Claudine Farley has been an art teacher for 20 years for Beacon City School District, and has been the District Art Department Coordinator for the last 15 years. She teaches a variety of classes at the high school, including Ceramics, Fashion, Studio Art, Drawing and Painting, and has recently developed a Contemporary Art Class with Dia Beacon. The class is the first of its kind, blending a major museum and high school students, exposing the students to a higher level of thinking about the art process. She has worked for The Art Effect for the last 14 years, where she has taught the Junior Art Institute in the summer and younger age groups during the school year. This is her third year as director, and she looks forward to many more years as director of Dutchess Art Camp!
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.
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.
It’s time to think about warmer weather, outdoor play, and messy art – Summer Camp Sign-ups are NOW OPEN! A variety of programming for youth ages 5-19 are Led by professional artists and certified teachers, young artists will explore and excel in their artistic abilities this summer.
Dutchess and Ulster Art Camps
Dutchess and Ulster Art Camps offer a variety of programs that allow children ages 5-10 to imagine, discover, create, and have fun. Young artists explore fine art, digital media art, and performing arts while strengthening their self-confidence, creative thinking, and art making techniques both individually and in a collaborative setting. At the end of each week long session, accomplishments are celebrated at the Final Showcase, where each child’s family and friends are invited to see the performances, videos, and an art gallery of work that the children create.
Click on any of the camps below for more information and sign up:
Dutchess Arts Camp in Poughkeepsie For ages 5-10 Creativity thrives as campers explore thier artistic abilities, games and play. Enjoy individual and collaborative art making experiences based on an engaging weekly camp. Experienced and friendly staff support hands-on art experimentation with a wide variety of artistic mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, animation, performance, and more. The pieces created at camp will portray original narratives connecting to each campers’ interests and lives
Dutchess Arts Camp in Red Hook For ages 5-10 Creativity thrives as campers explore their artistic abilities, games and play. Enjoy both individual and collaborative art making based on an engaging weekly camp theme. Experienced and friendly staff support hands-on art experimentation with a wide variety of artistic mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, animation, performance, and more. The pieces created at camp will portray original narratives connecting to each campers’ interests and lives.
Ulster Arts Camp in New Paltz For ages 5-10 Creativity thrives as campers explore their artistic abilities, games and play. Enjoy both individual and collaborative art making based on an engaging weekly camp theme. Experienced and friendly staff support hands-on art experimentation with a wide variety of artistic mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, animation, performance, and more. Unique to Ulster Arts Camp, campers adventure into the Dorkey Museum through guided tours gaining museum knowledge and inspiration for their own artistic process. The pieces created at camp will portray original narratives connecting to each campers’ interests and lives.
The Summer Art Institute is designed to help develop students’ ideas and build skills in the visual and digital arts. These intensive multi-week sessions allow young artists ages 11-19 to develop their portfolios. Students can select a major of study to focus on.
Click on any of the programs below for more information and sign up:
Learn new skills in drawing, painting, digital art, mixed media and more to turn your ideas into impressive finished work. Supportive instructors guide you on advancing your studio practices and developing a strong art making process to pursue your artistic goals. You will learn the basics of composition, color schemes, proportions, perspective, depth, and more through a combination of observational & conceptual art making.
Students can choose between two majors:
Fine Arts majors focus on introducing studio practices and developing techniques using various paints, pastels, charcoal, ink, and more during most of their day. Fine Arts majors will minor in Digital Art
Digital Arts Majors learn the foundations of photo manipulation, photography, animation, and digital illustration & painting while exploring different forms of technology and proper equipment usage. Digital Art majors will minor in Fine Art
Excel your artistic knowledge, techniques, and studio practices by learning from a supportive and knowledgeable team of Teaching Artists. Share this experience with other like minded individuals who have their sights set on pursuing a career in the arts. Emerge with an impressive portfolio including both digital and fine art that highlight a strengthened understanding of color theory, composition, narrative, creative intention, and more. Create a balance between an observational and conceptual style with a strong focus on how to design pieces to include your personal voice. Develop an advanced artistic vocabulary and receive constructive critique on your work from peers and teaching artists. You will have a hand in curating, hanging, and presenting your sessions’ artwork for the Final Showcase art exhibition where your family and friends are invited to celebrate your work. One of your pieces may be chosen for The Art Effect’s Teen Visions exhibition in September!
Students can choose between three majors:
Drawing & Painting – Intermediate artists ready to begin their journey in portfolio development will receive guidance in what colleges look for in a strong portfolio and how to begin to develop pieces with foundational techniques using various paints, inks, charcoals, pastels, and more.
Digital Art & Illustration – Intermediate and advanced digital artists will focus on broadening your knowledge about digital tools, resources, and programs to take your work to the next level. Utilize these skills to create stunning original digital illustrations, paintings, animations, and photo manipulations.
Advanced Drawing & Painting – Advanced level, dedicated students ready to strengthen their artistic knowledge will dive deeper into advanced artistic techniques, practices, and principals. Expand your skills and portray how you see the world using various paints, ink, charcoals, pastels, and more. Advanced Drawing and Painting students will receive a portfolio review from esteemed colleges and learn about the programs they offer.
Double Take, this exhibition’s title and theme, is both enduringly engaging, and particularly timely, with its suggestion of second chances, opportunities to see anew, and encouragement to review that which we have passed over or passed by the first time around. Our world has changed dramatically in the last few years, and we are all being required to reconsider and reflect, in effect, to see with new eyes and question our assumptions.
