Reservoir

Save Our Local Dairy Farms Come to “Reservoir” an art exhibit and silent auction with 50+ artists to benefit FarmHearts, a non-profit initiative to support small farms in Sullivan County. Featuring new artwork by people who don’t usually make art and new artwork by people who do make art, but are making a different kind. Gallery opens November 17 at noon, cocktail reception with silent auction at 6. Bidding closes at 8. Purchase some amazing art, support a good cause and join the party! Gallery will be open on Sunday November 18 at noon, your last chance to purchase any remaining work. Join us at The Apple Barn, 51 Creamery Road, Callicoon, New York. More at www.instagram.com/CallicoonAppleBarn and www.FarmHeartsNY.org If you have any questions, please call Derick Melander at 917-533-4748 ¬Q&A with the curator, Derick Melander (more about Derick here: http://derickmelander.com) 1. What inspired the show? When we learned that 7 local dairy farms could lose their primary distribution channel, putting their livelihoods at risk, we wanted to do something to help. (more about the dairy crisis here: http://www.scdemocratonline.com/webpages/newsdetail.aspx?id=bc2e954e-f7b0-4c8b-bfac-02d4622ce548) 2. Why is this important to you? ?We want our farms to thrive, they are a wonderful part of our local economy. We love the heirloom vegetables, the artisanal cheese, the cider, the grass-fed beef… The farms do so much to beautify the area. What would Sullivan County be without it’s farms? 3. What is FarmHearts? ?FarmHearts is a collaboration of community organizations whose missions align with the conservation of agriculture as an important community value and economic asset. FarmHearts has established a grant program for emergency relief, stop gap measures, or other agricultural projects to help keep small farms viable and operating. An advisory committee made up of representatives from the agricultural sector, along with community groups that include Bethel Woods, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County and Sullivan Renaissance guides the work and grant making of FarmHearts. (more about FarmHearts here: http://farmheartsny.org) 4. Why is the show called “Reservoir”? ?The participants were asked to create a piece of art in response to the word “Reservoir”, which is defined as: ?- "A supply or source of something" ? - “A still, deep place in a stream" ?- "A place where a great stock of anything is accumulated" ?Most people associate the word with the protected reservoirs in our area but the participants were asked to interpret the word any way they see fit. 5. What kind of artwork will be shown? ?We are taking an experimental approach to curating. My multi-talented colleague David Driver suggested we feature new artwork by people who don’t usually make art and new artwork by people who do make art, but who will make a different kind. (more about David here: http://www.daviddriver.com/) ? Driver: “I’m at a place in my life where I need community. I need joy! I need to feel that we can come together to inspire and assist each other. And I think I might not be alone in this. It’s the original spark that evolved into this show.”? There will be something for everyone at the show and the work will be priced to sell. There will be libations, snacks and several performances throughout the evening. Toward the end of the night, we’ll dim the lights and give the disco ball a spin. Support a good cause and join the party! 6. Who will be in the show? ?We have over 50 confirmed participants from the surrounding area. Several of the artists are known internationally and have had solo shows at major museums. Others are up and coming with solo shows in east coast galleries. We’ve also included architects, novelists, musicians, graphic designers, filmmakers, fashion designers, performers.. the list goes on and on. 7. Tell me more about the venue? ? The Apple Barn is an event space owned and operated by Melloney Birkett and Wayne Pet. This is their 2nd charity event, having recently raised $2,000 each for The Callicoon Public Library and The Delaware Youth Center. The large, 2 story building started its life as just that, an apple warehouse. Built in 1902 by Schmidt’s it could store up to 10,000 crates of apples. It has since been modernized but still retains it’s rustic charm. ? Wayne and Mel: “ We originally bought The Apple Barn because we saw the potential for it to be so many things. So far it is mostly about giving back to the community, holding on to the things that drew us here in the first place. A pretty big part of that is the farms. Many of us are surrounded by farms. If we lose that, we lose a lot.”