NOVEMBER, 2022 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

St.Sauveur Ferris, Karen Richman, Rona Mann Chandler Stevens, Lawrence White, Kirsten Ferguson, Alan

Richer, Crystal Cobert Giddens, Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Kristina Watrobski

Stephanie

Variety is The Spice of His Artistic Life

By Alan B. Richer

While you may not be familiar with Dahl Taylor’s name, you are likely familiar with some of the many projects this master artist has done across his forty-plus- year career. They include illustrating the Addy series of the American Girl books, labels for both Sam Adams and Nantucket Nectars, and animated web videos for Jack Daniels, and Bacardi Rum. Other clients include Owens Corning, Ralph Lauren, BMG Music, and American Express. His work has also appeared on the pages of numerous prestigious magazines including Money, Forbes, Readers’ Digest, and The New Yorker. The Waterford, NY native’s art has been expressed in a multitude of media, including web video, television, Broadway posters, murals, museum exhibits, children’s books, annual reports, puzzles, labels, and packaging, to name a few. His fine artwork ranges from maritime and coastal subjects to equestrian art.

TWO HOOKERS - Two traditional Irish working sailboats competing in a regatta in Connemara, Ireland. Oil on Canvas.

Velveteen RabbitCommissioned art for the theatre production of the children’s story. Oil on canvas.

Taylor always knew he was destined to be an artist. “As a child, I drew everything! I always knew art would be my life’s passion. I briefly thought about architecture, but quickly realized it involved math.”

His art teacher in first grade, Tom McCollough, remained his art teacher throughout high school and even created additional art classes for him once Taylor had taken every available art course. Upon graduating from high school, Taylor enrolled in the Art Institute of Boston. After a foundation year focused on illustration, he changed his major to fine arts and went on to attend Sullivan County Community College in Liberty, New York for commercial art.

Taylor’s first real job was as a staff artist for the Troy Times Record, where he spent a year before accepting a job with a California newspaper near Monterey. Less than a year later, Taylor returned to the Capital Region where he worked for a small advertising agency in Delmar creating ads for such clients as Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and General Electric.

In 1980, he transitioned to freelance illustration by gradually reducing his time with the ad agency. Taylor has also served as an adjunct professor of art at Saint Rose College and Sage Junior College in Albany.

When asked what he loves most about his ca reer, he says it’s the breadth. “Every day is different. The variety is what excites me. I am always reinventing myself.”

From his Broadway studio in Albany, Taylor embraces the challenges that come his way. A striking example of this variety is when he was hired to draw local scenes at two national den tal conventions, one in New Orleans and the other in Boston; the twist on the assignment was that Taylor had to use a toothbrush to paint instead of a paintbrush. In another example, he appeared in a television commercial for IBM

that focused on a wine merchant and had Taylor painting a portrait using red wine instead of paint. Taylor has used various fruits and vegetables as his “paint,” creating mosaics using actual olives, peppers, grapes, oranges, watermelons, and an assortment of other fruit and vegetables placed on a whiteboard. Similarly, a beer illus tration was made using actual grains, hops, and other ingredients that go into beer making.

CONVENTION PANELS - Five 15’ panels from the seven-panel series on display at the Albany Capital Center depicting Albany’s history, culture, commercial and natural attributes. Mixed media.

NANTUCKET NECTARS - A composite of the elements created for Nantucket Nectars juice labels. Watercolor.

He has recently leaned into what he calls his “new style” of art. Taylor starts by drawing with pencil, then scans the drawing and “paints it” on his computer by digitally com bining the pencil work with watercolors and digital brushwork. He then adds photo graphs he has taken of textures, such as rusty metal or water as background.

A Ralph Lauren children’s animation, narrated by Harry Connick Jr., includes scores of Taylor’s watercolor illustrations forming the scenes behind the live actors.

For the Addy series for American Girl, T aylor worked with historians photographing Philadelphia locations and gathering references.

Models posed for the various scenes in the 54 paintings that appear throughout the books.

He has also served as a courtroom artist, in cluding working the two trials of the late Senator Joseph Bruno. During breaks in the trial, Taylor would bring his illustrations outside of the courtroom where the television crews from the area news channels would gather to film his sketches for their news stories.

RALPH LAUREN - A still frame from an animation of a storybook for Ralph Lauren children’s clothing. Backgrounds: watercolor.

SEASONAL BOTTLES - An illustration commissioned by Boston Beer to promote their seasonal beer offerings. Digital painting.

VET MURAL - A 36’ long mural honoring SUNY Albany’s faculty and staff who have served in the armed forces since the school’s inception. Installed above the circulation desk of SUNYs uptown campus library. Oil, photography, and Plexiglas on board.

Additionally Taylor has painted murals at SUNY Albany, a s well the Albany Capital Center and worked on dioramas a t the New York State Museum including figures of native New York peoples through history. His 36-foot-long hand-painted veterans’ mural created for SUNY Albany honors students and alumni that served in the US Armed Forces since the school’s inception and

includes panels that list the names of the more than two thousand veterans coupled with photographs. The Albany Capital Center murals show the unique and rich history, and natural and cultural landmarks of Albany, NY. The main mural measures 50 feet long and is accompanied by five 15- foot tall themed murals.

For a New Windsor, NY historical site, the artist created individual figures based on journals and records of con temporary individuals. “They were painted and re produced life-size and combined with actual objects in the museum exhibit. In the case of the blacksmith, his anvil ‘rests’ on a real tree stump. The washerwoman has an actual wooden wash basin at her feet.”

KAILBOURNE - A commissioned portrait of a board chair of Norstar bank. Oil on canvas.

HAVING OUR SAY - Art produced for the promotion of the film ‘Having Our Say’ based on the Broadway play, which Taylor also illustrated. Oil on linen.

