

JULY 5 – AUGUST 4, 2023
Whether you live across the country or in the Capital Region, Skidmore’s summer Pre-College Program is a great opportunity to boost future undergraduate applications, explore college interests, and work with exceptional professors from one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Online classes are available in Economics, English, Geosciences, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. In-person commuter classes are available in Anthropology, Biology, Calculus, Physics, and Sociology.
Pre-College admission is rolling and classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis – Apply online now through June 1.
Welcome to the February issue! It’s a new month full of possibilities. For a lot of us, when winter comes, we stop doing the things we love. It’s easy to get bored when you feel like you are stuck inside and can’t enjoy time outdoors. In the depths of winter, don't let those mid-winter blues get you down. There are plenty of activities to do this month. Although binging Netflix is a great way to wait for the snow to melt and the beach weather to return, you can also bundle up, put on some gloves, and take advantage of everything the Capital Region has to offer. February is full of fun things to do. Chowderfest, Chocolate Fest, The Flurry, fantastic indoor music venues and wonderful gallery exhibits. These are just a few ideas off the top of my head…. So get out there, embrace the weather and remember we hit the halfway mark for the winter season.
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 inter esting destinations. Enjoy!
If there's any object in human experience that's a precedent for what a computer should be like, it's a musical instrument: a device where you can explore a huge range of possibilities through an interface that connects your mind and your body, allowing you to be emotionally authentic and expressive.
the windows and reflecting off the many wood surfaces inside. Warm hues fill the room with a smooth, even tone that is perfect for woodworking and for viewing the many musical in struments Martin creates.
Macica is wearing a dark grey wool cap and a tan leather apron as he works on the body of a new guitar. He has the assurance of a master artisan, the knowledge of a professional musician, and the enthusiasm of a true music fan.
“I prefer to work and sell local,” Macica tells me as he applies wooden vises to an in-process guitar body. “I depend upon the quality standard of my work to be the calling card and I have found that quality still matters to many people.”
- Jaron Lanier -basic things like joists, and spoons and chairs, and so on.”
Later, after returning from a trip to Ireland, Macica’s brother Kevin, had some friends visit who brought a variety of musical instruments with them. “I picked up a mandolin and started to play around with it. Even though I had never played one before, the music seemed natural to me. It did not take long to learn a Beatles song and that was the beginning.
Schuylerville, NY: The first thing I notice as I enter Martin Macica’s musical instrument workshop is the beautiful natural light streaming through
Macica learned the basics of woodworking at an early age from his father. “He showed me how to use the various tools, and how to make
Kevin, who was trying to learn violin, really got behind me. He exposed me to David Grisman who was a huge inspiration.”
Pointing through the workshop front window, Macica continues, “I would sit out there on the porch woodshedding (practicing) the mandolin hour after hour. I also made an effort to learn violin at the same time which accelerated the learning curve on the mandolin.”
Macica continues, “I even built an electric mandolin with a whammy bar that I played through a Mar shall stack. All the women and children would head for the hills when I got down,” Martin says with a laugh.
“That is when I discovered how much I enjoyed making stringed instruments and started to look for ways to get more involved. I approached highly respected violin, and viola maker Geoffrey Ovington who visited my workshop, but I did not feel he was going to ask me to be an apprentice. I investigated BOCES Unique Placement Program to get paired with an instrument maker and
they approached Mr. Ovington with their pro gram in mind. As a result, I ended up making violins in the Ovington workshop after school during the 11th and 12th grades. That was a crucial turning point in my life”.
It should be noted that Macica’s home workshop is in the shadow of the Saratoga Monument which marks the battles that became known as the Turning Point of the American Revolution. The importance of tradition and heritage were ingrained in Macica from the start and blended with a hip connection to modern trends in culture and music that sets Martin apart.
“By the early 1980s I realized that if I was going to sharpen my lutherie skills, I needed to go to New York City and work with the masters.” With excitement, Macica continues, “I was flying by the seat of my pants when I got to the city, so I got a job as a porter in the Saratoga Hotel and repaired violins for Dov Buk which taught me a lot about professional working musicians.”
“However, my big break came when I started to work with Nicholas Frirsz where I made violins, and Mosa Havivi where I worked on violin repairs and restorations. Their shops were in the same building as Jacques Français in strument dealers on 57th Street be tween the Russian Tea Room and Carnegie Hall. It is a professional expe rience that shaped the standards that continue to define my work today.”
“It takes a lifetime to learn a craft to perfection but at a young age, you can learn an ideal. That is what my New York City experience gave me, an ideal. It taught me what it is to make a great instrument and to recognize what professionals are looking for. When I see something that I made years ago, I still feel pretty good about the standard I was able to achieve and have maintained through all these years.”
After leaving New York City, Macica opened a shop in the old Bullard Building on Broad Street in Schuylerville where he remained for 20 years. After that, he
moved the workshop to his hilltop home across the road from Saratoga Apple Orchards. In fact, the house where Macica works, and his artistically tal ented family lives, is the same house where he lived most of his life.
While analyzing his business model, Macica tells me, “Some people spend their lives looking for that one big break that will shoot them into the spotlight of stardom. That has never been my motivation. I prefer to keep my business local and cater to the needs and professional standards of the people from the upstate area who visit my shop. It is more intimate and allows me to maintain the highest standards without having to make compromises that I feel would diminish the quality of the instruments.
Remaining independent allows Macica to control the business and the creative methods he employs. In this manner, he ensures the real, and intangible qualities he produces remain a part of each instrument he creates, modifies, or repairs.
When Macica is commissioned to create an instrument, he prefers to have a sitdown council with the prospective client to understand exactly what would work best for them. Once he speaks with the client and hears how they play that specific kind of instrument, he can make recommendations for the most useful design components that would serve the performance of the final custom instrument best for that particular player.
