CAZENOVIA — In May, the Cazenovia Public Library (CPL) will present two community art programs.
On May 7 at 1 p.m., CPL will present the next installment of its virtual Art For Kids program series, “Adventures with Goldenrod Sculptures and Assemblages” with local artist Dave Porter.
Children ages 8-14 will use goldenrod galls and stems to create sculptures, including freestanding assemblies and mobiles.
Goldenrod is a very abundant plant in the Central New York countryside.
According to Porter, the galls and stems are best harvested in late October or November after a heavy frost and when all the leaves from the goldenrod plant have fallen off.
“As a kid, I was always fascinated with goldenrod galls,” Porter said. “Later, as an adult, one Thanksgiving I was playing around with some galls that I collected in the countryside. I started gluing the galls and stems together to form an assembly, and it occurred to me that the galls and stems were a free and abundant source of sculpture material. I ultimately produced numerous mobiles and assemblies using the goldenrod materials. I always thought that making goldenrod assemblies would be a fun and inexpensive art activity for children. So, with my presentation I am hoping to promote this art form that uses natural materials to the children and families of Cazenovia.”
The program will be presented live via Zoom.
Registration is required. Visit the library website or call/stop by the circulation desk to sign up.
Registered participants who are unable to attend the live program will be sent a link to the recorded program.
Goldenrod galls and stems will be provided. Take home kits will be available for pick-up starting Friday, April 30.
Porter received a bachelor of arts in studio fine arts from the State University of New York at Albany.
He also has a bachelor in engineering in mechanical engineering from SUNY Stony Brook and a master of science in environmental engineering from Syracuse University.
A licensed professional engineer, Porter has worked as a mechanical, environmental and energy engineer.
Prior to his engineering career, he was a US Navy Surface Line Officer.
His early art training and work was primarily in oil painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking.
More recently, he has transitioned from mostly two-dimensional art to three-dimensional wood sculptures, including both relief and freestanding wood sculptures and mixed media assemblies.
Porter also actively paints and works with digital graphic design.
While his sculptures are usually non-representational or abstract, his paintings are typically representational.
His work has been exhibited in a number of juried and non-juried shows in Central New York, including the Cooperstown National Art Exhibition, the Schweinfurth Art Museum in Auburn, the Kirkland Art Center in Clinton, and the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia.
A number of his goldenrod sculptures have been shown at the Schweinfurth Art Center, the Cooperstown Art Association gallery, and the Broome County Arts Council.
To learn more about Porter, visit daveporterart.com.
On May 12, Cazenovia-based artist Jennifer Hooley will present the adult art program “Thoughtful Doodling” at 10 a.m.
Hooley will guide participants through her ten-minute left- and right-handed warm-up exercise and then demonstrate two additional ways to thoughtfully doodle (the Zentangle Method and Creating Mandalas) while exploring the use of a watercolor brush pen, a pencil, watercolor paper, and a permanent marker.
“During the last year, when things often felt up in the air, I found drawing and doodling to be a fun, easy, calming, yet productive way to start the day,” Hooley said. “I’m excited to share what I learned with others.”
The program will be presented live via zoom. A link to a recorded version of the program will also be available.
Materials will be provided. Take home kits will be available for pick-up starting Thursday, May 6.
Hooley is primarily an oil painter with a focus on the light-hearted and whimsy of still life and landscape.
The artist, who holds degrees in business and fine art, started her business, froghappy!, in Washington DC in 2000 to provide decorative painting and art for children’s rooms.
She previously ran The Gallery of CNY, a regional art gallery in Cazenovia, and now has a working studio at the historic Atwell Mill.
In Nov. 2020, Hooley and part-time Cazenovia resident Valerie Clarke released their book, “Gift of Tennis,” on Amazon.
Illustrated and designed by Hooley, the book uses about 15 simple pencil illustrations and about 35 whimsical “doodles” to illustrate different tennis concepts.
According to her website, Hooley’s mission is to create artwork that engages children’s imaginations and sparks their curiosity for fine art.
The artist previously presented programs for children and adults as part of CPL’s Warming Up To Winter and Art for Kids series.
To learn more about Hooley and her work, visit artworkarchive.com or froghappy.com.
All CPL events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.