DEIRDRE & KIERAN - A double portrait in a private collection. Oil on canvas.

His portraits are part of major institutional and corporate collections with commissions coming from individuals and the public and private sectors alike. Taylor has created portraits of government officials on both the federal and state level.

“A portrait is not merely a painted likeness. It should be a projection of the individual as a person. Therefore, I endeavor to learn from my clients how they see themselves and what is important fo r them to be conveyed in a portrait from the outset.”

Taylor’s watercolors are used in different co m missions from packaging, labels, point of sale promotional displays, editorial (books and magazines), and video commissions for companies su ch as Snapple, Dr. Pepper, Publix Super markets, and Smuttynose Brewing. “Smuttynose Br ewing Company totally revamped their pa ckaging with my watercolors. Each beer depicts a differ ent, iconic location in their home state,

New Hampshire. Cans even have the GPS coordinates for each location.”

Working for Boston Beer, the owner of the Sam Adams brand, Taylor developed a hybrid approach for branding a wide array of products including related packaging and promotional materials. For Nantucket Nectars he did a complete refresh of all their juice labels. For Bacardi Rum and Gentleman Jack whiskey, Taylor created vi gnettes in multiple layers of line and wash (a drawing marked out by pen and then tinted with diluted ink or watercolor) that were then animated for web videos.

After the success of the Broadway show, Hamilton, Taylor worked with cinematographer, John Kenific to produce a video about the historic Schuyler House in Albany. Taylor’s animations of the various actors transform to actual film of the actors.

He has done art for theater posters and programs for several Broadway and regional productions. The Broadway plays include the Tony-nominated Having Our Say, Hizzoner, and the Neil Simon play, Jake’s Women.

When asked which of all the various mediums and projects is Taylor’s favorite, he mentions his series of fifteen paintings of the construction of a replica of the Schooner “America.” The ship was constructed in Albany, and Taylor documented

the entire process, even working on parts of the boat’s construction that were exhibited at the Albany Institute of History and Art. He feels that these are his strongest paintings and a strong series documenting a fascinating subject.

Taylor’s shows include a one-man show at the Society of Illustrators, a two-man show at the Albany Institute of History and Art, and multiple international marine art shows at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. His work is represented in galleries throughout the Northeast.

Taylor and his wife Deirdre reside in Glenmont, and you can learn more about the awardwin ning artist by visiting his website at www.dahltaylorart.com

PORPOISE POINT - A lobster boat on its mooring at Cape Porpoise near Kennebunkport, ME. Oil on canvas.

Good Food, Good Health, & a Good Deal of Fun! Old Saratoga Mercantile: Not Typical, But Always Reliable

by Rona Mann

...Jim Mullanaphy, FOOD MATTERS

This is a story that at first blush appears to be about yet another farmer’s market. Wrong!

This is a story about freshness, about sourcing responsibly, about good taste, about family.

This is also YOUR story because it’s about a place born out of love and hard work and honesty and things that taste good, are good and are al ways the best of the best, never second place. Special? You bet, because this is that special place in Schuylerville known as Old Saratoga Mercantile, and if you aren’t familiar with it as yet, read on!

Here’s what Old Saratoga Mercantile is not. It is NOT a health food store. It is NOT a Farmers Market you’ll see dotting the landscape only on a Saturday or Sunday. It is NOT a fad, and it is not some seasonal pop-up with no set schedule.

No, Old Saratoga Mercantile is the real deal, born out of curiosity, love of the land, years of experience, and an honest and ongoing commitment to the people they serve.

It all began eight years ago when Christina, a young woman who had grown up in a farming community in northern New York met Tim Myers,

who grew up in the Saratoga area. They were dating and drove by an old run-down, ramshackle property on Rt. 29 that was vacant. Christina was intrigued. She loved places like that because she had an active imagina tion and would just love to get her hands on it! “No,” Tim said sharply. “I know what you’re thinking, and besides, it’s not for sale.”

But a few years later, they drove by the same property, and this time it was for sale. And this time the couple bought the property where they would later get married and decided to make it their own, a place where they could farm the land responsibly, be outside 12 months of the year working that land, and then passing on the fruits of their labors to area people who would appreciate freshness and sustainability.

Unlike many farmers, Christina and Tim are “winter growers” because they grow outside even during the coldest months of a New York State winter to ensure that high-quality produce will be available every day of the year. Produce that incl udes spinach, kale, Swiss chard, hardy loose-leaf lettuces, and more. How is this possible?

“Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer food from a field than from a factory. I want to eat what a farmer produces, not a lab tech.”

Christina willingly complies with an answer (Christina is one of those joyous souls who, when asked what time it is, is only too happy to tell you how to build a clock)!

“We solely use the power of the sun in our three separate tunnels, each of them 3000 square feet in size. Some call them ‘hoop houses,’ and many people think they are greenhouses, but they are not. Greenhouses are heated, the tunnels which are metal structures with plastic are not heated and totally dependent upon the sun. Outside temperature is not a deter mining factor which is why it could be four degrees outside in January, but if the sun is out, we’re in the tunnels wearing just a sweat shirt and jeans. The plants are in the ground, and when there’s not enough sun, we cover them beginning in mid-afternoon with row covers.”

Those times are not exact because as Christina says, “Every day is a different day. We have to cover the ground before the ground loses heat because if those row covers get wet, they’re hard to pull, and it’s brutal to move them. It’s always a dance. Sometimes I’m in the store and have to leave the customers for a few minutes so I can run out and cover them when the sun starts fading.”

