DECEMBER, 2022 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

Winter.... It’s the longest and often the coldest of the seasons, but with the frigid chill and the snowfall, comes the holiday season, and most treasured moments in the cozy retreat of our home with those we love.

Gifts of time and love are surely all the main ingredients of a truly happy holiday. The best gifts are always the gatherings with family and friends sharing love, gratitude, and hope. This season is always an inspiration to reflect on the meaningful moments of the entire year in gratitude.

So get your cosy slippers out, hang your holiday decorations, and enjoy the December issue! As always, our goal at 518 PROFILES, is always to focus on the good, the beautiful and the positive by publishing stories with heart and soul. We strive each month to deliver authentic and unique content about creative people and interesting destinations. Enjoy!

518 Profiles LLC All rights reserved. All content of this publication including but not limited to text, graphics, and photos may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent f rom the publisher. 518 Profiles is not held responsible for graphics or images submitted for contribution to this publication. Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink. www.518PROFILES.com Vol 4 Issue 2

Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher

1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer puppets

PULLING STRINGS TO THE PAST

(And Also Fingers, Hands, Talking Dummies, & Miles of Smiles)

The Center for Puppetry Arts

By Carol St. Sauveur Ferris

Once upon a time... there was a young man named Robert Lewis May who worked for Montgomery Ward in Chicago, Illinois. It was 1939 and the Great Depression was slowly coming to an end. May had visions of being a great American author but found himself writing a children’s soft cover book instead at the request of his boss. The book was going to be given to their shoppers during the holiday season.

The story May wrote was actually an endearing poem called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Nearly 2.5 mil lion copies were distributed to Montgomery Ward’s shoppers that Christmas. And by the 1947 Christmas season, the poem was published as a hardcover book and a 45-rpm record was made as well.

In 1949 Gene Autry, known as the Singing Cowboy, recorded the song of the same name which was composed by May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks The song was eventually recorded by many other well-known singers including Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Perry Como and Bing Crosby. It became the second most popular Christmas song just behind White Christmas. May went on to write two sequels to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. And soon several film adaptations of the beloved story followed.

By 1964, the first televised puppet animation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. It featured Burl Ives as the voice of Sam the Singing Snowman, who narrates the story of Rudolph finding his way and eventually leading Santa’s sleigh. It was a huge success and is still the longest running TV special in the history of television. In fact, nearly 60 years later, you’re hard pressed to find anyone from Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha who have not seen or heard a Rudolph production at least once in their life. "The single most important person to Rankin/Bass classic TV Special, is Romeo Muller," says Official Rankin/Bass Productions Historian/Biographer Rick Gold schmidt.  "Romeo wrote the entire special and created all of the char acters besides Rudolph.  If it were not for him, we wouldn't have Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, The Island of Misfit toys, etc. Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass knew how to select talent and worked with Romeo on the script."

The original Rudolph and Santa puppets were imagined and designed by Antony Peters and Rankin/Bass associates for the original stop-motion animation TV Special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, then born in the hands of Japanese puppet-makers Ichiro Komuro and Kyoto Kita with MOM Film Studio puppet builders. The armatures for their bodies were made with wood and lead wire then covered in wool, synthetic fibers, yak hair and leather. And their heads, arms and legs were designed to be movable as well as each tiny finger and thumb. Today, the original 6” tall Rudolph and the 11” tall Santa are living their best life at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia.

But before arriving in Georgia, Rudolph and his friends lived in a few different places including the

Johnny Marks takes his son for a pre- Xmas ride on Exhibit Supply’s “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”

Japanese puppeteer, Hiroshi Tabata, at MOM Film Studio manipulating Santa’s sleigh to bring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to life. C. 2001 Miser Bros Press/Rick Goldschmidt Archives

Japanese puppeteer, Kyoko Kita makes Rudolph in Animagic in 1964. C. 2001 Miser Bros Press/Rick Goldschmidt Archives

home of a longtime employee at Rankin/Bass Productions. She used them as Christmas decorations around her tree and even let her nieces and nephews play with them. Off-season they were stored in a very hot attic where they nearly melted like quite a few of the other puppets apparently did before being rescued by one of her nephews many years later. They were eventually sold to a collector who had them restored, and after residing with a couple of more collectors, they went up for auction

in 2020. An anonymous donor purchased them and gave Santa and Rudolph to the Center for Puppetry Arts. The donor wanted them to “retire” to a safe place where they would be cared for and enjoyed. After a bit more restora tion, they made their Georgia debut in 2021.

Rudolph and Santa have many sweet friends at the Center for Puppetry Arts including some of their reindeer pals. In fact, Blitzen, Prancer, Donder, and Dasher who helped Rudolph

Hiroshi Tabata works on Charlie-in-the-box in Animagic, on the set of Rankin/Bass' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1964.

@ 2001 Miser Bros Press/Rick Goldschmidt Archives

Burl Ives was the voice of Sam the Singing Snowman who narrates the story of Rudolph

pull Santa’s sleigh permanently reside there too. All four were designed and built by Don Sahlin of the Jim Henson Company in 1968 and are made of metal, plastic, synthetic fur, felt, and fabric. They performed the delight of all ages on The Ed Sullivan Show which every American tuned into on Sunday night for many years and were gifted to the Center for Puppetry Arts by the family of Jim Henson.

Emmet Otter, Ma (Alice) Otter, Harvey Beaver, Charlie Muskrat, and Howard Snake are puppet pals of Rudolph and Santa and enjoy the spotlight as well. They too were designed and built by Don Sahlin and performed in the Jim Henson Company 1977 film, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. And eventually, these wonderful characters were

Ed Sullivan and Jim Henson

Ma (Alice) Otter

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas

Not to be forgotten, Salem the Cat wearing his very own Salem the Cat Reindeer Costume, shares the stage at the holidays with the others. He was designed by Chiodo Brothers Productions in 1998 for Sabina the Teenage Witch and is an animatronic puppet made of synthetic fur, fab ric, plastic, metal, tubing, and cabling. His reindeer costume was designed by Diane Kenney while his headdress and mask were designed by Pepie Tuers. The costume, headdress, and mask were made of foam, plastic, felt, synthetic fur, and fabric, and both Salem the Cat and his Reindeer Costume are on loan from CBS Paramount Television.

