, Art Park visitor services/site promotion coordinator and one of the curators of the exhibition. “And we received work in all mediums: photo, ceramics, video, paintings, drawings, multimedia, textile and glass. It’s been quite a range — it’s been very impressive.”
It has been even more impressive in that this is only the second year the Art Park has done this exhibition, said Interim Executive Director Kelli Johnson. “It’s been exciting to see the range of artists and mediums,” she said. “It’s a first step for some, as emerging artists, and that speaks to what Dorothy [Riester, founder of the Art Park] wanted for this place — giving space and making artists feel valued and respected. Everybody has the ability to create art; it doesn’t matter when you start.”
Within this large geographic range of submissions, there will also be works from the local area artists from Cazenovia, Glens Falls, Canastota and many from Syracuse, said Tietje-Mietz.
The Art Park hosts three indoor exhibitions each year: An Emerging Artist Exhibition, National Juried Exhibition and Members Exhibition. Exhibitions offer artists working in a variety of media the opportunity to display work that conceptually engages themes related to landscape and the environment.
The spring exhibit, “Rise: Emerging Artists of 2018,” begins with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 1, in the John and Virginia Winner Memorial Gallery in the Art Park. The exhibition will run through June 30. Gallery hours during exhibitions are noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, or by appointment.
For more information, visit the Art Park’s website at sqhap.org.
