Artists invited

to take part

in outdoor events

WESTPORT -- Champlain Valley artists are sought to participate in a Plein Air (outdoor) drawing or painting event and/or an Artist Studio Tour on Saturday, July 5.

The Plein Air event, sponsored by the Westport Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Arts Council for the Northern Adirondacks, is scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m.; the Studio Tour will take place from 2 to 5 p.m., giving artists an opportunity to do both activities if so desired. Interested viewers can pick up a map to find the artists at work, who will be identified by balloons and signs. Established or recognized artists, newcomers and students are encouraged to participate. After capturing the shapes, lights and shadows, and colors of their selected view in the Champlain Valley of mountains, lakes, rivers, fields or towns, artists will take their work home to further develop it for an art show opening at Westport Heritage House on Thursday, July 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. Silent auction bidding will begin then and conclude at 3 p.m. at the Westport Heritage Festival on Saturday, Aug. 9. Proceeds from the art sales will be shared by the artists and Heritage House, with a small portion going toward event expenses. For full details and an entry form, contact Dee Carroll, 962-4899, or Caroline Rubino, 962-8778. An orientation and registration party is planned for May 1 at Heritage House, when artists can come together for fun and to reveal the vantage point for their creations.

Mountain Lake PBS launches 24th annual Arts Auction

PLATTSBURGH -- Mountain Lake PBS held a three-day art exhibition at the McCord Museum in Montreal recently, marking the beginning of the station's annual Arts Auction event.

More than 100 North Country community members turned out to show their support and love of the arts. A selection of 70 pieces of a total of 150 juried works up for bid were included in the exhibit. All pieces featured at the McCord Museum will be part of the total collection only available for purchase during the live Arts Auction broadcast, happening over three nights on April 25, 26 and 27.

In its 24th year, the Mountain Lake PBS annual Arts Auction has become the station's largest fundraiser. According to a press release from Mountain Lake, it has grown in popularity amongst local and national artists as a way to earn gallery credits, gain recognition and support a worthy cause; all of the proceeds benefit the station's local television productions and programming. This year's collection is valued at more than $80,000 and is comprised of artwork donated to the station by artists from New York, Vermont, Quebec and Ontario.

To encourage people to come into the station to bid, Mountain Lake has compiled an exclusive "In-Studio Collection" of works, with a variety of food and beverage to be provided during three themed evenings: Friday, April 25, is the Red Carpet Soiree; Saturday, April 26, is Mont Royal Night; and Sunday, April 27, will once again be the Adirondack Evening.

The second and last exhibition of the full collection begins with an opening-night reception on Friday, March 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh and runs through April 12.

Anyone can attend the Arts Auction exhibition at North Country Cultural Center, but to obtain an express bid number for speedy bidding or to be part of the live studio audience, contact Mountain Lake Special Events Coordinator Toni Mikulka at (800) 836-5700, Ext. 127. To learn more, visit www.mountainlake.org.

Alessi named Professional Associate

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE -- Doreen Alessi, conservator for the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, has been selected as a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).

A conservator is responsible for the care, restoration and repair of archival or museum artifacts.