The Art Effect

Call For Artists

The Trolley Barn Gallery and the PKX Festival Committee are looking for performers for the First Annual PKX Arts Festival in Poughkeepsie, NY on September 15-17, 2022!

Are you ready to share your gifts with the Poughkeepsie community and beyond? We are looking for creatives of all kinds to perform at the PKX Festival happening September 15-17! Visit @PKXFestival on IG for more info or click here to apply

The festival will feature the unveiling of an original public art commission, food, performances, and creative activities in and around the Trolley Barn Gallery on Main St, Poughkeepsie. In support of local youth, community, and the arts, PKX is expecting over 200 participants. The event is free of charge, open to the public, and will be advertised throughout the Hudson Valley. 

We are excited to incorporate a variety of live performances during the duration of the festival, and we need you! 
Please keep in mind that this is a youth-friendly event and the music played should be appropriate for younger audiences.

Participating performers will receive: 

• Prominent display in the event program and throughout the event;  
• Business publicity to 200+ attendees;  
• Listing in festival emails to 5,700 contacts;
• Listing with a link on The Art Effect’s festival website with 38,000 monthly views;
• Social media spotlight to more than 10,000 followers across platforms; 
• Media coverage throughout the Hudson Valley. 

Please email mmays@d-mmc.us for technical support.
Please email destiny@thearteffect.org for event logistics or additional information. 

$200 Stipend, Applications close on August 12!

Apply Here

Food Trucks Wanted

We would love to invite you to join us as a food or drink vendor. Registration for vendors at the PKX festival is free!
September 17, 2022

Participating vendors will receive: 

• Prominent display of logo at event and in event program;  
• Business publicity to 200+ Guests;  
• Reach of 5,700 email contacts;
• 38,000 website views;
• Social media recognition to more than 10,000 followers; 
• Media coverage throughout the Hudson Valley. 

Please email pkxfestival@thearteffect.org or destiny@thearteffect.org by August 29th if you are interested, have questions, or would like additional information. Thank you for your participation and support. 

Fall Art Courses Interest Form

Take a deeper dive into the art you fell in love with this summer in one of our many art classes this fall at The Art Effect. Registration Opens Soon! Sign up here to receive updates!

Explore, experience, and excel in visual arts and media this year. Art classes give students the opportunity to develop real skills in the arts, and guides them towards achieving their academic and career goals. YOU can be the first to sign up for fall courses! Click the interest form link below to sign up for more information about fall classes.

Here’s a sneak peek at what we will be offering beginning this September:

Ages 5 – 11: Explore Classes
Adventures in Wearable Art: Young artists transform into an original character through imagination, mixed media art, and play using their wearable art creations.
Adventures in Shadow Puppets: Design characters and learn how light interacts in a world of shadows made from mixed media.
Art Inspirations – Exploring: Create vibrant works of art in multiple media inspired by the Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz, and beyond!
Exploring Puppetry: Design and create original puppet characters, bringing them to life through mixed media art making and performance.
Exploring Drawing & Painting: Bring imaginary characters and worlds to life while learning to express yourself through beginner drawing and painting techniques. 
Exploring Stop Motion Animation: Learn how to create stop motion animation through with clay figures, set design, and digital software.

Ages 11 – 14: Experience Classes
Art Inspirations – Foundations: Create vibrant works of art in multiple media inspired by the Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz, and beyond.
Foundations in Digital Art & Illustration: Create animated gifs, manipulate digital photos, and unlock the tools you need to make incredible digital artworks.
Foundations in Film & Animation: Level up your love of films by broadening your skills in formal cinematic techniques through filmmaking and animation.
Foundations in Drawing & Painting: Take your drawing and painting skills to the next level while learning various technical art making methods and mediums.
Foundations in Printmaking: TBD