Of course, the craft/art of creating musical instruments is steeped in a rich and fabled heritage and Macica holds
the greatest reverence for it. Yet, he is currently working on a unique suspension system to take the pressure of modern steel strings off of the soundboard of his guitars. It is a technique he came up with while creating violins and believes the advantages in the structure and tone quality will be a game changer for his guitars.
The same high ethic is the basis of the instrumentmaking courses Macica teaches through the Adirondack Folk School. “Making musical in struments involves a lot of woodworking skills. Success is in how you apply them and that is what I teach. This method gives the students confidence as they begin to understand the tools and get a feel for how to apply them in the process of creating a musical instrument they will enjoy for the rest of their lives.”
Musician David Ashdown has known Macica since he was a young boy growing up in Schuylerville. David's mother gave Macica his first violin lessons. At one point David served as a sort of apprentice for Macica and was given a Macica mandolin when he graduated from high school. Years later, David attended one of Macica’s guitar-building classes where he created the guitar that he brings with him to jam with Macica in his workshop. Macica brings out the first mandolin he created, and soon the room fills with warm acoustic rhythms and crystalclear tones that strike a note deep in the soul.
“That is the key,” David tells me as he places his treasured guitar back in the case. “Martin has
created a balance in his life that is inspiring, He is completely authentic. He is a gifted mu sician and a craftsman at the highest level. His reputation is well-earned. The people of the Saratoga region are very fortunate to have such a remarkable and unique professional artisan working here on a local basis.”
In reflection on a career that includes Master Luthier, respected instructor, and gifted musician, Macica reveals, “A person may reach the pinnacle of becoming master of a craft, but every true master will admit there is always more to be discovered,” As he places his mandolin back into its case, Macica continues, “The work I do brings joy, but it also teaches lessons of humility, empathy, and respect.” Then, with a broad smile, he adds, “That is why I find it to be so fulfilling.”
Martin Macica Workshop
Phone: 518-695-3029
https://macica.com
August 2023
Dulcimer Making Workshop
Fall 2023
Backpack Guitar Making Workshop
In-depth hands-on instruction on creating your own instrument
Adirondack Folk School (518) 696-2400
https://adirondackfolkschool.org/product/adirondack-dulcimer-making-august-2023/
away old “stuff” because she didn’t want to throw away history, and she also didn’t want to throw away time with her kids, Josh and Harmony, while they were young.
This is a story about interior design, kitchen cabinet finishing and painting, custom furniture painting, and repurposing.
But mostly, it is a story about love. About a great marriage, although there are no perfect ones; but these folks are into repurposing and refreshing, so they know how to make love work...for their business, for their children, and for others.
This is FunCycled, and no, it’s not a bike shop nor an amusement park. It’s a small business created with talent and purpose, and one at which you should take a long look, because it’s very, very special in so very many ways.
Eleven years ago, Sarah Trop, who was working in the IT field took a look, a long look. She had always loved art since she was a child and was “really passionate about recycling before it was cool,” she laughed. Sarah had always taken painting classes and hated the idea of throwing
So Sarah started painting, primarily furniture painting. Then Sarah started repurposing, and before long, she put the two together and saw what a wonderful business this could be, helping people to save their memories, treasure their history, and still have beautiful things come from it. She took the leap and started FunCycled because she knew what was about to happen would be a lot of fun...for her and for like-minded clients. It became more than
fun. It became a deep passion and a very viable business. “A year and a half later, my husband John quit his job and joined me. He loves to build, I love to paint and design.” Voila! A perfect marriage, a “marriage of true minds,” according to Shakespeare.
You can hardly look at the FunCycled website without seeing references to their children, Harmony and Josh, because although they are individuals, this family works and plays and moves as a unit. Josh, who could build a city of Legos has aspirations of being an engineer, and Harmony, like her mother, loves art and design. “She designed her bedroom and did a terrific
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments”
...William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116
job,” brags Sarah, so these little apples did not at all fall far from the family tree.
So what exactly can this FunCy cled marriage do? To begin, their mission statement according to Sarah is, “We don’t want to throw away the old. We want to appreciate history and not throw it away,” and that is precisely what they do for their very varied client base which is growing all the time. They specialize in kitchens. Knowing that kitchen remodels can be wildly expensive and out of range for many people who are just seeking a fresh approach, the Trops can
change the entire look of a kitchen by painting and fine finishing the cabinets. “Most kitchen cabinets are oak, maple, cherry and well-built,” says Sarah, “so why get rid of them? We freshen them to look brand
new. We don’t throw them out; it’s what sets us apart from other interior designers.”
Not only does FunCycled paint, but they can provide solutions for the whole house, just one room, or just one piece of furniture. Over the last 11 years the company has grown to where John and Sarah now have a staff of five and carpentry services are also available. Everything is custom designed by the piece, the room, and the wishes of the client. “We don’t want to fill the land mines, we want to fill rooms with beautifully designed and repurposed looks, Sarah asserts.”
It’s important to understand what repurposing is. It is not reusing something, but finding a new use for an idea, prod uct, or object. It is to reuse the ma terial in its original state, but to a different purpose, and Sarah and John and their staff are masters at this. That means not only saving your cabinets or furniture, but saving you money, time, and not having your house torn apart for a major remodel.
FunCycled is nothing if not organized. “We have an organized schedule system so the customer knows when we’re coming and knows when we’ll be out. In the case of a kitchen, it’s usually just one week for a small cabinet job and two for a larger one, but are clients are told right from the beginning what the
proposed schedule is, and if there should be any changes, they are included immediately.”
While their work is primarily kitchens and design, a look at the FunCycled website shows the scope of their broad knowledge and all-encompassing talent. Sarah adds, “We are not just painters, but problem solvers. We can make suggestions and give solutions for a whole room or the entire house.”