But none of this would have been possible without the imaginations of puppet creators and puppeteers dating back more than 3000 years. Even

philosophers Aristotle and Plato referenced puppets in their writings and teachings, and over the centuries, puppets were often used to communicate political and religious beliefs as well as entertain. Other forms of puppetry were designed and implemented around the world including Bunraku puppetry which was based on rites performed in Shinto temples in Japan; shadow puppets that shared folk art traditions in Indonesia; marionettes that taught Christian morality in Italy; and even puppets that acted in Shakespearean plays in Britain.

By the early 20th century, both Europe and America used puppets to entertain adults and often combined them with masked actors in their productions. Today, puppets are also used by educators, therapists, and law enforcement to address serious issues with young children. Puppets provide a means for them to safely express themselves and share their fears in a comforting environment.

There are four main categories of puppets including hand puppets, which are slipped over the hand; rod puppets, which are controlled by slender rods usually from below; shadow puppets, which are flat and glide behind a backlit screen; and marionettes, which are controlled by strings from above. Many hybrids exist as well including Bunraku pup pets which are manipulated in full view of the audience by the puppeteer; finger puppets that fit on individual fingers; ventriloquists’ dummies that directly engage with the ventriloquist and the audience; and body puppets where the legs and arms of the full body puppet are that of the puppeteer.

Puppets are these amazing little creatures that we all grow to love and make part of our family, but it’s the puppeteers who actually bring them to life. Lamb Chop had puppeteer Shari Lewis. Elmo had Kevin Clash. Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Grover, and Bert had Frank Oz. And Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg, and Marjory the Trash Heap had Jerry Nelson. Unfor tunately, puppeteers are not as well-known as their puppets but that is the nature of puppetry … unless of course, you’re Jim Henson.

Jim Henson began creating puppets in high school, and after graduating with a degree in home economics from the University of Maryland, he went on to co-found The Jim Henson Company with his wife, Jane in 1958. He joined Sesame Street in 1969 where he cre ated and developed many of the iconic puppets for the beloved children’s show.

When Henson created his puppets, he paid particular attention to the details which helped humanize them. Instead of wood and plastic, H enson made his puppets from fabric-covered foam rubber which was much more flexible. He also used rods instead of string to move the Muppets’ arms and made sure that the puppets’ mouth movements would align with the show’s dialogue.

Kids and parents were instantly captivated. They weren’t just puppets anymore. Kermit the Frog, pals Bert and Ernie, and The Muppets, to name a few became our friends as they lived their lives through 53 seasons and more than 4000 episodes of Sesame Street, teaching us the value of friendship and how to be kind to one another.

It’s no surprise then that every year during the holiday season, we look forward to seeing both Henson’s family of puppets in A Muppet Family Christmas and Rudolph with Santa in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on TV, at the theater, and streaming on our devices. If you are lucky to be in Atlanta this year, you can purchase tickets from the Center for Puppetry Arts at www.puppet.org and see them live in Jon Ludwig’s special adaptation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from December 1 -31st and in the Festive Features ex h ibit from De cember 1 - 31st. The Center for Puppetry Arts’ commitment to pre serving the legacy of beloved characters from our childhood and sharing their magic is a timeless Christmas gift to us all.

“Yeah, well, I’ve got a dream too, but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. That’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with.”

Kermit the Frog

Yes, it is Kermit, so thank you, and Merry Christmas to you too.

Center For Puppetry Arts - www.puppet.org

Jim Henson and Rowlf the Dog 1964

Bloom Where You Are Planted The Blooming Artist Gallery

by Rona Mann photos by Stephanie Sittnick

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

...Anais

Nin

It’s a funny thing about artists.

That which drives them is so very different. How they approach their work and perceive their world is so very different. And how they view and position themselves within the art world is absolutely so very different.

Cynthia Romano is much less complex than those sentences above. She is brilliantly talented, but her work does the talking for her. She doesn’t have to. She is a woman completely comfortable in her own skin. When

you meet Cynthia you instantly just want to sit down over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and chat with her. She is all at once insanely talented, but so down to earth and nonplussed that she got over herself years ago. Her work as an artist and her wonderfully warm and alive demeanor really do all the bragging that’s necessary. She just wants you to come in, hang out, ask questions, and yes, even touch. The Blooming Artist Gallery is not some hush-hush untouchable place. You will hear laughter here...you will hear loud voices, not whispers...and if you hear that unmistakable, delightful Brooklyn accent, you’ll know that Cynthia’s close by.

This Brooklyn-born girl always loved to make things as a child. When she got a bit older she designed macrame bracelets and fashioned earrings from clay, then marched her 13-year-old self down to the local

beach and established her own little business plodding through the sand, going straight up to people, and showing her wares. And was she ever successful! “It was so much fun,” Romano adds, who from the start was a born people-person.

Seems as though most of her life has been “fun” because she always knew what she wanted, went fiercely after it, and soaked up everything she could. “In high school, I was the ‘weird kid.’ While most of my friends wanted to do social things, I was always in the art room. I loved my teachers. They were magnificent and sup ported me 100%. I painted murals on the walls, they sent my work to local exhibitions and museums, they were always there for me.”

Following graduation, Cynthia attended a two-year school, then transferred to SUNY at New Paltz, and finally to Southampton College on Long Island. Always she was an art major, specializing in pottery and ceramics at SUNY New Paltz which she touts for being outstanding in pottery.

An art teacher seemed to recognize the direction in which her talent was progressing and pointed out, “You have more of a passion

Cynthia Romano with daughter Natalia, the Gallery Director

for painting.”So, Cynthia began to paint. Soon she was hawking her work, going from local gallery to gallery, working out of her home studio, and taking on commissions. “My mother was hysterically upset,” she laughed. “She just wanted me to get married and have kids, so eventually, I did.”

