Zack Lobdell, Relic, 2021 Acrylic, spray paint, enamels on canvas
FORCE A partnership art exhibit with Salem Art Works and Southern Vermont Arts Center exhibiting a diverse group of progressive contemporary artists Talking with PEARL CAFRITZ DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AT SALEM ART WORKS (SAW) and ANNE CORSO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN VERMONT ARTS CENTER (SVAC) Interview by Harryet Candee
Harryet Candee: What has been one of your main objectives while working at Salem Art Works (SAW)? Pearl Cafritz: During my tenure at Salem Art Works for the past four years as the Director of Administration, one of my responsibilities is the events and outreach. As a Saratoga Native and a Graduate of the College of Saint Rose coupled with previous experiences working within the Arts for the last twenty-five years, I have fostered relationships and opportunities for SAW Artists. We have several cultural partnerships and it is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with Southern Vermont’s Arts Center. The locations planned for the indoor and outdoor exhibition FORCE, runs simultaneously at SAW and at Southern Vermont Arts Center 40 • MAY 2021 THE ARTFUL MIND
(SVAC). What has been planned at both locations? What is Force about? The exhibition will be on view in the Elizabeth de C Wilson Museum galleries from May 8 thru June 27, with a closing reception to be held on Saturday, June 26. The concurrent outdoor sculpture exhibition in the Stroup Family Sculpture Part at SVAC will remain on-site through 2021 and beyond. SVAC invited me to curate indoor galleries in which I selected “art depicting and interpreting forces both seen and unseen at play in contemporary life”, SAW executive Director Anthony Cafritz and Sculptor Park Manager Zac Ward are the co-curators for the outdoor sculpture park show. Anthony remarks the sculptures “encompass a wide range of forays and investigations into artistic expression and how physical objects exist in the land-
scape.” Throughout the exhibition, there will be several events at SVAC including artist talks, demonstrations, and the closing reception which will include a performance. As well as SVAC robust event and program schedule which will naturally allow visitors to experience this exhibition. To help the participating artists in FORCE get recognition, what ways has SAW been able to create such connections for the exhibit FORCE? Salem Art Works has entered its sixteenth year. During SAW’s existence, it has created a strong base of advocates. SAW’s Director of Communications, Nancy Welsh, through social media and the press, has been actively been spreading the word. The fifteen artists exhibiting within the indoor ex-