Central New York Magazine September/October 2024

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A HORROR MOVIE

LOVE IT LIVE AT THESE CNY CONCERT VENUES AND

ENTERTAINMENT

TOUR THE STUDIOS OF THREE LOCAL ARTISTS

SCULPTOR PRESERVES SYRACUSE HISTORY

ROBOTIC SURGERY: Experience Matters

Getting you better, sooner. It’s why more patients are choosing Crouse Health — and why our minimally invasive robotic surgery program continues to grow. In fact, Crouse has the largest robotic surgery program in the region, with the most surgeons performing a wide variety of procedures — nearly 17,000 since 2008. The result? The most experienced team using the latest innovative techniques to get you back to health faster. And more reasons to say,“Take Me to Crouse!”

Exclusive healthcare partner of Syracuse® Athletics

CROUSE ROBOTIC SURGICAL TEAM

GENERAL SURGERY

Clinton Ingersoll, MD

Atul Maini, MD

Benjamin Sadowitz, MD

James Sartori, MD

BARIATRIC

Kenneth Cooper, DO

Jeffrey DeSimone, MD

Taewan Kim, MD

CARDIOPULMONARY THORACIC

Michael Archer, DO

Jason Wallen, MD

Yifan Zheng, MD

COLORECTAL

James Berry, MD

Siva Dantu, MD

David Nesbitt, MD

John Nicholson, MD

ENT

Mark Marzouk, MD

GYN ONCOLOGY

Rinki Agarwal, MD

Douglas Bunn, MD

Mary Cunningham, MD

Allison Roy, MD

GYNECOLOGY

Stephen Brown, MD

Timothy Bussert, MD

Jerry Caporaso, Jr., MD

Catherine Fiori, MD

Myron Luthringer, MD

Navpriya Oberoi, MD

Byuong Ryu, MD

Lisa Schwartz, MD

ORTHOPEDIC

Max Greenky, MD

Kevin Kopko, MD

Anthony Orio, MD

David Quinzi, MD

Robert Sherman, MD

UROLOGY

David Albala, MD

Joseph Mena Jacob, MD

Po Lam, MD

Hadley Narins, MD

Ned Ruhotina, MD

Harvey Sauer, MD

PRESIDENT

Tim Kennedy

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Lindsay Marlenga lmarlenga@advancemediany.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Gerry Bauer

315-470-3118 gbauer@advancelocal.com

MAGAZINE/EVENTS

SALES MANAGER

Jennifer K. Queri 315-282-8622 jqueri@advancemediany.com

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT

REPRESENTATIVE

Chrissy Tice

216-999-4643 ctice@advancelocal.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Amy Bleier Long

315-282-8553

ableierlong@advancemediany.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com

DESIGNERS

Susan Santola ssantola@advancelocal.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE

315-282-8622

ON THE COVER

Essential brushes and a paint palette in mixed-media and digital artist London Ladd’s studio (see page 62 for story). Photo by Amelia Beamish. Design by Susan Santola.

The Good Life, Central New York Magazine (ISSN 1931-194X) is published six times a year by Advance Media New York, 220 S. Warren St., Syracuse, New York 13202. The Post-Standard © 2024. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic/digital, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission. All material submitted to Central New York Magazine becomes the property of Advance Media New York, publishers of The Post-Standard and Central New York Magazine. It will not be returned. Such a submission, to name a few examples, may be a letter to the editor, a cartoon, a picture, a poem and the like. Any such material may be excerpted, edited for length or content, and may be published or used in any other way. For example, on Syracuse.com or in The Post-Standard.

Thank

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that make CNY Magazine possible!

Express yourself

Ever since high school, I’ve called myself “artist adjacent.” I think I am creative and I work in a creative field, but I don’t consider myself to be an artist or to have much artistic talent. I’ve always had artistic friends, and in my career I have been very inspired by photographers, stylists and graphic designers. Whenever I’ve had the privilege to be in an artist’s studio, I’m always interested to know how they work and what they surround themselves with. I’m so grateful that artists Carrie Valenzuela, London Ladd, and Mary Shelley were willing to open up the doors to their creative spaces and talk to us about their process (page 62).

In other features, we highlight a number of live music venues that keep Central New York rocking, take five with the creators of a campy horror comedy film and look retrospectively at the work of sculptor Sharon BuMann, which includes some of the most recognizable public art in Syracuse.

In our regular departments, we complement our arts & entertainment theme by celebrating the Syracuse City School District’s first competitive marching and field

band, learning how visits to cultural institutions can be good for you, piecing together the story of a community-sourced quilt, meeting SU alums who’ve launched their own art advisory and management firm, and examining how art often pushes us to see what needs greater attention. It is with great sadness that I inform you Advance Media New York, our publisher, has decided to cease regular publication of Central New York Magazine. Our holiday issue (the next to publish) will be our last regularly printed edition. We are very proud of the stories we have been able to tell. We hope you found them valuable, and we are grateful for your readership and support. There will be more communication over the next few months about this, especially to our subscribers, who will be contacted about their options moving forward. We hope you enjoy this issue.

Amy Bleier Long ableierlong@advancemediany.com

As always, we’d love to hear from you about story ideas, thoughts, tips, suggestions, you name it. Drop us a line at info@readcnymagazine.com.

And now, a word from our contributors:

Susan Kennedy

“Keeping eye contact was key and felt intimate, revealing and focused. I’ve tried to incorporate that focus in conversations in my hearing world.”

On interviewing Whole Me Inc. volunteer Pat Maher and employee Pam Mabee, who are deaf

Brandon Wallace

“Hearing how Levings Vander Voort made a way for themselves was encouraging. Their model is a testament to manifesting your destiny. It’s not always easy, but you can make it happen.”

On writing about Levings Vander Voort Art Advisory

PHOTOS

Love You Live Where

This is CNY is a new website celebrating good news and good living across Central New York.  The platform is also used as a recruitment resource for CNY companies looking to attract talented candidates to our region. Thank you to our community partners for supporting This is CNY.

62

Artist Appreciation

A woodcarver, an illustrator and a letterpress printer/ bookbinder share their work and creative spaces.

42

Music to Our Ears

Experience live music up close and personal or with hundreds of likeminded fans at these venues.

50 Making the Cut

Longtime friends create and shoot campy horror film locally as an homage to the B-movies they love.

56

A Monumental Talent

Sculptor Sharon BuMann has created some of the most recognizable statues and monuments in Syracuse.

BY

PHOTO

AMELIA BEAMISH

“I

This community is more than just my home — it’s the place where I decided to build my future. I am grateful for all that Central New York has given me and it’s an honor to be able to help pave a path for impactful, generational change.

I created the Chedy Hampson Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation to serve as a vehicle for my personal giving. Grants from my donor-advised fund support projects and organizations that help address pressing issues such as homeownership, childcare, and after-school activities in Southside neighborhoods and across Central New York.

The Community Foundation’s extensive network and experience in handling philanthropic funds made it the perfect ally to ensure that my contribution continues to have the greatest impact. My vision for the fund is that it will not only solve today’s problems but will also adapt to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

GIVING

CHEDY HAMPSON

Read more of Chedy’s story by scanning the QR code or visiting cnycf.org/hampson

Chedy, a lifelong resident of Syracuse who grew up on the Southside, stands in front of his childhood home on Kenmore Avenue.

CHEDY HAMPSON

It’s all good

POSITIVE VIBES • OUR TOWN • MARKET TRENDS

COOL CHANGE

BY MJ KRAVEC

Don’t deny it. You’ve been looking forward to it since the end of July. Crisp air, leaves the colors of fire, and pumpkin spice everything always put us Central New Yorkers in a tizzy. So pull out the socks and Birkenstocks, don some flannel and get ready for fall. Here are seven ways to savor the season now.

It’s all good

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

Step back in time with tours at Historic Oakwood Cemetery. Organized by the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association (HOCPA), the tours take visitors through different sections of the cemetery to tell the stories of the historic figures buried there. About two hours long, tours are free, but donations are appreciated. Tours begin at 2 p.m., Sept. 15 and Oct. 20. For more information, go to hocpa.org/calendar.

FEAR FLICKS

If you’ve never seen the black-andwhite horror classics “Dracula,” “Frankenstein” and “The Wolf Man,” light some candles and make a movie night of it. A little cheesy? Sure. But the set design and creepy fog work like a skeletal hand dragging you back to all your childhood fears. Find DVDs at your local library or rent on Amazon Prime.

FIRST ACT

PIE HIGH

With cider season in high gear, make this apple pie martini. Combine 1 ounce vodka, 1 ½ ounces vanilla liqueur, 2 ounces of cider, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a dash of lime in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple slice.

The 2024-2025 theater season begins! Consider buying a subscription to a local theater and enjoy new shows throughout the year. Among this year’s highlights: “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” and “Sense & Sensibility” at Syracuse Stage; “Hamlet,” “The Sound of Music” and “Fun Home” at the Redhouse; and “Les Misérables,” “The Lion King” and “Beetlejuice” at Landmark Theatre. Visit syracusestage.org, theredhouse.org or landmarktheatre.org.

PHOTOS BY RICK MORIARTY, DAN NORMAN, BENJAMIN MOORE, SHUTTERSTOCK

YOU HAVE A DARK SIDE

Last year’s dark academia trend is still a thing. Embrace your inner professor by painting a room or accent wall with one of these moody colors. We like Benjamin Moore’s Regent Green (shown above), Amazon Soil, English Brown, Savannah Shade and Bewitched.

ALL HALLOW

Make an ordinary space a little extra for the season — but keep it subtle and fun. Bewitch your entrance hall by placing pumpkins near shoes, tucking a broom in a corner and hanging a cloak (if you so happen to have one on hand) along with coats and jackets.

GIVE IT A FRY

Infuse dinner with a taste of the season and try sage leaves and brown butter. Melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter in a pan and cook (give the butter an occasional stir to prevent burning) until brown, about three minutes. Add 12 fresh sage leaves and let fry for one minute. Serve alongside roasted veggies, steak, pork or chicken.

POSITIVE VIBES

AN ARTWORK A DAY

Discover the health benefits of exploring the arts

Soon doctors may give patients prescriptions, not for pills or supplements but for a trip to the museum. A practice called social prescribing (or arts on prescription), more common in the U.K. but emerging in the U.S., adopts a holistic approach to treating anxiety, depression, stress and isolation.

Social prescriptions refer patients to cultural or community activities that boost their wellbeing. The arts help us practice mindfulness, enhance critical thinking skills, encourage curiosity and promote an active, rather than reactive, mindset. According to several studies cited in a 2023 Psychology Today article, engagement with arts and culture can reduce anxiety and depression, foster social connection and improve quality of life.

Through programs like CultureRx in Massachusetts and the Arts & Wellbeing Initiative in New Jersey, healthcare providers have written prescriptions for doses of social connectivity by recommending immersive visits to “GLAM” institutions: galleries, libraries, archives and museums. According to a 2006 study published in the Journal of Holistic Healthcare, just 35 minutes spent in an art gallery can reduce cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress. A 2018 study published in Scientific Reports found that adults of approximately 63 years of age who regularly visited art galleries, museums or theaters (not cinemas) experienced less cognitive decline compared to those who did not attend. Improved memory among participants who frequently attended these destinations was also reported. Recommending time spent engaged at lowor no-cost GLAM destinations makes social prescriptions equitable for all. Immersion in GLAM activities, whether prescribed or not, provides an avenue that connects individuals to their roots and those around them, increasing empathy through community engagement and sparking creativity along the way.

BY KAILA CHAMPOUX

To practice: You don’t need to wait for social prescribing to become more popular to view new and historical perspectives at a local gallery or museum; see page 92 for a sampling. Visit your public library for free fun and discovery or dive into the archives of the many local historical societies and associations. Take in a concert, theater or dance performance — it may be just what the doctor ordered.

BY

PHOTO

DAVID LASSMAN

The Everson Museum of Art is just one of many CNY cultural venues that could boost your mood.

It’s all good OUR TOWN

Northside

BY LORNA OPPEDISANO

The Northside neighborhood of Syracuse is a melting pot of cultures, including Irish, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Bosnian and Sudanese. It’s also home to two National Register of Historic Places districts — North Salina Street and Hawley-Green Street — as well as the Local Preservation District of Sedgwick. Last year, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh launched the Proud Places Project, a program aimed at strengthening the neighborhood through citizen engagement, beautification and community stewardship, starting with the Butternut Street Corridor. From myriad cuisines and markets to the Mets, the Northside has a little of something from everywhere for everyone.

GRAB A BITE

Start your day strong with breakfast at Stella’s Diner or the Greek American Market Diner. Take the cannoli, or any other scrumptious Italian pastry, at Biscotti Café & Pastry Shop or Nino’s Italian Bakery. Grab a slice — regular or Detroit-style — for lunch at Peppino’s Restaurant & Catering or pair your pizza with savory Southern wings at RJ’s Authentic Eatery. You can also try the awardwinning pizza at Little Mac’s Pizzeria, extensive menu at Wings Over Syracuse or fan favorite Buffalo Chicken Madness Pizza at Cardano’s Pizza & Wings. Have an afternoon pick-me-up at Kairos Cafe, a new establishment in the Hawley-Green area. Don’t forget to stop by Di Lauro’s Bakery & Pizza or Columbus Baking Company for a fresh loaf of Italian bread. (Pro tip: get an extra “car loaf.” You will not be sorry.) Keep your tastebuds surprised at Riley’s, where there’s something new on the menu with each visit. If you’re looking for Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran or Puerto Rican, visit Mi Casita Restaurant. Try Eastern African cuisine at Somali Restaurant and EthioEritrea Restaurant, or Central and Eastern African dishes at The Taste of Africa, founded in 2017 by a Congolese refugee. Craving traditional Vietnamese? Enjoy New Century, family-owned for more than 15 years. Neighborhood staple Don Juan Café has served fresh Puerto Rican cuisine since 1997. Stop by Mr. Biggs for an authentic Caribbean meal. There’s no shortage of Italian options with Angotti’s Family Restaurant, Attilio’s and Francesca’s Cucina. Popular Dang’s Cafe is expected to reopen this fall.

Above, artist Jacqueline Colello’s three-story mural on North Salina Street depicts Francesca Angeloro, the namesake of Francesca’s Cucina restaurant. Right, fresh pastries in Biscotti Cafe’s display case.

HAVE A DRINK

Get a beverage at Onondaga County’s oldest bar, Ye Olde Clipper Tavern, or at Guilfoil’s, a fourth-generation family-owned and -operated Irish pub. Sip on a signature cocktail and join the bourbon club at Laci’s Tapas Bar. Grab a cold beer and awardwinning wings at Change of Pace Sports Bar. Have a drink — and a great brunch — at Wolf’s Den or an Irish pint at McNeilly’s Pub Stock up on unique wines and spirits from Vinomania. Boost your caffeine intake at Cafe Blue, located on the edge of the Northside in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. Stay in the Inner Harbor for a brew from Meier’s Creek, made locally in Cazenovia and voted Best Brewery in Advance Media’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. Visit the lobby bar at Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor for a drink and stay for trivia on Thursdays!

THINGS TO DO

ANNUAL EVENTS

Welcome spring with the annual opening day of the Syracuse Mets

As the season unfolds each year, join the team for fireworks after select games, Bark in the Park nights and other themed evenings. Just on the edge of the Northside, the Inner Harbor plays host to happenings throughout the year: Celebrate the LBGTQ+ community each June with the CNY Pride Festival & Parade

Enjoy the area with the Syracuse Inner Harbor Fest each September, featuring dragon boat races, live music, carnival rides, food trucks, craft beer and more.