Prospective clients may enjoy the fact that they can custom-order repurposed furniture and do it quickly and easily sim ply by sending a picture to John and Sarah. They then will get back a quote, and if it’s agreeable, let the games – or perhaps we should say “fun” – begin! The process of doing the same for kitchens works the same way. The client sends a picture, they hear back from FunCycled, and an estimate is given. So there are no games played, no time wasted. Sarah and John respect and appreciate their clients’ time as much as they do their possessions and rooms.
Based in the Troy area, the folks at FunCycled will travel anywhere within an hour’s radius. Some people even drop off doors, the team paints and fin ishes them, and voila! A whole new look for rooms or the face of the home.
And what is the Trop home like? “Four years ago we bought a home circa 1802,” says Sarah. “It was not in good shape, but working on it steadily we have re stored it to its original look. Every couple of months we invite our clients to the house for appetizers, drinks, and a ‘tour.’ It’s a Client Appreciation Night.”
FunCycled and the Trops are no strangers to TV. Sarah was on Rachael Ray celebrating her 30th birthday showing her 30 Acts of Kindness. Check it out, not only will it warm your heart and let you know what kind of person you’ll deal with at FunCycled, but it might just give you some ideas of your own for spreading kindness. In 2017, the couple competed on HGTV’s Flea Market Flip...and they won! Ask John and Sarah about that. And i n a few months, you can see them compete on Survivalists. It’s already been taped, but the Trops are sworn to secrecy by the producers.
There you have it, not just a company but two very real, very passionate, and honest human beings who love each other, love their kids, and absolutely love what they do...and always, always, always, it’s so much fun!
So what did old William Shakespeare mean by a “marriage of true minds?” It means mixing up two people or entities heartily for the life long, not throwing some one or something away because of impediments. Sounds like FunCycled, doesn’t it?
Sound like you?
Want more information? You should!
Visit: www.funcycle.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (518) 629-FUN (5386)
Paula McCormick Interiors specializes in all phases of interior design. She will be able to assist you in every step of the design process. Whether you are remodeling your current residence or building a new home Paula and her team will guide you every step of the way.
Paula McCormick Interiors was the recipient of over a dozen Interior Design awards in 2022.
MASS MoCA. Kind of looks like a code or something out of this world.
Well in truth, it is an acronym for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and most definitely, it is without a doubt, out of this world!
Speak with Jenny Wright, Director of Strategic Communication and Advancements and you’ll get a very simple, but very understated sound bite. “MASS MoCA is much more than a mu seum.” That’s kind of like saying Everest is much more than a mountain.
“By definition, a museum is a building that holds art,” Wright continues, “but here we col laborate with other artists.” Yet another understatement indeed, for “here” is a 16-acre campus – larger than many colleges and uni versities - with 26 separate buildings and some 250,000 square feet of total gallery space throughout 7 of those buildings! This is not a mere museum as you might know it, this is a small city unto itself!
A weekend trip is not a bad idea at all because MASS MoCA is part of the landscape of one of the nicest cities in the northern Berkshires, that of North Adams. Situated nearly at the beginning of the old Mohawk Trail, a 6 9-mile adventure unto itself which heads east toward Boston, in a n area brimming over with history to be explored, MASS MoCA is the largest contemporary mu seum of visual and performing art in the United States today and likely to remain so!
Director Jenny WrightMASS MoCA cannot be visited in one day. You do not merely “drop” by for a few hours, admire the installations, and leave. “It is a destination,” affirms Wright. “Many people when they get to know us realize it is a weekend trip. You cannot possibly see it all in one day.”
Once when North Adams was a company town, the people who were employed by Sprague Electric, some 4000 in number, lived and worked at the factory. In some ways, noth ing has changed. “Now it is a factory of creativity,” Jenny begins...and how do you begin when there is so much here? She speaks of the Assets for Artists program wherein artists working in every genre from performance art to painting and sculpture come in residence to the museum and live and work at MASS MoCA with their efforts culminating in performance of some type. “It’s not just displayed here,” Wright says, “It gets made here.”
This 24-year-old multi-dimensional treasure which is underwritten by memberships, foundation grants, individual donors, and state and fed eral grants is greatly powered by philanthropy, for when people not
only visit, view, walk about, and return to MASS MoCA they realize there is little like it anywhere else, and therefore, what is being done here must be perpetuated.
Wright allows that people come for different reasons, some to witness the sheer beauty and scope of both long-term and rotating ex hibitions, others for the history of the place, and especially for the architecture
that surrounds it. “You don’t need a Ph.D. in Art History to appreciate and experience it.”
Perhaps you enjoy daredevil experiences and rollercoasters. Well, they’ve got one at MASS MoCA, and it’s not on the grounds, it’s a work ing exhibition by EJ Hill called Brake Run Helix and is on view through January of 2024, and yes, you can ride it! This massive installation was built inside the building to scale and is the artist’s own “ode to joy,” derived from the joy he feels observing public monuments.
Do not miss the Ceramics in the Expanded Field, a ceramic sculpture two stories high, conceived and created in segments by eight individual artists and assembled onto a skeleton right within the exhibition hall. Jenny Wright says that perhaps the most interesting thing about this particular installation is the process itself.
A true highlight for visitors to MASS MoCA is Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing Retrospective, 105 large-scale wall drawings spanning an enviable career from 1969 to 2007. Occupying nearly an acre of walls built to LeWitt’s own specifications, the 27,000 square foot structure envelops nearly three stories of what is known on campus as Building #7. We do not have enough space to even begin to scratch the surface of
what’s inside all these buildings and on all these walls. The curators of MASS MoCA work constantly and tirelessly for years building relationships with new artists before inviting them and bringing them to this hallowed ground to work and create.
