The Putnam Arts Council will participate in Freed Formats: the book reconsidered, a traveling book arts exhibition which features 135 works of book art by 53 artists from 17 states and 2 countries. Freed Formats programming includes exhibitions, book-making classes for youth and adults, artist talks, and screenings at 8 venues in Connecticut and New York State in 2019. The exhibit at the Putnam Arts Council’s A. Eric Arctander Gallery, 521 Kennicut Hill Road, Mahopac, will open on Saturday, May 11 from 3-5pm and will remain on view through June 9, 2019 with gallery hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 12:30-3:30 and weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) from noon-4pm. Visiting our gallery is always free, parking is limited.
Free Activities at the Putnam Arts Council, Mahopac:
Opening reception: Saturday, May 11 from 3-5pm. Enjoy the exhibit and meet the co-curators, Alice Walsh and Chris Perry.
Artist Talk – meet exhibiting artists Viviane Rombaldi Seppey and Debbie Chodoff and learn about the artists, their art and their process on Thursday, May 16 at 7pm. RSVP to the Putnam Arts Council at 845.803.8622 or email to joyce@putnamartscouncil.com
Free Workshops – register @www.putnamartscouncil.com Accepting a maximum of 15 students.
- Let’s Make A Book Workshop for 8-13 year-olds, Saturday, May 18 at 2:30pm – children will create their own accordion books.
- Japanese Stab Binding Workshop for Adults 16 and up, Sunday, May 19 at 2:30pm – decorate your cover and then bind the book-binding threads, no sewing skills required! Leave with a 6” x 9” book which can be used for writing, drawing or painting inside.
Visit the exhibit following the opening reception: Sunday May 12 – Sunday, June 9 – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 12:30-3:30 and weekends (sat & sun) noon-4pm.
Freed Formats appeals to all ages. Each person has a different feeling about what a book means to them. Book art engages anyone who has ever read, written or, for that matter, held a book in their hands. A book can impart information, entertain, outrage, inspire. With book art, the artist takes this thing we call a book, and turns it on its head, or turns it inside out, or turns it into something that is unrecognizable as ever having been a book.
We are proud to be partnering with co-curators Alice Walsh and Chris Perry to display this unique and innovative exhibit featuring artists whose visions and abilities inspire and amaze. The curators are pleased to bring the Freed Formatsprograms and artists to our region and they shared, “After exhibiting our own book art around the country and in Europe, we decided to now invite, organize and showcase the work of many other talented artists who are working in this genre. The response from both artists and organizations has been enthusiastic. We are confident that residents of New York and Connecticut will be intrigued, amused and informed by this entertaining and provocative show”.