Listen to live musical acts at the 443 Social Club & Lounge. Attend an exhibition at ArtRage Gallery or support the creative programming at ArtHouse Alliance. Gear up and take on the 21,000 square feet of climbing terrain at Central Rock Gym, which also offers fitness classes and yoga. Bring the cheerleading or dancing child in your life to CNY Storm Learn about the first Franciscan woman from North America to be canonized at the Saint Marianne Cope Shrine & Museum. Participate in the many events and programs at the Northeast Community Center. Hit the batting cages at Perfect Practice and then take in a Triple-A Minor League Baseball game with the Syracuse Mets at NBT Bank Stadium

“The Northside Cultural Arts District [will] promote the creative community and join other cultural organizations that foster community engagement.”

Daniela Nikolavsky, owner of Ocara Fine Arts

GET OUTSIDE

Become a member and practice your swing at the Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club

Have a picnic at Washington Square Park, explore the beautiful playground at Union Park, pose for pictures at the picturesque Franklin Square Park or visit Schiller Park or Lincoln Park for athletic fields and courts, playgrounds or swimming pools. Take in the tranquility and local history at Woodlawn Cemetery & Mausoleums or Rose Hill Cemetery, Syracuse’s first cemetery.

Take your family out to the ball game and cheer on the Syracuse Mets.

Children enjoy the playground in Union Park.

SHOP LOCAL

Between the weekend Flea Market and the Thursday (seasonal) and Saturday (year-round) farmers market, you can find just about anything you’re searching for at the CNY Regional Market. Find fresh vegetables, meats and international products at the new CNY Food Market (translation — island market), specialty Mediterranean food at Thanos Import Market, Italian imports from Lombardi’s or other international goods from a variety of small markets throughout the Northside. Appeal to your sweet tooth with Speach Family Candy Shoppe, family-owned and -operated for more than a century. If you’re looking to treat yourself, try Robert Joseph’s Salon & Spa or Evan Michaels Salon. Visit Salt City Artisans (home of Syracuse Soapworks), featuring locally crafted goods from more than 40 artisans and craftspeople. View original work at Ocara Fine Arts, home to the community-based initiative Northside Cultural Arts District. Explore authentic African clothing, fabrics, accessories, home decor, crafts and more at Ara African Couture Store. Streetwear fans should visit Sharef’s World of Fashion. Peruse locally handcrafted leather products at Middle Earth Leather Works. Plan your next home project with Roma Tile & Marble. Create a custom-made club at Prestwick Golf. Get lost in history within four floors and more than 70 dealers at the Syracuse Antiques Exchange

Above, shoppers and vendors at the CNY Regional Market.

Right, jars at Speach Family Candy Shoppe.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

W E P L A N Y O U P L A N T U C

TIME TO SHINE

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

Fall brings a change in the air, and eventually, as the weeks go by, less warmth and light. Create your own warm glow with gold tones that add shine, reflect light and bring an elegant touch to everyday items and decorative accents. Candles are another option; consider elevating them (literally) with beautiful candle holders. Available in a wide variety of materials, designs and heights, it’s not difficult to find a style that suits you. Choose a pair for symmetry, mix and match them or group a large number for maximum effect — tapers can go on the dining table, mantel, a side table or any spot that needs a special touch. In this transitional season, we also look to denim (and denim-colored) pieces for versatility and flare.

LET’S TALK TURKEY Recycled metal turkey, $36, The Wren’s Den, 2756 W. Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus, 315-952-5954, thewrensden.business.site.

PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

CANDLELIGHT WINNER

LOW LIGHT

Simplicity taper holder mini in dark bronze, $8, BeeKind, 118 Milton Avenue, Syracuse, 315-299-6073, beekindsyracuse.com.

FLICKER COLLECTION

Brass candlesticks, $112 for set of three, 13.5-14 inches high, M Graham Interiors.

WINGING

IT

MacKenzie-Childs

Flower Market

Butterfly candle holders, $99 for set of two, Nest58, 58 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5888, nest58.com.

FLAME THROWER

Cast iron brass taper, $24, Inspired.

BURNING DESIRE

Tall taper, $22, Inspired 7468 Oswego Road, Liverpool, 315-622-3000, inspired-vhd.com.

STRIKE YOUR FANCY

Chatham taper candle holders, $49.99 for set of three, 14-19 inches high, The Station 603, 603 E. Seneca Street, Manlius, 315-682-8741, thestation603.com.

LOW BURN

Short taper, $14, Inspired.

FIRE-Y PERSONALITY

Black circle candlestick, 8.5 inches high, $28, M Graham Interiors.

HOLDING COURT

Vintage-style courting candle holder, $16.99, The Gift Box Shoppe, 4317 Fay Road, Syracuse, 315-487-9099, thegiftboxshoppe.com.

STICKS TOGETHER

Burke taper holders, $208 for set of three, 14.5-20.5 inches high, M Graham Interiors.

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

Black hand-forged taper holders, $42 for set of two, Paola Kay Gifts, 105 Brooklea Drive, Fayetteville, 315-632-2192, paolakaygifts.com.

WARM UP

Tall glass taper in amber, $21, Synple, 70 Main Street, Camillus, 315-320-4212, shopsynple.com.

FEELING A SPARK

Grey circle shape candlestick, $43, M Graham Interiors.

BETTER SHAPE UP

Hexagonal glass taper holder, $5, BeeKind.

SPARK SOMETHING NEW

Beatriz Ball Cambridge Olivia taper holder, $77 for set of two, Nest58.

WAX POETIC

Simon Pearce Hartland Candlestick medium, $170, Nest58.

LIGHTEN YOUR MOOD

Adeline candle holder, $20, Skaneateles 300, 2 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-1133, skaneateles300.com.

WICK-ED STYLE

Small Maren candlestick, $25, Large Maren candlestick, $28, Skaneateles 300.

LET THERE BE LIGHTS

Long stem candle holder tall, $38, and long stem candle holder short, $30, Genesee Daley, 54 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-949-4581.

It’s

GOLD RUSH

YOU GOT SERVED Marble server with brass handle, $25, gold cheese markers set, $28, Decor & More, 57 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-815-4001, decorandmorecny.com.

HERE COMES THE SUN Suncatcher, $29, The 315 Hive Boutique, 8395 Oswego Road, Baldwinsville, 315-857-6690, 315hiveboutique.com.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Sleeping fox, $24, M Graham Interiors.

DAZZLING DECOR

Gold leaf ball, $5, Inspired.

IT’S ESSEN-SHELL Oyster shell decoupaged with MacKenzie-Childs napkins, $18, The Wren’s Den.

HOOK OVER THERE Wall hooks, $16.99 each, The Station 603.

TEXTURAL TABLEWARE

Sierra Seattle medium round dishwasher-safe platter in gold, $85, Nest58.

TABLE THE DISCUSSION Scout side table, $260, Decor & More.

PICTURE THIS Kate Spade 5-by-7-inch frame, $70, M Graham Interiors.

CUT IT OUT

Metal scissors with flower shape, $25, Synple.

FEEL THE LOVE

Heart hands decorative object, $19, Nicole M. Boutique & Gifts, 7070 Cedar Bay Road, Fayetteville, 315-446-1576.

ELEVATED EATING

Footed dishwasher- and oven-safe bowl, $100, Decor & More.

ORE-NATE STYLE

Vintage gold picture frame, $39.99, The Station 603.

TAP LIGHT

Geraldine cordless rechargeable LED lamp, $138, Synple.

GOT THE DENIM BLUES

A BEAUTIFUL ACCENT

Harlequin stool regular, $150, Decor & More.

JOIN THE FRAY

Ponderay braid detail fray hem crop jacket, $119, The 315 Hive Boutique.

BOWLED OVER

Low blue ceramic planter, $58, The Station 603.

WELL HEELED

BOXING CLEVER

Blue Hyacinth Striped Box large, $34, Decor & More.

STAR POWER

Foust lace-to-toe waterproof navy nubuck shoes, $175, Mr. Shop.

PICK UP ARTIST

Dog poo-bag pouch by JensYensTwo, $12, Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, 315-552-1627, wildflowersarmory.com.

Distressed star jeans, $119, Floridella Boutique, 406 S. Franklin Street, Syracuse, 315-741-7961, shopfloridella.com.

JACKET OF ALL TRADES

Stephan cotton blend full-zip jacket, $285, Mr. Shop, 259 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, 315-478-3938, mrshopsyracuse.com.

JEAN-IUS IDEA

Miel Q recycled denim sneakers, $62, Emma + James, 25 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-2747, shopejclothing.com.

Good news

A JOYFUL NOISE

The Syracuse City School District celebrated a historic first when the Pride of Syracuse City Marching Band — the district’s first combined competitive marching band — formed in 2023.

Over 90 musicians and color guard members from 10 middle and high schools have registered for the 2024 season, an impressive increase in participation from its start last fall. Director Holly McCoy has already seen friendships form across the district, musical skills expand and students find their confidence as leaders. The band, led by McCoy and assistant director John

Chiamulera, has gained membership to the New York State Field Band Conference (NYSFBC), opening up a future of statewide events and competitions for the students. At its first competition, on Sept. 7 at East Syracuse Minoa High School, the Pride will debut a performance titled “First Light Rising,” an ode to Syracuse and the city’s redesigned flag.

You can cheer on these talented teens most Saturdays in September and October, and at the season’s pinnacle event: the NYSFBC Championships at the JMA Wireless Dome on Oct. 27.

For more information: visit syracusecityschools.com

Good news BEHIND THE SCENES

CRAFTING COMMUNITY

How a quilt encoded with data is being pieced together

BY ASHLEY KANG

Patchwork blocks in the colors of the rainbow continue to arrive by mail to fiber artist Rachel Ivy Clarke. Each is the result of an interactive art project Clarke launched in April to introduce Onondaga County residents to the traditional craft through free quilting kits.

She calls this project the Little Free Fibrary because each kit, which contains step-by-step instructions to create a simple quilt block and all the necessary materials, is distributed to all the Little Free Libraries in Onondaga County. This network of give-and-take book exchanges provides Clarke a unique way to dole out each month nearly 100 of her kits, which also include return envelopes so participants can share completed blocks to be incorporated into a final quilt.

Funded by a micro grant from CNY Arts, Clarke’s effort taps

into the historic communal nature of quilting. “Quilts have always been a community art form,” she says referencing quilting bees, sessions where women gathered to collectively sew, which “turned a laborious task into a social activity, and this project aims to recreate that sense of community.”

While the final quilt will represent such a communal effort, it will be encoded, too, with deeper meaning through Clarke’s choice of colors. Each hue signifies a section of the county. “I chose colors based on the different areas and routes within the county,” she explains. “For instance, libraries in the north get orange blocks, while those in the south get blue.” Special edition rainbow kits were handed out at the Westcott Art Trail in June. Thus, the quilt will be a visual representation of where each 12inch square originated.

BY

PHOTO

ASHLEY KANG

Fiber artist Rachel Ivy Clarke creates quilts that convey data through colors and patterns.

Clarke, who works as an associate professor in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, says she has always been interested in data and classification. “On the side, I’ve dabbled in textile arts, and one day, I thought, ‘What happens when these two interests come together?’” This curiosity sparked a series of projects, with Clarke starting initially by focusing on iconic information visualization methods such as bar graphs, pie charts and even the recognizable London tube map translated into quilt form.

Last year, she traveled to Maker Faires across the state with her “Material Interactions: DataDriven Community Quilting” project to create data-themed quilts. She asked Faire attendees from where and how far they had traveled to be there. The subsequent quilt blocks’ colors represented direction traveled and the fabric lengths indicated distance. The combined pieces resulted in the series’ first quilt measuring a whopping 30 feet long. This surprise taught her the importance of piloting one’s data scale, but still, the work took first place in the Group Quilt category at the 2023 New York State Fair.

For her Little Free Fibrary kits, she again chose rainbow hues for their chromatic design and the flexibility they would allow her. “I don’t know how big the quilt will be or how many blocks we’ll have until all are returned,” she says. She will make the design pleasing to the eye while also conveying how many patchwork pieces were completed in each area, possibly organizing returned blocks in rainbow order from red to purple, with a variety of shades and tints represented.

While her primary goal is not to draw definitive conclusions from the data, the geographic distribution of returned blocks will provide a visual narrative of community participation.

“One of the things about community projects is that you never know what you’re going to get,” she says. “That’s the fun part.”

As of Aug. 5, 32 blocks have been returned.

“It’s fascinating to see where the blocks come from and how the community engages with the project,” she says, noting some have completed more than one block. She jokingly calls these folks her repeat offenders.

Clockwise from top, patchwork blocks that have been returned from community members; a Little Free Fibrary kit waits to be taken home at a Little Free Library location in Onondaga County; the instruction booklet, fabric, supplies and return envelope from inside one of the kits.

Each tutorial is designed around simple patterns, such as the classic nine-patch, to accommodate quilters of all skill levels. The bags contain pre-cut fabric pieces, thread, needles, pins and detailed instructions. “I try to give people everything they need to get started,” she says. “One of the challenges with quilting is that while it’s accessible, it can be daunting without the right tools and guidance. My kits are designed to make the initial steps as easy as possible.” New kits, which have increased slightly in difficulty each month, can be found until mid-September.

Clarke will accept sewn blocks until Oct. 31 in order to have time to complete the quilt by early 2025. She hopes to host some community events later this year, possibly holding sessions at libraries, so people can help with some of the quilting.

“Technically, quilting,” she explains, “is putting the layers together and stitching through them. So, making a block isn’t quilting; it’s patchwork. The actual quilting is when you combine the top (patchwork), a layer of batting and then the backing. Then you stitch through all three layers to hold them together.”

the result of Clarke’s “Material Interactions” project. Above, the colorcoded key Clarke used to determine the assigned colors for “Material Interactions” and for this new community quilt.

Additional layers of data, like incorporating the county map onto the quilt, can be added at this stage using stitch patterns. For example, she says, “Participants can put a star on the map where their Little Free Library is located, adding a personal touch to the final piece.”

The full quilt (or possibly quilts) will go on display next year at venues such as county libraries and, potentially, local and national quilt shows.

Clarke hopes this project can revive the communal spirt of quilting while making the artform accessible to all. She makes data quilts, she says, because it allows her to express the abstract in a new and interesting form.

“There’s something in the textile that makes you want to touch it. I love their touchability … They are soft and malleable,” she says of the pieces she’s had on display. “Every single one, even the ginormous one, you could take off the wall and use it as a blanket.

“I think there’s a value added. It is data. It is art, but it is also functional,” she adds. “Name me something else that does all three of those things.”

more information: Follow the Little Free Fibrary on Instagram at @littlefreefibrary

Left,

Upstate Foundation Since 1976

Institute for Human Performance Millions raised for research

Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital

Over $72 million raised for children since 1977

Madison Irving

Over $6.5 million to be raised for Golisano Center for Special Needs

Upstate University Hospital

Over $3.7 million in annual donations

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Funding for adult and pediatric patient services

Wellness Institute Joslin Diabetes Center

Heliport Funded the rst helipad

Cancer Center

Consistent annual fund giving since its opening in 2014

Upstate Foundation

The Upstate Foundation was founded in 1976 as a notfor-pro t corporation to receive and administer gifts and bequests for charitable purposes. A public charity with the ability to make distributions to any quali ed nonpro t organization, the Upstate Foundation’s primary orientation is supporting the mission of Upstate Medical University.