Other current exhibitions include Deep Water, third in a series from a private collection depicting Black musicians of note from the 150s to the 60s; Choreopolitics, a dance statement created by Brendan Fernan des and nibia pastrana santiago who use dance to resist, heal, and connect; Jarvis Rockwell is represented with a massive collection of toys and figurines who integrate and “organize” themselves on glass panels high above those who view this installation.
This land has always been a “place for making,” as Jenny Wright de scribes. A couple of hundred years ago there were factories making goods, now some of the original staircases and paint on the walls from all those years ago still exist. The “ghosts” that have been rumored to inhabit the old structures must enjoy how their buildings have once again come to life in a vibrant, pulsating, happy campus filled at all times with people making not electronics, but photography, music, theatre, sculpture, dance and every conceivable form of art. The work
continues but does so in a different way. There is life here in these old buildings with stories deep in their walls and new stories written in the wind every day, waiting patiently to be told. There is no stuffiness here. There is little in common with other museums, for this is not a place of one-dimensional art, there is movement here, there is life.
Those who live in the Capital region area will delight in knowing that MASS MoCA is not far. It’s only a 47-mile drive from Albany and 55 miles from Saratoga, but don’t think of it as a day trip or you will be cheating yourself. You cannot treat MASS MoCA like a “regular museum” because there’s nothing “regular” about it. This is a true destination, an experience rather than a place to visit, and you should approach it as such. North Adams offers a host of lodging and dining choices, so you really can make it a mini-vacation this winter without having to go far. MASS MoCA is indeed a
place for making, its buildings have been thus for several hundred years. People still live here in residence making the beautiful, the unusual, the controversial, and that which must be experienced.
So, time to plan to start your journey to this place of history, of liveli ness, of wonder. MASS MoCA is a different experience for everyone who visits, everyone who comes back again and again. And yes, it’s a destination, a journey, and ultimately an experience all in one.
Enjoy yours.
For more information on MASS MoCA, exhibitions, hour, and direc tions visit: www.massmoca.org
We are not born with a road map nor a set of directions, so what happens is a continuous revelation to our parents, family, friends and most of all, to ourselves. For most women it often takes years, even decades, to discover their true selves. Ann Thane has been fearless in her pursuit of self-discovery. Whether a student, wife, mother, civil servant, leader, or artist, Thane is committed to being the best she can be at whatever is waiting for her just around the corner.
As a child, Thane grew up in an affluent neighborhood just outside of Wilmington, Delaware with her two brothers, two sis ters, and two parents who were always loving and supportive of her and her sib lings. Upon graduation from high school, she attended the University of Delaware to study art where she also met her husband, Peter Thane, who has been by her side throughout her journey.
During the time she attended the University of Delaware, the curriculum was based on
classical realism in the style of well-known 20th-century artist, Andrew Wyeth. It was not a natural way of interpreting what Thane saw, but she persisted. She found she could draw the female form with ease but drawing the male form was a challenge H er college experience left her a bit “i n secure about her expressive techniques” so she stored her pieces in the attic and went on to marry Peter, raise a family, and do freelance graphic design work during her 20s and 30s including stints at various advertising agencies.
While her kids were in school, Thane was very active in community events and the PTA. She also brought her love of art to her kids’ classrooms when they were small. She was eventually invited to participate in and lend a helping hand at a local museum that housed a unique assortment of treasures collected by educator Walter Elwood, who used them to teach children about the world beyond Amsterdam, New York in the early 1900s. Upon his death in
the 1950s, he left the collection to the Amsterdam School District which in turn established the Walter Elwood Museum of the Mohawk Valley in 1981 in his honor. Thane became director of the museum in 2001 and eventually shepherded it to its current status as an independent entity from the school district.
In her 50s, Thane ran for office three times and won the election twice, serving as Mayor of Amsterdam, New York for two consecutive four-year terms. During her tenure, she immersed herself in all as pects of governance including the restoration of City Hall, and a long list of infrastructure improvements, cultural arts programs, historic preservations, and
public arts projects. And while public office invariably comes with pressure and stressors, Thane kept herself grounded with various artistic pursuits including embellishing shells and furniture, making jewelry, and burning designs into wood.
When she left the Mayor’s office, Thane found her college art portfolio while cleaning her attic one day. It had been sitting there forgotten for several decades. She dusted it off and instantly rediscovered her deep connection to the strength and power of the women she drew and a newfound appreciation for the young woman who drew them. At 62 she realized she was now more than ready to explore and express the tenderness and strength that all women possess while showing their vulnerability and sensuality. Since then Thane has been unstoppable.
It wasn’t long before her college pieces, as well as new work, hung in the Perella Gallery of Fulton-Montgomery Community College in 2020. That exhibit showed art work spanning nearly 30 years and was called Bodies of Work. Her pieces were done in mixed media including col ored pencils, pastels, ink, spray paint, and collage and suggested the power and sensuality of women.
Now in her mid-60s, Thane shares that she “re discovered the artist within” and has decided “to do me now and run with it in a funky way!”
When viewing her multi-media artwork it is clear that she most certainly has rediscovered
her voice and happily sings the songs of many women of all ages. It especially resonates with women who are struggling with the changes aging brings to appearance, health, perception, self-worth, and relationships including the roles of wife, mother, and friend. Thane admits she had a tough time with aging so not surprisingly her female subjects are often voluptuous, reflec tive, and unapologetic.
A self-described workaholic throughout every phase of her eclectic career, she is currently immersed in an amazing project that began in 2019 when Thane applied for an individual Arts grant from Saratoga Arts. Her original intent was to create a mosaic of a Madonna inside a grotto that stands in Amsterdam’s Catholic Charities parking lot. She called it Mother Mosaic of Amsterdam NY. It was to be non-denominational and feature elements from faiths from all around the world and include a variety of patterns found in folk art and ethnic textiles. References to the elements and nature were to be included as well. When the grant was awarded in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic, she got busy.