The “store,” the centerpiece of Old Saratoga Mercantile, is just five years old. Here everything they grow they sell. You can get much of what they have at other places, but not all in one place. They have over 2000 items in the store’s inventory in addition to everything they’re growing.” There is no way to outline here everything those 2000-plus items in clude, however, looking at the photographs on these pages, on their

website, or better yet, a trip to the store itself, will both astound and delight you.

Arranged like an old-fashioned general store excited new customers and the coterie of repeat customers (“who are like family to us; we know what they like and are looking for”), find household products, canning products, safe cleaning supplies, body products from sham poo to body creams and everything in between, beverages, books; and most important of all, expert advice from Christina and Tim. That is all in addition to healthy, organic, responsibly sourced food from their own land as well as from other organic farms in the surrounding communities which supply Old Saratoga Mercantile and share the same values. In addition to Tim and Christina’s fresh produce ye ar ‘round, there is always m e at, eggs, dairy products, fru it, honey, syrups, and deli cious baked goods, but you’ll never find anything with high fructose corn syrup, food coloring, or preservatives.

This month is one of the best to take a drive to Old Saratoga Mercantile because Christina says, “by the end of September our summer produce is about gone, but we really flourish by November. We have 120 local vendors who are constantly bringing in their products, but we don’t have multiple choices. We only take the best of any line, we don’t have room for second place.”

W ith a mischievous giggle, Christina adds,”We have beer!” Quite an under statement as Old Saratoga Mercantile has more than 200 specialty craft beers with a high focus on those from local area producers. They are all sold individually, so people can mix and match them for a flat price. That way they can try a wide variety to see what they like, and they’re not stuck with a whole bunch of cans of something they don’t like.

OSM also sells fresh fish every Friday but it must be pre-ordered in advance online. The selection changes weekly according to price and availability, so call or stop in to be put on their email list, As an added service, Tim and Christina are willing to filet their customer’s selections at no additional charge.

Christina speaks of her husband with such great love and admiration saying, “He is a really gentle person. He’s big, but he’s tender and has a way with the crops. People come in and ask specifically for ‘Tim’s greens’ because his are the best.” Tim’s children, 10-year-old Kaleb and 16-year-old Kylie live with the Meyers and like to help out on the farm as well as in the store. “It doesn’t feel like work when we do it together,” says Christina.

Not only are the Myers good stewards of the land, but of their community as well, making donations to area schools, food pantries and fundraisers.

But getting real personal, we asked, What do they eat? With two kids in the house, how do they escape those teenage food cravings? “Oh, every Friday night is pizza and wings night,” Christina laughs. Then she quickly adds, “But it’s pizza and wings from our store.”

Yes….YOU can have that as well. Freshness and great taste responsibly sourced right here. Take that 10minute drive from Saratoga Springs over to Old Saratoga Mercantile and see what Tim and Christina have built and have in store just for you.

Here’s to your health!

Old Saratoga Mercantile is located at 1120 Rt. 29 in Schuylerville. www.oldsaratogamercantile.com (518)695-3678

After a Bite of the Big Apple, this Country Boy Went Home John Gilvey and Hudson Beach Glass

by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris

John Gilvey grew up in the country so naturally, he couldn’t wait to go to college in the city. But after attending the School of Visual Arts (SVA) for four years, Gilvey quickly left New York City with his future wife, Wendy for the country life he had left behind. Like most aspiring artists, he had to do something else in his early years to make a living, so he promptly began to do carpentry work to survive.

One of his construction projects was for a guy who had taken a three-month glassblowing class and was now setting up shop in Kent, Connecticut. He told Gilvey that he was looking for an assistant. It only took a New York minute for Gilvey to realize how much warmer it would be working by a furnace through the winter rather than outdoors on a construction site, so he jumped at the oppor tunity and spent a couple of years learning glassblowing.

Eventually, he struck out on his own and enjoyed tremendous success, but it was a chance meeting at a racquet club that changed everything and began a lifelong friendship and successful business partnership with Michael Benzer. They had met years ago at a studio where Gilvey was blowing glass and where Benzer, then a young camper, was visiting. Benzer went on to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and focused on glass color chemistry while Gilvey continued to work in glassblowing, eventually opening a studio of his own and becoming very successful in production deco rative glass.

Soon after the racquet club meeting, Gilvey and Benzer began working together with Gilvey running production and Benzer creating glass. And according to Gilvey, while at RIT, Benzer would “dumpster dive” and find all sorts of interesting things. One particular dive netted him several lens grinding molds from Kodak. He proceeded to pour glass into the molds and create little glass bowls. Gilvey saw them and took the bowls to the New York Gift Show at the Javits Center in New York City where the wife of another glassblower set one of the bowls on a tile and said she could sell them together if the bowl would sit snug on the tile.

Gilvey and Benzer then tweaked their design by adding a divot in the glass tile so the bowl would stay in place. They cast them in nine different colors, and the bowls sold like crazy. Eventually, they were making 400 pounds of decorative art glass a day, and that’s when they started selling directly to decorative art and depart ment stores. They got so busy that Benzer hired a glassblower named Jennifer Smith whom he knew from RIT and eventually married her!

In 2001, Gilvey and Benzer learned that the DIA Art Foundation was planning to build and locate their next museum in Beacon, NY. It was a major coup for Beacon and the start of a cultural renaissance on Main Street and surrounding areas. The partners decided to open a second lo cation for their growing business and set their sights on a decommis sioned firehouse located at 162 Main Street which was in Beacon’s west end.

Michael Benzer, Jennifer Smith, John Gilvey, Wendy Gilvey

The city had put it up for auction, and they won the bid. Now, in addition to their workshop in the building that Benzer had orig inally purchased for his architectural glass tile business, Hudson Beach Glass would have room for a gallery, glass-blowing demonstration studio, and retail space in an historic building.