We partner for impact in the following areas:

• Patient health care

• Education of future health care providers

• Scienti c research

• Community health and well-being.

Thanks to generous supporters of the Upstate Foundation, world-class health care is provided; scholarships for students in various areas of health care education continue; scienti c research e ects current and future medical diagnoses and treatments; and the Central New York community receives services such as Upstate’s HouseCalls for the Homeless street medicine program.

For nearly 50 years, the Upstate Foundation has had the pleasure of working with those who give philanthropically with an altruistic desire to help others. The Foundation o ers a variety of ways you can achieve your charitable

Where your gift impacts the health of the entire region

goals including donor-advised funds and charitable gift annuities. You can contribute to an existing fund or endowment (we have more than 1,200 – the most of any nonpro t in the region), or you can establish your own (think naming gift).

Mary Pat and Joe Hartnett of Syracuse are leaving a legacy gift that will provide funding to beautify the healing garden at the Upstate Cancer Center.

By working with members of the experienced Upstate Foundation team, they can help connect your passion and philanthropic goals for the bene t of others.

To read the Hartnett’s story, visit www.UpstateFoundation.org/LegacyGiving

For more information, call Carolyn Hendrickson, director of planned giving, at 315-464-6490.

Nappi

Upstate

Good news

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

HUNGRY TO COMMUNICATE

A deaf mother and daughter use baking to connect CNY’s Deaf community

BY SUSAN KENNEDY

On a warm May afternoon students toss backpacks precariously atop a table. A smiling boy, arms flung wide, darts around the carpet free from the confines of class, while pre-teen girls share gossip and giggles. Excitement builds as the students await the start of their after-school program, Baking with Pat, at Whole Me Inc. on James Street in Syracuse. No one speaks, yet conversations flow as the children use their hands and faces to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL). The half-dozen kids gathered are deaf or hard of hearing and, in this room especially, are free to be themselves.

“I cherish this!” says volunteer teacher Pat Maher. She, too, is deaf, as is her daughter, Pam Mabee, who works for Whole Me Inc. They speak through an interpreter for our interview. Whole Me Inc. provides Central New York’s Deaf community

with youth and senior care services, employment support, ASL instruction, and advocacy, among other services. When Mabee needed help with the children’s program, she recruited her baking-loving mother and the after-school activity was born. Now Maher mixes, stirs and bakes cookie bars, pizza and familyfavorite pineapple upside-down cake with children ages 5-12 each month. “I am somebody exactly like them,” signs Maher, “hungry to communicate.”

Being deaf can be isolating, especially for kids at home after school, says Mabee. Approximately 70% of hearing parents with deaf children don’t learn sign language and struggle to communicate well with their children, according to the latest reports from the National Association for the Deaf. During the pandemic, when the baking program was created, the mother-

Pam Mabee, left, and her mother Pat Maher, right, enjoy a homemade snack created by youth in the Whole Me Inc. after-school program “Baking with Pat.” Caleb Braga, center, Asmaa Al-Dubai, back right, and her sister Heba Al-Dubai sign “I love you.”

and-daughter team delivered ingredients to each child’s home, then hosted the cooking class via Zoom. “Parents were shocked to see there was a deaf person teaching,” Mabee says. Baking with Pat has inspired families to connect. Several parents now volunteer with the after-school program and some have enrolled in ASL classes. Children have parental support and have fun, says Maher, as she shows the kids how to create a healthy banana split with granola, yogurt, fruit and whipped cream. “They realize they are capable and valued.”

In 1987, Maher and her late husband, Daniel, who was also deaf, helped found the Syracuse Deaf Club. “We realized we all were fearful of socializing in public,” says Maher, so they organized events for the Deaf community. Dozens of people came to their first meeting, all able to be themselves. Realizing the value in fellowship, Mabee developed twice-amonth luncheons for seniors at Whole Me Inc., with programs that focus on information needed by deaf and aging populations, including subjects like mobility, Alzheimer’s, healthy eating and more. “We all feel more uplifted when we are with others,” says Mabee. Pat Maher was born hearing but became deaf a year later after she suffered from brain swelling with fluid; her brother became deaf also. Learning in a public school with aides was not an option in the 1950s and ’60s, so they went to a residential deaf school in Rome, NY, commuting home twice a month. Her parents would mime actions to communicate; “Come wash this,” they’d gesture. The family joined a thriving Deaf bowling community and traveled across the state for tournaments. That’s where Maher first met her husband.

“WE ALL FEEL MORE UPLIFTED WHEN WE ARE WITH OTHERS.”

Pam

Mabee, service coordinator for Whole Me Inc.

When the Mahers had Pam in 1978, they were overjoyed. “I spoiled her,” laughs Maher, “and still do.” Like both her parents, Mabee was born hearing, fell ill as a toddler and became deaf. By 1980, resources for the deaf had changed. Mabee attended early education programs and enrolled in Syracuse public schools with ASL teachers and interpreters, ultimately graduating from Westhill. “I had it easier than my mother,” says Mabee. She attended college for two years before finding her way to Whole Me Inc. as a service coordinator for the elderly. “Providing something for the Deaf community makes you feel good,” says Mabee. “Helping others makes a difference, and I’ve tried to pass that message on to my daughters.”

Message received. Seventeen-year-old Ashleen Mabee and her 19-year-old sister Brianna Mabee are a dynamic duo themselves, volunteering with deaf youth and spending their young lives supporting the Deaf community. As hearing children to a deaf mother and deaf grandparents, the sisters learned ASL before

speaking English. “Our first words were with our hands,” says Ashleen. “I was in fourth grade before I realized not everyone had someone in the house who was deaf.” The young women are CODA — Children of Deaf Adults. “Being CODA is for sure my biggest blessing,” says Brianna. It can be both rewarding and challenging. “We were the voice for my grandfather when he was sick, communicating with doctors. It was hard on my mother. She wrote papers about how health care communication has to change,” Brianna says. “I’m inspired by her advocacy.”

Despite the challenges deafness may bring to Mabee and Maher, both exude happiness and positivity. “We consider ourselves lucky,” says Mabee.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, deaf or hearing,” says Maher. “We learn so much from each other.”

While Mabee and Maher keep working toward improvements in accessibility for the Deaf community, Brianna and Ashleen are picking up the torch of compassion. They head down the hall to join the kids eager to bake with their grandmother.

“My mom always taught us that love conquers all,” says Brianna. “So put kindness out there and you’ll get it back.”



For more information about Baking with Pat, other programs, resources and classes run by Whole Me Inc. and volunteer opportunities: visit wholemeinc.com

Pat Maher, with whipping cream on her nose to humor the children, and her daughter, Pam Mabee, use sign language to share the after-school snack recipe with program participants.

JUNE 7-8

Taste of Syracuse

More than 125 vendors were on site at Taste of Syracuse in and around Clinton Square, offering $2 samples from their menus during Syracuse’s biggest food festival. Despite a dreary start to the weather, the fest drew thousands to downtown Syracuse for food, vendors and entertainment, including headlining act ’90s rock band Hanson.

Good news THE SEEN

JUNE 22

CNY Pride Parade

Thousands of people waving rainbow pride flags, donning colorful outfits and flaunting huge smiles took to the streets of Syracuse’s Inner Harbor for the annual celebration of the local LGBTQ+ community. The CNY Pride Parade began at 11 a.m. and made its way down Solar Street. The street was lined with people of all ages and backgrounds as a contingent of marchers headed toward the CNY Pride Festival’s main site at Progress Park.

Good news

JULY

19-21

Syracuse Nationals

Syracuse Nationals, the largest car show in the Northeast, kicked off three days of spectacular muscle and classic cars, antique bicycles, motorcycles, live music, food trucks, a replica of Optimus Prime from the “Transformers” movie franchise, contests and more at the New York State Fairgrounds. More than 86,000 people attended the event, which featured more than 8,000 hot rods and 400 vendors from around the country.

PHOTOS BY SUNNY HERNANDEZ

JULY 28

$10K Basketball Tournament

Syracuse Housing Authority’s annual $10K Basketball Tournament brought cheers to the basketball courts of Wilson Park in Syracuse. Top players from around the city competed for a chance to win $10,000. Syracuse police officer Brandon Hanks, who was recently named the boys basketball head coach at Henninger High School, organized the event to connect kids with community role models. The Monie All-Stars, featuring the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Nathan Francis and All-CNY athletes Steyvon Jones, Andre Pasha and others, took top honors as tournament champions. CenTrio Energy donated $10,000 to the event and Who Want Smoke provided free food for attendees.

OCT. 16 – NOV. 3

Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher

From the original by Frederick Knott Directed by Robert Hupp

NOV. 22 – JAN. 5

Music by Richard Rodgers Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Directed by Melissa Rain Anderson

FEB. 26 – MAR. 16

APR. 23 – MAY 11

Based on the novel by Jane Austen Directed by Jason O’Connell

JAN. 22 – FEB. 9

JUNE 11 – 29

By Rajiv Joseph

Directed by Jamil Jude

By Kate Hamill

By Eboni Booth Directed by Melissa Crespo

A Julie Lutz Cold Read World Premiere Written by Rogelio Martinez Directed by Johanna McKeon

BY MICHELLE HOUSTON AND AMY BLEIER LONG

For live concerts, Central New Yorkers know the Amp (Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, officially) is a popular place with expansive seating and a gorgeous view. On the other end of the spectrum, many locally owned restaurants and bars host scheduled performances and open mic nights each week, providing a more intimate experience. But between those very different types of venues, there are many other local spaces that provide quality music to the community.

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

LIVE MUSIC IS ALIVE AND WELL THROUGHOUT THE REGION

Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers in front of the stage at Beak & Skiff.

THE WESTCOTT THEATER

Opened more than 100 years ago as a movie theater, the Westcott’s building was redesigned in 2008 to serve as a live music venue. The old projection room is used as a green room for artists, and a retro-style marquee welcomes guests. Additional renovations improved the lighting and sound, and the dark ballroom immerses the audience in the musical experience.

The venue hosts musical acts from a variety of genres, including rock and country. Black Flag, Bear Grillz, Afroman and a number of tribute bands and DJs have brought the house down in recent years.

The theater has a capacity of 700 and utilizes different setups for each show. Most shows are general admission standing; limited seating is available for those who cannot stand the entire time, and the building is wheelchair accessible.

A full bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is available, but there’s no food, so it is recommended to eat before the show (the street has several delicious options). The theater also holds local vendor fairs and can be rented for private events.

524 Westcott St., Syracuse, 315-299-8886, thewestcotttheater.com

THE STANLEY THEATRE

In 1928, The Stanley Theatre opened to the Utica community. The building was designed by renowned architect Thomas Lamb, who also designed the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse and Proctors Theatre in Schenectady. The heavily ornamented venue is an example of Mexican Baroque design, also called Churrigueresque style, and visitors will spot cupids and quatrefoils among the motifs. The theater also features the largest free-hanging chandelier in the world.

Concerts that have filled the venue’s 2,963 seats include Alice Cooper, Martina McBride and REO Speedwagon. Lonestar performs there Oct. 5.

The proscenium-style arrangement offers orchestra, loge and balcony seating, with a limited number of wheelchair seats on the orchestra level. Three bars feature soft drinks, wines, spirits, beverages from local Saranac Brewery and themed cocktails. Snacks are available in the lobby.

The Stanley Theatre also hosts touring musical productions presented by Broadway Utica, such as “Jersey Boys” and “Mary Poppins,” as well as entertainment like Jerry Seinfeld and “The Price is Right Live.”

259-261 Genesee St., Utica, 315-724-4000, thestanley.org

Ani DiFranco brought her Rise Up tour to The Westcott Theater. Daughtry on stage at The Stanley Theatre.

CENTER FOR THE ARTS OF HOMER

This intimate rural venue, with only 400 seats, was originally a Baptist church. When the congregation outgrew the late1800s brick building, community members came together to turn it into a cultural anchor and major economic driver in the area. The center held its first public event, a fundraiser, in 2001 and was formally established as a nonprofit organization in 2003.

The venue hosts national concerts representing a variety of music genres throughout the year. Past performers who have graced the stage include Toad the Wet Sprocket, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Graham Nash and Samantha Fish. The modernized center now has theater-style general admission seating, but kept the original stained-glass windows and wood trim intact. Concessions are available in the lobby prior to shows, and the venue is ADA accessible.

In addition to concerts, the center features film screenings and showcases artwork. It also hosts a community theater program, classes, workshops and other programs.

72 S. Main St., Homer, 607-749-4900, center4art.org

Above, Pat Metheny and below, Samantha Fish have performed at Center for the Arts of Homer.

THE LOST HORIZON WONDERLAND FOREST

If the walls could talk, this old-school rock club would have the most stories to tell. The longest operating club in Syracuse, The Lost Horizon is akin to the famed New York nightspot CBGB and continues to be a hot spot for fans of multiple genres. The intimate space has a max capacity of 500, and its gritty aesthetic only adds to the charm.

Legendary acts such as the Ramones, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult and Fugazi performed here decades ago. More recently the venue has hosted country musician Dylan Wheeler, hard rockers Plush, alt-rocker Austin Meade and multiple hip hop showcases. In addition to the shows, iconic moments at the venue over the last six decades — after-parties with Bon Jovi, a riot started by Marilyn Manson and a crowded night with Hank Williams III — have cemented Lost Horizon in the hearts and minds of Central New Yorkers.

No-frills drinks are available at the large bar, food is not. Part of the building is ADA accessible; the club has a lower pit by the stage. It can get extremely loud, so ear protection is encouraged.

5863 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, 315-446-1934, thelosthorizon.com

In scenic Apple Valley, south of Syracuse, you can enjoy a concert or festival at Apple Valley Amphitheater on the property of a campground. The venue emphasizes adventure as fans get to explore more than 420 acres of land, featuring wooded areas, waterfalls and miles of vistas looking out across the region. The fully outdoor amphitheater is open from April until early November.

In the little more than a year that the space has been open, the venue has hosted a mix of festivals and shows. Rock genres and bluegrass are predominant here, as well as jam bands. Trey Anastasio, moe., Twiddle, The Disco Biscuits, and acts covering the catalogues of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band are some of the many musical guests who have taken the stage.

The open lawn requires that attendees stand or bring their own chairs or blankets; the lawn is wheelchair accessible. An on-site bar offers refreshing beverages and snacks.

There are hundreds of tent camping sites available. The property also features an indoor/outdoor event space for weddings, private parties or corporate gatherings.

4812 S. Cook Rd., LaFayette, 315-299-8886, wonderlandforest.com

Jam band moe. performed this summer at Wonderland Forest

The Emo Night Tour at The Lost Horizon.

SMITH OPERA HOUSE THE SONG & DANCE

The Smith Opera House is the Finger Lakes region’s cultural anchor, presenting concerts and shows, screening films and hosting meetings, celebrations and gatherings. The 130-year-old building was originally designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, then was renovated and reopened as an “atmospheric movie palace” in 1931. After a period of decline, the community rallied to fund a massive renovation and restoration in the mid-1990s, returning it to its Art Deco splendor.