The mosaic first began as a small sketch that was blown up to five feet by nine feet. Within a very short time, it became clear that Thane’s attic could not accommodate a piece this size so local ceramicist, Tammy Merendo-Capone, provided her with
studio space plus a kiln, essential supplies, and most importantly, creative guidance and mentoring throughout the process. But not long after that, Thane realized that the project was growing in scope so she leased studio space in Amsterdam’s historic Clocktower Complex.
Ensconced in her new spacious studio, Thane and four volunteers designed, rolled clay, cut shapes, glazed, and fired individual tiles by the thousands. The entire process, from rolling clay to completion, took up to a month before they were ready for application. Once completed, the gorgeous tiles were individually applied to the surface of the piece with bonding mortar, then grouted and sealed.
At the same time, Thane designed another mo saic to be installed on the opposite side of Mother Mosaic. Entitled The Tree of Life, it came to life using donated tiles made by the children of Amsterdam at various public events
depicting colorful animals, fairies, flags, handprints, and more. Begun at the outset of the pan demic, this touching piece represents the industrious people of the community. Of special significance is the heart of the tree, dedi cated to the Swart family, who sadly was the first in the Amsterdam community to lose a loved one to COVID.
In May of 2020, after so much blood, sweat, and tears creating Mother Mosaic, it came as a bit of a surprise when the city contacted Thane and requested a change to her nearly completed piece. Specifically, they asked for fewer references to the Virgin Mary. Though a setback, she rose to the challenge and worked her marvelous magic to create a new mosaic called
Mother Nature as a replacement. The original Mother Mosaic will have to find a new home and the Tree of Life is slated to be installed at another public venue in Amsterdam.
Now the beautiful and elegant Mother Nature stands proudly at Riverlink Park and shares the concrete pad with Mother and Child on the opposite side. The mosaics are grand in scale, towering 12 feet and measuring 6 feet
wide. Mother and Child tenderly depicts motherhood with grace and beauty. It reveals a woman walking with a child in her arms while gazing at a field, perhaps ex plaining the colorful flowers surrounding them. It is serene and delicate while strong and comforting. The other side is an elegant portrayal of a goddess-like woman in a flowing white gown with wild tendrils of hair blow ing in the wind. She is simultaneously feminine and strong, while dreamy and grounded. She seems to be looking into the distance or perhaps into the future as well.
While working on her mosaic art projects, it was lucky for Thane that the city of Amsterdam received funding from the Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor to support tile-making workshops. She got to work with ele mentary school students in summer school and eventually became the lucky recipient of hundreds of their tiles in organic shapes with textured backgrounds and others in the shape of stars. These special tiles found a forever home as integral pieces in Mother Nature.
With the installation of Mother Nature and Mother and Child nearing completion, a stainless steel guard to direct water away from the mosaics now caps the top of both sides to protect them from rainwater runoff and will be crowned with a full-scale, seven-foot crane. The crane was de signed and fabricated by metal artist Andrew Benson from a single sheet of stainless steel whose body and wings have been cleverly adorned with stainless steel spoons, forks, and knives donated by the community of Amsterdam.
For most people, creating and seeing a dream come true of such grandeur and beauty would be the chef-d'oeuvre of their lives but not for Thane. No siree. In fact, when speaking with her, she shares that she worries that
she won’t live long enough to do everything she wants to do in this lifetime. Hopefully, Ann Thane is blessed with a very long life because she is simply not done creating.
And hopefully, for us, we’ll all be here for it!
Visit www.thaneartwork.com to view her creations.
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Magnetta Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery, Schenectady'What a beautiful Magazine!! It’s a pleasure to display it in my shop... my customers love it! Stephanie is a delight to work with in all of the facets! I am very proud to be part of this publication which has not only brought me sales but has connected me with very loyal and devoted customers from all over our region!'
“A s a photographer, and the the advertising and mar keting director of The Alpine Sport Shop, a family owned business in Saratoga Springs, I appreciate the creative insight and thoughtful stories that 518 Profiles shares about local artists and businesses. The magazine is a quality resource and guide for its readers, on where to find what is interesting and unique in our area.”
“Saratoga’s finest magazine! A magazine you pick up and keep for its quality, feel and content. I have done many ads in newspapers and magazines in my career, and we literally have people walking in with 518 Profiles in their hands looking for us. Advertising with the m agazine works well because the readers pay attention to the high quality and editorial.”
“My customers and I love 518 Profiles, the articles provide information about local artists, unique shops and things to do. The quality of the articles, im ages and publication val ues are hard to find anywhere else in the region. I am so pleased to be a part of the 518 Profiles family.”
Gail Snitkoff, Pause Gallery, Troy“Love this magazine, down to earth articles about hometown folks and businesses, lots of great photos, well written.”
Bob Wheaton, Soave Faire, Saratoga Springs
“The Magic Moon is a small business that has grown with the community over the last 26 ye ars, and as such, we appreciate the efforts of 518 Profiles, a publication that consistently turns its spotlight on the le sser-known niche businesses in and around Saratoga Springs. From an advertiser's point of view, we're more than pleased with the personal attention we've received from the publisher, as well as the eye- catch ing presentation of the printed prod uct each month.”
“518 Profile has provided great exposure for our business. Each issue inspires its readers and contributors.”
Kathy Agneta M&P Gifts LLC / Merriman and Pfister’s Marketplace, Delmar The Magic Moon, Saratoga Springs Tom Clement Clement Frame Shop & Art Gallery, Troy Saratoga Saddlery & International Boutique, Saratoga Springs Alpine Sports, Saratoga Springs DB TRENDS, Ballston Spa Amanda Cornina Oberai Corina Contemporary Jewelry, Ballston SpaWhen I think back on what a child of television I was in the ‘50s and ‘60s, I can hardly believe that now my TV watching has been reduced strictly to Lester Holt giving me bad news each night and telling me to take care of myself and each other and the Reagan family on Blue Bloods. That’s it. Really. It is rare that I watch anything else.