The firehouse was designed by Schuyler Tillman and Benjamin Hall, completed in 1893, and named the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company No. 1 Firehouse. It was named after Tompkins, a very successful businessman and owner of Duchess Hat Works, who funded much of the construction. Besides the firefighters, it initially housed hand-drawn hose carts, and then for the next 15 years its own horse-drawn fire wagon drawn by Ben, a very large and well-known horse. Sadly, Ben was replaced in 1918 by a brand new, shiny red fire engine. Many years later in 1982, Tompkins Hose Company relocated to 13 South Avenue and has been there ever since.

It took Gilvey and Benzer more than a year to completely renovate and refurbish the decommissioned firehouse inside and out. For starters, all the windows and doors had to be replaced and the bricks sandblasted because they were painted a bright red. Then the wiring and plumbing had to be stripped out and redone to bring it up to code and to accommodate the specific needs of Hudson Beach Glass. It officially opened for business in 2003, as did the Dia:Beacon, and has been a popular destination in Beacon’s West End Historic District ever since.

With success usually comes competition but that was not a huge problem for them because the majority of their production was work glass casting, not glass blowing, is unique in the world of glass art. Specifically, rather than blowing glass through a blowpipe and shaping it, casting involves ladling glass into molds where it solidifies. All four artists carved the molds out of chunks of graphite which kept them in touch with their artistic side, but it is Wendy and Jennifer who have carved molds for their most successful pieces.

They also poured glass over steel pieces to create unique, one-of-a-kind bases for their work. The pieces generally measured about 6”L x 2.5”W x 1”H and were stacked before the hot glass was poured over them. Some of the steel

had ridges or bumps giving the final product even more character. Eventually, they started ladling glass into molds while spinning them which allowed them to quickly produce larger bowls and more.

Today, when you walk through the front doors you can see that there is a real respect for history. Displays are mostly vintage and mid-century pieces of furniture. In fact, against one wall sits a grand mirrored fire place mantel original to the firehouse, holding a variety of interesting pieces, while vintage glass curios and bookcases display perfume bottles, unusual glassware, and little creatures of the deep and the jungle. Facing the fireplace are small tables and pedestals flanking a vintage bench featuring colorful, organically-shaped bowls and other decorative objects. Gorgeous cufflinks, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces are creatively displayed and available for purchase as well.

According to Gilvey, glassblowing is a “spectator craft” so their studio space was designed to accommodate an area for visitors to watch how

it’s done. People are absolutely fascinated by the process. However, simply watching glass blowing is not enough for some, so actual glassblowing classes were offered early on and have been enjoyed by many ever since. Blowing Christmas ornaments continues to be a very popular class and the results are ex traordinary, even for the beginner. Unfortunately, classes were suspended during the pandemic, but Hudson Beach Glass recently announced that they will be holding in-person classes

again. Sign-up for class appointments began October 1st. Classes start November 1st and run through January 31, 2023. No doubt they will fill up fast.

At any given time, but especially before the Christmas holidays, you can see dozens of beautiful blown glass orbs hanging in the front windows. Some are fluted, some marbled, and others iridescent; all are delightful to look at as the light dances on their surfaces. They inspire the glassblowing student and beckon many to purchase them as gifts or for themselves. And equally beautiful and enchanting are fluted glass pumpkins, blown in non-traditional colors, making them a popular purchase and a year-round decorative touch in someone’s home.

In addition to their first-floor studio and retail space that features the incredible work of the nearly 40 glass artists and 20 jewelry designers they represent, there is a second-floor gallery devoted to fine art and photography, and for years, Hudson Beach Glass has been a longtime advocate of the arts, so they actively participate in Beacon’s many cultural events including Open Studios and Sec ond Saturday, to bring the work of their emerging and estab lished artists to the attention of the public.

But like everything else in life, there is a reason and a season for things and that held true for Hudson Beach Glass. During the pandemic, the Gilveys and the Benzers made the difficult decision to shut down the production glass side of their business. When asked why, Gilvey just laughed out loud and said, “We’re getting old!”

Well, old is relative. Though they may be in their 60s and 70s, it is doubtful that age will keep these lifelong artists from designing and creating beautiful glass and more for many years to come. In fact, at the age of 74, Gilvey still blows glass twice a week, so there’s no doubt his beautiful pieces will continue to grace the windows and shelves at an old firehouse just down the road on Main Street in Beacon.

Be sure to visit Hudson Beach Glass in the historic firehouse located at 162 Main St. in Beacon, New York or view and purchase their beautiful pieces and more online at: www.hudsonbeachglassshop.com.

The Serious Business of a Comic Artist

By Alan B. Richer

Kevin Conrad cannot remember not having a pencil in his hand. While cleaning out his mother’s home after she passed, Conrad found that she had saved many of his drawings going back to the time he was four years old.

He began collecting comic books at age ten and started drawing su perheroes by first copying the comics and then about a year later drawing the superheroes with his friend, Anthony Isabella. Growing up, Spider-Man was Conrad’s favorite comic book hero. The Hulk was his favorite to draw.

Conrad would go on to ink thousands of pages of some of the most famous comic book figures including X-Force, X-Men, Cable, The Hulk, Spawn, KISS, Justice League of America (JLA), Wonder Woman, and Teen Ti tans. He has contributed to many projects for the DC, Mar vel, and Image comic book companies.

Born in Schenectady, Conrad attended Linton High School. While later attending Sage College, he recognized his interest in illustration and decided to be an illustrator majoring in Graphic

Arts. Upon graduation in 1983 with an asso ciate degree in Applied Science, Conrad immediately found work as a commercial il lustrator/graphic artist. He worked mainly with colored pencils with a marker base foundation to draw wildlife and did a lot of the circular flyer artwork for the Price Chopper supermarket chain in the same process, as well as thousands of black and white illustrations. Other clients included Troy-Bilt Garden prod ucts, GE, and Scholastic Magazine. He was also the creator and artist of “Captain Coaxx,” a superhero who briefly defended a local cable company in its advertisements.

