MAD Art Says Thanks for Three-Season Community Project

To the editor:

Thank you for your support and participation in MAD Art, Inc.’s three-season community project, RE-Use Re-Art. Southern Madison County residents met the challenge of environmental awareness and community through the arts with enthusiasm. Since March we have produced five events.

In the Spring, MAD Art hosted Re-Imagined as Art, an exhibit at the Palace Theater in Hamilton featuring 13 area artists: Suzanne Lappan, Nicky Anderson, and Leigh Yardley of Hubbardsville; Pam Niskanen of West Winfield; Duane Martinez, and Suzanne Farrington of Hamilton; Adam Vanderhoff of Canastota; Storm Hammond of Sherburne; Arthur Rashap of Munnsville; Caitlin Weinell of Sherburne; Dewitt Godfrey of Poolville; Steve Miller of Clinton; and Audrey Swan of South Hamilton. All of their works were created from re-purposed materials.

In April, community members met the challenge to use old pub chairs as the raw materials for a creative art project, 30 Ways to Use a Chair. Four pieces are on display in Hamilton at La Iguana, Hamilton Whole Foods, The Peppermill and MAD Art Community Art Space. MAD Art artist, Sue Lappan, offered three free workshops to help community members in re-purposing their chairs.

In May, Compost Theater delighted young children while teaching them about composting.

That led us into summer for our very popular Art and Farm Visits. Local artists of all ages and skill levels visited area farms that produce and market locally: Alambria Springs Farm in Earlville; Fanny Cake Farm in Hamilton; Quarry Brook Farm in Sherburne; Brookdale Farm in South New Berlin; Common Thread CSA in Madison; Maggie’s Farm in Brookfield; Ingalls Meadow Farm in Canastota; and Drover Hill Farm in Earlville. These evenings were led by artists, Tim Gerkin and Leigh Yardley, for eight Wednesdays in June through August.

Our final event brought us together at Common Thread CSA in Madison to create a Community Sculptural Mud Oven. The oven was built by dedicated volunteer members over three consecutive weekends using mainly recycled materials, and is now available for community use.

We want to thank our supporters whose generosity with funds, man-hours and materials helped us build community through the arts. The New York State Council on the Arts and the Stanley Center for the Arts made this project possible with funds from the Art Creating Community Decentralization Program, together with community members M. Burton Marshall, The Colgate Inn, Miles B. Marshall, Golden Artist Colors, Dr. Michael Zahn, Colgate University, Cossitt Concrete, Curtis Lumber, Common Thread Farm, Palace Theater, Columbus Woodworking, Hamilton Whole Foods, The Peppermill, La Iguana, Susan and David Beatty, Paul Noyes, John and Patty Grossman, Patty Von Mechow, and Susan and Roger Bauman.

Leigh Yardley, Board Chair

MAD Art, Inc.

Pictured is the Mud Oven

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MAD Art Says Thanks for Three-Season Community Project

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