Today, the theater seats 950 on the main orchestra floor and 450 in the balcony. Luminaries who have passed through the Smith include world-class musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Judy Collins, Melissa Etheridge and Billy Joel. But it’s the acoustics that make listening to live music there so special: the architecture allows even non-amplified sound to carry further with minimal distortion.

The Smith serves popcorn and snacks, plus beer, wine and canned cocktails. Shows are general admission seating unless advertised as reserved seating; ADA-accessible seating is available.

The theater also shows classic and current films on a 40-by-30-foot screen, hosts musicals and other performances, and puts on events such as the annual Brews and Bluegrass (Oct. 12).

82 Seneca St., Geneva, 315-781-5483, thesmith.org

The Song & Dance opened in downtown Syracuse just over a year ago. The club-style spot is underground, in the basement level of a building in the city’s entertainment district. The blackpainted inner room where shows are staged serves as a blank canvas.

The genres featured vary wildly: emo, metal, R&B, punk, indie and rock groups are among the acts who have played here previously or are on the schedule. Past shows include Alien Ant Farm, Thursday, Moonshine Bandits and Whitechapel.

Performances at this venue are typically general admission standing, though there are a few seats at hightop tables. The bar is stocked with alcoholic and nonalcoholic options, and limited food selections, such as pizza, are on hand.

The Song & Dance also holds touring DJ-led dance parties and unique events that blend music and anime, or music, burlesque and go-go dancing. Most events are for ages 16 and up but restrictions depend on the concert. All attendees need valid photo identification to enter the venue.

115 E. Jefferson St., Syracuse, thesonganddance.com

The Decemberists played at Smith Opera House.

PHOTOS BY KATRINA TULLOCH, GEOFF HERBERT

One More Time: A Tribute to Daft Punk at The Song & Dance.

BEAK & SKIFF

Beyond being a top-rated apple orchard nationwide, Beak & Skiff has become a popular outdoor music venue. The summer concert series season runs late May to the end of August, and shows are played rain or shine. Attendees enjoy panoramic views of the valley and great sight lines of the performances.

The concert series has entertained fans of many genres. Crowds have filled the lawn to see the Flaming Lips, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Avett Brothers, Mt. Joy and Noah Kahan, among others. Additionally, their 1911 Tasting Room provides a more intimate experience, with live local music year-round from artists in indie, alternative, rock and country.

The venue is general admission only. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets; seating is relegated to the back half of the lawn, while other fans enjoy dancing in the pit. The site is ADA accessible. A limited café menu, hard cider, cocktails, wine and non-alcoholic beverages (fresh cider!) are available for purchase.

On non-event days, don’t miss the 1911 Tasting Room, 1911 Tavern, seasonal 1911 Distillery and, of course, the fall apple picking. Beak & Skiff also has four rentable houses on the beautiful campus.

Singer/songwriter Uwade opened for the Fleet Foxes.

2708 Lords Hill Rd., LaFayette, 315-696-6085, beakandskiff.com

The crowd shows its appreciation for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Beak & Skiff.

STATE THEATRE OF ITHACA

Step back in time with a visit to Ithaca’s last remaining historic theater, a staple in downtown since its opening in 1928. The 1,600-seat venue has seen many renovations, including updated restroom facilities, full stage floor replacement and a brand new bar and concessions space, helping to expand the theatre’s historic grandeur. The space features Collegiate Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance Revival architectural elements, and tiny light bulbs in the theater’s painted ceiling look like twinkling stars.

Musicians from all genres, including folk, indie, rock and hip hop, have played here. Recent performances include Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin and the Indigo Girls. Every seat has been designed to give audience members a full view of the stage. Seating is general admission or reserved, depending on the show. The orchestra level provides ADA-accessible seating and an accessible restroom. The concession stand serves homemade cookies from Ithaca Bakery, candy, freshly popped popcorn and other assorted snacks, as well as wine, beer and cider. In addition to concerts, audiences come for comedians, dance performances, readings, classic movie screenings and community events.

107 W. State St./Martin Luther King St., Ithaca, 607-277-8283, stateofithaca.org

The Ontario Center for Performing Arts, more commonly known as the Oswego Music Hall, is located at the historical McCrobie Civic Center overlooking Lake Ontario. The music hall is a listening room-style venue sought after by musicians and songwriters. On concert evenings, the hall transforms into an intimate venue with candlelit tables. The season runs every other Saturday, September through May. Also offered: Open Mic Friday hosted by popular local musicians, as well as a Guest Curator Series, which includes Jazz-by-the-Lake performances.

The venue specializes in acoustic genres such as roots/ folk, bluegrass, Americana and Celtic, and supports emerging and non-mainstream artists. Highlights from recent seasons were Guy Davis, Adam Ezra Group, Leslie Mendelson and Livingston Taylor. Local and regional acts frequently perform, among them Delaney Brothers Bluegrass and The Cadleys.

VIP seating and general admission seating are available. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Concert attendees can purchase freshly brewed coffee, hot cider and fresh-baked desserts to enjoy at their tables.

The hall also has been the most recent home of the female-forward F.I.R.E. Festival and last season offered Imagining Kerouac, an interactive multimedia performance.

41 Lake St., Oswego, oswegomusichall.org

OSWEGO MUSIC HALL

Driftwood on the National Stage at Oswego Music Hall.

Nicholas Petricca, lead vocalist of Walk the Moon, at the State Theatre of Ithaca.

FACE THE MUSIC

For more local, regional and national acts, catch a show at these venues throughout CNY.

The 443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse 443socialclub.com

Auburn Public Theater, Auburn auburnpublictheater.org

CMAC (Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center), Canandaigua cmacevents.com

Deep Dive, Ithaca deepdiveithaca.com

del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo dellagoresort.com/entertainment

The Downstairs, Ithaca thedownstairsithaca.com

Earlville Opera House, Earlville earlvilleoperahouse.com

Funk ’N Waffles, Syracuse funknwaffles.com

Hangar Theatre, Ithaca hangartheatre.org

Jazz Central, Syracuse cnyjazz.org

Kallet Theater, Pulaski kallettheater.com

Keg’s Canalside Events Center, Jordan kegscanalside.net

Landmark Theatre, Syracuse landmarktheatre.org

The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, Syracuse asmsyracuse.com/location/theoncenter-crouse-hinds-theater

The Palace Theatre, Syracuse palaceonjames.com

Paper Mill Island, Baldwinsville baldwinsvillearts.org

The Ridge, Chittenango theridgerocks.com

The Rollin’ Rust Room (coming soon), Manlius therollinrust.com/therollinrustroom

Rome Capitol Theatre, Rome romecapitol.com

Rose Hall, Cortland rosehallcortland.org

Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona turningstone.com

WildWood Event Center, Elbridge wildwoodseventscenter.com

The Investigators play at Funk ’N Waffles, which is known as “a musicians’ place,” according to talent buyer Charley Orlando. “You know that there’s always going to be a really good band playing.”

LOCAL FILMMAKERS PRODUCE HAIR-RAISING B-MOVIE

BY ETHAN STINSON

Every filmmaker has their own unique call to action. For Nathan Barbour and Matt Morrison, it came through an in-joke with personal roots.

“I have a very, very long beard,” says Morrison, arguably underreporting the length of his kneescraping facial hair. “My wife always threatens to cut it, and I’m like, ‘You know, it would take a massive pair of scissors to actually cut through my beard.’”

Thus was born “Mark of the Werebeard,” a horror comedy inspired by the northern New York natives’ shared love for scary movies and B-flicks. “One of the main plot points,” Morrison says, “is this giant magical pair of scissors that can kill beard monsters.”

He and Barbour — yes, that is his real name — have been working on this passion project since 2020. The film follows a young barber who sets out to take down a sinister beard cult and its legion of sasquatch-like beard monsters.

They developed a collective vision of what would make the best ’90s-style B-movie horror film, and on their Indiegogo crowdfunding page pledged to go all out “to bring B-movie and ’90s movie enthusiasts a hilarious and action-packed adventure that they won’t soon forget.”

The two men had known each other for 15 years but had fallen out of touch until the COVID-19 shutdown, when they reconnected on livestreaming service Twitch. During their streams, Morrison, a personal trainer with zero filmmaking experience, toyed with the idea of writing a screenplay and was encouraged by Barbour, who had hoped to make his own film. “I was looking to just go make my own thing,” says Barbour, who gained crucial on-set experience as a videographer while in the U.S. Air Force. “Before I turned 30, I was like, ‘I wanna do something really cool.’”

Through their bizarre concept, the two pay homage to the

campy, retro cult films they both adore. Some serious filmmakers might scoff at camp-fests like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” being used as a source of inspiration, given their hammy performances, low-budget appearance and silly tone. However, this duo embraced such movies as the driving force behind their project, which Barbour describes as “really funny, dumb and silly — and everything I like about indie B-movie-type stuff.”

As is often the case in low-budget filmmaking, the two wore many hats on “Werebeard.” Barbour directed, produced, edited and starred as the protagonist’s paranoid, hair-pun-spewing mentor.

Morrison initially signed on as writer and assistant director. He wrote a short story to outline the plot points and then screenwriter Spencer Patterson, another friend the duo reconnected with on Twitch, adapted it into a 70-page screenplay.

After crafting the story, Morrison took on multiple unfamiliar production roles. He ended up performing camerawork and creating practical effects for “Werebeard,” including a spray of blood after a monster’s head explodes. He and his wife were also responsible for developing most of the film’s props.

From left, Matt Morrison, Nathan Barbour and Spencer Patterson at the Movie Tavern for a screening.

Scenes from the “Mark of the Werebeard.”

“I got a pretty good foundational skill set for all the stuff that I didn’t really, at any point in my entire adult life, plan on having a foundational skill set for,” he says.

The film was made with a budget of approximately $9,000, half of which was raised via Indiegogo. Viewers of Barbour and Morrison’s streams greatly supported their fundraising efforts. “Our audience was kind of behind us going and making something,” Barbour says.

Backers received incentives including copies of “Werebeard” on Blu-Ray, special thanks and producer credits, and opportunities to appear in the film. Their stretch goals included a comically unattainable $10 million milestone, for which Morrison would have shaved his beard if met. After reaching its initial $4,500 goal, a musical number was added to the film.

“Werebeard” was shot throughout Central New York, most prominently at Syracuse’s Buried Acorn Brewery, which appears in many interior and exterior shots. Barbour says the area’s local business owners are “just awesome, and we couldn’t have done it without their help.”

Tim Shore, owner of Buried Acorn, says the business prides itself on supporting local artists like Barbour and Morrison, and he is flattered that they chose to film there. “We really do kind of try and give artists a place to present their artistic development,” he says.

Barbour and Morrison hope to build on those local relationships with production company Shear Shutter, which they created this June with fellow “Werebeard” crew members Andrew Rockefeller and Brad Evans.

“We definitely want to support local businesses and try to grow and help other businesses in Syracuse,” Barbour says.

“Werebeard” also employed the talents of local actors, including Syracuse University student Axel Vera as Jack, the film’s protagonist, and Amy Zubieta as Stacy, the female lead.

In summer 2023, they screened a rough cut of “Werebeard” for friends and family at Movie Tavern in Camillus. The film went on to be shown at the PA Horror Con and Film Festival and the Capitol Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts, as well as a screening at Buried Acorn. Throughout each showing, Barbour

“ I THINK THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. IT’S A WHOLE GRAB BAG OF STYLES, BUT I THINK IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.”

Nathan Barbour

says the film’s comedy has consistently sparked positive reactions.

“I think it’s resonating with people, especially the B-movie crowd,” Barbour says.

The universal humor, rousing martial arts sequences and grounded protagonist may also appeal to more casual viewers, he says. “I think there’s something for everybody. It’s a whole grab bag of styles, but I think it all comes together.”

After years of hard work, the duo completed “Werebeard” this past April. It will have its official premiere Oct. 19 at Syracuse’s Palace Theatre. In the spirit of typical cult-film screenings, the event will include a Q&A with the cast and crew, prize giveaways and merchandise for sale, including physical copies of the film on Blu-Ray and (in keeping with its retro aesthetic) VHS.

“I think there should be really good energy and a lot of people,” Barbour says. “It will be just a fun crowd experience for everybody, which is kind of the way you want to watch this movie.”

And the hair-raising fun does not stop there. Another screening is scheduled for Oct. 26 at Jefferson Community College, and a “Werebeard” holiday special is also in the works. It appears that Santa Claus and his snow-white beard may have some competition.

Ethan Stinson is a recent graduate of the Goldring Arts Journalism & Communications Program at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

For more information: visit facebook.com/ werebeardmovie

Actors Amy Zubieta, above, and Jake Patrick, left, during filming.

Clockwise from top, filming a scene outside; the main “Werebeard” costume consists of a rubber Chewbacca mask and a fur suit that Barbour’s mother, an art professor, overhauled to create the titular bearded monster; filming at Buried Acorn Brewing. Other background monsters in the film were brought to life by actors wearing ghillie suits typically used for camouflage.

The sculpture celebrates the extraordinary musical style of

who moved to Syracuse’s South Side in her 80s and lived there for almost a decade, until her death.

Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten Statue (2012) Castle Street, Syracuse

Libba Cotten,

A MONUMENTAL TALENT

Sculptor’s work represents some of Syracuse’s most recognizable public art

BY CHERYL ABRAMS

For years, Syracuse has demonstrated a reverence for art in its key public places. A renewed interest in the practice has sparked a number of recent projects — primarily murals — intended to engage, motivate and inspire residents and visitors about the Salt City.

In May, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh appointed Anne Cofer, a mixed-media installation artist and educator, as the city’s public arts coordinator, whose job it is to assure that the public arts expansion in Syracuse flourishes. “Public art is vitally important,” says Cofer. “It can pinpoint important aspects of the city’s culture, diversity and history.”

Artist Sharon BuMann has played a major role in creating landmark sculptures to showcase the City of Syracuse’s history and culture, as well as that of other locations in the region. Last October, Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens presided over a proclamation ceremony in Clinton Square, near one of BuMann’s most notable pieces — the Jerry Rescue Monument — in recognition of her contributions to the Central New York community.

“It’s hard to think of a single artist who has had a more significant impact on our public spaces than Sharon BuMann,” says Walsh. “Her works of public art portray our local history and make Syracuse a more beautiful place. It’s great to see a resurgence of interest in Sharon’s superb artistry and other public art projects in our city.”

BuMann is a lifelong Central New Yorker with artistic roots in her family. She spent her childhood in Central Square. Her grandmother was an artist who, when BuMann was just 11, presented her with her first sketchbook. As if to foreshadow her profession to come, her family was fascinated with the history

Sculptor Sharon BuMann.

of the area and passed that interest on to BuMann.

This background and her matriculation at Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University, where she earned art degrees, kept BuMann anchored in Central New York. In addition to establishing her artistic career, she and her late husband raised two children here: Amy, a healthcare professional now in Buffalo, and George, also a sculptor, who lives in Montana.

Speaking specifically about her original works and the restoration projects that dot the local landscape, BuMann beams with pride — not just for the completed works, but for being able to preserve and promote history through her favorite art form, sculpture.

“I’d always wanted to become a sculptor,” she says, “and once I began sculpting, I found I enjoyed working through its tactile, hands-on nature as my artistic calling.”

BuMann says that over time she developed an affinity for sculpting with bronze. Its permanence as a finished product and the artistry bronze permits to be expressed is what appealed to her about working in this medium.

A self-proclaimed perfectionist, BuMann’s sketches of a work in progress, with intricate details, transfer effectively through the malleable bronze substance to produce life-like creations.