I don’t own a smart TV so I can’t stream, and frankly, I don’t miss it because I don’t have the time. Someday, maybe. That’s on the list along with cleaning the basement, alphabetizing my spices, and writing letters again.
What I do enjoy, however, are the memories of old TV shows that quite often pop up from the cobwebs of my mind, and I realize that while most of them would never make it today in our “politically correct” society, there were some great simple truths and damn fine acting back then that you just don’t see anymore on the 60” flat screen with HD, surround sound, and all the bells and whistles. TV back then, especially the black and white stuff of the ‘50s, was somehow more real, honest, gritty; then when the networks shifted to “living color” in the midsixties, and the NBC peacock developed a colorful plumage, it somehow made a difference. Today Peacock is a streaming option that advertises you can watch 80,000 hours of TV and movies if you subscribe to their service. I don’t think I’ll be alive for 80,000 more hours!
So, what did I watch back in those coveted days of black and white? I was sick a lot as a kid with viruses of every stripe and every childhood disease on the menu, although I had been immunized against them all. So I was out of school frequently and watched TV from morning till my mother remanded me to bed. I loved sitcoms, so I became a real fan of I Married Joan, December Bride, Hazel, Beulah, Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Make Room for Daddy, Our Miss Brooks, and of course, I Love Lucy. As decades changed and most of these old chestnuts faded away, there were more “sophisticated” comedies, but it just wasn’t the same.
I also loved westerns like Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, The Cisco Kid, and The Lone Ranger. Later it was The Rifleman and Cimmaron City among others, but Bonanza led them all, beginning in the late 50s and extending into the 70s. However, If you looked closely, the Cartwrights all seemed to be the same age, sons and father, but no one complained. The acting was great and so was the screenwriting.
As a young child, I really liked game shows but grew out of them eventually. Yet I remember with fondness Groucho Marx’s You Bet Your
Life, combining his acerbic wit with an insipid game that featured a duck holding the secret word in his bill. I would root for my favorite sob story hoping Jack Bailey and the audience would pick my choice of unfortunate to be Queen for a Day, and with the rest of America, I was reviled when Charles Van Doren who sweated believably in the “isola tion booth” trying to get the right answer and win The $64,000 Question, was proved to be a fake. My childlike innocence was shaken to the very core; today cheating doesn’t rattle anyone.
I begged my mother to buy me a Ben Casey shirt, the popular swag from one of the first medical shows. Vince Edwards would snarl and be
ob streperous but was still a fine doctor along with the more kindly Dr. Kildare and Marcus Welby.
Space does not permit me to go on and on although the crime/mystery shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, The Defenders, The Naked City, and The Fugitive were all personal favorites.
Without a doubt, Sunday night on CBS was the winner of the week in my house. There were no remotes then, but with the lineup the network had, no one had to get up to change the channel. There was Lassie, followed by Dennis the Menace, The Ed Sullivan Show (arguably the best variety show on TV although Ed himself was a stiff monotoned host), The GE Theater, hosted by decades-later-President, Ronald Reagan, Alfred Hitchcock, Candid Camera, and What’s My Line?
I literally ran home from school every day to watch The Adventures of Superman and was crushed when the actor, George Reeves, died of an apparent suicide. Still, my greatest joy from these years is relived every New Year’s Eve when vintage Twilight Zone episodes are aired on cable for 24 hours. Who needs Rockin’ Eve in Times Square when you can get inside Rod Serling’s brilliant, yet twisted mind and watch a whole host of unknowns who later became some of the finest actors we ever had perform with brilliant scripts and direction. And yes, it was all in black and white. No streaming, no remotes, no giant flat screens.
Just quality broadcasting...no extra charge.
Pssst…Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday this year. You may need to plan something for the weekend before Valentine’s Day. As in 10 days from now. Need a little help?
It doesn’t matter if you’re single, in a relationship, somewhere in between or just looking for something to do with your best friend. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be flowers and boxed chocolate or dinner and a movie. I have a bunch of unique Valentine’s Day ideas, from a backyard bonfire with gourmet s’mores, to a scenic train ride…with lots of ideas in between!
Is food your thing? Skip the fancy dinner and plan a picnic in your living room or a pizza cook off in your kitchen. Are you the outdoorsy type? What about a drive up the Adirondacks or down to the Catskills followed by a scenic hike or lunch in a little café?
How about a cool afternoon date at a local brewery or cider distillery? Order some munchies, request a beer/cider flight and try something a little different. If you don’t want to go out, you can go to your local store and buy everything for a home version of a brew flight! Make sure you buy cheese, pretzels, maybe some stone ground mustard, sausages and kielbasa and all the things that go with beer or cider.
When was the last time you made breakfast in bed? Make sure the room is clean, the bed has beautiful, soft linens and fluffed pillows. Try to find one of those breakfast trays, and if you can’t find one, a serving tray or even a cookie sheet covered with a tea towel will do. Cloth napkins are always a plus and so are nice dishes. You can stop off at any second hand store and buy a few mismatched pieces of china for less than $3.00. If you don’t have champagne glasses, pick up 2 (even if they don’t match) at the same store. While you’re there, look for heart shaped pans, cookie cutters or mini treat molds. If you can’t find any, your next stop should be a home goods store or a big box store that has a kitchen department. There you can find cloth napkins, candles, cupcake liners and heart shaped pans. You can find cards too…or you can write a love note on pretty paper and leave it next to their pillow.