The comic book creative process starts with a writer who produces a script. The drawing process begins with the penciller. Next, the inker makes the penciller’s images reproducible. Finally, the inker sends his work to a colorist.

When an inker gets the work from the penciller, he has approximately three weeks to get the 22 pages done. A new edition is produced every 28 days, but the penciler feeds the pages so that they do not all come at one time but arrive in a constant flow intermittently

spaced as the penciller finishes each page. Nevertheless, there is a tight schedule that must be followed. Conrad never missed a deadline and often saved a deadline by jumping in to help someone else.

As an inker, one adds texture and contrast before the drawings are sent on to colorists. Conrad’s goal was to ultimately become a working penciller but became quite successful as an inker, and that’s where his career flour ished. He comments,“In its simplest form, an inker’s job is to translate the pencils into a ‘camera ready’ page by finishing the pencils in black ink. An inker has to approach a page almost with the mindset of a penciller. Sure, the penciller has already worked out the story telling and composition, but you as an inker, need to make sure the page is well bal anced with a full range of values and textures; you need to make that page scream.”

Conrad continued, “A good inker can bring a lot to the table and live harmoniously with the penciller. You can let the pencils shine through and still be able to do your own thing without stepping on too many toes. The page

needs to be able to stand on its own before color is even considered. If it needs more black, add it. Look at what’s on the page and decide what textures you may use. There’s a whole palate of textures and techniques available to you on each and every page, and as an inker you need to use these to take the pencils to the next level.”

Today, very little paper is used and much as music has gone to streaming, the art process has been digitized. Traditionally, the drawings are completed on Bristol board. Digitized colors have replaced hand painting. There can be no

physical art when the whole process is completed digitally on the computer. Pencils and inks can now be done on a type of digital drawing board that uses pressure-sensitive electronic pens/brushes through a graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop that allows the artist to draw directly on the screen.

It takes about three hours to transform a print-quality drawing into one that is finished quality. Depending on the complexity of any given comic page or cover, from pencils to inks can involve hours of work, sometimes days. The actual size is 11 inches by 17 inches. The drawing is then shrunk by 67

percent down to six and a half inches by 10 inches. The image looks better as it gets tighter (shrinks).

In 1993, Conrad began his career working for Marvel Comics. “My lifelong dream was to illustrate for comics. I had grown tired of the lack of creativity in the commercial work that would come my way. My friend, Greg Capullo, (another comic book artist who also is from the local area) included some sample X-Force pages on which I inked over his penciling then sent to his editor, Bob Harras, at Marvel. The result was immediate work as a contributing

inker on X-Force, working over Greg’s pencils as well as nearly all of Marvel’s ‘X’ titles and their spin-offs. I was promoted to regular inker of X-Force teaming up with then up-and-coming pen ciller,Tony Daniel who initially requested that I ink his work. Over the course of many years, Tony and I continued to accent each other’s work.”

After collaboration on X-Force, Tony and Conrad both left Marvel and were hired by Todd McFarlane to be the creative talent behind the Spawn miniseries; Spawn: Blood Feud.

Colorist Roy Young - Bayou Witch

Following this, Conrad freelanced for Image affil iated studios where he teamed up with Daniel on popular titles such as Witchblade, Tales of the Witchblade, Shattered Image, and The Tenth. His inking work would also be featured in Weapon

Zero, Cyber Force, and Wild C.A.T.S., as well as some Marvel and DC comic titles. Conrad’s penciling work can be seen on a pin-up in Spawn #31, a cover from Samson Comics called Bloodbath, and a Spawn chrome card. Conrad later worked on

Spawn: The Dark Ages with Nat Jones as penciller, inking the final 14 issues.

I contributed to various DC and Image properties while finding more and more penciling projects

Colorist Alonso Espinoza

Colorist Thomas Mason - Spawn Hulk

along the way with independent companies and my commission work where I drew customized i mages including clients as superheroes. I finally landed my dream job and what I consider the pinnacle of my career — the inker for KISS: Psycho Circus (“KPC”). After 31 issues and two pencillers, the KISS series finally came to an end, but not before I had the chance to pen cil the final cover, with KPC penciller Clay ton Crain inking it. It was some of my best work!” he exclaimed. “It was a blast!”

Todd McFarlane hired Conrad and gave him the artistic freedom to enhance the pencils as he saw fit. McFarlane was able to convince Gene Simmons to let the artists do what they do best and not to impede the process by keeping his nose out of their work, but obviously not his tongue. One of Kevin’s hobbies is playing drums for a KISS tribute band named Revenge and Kisstory.

Conrad retired as an individual contractor for the comic book business in 2006 because he needed the benefits that came with working as an employee for a large company. He took a job at a local cable company as a technician and now trains the technicians. When he is eligible for Medicare, Conrad plans to return to the comics, and when that happens, he plans on doing his own projects.

If he could be any superhero, Conrad would want to be Captain America because there is no one else close to his moral compass. When asked what villain he would like to be, he replied, “Now why would I want to be hated?” He did acknowledge that his favorite villain is Thanos. The one superpower Conrad would like to have is flight. In his opinion, the mightiest heroes are The Hulk in the Marvel Universe and Superman and Darkseid in the DC world. The one female superhero the artist

would like to have as his girlfriend/wife is Sue Storm in the shape of Jessica Alba.