In addition to the Jerry Rescue Monument, a statue celebrating musician Libba Cotten, the Mountain Goat Monument in Upper Onondaga Park, and cast concrete pillars outside the War Memorial are among the original BuMann creations Syracusans

Mountain Goat Monument (2017)

Upper Onondaga Park, Syracuse

BuMann also formed the Mountain Goat Monument honoring the annual 10-mile run. She admits this is one of her favorite creations.

PHOTOS BY SHARON BUMANN, GEORGE BUMANN, RICK MORIARTY

Jerry Rescue Monument (1990)

Clinton Square, Downtown Syracuse

The Jerry Rescue Monument commemorates the rescue of fugitive slave William “Jerry” Henry when citizens of Syracuse stormed his jail cell in 1851 and helped him escape to freedom in defiance of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Statue

(2012)

County Rt. 7, Oswego

The monument highlights the work of Dr. Walker, the only woman to hold a Medal of Honor to this day, awarded for her work as a surgeon during the Civil War. She was born in the Town of Oswego and graduated from Syracuse Medical College as the second woman in the United States to become a medical doctor.

Sharon BuMann works on the finishing touches of the 1999 New York State Fair butter sculpture in the Dairy Building at the fairgrounds.

may recognize. She has also performed restoration on other statues and plaques to slow the effects of age and environment on the works. Some of the monuments BuMann has restored include the Hamilton White Monument in Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park, the mule and driver across the street from the Eric Canal Museum, and the Benjamin Franklin statue in Franklin Square Park.

BuMann has always approached her art, as well as her life, with an attitude that demands doing things the “right” way. “I’ve always believed anything worth doing requires one to do it right. Employing shortcuts never leads to the best results,” she says in her mild, thoughtful manner.

“My method calls for not rushing to complete a work of art or even a simple household task. Deadlines aside, nothing truly done well comes from hurrying a process along just for the sake of getting it done.

“What most people don’t realize when they look at a bronze sculpture is how long it’s taken to bring it to life — typically multiple years — and the amount of teamwork among various artists and technicians it requires to create,” she says.

George Bumann explains the need for multiple individuals as a mammoth bronze sculpture is being produced: “My mom uses specialists, such as mold makers, wax pourers, welders and those who attach the various segments to the main piece. Each of the stages takes time and precision.”

In addition to bronze, BuMann worked extensively with butter to mold cold, crowd-pleasing designs for state fairs around the country. Over 40 years, she worked on 40 butter

Onondaga County War Memorial (1994) State Street, Syracuse BuMann was involved in the exterior structural design of the Onondaga County War Memorial that pays tribute to veterans in Syracuse and around the world, for which she and her team received the ACI Grand Award of Excellence.

sculptures, including one each year from 1996 to 2002 for the New York State Fair. “They were a nice departure from the bronze works, and a fun way to display our civic pride and appreciation for sculpture,” she says. The only drawback was that the compositions required her to work onsite in chilly compartments for seven to 10 days. BuMann holds the Guinness World Record for the largest butter sculpture ever assembled, a model of cowboy Big Tex, an icon of the Texas State Fair, that was displayed at that venue weighing 4,077 pounds.

After a rewarding career in a region she loves, BuMann is

ready to take a step back, rest and reflect. During a recent visit to Syracuse, George Bumann took his mom on a tour of her major historical works cast in bronze. “Besides being a great way for my mom and I to spend some quality time together, she was thrilled to visit her work continuing to thrive in the locations where the pieces are on display,” he says.

As she packs up her home in Pennellville, BuMann’s ready to downsize her household and belongings. She will continue her work, albeit on a smaller scale, still striving to do what’s right — not rushed — for her artistic sensibilities and expression.

“When Duty Calls” a limited-edition bronze work.

Artist Appreciation

EXPLORING THE ART AND WORKING STUDIOS OF THREE LOCAL CREATIVES

BY

Paint smears, paper scraps, wood chips, ink bottles — there is beauty in the artistic process, even in the fragments left behind after a work is finished.

Every artist approaches their craft in a different way, from the times they’re most productive in the studio and what they listen to while working, to how they arrange their space and what they keep close by for inspiration. Three Central New York artists who work in very different mediums — Mary Michael Shelley, London Ladd and Carrie Valenzuela — graciously let us into their creative sanctuaries so we could learn more about them and their work.

NORAH MACHIA | PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

MARY MICHAEL SHELLEY

LONDON LADD

CARRIE VALENZUELA

Mary Michael Shelley’s carving station, with a pre-sketched image on pine.

Mary Michael Shelley

Mary Michael Shelley is a self-taught woodcarver and painter who has practiced her craft for 50 years.

After graduating from Cornell University in 1972, Shelley went to work for preservation organization Historic Ithaca, where a renovation project sparked her interest in carpentry.

Her father introduced her to woodcarving when he carved a picture of her from scrap wood he found at the project. She became fascinated with the process and started making her own carvings, selling signs and working as a carpenter to support herself. In 1990, Shelley returned to school to earn a master’s degree, and soon afterward, social work replaced carpentry as her day job.

“For me, being an artist is more of a calling than a job,” she says. “Trying to make a living solely from artwork can be hard. You end up chasing what’s popular to sell your work. Instead, I’ve always preferred to do what interests me. Working as a social worker has afforded me the security of health insurance and allowed me free rein as an artist.”

Her wood carvings have been described as Americana, whimsical, traditional and visionary. Many of Shelley’s pieces depict diner settings, which she describes as a metaphor for women’s work (“always waiting, always serving”), animals and figures in nature. Other pieces document upstate New York events or places Shelley has been. Earlier this year she made a carving of people watching the April 8 solar eclipse from the shores of Lake Ontario.

Shelley has been a regular vendor and demonstrator at the Ithaca Farmers Market for decades. Her work has been displayed at museums nationwide and is in the permanent collections of the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, and the National Museum of Women and the Arts and the Smithsonian Institutes, both in Washington D.C., among others. Shelley has made commissioned work for patrons such as the Absolut Vodka Collection, the Coca-Cola Company and Historic Ithaca.

Her studio is a converted two-car garage behind her Ithaca home.

Above, Mary Shelley in her studio with her work behind her. Opposite, clockwise from top, a piece in progress on the easel; Shelley at her converted garage studio; reference images and items that hold special meaning that she keeps near her woodcarving station.

WHERE TO FIND HER ART

Shelley is at the Ithaca Farmers Market, where she also does woodcarving demonstrations at her booth, at 545 3rd St. each Saturday during the season.

Shelley has a diner piece on permanent display at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown and a solo show running at the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie through Sept. 22. She has another solo show scheduled for Oct. 22 through Nov. 26 at Penn College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

For more information: visit maryshelleyfolkart.com

How do you describe your work?

“I think of myself as a craftsperson, a sculptor and a painter. The wood texture adds interest to the final painted product. Some people have called my work folk art, because woodcarving is a traditional skill. But I don’t quite fit into any one niche. Sometimes I feel like an outsider in the mainstream art world.”

Shelley describes woodcarving as a great American tradition — one that she wants to keep alive for the next generation. “It’s important to me that I pass my skills on by demonstrating at the Ithaca Farmers Market on Saturdays. I’ve been doing that for 40 years,” she says.

Are there themes or messages you convey through your work?

“Some of the work I do is personal, about feelings and family. Right now, I’m doing a series with crows flying at people who are floating in the air. These works are about chaos and getting older. I’m also thinking about my mother as I make them. She is 103 years old.”

Shelley believes people have their own interpretations of artwork, and that her wood carvings have different meanings to everyone. “I’m doing what interests me, and I’ll usually put words on my carvings after they’re done. I realize some may see my work entirely differently than my vision. But whatever it says to someone else, it’s okay.”

When you were putting together your studio, what were the things you wanted?

Shelley wasn’t seeking anything fancy when she built her studio inside a two-car garage, a renovation project she completed nearly 40 years ago. She was simply looking for a large enough space to accommodate her work. “It’s a non-deluxe, very utilitarian atmosphere — basically a shop. The space is there so I can do my work,” she says.

Light is an important part of the setup. Sunlight shines on the easel she placed underneath a skylight, and to let in more natural light, Shelley keeps her sliding door open when weather permits. The most important items in her studio are her hand tools and band saw, although she will occasionally use a router to outline her cuts.

“I rarely sand because I hate saw dust. I have a lot of wood scraps here as well. White pine is my wood of choice. I work on select white pine rough-cut planks that I air dry under my front porch before bringing them into my studio to carve,” she says.

Do you keep personal items in your studio that inspire you or bring you joy?

“All my walls are covered with finished pieces that I take each week to the farmers market. My walls serve as storage space, and that’s nice. It brings me satisfaction and inspiration to look at past pieces that I have made.

“I have some pictures on display of my grandmother, who was an amateur artist, and my father, who inspired me to learn woodcarving. I also have his carver’s bench that was stored in my mother’s basement,” she says.

Near the carving area, she keeps a metal cow sign and glass bottle from her grandparents’ dairy farm. On the opposite side of the studio, art from her children and her old business sign fill space between carvings.

London Ladd

London Ladd is an award-winning children’s book artist and an editorial illustrator whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Scientific American Magazine. He also serves as an assistant professor of illustration in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts.

A childhood interest in comics led him to become an artist.

Charles Schulz’s The Peanut Gang and Marvel Comics, mostly Spider-Man, were some of his favorites. “Reading comics opened my eyes to art’s impact on storytelling, stirring emotions and developing imagination,” he says.

Ladd’s childhood greatly impacted his art. “I always struggled with my Black identity. My mother was white and my father was Black, but I identified myself as Black,” Ladd says. After

completing several children’s books with historical themes, he “wanted to do something more contemporary and focus on the joys in life for Black families. My later illustrations are more reflective of the current Black experience.”

He began teaching with after-school art classes at the Community Folk Art Center and McKinley-Brighton Elementary School in Syracuse. Now at the college level, he enjoys sharing his nearly two decades of experience with young people who are eager to learn, and seeing them develop their “visual voice.” He hopes someday to establish a visual arts community center for families on limited incomes.

His North Syracuse home where he works has an important family connection. The house was his mother’s until she died in 2019. “In my heart, the house was her final gift,” he says.

Left, London Ladd in his studio. This page, images from other artists help inspire Ladd and guide his technique.

How do you describe your work?

“Mixed media. I use acrylic paint, cut paper, fabric and tissue paper to create a distinctive texture in my illustrations,” he says. “It’s sometimes referred to as cut paper art. The process really adds texture and depth to the illustration and creates artwork with a unique visual voice. Everyone can see themselves in these pictures.”

He is also passionate about his editorial work, which he creates digitally, with a similar mixed-media approach. “I’m given a topic, but then I’m able to come up with the concept of the design. I’ve illustrated articles on a range of topics: real estate, uncontrolled fire burns and seasonal allergies.” Are there themes or messages you convey through your work?

“I want to create art that is uniquely my voice,” Ladd says.

The first children’s books he illustrated focused on civil rights issues in the 1950s-’60s and the Civil War era. The characters learned about the challenges and triumphs of Black Americans during those time periods.

Now he illustrates books with more universal themes in an abstract and metaphorical way, such as “Black Gold,” published in 2022. “This book is an uplifting story of the love between mother and child, and the beauty of the universe. It builds Black children up and helps them see the beauty inside of them,” he says. When you were putting together your studio, what were the things you wanted?

After working for several years in an upstairs bedroom, Ladd decided to convert his basement into a new studio. “It became important to keep my living space and work space separate,” he says.

The basement is partially below grade, so Ladd’s studio gets some natural light and has a door that leads to his backyard. One of the extra rooms off the studio provides storage space for books and finished illustrations.

The main room is large enough for Ladd to divide it into two work areas, separating his children’s book illustrations from his editorial art projects.

To keep track of his work, Ladd posts his book illustrations on his “wall of fame” so he can continually visualize the storyline as he completes pages.

WHERE TO FIND HIS ART

Ladd painted two public murals funded by the Syracuse Southside TNT organization: One honors Frederick Douglass, and features quotes from speeches given by Douglass in Syracuse during the 19th century. The other honors Martin Luther King Jr., and features quotes from speeches he gave at Syracuse University in the 1960s. They are located near the corner of South Salina and East Taylor streets. Examples of his mixed-media, digital and public artwork, illustrated children’s books and upcoming projects can be found on his website.

In the digital area, a Mac, two large monitors, a scanner, a printer and sketchbooks aid his process. 

For more information: visit londonladd.com

Top, a photo of Ladd and his daughter behind his digital station. Above, images from other artists, storyboards, a drying tray and paper scraps in Ladd’s studio. Opposite from top, brushes and paint palette; Ladd cuts a shape out of tracing paper; books Ladd has illustrated; painted paper.

Do you keep personal items in your studio that inspire you or bring you joy?

Ladd’s bookshelf is filled with numerous books that have brought him joy in the creative process. “It’s sometimes good to be away from the computer. I keep my most inspiring books here. I admire the work of several artists, and I enjoy studying their different styles and techniques,” he says.

If he is struggling to imagine the right facial expression, the perfect background or color combination, leafing through a book will often spark an idea. He also has books with the works of classic artists, such as Claude Monet and early 20th-century illustrator Dean Cornwell.

The books he illustrated are separated from the rest. A few select awards on the top shelf are also an ongoing source of inspiration. “Some of these awards have been given to prestigious illustrators throughout the world.

I’m honored to be among them,” he says.

Photos of his mother and daughter, inspirational notes, and drawings from his daughter are also displayed around the studio.

Carrie Valenzuela

Carrie Valenzuela has a wide range of experience in the traditional arts of letterpress printing and bookbinding. Valenzuela, a Chicanx artist who uses she/they pronouns, majored in printmaking at Nazareth College and interned at a Rochester book bindery.

“I was always a craftsperson. I was an introvert, and I spent a lot spent of time alone in my room reading,” she says. “I discovered the field of bookbinding after reading about Richard Minsky in my high school library. He founded the Center for Book Arts in New York City. It was the lightning bolt for me.”

She started Amaranth Press & Bindery in 2001 as a part-time business, and later joined Syracuse printer Boxcar Press in 2006, where she worked for 13 years before leaving to start a second business, Salt City Book Arts. An outgrowth of her previous teaching and community engagement experiences, she established Salt City Book Arts to lead workshops for a range of artists and students, with a focus on historically underrepresented populations and a goal of becoming a nonprofit organization.

She specializes in constructing unique hardand soft-cover books and journals, letterpress projects including signs, cards and invitations, and often has customers who request handbound books to preserve special family stories.

Through her work, Valenzuela hopes people will appreciate the traditional methods she uses and the efforts she and others are making to preserve these processes in a digital world.

Valenzuela also works part-time as office coordinator for the Syracuse University La Casita Cultural Center and serves as president of the Upstate New York Chapter of the American Printing Association. Valenzuela has also worked as a consultant to build projects from conception through production.

Both of Valenzuela’s businesses are housed in a subterranean studio at the Delavan Studios in Syracuse.

WHERE TO FIND THEIR ART

Valenzuela will display items at Print Party 2024 on Sept. 14 at Delavan Studios. The fun and educational annual event, which she is organizing with local printmaker Manda Brezicky and others, will include demonstrations of printmaking and book techniques, exhibitions, and a collection of work from numerous artists.

This fall, she will have a display of her work inside The Gallery at the Ann Felton Multicultural Center at Onondaga Community College. The show will start Oct. 6 and run for a month.

