Celebrating 50 years of art

Tupper Arts to host annual Tupper Lake Art Show

TUPPER LAKE — For 50 years, Tupper Lake has been celebrating the arts and artists within its community by hosting an annual art show. Since its inception six years ago, Tupper Arts has taken on this proud tradition. This summer Tupper Arts is honored to host the 50th Annual Tupper Lake Art Show at its newly renovated art center. The art center has become a local hub where the community can experience, enjoy and immerse themselves in the arts. This year, Tupper Arts is excited to once again provide a full summer of galleries, performances and classes for the community.

Tupper Arts has had a lot to celebrate since last summer, including the finishing of their brand new façade, thanks in part to the success of their 2021-2023 Capital Campaign, which is still going strong. In addition to the generosity of donors and community members, Tupper Arts, along with the whole of Tupper Lake, got to celebrate last fall when they were awarded a DRI grant by the state of New York, which will go toward the continued improvement of the Tupper Lake business district on Park Street. For the first time in Tupper Arts’ history, the arts center stayed open all winter long, continuing to provide classes and events for community members of all ages, including a Paint ‘n Sip which they hosted in beloved memory of Tupper Lake community member, Jamie Rose Martin.

Now as the days get longer and warmer, Tupper Arts is ramping up for another season featuring brand new artists, musicians and performers.

In June, Tupper Arts will officially begin celebrating the 50th Annual Tupper Lake Arts Show, which will remain in the gallery through the beginning of July. This is the oldest art tradition in Tupper Lake.

As July approaches, Tupper Arts will be welcoming Adirondack artists Deborah Geurtze and Patrick Kirmer. Inspired by the world around them, Geurtze and Kirmer have spent their lives honing their craft, and their etchings and paintings beautifully display their interpretation of nature through organic shapes and colors.

Later in the month, local quilting group The Stitchin’ Bees will be taking over the Tupper Arts gallery for an exclusive two-day gallery to display their handmade quilts, each with a story to tell. And taking us through to early August, John Prime and Michael Rossi will be bringing their Adirondack and mountain-inspired landscapes to transport all of Tupper Arts’ visitors to places unseen.

To finish off July, Night School is going to host a rocking evening on July 24 with their popular dance hits, and brand new to the Summer Sunset Series is Rose & The Bros on July 26, who will keep the party going with their Zydeco and Cajun dance grooves. The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts will be returning on July 31 with their production of The Tempest, performed as part of their Adirondack Lakes Theatre Festival.

through the beginning of September.

The Summer Sunset Series will also be continuing through the end of August, starting with the Midnight Stargazers on Aug. 2, bringing their cosmic country rock music. Following them, Annie & the Hedonists are performing on Aug. 7 with their acoustic blues, vintage jazz, and swing favorites. On Aug. 9, Junction Jam will be performing their decade-spanning rock music, and enjoy true-grit, blues-based rock and roll with An Evening with The Silks the next week on Aug. 14.

To round out August, Organ Fairchild, a groove funk jam band, is performing on Aug. 16, followed by a return of The Bob Stump Band, whose popular blues and Appalachian folk music was a hit last year. For the grand finale, the Larry Ham Quartet will play an evening of jazz on Aug. 23.

(Provided photo)

Also at the beginning of July is the start of the Summer Sunset Series, back for its fourth year. Kicking off on July 4, Michael Shofi will be returning for a second time with his nature-based indie folk rock, followed by Tupper Lake native Brock Gonyea and his classic country sound. To finish off the night before the fireworks, Folkfaces will be performing a range of genres from jugband to rock. The Summer Sunset Series will be offering performances every Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m., completely free and open to the public.

The following week, The Big Takeover is returning on July 10 with their horn-powered reggae and world music, followed by the New Horizons Swing Band on July 12, who will be performing big band favorites. The Altered Tones will be performing classic alternative and rock music on July 17, with jazz, Latin and blues rock music by Moment’s Notice on July 19.

The Little Loggers Kids Shows funded by the Aseel Foundation will also be returning every Friday morning at the Tupper Lake Sunset Stage, starting on July 7 with the brand new Joshua J. Supershow, a side-splitting, nail-biting circus show. Mega Bubble Man will be performing on July 14 with a fantastical soap bubble puppet show, followed by beloved Dinoman on July 21. Dinoman will be taking audience members on a fast-paced journey through the science around us in his all-new show, “Super Heroes of Science.” In the final performance of July, Jumpin’ Jamie will be returning on July 28 with his “Kindie” rock for all ages.

Famed Tupper Lake fine artist Gary Casagrain will be bringing his one-man-show to Tupper Arts in August. Gary is renowned for his exquisite attention to detail in all of his landscapes and still scenes, which the arts center is excited to have in their gallery space

For the final two weeks of the Little Loggers Kids Shows, The Magic of Chris Wheel will have amazing illusions on Aug. 4. And finally, for her third year performing, Kit’s Interactive Theater is returning for a performance filled with audience participation, acting, singing and dancing. This year’s mini musical is titled “Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother,” a twist on the classic fairy tale.

To finish out Tupper Arts’ season, the Plein Air Festival is returning for the fifth year in a row in October. Artists from all over travel to Tupper Lake for a week to paint the beautiful vistas of the town and the surrounding areas. The festival wraps up with a show and sale at the Tupper Arts Center. For registration information, visit www.tupperarts.org.

Classes at the Tupper Arts Center for kids and adults will continue throughout the season. Tupper Arts partners with talented local artists to bring a diverse collection of classes for all ages, from glass work to painting to basket weaving.

For more details on Tupper Arts, visit tupperarts.org, where visitors can also subscribe to weekly newsletter and calls for artists. You can also find the arts center on Facebook and Instagram, @tupperartscenter.