She also went back to school, got a master’s degree in art education, and became a 12th- grade art teacher at William Floyd High School in the Mas tic Beach section of Shirley, NY. Cynthia explains “it was a really tough school in an impossible area, but they were so dedicated to the students and always had money to invest for those kids in the arts in order to promote them and make them successful.

As time went on, Cynthia remarried, and relocated with her second hus band to the Capital Region from Long Island with her two children still in elementary and middle school. She then worked as a public school teacher for a few years before stepping away to help her husband build his business and to get back to her artwork.

“Although I had been focused on raising children and taking care of my home, I had this thing in me,” Cynthia relates. “I had to do art. I knew I was getting older, but I also knew I had more in me and had toyed back and forth with maybe someday opening a gallery.”

That “someday decision” came on a cold, rainy day in a Saratoga library when suddenly Cynthia read the Anais Nin quote at the top of this story.

“I sat there thinking, ‘Do I or don’t I open my own gallery?’ and then I realized, I do!”

Cynthia’s husband is a builder, so pandemic be damned, they both forged ahead, and 14 months ago, The Blooming Artist Gallery opened in Clifton Park. Unlike many galleries, this is not just a place where paintings are hanging on the walls. This is a place of many different artists and artisans. There are watercolors, oils, acrylics, and pastels. There’s stained glass art and beautiful pottery. Gift givers are in heaven to see one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry from necklaces to earrings and bracelets. There are tapestries, posters, hand-painted vases, hand-painted greeting cards, and unique sculptured pieces. Also cutting boards, cheese boards, serving spoons, and wooden art, both wonderful and usable.

Romano has worked hard to bring both the budding artist and artisan as well as the more experienced into her gallery, yet price points were considered with every art lover in mind. Just a look at The Shoppe link on her website shows prices that begin at $12.50 and then go up from there.

This holiday is the perfect time to stop by The Blooming Artist Gallery and let a wonderful piece of art catch your eye. If you’re shopping for someone you know who would appreciate this kind of unique gift but don’t know their taste or décor, Cynthia will help with with a gift certificate in any amount you choose.

Looking for a special place to have your next party, corporate event, or social event? Just the other side of the gallery’s sliding glass doors is a private, delicious, light and airy space just waiting for your guests, your caterer, your whimsy, your ideas, and YOU! Go see the space and let Cynthia give you ideas on how best to utilize it for your special event.

As you can see, The Blooming Artist Gallery is so much more than a gallery, it’s an art center where appreciators meet artists and arti sans on every level. Best of all, it is a place of learning and en couragement for Cynthia has added some of the most important instructional pieces from her background by adding art classes and summer art camps. She is always looking for new instructors to give a class or two because she believes there are so many out there who would benefit from taking a class, whether for fun or to perhaps reach those tight buds just waiting to take a risk and bloom.

As for Cynthia herself, she says she personally has a dilemma. “I am so busy I can’t find the time for painting, but I will. I have to.”

Although she has created beautiful ceramics and pieces of pottery, her love has always been painting and many of her beautiful acrylics are installed on the walls of the gallery...with hopefully, many more to come. “I’m not done yet,” she laughs. “I know I have more in me.”

There’s another old saying, “Bloom Where You are Planted.” And she did! From the teenager selling her creations on the sandy beaches of Long Island straight to the Capital District of New York. It’s a funny thing about artists, isn’t it?

Go watch budding artists, as well as seasoned ones, bloom at The Blooming Artist Gallery, 675 Grooms Road in the Rexford Landing Plaza, Clifton Park www.thebloomingartgallery.com (518) 280-4928

The Tradition of The Nutcracker Ballet

by Lawrence White

"My memories of Nutcracker are those of a nervous boy waiting in the wings in my little soldier’s costume. The heat of the lights, the smell of powder, the waves of glorious music…it was happiness"

.... Mikhail Baryshnikov

When the children of the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet (SSYB) per form The Nutcracker Ballet, they are maintaining a cultural tra dition that first started in 1892. The expressions of both children and adults in every audience at every performance since that time reveal the sense of wonder and magic that is the hallmark of this classical piece of dance and music.

The Nutcracker Ballet was originally choreographed in Russia by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov to suit a musical score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto or text of the piece was adapted from an 1816 short story by E.T.A. Hoffman. However, Marius Petipa’s choreography was based on a revision of the Hoffman story by Alexander Dumas as the Hoffman story was quite dark. This newer piece is the version that we have come to know and love as today’s Nutcracker Ballet.

Tchaikovsky began work on the musical score for the ballet in February 1891. He continued working while on an American tour for the opening of Carnegie Hall that occurred later that year.

The first performance in St. Petersburg was reported to be a flop. On the other hand, Tchaikovsky’s musical suite from the ballet was very well received and has remained the basis for the ballet as it has been adapted many times over the years.

The initial performance of an updated and complete ballet was performed in England in 1934. The first performance in America was on Dec 24, 1944, by the San Francisco Ballet, and the first NYC Ballet performance was in 1954 with George Balanchine's magnificent choreography. The NYC Ballet performances brought the Nutcracker into the mainstream of our culture and turned it into an extremely reliable box office draw.

Through the years, other notable productions of the Nutcracker include Rudolf Nureyev's 1963 production for the Royal Ballet, Yury Grigorovich for the Bolshoi Ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov for the American Ballet Theatre, and the Ballet Staatsoper Berlin.

The basis of the story is of a young girl, Clara and her Christmas Eve dream of a Nutcracker Prince who has a fierce battle against an evil Mouse King. Along the way, several different toys with inter national influences come alive to dance and entertain the young girl. The lessons in the ballet include the fact that being a unique person can be alright. We all possess the power to make dreams come true, but confidence and belief in ourselves are key. The staging, lighting, and dance of the ballet weave into a fantastic experience as Tchaikovsky's musical score excites and guides the imagination through the story.