Each summer Valenzuela works at the Renaissance Faire in Sterling, demonstrating book binding and selling her projects in the shop of Greenleaf Bookes, which is known as the “Royal Bookbinder to Her Majesty.”

more information: visit amaranthpressandbindery.com and @saltcitybookarts on Instagram

How do you describe your work?

“I make unique handbound journals, sketchbooks, letterpress prints and more using traditional bookbinding and printing techniques. Each item is different, and I love the tactile and precise quality of the work.

“My most prolific structure used is softcover long-stitch binding, although I can make many different kinds, including codex and Coptic binding,” they say.

Letterpress is considered the oldest of traditional printing techniques, with pages assembled line by line, using individual letters and spacing materials. Image blocks, called cuts, and tiny pattern pieces or decorative elements called dingbats, are also used in the process. Are there themes or messages you convey through your work?

“All this history … I have a sense of stewardship, and I want to keep it alive. Sharing the history of letterpress and book binding is important,” they say. “People should see what a physical letter looks like that is not on a computer screen. The process of using wood and metal letterpress cuts is much more tactile than a computer.”

They’ve held educational workshops at the Everson Museum and CazArts’ Carpenter’s Barn. “I want people to know they can share their messages and stories through something they make themselves. I love being an educator and sharing this knowledge with people.”

Opposite, Carrie Valenzuela in their studio. Behind them is a Black Lives Matter poster created with their brother, who is also an artist. This page from top, a small tortilla press gifted to them by 3Gatos Press, visiting artists from Mexico; a small letterpress with a large question mark block; colorful paintings and prints from other artists are displayed throughout the studio.

Opposite, looking toward the door from inside the studio, two large paintings by Jamie Santos. Clockwise from above, pieces that inspire Valenzuela hang in the studio; paper and tools they use for their bookbinding projects, and a large green journal they made for themself; decorative letter blocks.

When you were putting together your studio, what were the things you wanted?

Space was the biggest priority, and that took precedence over natural lighting. The basement setup works well because it has the space to accommodate several hand presses, including a 10-by-15-foot Heidelberg platen press used for commercial jobs that require larger quantities of printed items. Valenzuela also needed space for numerous cabinets and drawers holding assorted papers, fabrics, threads, metal and wood type, spacing materials and inks, along with book presses and many other items needed for projects.

“Collaboration and community are very important to me. I love being an educator and sharing this knowledge with people, so I wanted to have enough space for others to come here and practice on the presses. It was important for me to have a place for people to learn and work here alongside me,” they say.

The most important item in the studio is the Heidelberg platen press. “This beast is wonderful. It’s old and reliable, and I’m able to do high-volume work with it. But my studio is still a work in progress. I would like to expand some areas, including adding more rolling stations.”

Do you keep personal items in your studio that inspire you or bring you joy?

“If I have a particular item that I’m really proud of, I’ll display it on the wall for inspiration. But I’m also very inspired by the works of other artists,” she says. At the studio’s entrance, there are two large, colorful murals painted by local artist Jamie Santos. Other displayed art includes pieces by Molly Pratt, owner of Red Rhino Glass & Print, and from 3Gatos Press of Guadalajara, Mexico, who donated a painted tortilla press when they came to Syracuse through a CNY Arts grant in 2022. Hand-lettering and designs made by her brother, Cayetano, owner of The Black Rabbit Studio, are also displayed.

A Black Lives Matter poster is one she is particularly proud to display. “I wanted to do something after the George Floyd story to support a local protest, but it was still during the pandemic, and it was difficult to get out,” she says. “My brother, who is also an artist, helped me create a sign and we made copies for the rally. We wanted to use print and visuals to help share the message, and this turned out to be a strong visual.”

Making good

CNY SCOUT • FARM TO TABLE

HOP TO IT

Madison County was once the nation’s leading producer of hops, a key beer ingredient. By the mid-20th century, the industry was dormant, but a 1992 discovery of a cache of equipment led to further investigation into this hops heritage. The history and community nostalgia uncovered prompted the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) to launch an annual event. For 28 years, the Madison County Hop Fest in Oneida has honored this agricultural

commodity, and ultimately spurred the reintroduction of hop growing in the area.

The weekend-long event (Sept. 14-15) includes a hop exhibit, film screening, sampling from 30-plus craft breweries, live music and a pig roast. A caravan-style tour will take participants to several 19thcentury hop houses still standing. The Hop Fest is a fundraiser for MCHS that supports the preservation of county history and expanded programming.

For more information and tickets: visit mchs1900.org/madison-county-hop-fest

Taking “Action!” on toxic lead exposure

DOCUMENTARY FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY EFFORT TO ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

BY JACKIE PERRIN

Lead poisoning, a pressing issue, inflicts irreversible harm and is a significant concern, especially for children and families. By amplifying the voices of people affected by toxic lead exposure in Syracuse, the Central New York Community Foundation (CNYCF) aims to help eliminate one of the region’s most challenging public health threats.

On Sept. 6, at the Everson Museum of Art Plaza, the foundation will host the premiere of “Voices Rising,” a documentary about a creative approach to tackling a complex community issue. Produced by Black Cub Productions, the documentary explores how the foundation used participatory budgeting — a process typically reserved for government projects — to empower community members to create solutions.

The purpose of the documentary is twofold, says Qiana Williams, CNYCF’s program officer of community engagement, who came up with the idea.

“My intention was to share what the CNYCF did with Syracuse’s first city-wide participatory budgeting project and also share with other foundations ways to power up racialized and marginalized communities using trust-based philanthropy,” says Williams. By raising awareness about the lead crisis in Syracuse, including how it has been exacerbated by current local lead policies, Williams hopes to inspire change.

“Our lead ordinance right now doesn’t have any teeth,” she says. “Many of the residents or landlords would rather pay a fine than do remediation or abatement. It’s been a challenge for affected families. We wanted to make sure that we’re sounding the alarm and trying to inspire more policy and advocacy around this issue.”

Williams says it was crucial that those impacted firsthand by the toxic lead crisis were involved in decision making. By centering the process around the people with lived experience, project organizers strove to create solutions that were realistic, community-centered and impactful.

Data collected by Onondaga County in 2021, along with life needs assessment data from the free Life Needs Assessment Network, which allowed the

Top, Darlene, a Syracuse resident whose home is plagued with lead, speaks about her experience in the “Voices Rising” documentary. Above, SeQuoia Kemp & Asteir Bey from Sankofa Healing Center and Village Birth International.

Making good

CNY SCOUT

Above, a Layla ambassador takes notes during a public planning session. Left, dotmocracy in action: planning session attendees place colored dots on lead testing-related proposals they think would be most effective.

“We believe that storytelling is the most powerful tool in the world.”

Eric Jackson, Black Cub Productions’ co-founder and CEO

foundation to see trends in real time, revealed that toxic lead exposure rates were increasing at a concerning rate. At the same time, another key metric — the number of children tested for lead exposure — was decreasing.

Many people who took the needs assessment survey reported that they hadn’t had their home or their children tested for lead, Williams says. Issues such as historic redlining and aging housing stock, lack of affordable housing, the recent pandemic, unawareness of laws and policies, and unavailability of testing supplies have contributed to the problem.

It became clear that a multifaceted approach was needed to reverse the trends. Since 2018, through its LeadSafeCNY initiative, CNYCF has spent over $2.6 million on programs to reduce toxic lead exposure and in July pledged another $1 million toward the effort. Grants given to partner organizations have funded window and door replacements, new homebuyer loans, construction and renovation projects, and lead reduction and removal education. Williams says the programs have made a measurable impact, but more help is needed.

To increase blood lead testing rates among youth, the foundation allocated $150,000 for a testing initiative, to be awarded to a local nonprofit that would be identified through a

democratic process called dotmocracy. Using this technique at eight planning sessions over nine months, community members voted by placing dots on proposals, indicating their support for the three ideas they each believed would be most effective in reducing toxic lead exposure.

Two professors from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs led the process, with conversations co-moderated by ambassadors from Layla, a leadership program of Black and Latino women, ages 18 to 25, led by Tiffany Lloyd, the director of women’s health and empowerment for the Allyn Family Foundation.

“They were our trusted messengers and social media partners,” Williams says about the Layla ambassadors. “They have a lot of clout within the community, especially among Black and Brown and Latino youth.”

Childcare and dinner were provided at the planning sessions, which took place at nonprofit partner locations central to the areas with the highest concentrations of lead and the lowest testing numbers. Community members heard speakers at each session from healthcare organizations, government and nonprofits that specialize in lead prevention. Based on ideas gathered during dotmocracy sessions, requests for proposals for the

THE “VOICES RISING” PREMIERE EVENT

WHEN: Sept. 6, 2024; 6 to 9 p.m.

WHERE: Everson Museum of Art Plaza, 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse

The event includes food trucks, community partner displays and a pre-film discussion with CNYCF President & CEO Melanie Littlejohn and LeadSafeCNY Coalition Executive Director LaToya Jones. The free screening of the film begins at dusk.

MORE INFO: Register online at cnycf.org/voicesrising-syracuses-fight-against-lead-poisoning

$150,000 project went out to area nonprofits. Seven nonprofits presented proposals, and a voting party was held. More than 160 residents cast 482 votes, and Sankofa Community-Based Doula Care and Lead Awareness Expansion Project emerged as the winner.

Black Cub Productions’ co-founders, CEO Eric Jackson and COO Mylz Blake, documented the entire project, from launch to meetings to post-award actions carried out by the winner.

Williams says, “We’re basically the first foundation to use [participatory budgeting] as a strategy to power up communities. We wanted to document the process so that if other foundations wanted to learn, they could see how we did it.”

To illustrate the painful impact of Syracuse’s lead crisis, the filmmakers interviewed individual stakeholders.

“We identified stories from different community members, and we invited them to sit down and talk more about their experience,” says Jackson.

Jackson says that when personal stories are told through mediums such as film or documentary, new connections are made to people that can make a difference.

“We believe that storytelling is the most powerful tool in the world,” he says. “We all need support, but it’s the people who

are heard that are able to garner resources. In order to be able to provide people with the resources they need to have their full measure of success, you have to hear what they’re dealing with and where they need support.”

Area residents can learn about the neighborhood-centered winning project and hear the personal experiences of those affected by lead poisoning at the “Voices Rising” premiere. The event will be an opportunity to learn about this preventable crisis and be inspired by the stories of determination and resilience of a community that came together to make a difference for children. The documentary will also be available online and some partners will later host private screenings.

“It’s exciting, it’s heartbreaking. It has all the elements of a good story,” says Williams.

Williams emphasizes that by sharing information about lead poisoning and contacting legislators in Albany, the audience (and all Central New Yorkers) can play a crucial and active role in addressing this weighty problem.

Jackson says, “This was only a drop in the bucket to the huge lead problem. So many voices had to be heard for us to not only reach this point, but in order for us to keep making steps in the right direction.”

Above, Lucy Totino, grant writer from PEACE Inc., speaks at one of the public planning sessions. Above right, Rachel Johnson, owner of Half Hood Half Holistic, holds a baby. Children are the most harmed by lead poisoning, which does irreversible damage.

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Making good FARM TO TABLE

PLAYIN’ WITH YOUR FOOD

Nothin’ But Noods offers a fun and hearty fall pasta that satisfies like a warm hug

Making good

FARM TO TABLE

BY MJ KRAVEC

PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS BECKETT

Inside the Nothin’ But Noods ghost kitchen on Brewerton Road in Mattydale, chef and owner John D’Amore opens a box of regionally made pappardelle, which immediately infuses the air with the aroma of fresh chive and garlic.

I ask him if he breaks those long threads before putting them in a pot. He shakes his head and laughs.

“Oh, no. You have to slurp them. You have to twist the noodles on a fork.”

D’Amore has a thing for making food fun, creating pasta dishes with fresh, local ingredients in unexpected ways (such as the blueberry marinara he recently created). Wild. Surprising. And, yes, totally fun. And that name, Nothin’ But Noods? D’Amore thought of it one day while cooking.

“I want to make it playful. I want to make it fun. That’s what food is all about,” he says.

For more than two decades, D’Amore has worked in the local dining scene — from The York to Tailwater Lodge, to Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club, to his last position as chef at Strada Mia. He left that position last year, before opening his own ghost kitchen in March, to pursue his dream of getting back to the joy of cooking and having more contact with the people who order his food.

“I worked at a food truck for a while and thought, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I enjoyed making the connection with the customers without having a server as a go-between.”

This fall will be Nothin’ But Noods’ first and D’Amore says he’s excited to share with patrons the seasonal recipes he’s developed over the years.

“Think hearty fall harvest pasta dishes that fill you like a nice warm hug.”

At Nothin’ But Noods, diners customize their own pasta dishes, starting with their choice of noodles from a selection that includes basil garlic fettucine, lemon basil pappardelle, spinach garlic linguine, traditional linguine and gluten-free pasta, to name a few. From there, diners choose from sauces including pesto, marinara, spicy alfredo, fra diavolo and mushroom alfredo, and top it off, if they choose, with veggies or protein such as D’Amore’s homemade meatballs, garlic broccoli, lemon pepper grilled chicken or grilled sausage. The menu changes weekly, but D’Amore likes to keep a few standards on regularly.

Popular items include garlic toasted onion fettucine with spicy vodka sauce, basil garlic fettucine with alfredo

Nothin’ But Noods, 2721 Brewerton Rd., Mattydale Text or call for orders: 315-729-0229

Search Nothin But Noods Pasta Company on Facebook, @nothinbutnoodspasta on Instagram

sauce and homemade meatballs. He also creates weekly specials featuring local meats and produce.

D’Amore believes strongly in supporting local businesses and frequently uses local produce and products whenever he can.

“Our pasta is sourced from Flour City Pasta, all handmade by Jon Stadt. I work with him selling his pasta every Saturday at the Regional Market. We trade with the other farmers [and get] sauces, pasta and other goods in return. I enjoy using some of the specialty products in my specials and as components in other dishes. Some of my favorite farms are Main Street Farms, Longhorn Farms and Chatham Creamery.”

John D’Amore is chef and owner of Nothin’ But Noods.

For this issue, D’Amore shares one of his fall favorites, a Butternut Bacon Pasta topped with candied walnuts.

“It’s a butternut squash puree that I turn into a sauce for a delicious pasta dish,” he says. “This dish encapsulates fall, I believe, with the earthy sweetness of the butternut squash puree, the smoky saltiness of the bacon, herbal touch from the sage, and crunch of the candied walnuts, all wrapped in thick pappardelle noodles.”

Pappardelle? Butternut squash? Sounds like a big hug to us.

BUTTERNUT BACON PASTA

Makes one large bowl or two smaller portions

¼ cup bacon, cut into bits

1 cup of butternut puree

½ cup white wine (riesling, chardonnay)

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage leaves

¼ cup candied walnuts

1 tsp. minced garlic

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

10 oz. cooked pasta

Add bacon bits to a saute pan and cook over medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add garlic and cook until brown. Pour in the white wine and cook off the alcohol for about five minutes. Add butternut puree, salt, pepper and sage leaves and allow to reduce in the pan. Reheat cooked pasta in boiling water, then add into the saute pan and toss until well incorporated. Portion out to your desired size and sprinkle with the candied walnuts to finish. D’Amore likes to crumble them a bit in his hand first.

What does it pair well with?

