Posted December 11th, 2024 — Filed under Bloggin, Spotlight
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Dear Friends,
Over the past four years, The Trolley Barn has served as a home for countless exhibitions, performances, and young artists finding their creative voice. We greatly appreciate all of the support and community that brought the space to life. With heavy hearts, we announce that The Art Effect will be departing The Trolley Barn in early 2025. This move marks the closing of a significant chapter in the organization’s history, but our mission to empower youth through the arts remains more vital than ever.
It is not easy to say goodbye to a space, but saying goodbye to our amazing alumna gallery manager, Jaime Ransome, is even more challenging. Jaime has been instrumental in shaping the Trolley Barn into a vibrant hub for art and community. From curating thought-provoking exhibitions to mentoring young artists and amplifying underrepresented voices, her dedication has left an indelible mark on our organization and the creative community in Poughkeepsie. We are deeply grateful for her contributions and the incredible efforts of our staff, artists, and community members who brought the Trolley Barn to life.
The decision to leave the Trolley Barn culminates a four-and-a-half-year effort with the building’s owner, to develop a safe, sound, and affordable home for all of our programs and operations. During this period, the owner was unable to undertake the improvements that would allow the project to move forward and ultimately announced their decision to sell the building. Additionally, increased concerns about safety for youth participants, staff, and visitors has been a growing challenge. We are dedicated to providing safe and inspiring spaces for creativity within Poughkeepsie and will continue to collaborate with our civic partners on initiatives that support our community’s thriving.
As we prepare to close this chapter, we are reminded that The Art Effect has always been more than a physical space—it’s an experience and a movement built on passion, creativity, and the resilience of our community. While we are searching for our new home; our focus remains on the young artists we serve.
The Art Effect is more committed than ever to continuing our flagship programs, including our workforce development programs, the PKX Festival, Art Institute classes and camps, Teen Vision exhibition, and Pollution Prevention initiatives, all set to continue throughout 2025 in our two long-standing Poughkeepsie locations—Pershing Ave and the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, as well as throughout the Hudson Valley in schools and community spaces.
The Trolley Barn Gallery’s final exhibition will be the Senior Project Showcase, open to the public this Friday, December 13, 2024, through January 10, 2025. The opening reception, free and open to the community, will take place on Friday, December 13, from 6–8 PM. This exhibition highlights new bodies of work from high school seniors and gap year students participating in The Art Effect’s most intensive Arts Institute program, Senior Project.
We want to thank all of you for being such an important part of The Art Effect’s story. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, creative, and joyful holiday season.
With gratitude,
Nichole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director The Art Effect
Posted December 11th, 2024 — Filed under Bloggin, Spotlight
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Featuring Artists Ava Hubner, Max Pyles, Hudson Segnit, Hannah Strano, and Saoirse Woods
December 13, 2024 – January 10, 2025
The Trolley Barn Gallery’s opening reception for the Senior Project Exhibition took place on December 13, 2024 from 6–8 pm.
This exhibition runs from December 13, 2024 – January 10, 2025, see holiday hours below. The Senior Project Exhibition features innovative and diverse works created by advanced students enrolled in The Art Effect’s Senior Project course. This rigorous class empowers junior, senior, and gap year students to develop their artistic voice while launching their careers in the arts.
Featured artists in this year’s show include Ava Hubner from Red Hook High School, Max Pyles from Newburgh Free Academy, Hudson Segnit from Cornwall-on-Hudson, Hannah Strano from Wallkill Senior High School, and Saoirse Woods from Beacon High School. Each student pursued a theme of their choice, ranging from dystopian concept art to reimagined religious allegories, for 12 consecutive weeks.
Exhibiting artist Hudson Segnit says, “Senior Project has been a really great growth experience for me. I have created meaningful pieces about my relationships with some of the people I am closest to, and I feel like my skills have improved immensely. Senior project has allowed me to see what an artist’s profession really consists of. The feedback I have received has helped me to create art I am truly proud of, and I am very grateful to have had this experience.” The Senior Project Exhibition will feature a variety of works from each student with displays of variations in mixed media.
The Art Effect’s Director of Artistic Advancement and teacher of the Senior Project course, Hanna Rose DeMarco states, “This year’s Senior Project Exhibition presents viewers with a unique glimpse into the future of fine art. Each student has passionately pursued their themes and individual media to create a sophisticated body of work that exhibits their talent and authentic concepts. Collectively, they have compiled a show that exhibits their generation’s curiosity, empathy, and worldview. I am incredibly proud of this group of young artists and the impressive work that they have created.” Proceeds from the sale of artwork will go towards the artist’s creative futures.