“Music is a subtler language for expressing the thousand different moments of the soul's moods.” ...Tchaikovsky

Jocelyn Vollmar as the Sugar Plum Fairy, 1949 Pyotr

Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Joan, who is originally from Pennsylvania, tells me, “our dance school sent us to guest dance the Nutcracker in Williamsburg, Virginia, and do

flowers and snow.” With a laugh she continues, “If you ask a dancer about The Nutcracker. you get one of two answers, either, ‘Oh boy, the Nutcrackeror ‘Ugh, The Nutcracker!’ For me, it is the first reaction. The music is deeply evocative, and I believe the ballet itself is magical. The Nutcracker holiday season is something that I look forward to, and I enjoy being part of it each year.”

Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet Founders and Co-Directors Cristiane Santos and Joan Kilgore Anderson have uniquely different yet quite similar memories of their first Nutcracker Ballet experiences.

Cristiane’s first experiences with the Nutcracker Ballet were in her native country, Brazil. How ever, through the years she has seen sev eral versions of the ballet. “American Bal let Theatre with Baryshnikov, the NYC Ballet film with Macaulay Culkin in the Peter Martins production, and the National Ballet of Cuba have an outstanding version of The Nutcracker. Some of the pieces of choreography are about the scenery and the acting. Our ver sion is focused on the kids and their dancing which they respond to very strongly.”

Of course, the magic does not happen with out hard work, and observing the company in rehearsal is quite an experience. All the young dancers are deeply immersed in the session. Even those who are in the wings for a particular piece of choreography are seen absorbing every facet of the dance so that they can recreate all of the steps and moves when they are given the opportunity.

Joan explains, “At the beginning of the year we tell the students what the expectations are, and we keep them in focus while in class. They get homework, and we coach and refine them. The students are in class to work so they feel invested in the choreography, and it shows in the results.”

Cristiane agrees. “We adapt our choreography to the skills of the students. We want our students to be challenged, but we want them

to look good. To improve as dancers but by showing what they do well.”

“We try to create an environment that is not competitive, so the dancers work together. Everyone at a certain level learns the solos whether they perform or not, so they are getting a rounded experience instead of being focused in one area alone.”

When I ask about the new choreography that is being staged by SSYB, Joan tells me, “We are

not reinventing the piece, the story is honored and contains the elements that most choreog raphers use, but we have re-staged it. We develop the choreography to suit our dancer’s abilities

for that particular year’s performance, but the basis of the classic story re mains unchanged.”

“This year, we are having three perform ances, with two matinees and one evening performance. We also have a Nutcracker Tea performance at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park.”

“We just joined the Northeast Region of an association named Regional Dance America. It is a collaborative environment so there are opportunities all year. At the end o f the year, there is a festival in Harrisburg, and in 2024 we will be in Daytona Florida, so we are able to give our young dancers great opportunities to meet new dancers and choreographers and to have wonderfully varied experiences in dance.”

"There is not a quality company of any size that would exist without The Nutcracker. It's become synonymous with the holidays."

Roy Kaiser, Artistic Director, Pennsylvania Ballet.

Photos on page 26 by Susan Blackburn Photography

Jackie Sweeney is sewing costumes in the main foyer of the studios when we meet. Her daughter, Tara, has been dancing in The Nutcracker since she was five years old and is dancing in two roles in the year’s production. Her excitement for her daughter is evident.

When I ask what she feels about the version of Nutcracker that SSYB is putting together this year she tells me, “it is absolutely amazing. This is my daughter’s fifth Nutcracker with Joan and Cristiane, and it is an exceptionally beautiful program. We drive over an hour four times a week to come to these classes because they are so special.”

Ms. Sweeney adds, “The Nutcracker is always magical. The story, the dance, and the music lift your spirit and give you a wonderful feeling that can last all year. With all the different dancers in the dif ferent roles, it is almost like seeing it new and fresh every year.”

Ava Gould is dancing the part of the Snow Queen in this year’s SSYB

production. When I ask about her experience with the ballet she tells me, “I first danced in The Nutcracker when I was very young, and I have danced in it every year since. This is my first year as the Snow Queen, so I am excited but nervous too. So are my parents,” she adds with a smile.

I ask what she feels about the teaching methods at SSYB, and Ava explains, “I think it is great that they teach us all the parts because it gives each student a chance to dance more and be on stage more as well. It is better for the audience too. They get to see different sides of all the dancers, and it makes the ballet even more interesting.”

In watching the rehearsals, I can see that Ava is intently focused on every facet of her dancing. It is not a game with her, although she is ob viously enjoying it. With that in mind, I ask if she is interested in a dance ca reer, and she responds with an answer that makes sense for every student.

“A career would be great, but it is very, very difficult to succeed in dance for many reasons. The way they teach dance here really connects the students with their abilities, and that helps in everything we do outside of dance. Joan and Cristiane make us work hard and concentrate on our parts, and it pays off in the end by making us more focused.”

The young dancer then sums up the entire ex perience perfectly as she adds, “These are great lessons in dance and great lessons in life as well.”

Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet

418 Geyser Rd Suite 5, Ballston Spa, NY https://www.saratogaspringsyouthballet.org

December 11 - Nutcracker program at Saratoga Public Library 1pm.

December 17- The Nutcracker - The Performing Arts Center University at Albany 1pm & 7pm

December 18 - The Nutcracker - The Performing Arts Center University at Albany 2pm

Joan Kilgore Anderson and Cristiane Santos

Costume creator Jackie Sweeney

Bravo to the Albany Symphony, the “Adventurous Orchestra!”

By Rona Mann

The lights go down.

The chatter in the concert hall quiets to a hush. There is a sense of anticipation.

The curtain rises, as the tuxedoed maestro taps the baton on the podium, then raises a white-gloved hand, signaling the musicians to ready their instruments as the first notes of the piece slowly fill the hall. That is what most people think of when they think of a symphony orchestra performance. But then, there’s “that other orchestra.”