Today, Conrad does commissions that take from three weeks to six months to produce. You can learn more about Kevin at: kevinconradart.com

Backstage with KISS bassist, Gene Simmons, at the Crazy Nights Tour

by Karen Richman

The very First Thanksgiving celebrating the abundant bounty of the harvest was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in October of 1621 (historians say it was a month earlier than we now celebrate). It was attended by 90 Native Americans, members of the Wampanoag tribe, and 53 Pilgrims who were survivors of the Mayflower’s voyage to the New World.

The very First Thanksgiving celebrating a reunion of long-lost cousins was held in Randolph, Massachusetts in November of 1979. It was attended by two first cousins, five or six second cousins, the crotchety father of the hostess, a few bemused spouses, and a handful of local characters that the hostess had adopted years prior and always invited to everything. “It’s not right; they shouldn’t be alone.”

At the Plymouth Thanksgiving food historians believe that guests feasted on wild turkey, pigeon, peas, beans, flint corn, onions, cabbage, and venison.

At the Cousins’ Reunion Thanksgiving invitees feasted on cheese, crackers, chopped liver pate, potato chips, soup with matzoth balls that resembled bocce balls, a turkey bearing the weight of two Pilgrims and one Native American, Pepperidge Farm stuffing (with the bags thrown in the garbage “so they’ll think I made it”), sweet potatoes with giant marshmallows adorning it, a string bean and mushroom soup casserole with onion rings on top, Knorr Roast Turkey Gravy (“they think it’s mine”), Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce (“it’s the only kind Pa will eat. He says fresh cranberry seeds get in his teeth and then he takes his dentures out at the table”), and Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Chocolate Pie, and a mound of assorted cookies made by the local bakery, but with the boxes also thrown in the garbage so “they’ll think I baked for days.”

The First Thanksgiving was hosted by William Bradford, governor of the then-colony of Massachusetts. The First Cousins Reunion Thanksgiving was hosted by Shirlee Crasnick, mistress of the then-raised ranch in Randolph, Massachusetts.

It is reported that the Pilgrims and Native Americans feasted for three days; those at the Shirlee Crasnick feast polished it all off in about a half hour punctuated with groans, burps, and cries of, “I’m not going to eat again for a week.” That lasted about three hours till the football game went on, and the sandwiches appeared.

Because Shirlee had been raised in a poor home as a young girl she was always afraid that there might not be enough food, so “Listen, I made too much. You’ll take it home, I’ve got foil.”

Oh, did Shirlee have foil! The Reynolds Wrap folks could thank her for single-handedly making their final quarter of the year profitable every year. Shirlee had rolls of regular silver foil, heavy duty foil, non-stick foil, grill foil, and restaurant foil sheets, all of which were kept in a closet that looked like the inside of an aluminum factory.

Her children would often make fun of her, but Shirlee was always undeterred, secretly enjoying the attention and laughing right along with everyone else. While I know some families don’t get along and argue, there was never anything but happy chaos at these meals. Always, “Wait, don’t anybody eat yet!” she’d scream from the kitchen. “The turkey’s a little pink in the middle” (translation: there was blood dripping out of every cavity).

Then there was the year she was so nervous that she roasted the turkey without taking the package containing the gizzard, heart, and liver out of the bird before cooking. Fortunately, there was a Burger King at the end of her street, and she cheerily said, “Look, everybody’s eating turkey today, but how many people are eating a Whopper

with sweet potatoes and marshmallows and green bean casserole?” She had a point.

However, the Thanksgiving we all remember most vividly was the year Shirlee bought one of her giant turkeys and roasted it in a very inexpensive silver foil throwaway roasting pan. The pan was groaning under the weight of the bird, so when the built-in timer popped out of the turkey breast, she grabbed the sides of the pan with two potholders, and the center of the foil pan gave way. As Shirlee gasped, the big bird rolled right out of the oven and onto the kitchen carpet, spewing Pepperidge Farm’s best herb stuffing, juices, and gravy all over the kitchen. “Sh-h-h-h!” she chided. “Pick it up, I’m going to wash it.”

The few of us gathered in the kitchen could do nothing to dissuade her, so Ed lifted the unfortunate bird, dumping it unceremoniously in the sink. Shirlee washed and scrubbed, it was all we could do to stop her from using a steel wool pad. The group in the dining room knew nothing, and when she finally presented the platter and we began to eat, Cousin Beattie remarked, “Shirlee, this is delicious. How did you get it so moist?” It was all we could do to divert attention from Cousin Debbie who doesn’t laugh, she snorts. Pretty soon everyone was laughing, and only a few of us knew why.

Many Thanksgivings have come and gone since those days, and the amount of people around our respective tables has grown smaller, but those who are still here remember those times when the centerpiece was never the food, but it was love and laughter and being together for which we gave thanks.

And for a lot of foil.

A Gathering Of Friends

By Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE

November is all about Fall leaves, pumpkin lattes and Thanksgiving. It’s also about spending time with family, eating a ridiculous amount of food and starting off a season full of parties and celebrations that will last until January.

Friendsgiving has become hugely popular. So many of us have family members spread out all over the country (or world) and most of us can’t travel as often as we would like. We turn to our friends that have become our “chosen” family and look forward to gathering for the holidays.

We tend to do a modified version of Friendsgiving. Family and friends gathered at the same table (or several seating areas around the house). We also invite people we know if someone is spending the holidays alone due to work obligations or their family is just too far away.

Here are a few ideas to help make this newer tradition a little less stressful and a lot more fun.

Friendsgiving ideas for invitations:

How do we get this party started? Invitations! There are so many ways to invite people and keep track of guests now that almost everyone uses social media, texting and email.

~ You can create a special invitation on FaceBook and have people ac cept,decline or respond maybe.

~ You can send out a cute text invitation.

~ You can send out email invitations.

~ You can send paper invitations (my favorite)

I always prepare for a couple of friends that may drop in even though they originally declined. Work schedules changed or they had to cancel some other plans. The more the merrier if you’re prepared…right?