About the Trolley Barn Gallery: The Trolley Barn Gallery provides youth with valuable job training in the arts through immersive experiences in gallery management, curatorial practices, exhibition design, installation, and professional networking. Since its opening in 2021, the gallery has become a cultural hub in the city of Poughkeepsie, presenting exhibitions that feature professional artists at all stages of their careers in a spacious 3,000-square-foot venue on Middle Main Street. About The Art Effect: For over 40 years, The Art Effect has been empowering young people to discover and develop their creative voices, shaping their futures and driving positive social change. As the largest nonprofit arts organization in the mid-Hudson region, The Art Effect provides educational programming to over 3,000 students annually, offering them opportunities to explore, experience, and excel in the arts. Additionally, the organization engages another 5,500 visitors through exhibitions and events. These programs introduce participants to visual arts and media, helping them build real skills and guiding them toward their academic and career aspirations.
The PKX Exhibition celebrates imaginative and original artworks created by young people who have a passion for their medium. If you feel your work is too weird, too different, or too crazy – it’s perfect for this exhibition – where teen artists take the lead on taking art in a new direction.
The 2025 PKX Festival (fka Reel Exposure) film showcase features youth-produced short films of all types – including narrative, animation, experimental, and documentary – created by talented young artists, ages 13-19 from across the world. All genres of short films under 10 minutes will be accepted. Films should be appropriate for PG13 audience.
Stay up to date on upcoming calls for entries, enjoy exclusive benefits including free submissions, showcasing your work in the Member show, and more while supporting The Trolley Barn Gallery’s mission to empower youth as leaders who catalyze the community through the arts and re-energize downtown Poughkeepsie.
For just $40 per year, save even more as a member of The Trolley Barn Gallery!
Membership Benefits:
• Free submissions to open calls • Showcase your work in our Annual Member Exhibition • Receive exclusive access to VIP events at The Art Effect
As a Trolley Barn Gallery Member, you gain the opportunity to sponsor additional youth members which contributes to the artistic empowerment among young people. Call 845.471.7477 to set up your sponsorship of young artists memberships to the Trolley Barn Gallery.
If you have any questions or would like to purchase your membership over the phone, call 845.471.7477 to reach The Art Effect today.
Posted October 25th, 2024 — Filed under Uncategorized
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Guests and artists experienced the Trolley Barn Gallery’s fall flagship exhibition, co-curated by the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone Curators and guest curator, Indira A Abiskaroon, Curatorial Assistant at the Brooklyn Museum. Guests delighted in the opportunity to meet Kimmah Dennis and Marielena Ferrer, the artists behind “Capturing Echoes” and “Broken Monarchs.”
Dennis describes Chasing Echoes as “fusing inherited memories with [her] encounters of mobility, displacement, and assimilation, exploring diverse visual languages—painting, drawing, collage, and installation—and delves into personal, familial, and global storytelling.” Her pieces capture the delicate interplay between strength and vulnerability in young people, depicting their experiences with striking emotional depth.
Broken Monarchs by Ferrer creates a similar sense of immersive storytelling by inviting viewers to step into the fragile and resilient reality of the more than five thousand migrant children and infants separated from their parents. “As an immigrant myself, I believe in cultivating forms of everyday activism to contest social exclusion, so my art practice seeks to seize opportunities to educate others about migration,” Ferrer explains. “Broken Monarchs best showcases my thematic and methodological direction as an artist,” Ferrer adds, emphasizing the critical role of art in bearing witness to these harrowing events.Together, Dennis’ and Ferrer’s work sparks an essential dialogue about the roles humans have in nurturing or inhibiting the growth of the next generation. The Duo Show trulytransforms the gallery into a space where themes of childhood, displacement, loss, and hope converge through Ferrer’s immersive installations and Dennis’ evocative mixed medium paintings. Each artist delves into the complexities of youth through selected mediums to explore how external forces shape identity and resilience in young people. The exhibit will run from October 10 – November 8, 2024.
Experience art through the eyes of talented teens who created an impressive collection of artworks, including drawing, painting, photography, digital animation, film, mixed media, and more!
Family, friends, and the community are invited to join us for the Opening Reception and End of Summer Program Celebration on Saturday, August 24 from 2–4 PM. Enjoy face painting, activity tables, and a scavenger hunt. Information about upcoming classes and events will be available as well.
Teen Visions is a culmination of the hard work and dedication of selected young artists from The Art Effect’s 2024 summer programs including Summer Art Institute, Junior Art Institute, MADLab, Spark Studios, and D-LIT. It is an incredible accomplishment to be chosen for the Teen Visions Exhibition. Teaching artists and staff choose more than 65 artworks of exceptional technique to be included in the exhibition taking place at the beautiful Trolley Barn Gallery.