You know that one, don’t you? The one that as part of their Water Music NY initiative floated half their 70 orchestra mu sicians in a boat and barge excursion down the Erie Canal in 2017 to commemorate the bicentennial of the canal, all the while playing major symphonic compositions on consecutive nights. The one that honored two major anniversaries by bringing their program Sing Out! New York to Seneca Falls in 2019 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote and the

But Then There’s “That Other Orchestra”

50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York, a seminal point in advancing the rights of the LGBTQ community.

The Albany Symphony Orchestra not only mounts a musical performance, but they also celebrate with every note they play the power that music has over all people...all de mographics, all races, all socio-economic strata. They are not the “stuffy” formal hushhush musicians that many think of when they hear the word “symphony.”

“Any orchestra that’s stuffy shouldn’t be in business,” says David Alan Miller, the sym phony’s much-accomplished and proud conductor and music director. Miller is in his 31st season with the Albany Symphony and has amassed a storied and impressive cur riculum vitae. Trained at the University of California at Berkeley with a master’s de gree in orchestra conducting from The Juil liard School, he was Assistant Conductor of the New York Youth Symphony, followed by a tenure as its Music Director. Miller was appointed

Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic by then-Music Di rector, Andre Previn and has worked as a guest conductor with sym phonies throughout the United States.

David’s recordings have been nominated for six Grammy Awards, winning two of the coveted honors which was very gratifying indeed. Under his leadership, the Albany Symphony has not only performed the clas sics but also premiered works by living American composers and has released more than 30 recordings featuring new or recent American music.

Executive Director of the Albany Symphony is Anna Kuwabara who boasts three decades of orchestra man agement and experience that spanned the country from California to Chicago, St. Louis, and Boston before coming to Albany six years ago.

“My very first day on the job we were presenting Water Music, the presentation on the Erie Canal, and there was a thunderstorm that threatened the entire effort. Just before we were to begin, the sun came out.” The newly minted Executive Director took a deep breath and went on and has been doing so successfully for the past six

Anna Kuwabara

Water Music on the Erie Canal

David Alan Miller

seasons, working closely with Miller and with the community at large.The orchestra even performed on the Saratoga Battlefield, so when Anna and David talk about bringing the symphony out into the community, they’re out!

Auditions for the tenured musicians are rigorous, but the efforts of those who make the cut are more than obvious in performance. At

this time, the youngest musicians are in their 20s, while the oldest and more seasoned among them are in their late 70s. Age does not matter, talent, enthusiasm, and a willingness to keep learning are what do. “One of the most wonderful things about this orchestra is that we position young people next to our veterans who are only too happy to mentor them,” Miller says. “There’s a wonderful spirit of collegiality.”

The musicians of the orchestra have played a major role in the program, Symphony in Our Schools, which runs throughout the school year. “It is our goal to reach every 3rd and 4th grader in the Albany area.” Additionally, the symphony commissioned noted composer Dorothy Chang to work with local children during the Erie Canal initiative. She wrote a song, and an entire chorus of children sang their way down the Erie Canal and into the hearts of thousands of spectators. What a wonderful start to a lifelong appreciation of music and food for their souls.

The symphony will again be putting young people on stage when they present their very popular concert, “The Magic of Christmas,” held annually at The Palace Theatre in Albany. It’s a big family cel ebration for the holidays with literally hundreds of kids ages

pre-K to high school onstage singing and dancing to the music of the Symphony, an homage to the vast store of local talent in the Capital region. Also, on the 10th and 11th of this month, the Symphony will play at the Music Hall in Troy. Tickets for these events and the rest of the season may be purchased on their website.

Another successful program of which the symphony is most proud is Convergence which connects the Albany Symphony to the other

arts and cultural organizations in the Capital region, specifically focusing on a three-year collaboration within the Black communities that combines the spoken word, jazz, dance, and music. Celebrating differences, yet coming together as one, is so much a part of the mission of the Albany Symphony.

As the Symphony approaches its 100th anniversary in 2030, they are not sitting on their laurels, not for a minute! Anna Kuwabara and

David Alan Miller are constantly working to better what they do, to bring the arts outside the four walls of their concert halls and right in to the lap of their communities, to get people excited and involved and passionate

about what they have right in their own backyard, far from stuffy and always willing to be adventurous to expand their boundaries and draw new au diences in.

Who is that “other” orchestra? The adventurous one? That, friends, is YOUR Albany Symphony, the joyous, raucous, superbly talented, dedicated group of professional musicians who’ve been bringing it for nearly 100 years... and if you don’t know them yet, you will. You should.

Can you hear the music? Can you hear the laughter? Can you see the children proudly shar ing the same stage and singing along with a major symphony? Can you reserve your tickets to something very special happening in your own part of the world? What adventure will they attempt next? What new and different music will they bring to the forefront? What lessons will they teach through their innovative presentation of new pieces, their respect for the classics, and their total joy of performing for au diences throughout the state who greet their every performance with the applause of appreciation?

Yes, there are many fine sym phonies in our country and throughout the world, but then there’s “that other orchestra” ... YOUR Albany Symphony.

Go listen.

For more information on upcoming concerts and programs, visit: www.albanysymphony.com

National Star Wars Day Concert

Like all kids, I couldn’t wait for the holidays to roll around each year.

But unlike most kids who were laser-focused on pres ents, I had another element of the festivities that caught my interest and enthusiasm nearly as much. Baking Christmas cookies! But it wasn’t just holiday baking, it was holiday baking with Nana Corinne.

Nana Corinne was my aunt who hailed from the South and the only member of the family to be from south of the Mason- Dixon line. My Uncle Al had met her when he was serving as a medic in the Army, they fell in love, an d he came back to the Northeast with an Ala bama bride on his arm. She wasn’t from one of the big cities either like Montgomery, Birmingham, or Mo bile; she was a country girl who came from Al bertville, a place the locals called a “wayback” because it wasn’t near anything, had few services, and didn’t even have a traffic light or general store. The nearest one was some 40 miles away by horse and buggy over dirt roads, so if you got home and realized you had forgotten to buy lard, you would just have to do without until the next trip and fry some other way.

