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Restoration
Congratulations
With
the stark and mam- moth Empire State Plaza as its centerpiece,
and its seemingly ceaseless construction projects erecting
parking garages over archeological sites, Albany may not seem
a haven for preservationists. However, almost by definition,
it is in exactly such an environment that you can find those
fighting the good fight the hardest. Accordingly, at its 2002
annual meeting, the Preservation League of New York State
found not one but three Capital Region preservationists—one
individual and two organizations—worthy of Excellence in Preservation
awards.
Former dean of architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
George Dudley was selected for the Individual Award for Lifetime
Achievement in Preservation for his “countless projects,”
including the recording—by sketch—of many of the architectural
treasures of the Northeast; the recently refurbished Albany
Institute of History and Art was chosen for the Project Award
for its successful combination of “a creative preservation
and restoration project with sensitively designed new construction”;
and the American Hotel in Sharon Springs also was selected
to receive a Project Award for its “extensive four-year renovation
which honors [the hotel’s] original character,” and restores
it to its “original splendor.”
The honorees—along with 15 other winners—will be presented
their awards at a ceremony at the Union League Club in New
York City on May 14.
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Joe
Putrock
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Galleries
Gala
It’s a rare day in Albany when you can find work by local
artists Nicholas Warner, Jed Cleary, Wendy Williams, Mark
McCarty, Greg Haymes, Wren Panzella, Martin Benjamin and Bill
Botzow all in one room. But Friday night was a special occasion,
so work by all of those artists and more graced the walls
of the Albany Public Library for the Albany Center Galleries’
25th anniversary benefit gala, Art Infusion. The event featured
prizes, a silent auction of artwork contributed by dozens
of area artists and music by the Adrian Cohen Quartet.
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Joe
Putrock
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A
Day at the Parkfest
This year, there were no riots, out-of-control fights, police-student
conflicts or major injuries reported. No, this year’s Parkfest,
sponsored by the University at Albany’s Student Association
and held on Sunday (May 5) at the Altamont Fairgrounds, was
a sunny, upbeat and remarkably peaceful event. Which means
that the once-troubled affair, which was marred by injuries
and fights when it was held in Albany’s Lincoln Park five
years ago, may have finally ditched its checkered past. This
year, the main stage acts at Parkfest, which in the past has
boasted such big-name acts as the Ramones and Digable Planets,
were Ghostface Killah, Dropkick Murphys and Das Efx (pictured).
A second stage hosted such regional acts as Count the Stars,
F-Timmi, the Wait, Jupiter Sunrise and Lifted. There was even
an “electronic stage” this year, which featured DJs and electronica
performers überzone, Scott Henry, Flight Crew and DB.
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Columns
& Opinions