I love homemade, heart shaped waffles. Served with fresh strawberries or raspberries and whipped cream? I’m swooning! But, what if you don’t cook? No worries. Frozen waffles will do!
How about mini bagels and cream cheese? Homemade egg sandwiches on sourdough bread with bacon and cheese? Yogurt parfaits served in martini glasses is a beautiful and light breakfast. It’s usually just berries, maybe some sliced banana, yogurt and gra nola, layered in a beautiful glass and served with a small spoon. One of my favorites is plain, French style yogurt with fresh blueberries, a drizzle of honey with a little spoonful of lemon curd on top, garnished with shaved almonds.
Now, queue up some jazz or coffee house style music, brew up some coffee or tea, gen tly open up the bedroom curtains and bring your person breakfast in bed. I guar antee, you will watch them melt into relaxation mode.
Are you and your significant other bookworms? Grab your person and head out to your local book store. Make sure you have a little notepad or 2 pieces of scratch paper and two pens or pencils. Once you park the car, take a piece of paper and pen or pencil and hand the same to your partner. Tell your person that you both have assignments today. Each of you need to write down 5 topics that interest you, book styles that you enjoy read ing, or titles of books that you’ve been wanting to read, but haven’t had time.
As an example, my list would look something like this: 1. How to start gardening in a greenhouse. 2. Making Mexican food from scratch. 3. 5 minute journaling . 4. Is there a new book from J.K. Rowling? Daily med itation in the form of poetry that isn’t by Rumi.
Now fold your paper in half and hand it to your partner. Don’t look at the paper yet! Set your watches and choose a place to meet when you’re fin ished. Give yourselves an hour to find a book that your person would like, go inside, read your partner’s paper, purchase a book and keep it hid den in the bag until you get back in the car. Then, exchange books! You’ve probably learned something new about your partner, you will have a memory to treasure and a memento (your book) to keep forever.
Other ideas include going to a boutique chocolate store or old school ice cream parlor. How about bowling, ice skating or a roller skating adventure! Skip the flowers and buy a cool potted plant like a Monstera or a huge air plant! Schedule a couple’s massage or try the famous baths in Saratoga. Create a spa themed night at home complete with robes, slippers, face masks, a rom com movie, some light tapas (lots of recipe ideas are on the internet) and spa waters or spritzers.
What will you do this Valentine’s Day?
Crystal Cobert Giddens, FACES of Saratoga, 55 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY - 518-396-7403
On the final morning of my culinary road trip, my i tinerary is the quaint town of Stowe, Vermont, which is listed as one of the top ski-resort towns in the USA. The well-plowed roads leading to the
ski-action are constantly maintained for the rev enue generating visitors, to get into town safely and quick. During the slow ascending climb to the Stowe Mountain resort, the snowcovered chalet-like hotels and lodges take you back to a small Austrian ski-town and the serenity it transcends is magical!
Upon arriving at the Stowe Mountain resort -after a short delay driving anxiously behind a monstrous snowplow- I parked in the lot behind the hotel which offers complimentary parking for the first hour (subject to change). The resort was buzzing with folks enjoying a day of skiing on fresh driven snow and relishing the warmth of the crackling fireplaces in the various buildings. In the bar above the main entrance, local Vermont beers and international wines can be enjoyed accompanied by some fabulous jumbo spice rubbed Chicken Wings w/ Middlebury Bleu cheese dressing.
This is a perfect match with a cold regional microbrew beer such as Long Trail Limbo IPA 28 IBUs 7.6% ABV.
Upon my departure from Stowe Mountain Lodge, fresh snow regained its strength from the ship hull grey painted sky, whereas now caution had to be taken upon descending from the elevated area. The final stop of my trip was the greatly anticipated visit of the famous Von Trapp Bierhall and Lodge, just a short 20minute drive from Stowe Mountain Lodge.
In the early 1940s, the Von Trapp family toured the United States as the Trapp Family Singers before eventually settling in Stowe, Vermont on an enchanted farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their beloved Austria. In the summer of 1950, they began welcoming guests to a rustic, 27-room family home/lodge, which has expanded today to a striking 96- room Alpine lodge situated on 2,500 acres offer ing magnificent indoor and outdoor resort amenities. The Von Trapp family saga is also the inspiration for the world renown
Sound of Music movie and theater play.
Johannes von Trapp started thinking about starting a brewery at his family’s lodge in Stowe, Vermont. He had a dream to brew an American version of the tasty lagers he enjoyed near his ancestral Austrian home. It became a reality in the spring of 2010, when Von Trapp Brewery of ficially opened. The beautiful brewery was originally a modest facility located in the lower level of the Lodge’s deli bakery. In 2015 they opened a new 30,000 sq. ft. brewery located on Luce Hill Road, featuring a Brew House capable of producing up to 50,000 barrels of beer annually. Upon entering the Bierhall on Luce Road, you will find a well-stocked gift shop selling glass beer boots, 6-packs, and t-shirts. One can proceed to climb up the stair in the lobby and from a balcony overlook the large production hall.
Aside from the classic Austrian beer offerings such as Oktoberfest, Pilsner, Dunkel and Helles, I decided on the Vienna 5.2% ABV 33 IBU, named after the city that created the style- an amber lager, malt forward with a grassy, cracker-like hop aroma. To pair precisely with the light beer, the Chicken Schnitzel with Apple kraut, braised red Cabbage, Arugula, Lingonberry vinaigrette and Von Trapp farm fried Egg was a perfect match. For dessert upon recommendation, I opted for the warm crispy A pple
If you drive up the hill to the main lodge, on your left is the bakery where you can enjoy hot drinks with pastries and sandwiches. There is a sneak peek window in the bakery where you can observe the Strudel being made with fresh Apples and thin sheets of homemade dough. The main lodge has a European themed restaurant fueled by Aus trian tradition. In the winter you can grab a horse drawn sleigh ride or rent cross-country skis at the adjacent ski-center.