Ages 14 – 19: Excel Classes
Art Inspirations – Portfolio: Create vibrant works of art in multiple media inspired by the Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz, and beyond.
Portfolio Development Foundations: Gain foundational skills in drawing and painting the basics of human proportions, landscapes, still-life, and more!
Portfolio in Human Figure: Render the human figure in a variety of mediums including charcoal, pastels, ink and acrylic while studying from a live model. 
Portfolio in Comics & Character Design: Learn how to design original characters & tell visual stories using various illustrative mediums & comic techniques.
Portfolio in Animation: TBD
Portfolio in Film: TBD
Portfolio in Digital Illustration: Create art for your digital portfolio including illustrations, photo-manipulations, character art, and animation.
Intermediate Portfolio in Drawing & Painting: Refine your observational rendering skills to develop a fine art portfolio through drawing, painting, and mixed media!
Advanced Portfolio in Drawing & Painting: Develop a stunning portfolio that stands out to top art schools through the creation of original conceptual artwork.
Senior Project: Reach your highest level of achievement at The Art Effect through an advanced mentoring and portfolio development course designed to help earn top scholarship awards by developing a strong body of artwork.

Fall Classes Interest Form

Upcoming Free Art Workshops at Local Libraries

Join us for free art workshops for a variety of age groups, happening at libraries around Dutchess County!

Clay Character Sculptures at Millbrook Library

Saturday June 4th, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

For grades K-5

Participants will develop and build their own unique fantasy character in soft, malleable oven bake Sculpty clay. Dynamic gesturing, costuming, accessories, facial expressions, movement and more will be utilized to breathe life into our creations. 

Registration: Open to the public, call Millbrook Library at 845-677-3611 to register

Aquatic Creature Self-Portraits at Staatsburg Library

Monday July 11th, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

For teens

Ever feel like a mermaid, or maybe a shark? Ever wondered what you would look like underneath the sea? In this workshop, participants will be guided through picturing themselves as ocean creatures, and will learn to use basic shapes, lines, and shading to bring your ocean-creature-self to life! 

Registration: Open to the public, call Staatsburg Library at 845-889-4683 to register

Digital Painting at Clinton Community Library

Saturday July 16th, 10:30am – 11:30am

For grades K-5

Students use iPads and Procreate software to imagine concept art, to create original digital visual art pieces, and to strengthen their skills in visual communication. Students also gain practice with identifying light sources, learning how to properly shade, learning how to compose images, and take elements from source texts to re-imagine them and refashion them through a unified personal aesthetic.

Registration: Open to the public, call Clinton Community Library at 845-266-5530 to register

Patchwork Collage at Staatsburg Library

Thursday July 21st, 12:30pm – 2:00pm

For grades K-2

Visual Storytelling! Patchwork quilts have passed down stories and history for hundreds of years. Following a set theme, participants will have their own unique story come to life through their own hand drawn artwork Themes can include: happy memory, a personal goal, a loved one, a life changing event, specific holiday, etc. Gluing materials such as fabric, paper, magazine clippings, yarn, buttons and more to create individualized squares. The art pieces will be assembled together at the end of the class representing how each individual has their own story, but are still connected as humans on the same Earth. The artists can also take the time to discuss the different pieces and what they represent if they wish.

Registration: Open to the public, call Staatsburg Library at 845-889-4683 to register

Clay Character Sculptures at Clinton Community Library

Saturday July 30th, 10:30am – 11:30am

For grades K-5

Participants will develop and build their own unique fantasy character in soft, malleable oven bake Sculpty clay. Dynamic gesturing, costuming, accessories, facial expressions, movement and more will be utilized to breathe life into our creations.

Registration: Open to the public, call Clinton Community Library at 845-266-5530 to register

Zine-Making at Clinton Community Library

Saturday August 6th, 10:30am – 11:30am

For grades 6-12

Students make and publish their own zines (mini-magazine) while gaining an understanding of zine culture and DIY (Do It Yourself) culture. Students generate content (poetry, fiction and/or nonfiction), use Adobe Photoshop or Canva, and analyze the benefits and drawbacks of print media in the digital age.