This dish pairs great with a crispy-skin roasted chicken and a crisp riesling wine.

Any special preparation tips?

If you want to make the dish feel special, candy your own walnuts (recipe at right). I also suggest frying some sage leaves [in butter] to garnish this dish.

Anything you’d like to add?

Cooking should be fun. Put on your favorite music, dance a bit and enjoy cooking this delicious recipe.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE

1 butternut squash peeled, deseeded, cut into 2-inch cubes

½ qt. vegetable stock

2 Tbsp. honey

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Dash of cinnamon

Place the squash and vegetable stock in a medium pot on the stove. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to medium heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until squash is very tender. Remove squash from pot and place in a food processor. Add honey, cinnamon and another dash of salt and pepper. Blend until you have a fine puree. Taste and adjust flavors. Put in an airtight container and allow to cool before putting on a lid.

CANDIED WALNUTS

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

2 egg whites

2 tsp. water

1 lb. walnut halves

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a sheet pan with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Place the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites with the water until the mixture is frothy. Pour the walnuts into the egg white mixture and toss to coat. Pour in the cinnamon sugar mixture and stir until nuts are thoroughly coated in the sugar. Place the nuts in a single layer on the sheet pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the coating on the nuts has hardened. Cool completely and store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Making good DOWN TO EARTH

Game plan

How the school year and sports season can get greener

BY BECCA TAURISANO

With Central New York summers getting hotter and our winters accumulating less snow, the effects of climate change are visible. As we embark on a new school year, what meaningful changes can parents, educators and coaches incorporate at home, in the classroom and on the field to make this year more eco-friendly? Such changes seem small on their own, but they can have a big impact and teach the next generation how to care for our planet.

REDUCE AND RECYCLE

Recycling is usually the first experience children have in learning to protect the environment, whether at home or school. By separating trash from recyclable materials, kids can learn early on how to take care of our planet. Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) has resources to help teachers bring earth-friendly concepts into the classroom curriculum in the elementary grades, and schools across Onondaga County have taken the School Recycling Pledge, a promise to engage in recycling.

OCRRA also provides film plastic recycling and offers guidance on what items they will accept. Shopping bags, produce bags and the plastic wrapping found on paper towels or cases of water are all examples of film plastic that OCRRA will recycle. For a comprehensive list, visit ocrra.org/how-do-i-get-rid-of/plasticbags. After processing what can be recycled, OCRRA takes the rest to their Waste-to-Energy facility, which turns trash into electricity and powers 30,000 households a year. This process reduces the amount of material that needs to be landfilled by 90%. Many hard-to-recycle items can be shipped to or picked up by TerraCycle, an organization that works with well-known brands to eliminate waste. They even provide fundraising opportunities for schools who partner with them to recycle. From toothpaste tubes to pool floats, drink pouches to toys, all of TerraCycle’s free recycling programs can be found at terracycle. com/en-US/brigades.

Waste reduction is more than just recycling. Schools can

compost food waste from the kitchen or cafeteria, and the end result could provide nutrients to be used in a school garden. By sharing these concepts with students, schools create an environmentally beneficial system with hands-on learning potential that helps connect kids to nature and engages them in learning about the life cycle of plants.

Sports teams can reduce waste by offering digital tickets instead of paper, encouraging parents to sign-up to bring food to share at away games, and using compostable utensils and plates at the team tent to prevent non-biodegradable litter. Natural snacks like fresh fruit and vegetables are compostable and healthy. Avoiding individually packaged snack items is an earth-friendly practice as well.

Walking or biking to school or practice whenever possible, as well as carpooling or using a team bus to transport players instead of individual vehicles, helps cut down on carbon emissions. Turning classroom overhead lights off whenever possible, and using LED lights to illuminate fields and stadiums reduces energy consumption. Holding a tree planting event can offset the carbon footprint of a school or team.

Parents can send their children to school or practice with reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic ones, and incorporate reusable lunch containers to avoid plastic bags. Purchase snacks in bulk and dispense portions into bento boxes or reusable containers. For sports teams, if there is not a water source at the game to refill bottles, teams can recycle plastic whenever possible, or use a carry in-carry out mindset if recycling is not provided at the facility.

REUSE

At the end of the year, many educational materials and school supplies end up in the trash. To prevent this, schools can provide a space for unwanted items that are in good condition to be donated to other students or reused the next year. Before buying new school supplies, assess what can be reused. If you need to buy new, look for products made with recycled materials. Instead of tossing driedup markers, send them to Crayola for recycling. Visit crayola.com/colorcycle.aspx for more information. Families can donate unwanted books to a local library or children’s charity; additionally, a book exchange for students to swap titles can keep books from being discarded. By partnering with another area school, teachers could swap supplies and materials they are no longer using.

Sports equipment that is in good condition but no longer needed can be reused by other families. Valley Youth Hockey Association in Syracuse and New Hartford Youth Hockey Association both

maintain gently used gear that is available for other athletes to reuse safely. Some pieces of equipment, like helmets, are not recommended for reuse, due to safety regulations.

Play It Again Sports, with locations in Syracuse and Utica, buys and sells new and used sporting equipment, allowing parents to cut down on waste and reduce what they spend on new equipment that children often outgrow quite quickly.

Invest in quality backpacks and lunch boxes that will last for years, instead of those that have to be replaced every fall. Central New York parent Kristina Black ford says, “[We are] going on year four with our Pottery Barn Kids gear and [it] still looks brand new.”

Choosing a pattern or color you know your kids will not tire of right away is helpful in getting some longevity out of your purchase.

Similarly, investing in creative play toys made from natural materials by brands like HABA, Melissa & Doug, Kikkerland or Grimm’s Spiel und Holz can extend the life of your purchase, as they will not break easily and can be recycled later or passed on as a keepsake.

UPCYCLE

Reusing materials enhances creativity in art and play. Educator and owner of Manlius Day School Nikki Engel is inspired by Italy’s Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education. Part of the method promotes the reuse of otherwise wasted materials in children’s artistic projects.

Some ideas for upcycling art projects include repurposing CDs or DVDs into wind chimes; using scraps of fabric to create quilts; making art out of old magazines, egg cartons or cardboard paper towel and toilet paper rolls; and melting down old crayons to make new ones. The possibilities are endless.

“There is so much you can upcycle when it comes to children,” says Engel. “What you think is trash is going to become treasure in a creative way for kids. Nothing is wasted.”

Bridging the gap

SU alumnae provide museum-level care to private collections, new collectors and young artists

BY BRANDON WALLACE

For Devon Vander Voort and Courtney Levings, establishing Levings Vander Voort Art Advisory (LVV) was about filling gaps in the art world.

When the pair launched their New York City-based business in August 2023, they were creating what they knew the art world needed: While there are collection managers and art advisors, rarely are the two brought together. For them, though, the decision just made sense. The result is a one-stop shop for the less glamorous, but vital, infrastructure that helps artists succeed and protects their work.

PHOTOS BY JORDIN PRICE, IZZY ROSEN, AND ARTIST:

JILLIAN HAGADORN

The duo, who met pursuing graduate degrees in museum studies at Syracuse University, make for a dynamic team. While attending SU, they both worked with the SU Art Museum and cofounded the Upstate Emerging Museum Professionals Network, the international organization’s only New York chapter outside of New York City. Vander Voort continues to be involved with the university today, serving on the advisory board of the SU Art Museum.

At LVV, Vander Voort is director of art advising, while Levings is the director of collections management. “Courtney and I were both looking for jobs in our respective fields,” Vander Voort says. “We put together the things we wanted to be working on and formed the company.

“Essentially we founded our firm with the hope of connecting art with people,” she says. “We offer a multitude of services where we are either helping people actively source and buy work for their private collections [or providing] collection management services.”

While museum collections are heralded for their ability to conserve works and preserve artistic history, private collectors are driven by personal pursuits and the works are often hung in homes and private spaces, organized by aesthetics and appeal. The real crux of LVV’s model revolves around bringing preservation practices into these local collections, safeguarding works that otherwise could deteriorate quickly.

In New York City, the pair connect local and emerging artists to established collectors, buyers and exhibitors. While LVV does not yet have a gallery space, it currently partners with established organizations to showcase its clients. They bring Generation Z artists to the forefront, providing inaugural experiences in the art world.

Devon Vander Voort,

and Courtney

In Central New York, too, at Liverpool’s Hope Cafe, you’ll find an LVV-curated exhibition (doubling as an art sale) where multimedia artist Jillian Hagadorn’s work is in the spotlight. According to Vander Voort, Hagadorn’s “ability to intertwine

This page, clockwise from top, an LVV-curated exhibition “Enter & Exit: Select Works from the Exit Art Portfolios,” “Loveable, 2020” and “Perennial Seasons, 2018” by artist Jillian Hagadorn. LVV curated an exhibition of Hagadorn’s work at Hope Cafe in Liverpool; the works are for sale.

Opposite,

left,

Levings.

personal introspection with artistic expression creates a compelling narrative that resonates with audiences.”

According to their former SU professor and advisor, Andrew Saluti, LVV is a testament of the duo’s shared professionalism and determination.

“I’m not the least bit surprised about the success that Levings Vander Voort has had, considering the work ethic and character of Devon and Courtney,” Saluti says. “Their plan to combine collections management and artistic representation, independent of a brick-and-mortar gallery, is going to become a model for future arts professionals.”

Prior to launch, Vander Voort was already enmeshed in the New York City art scene, having worked at Fridman Gallery and Resnicow and Associates public relations firm. The network of arts enthusiasts and professionals that she cultivated has paid dividends for LVV, helping it establish tangible connections with both artists and collectors, arguably one of the hardest parts of breaking into the art world.

LVV’s programming of exhibitions also calls attention to fields and disciplines that are often less regarded in the art world. Most recently, in SoHo, “Enter & Exit: Select Works from the Exit Art Portfolios” emphasized the value of prints and the art of printmaking.

Targeting the historical exclusivity of museums and the art world, Vander Voort and Levings are recentering the local, allowing emerging artists to be seen and anyone to begin collecting, as

This page, Vander Voort and Levings. Opposite, clockwise from top left, “Street Study, 2021” and “Say When, 2019” by Jillian Hagadorn.

A woman walks through the “Enter & Exit” exhibition in a SoHo gallery.

they expand access beyond traditional galleries and museums into private businesses and community hubs.

In recent years, museums have come under fire for their exclusionary practices, as has much of the art world. LVV is aiming to break this down, allowing anyone to collect art responsibly and be proactive about preservation. LVV’s collections management services include various preservation and cataloging practices that ensure adequate documentation and tracking of collections. This can include creating accession numbers, condition reports, storage solutions and organizational structures. Although daunting, these preservation practices are tangible manifestations of maintaining history.

For Syracuse-based collector Robin Kasowitz — whom Vander Voort met in high school while serving on the Everson Teen Arts Council — LVV has offered support in bolstering collection recordkeeping, safeguarding objects and obtaining art valuations.

“I collect, but like so many people, everything is in a book or a box and very disorganized,” Kasowitz says. “They organized everything, which was phenomenal. In doing that, I could really see the value of what my collection was. They were also good at telling me what to do to avoid potential damage.

“Because of their work,” she continues. “I not only know what condition my collection is in, not only are my records up to date and on a computer, but I know how to keep the collection in that condition and understand the value.”

While the partners mostly operate remotely — attending art

fairs around the world, hosting private gallery events and meeting with collectors onsite — they see an established space in their future, but not a stereotypical gallery.

“What we want more than that is to have a place where we can do condition reports, photography, write-ups of artwork … and have an office space for our team, a cataloging space, maybe a storage space and then also a showroom,” Vander Voort says. New York City will remain their hub, she says, but their goals are to “expand and expand and expand.”

In just one year, LVV has already fulfilled its vision, with every month bearing more exhibitions, bigger projects and larger sales, according to Vander Voort.

The first year was “full of surprises,” Levings says. “It’s a wild ride — in the best way possible because you never know what to expect. One thing we keep encountering is that every opportunity is a learning moment, which has been one of my favorite parts of opening the business.”

For their former peers, they embody a sense of inspiration.

“I think it’s really inspiring and exciting to see two young women from our program excelling in the museum field so quickly,” says Abby Cullen, a fellow SU museum studies alumna. “It makes me feel more confident in my own abilities to follow in their footsteps.”

Brandon Wallace is a recent graduate of the Goldring Arts Journalism & Communications Program at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“I feel so good and blessed to be able to leave a legacy.”

Mary Nelson has worked in the radiology department at Upstate University Hospital for 25 years, and is a well-known youth advocate in the Central New York community. She also is a member of the Upstate Legacy Society, established as a tribute to donors who have included the Upstate Foundation in their estate plans. Someday, her legacy gift will beneft children with disabilities.

“Leaving a legacy is something I always wanted to do, to be able to give back to special needs youth in our community. I’m inspired by my grandchildren,” explained Mary. “I have two grandchildren with disabilities and I want to make sure other children with disabilities can receive excellent care.”

Mary added that she wants her grandchildren to be successful in life, and not look at their disability as a consequence to allow them not to strive. Her mantra is, “Don’t let your circumstance become your consequence.”

Mary’s advice regarding legacy giving? “Find your passion for which you want to be remembered. My legacy is always giving back and not looking for anything in return.”

Please join Mary in making a legacy gift today!

To read Mary’s complete story, visit www.UpstateFoundation.org/LegacyGiving, or to create your own legacy gift, call Upstate Foundation at 315-464-6490

Our mission: Impacting patient care, education, research, and community health and well-being through charitable giving.

Galleries

“Living Lens” Photography by Ron Thiele at Cazenovia Artisans

“Another World is Possible: Posters by Ricardo Levins Morales” at ArtRage

ARTRAGE GALLERY

505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse. 315-218-5711, artragegallery.org. Open 2 to 6 p.m., WednesdayFriday, noon to 4 p.m., Saturday (and by appointment for groups).

Another World is Possible: Posters by Ricardo Levins Morales. Ricardo Levins Morales is an artist and organizer based in Minneapolis. He uses his art as a form of political medicine to support individual and collective healing from the injuries and ongoing reality of oppression. He was born into the anti-colonial movement in his native Puerto Rico and was drawn into activism in Chicago when his family moved there in 1967. Ricardo left high school early and worked in various industries, and over time began to use his art as part of his movement work. This activism has included support work for the Black Panthers and Young Lords, and participating in or acting in solidarity with farmers, environmental, labor, racial justice, antiwar and other struggles for people’s empowerment. Runs Sept. 7 through Oct. 26.

CAZENOVIA ARTISANS

39 Albany Street, Cazenovia. 315-655-2225, info@ cazenoviaartisans.com. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Barque: By ceramist Vartan Poghosian. Vartan Poghosian, a contemporary ceramic artist, was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia. Following his military service, Poghosian relocated to the United States and settled in upstate New York. Initially starting with a ceramic studio, he established the community art center known as 4 Elements Studio in Utica. In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, Poghosian established Clayville Pottery. This venture became the primary platform for highlighting his original ceramic creations and artwork. Opening reception 2 to 5 p.m., Sept. 7. Runs through Sept. 30.

