In Wurtsboro, an arts destination

By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink

Wurtsboro, NY – If you are looking for places in Sullivan County that display local artwork, not only indoors but outdoors, too, then the historic hamlet of Wurtsboro is one such destination.

This past summer, a new village-wide outdoor “gallery” called “Painting the Town” was established. It consists of eight amazing murals painted by local artists on buildings and panels around Sullivan Street.

The hamlet is also home to the Wurtsboro Art Alliance, a nonprofit arts group that not only encourages and supports regional artists, but offers art classes to the community. When you first walk into the Alliance’s gallery at 73 Sullivan Street, you will see a wide variety of work on display, from photography, sculpture, jewelry and fiber art to watercolors, and acrylic and oil paintings. There is a good chance you will be greeted by Pat Blanco, the Alliance’s current vice president and a teacher of some of the gallery’s classes.

Each month, from spring through fall, different artists’ works are featured in the gallery. “We also have a different theme every month,” said Blanco. Currently on display through Nov. 3 are pieces in a show titled “Abstracts and Imaginings.”

Blanco is herself an artist, and she teaches jewelry making, button art, wreath making, crocheted jewelry and many other techniques. Her classes are funded by a grant administered by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance in Narrowsburg.

The Alliance also participates each year in the hamlet’s Founders Day Street Fair.

“I love Founders Day – it’s a lot of fun,” said Blanco. “I’ve done bracelets outside and we usually have some kind of demonstration. Last year was really nice. I did some bracelets with the kids and one of our other artists did rock art.”

The Wurtsboro Art Alliance was started through the initiative of Wurtsboro resident John Neilson almost two decades ago. The Alliance originally had a room in the back of the hamlet’s recreation building, and that space is now the group’s gallery where local talent is showcased

To learn more about the Wurtsboro Art Alliance, or to sign up for classes, visit waagallery.org.

GROUP SHOW Work currently on display at the WAA Gallery covers a variety of genres and media, from oil and acrylic abstracts to functional sculpture and pen-and-ink renderings. Adriana Serafino photos