Visual works in the show – which always proves both richly varied and exciting, as well as a demonstration as to why nearly all of The Art Effect’s Art Institute students get into the nation’s top visual arts programs – include paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography and sculpture by students from many Mid-Hudson school districts, counties, towns, villages and cities. The exhibition will be on display through September 6, 2024. Gallery hours are listed above.
Teen Visions will be open from August 24–September 6, 2024
Posted August 1st, 2024 — Filed under Spotlight
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Exhibition: June 14 – August 9, 2024
When the Earth sees its reflection, will it be proud or scared of what it’s become?
For this exhibition, the Trolley Barn Gallery will bring together a compassionate roster of artists who specialize in work that brings attention to pollution prevention in a way that offers solutions for one of humanity’s most pressing global crises. This exhibition will focus on artistic interpretations of pollution prevention including themes of environmental justice and climate change activism. Artists explored themes inspired by the Earth; translating the sciences of ecology and geology to an experiential art. This exhibition features artists working in 2D and 3D mediums of upcycled materials, sound, video, and performance.
We are looking back at our mistakes, looking forward to solutions, and holding space for our present circumstances. And with the education and support of local artists and activists, the youth curators have equipped themselves with the skills to think outside the box and inspire collective action in Poughkeepsie.
EXHIBITION EVENTS
Opening Reception | Friday, June 14 | 6 – 8PM
UPSTATE ART WEEKEND: July 19 – 20
• Community Clean Up | Friday, July 19 | 12 – 2:30PM • Sustainability Lecture | Friday, July 19 | 4 – 5PM • Upcycled Art Workshop | Saturday, July 20 | 12 – 4PM
Community Clean Up | Saturday, August 3 | 12 – 2:30PM
“Stewards of the Water” Panel Discussion | Saturday, August 3 | 3 – 5PM
Funding provided by the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Any opinions, findings, and/or interpretations of data contained herein are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations, or policy of Rochester Institute of Technology and its NYS Pollution Prevention Institute or the State.
Posted April 9th, 2024 — Filed under Uncategorized
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18 Abril – 17 Mayo, 2024
El Art Effect se llena de orgullo al presentar esta exhibición jurada como parte del Festival Anual de PKX el cual es un pilar fundamental para el desarrollo de la Zona de Empoderamiento de las Artes Juveniles al establecer un distrito de arte liderado por los jóvenes en Poughkeepsie, Nueva York. Como testimonio vibrante a la energía transformadora de la creatividad juvenil y su impacto en la comunidad, la exposición presentará 24 pintores, escultores, fotógrafos, y artistas digitales de 14 a 19 años de edad. El festival de PKX es un símbolo de comunidad y unidad al celebrar la creatividad y el talento dentro y alrededor Poughkeepsie. El enfoque del festival de tres días será una presentación cautivadora de películas cuidadosamente seleccionadas; además de obras de 2D y 3D elegidas con mucha consideración para adornar las paredes de The Trolley Barn Gallery; y las activaciones artísticas de empresas locales y artistas que empoderan a los invitados a incorporar el placekeeping, o mantenimiento del lugar, en sus aventuras diarias. ¡El Festival de PKX es creado por los jóvenes para todos!
PKX International Teen Art Exhibition April 18 – May 17, 2024
The Art Effect is proud to present this juried exhibition as part of the annual PKX Festival, a building block to the development of the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone establishing a youth-led arts district in Poughkeepsie, NY. This show features 24 young painters, sculptors, photographers, and digital artists aged 14-19 as a vibrant testament to the transformative energy of youth creativity and community impact. The PKX Festival is a symbol of community and unity while celebrating the creativity and talent in and around Poughkeepsie. During this three-day festival, carefully curated films take the spotlight in a compelling showcase, thoughtfully selected 2-D and 3-D artworks grace the walls of The Trolley Barn Gallery, and artistic activations from local businesses and artists empower guests to incorporate placekeeping into daily adventures. The PKX Festival is created by youth for everyone.
Posted March 20th, 2024 — Filed under Uncategorized
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When the Earth sees its reflection, will it be proud or scared of what it’s become?
Call Opens: March 18, 2024 Call Closes: April 22, 2024 Exhibition Dates: June 14 – Aug 9, 2024
Deadline to Submit: April 22, 2024
The Trolley Barn Gallery is pleased to open the call for Earth’s Reflection, an international juried exhibition that recontextualizes the Trolley Barn Gallery’s 3,000-square-foot space into a progressive and thought-provoking landscape. This exhibition will focus on artistic interpretations of pollution prevention including themes of environmental activism and urban revitalization. Artists exploring themes inspired by the Earth, ecology, geology and biology, regreening, native lands, and community stewardship are encouraged to apply.
