“The inaugural [Salon Sunday] in November 2019, and the subsequent one in February [2020], proved immensely popular, and then the pandemic hit,” said Josh Suniewick of Hastings, the executive director of RiverArts. “During the lockdown we tried a virtual presentation from the artists’ studio, but there were technical glitches. As part of our evolving process — as we restart the program — we are focusing solely on artists in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow. In May, we are planning a Salon Sunday for artists whose studios are located in Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, and Irvington.”
All five artists, all of whom have previously participated in the annual RiverArts Studio Tour, are: Timothy Duch, paintings, 110 North Washington Street.; Edward Bear Miller, drawing, oil, paper, 114 Neperan Road; Iris Jaffe, acrylic, digital prints, 19B Windle Park; Monica Carrier, drawing, ink, paper, watercolor; and Nathan Frey, sculptural plastic objects, furniture, lamps. Carrier and Frey will be at Peep Space, 92 Central Avenue.
Admission is free. To download a map of the tour, visit riverarts.org.
Making his debut as producer of Salon Sundays is James Fuentes, a two-year resident of Hastings and RiverArts board member. Jeff Dietz, the former coordinator of the event, and his partner, Gabrielle Burger, longtime producer of the Studio Tour, now live in Beacon. They stepped away from these responsibilities due to the recent arrival of their first child.
Fuentes owns the James Fuentes Gallery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and, according to his official bio, he “has championed a gallery program that is led first by exceptional contemporary artists who are atypical from the conventions of their field. The gallery has become known for its focus on humanity, history, and society with a nonexclusionary approach, positioning itself as a leader in the field as our contemporary institutions seek to do the same.”
Fuentes was drawn to RiverArts because of the diversity of art — music, dance, visual — the organization makes accessible to the Rivertowns. This includes the concept of Salon Sundays.
“It’s great to be able to see the artists in their own backyard, and go behind the scenes and visit with them,” he said.
As part of the evolving process referenced by Suniewick, there will be an “open application” policy for Salon Sunday events. Per Fuentes, this “democratic” approach means that anyone who applies is accepted, as long as they work in a fine arts medium. Previously, to be included in Salon Sundays an artist had to also be on the Studio Tour.
Jaffe, who has been a resident of Tarrytown since 2014, has a studio in her condo. She said her work is inspired by “the history of art and our relationship with technology.”
“I am really pleased to be working with James, as I know he does amazing things in the art world,” Jaffe said of Salon Sundays’ new producer. “The only drawback is that I won’t be able to visit with the other artists in their studios, as I love exchanging ideas with art lovers. So, I look forward to the May event in Dobbs Ferry and the other villages.”