Being a part of the youth curatorial team changed my relationship with the show, in the fact that I have a better appreciation for artworks than before working with The Art Effect as a juror. — Olivia Barker-Duncan
The team has given me constant perceptions of art that explores and offers a diverse experience while keeping the art and artist identities intimate. — Karla Zarate
Embracing compromise when making decisions as a team, creates an unbiased understanding for me as both an artist and juror. — Harrison Brison-McKinnon
Click here to learn more about current and upcoming exhibitions!
We are still looking for imaginative and original short films and photos made by young people around the world to be screened at the 2022 Reel Exposure Festival in Poughkeepsie, NY! Submit to Reel Exposure International Teen Film and Photo Festival before February 6.
Reel Exposure Film & Photo Festival features photography and youth-produced short films – animations, documentaries, dramas, horror, and comedies – created by talented young artists from across the world.
Reel Exposure encompasses all of The Art Effect’s goals: to encourage youth creativity, to invigorate our local community through the arts, and to showcase the incredible work done by this next generation of media-makers.
The Art Effect’s annual event encourages youth creativity, invigorates the local community through the arts, and showcases the incredible work done by the next generation of artists from around the globe and right here in Poughkeepsie!
Prizes include up to $500 in cash!
– Films must be under 10 minutes in length – 3-5 photos may be submitted per category – The showcase will be held on May 6, 2022
Senior Project is the most rigorous course currently offered at the Art Institute, the capstone of The Art Effect’s portfolio development programming.
Modeled after a senior thesis college course, students work on a personal theme for 12 weeks with an artist/mentor in their chosen art medium. Students present a new work each week along with touch-ups made to the work from the previous week, completing the program with a strong body of work around a chosen theme. Mainly focusing on developing a cohesive body of work, how to prepare for an exhibition, and how the gallery viewer will interact with the work. The Senior Project exhibition is a celebration of the accomplishments of these young artists.
All works are on display at the Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn from December 17, 2021 – January 7, 2022.
Rick Price has an MFA from Savannah College of Art & Design, is the chair of the fine art department at the Harvey School, and has extensive teaching experience at Buck’s Rock in CT, mural painting in San Francisco and Beacon, illustration commissions, and has exhibited his fine art work nationwide.
Posted December 13th, 2021 — Filed under News, Spotlight
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The Art Effect Releases 2020 Annual Report and End of Year Campaign:
Building Stronger Communities
POUGHKEEPSIE (November 18, 2021) – The Art Effect’s 2020 Annual Report gives the community a snapshot into The Art Effect’s diverse programming as well as the impact on the community over the last year. The report showcases how The Art Effect plays a crucial role supporting young people in developing art as a catalyst for change. Despite a global pandemic, The Art Effect continued to reach more than 8,500 individuals tackling a new landscape of virtual events and learning opportunities through a challenging but rewarding year. This year’s end of year campaign raises funds that go directly toward real-life opportunities for students to create art and media projects that serve an authentic purpose in our community. “In times of great crisis the population has relied on art to increase morale. History has shown us that artists have led the wave of resilience that leads us to a stronger country. Art saves lives, now more than ever.” says Lamar Wint, Youth Producer at The Art Effect. The report defines “The Art Effect” through the eyes of young artists and demonstrates its significance through programmatic and financial outcomes, their pandemic response, and alumni successes. The organization was honored with the Dutchess County Executive Arts Award in Arts Education from Arts Mid-Hudson, but perhaps the most impressive accomplishments are the awards won by The Art Effect’s students. In 2020, over 75 Scholastic Art Awards and nearly $1 million in scholarships were awarded to young people at The Art Effect. Additionally, two of The Art Effect’s senior students received competitive grand prizes from the Congressional Art Competition.In 2020, over 8,500 individuals were directly served by the organization through programming and events that teaches artistic expression, personal growth, and empowering children to master their passions and prepare for personal and professional success. 100% of students in the Art Institute program graduated high school and were accepted into college with scholarship offers. Additionally, 325 high school students participated in Virtual Portfolio Week, 610 artworks were submitted and curated by youth for the organization’s inaugural international juried art show at the Trolley Barn Gallery, and The Art Effect employed 110 youth through workforce development programming. The Art Effect has never stopped helping students explore their passions and prepare them for their future.The Art Effect continues to build a stronger community by partnering with many impactful organizations here in the Hudson Valley to offer students paid training opportunities through workforce development programs including Spark Studios, Media, Arts, Design Lab (MADLab), Forge Media, and new programs in curation and gallery management as a result of The Art Effect’s affiliation with Barrett Arts Center.The Art Effect launches it’s end of the year campaign with a goal of raising $30,000 towards creating the partnerships and resources young people need to build real-world skills in their path toward academic and career success. Watch the video to hear directly from young people and community partners. (https://thearteffect.org/stage/donate)See the full power of The Art Effect in their 2020 Annual Report, available HERE. About The Art Effect: The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. The organization facilitates educational programming for youth in the Hudson Valley to explore, experience and excel in the arts. Programs provide introductions to visual arts and media, giving participants the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields and guiding them towards achieving their academic and career goals. The Art Effect is anchored by the belief that the arts have the power to create a more vibrant, caring and sustainable world led by a generation of youth who value creative thinking, diverse voices and stronger connections between all people.###
