Saratoga County Arts Council at the Arts Center

APRIL 26 - JUNE 7, 2008

VOLUNTEER PREVIEW: Friday, April 25, 4-5pm

FIRST SATURDAY RECEPTIONS:

Saturday, May 3, 5-8pm

PERFORMANCE following First Saturday Reception at 8pm of Showtime Belly Dancers and Scientific Maps

Closing Reception: Saturday, June 7, 5-8pm

DISCUSSION WITH THE ARTISTS:

Thursday, May 15, 7pm

AMERICAN BLISS features two artists whose work reveals distinct viewpoints about exploration and possiblity, inherent American traits. Whether going car camping or coveting a firearm, there are specific traditions, mores and expectations that define American indentity. Both artists use mixed materials in their artistic voyage; each offers an investigation from personal histories to political possibilities.

KEN RAGSDALE, of Albany has created a series of images entitles The Corps of Discovery II: Lewis and Clark Go Car Camping based on early camping memories. As a child, Ken camped near or on the sites of Lewis and Clark. Of the parallels between this American history and his personal history he states: "I approach my work, even as I did as a child, in the spirit of an explorer. My job then and now has been to search in and document my world, and then to make it enticing and accessible. It was mostly physical then, but more psychological now. The similarities between the journeys of the Corps of Discovery and the exploration of my memories of those years were the inspiration for this show. I have focused on bringing (at least) some small part of their methodology into these images."

MICHAEL MILLSPAUGH, of Schenectady, utilizes military imagery of rifles, army gerar, and vintage trucks to suggest new possibilities in the usage of these American icons. From his conception of rifles that no longer use bullets but scatter flower seeds to military patches touting the 'US ART FORCE', Millspaugh questions what we could do with our world if we took a fresh look at our military history and current usage. Millspaugh suggests a future of machines that build and plant, rather than destroy and kill. From his 'Bird Bunkers' to his 'Flatbed Meadow Maker' series, Millspaugh shows us hope for a new American future, in the truly American tradition of governmental critique. Of his work, he states "I think it is important to seek out possibility and remain open to it. In this way we can create possibility where there was none - take what we have, where have been, what we don't have, where we'd like to go - mix it up and make something out of it."

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Guests are welcome to visit The Arts Center Gallery from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 11am-5pm. Local, regional, and nationally-known artists' work is displayed in our 2,000-square-foot gallery. Receptions are held on the 1st Saturday of each month, from 5-8 pm, and are free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to browse through our Gallery Shop, featuring fine art works by over fifty of our member artists. For more information, contact the Exhibitions Coordinator.

FOR A PREVIEW OF OUR NEXT EXHIBITION CLICK HERE