Children's Event on Saturday, July 14th: 

"On the Lake"

We "rowed, rowed, rowed our butt...uh, boats..."

in races...

Trophies were awarded.

  Artists concentrating on their work....

Fish and lake water were the snacks....

(aka Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and Swedish Fish and Tropicana Blueberry Twister)

An evening of laughs and great music. 

Good Times!

Coffee, tea, and

           BROWNIES!

Well, most of us, anyway!

Demo by Judy Soprano in April at the Canandaigua Art Group.

St. Patty's Day arrived early

at ALL THINGS ART

  "and twas a charmin' celebration"

                     Good friends,

March 10th

SO MANY THANKS to our own bless'd saint,

Rob Lillis

and his crew of volunteers!

Good food,

    Great music...

and the jokes, well...

          good grief, just pulling yer leg, Rob!

A magnificent time

was had by all!

                   And that's no blarney!

     "I CAN DO WHAT THE BIRDS DO"  was the second event held at ATA for children this year, and the first in conjunction

with the exhibit by Eaton Birding Society's Celebration of 75 years, entitled "Flight of Fancy."  The children arrived and

chose a set of "wings", actually, recycled linings from wool skirts in various bright colors.  Our volunteer, Sue, helped

them fit them to their arms and when bedecked properly, all took part in "The Chicken Dance" to warm up and feel comfortable.

                                       (Evidently, small children don't attend many wedding receptions,because they needed to be instructed on the proper "movements" to the song.) 

        After warming up, each child was called up on stage to "vogue" and preen in his/her wings in a fashion show where the

announcer read about where each child was from and what was his/her favorite bird and a fact he/she knew about birds.

An older participant, Maddie, helped out immensely by reading the original verse written by the Children's Event coordinator,

Kathy Morris, which was a counting and cumulative story building up and then winding down.  In it, each child was a "stunning"

bird who had come to town.  By the end of the verse, all the children and some of the adults in attendance were pecking, scratching,

sipping, bobbing, preening, flying, flapping, and other such birdlike actions.  It was quite a bit of exercise for all involved. 

      (Unfortunately for this report, the adults who should have been snapping some pictures were too "bird-brained" to take any and that is why this account is not duly illustrated.)

So, you'll have to take our word for it that the children (and adults) involved were laughing and having a good old romp on the dance floor.

      For the rest of the program, each participant made a pair of binoculars for bird watching, and Judi Cermak, the visual arts

coordinator at ATA, discussed with the children proper ettiquette for a visit to a gallery space.   She then led them in a "guided tour"

to view some of the art pieces in the "Flight of Fancy" exhibit.  Afterward we all made our own "birdseed" concoction of dried cereals,

mini marshmallows, and raisins and drank hot cocoa.  Each child was given a colorful birdie wooden whistle before they went home.

    We encourage all to return for next month's event in which live raptors: an eagle, an owl, a red tailed hawk, and falcon are expected

to entertain all who visit us.

Creating...

Hearing the story

"Finding My Hands" by Lisa Webb

Illustrated by Landon Webb

A good time to spend with your child

"Especially Me"

My "Me Cut Out"

    Braving the weather and bad roads, on Saturday, January 20th from 10-12 pm, about a dozen children accompanied by their parents, grandparents, and guardians participated in the first of our Children's Events for 2007. The program was entitled "ESpecialy Me", and it was planned to complement the exhibit by the Ontario ARC, reminding us that everyone is special in his/her own way.

    The children first constructed a "ME" cutout with its hands tied by a ribbon with a bell.  While they listened to an original story, FINDING MY HANDS written by Lisa Webb of Bloomfield and illustrated by her son Landon Webb, they learned about the difficulties of a little boy named Scooter who didn't always "fit the mold."  His mother eventually discovered that he needed to "get to his hands" by creating art to make his life complete. At this point in the story the children untied the hands on their "ME" cutouts and shook them to make the bells ring.

     An introduction to the special art pieces in the gallery space was followed by an enthusiastic drumming and noisemaking circle with some of the children introducing and mimicking different rhythm patterns for the others to follow.  Everyone finished the morning by decorating a cookie with a special face, drinking cocoa, and eating apples.

             Everyone had a great time. 

   Please join us next month for

               "I Can Do What Birds Do" 

          on February 24th at 10-12 p.m.

           We'll hope for better weather!