Friendsgiving ideas for food and keeping organized:

Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving is the biggest food day of the year. One or several main dishes, countless sides and sooo many desserts. Should you prepare everything yourself? NOPE! Does it have to be a formal sit down dinner with your Grandmother’s china? Absolutely not!

How about a Friendsgiving brunch on a Saturday afternoon? Maybe a tea luncheon set up with mini sandwiches, small desserts and TEA? You could even do a Friendsgiving dessert exchange on a Sunday and set up a coffee bar?

If you are doing a traditional meal on or before Thanksgiving, the main event…the turkey or ham or roast or whatever you do, should go to the

host. It’s really difficult to wrestle a big main dish and travel, so this one should be prepared at the place of gathering.

Your friends/guests get to take care of the sides and desserts. Make sure you have a table set up for all the food and goodies your friends will bring. Get some long butcher paper or brown paper and several perma nent markers so your guests can write their name and the name of their dish. I find this especially helpful when people want to know who made what. If you have room, have a table for sides and a separate table for dessert.

I also reserve a place on the table or kitchen counter for food items that are gluten free, dairy free, shellfish free, etc. This helps alleviate the stress of some of your guests that have strict dietary restrictions and keeps the possibility of cross contamination down. Don’t forget to include hot pads, serving utensils and aluminum foil on each table. You may want to have a couple of large, empty ice chests available for food or drinks that should remain cold before serving.

Keep a list of who is bringing what. Mashed potatoes are yummy but you won’t need 5 bowls of potatoes. Joan is known for her appetizers? Have her bring an appetizer. Andrea makes this Guinness chocolate cake recipe with cream cheese frosting, that is to die for so let her bring it (and hope she finally shares the recipe.)

Friendsgiving ideas for friends that don’t cook:

Some friends hate cooking and some friends try but are really awful in the kitchen to the point that it stresses them out for days if they have to try and make something. If you have friends that are completely useless in the kitchen…don’t worry! There are lots of ways they can contribute!

~ They can bring non-alcoholic drinks (juice, soda, seltzer, etc)

~ They can bring alcohol (wine, spirits, etc)

~ They can set up the “leftover bar”

~ They can make a fall mocktail or cocktail and help keep everyone’s glass full

~ They can help clean up afterwards by gathering trash, washing dishes, helping people carry items to their car

Friendsgiving ideas for leftovers:

Leftovers. You cook all day (or for 3 days) and realize you have a ton of food left over. Your guests bring a ton of food and they don’t take all of their food back! What do you do? How about setting up a “leftover bar”? Get bags, labels, boxes, serving spoons, tongs and a couple of permanent markers and lay everything out so everyone can decide what to take home with them. You can get to-go containers in bulk and you can order Chinese take-out containers and stack them on your bar. Let everyone make up their “to-go” containers, label them and put them in a large handled bag to place by the door. That way they can just grab it when it’s time to head home!

Happy Fall!

Crystal Cobert-Giddens FACES of Saratoga 55 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs

November 1 - December 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

Month on November Guess when we will get our first six inches of snow for this winter season (measured in our parking lot at 321 Clinton Street Saratoga Springs NY) and you will win a $200. Gift Certificate. This has been an Alpine Sport Shop tradition for over 30 years. Come in and make your best guess! Alpine Sport Shop, 321 Clinton Street, Saratoga Springs NY 12866. 518 584 6290 alpinesportshop.com

November 1 - 20 Troy Fog-Photographs by Louis Snitkoff. "Fog" is a collection of atmospheric images, made over many years, by local photographer Lou Snitkoff. They illustrate his long-standing affinity for a weather condition that cloaks everyday subjects in a veil of subtle mystery and, as far as he is concerned, occurs far too infrequently. Small Show - Opening November 25. Small pieces by local artists. Perfect for yourself or for gift giving. Pause Gallery, 501 Broadway #106, Troy, NY

Nov 1 - 26 Delmar

Merriman and Pfister’s Market place will host, Raymond Puffer, an avid woodworker from Watervliet, who has had works featured in American Woodturner magazine. This Pop-Up Show will showcase a wide array of Ray’s pieces, clearly demonstrating his superb crafts manship. This show runs through Nov 5. From Nov 8 - 26, Fine Pho tographer, and Delmar’s own, Marty Bannan will move into the Pop-Up area with “Skyward”, an exhibit encom passing a multitude of his works. Marty sees his “artistic photography as a path enriching the senses, enhancing décor, and invigorating imagination.” Merriman and Pfister’s Marketplace, 388 Kenwood Ave, Delmar 518-588-7268 www.merrimanpfister.com

November 1 - 27 Schuylerville 10th Annual Upstate Invitational. This dynamic exhbiiton features the work of Deb Hall, Emily Prosper, and Linda Bacon, last years “Best in Show” recipenets from The Laffer Gallery’s 10th Annual Upstate Artists Juried Group Show, juried by Richard & Stephen Cutting-Miller. Opening Reception: October 29, 5pm – 8pm. 518-695-3181.

Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday 12pm – 5pm and by appointment. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad St, Schuylerville, NY 12871. www.thelaffergallery.com

November 1-17 Troy Clement Art Gallery is happy to announce show No. 8. Good Old World Paintings by Jeff Wigman . Jeff Wigman’s paintings bring to gether humor, tragedy and beauty with an understanding of old world techniques and materials. Artist Reception: October 286-8pm. Clement Art Gallery, 201 Broadway, Troy, NY 12180. 518.272.6811 @clementarttroy

November 4 - 6 Schenectady

Fresh For Fall Shopping Event. A three day event featuring the Capital Region's hottest vendors. Nov 4th - Nov 6th during mall hours. All vendors will be located indoors through the common areas of the mall. Friday, Nov 4, 2022 until Sunday, Nov 6, 2022. Viaport Rot terdam, 93 W Campbell Rd Sch enectady, NY 12306

FREE ADMISSION

November 5 Canajoharie Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. Join us for a celebration of handcrafted and home made wares at the Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library! We look forward to showcasing the talent of our regional artisans and getting into the holiday spirit. The Palatine Literary Society will have delicious soups, sandwiches, and baked goods for sale; all refreshment proceeds benefit their award to a grad uating high school senior. Admission to the Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair is free. Sat urday, Nov 5, 2022 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Blvd Canajoharie, NY 13317

November 6 Albany

51st Annual Festival of Nations. This year, we will celebrate our 51st annual Festival with you! For 50 years we hope you enjoyed your few hours with us by looking at the arts and crafts from different parts of the world; by tasting delicious ethnic foods; and by being part of the audience indulging in the music with rhythm and dances representing various cultures and traditions of the world. Come and be part of the celebration of cultural diversity! Sunday, Nov 6, 2022 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Empire State Plaza - Convention Center, 279 Madison Avenue Albany, NY 12242

November 11 Glens Falls Chapman Museum's Annual Wine & Chocolate Tasting. The annual Wine & Chocolate Tasting will take place on Friday, November 11 at The Queensbury Hotel. Sample dozens of wines, locally produced cheeses, a variety of chocolates, desserts, and other foods. Proceeds benefit The Chapman Museum. Wines and artisanal spirits will be provided by Adirondack Wine Merchants. Friday, Nov 11, 2022 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge Street Glens Falls, NY 12801. (518) 793-2826

November 11 - Clifton Park

Celebrate the holidays with The Blooming Artist– salon-style. Holiday Salon, our final exhibition of 2022, is a show-stopper. With every wall adorned as a gallery wall and our shelves and pedestals wellorna mented, this show is truly a feast for the eyes. This exhibit showcases the many talents of our community’s diverse local artists– more than two-dozen in total. Whether with a whimsical representation, textural abstraction, or something in between, you’ll be challenged to not fall in love here at The Blooming Artist this holiday season. We invite you to celebrate with us during our Community Art Reception on Friday, November 11th from 6- 8pm; as always, please expect live music & light provisions. The Blooming Artist Gallery 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY. www.thebloomingartist.gallery 518-280-4928

November 12 Ballston Spa

Saratoga Chips and Beer Festival. DeCrescente Distributing Company is sponsoring the Saratoga Chips and Beer Festival which celebrates two things that go well together, potato chips and beer. The famous Saratoga Chips are the feature of the museum's current exhibit, "In the Saratoga Style: Potato Chips and Their Regional Folklore." The festival, a benefit for the Saratoga County History Center, is $20 in advance, and $25 on the day of the event, while designated drivers will be $10. SCHC members receive a $5 discount. Snacks and the first beverage are included in the ticket price. John Kirk and Trish Miller of Greenfield Center, who are beloved for bringing fiery fiddle tunes, folk songs, and whimsical kicks to audiences worldwide, will provide live music,. To round off the festival, there will be a bonfire, a S'mores station, a silent auction, and a game of potato chip trivia. Hours 1-5 pm . Tickets can be purchased from https://brooksidemuseum.org/event/saratogachips-and-beer-festival-2/ For more information, visit BrooksideMuseum.org or call 518-885-4000. This is an in-person event at SCHC's Brookside Museum, at 21 Fair ground Avenue, Ballston Spa. 12020.

November 13 Clifton Park

Capital District's 2022 Fall Fine Arts Fes tival. Restore, renew and revive your self at The Capital District's 2022 Fall Fine Arts Festival! Fall into Fine Arts work shops, feel the rush of listening to live music from local bands, and find alternative wellness and great holiday gifts for family and friends all in one great space. And don't forget to support local small business from the 518 by shopping their beautiful booths along the way with products and services. Sunday, Nov 13, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. CM School of Fine Arts, 17 Executive Park Dr Clifton Park, NY 12065

November 16 - December 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

November 17 Albany

NUTCRACKER! Magic of Christ mas Ballet. This Christmas, bring the whole family back to a simpler time with NUTCRACKER! Magic of Christmas Ballet! The acclaimed holiday tradition is LIVE in theaters for the 30th Anniversary tour. Gather friends and family to re-live your fondest childhood dreams, overflowing with larger-than-life puppets, breath-taking acrobatics and dazzling costumes. Experience the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, perform ing at the highest level of classical technique. Thursday, Nov 17, 2022 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Share in the message of Peace and Harmony and get tickets now at Nutcracker.com! Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Avenue Albany, NY 12207. Cost: $30 and up

November 18-December 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: November 18th - De cember 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

November 18- Dec 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 Satur day, Nov 19, 2022 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Capital Repertory Theatre, 251 North Pearl Street Albany, NY 12207 Cost: $27 - $62

November 26 Saratoga Springs

The 47th Saratoga Holiday Craft Marketplace. Kick off your holiday shopping season while enjoying unique handmade crafts from over 145 artisans. The 47th Saratoga Holiday Craft Marketplace will be held on Saturday, November 26th, 2022, from 10:00am to 4:30pm. Appropriately this day is designated as "Small Business Saturday." The Marketplace features individual artisans displaying and selling their wares. Vendor items in clude home & holiday decor, blown glass, art, woodworking, jewelry, fiber art, fashion wear, food delicacies, pottery, photography, and many more unique items. 100% of the profits go to the Saratoga Center for the Family to prevent and treat child abuse, trauma & neglect. Saturday, Nov 26, 2022 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Come join us as we celebrate the holiday season in Saratoga. Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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