With the wind taking on intensity outside and snowdrifts accumulating, it was time to start driving back home to avoid the roads worsening. Once on Interstate 89 going south, I was happy to observe a well-maintained highway and the sun slowly appearing in the afternoon sky, transforming the snow crusted mountains with frosted pine trees to a scenic spectacle. On a special note, for travelers, rest- stops and visitor centers in Vermont are fantastic in terms of cleanliness and a museum-like display of Vermont treasures and historic data. You can even grab a complimentary cup of Green Mountain coffee with a charitable donation and a greeting from the volunteer behind the help desk, always willing to accommodate a visitor with good advice.
In review, it became apparent to me that Vermonters are proud of their culture and heritage. They strongly remind me of my Dutch farming roots, one of ingenuity, creativity, and a respect for nature. I highly recommend microbrew aficionados and foodies in search of the holy grail of homegrown cuisine Americana, inspired by traditions of Europe, to pay Vermont a visit.
Strudel with Schlag (fresh whipped creamFebruary 1 - March 18 - Clifton Park Perspective Matters. A Testament to the power of Perspective featuring the works of all local artists. The Blooming Artist Gallery 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY. www.thebloomingartist.gallery 518-280-4928
February 1 - March 3 Albany
Albany Center Gallery (ACG) presents Assemblages, featuring the work of five regional artists: Alicia Mikles, Carolyn Olsen, Jae Schalekamp, Charles Steckler, and Christian Wechgelaer. An Artists’ Reception will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 5 - 8 p.m. Assemblages is free and open to the public; Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. Assemblages features installations, collages, fiber arts, and works that combine objects, images and/or mediums from multiple sources. The artists combine several items and mediums in a way that re-envisions or re-writes original narratives of said items. Some artists’ method requires repurposing, while others provide meaning to fabric and textures, once combined. The artists reconstruct the stories and memories saturated within the materials to illustrate new narratives and in turn, exposes what is typically expected of said materials. Albany Center Gallery, 488 Broadway, Suite # 107, Albany, NY
February 1-25 Lake George “Vanitas", new work by the ORT Project. A collaboration between artists Oona Nelson and Anna Noelle Rockwell. Gallery Reception for the artists: Saturday, January 28, 4 – 6 pm. Online Artists Talk: Thursday, February 2 @ 6 pm Zoom link. Ort Project is the collaborative union of artists Oona Nelson and Anna Noelle Rockwell, whose lush installations and photographs explore and critique aspects of con sumption, abundance and decay. Within their work Ort Project blends the influence of art history, the contemporary cult of convenience and abundance, along with current corre sponding environmental threats and distorted value systems, into uncommon balances of the grotesque and the beautiful.. The Courthouse Gallery is located at the side entrance of the Old County Courthouse, corner of Canada and Lower Amherst Streets in Lake George, NY.
February 3 Ballston Spa 2023 Ballston Spa Chocolate Fest. Chocolate Fest is back! The date is set for Friday, Febru ary 3 from 4-8pm! Stroll the village for $1 chocolate tastings from over 20 Chocolate Chefs/Venues! Vote for your favorites in 3 categories: Dessert – Savory – Beverage. Plus chocolate-themed activities, artist demos, special promotions and sales! Ballston Spa, NY
February 8 Saratoga Springs
Ryan Montbleau: Wednesday Show. A singer-songwriter whose soulful mix of rock, folk, R&B, Americana, and funk has created a die-hard following. Wed, Feb ruary 8, 2023, 7:30 PM EST, Doors at 7:00 PM. Caffe Lena 47 Phila Street Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga’s Annual Chowderfest is one of the area’s most highly anticipated events of the year. Family-friendly, fun and utterly delicious, Chow derfest features more than 80 vendors— including Saratoga County’s best restaurants and caterers—who open their doors to the public and serve 4 oz. samples of chowder for $2 to event goers. Saturday, Feb 11, 2023 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Saratoga Springs, NY
February 17-19 Saratoga Springs Flurry Festival 2023: Winter Roots. The 2023 Flurry Festival Winter Roots Event will take place over Presidents Day Weekend! Enjoy dances, workshops, and more during the event. Fri day, Feb 17, 2023 until Sunday, Feb 19, 2023. Saratoga Springs City Center , 522 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY
Soggy Po’ Boys. The Soggy Po Boys, native to New England, have quickly become an institution. They are spreading the good news of New Orleans music across the northeast and beyond, playing at concert halls and street corners; music festivals and burlesque festivals; bars and libraries; wherever the party re quires. Part of the beauty of New Orleans music is that it’s celebrated and appreciated wherever it goes, from the street to the theater. February 18 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The Park Theater 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY
February 25 - March 26
Schuylerville Harry Orlyk. Artist Ret rospective. Opening Reception: Saturday, February 25, 5pm – 8pm. Exhibit Dates: February 25 – March 26. Featuring Over 200 Paintings. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY 12871. (518) 695-3181 Gallery Hours: Thursday - Sunday 12pm - 5pm
The Bell Bottom Blues – The Eric Clapton Experience. The Bell Bottom Blues was formed in 2007 with the vision of providing an audience with a true Eric Clapton Experience. Through its evolution, the band has been carefully constructed to create the essence of the Clapton sound, from his guitar arrangements to his distinctive vocal sound. February 4 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm. The Park Theater 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY
Saratoga Beer Summit 2023. Saratoga Beer Summit is back on Saturday, Feb ruary 25 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Saratoga Springs City Center! Try 150+ craft beers, hard ciders and seltzers! VIP - Includes 4 hours of sampling, food vouchers, souvenir item, tasting glass, and lounge access.General Admission - Includes 3 hours of sampling and tasting glass. Saratoga
City Center 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY.
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