Registration: Open to the public, call Clinton Community Library at 845-266-5530 to register

Digital Animation at Tappan Library

Monday August 8th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

For ages 11 and up

Learn the art of stop-motion animation! Using iPads, handmade scenery and characters, and apps like Stop Motion Studio and Koma Koma, in this workshop you’ll craft photo sequences to create the illusion of movement, and add in voice recordings and sound effects to bring your animations to life.

Registration: Open to the public, call Tappan Free Library at 845-359-3877 to register

Abstract Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media Arts at Clinton Community Library

Saturday August 13th, 10:30am – 11:30am

For adults

Art is full of emotion! In this workshop, participants will be using ink, acrylic paint, and found objects on canvases to create their own abstract mixed media paintings. They will be shown various abstract artists for inspiration and will also experience how art does not have to look life-like. While experimenting with colors, shapes, lines, and textures, participants will choose the emotion they’d like to represent and will be guided through bringing their vision to life.

Registration: Open to the public, call Clinton Community Library at 845-266-5530 to register

Paper Marbling and Mindfulness at Millbrook Library

Wednesday August 24th, 3:00pm – 5:00pm

For teens

Explore a variety of world-wide paper marbling techniques while enjoying the calming and meditative nature of this artform. We will take paper and dip it in water combined with colorful inks and paints, using layering to create swirling and patterned marbled masterpieces to take home with you. 

Registration: Open to the public, call Millbrook Library at 845-677-3611 to register

Watercolor Painting of Flowers at Clinton Community Library

Saturday September 10th, 10:30am – 11:30am

For adults

Inspired by nature, and using brush techniques of previous weeks together, we will explore colorful flowers from imagination and from photographs and works of art history.

Registration: Open to the public, call Clinton Community Library at 845-266-5530 to register

Drawing Objects at Clinton Community Library

Saturday October 8th, 10:30am – 11:30am

For adults

Drawing 101! Participants will learn how to draw objects in their homes starting with basic shapes and finishing with details and texture. Explore various shading techniques such as blending, smudging, hatching, stippling and more to capture what you see in your homes every day.

Registration: Open to the public, call Clinton Community Library at 845-266-5530 to register

Work With Us! Apply for Summer Arts Camp Staff Positions

The Art Effect is seeking engaging and upbeat Teaching Artists, Counselors, and Counselors-In-Training for our Dutchess and Ulster Arts Camps, located in Poughkeepsie, Red Hook and New Paltz this July-August. Dutchess and Ulster Arts Camps offer a variety of programming that allow children ages 5-10 to imagine, discover, create, and have fun.

Positions Available:

Teaching Artists
Teaching Artists work directly with several groups of around ten children over the course of the day to create visual and media arts projects. Teaching Artists will create lessons plans and supplies lists, coordinate with the Camp Director on implementation and support project management and organization. Half days (4 hours) or full days (8 hours) available. $25/hr.
To Apply: Submit a resume, cover letter and three references to Director of Programs Mary Ellen Iatropoulos at maryellen@thearteffect.org

Counselors
Counselors (age 16 and up) work directly with a single group of around ten children. They are responsible for supervising CITs, supporting Teaching Artists and overseeing morning drop offs and afternoon pickups. Mon-Fri, 8 hours a day, plus about 10 hours for move in and 10 hours for move out. $14/hr.
To Apply: Complete this form here, and submit a resume, cover letter and three references to Director of Programs Mary Ellen Iatropoulos at maryellen@thearteffect.org

Counselors-In-Training (C.I.T)
Counselors-In-Training (age 14 and up) help counselors with supervising a group of around ten campers. They will assist with camp preparation and clean up, and create a supportive camp community. Mon-Fri, 8 hours a day. Weekly $100 stipend.
To Apply: Complete this form here, and submit a resume, cover letter and three references to Director of Programs Mary Ellen Iatropoulos at maryellen@thearteffect.org

Reel Exposure Photo Exhibition up at the Trolley Barn

Snag a digital program to learn more about all the amazing work in the festival!

