Local artist collective blossoming

TRI-STATE REGION — Among the other things discussed at last weekend’s 14th Colony artists meeting: the possible merits of a homemade fixative spray for powder-based mediums, the correct pronunciation of the surname Velázquez and the film “Cool Hand Luke†starring Paul Newman.

Not a bad way to spend two hours on a Sunday evening.

The 14th Colony is a collective of artists from the Tri-state area that has been convening once a month to philosophize and talk shop since the inaugural Fall for Art event held in Millerton last October.

The group provides an opportunity for area artists to network, talk shop and simply enjoy the company of other artists. The stereotypical artist being reclusive and shy, co-founder Mark Liebergall explained with a hint of humor that a collective offers an opportunity “to find ways to support each other as artists and as friends.â€

The collective’s name traces back to a 96-page historical supplement to a 1976 issue of The Lakeville Journal. Mary Lou Estabrook had compiled a number of local historians for a series of articles under the umbrella, “Arsenal of the revolution: The first history of the 14th colony.â€

The 14th colony referred to an area of land that the newspaper supplement’s writers felt was distinct from the original 13 colonies of what was to become the United States. The geographic area covered, in rough approximation, from Sheffield to Hillsdale, south to Dover and across to Kent. The area was an important resource for the Continental Army and the idea of that colony struck a chord with the artists that were convening.

“Like everything else we do, it was pure, dirty, participatory democracy to choose a name,†Liebergall explained at a recent 14th Colony meeting at member Dorothy Fox’s house in Salisbury. “We liked the idea of a colony made up of people from three states, where the borderlines are negated.â€

The 14th Colony, since its inception, has gotten legs, to say the least. The group has branched out beyond the living room of artists’ homes to collective shows, which have been held in the currently empty David Gavin Salon building owned by Bill and Leslie Flood and Hilary Hendler.

The building’s owners have and will continue to offer the space to the artists, in a sort of symbiotic relationship where the artists benefit from the space and the creative company and the real estate owners benefit from the traffic that it brings to the building.

Bill Flood said the building will be available to use for at least the next few months (the owners are looking to put a restaurant  there and are waiting on septic approval) and that it’s been a great experience having the artists utilize the space, which brings in visitors to admire the building.

“All over the world, art is one of the biggest draws of tourism and traffic to an area,†Liebergall said following the 14th Colony’s inaugural show in the David Gavin building, held during the Spring for Art event this past May. “Businesses that are around any kind of vacant real estate love to have art shows there.â€

The collective is over 65-strong now, and approximately 25 members attended the meeting at Fox’s house. It was an informal group, but there was plenty of business to take care of, including future shows to plan for. There’s even talk of possibly starting an arts and literary journal to showcase 14th Colony works.

Jonathan Doster, a photographer from Sharon, said it was the camaraderie that drew him to the collective. He said the networking within the group was key, mentioning that he got a lead for a job he was eventually hired for from another member.

There are plenty of those types of benefits to staying in contact with other artists, which many members said wasn’t happening without the 14th Colony. A quick show of hands revealed that many people didn’t know anyone else in the group before joining. Beside the monthly meetings, e-mailing keeps the group connected and up to date with what is going on in the area.

Working as a collective is also advantageous when staging shows,  drawing a much larger audience for the group’s work. And the area is starting to recognize the group now as well. Rhinebeck Artist’s Shop is now offering discounts to any 14th Colony artist, making supplies and materials easier, and cheaper, to obtain.

And getting artistic minds together is leading to tangible results. Liebergall and Amenia artist Moira Kelly debuted the aforementioned fixative spray at the meeting and distributed free samples to other members to beta-test for possible retail sale.

“It’s an indication of what the group is about,†Kelly said, elaborating that without the group, the idea never would have come to fruition. “What I like is that things actually get done. It wasn’t just conversation.â€

Perhaps the most important aspect of the 14th Colony was addressed later in the meeting, when the idea of having the artists meet at a studio to look at each other’s work came up.

“The fundamental premise of this group from the beginning,†Liebergall said, “is that the 14th Colony is about us, not about skills or talent. It’s about us as people.â€

Kelly agreed.

“We do not identify people according to their work,†she continued. “I do not look at anyone in the group and see what they do and judge them accordingly.â€

That’s not to say that members can’t convene on their own time to critique or discuss their own art. Just not at meetings.

Discussions often became spirited, as there were as many opinions as artists in the room. But that could work very well for the burgeoning group heading into the future.

“It’s very non-directional,†Liebergall said early on. “We’re just letting it find its own watermarks.â€

The next 14th Colony Artists show will be held on July 4 at the David Gavin Salon, located at the rear of Railroad Plaza in Millerton. Anyone interested in joining the group can send an e-mail to markalanliebergall@yahoo.com.