Earth’s Reflection is open to all visual media: interdisciplinary, multimedia, installation, contemporary, crafts, video art, soundscapes/sound art, performance art, and design in 2D and 3D. Artists working with trash, sound, video, and/or performance are encouraged to submit. For this exhibition, the Trolley Barn Gallery will bring together a compassionate roster of artists who specialize in work that brings attention to pollution prevention in a way that offers solutions for one of humanity’s most pressing global crises.
Youth employed in The Art Effect’s curatorial training and community engagement programs are venturing into youth-led climate change activism and placekeeping. To support the continuous exchange of ideas and resources, youth will collaborate with community organizations and Hudson-Valley-based artists who utilize unconventional and up-cycled materials in their work. Youth Arts Empowerment Zone Liaisons and the Trolley Barn Curatorial Team will host a number of community clean-ups throughout the exhibition. Poughkeepsie youth will promote, educate, and create community discourse around the ideas of pollution prevention through a public art exhibition and related environmental educational programming. With the support of local artists and community leaders, the youth curators will equip themselves with the skills to become environmental leaders who can think outside the box and inspire collective action and upkeeping in our local community.
This exhibition will be open during the Hudson Valley’s Upstate Art Weekend – June 18 through 21 – for educational, family-friendly exhibition events and activities. Upstate Art Weekend is a connective annual event for locals and tourists to celebrate the cultural vibrancy of upstate New York. With 145 participants and thousands of visitors in 2022, the Trolley Barn Gallery is excited to, once again, be one of many fascinating organizations, galleries, and creative projects to join Upstate Art Weekend.
This international juried exhibition will be held June 14 through August 9, 2024 at The Art Effect’s Trolley Barn Gallery, 489 Main St., Poughkeepsie, New York, with an Opening Reception Friday, June 14, 6-8pm.
Artists will be notified within approximately 2-3 weeks after the deadline in an email about the selection status of their entries.
Deadline to Submit: April 22, 2024
Become a member and enjoy exclusive benefits all year including no artwork submission fee!
Funding provided by the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Any opinions, findings, and/or interpretations of data contained herein are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations, or policy of Rochester Institute of Technology and its NYS Pollution Prevention Institute or the State.
Posted February 29th, 2024 — Filed under Bloggin
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Reviewed by Chanel Reed
One of the youngest artists to exhibit a solo show at a substantial museum in New York, Oscar yi Hou: East of sun, west of moon, has exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum from October 14, 2022 – September 17, 2023. The Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York, built on the land that is a part of an ancestral homeland of the Lenape (Delaware) people. The museum holds excellence in exhibitions, programs, collections, and visitor experience, challenging traditionally common art history by including multiple perspectives in creations.
Drawing was something that yi Hou had close to his heart ever since he was young. Mass culture in TV shows, such as animes and cartoons, stimulated his artistic flow. The exhibition, East of sun, west of moon, embodied 11 portraits with specific details representing East Asian and Western history, such as Son Goku from the popular anime Dragon Ball, Chinese descendants, and his close friends. Along with the figurative symbolism comes fragmented collages of art with vibrant and poppy so-called “Chinese cowboy” iconography, Chinese calligraphy, and popular imagery. Yi Hou embraces the Asian community, the queer community, the reclamation of slurs, and the complexity of himself through illustrative paintings.
Electricity shocked my body once I stepped into this exhibition. I was blown away by the unique style of Yi Hou’s work. It’s hard for me to find an artist with such incredibly complex work that I am invested in. It had a feel of organized chaos to it, where my eyes wandered everywhere because of the rich hues and hidden details I hadn’t picked up yet. As a fellow artist who develops work with the help of online references, the connections interlocked. His art inspires me to create art that breaks my style apart to recreate something outstanding with great detail and meaning. It also motivates me to keep on drawing from what influences me the most; anime/ Japanese culture and the queer community into complex concepts.
Posted February 16th, 2024 — Filed under PKX Festival
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Save The Date for the 3rd annual PKX Festival, April 18-20, 2024. The PKX Teen Art Exhibition celebrates imaginative and original artworks created by young people who have a passion for their medium. The International PKX Art Exhibition opens on April 18th. The International PKX Art Exhibition serves as a platform for young artists to display their creativity from around the globe. This exhibition is a tribute to the extraordinary artistic talents of teenagers aged 14-19.
Join us for the annual PKX Festival, hosted by The Art Effect, at The Trolley Barn Gallery located at 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie, from Thursday, April 18 through Saturday, April 20.
EXHIBITION | FASHION SHOW | FILMS | MUSIC | FOOD | ART