A very special thanks to Ontario County and Red Jacket Orchards for their contributions to this program.

"A Family Friendly Event"

                         The 2nd Annual

Feast of the Three Kings Celebration was held

on Saturday, January 6, 2007 and proved to be a fun, relaxed, family festival with song and celebration through giving!  Admission was only $5 for entire family and a wrapped gift suitable for infants or toddlers.  These gifts will be deliverd to the children in the Head Start Migrant Program. The audience learned about and celebrated Three King's Day: El Dia de Los Reyes, the traditional holiday in most Spanish-speaking countries. It is the celebration of the arrival of the Magi bearing gifts to the Christ child.  On this occasion, rather than on Christmas, Hispanic children receive their presents.

     It all began at 4 PM where children took part in the construction of traditional party decorations cards, crowns, adding decorative elements to the piñata, etc.  At 5 PM, the celebration started with an introduction by Judi Cermak of Alejandra Molino, a professor at Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, who explained to all in English and in Spanish the purpose of this holiday and the food we would enjoy: horchata, Rosca and authentic tamales, which were delicious!   Songs were sung with accompaniment of John Paulsen, of Paulsen, Baker and Garvey. (http://www.paulsenbakerandgarvey.com/)

  Of course, the piñata was battered by blindfolded, excited children and a wealth of candy and peanuts poured forth.  These same children then carried the gifts they had brought up to the Baby Jesus with the invitation from the Three Wisemen:  Tim Gilbert, Bob Lamberson, and Jim Torpey.

   The evening was warm, family-based and educational for all who attended.  Be sure to plan on next year's Epiphany.  Many thanks to all who contributed time, expertise and support to this successful event.

Apples and juices provided by Red Jacket Orchards

http://www.redjacketorchards.com/

Chips and salsa were provided by El Pacifico Restaurant

http://www.elpacificomexicanrestaurant.com/index.html

An Introduction to Georgia

On Thursday, October 19th, 2006 from 5-8 pm, attendees were wined and noshed at ATA's dramatic reading of words and letters of O'Keeffe, accompanied by a visual presentation of photographs and artwork.  The excellent performance by Kathy Ann Morris, as O'Keeffe, and the visual presentaton by Michele Fernaays were a most enjoyable way to derive a better understanding of O'Keeffe and her art. Delicious refreshments provided by Cer-SMACK!  Thanks, Judi!

It was a absolutely WONDERFUL NIGHT!

By George, Pagu, you've done it again!

The Seventh Annual Spaghetti Opera

Saturday, October 14, 2006

With a delicious dinner prepared by Tom Encao, his family, the well-rehearsed kitchen crew, and served by the efficient waitstaff, the evening sparkled with sweet music.  Where else can one get an full evening of entertainment, a dinner, and a tax deduction? 

Put it on your "to go" list for next October!   You won't regret it.

Outstanding performances were made by Alex Cuddeback, Nadine Earl Carey, Kandace Grau, Dennis and Jennifer Maxfield, Cindy Bridgeford, Angie Bemus, and Earl Pettit.  Accompaniment was provided by Ines Draskovic and June Pettit.  The evening was produced by Mark Darling.  The Master of Ceremonies was Fred Magley.

KUDOS to ALL!!

ATA Dessert Theatre Starring:

  Mark Bays,

   Eileen Wegman

    Justin Falco

      Kathy Ann Morris 

       and J.P. Simpson

   For those of you who missed it, retired Bloomfield English teacher Kathy Ann Morris produced and directed some light entertainment and humor enjoyed by many that evening. 

  Eileen Wegman delivered a comedic play-reading of "In A Clutch" written by Carol Cohen.  Mark Bays co-wrote and performed in a vignette "My Status is Bigger Than Your Is".  Ms. Morris was joined J.P. Simpson on stage for her original vignette, "Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News" and a one act comedy: THE SIREN SONG OF STEPHEN JAY GOULD by Benjamin Bettenbender.  Ms. Morris also presented a monologue in the style of Bob Newhart entitled "Sometimes You Have To, You Know?"

   Three selections from musicals were performed by Justin Falco and accompanied by J.P. Simpson during the intermission of luscious desserts.

Sorry you missed it? 

Keep your eyes open for more theatre events to come to ATA!

   Photo by Don Fox, foxphotoarts.com

It was a really good time!