2 Alices in Cornwall-on-Hudson was extra busy on Friday night. There was the usual crowd in addition to the members of the Cornwall Arts Collective, who were celebrating the opening of a new show.
For an outsider, it was hard to know who was who — to distinguish the artists from the people who just wanted to unwind at the end of the work week.
Since the noise level was high, it was probably good that there were no presentations to mark the start of the exhibit. Maureen Hart, a member of the group, said that none had been planned. As she held a young grandchild, she explained that most artists spend many hours working alone. The Friday night activity was a chance for them to enjoy being together.
Mrs. Hart introduced us to a pair of high school students, John and Sarah Murphy, from the Town of Newburgh who are the collective’s newest and youngest members. She convinced them to join after meeting them at an area frame shop. They are siblings and accomplished photographers.
The addition of John and Sarah suggests that the collective is diverse. It includes people of different ages as well as artists with a variety of talents. The group’s members include painters, photographers, sculptors and illustrators.
One of the most unique members is Alan Reutershan, who creates art from the remnants he collects from the Hudson River. He contributed a wood sculpture to the exhibit, which attracted several viewers on opening night.
The younger guests, however, were drawn to a pair of paintings by Matt Soltis. One was a portrait of a robot from “Star Wars” and the other a re-creation of Stephen King’s “It.”
Rebecca Kashinski is the chairperson of the collective, having taken over from Jay LeRoy (the organization’s founder). On Friday evening, she was sitting at a table and chatting with friends. “We’re hoping to have four shows a year,” she told us, “in addition to monthly meetings with presentations.”
The organization is still comparatively new. “We hope to become more of a presence,” Mrs. Kashinski promised. “We’re working on that.”
You don’t have to be an artist to join the group, and you can belong to more than one organization. Some members of the collective are also part of the Orange County Arts Council.
If you missed the Friday opening, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the exhibit. It will continue until March 17. 2 Alices Coffee Lounge is at 311 Hudson Street.