But when it came to holiday baking, Nana Corinne was always prepared and had earned a well-deserved reputation among the local folks in her tiny hamlet. Now dropped into the chaos of the crowded Northeast, she lived in a modern suburban three bedroom home with appliances that were up to date, a supermarket just a mile or two away, and an anxious “audience” of friends and relatives who couldn’t wait for Halloween to be over each year when Corinne would declare, “Time to start baking the holiday cookies!”

Nana Corinne had a great repertoire of cookies from the plain sugar and butter variety which she’d cut into holiday shapes and artistically decorate, all the way up to concoctions that would often take a day to construct properly. Southern cane syrup cookies, Linzer short bread, butterballs, gingerbread, chocolate crinkle, peanut butter blossoms, pecan snowballs (actually, pecan anything, remember Nana Corinne was South ern-born), gingersnaps, stained glass window cookies, and so many more. She never used a recipe either, just baked from her memory with a pinch here, a spoonful there, and flour everywhere!

My favorite cookies were her famous Thumbprints, the origin of which is much disputed among ethnic bakers. They are commonly thought to have originated in the 19th century with the Swedish, but the Poles say

they invented the thumb-printed pastry which they call Kolazczki. The Swedish call it “Hallongrotta,” which literally means Raspberry Cave, and Eastern European Jews claim Hamantaschen with a fruit or chocolate center to be theirs alone. The cookie is mostly butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla with a thumbprint made in the dough that was later filled with jam.

Nana Corinne mixed her ingredients, carefully cutting each cookie into a perfect circle, ordering me to “thor oughly wash your hands, and use the nail brush too.” When my anxious little mitts were dry, she’d guide me from cookie to cookie until I had thumbprinted each to her exact specifications. When I had finished, and she was satisfied, she’d lean over the counter, swipe a dollop of butter from the butter dish, and plop it right onto the bridge of my nose. When I was younger it made me cry. I didn’t like that one bit, but “Percy,” Nana’s dog loved the tradition. As though he knew exactly what was going on, he’d race over, lick the butter off my nose, and then give me a sloppy Breakstone butter kiss.

I remember the first time I asked Nana Corinne why she did it, she told me that it was an old custom of the Scottish, many of whom had settled in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. The Germans also embraced this as did many in the southern states. On one’s birthday loved ones were to come up behind the celebrant and butter their nose so bad luck would slip off them in the coming year and only good luck would remain. “But it’s not my birthday now!” I would wail each December when we made the cookies. “I know that,” Nana Corinne replied, “but I believe people should have good luck all year long.”

We spent many holiday seasons together, Nana Corinne and I. Percy lived to the ripe old age of 14, but one day his good luck ran out and so did his heart. Nana never got another dog after that. “I’m getting too old,” she reasoned, then changed the subject quickly for both our sakes. I was getting older as well, but “never too old to make thumbprints,” Nana said.

Then came the holidays when I made thumbprint cookies by myself, but I was never sad, for as my mixer hummed incorporating the ingredients, I would think of all the happy years I had with Nana Corinne and everything she taught me about baking, about washing my hands before making the thumbprints, and making sure you always had someone you loved around so you could butter their nose.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Beauty

By Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE

There are so many reasons to love the holidays…the food, the music, the lights, and gathering with friends and family. One of my favorite things is the makeup. Between the parties, the dinners, the plays and the PARTIES, it’s a great reason to dress up and go all out with some holiday glamour.

I’ve been saving all these ideas to help get you into the holiday mood. Are you ready?

Skin CARE

Having the right canvas is essential in creating great art. You are the artist and your skin is your canvas. Like artists, we use color theory to create the perfect color combinations for foundations and concealers. This is the secret to helping you get the coverage you want and create the looks you love.

Let’s start with something simple: Make sure you thoroughly cleanse your face every night. At the minimum, cleanse, tone and moisturize every night before you go to sleep. Adding an exfoliating step 1-2 times a week will help ensure that your skin is smooth and glowing and ready for the holidays!

Foundations, Concealers and Powders

Let’s talk about correcting and perfecting your skin without making it look like you’re wearing a lot of makeup. The key to a light, but perfected look is getting the right color foundation and concealer.

Darker skin can sometimes look too ashy (green) or blue toned (purple) so a golden-tone works really well to blend out and smooth the skin.

Medium to medium dark skins usually need neutral undertones to help hide imperfections. Stay away from yellow and pink.

Medium to medium light skin usually requires warmer tones to even out the skin. These warmer tones are especially helpful if you tend to have too much redness in your skin. Look for a slightly yellow or peach undertone.

Light skin almost always struggles with pink or red tones. You can balance your skin by using a foundation with beige-yellow undertones.

Now, let’s talk about those puffy, dark circles under your eyes. Using an ice pack, cooling eye gels or a chilled jade roller will help decrease the puffiness around your eyes. But what about those dark circles?

Apply your foundation, THEN apply your concealer. Dot the area under the eyes with your concealer. Then gently press your finger (or use a brush to stipple) all along the lower eye area. The idea is to start your layering with the lesser weight product applied first. Then the concealer is applied. Make sure you apply a little concealer to the inner corner of your eyes to create a uniform look.

The same technique applies to breakouts. Cold is your best friend when it comes to those pesky pimples. The cold reduces inflammation and decreases redness, so do this first. Then try adding a light weight moisturizer, a little foundation and a little concealer.

Contouring, Bronzing and Blushing

The goal here is to create depth and a sun kissed effect. Don’t go crazy on your contouring! Choose a light, neutral or neutral/warm shade that’s only

2 shades darker than your natural skin to help create a subtle contour or give a concave effect to certain areas of your face. Remember, light brings forward and dark recedes.

