Seventy Years of Creating Programs in Response to the Community

STORY BY JANIE ROSMAN

Rockland Center for the Arts’ new Executive Director Daly Flanagan is using her arts background and experience as its school director to bring new initiatives to her new role at the Center, currently celebrating 70 years.

Daly hopes to continue the Center’s outstanding track record of creating programs in response to the community.

A local Rockland theme of landmarks and notable places kicked off its fall season with “The Poetics of Place,” drawings by artist and Nyack resident Bill Batson. Journalism photographer-turned-fine art photographer Laurie Peek’s work shows reflections of Rockland seen through puddles of water or windows in “Rockland Reverso.” Both are open through October 1.

Increased community involvement, multi-media exhibitions, educational outreach and a new music series are part of Flanagan’s plans. The Emerson Gallery will be transformed into a multi-purpose room that incorporates a concert series (TBD November start) coinciding with exhibitions. 

“We’re fully beginner friendly,” she replied when asked if students need be artistically inclined. Good news for this reporter, who nearly failed seventh grade art class for tracing a pencil holder the class was asked to draw.

Next month’s  HYPERLINK “http://rocklandartcenter.org/performances-special-events/performances-special-events/full-moon” second annual Full Moon Party fundraiser on October 7 includes a concert and a performance piece responding to climate change and a raku fire (an ancient form of Japanese firing with kilns).

“This is moving away from the traditional fundraiser to more experienced-based that includes food donated from local restaurants and a barbeque,” she said. “Seating will be on the ground with performances under one tent and food under that other tent.”

This year, five afterschool sites in Spring Valley will benefit from free eight-week art classes and plans more arts-in-education classes with the East Ramapo Central School District. “We’ve always had strong relationships with Haverstraw and East Ramapo, and I would like to broaden that,” she said.

RoCA’s collaboration with Piermont Straus Gallery in Piermont, Valerie Goodman Gallery in New York City brings a  HYPERLINK “http://rocklandartcenter.org/performances-special-events/goodman-jarrige-house-tour” fundraising tour/ opportunity to tour Goodman’s home and view Jacques Jarrige’s architectural work and furniture. The opening ceremony is September 23 with Jarrige doing a demonstration from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. followed by an exhibition of his jewelry, miniatures & drawings the following day.

“We promoting art and tourism and getting people who live outside the count to visit us and see the richness of Rockland,” she emphasized.

Noting that artists suffer depression different from other depressions,  HYPERLINK “http://rocklandartcenter.org/performances-special-events/performances-special-events/eric” Dr. Eric Maisel will discuss “Beating the Creative Blues” on October 21. He’ll address artists; however, the tendencies for writers’ and artists’ depression, and the strategies for coping with them, are similar.

Edward Hopper House and RoCA are joining with public schools to engage students via field trips to learn about Hopper and his influences in the county. Looking ahead to 2018, RoCA forays into social activism and art with topics that include climate change.

Flanagan succeeds Julie Ramos, who retired in 2016, and was Acting Executive Director in the interim. She has been School Director since 2000 and will continue in that role.

For information, visit  http://rocklandartcenter.org or call 845-358-0877.

  Daly Flanagan, rockland center for the arts, Rockland Reverso, The Emerson Gallery