Laura Brothers and Bruce Hyde, just two of the visitors that stopped by Meredith Townsand's "Music = Art" Show Friday, May 7 as part of Gallery Night in downtown Ithaca. Photo by Heather Ainsworth
With 17 officially participating venues and more than a dozen unofficial open house hosts, Gallery Night does more than bring art to the center stage: it creates a public space for sharing art.
The event began as a quarterly and Commons-centered affair, but it expanded to a monthly series last year, and has geographically expanded into greater Downtown Ithaca, up State Street, and into Fall Creek at the gallery Sfumato and the Cayuga Street Gimme! “Traditional and standard galleries, restaurants and retail stores with dedicated space for artwork and nontraditional venues all have a place at the table at Ithaca’s Gallery Night,” Downtown Ithaca Alliance’s Matt Riis said.
At The Shop (312 East Seneca Street) for instance, Meredith Townsand displayed her mixed-media collages and small graphic novels. Townsand, who has been an active participant in both the music and art scene, recently founded “Music = Art” a promotional and publicity organization with the goal to ultimately start a gallery.
A woman and her canine companion stop by Jon Reis's studio and visit his "Rock and Roll" room, a conference room that also displays work of Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead and other famous musicians. Photo by Heather Ainsworth
Jon Reis, right, shows a few special shots to music critic Jim Catalano at his studio as part of Gallery Night Friday, May 7. Photo by Heather Ainsworth
Meanwhile, across the commons at Jon Reis’ studio (102 West State Street), the famous Ithaca photojournalist brought music and art together in his new studio and a “rock and roll” room. Photos of prime interest included shows by both the Talking heads and the Grateful Dead in 1977!
May featured Gallery night stalwarts as well as newcomers. The Ink Shop celebrated its 10th Anniversary, and the Community School of Music and Art put on the second of a series of shows celebrating the first decade of the new milenium.
Perennial Gallery night venues, State of the Art Gallery, Collegetown Bagels, CAP Artspace, Belle Melange and the History Center further rounded out May’s extensive roster. State of the Art featured their first member show of 2010 including the introduction of three new members while Collegetown Bagels featured oil paintings by Paul McMillan.
Friday's Gallery Night drew hundreds to downtown Ithaca. Photo by Heather Ainsworth
Even musicians got in the action: Rosie Newton and Steve Selin perform at the Bernie Milton Pavilion as part of the monthly Gallery Night last Friday, May 7. Photo by Heather Ainsworth
The sky competes with Ithaca's Gallery Night. Photo by Heather Ainsworth