Bronzing gives the illusion of a sun kissed glow. Usually a warm tone with a little glimmer or sparkle, used sparingly during winter months to realistically add a light, just spent time in the sun effect.

Blush placement is extremely important. The outer area of your cheek that extends and curves up to the ends of your brow are a wonderful place to start. You’ll want a little color with some “pop” to it…warm pinks or soft corals work nicely and give skin a little boost of color and warmth.

Next, apply some light mineral powder or a setting powder to the skin to keep everything “in place” and set your makeup.

Here’s the fun part: Color, color and more color! What areas are these? Eyes, (including brows and lashes) and lips.

If you want simple glam, softly define your brows with a pencil or powder duo designed specifically for brows, as close to your natural shade as possi ble. Add lots of black mascara and use a lip color with a big pop of color. This is classic, simple and VERY easy to pull off when you’re in a hurry. But what if you have time? There are so many cool makeup palettes out there, so experiment if you have time to play with makeup this season. Some of my favorites include:

Lots of shimmer and glow with the highlight on your skin (of course) Lips and eyes are soft, keeping all the focus on your shimmering cheekbones and soft contouring. Try light eye shadows in taupes or soft pinks, dark brown mascara and a lip color that’s close to your own, glossy and sheer.

Jewel toned eyes are back this year. If this has always scared you, now is the time to experiment. Think emeralds, amethysts, sapphires, turquoise and garnets. Keep the rest of your makeup light and neutral to make your eyes the main attraction!

Winged eyeliner is still HUGELY popular and if you can perfect it?? Wow… there are so many possibilities. Use black, or glitter and black or gold or metallic green…or purple. Winged eyeliner with soft, earthy tones on the eyes? Glamorous and gorgeous perfection!

Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE FACES of Saratoga

55 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY

December 1- 24 Ballston Spa

December 1-11

Schenectady

Oh,You Horrible Things. A collection of new work from miserable artist, Michael Reyes. Mr. Eyes detailed, odd and spooky artwork is rich in back ground and imaginative world-building. With an international following and growing group of rabid collectors, you will want to visit and see his work in person while you can! The only other place you can see his work would be at cultfa vorite Gideon's Bakehouse at Disney World in Orlando, Florida - where Mr. Eyes has created an immersive experience that people wait hours for! On exhibit through December 11, 2022. On exhibit at Bear and Bird Gallery in Schenectady 160 Jay Street

Artisan's Market at Brookside Museum. Shop a wide selection of hand-crafted products created by local artisans, including soaps & lotions, or naments, jewelry, spices & syrups, cutting boards, home décor, and much more! Thursdays 12pm – 5pm, Fridays 11am – 6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 5pm. This is an in-person event at SCHC’s Brookside Museum, at 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa

December 1 - January 2 Troy

The Last Picture Show Tom Clement & Jon Gernon. Artist Reception: November 25, 6- 9pm. After 25 years at the 201 Broadway location (and 47 years at the 39 2nd street space) The Clement Frame Shop & Art Gallery will host its final art show opening on Friday November 25 with an exhibition of work by Tom Clement & Jon Gernon, a fitting end to what was the first show 23 years ago. The show will run through December. The Clement Frame Shop, which has cemented itself as one of the oldest businesses in the City of Troy, NY, recently sold its building and will begin to shut down their custom framing services starting in January 2023 as well. For more information on the gallery exhibitions and artists please contact: Jon Gernon at: Jongernon@gmail.com or 518.312.1564 Clement Art Gallery, 201 Broad way, Troy, NY 12180. 518.272.6811 @clementarttroy

December 1 - 4 Saratoga Springs

2022 Victorian Streetwalk Weekend in Saratoga Springs. Celebrate the 36th Anniversary of the Victorian Streetwalk with a whole WEEK END of activities in Saratoga Springs! The 2022 Victorian Streetwalk Weekend will take place from December 1-4. We invite you downtown for the following events and activities: Thursday, December 1, Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:00 pm Friday, December 2, Festivities and Caroling: Time: TBD Saturday, December 3, Festivities and Music: Time: TBD Sunday, December 4, Festivities and Music: Time: TBD

December 1 - 17 Lake George

Jeremy Dennis - Through digital photography and various cinematic tools, artist Jeremy Den nis - a tribal member of the Shinnecock In d ian Nation in Southampton, NY - exam ines indigenous identity, cultural assim ilation, and the ancestral traditional practices of the Shinnecock People. His unique experience of living on a sovereign Indian reservation, combined with extensive research of archaeological and anthropological records, oral stories, and newspaper archives, allows him to trace issues that plague his, and other indigenous communities, back to their source. Jeremy’s photographs of staged scenes are not without humor, but tackle serious and urgent issues, aimed to recount and honor the Shinnecock’s 10,000-plus years’ presence in Long Island, NY, and to doc ument their resilience, and struggle to maintain autonomy. Lake George Arts Project, Old County Courthouse 1 Amherst Street, Lake George

DECEMBER EVENTS

December 1 - 24

Albany

The Wizard Of Oz. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Revisit your childhood in this beloved classic story starring your favorite characters from Kansas. Follow Dorothy and Toto as they travel the yellow brick road in search of the Wizard while coming in contact with new friends as well as dangers caused by the Wicked Witch of the West. Sing along with the munchkins with the show’s updated look and feel and leave feeling braver and smarter with your heart wide open. Friday, Nov 18, 2022 until Saturday, Nov 19, 2022 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

Capital Repertory Theatre, 251 North Pearl Street Albany, NY 12207 Cost: $27 - $62

December 1-24 Glens Falls

Annual LARAC Holiday Shop Opening Night. The first night of LARAC's Annual Holiday Shop! With handmade items from over 50 regional artists, start your holiday shopping by supporting local. All purchases during opening night will receive a 5% discount. LARAC Members will receive a 15% discount. This event is free and open to the public. Holiday Shop Dates: De cember 1-24th. After opening night the Lapham Gallery will be open Monday- Saturday from 10am-4pm and until 6p on Thursdays. Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, 7 Lapham Place Glens Falls, NY 12801

