Reflections on Water in American Painting

This traveling exhibit, which surveys American maritime- and water-themed painting from 1828 to 1945, makes its first stop at the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie. Drawn from the collections of Arthur J. Phelan, the “underlying theme of the exhibition reflects changes in American attitudes toward our most important resource—from the endless supply of water and land the first settlers found . . . to the popularity of second homes and beaches and the change in port facilities from picturesque to industrial in the 20th century.”

Artists featured in the show include James Bard, Anton Otto Fischer, Charles M. McIllhenney, Edward Percy Moran and the great Reginald Marsh, whose Lift Bridge, Jersey Marshes (1936) is pictured here.

Reflections on Water in American Painting opens Saturday (June 19) and runs through Oct. 3 at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie (2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie). For more info, visit arkellmuseum.org or call 673-2314.

 

Skinless, Burning Human

Whatever you do, wear your sunscreen!

This extra-special one-off bill reads like a cautionary poster at a dermatologist’s office. And it’s alright to be afraid—in fact, it’s mandatory. Seminal Albany death-metal band and brutal force of the ’90s Troycore scene, Skinless, are getting back together.

Ever since Regression Toward Evil in 1998, Skinless (pictured) have “helped rearrange the face of death metal” with viscously pessimistic lyrics, club-enhanced mosh pits, and shamelessly misogynistic stagecraft. And, considering that the group formed from the remains of a band called Skinless Butt Portions, there’s plenty of comedy in there too. Saturday’s show will feature all original members.

To do this thing right, the band have invited fellow Troy death-metal act Burning Human—featuring Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner—to share the headline. The band continue to tour on their appropriately flammable 2009 album Resurrection By Fire. Rounding out the night will be Wasteform, Israfel and the Harrowing.

Skinless will reunite at Northern Lights (1208 Route 146, Clifton Park) on Saturday (June 19). Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $14. Call 371-0012 for more info.

 

Or,

She was a groundbreaking dramatist—Virginia Woolf later wrote that all women writers owe her a debt—and a fierce Tory; she was a gender-bending spy who thrived in the hurly-burly of England’s Restoration period. She was Aphra Behn, and the subject of the rollicking play Or, currently being presented at Stageworks/Hudson.

Playwright Liz Duffy Adams found herself fascinated by Behn and read her collective works a few years ago, intrigued by Behn’s “genius for reinventing the world around her instead of adapting herself to it.”

The resulting play, which had a well-received run off-off-Broadway, is a “Restoration bodice ripper,” with generous helpings of free love, cross-dressing and “general ribaldry.” It’s social revolution, with the feminist heroine squaring off against condescending aristocrats and scheming guttersnipes.

Or, is being performed now through July 4 at Stageworks/Hudson (41 Cross St., Hudson). Tickets are $13-$29. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM. For reservations and information, visit stageworkshudson.org or call 828-7843.