Visit to see the winning pieces and juried show in person or check out our virtual gallery and screenings below to watch the show online.

Reel Exposure Winners

Photography:
First Place: “Audiophile” Risa Darlington-Horta
Second Place: “Frozen Over” Aaliyah Loverso
Third Place: “684” Andres Perez
Audience Choice Award: “Frozen Over” Aaliyah Loverso

Film:
First Place: Think Like A Filmmaker — by Eli Berliner
Second Place: Beth — by Ava Bounds
Third Place: Take heart! — by Lillith Jörg
Audience Choice Award: Cry About It – by Amani Jamal

Reel Exposure is supported in part by monies received from the New York State Council On The Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Vassar Brothers Institute Donor Advisor Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.

Spark Students Featured in Black Girlhood Exhibition

The Art Effect is proud to share that three of Spark Studios students are featured in the Picturing Black Girlhood: Moments of Possibility exhibition at Rutgers University from February 17 to July 2, 2022. Leila Zachary, Kalecia Douglas, and Olivia Barker-Duncan will be three of over eighty photographers and filmmakers featured in the exhibit.

Exhibition Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12-5 pm, Thursday 12-8 pm, Saturday 12-5 pm. Admission is free.

The exhibition features over 150 works by Black women, girls, and genderqueer artists, ranging in age from 8 to 94, and focuses on exploring the common theme of Black girlhood. The exhibition will span across all three of the main exhibition floors of Express Newark at Rutgers University-Newark and put the work of Black girls alongside that of Black women, centering Black girls as the subjects, artists, and agents of their own lives. Learn more about the exhibition here.

“The Art Effect could not be more proud of the hard work and dedication of its students, teachers, and staff,” said Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director at The Art Effect, “To be featured in such an incredible, transformative artistic experience goes to show the sheer amount of potential that our students harness. The Art Effect believes that art can truly impact not only the lives of its students, but also inspire positive social change by conveying to others the importance and power of art.”

Spark Studios allows students to hone their professional skills and gain real-world experiences to excel in film and media arts. Spark Studios goes beyond simple instruction by teaching students how to use art as a way to learn more about their past, their present, and their future. They learn how to take the experiences that have shaped them into who they are and transform them into impactful works. Leila Zachary, Kalecia Douglas, and Olivia Barker-Duncan are three great examples of how Spark Studios has helped teach students to embrace their histories and shape them into significant works. Learn more about Spark Studios here.

Register For Spring Courses

The Art Effect to Receive $15,000 Grant

The Art Effect has been approved for a $15,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support The Art Institute. Funding for the Art Institute supports high school students in developing advanced artistic skills, producing high-quality college art portfolios, and establishing college readiness. The Art Effect is among 1,248 projects across America totaling $28,840,000 that were selected to receive this first round of fiscal year 2022 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects category.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects like this one from The Art Effect that help support the community’s creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “The Art Effect in Poughkeepsie, NY is among the arts organizations nationwide that are using the arts as a source of strength, a path to well-being, and providing access and opportunity for people to connect and find joy through the arts.”

The Art Institute engages more than 150 youth each year and provides them with access and opportunity to pursue their professional goals, attend college, and receive scholarships. The Art Institute goes beyond arts instruction, says Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director. “The student-centered, holistic program prioritizes personal and professional development. Classes are not only taught by professional artist educators with a rigorous curriculum that surpasses the New York State Standards of Art Education, but also provides mentorship, portfolio development support, exhibition and leadership opportunities, and access to college representatives to gain tools for success in college and career”. 

Students participate in the Art Institute’s National Art Honor Society, The Art Effect’s Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Week, and curate and display their work in public exhibitions such as “Teen Visions” and “Senior Project.” In addition, the Art Institute provides one-on-one mentoring to support students’ college applications and help students secure merit scholarships. Since 2000, Art Institute graduates have been offered over $60 million in scholarships. Learn more about the Art Institute, visit thearteffect.org/programs/art-institute.

For more information on other projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

Senior Project Virtual Gallery