December 1 - 31 Clifton Park

We invite you to experience our final exhi bition of 2022, Holiday Salon. As the name suggests, each and every wall is adorned as a gallery wall and our shelves and pedestals are well-ornamented. Featuring well over 100 works made by all local artists, this show is truly a feast for the eyes. Whether with a whimsical representation, a textural abstraction, or something in be tween, you'll be challenged not to fall in love and be inspired here at The Blooming Artist this holiday season. We invite you to come visit us Tuesdays-Saturdays. The Blooming Artist Gallery 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 518-280-4928 contact@the bloomingartist.gallery www.thebloomin gartist.gallery

December 2 - 4 Glens Falls

Hometown Holidays Celebration. Downtown Glens Falls’ annual Hometown Holidays event. Over 30 vendors, Holiday friends, music, food and drink and more. ADK Christkindlmarkt will be in Down town Glens Falls!

DECEMBER EVENTS

December 2 Glens Falls

Dinner & A Movie: “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) tells the story of George Bailey (played by James Stewart). The Park Theater Foundation presents Dinner & A Movie: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) on December 2nd, 2022! There will be a special 3-Course Prix Fixe menu featuring a selection of flavorful, hearty dishes, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Ticket Price: $60.00 (+ tax) per person. 5pm: Doors Open. 5:30pm: Dinner Service Begins 6:30pm: The Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 P: 518-792-1150

December 2 Ballston Spa

2022 Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting. Friday, Dec 2, 2022 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The Ball ston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting is on December 2, 2022. The parade begins promptly at 6:30pm and starts from the inter section of South Street and Milton Ave. The parade headlines a holi day themed “First Friday” in Ballston Spa. Home to unique shops, museums, and popular restaurants, Ballston Spa pulls out the stops for December’s First Friday by filling the village with a merry atmosphere. Many businesses will be open with special holiday activities and specials, while Ballston Spa High School singers and musicians as well as Union Fire Company band members perform carols on the street corners.

December 3 - January 8 Schuylerville

U P ST AT E A RT I ST S - 11th Annual Juried Group Show. Opening Reception: December 3, from 5pm - 8pm. Juried by Elizabeth Dubben, "Upstate Artists" features a diverse cross section of the Upstate New York arts community. Exhibited work was chosen from over 100 entries in response to an Open Call for Submissions to local artists. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY 12871. (518) 695-3181 Gallery Hours: Thursday - Sunday 12pm - 5pm

December 3 Saratoga Springs

Family Saturday: Snowflake Sculptures. Join us on Saturday, December 3, at 2 pm, for Family Saturday: Snowflake Sculptures! After visiting Parallax: Framing the Cosmos, participants are in vited to create snowflakes sculptures from clothes hangers. Family Saturday programs foster multigenerational creative coop eration through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engag ing in a hands-on art-making activity. Programs run from 2-3:30 pm and in clude a tour of selected works. All programs are free and open to the public, Saturday, Dec 3, 2022 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. Tang Teaching Museum, 815 N. Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

December 4 and 11 Glens Falls

LARAC's Winter Arts Festival. The Arts Festival open to the public 10am-5pm on both Sunday. Our well established, holiday shopping Fall Arts Festival is a juried arts show featuring local and regional artisans making handmade unique products such as pottery, fiber, jew elry, culinary items, wood, pho tography, plus much more. We’ll also have live music all accompanied by the wonderful Downtown GF Holiday spirit. The Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge Street Glens Falls, NY 12801. For more information contact LARAC Director, Phil Casabona, festivals@larac.org, 518-798-1144 ext.2

December 4 - Albany

Great Train Extravaganza 2022. The Great Train Extravaganza is eastern New York’s largest model railroad and toy train hobby show. It’s held every year at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany, New York on the first Sunday in December. Our dozens of vendors offer new and used trains for sale, plus parts, clothing, memorabilia, photographs, and accessories. We also feature numerous exhibitors showing off all kinds of pieces of railroad history and artifacts, and several operating model railroads. Full day admission to the show including access to all of our vendors and model railroads is still just $7 for adults, and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Sunday, Dec 4, 2022 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. New York State Convention Center, Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12242

December 10 - 11 Glens Falls

The Shirt Factory Holiday Open House - Part 2. Unique handmade gifts you will find nowhere else are always at The Shirt Factory, and one of the best times to shop is the Shirt Factory Holiday Open House Sale, when additional vendors will be on hand! December 10 & 11, 10am to 5pm each day. The Shirt Factory, 21 Cooper Street Glens Falls, NY 12801

December 11, 17 & 18 Albany

Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet The Nutcracker. Let the holiday magic begin as you join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on their journey to a delightful winter wonderland.

December 11- Nutcracker program at Saratoga Public Library 1pm. Pre-reg istration required www.sspl.org

December 17- The Nutcracker - The Performing Arts Center University at Albany 1pm & 7pm

December 18- The Nutcracker - The Performing Arts Center University at Albany 2pm

December

7

Saratoga Springs

Caffe Lena Poetry Featuring Philip Memmer. The first Wednesday of every month is Poetry Night at Caffe Lena. Hosted by Carol Graser, this event includes an open mic reading and a featured poet. The doors open for signups at 6:30 and the readings start at 7PM. In December the featured poet is Philip Memmer. The featured reading will also be livestreamed, please visit caffelena.org for links and information. Wednesday, Dec 7, 2022

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Ever since we first opened our doors in 1902, we have been committed to helping local families and businesses grow and prosper. They are more than simply our customers. They are also our neighbors, our friends…our community. We strongly believe that when we support our community — through shopping for holiday gifts locally, giving to area nonprofits, or even choosing to feed our families with produce grown nearby — we all win.

Thank you for being a part of this robust community. This holiday season, we hope you’ll consider reinvesting in the people and businesses that make our community your home.

We wish you and your loved ones joy and peace through all this winter's festivities.