Living Lens: Photography by Ron Thiele. Ron is a Syracuse-based freelance artist and photographer who grew up in the Oakland/ San Francisco Bay Area where he danced with the Oakland Ballet Company for nearly 30 years. Inspired by dance photography from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, Ron began photographing company rehearsals, earning himself an exhibit at the Oakland Museum. Ron’s intention has always been to photograph the intimacy and diversity of human emotions described in dance. He says, “It’s never been about the circus-like pyrotechnical leaps, jumps or turns, instead it’s always tried to embrace the enduring emotional and expressive human resilience of the dancers and the stories they tell in dance.” As his work continues, Ron is driven by the enduring capacity of dancers and dance to speak to the human condition: to reveal the worst and best of our human transgressions, and to share simple human joy. Opening reception 2 to 5 p.m., Oct. 5. Runs Oct. 1 through 31.

COMMUNITY FOLK ART CENTER

805 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse. 315-442-2230, communityfolkartcenter.org. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Hours may vary based on programming. Coming Back Together: Community and Connection. This exhibition will feature mixed-media art and photography that showcases community bonds created at Syracuse University. Starting in 1983, Coming Back Together (CBT) was the first reunion of its kind. Every three years, Black and Latino alumni come back to campus to celebrate their accomplishments, meet current students and remain connected with the university. Over the four-day weekend of Sept. 12-15, there will be numerous workshops, receptions, social events and cultural activities. Highlights include CBT Celebrity Classic Basketball Game, CBT Comedy Show, CBT Cookout on the Quad, CBT Fundraising Gala and Awards Ceremony and the Sunday Worship Service. Runs through end of September.

EDGEWOOD GALLERY

216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse. 315-445-8111, edgewoodartandframe.com. Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday-Monday. Free.

Confabulations: Art as Storytelling. Dan Bacich: box assemblages made with groupings of found objects carefully arranged in compositions that give rise to narratives where initially none were apparent. Dan Shanahan: fantastical watercolor paintings filled with interesting characters and perspectives creating worlds of stories. Deb Rogers: multimedia jewelry. Runs through Sept. 27.

Texture/Form/Surface: David “Hongo” Robertson. Robertson will be exhibiting several series of his textural acrylic paintings with Lauren Bristol’s sculptural coiled basketry and Dana Stenson’s metalsmith jewelry. Artist reception 6 to 8 p.m., Fri., Oct. 4. Runs Oct. 4 through Nov. 15.

EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

401 Harrison Street, Syracuse. 315-474-6064, everson. org. Open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday-Tuesday.

Sascha Brastoff: California King. There are many wild and colorful characters in the history of American ceramics, but most pale in comparison to Sascha Brastoff. We most remember Brastoff as a prolific designer of midcentury dinnerware, but he also served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he created props and costumes for Special Services events to entertain troops. Brastoff also performed as his drag alter-ego, G.I. Carmen Miranda, and was cast in a Broadway production, “Winged Victory,” later adapted into the 1944 movie of the same name. When the war ended, Brastoff moved to Los Angeles to design costumes for film stars, including the real Carmen Miranda. Brastoff then built a dinnerware empire (bankrolled by a Rockefeller)

Tim Atseff’s “Final Edition” at Everson Museum of Art

“Barque” by ceramist Vartan Poghosian at Cazenovia Artisans

Galleries

after taking a top prize in the Syracuse Museum of Fine Art’s 1948 “Ceramic National” exhibition. Throughout his career, Brastoff rubbed elbows with celebrities and was at the heart of L.A.’s Queer underground. Brastoff also mastered jewelry, metalwork, enamels and created erotic works for many private clients. Runs through Sept. 20.

Tim Atseff: Final Edition. Fifty years following his Everson Museum debut, Syracuse native Tim Atseff returns with a solo exhibition dedicated to a topic he knows intimately: newspapers. Atseff spent nearly five decades working at the Syracuse newspapers in various professional roles and is perhaps bestknown for penning editorial cartoons that satirically skewered political and public figures in print. Atseff’s artistic practice is similarly grounded in current events, but as a platform for expressing personal views about existential crises facing the world today. It is writ large and in full color in paintings, assemblages and installations. For the Everson, Atseff presents a series of recent works about the continued shuttering of American newspapers and its impact on journalistic integrity, an informed public and national political debate. Runs Sept. 21 through Dec. 29.

LA CASITA CULTURAL CENTER

109 Otisco Street, Syracuse. 315-443-2151, lacasita.syr.edu. Open noon to 6 p.m. Tues. through Friday. For questions or to request accessibility accommodations, please email: lacasita@ syr.edu

Weird Barrio: The works of Manuel Matias. In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, La Casita will inaugurate its 2024-25 exhibit, “Weird Barrio,” with a community-wide event. The exhibit highlights the works of Manuel Matias, a Syracuse-based Puerto Rican artist best known for his intricate miniature street art dioramas. The exhibit also features artwork created by youth in summer workshops led by Matias. The event, which is free and open to the public, and includes lively music, a traditional Puerto Rican buffet and fun for the whole family, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 20. Free parking. Runs Sept. 20 through April 2025. La Casita is a program of Syracuse University established to advance an educational and cultural agenda of civic engagement through research, cultural heritage preservation, media and the arts — bridging the Hispanic communities of the University and Central New York.

LIGHT WORK KATHLEEN O. ELLIS GALLERY

316 Waverly Avenue, Syracuse. 315-443-1300, lightwork.org. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For guided tours, contact info@lightwork.org.

Asea: Nicholas Muellner. Nicholas Muellner is an artist who works with photography and writing through books, exhibitions and slide lectures. The exhibition, “Asea,” showcases portraits in the landscape, made complex by surreal lighting, staging and pantomiming, that explore personal narrative and the limits of photography. Muellner received a BA in comparative literature from Yale University and an MFA in photography from Temple University. He is founding co-director of the Image Text MFA and ITI Press at Cornell University. Artist reception 5 to 7 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 19. Runs through Dec. 13.

“Still Day” Southside mural by Lynne Sachs at Light Work

Lauren Bristol’s sculptural coiled basketry at Edgewood Gallery

Invisible/olvidado: Oda al paisaje humilde. (Unseen/ forgotten: An ode to the humble landscape.) This exhibit will run at Light Work’s architectural projection venue on the Everson Museum facade. The exhibit is the continuation of a project Paulina Velázquez Solís developed during the pandemic. She found herself in a new environment in Brooktondale, NY, surrounded by a creek where the change of pace and isolation brought via COVID accentuated the sound perception of the river, and its presence as a neighbor and living entity. This sonic connection was similar to her home in Costa Rica, which is also next to a river, making the sound and the experience of the river both grounding and nostalgic. This experience brought a new perspective not only in the sense of place through bodies of water, but also in the creatures and plants that are particular to a place. “Unseen/forgotten” continues these observations focusing on plants of Central New York natural areas that present a post-industrial natural wonder — where many species prevail after the severe deforestation through the end of the 19th century and the start of the 1900s — through visuals, media performance and soundscapes, stories learned during the explorations of natural areas, and visits at the L. H. Bailey Hortorium Herbarium at Cornell University. Runs through Sept. 28.

“Weird Barrio: The Works of Manuel Matias” at La Casita Cultural Center

Communities of Care: Documenting Reproductive Justice in a Post-Roe Country. 5:30 p.m., Thurs., Oct. 17, at Watson Theater on the Syracuse University campus, 316 Waverly Ave. Syracuse. Free. Join Light Work for a screening by The Abortion Clinic Film Collective, a group of six filmmakers who came together from around the country in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade to explore the impact of the ruling on their own communities followed by a Q&A with the collective. The program includes new work by award-winning filmmaker Lynne Sachs commissioned by Light Work and shot in Syracuse in spring 2024 in collaboration with local reproductive justice advocates from Layla’s Got You. The related exhibition “Lynne Sachs: New Work” will also be on view in the Everson community plaza as an architectural projection from dusk to 11 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 10 through Dec. 21.

ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse. 315-428-1864, cnyhistory. org. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5, free for members or children 12 & under. Check website for updates.

Suit Up! A Look at Syracuse Sporting Uniforms Through the Years. “Suit Up!” is in the Onondaga Historical Museum’s large first-floor gallery. The exhibit, in collaboration with Syracuse University’s Special Collections Research Center, displays various Syracuse sporting uniforms throughout the decades. Local professional and collegiate teams are featured in this sporty jaunt through local nostalgia, celebrating the history of Syracuse athletics. Runs through December 2024.

Look At What We Got! One of the most common questions the archivists and curators of the Onondaga Historical Association are asked is, “Will the document or artifact I’m donating be on exhibit?” The answer is always a resounding, “possibly.” With limited exhibit space, and exhibit topics that don’t always include every item in our collection, OHA has many magnificent items preserved and protected, but not on display. “Look At What We Got” is OHA’s chance to exhibit an eclectic assortment of artifacts and documents that were donated to OHA in the last five years. The exhibit will also provide insight into the choices OHA’s archivists and curators make when accepting donations. Runs through May 2025.

Galleries

Pages of the Past: The Personal Archives of Scrapbooks. Featuring bits of history collected and curated in personal scrapbooks of Syracuse community members, the exhibit displays both original scrapbooks and interactive reproductions. “Pages of the Past” celebrates the history of scrapbooking and the local residents who have taken the time through the years to compile records of their lives and the community. Runs through Spring 2025.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

222 Waverly Avenue, Syracuse. library.syr.edu. Open to the public 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 6th Floor is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Destroy All Monsters: Developments in Fandom and Participatory Culture. The exhibition explores how fan bases from genres such as literature, film and music have radically shifted over the past century from mere consumers of media to active participants in it. The complex history of creative expression in fandom is represented in the exhibition by a variety of materials, ranging from sci-fi fan letters to punk fanzines to photographs of cosplayers and conventioneers. Taken in full, the materials displayed seek to illustrate the legacy of fan participation from the pre-internet era through the current day. Curated by Daniel Sarmiento, curator of 20th century to present, the exhibition will be on view at the Special Collections Research Center, Bird Library, 6th floor gallery during the fall 2024 semester. An opening reception will be held 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12. Runs through Dec. 18.

Brockway Trucks & History  Military Memorabilia Model Trains & Railroad History

Local History & Cortland County Musicians

NEW ~ Antque Firehouse Museum & First Responder Display Agricultural Heritage  Vintage Tractors & More!

New & Expanded Exhibits  Something for Everyone Handicapped Accessible with Plenty of Parking Planning a Function or a Meeting? Ask about Rental Spaces

Groups & Rentals Always Welcome with Prior Arrangements NOW OPEN WITH OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Last Admission is at 4:00 pm For More Information and Upcoming Fall Events: Visit our Website or Facebook Page

Untitled from “Asea: Nicholas Muellner” at Light Work

Flashback

WITH OHA

How do you plan to immerse yourself in entertainment this fall? Perhaps by catching a local theater performance? Or enjoying a film on the big screen?

In the early 20th century, it was common for Americans to buy one ticket to experience both.

In 1909, The Post-Standard noted the “line between vaudeville and the moving picture houses” was not “sharply drawn,” as many theaters at the time sandwiched stage acts between films. In Syracuse, brothers William R. and Edward P. Cahill owned and operated two venues that followed this trend.

CURTAIN CALL

Syracuse’s long-forgotten entertainment venues

BY MARIA LORE

The Crescent Theatre opened first on Dec. 20, 1909. It was located at 451 S. Salina St., and singers, comedians and other live acts were part of its inaugural program, in addition to movie showings. The theater seated 1,100 individuals. The Syracuse Herald reported that Lionel Barrymore’s “The Face in the Fog” and Charlie Chaplin’s “A Woman” were among the silent films that debuted in Syracuse “at popular prices” at the Crescent.

The second temple of entertainment built by the Cahill brothers, at 424 S. Salina St., was the appropriately named Temple Theatre. Architects Merrick and Randall of Syracuse designed

the theater. An article published in the Syracuse Journal in anticipation of its August 1914 opening noted that “this newest of Syracuse theaters [was] one of the handsomest and largest of the legitimate playhouses with a seating capacity of 1,800.” The interior walls were covered with tapestries of an “old rose” color, while the dome of its auditorium was painted with an “allegorical design representing comedy, tragedy, opera and drama.”

Like the Crescent, the Temple Theatre hosted both film screenings and a variety of live acts that included violinists, pianists, comedians, jugglers and dancers. A 1920 Post-Standard article emphasized that all of the Temple’s vaudeville shows were intended to be “invariably refined and cleanly humorous… without fear of any off-color performances or contaminating influences.”

Sadly, neither of the Cahills’ theaters are still in operation today. The final curtain went down on the Crescent in 1928, and the Addis Co. department store was later located at this site. As for the Temple, the Paramount Pictures Corporation leased and reopened this theater in 1929, before it was demolished in 1967 as a casualty of urban renewal. Maria Lore is the research center manager at OHA.

Crescent Theatre marquee circa 1914.

Last word

MARY JUMBELIC

WITH Author and Forensic Pathologist

BY MJ KRAVEC

You might say death becomes her. In her own words, former Onondaga County Medical Examiner Mary Jumbelic has spoken for the dead throughout her life, telling tales that have helped her tell her own story. She recently published her memoir, “Here, Where Death Delights,” and is working on a second book about violence against women and her feminist self. But storytelling is nothing new to Jumbelic. From the diaries of her youth to the personal journals she kept as a forensic pathologist working in six mass disaster zones around the world, to her academic pieces on fatality and injury prevention, Jumbelic has written nonfiction stories about life inside and outside the morgue. We sat down with her to discuss how death shaped her life as a whole and what she values most about living as an author.

What time do you get up in the morning and how do you take your coffee? As I age I have enjoyed being more of an early bird, arising about 6:30 a.m. We have an incredible espresso machine which prepares my perfect coffee — cappuccino — with a lump of raw sugar and a dusting of cocoa. I do love coffee and have been known to drink it in all its forms.

Favorite season in CNY? Winter has always been my favorite. I gathered poems about snow for a school project as a child in Baltimore, a southern city. Landing here in beautiful CNY nearly 30 years ago felt like destiny. The crisp and cold air, the comforting blanket of snow and the way light reflects off of the white stuff makes my world brighter and a bit more magical.

Favorite place to enjoy the great outdoors in CNY?

There is such variety of season and geography, it’s difficult to narrow down. Walks along the Erie Canal with my sweet Boston terrier, Daisy, are contemplative. We completed the 90-mile Canalway Challenge during COVID. [Hiking] Chittenango Falls is great exercise up and back with the reward of an incredible view. My husband and I like to bicycle around Onondaga Lake and kayak at Cazenovia Lake, bringing Daisy along for the ride.

Tell us about your book “Here, Where Death Delights.”

My first book is a memoir — true stories of my life, beginning with the death of my father when I was a teen to my career as a forensic pathologist, and my own near-death experience in retirement. Death shaped me as a person, a daughter, a doctor, a wife, a mother and a writer. As an author, I now get to connect with readers from all walks of life, hearing their stories and how mine have profoundly affected them.

What do you enjoy most about this new phase of your life?

The outpouring of support and praise has been uplifting and honors both my former and current careers. People are moved by my stories, my empathy and the lessons that death has to teach the living. This further inspires me.

You mentioned on Instagram how an eighth-grade girl approached you at an April book signing at Barnes & Noble in DeWitt saying she wanted to do what you do when she grows up. That must’ve been rewarding.

I feel proud to be someone that a youth would want to emulate. Many young people approach me at lectures, including at local high schools. It is exciting that forensics is more popular today than when I started. My youngest son, also a doctor, is in pathology training and teaches autopsy dissection to the new residents. Our conversations continue to motivate me. If someone reaches out to me with a desire to know more or needs advice, I will always answer an email.

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