Tag Archives: Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts

I Get a Little Culture at MVCA

Posted on May 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I got some culture Saturday when I attended an art opening at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts’ (MVCA) new location at 410 Canal Place in Little Falls, NY.  It is just across the street from their old location, a nice bright space with views of the canal out the windows. I enjoyed looking at the art of Justin Como as well as checking out the new space.

Love the real hardwood floors!

It was difficult to get a wide view with bright sunshine pouring in the windows, but how can I complain about sunshine?  Not with some of the weather we’ve been having!

It’s so different!

This was my favorite piece.  It’s called “Participating in Reality.”

This one is sweet too!

This one is, “I’m Too Sad to Tell You.”  After I had looked at all the pieces in the exhibit, I checked out the gift shop and chatted up a few fellow art lovers.  I think I have been recruited to volunteer for MVCA.  I don’t see why not if I can get my life a little better organized.

MVCA is open from noon to four p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  I encourage you to stop by when you’re near Canal Place.  You can get a little culture and pick up some cool items at the gift shop.  The phone number is 315-823-0808.

 

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I Like Art

Posted on January 18, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sometimes I get a little culture.  For example, last Saturday I went to the Renaissance Pub in Little Falls for a Meet the Artist with Frank Wilcox.   The Renaissance periodically hosts local artists in cooperation with Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts.

I am acquainted with Frank from being in a play with him (Strike Story written by Angela Harris), and I have seen his work in several area venues.  Full disclosure:  my original plan was to write about the Renaissance (or the Ren as it is sometimes called) for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I missed the deadline for the February issue, so I will try again for a future issue (unless another writer beats me to it).  In the meantime, I wanted to give the place a shout-out, and give folks a chance to go see some of Frank Wilcox’s paintings.

I can’t quite get a good picture of behind the bar.

Of course I sat at the bar and had a glass of wine.  One must support a venue that promotes local artists.  Unfortunately the kitchen was not open yet, because the food there is very good.

It’s hard to take good pictures of pictures.

I was there early enough that it was not too crowded yet, so I did not have to worry about asking a bunch of strangers if it was OK if they were in the picture.  I did not take too many pictures in any case, because they did not seem to be turning out very well.  Therefore, I encourage all local readers to go to the Ren and take a look for themselves.

Erynn Lowery and Victoria Cheney

I was fortunate enough to get a picture of the proprietress and bartender.  Unfortunately Victoria, the bartender, was moving soon.

You really should go see this one.

I took a picture of my favorite painting.  I was happy to get a chance to tell Frank how much I liked it.  Unfortunately, there are no walls in my house big enough to properly show off a picture that big.  As I type this, I look around at all the nice pictures on my walls now, which include at least a few by local artists.  That was my husband Steven’s talent, hanging pictures and interior decoration.  Still, I could retire a couple of pictures if I acquired any more art.  I certainly hope to attend more Meet the Artists at the Renaissance.

The Renaissance Pub is located at 550 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-556-1006. Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts is located at 401-403 Canal Place, Little Falls, phone number 315-823-0808. You can Like them both on Facebook.

 

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Waste Not Want Not

Posted on March 25, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl
Waste Not Want Not

I thought of that title before writing the post, so I hope the post lives up to it, because, as regular readers know, I often have a problem coming up with titles.  Just to set the stage, it is early Monday morning.  I am ten-finger typing on my Chromebook and finding that coffee is not always the miracle I was hoping for.  Never mind that.  On with the post!

I often take pictures on my Tablet thinking to use them in a blog post then never write the blog post.  A couple of them made their way into my Media Library.  In the spirit of waste not want not (a favorite saying of mine and one I try to live by) (one reason I never throw anything away) (which explains my messy house) (oh dear, getting bogged down in parenthetical comments.  Stop it, me!)  I thought to use them in a post.

Taken on one of my artsy days.

I am truly sorry I never wrote the blog post about this event.  It was an art opening at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts in Little Falls, NY.  The woman is Yulia Levkovich, artist of the picture titled “After Annigoni.”  The man is Matt Trombley, a friend of the artist and of me. He is a theatre friend; we did Shakespeare together.

It kind of makes me dizzy looking at it.

This is actually not one I took with the intention of using it in a blog post.  In fact, I did not take it on purpose but must have accidentally hit the button while I was taking “after” pictures of Saturday’s shoveling adventure.

I have other unused pictures on my Tablet.  Perhaps I will move them to my Media Library for another Waste Not Want Not post.  And just like that, I have come up with another category for Mohawk Valley Girl. It is a good category for early Monday morning while I am waiting for the coffee to kick in.

 

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Lots of Local on Shop Small Saturday

Posted on November 28, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

We have been having an utterly delightful time on Shop Small Saturday, obviously a day tailor-made for Mohawk Valley Girl, a lover of all things local. However, it is the bra off, sweats on, wine drinking portion of the day (full disclosure: I may have been sipping a little wine before it was the official time of day to do so). I will attempt to make some semblance of a Scattered Saturday post.

It’s so pretty!

We drove to Little Falls, NY, parking on Main Street. Our first stop was Joyful Vintage Designs, which boasts many items repurposed in imaginative ways. We also stopped ar Paca Gardens, where we made several purchases, although I foolishly did not take any pictures.

We drove to Canal Place, where we visited Fall Hill Bead and Gems, the Mustard Seed, and Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. We also grabbed a bite to eat at the Cafe at Stone Mill.

The Mustard seed is part of Chicks Aong the Mohawk.

Next we stopped at Iron Rock Brewing Company, where we drank a glass of wine.

Actually a picture from an earlier visit.

Returning to Herkimer, we visited Mohawk Valley Community Market, again neglecting to take pictures. Then we went across the street to The End Zone.

Us and the bartender

We are now home, watching a Christmas movie at Steve’s request, although I am still longing for Halloween. Then again, as that great philosopher Mick Jagged once observed, you can’t always get what you want. It was a perfectly enjoyable Saturday. I can only hope Sunday is as good.

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Mid-Adventure Scattered Saturday Post

Posted on May 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Just time to make a Scattered Saturday post before I am off on more adventures!  I slept in till a leisurely 6:30 a.m. and had an equally leisurely morning.  My one bit of ambition was to write a few post cards and walk to the post office and mail them.  As usual, I walked a long way home to get more exercise.  It was a nice walk, and I considered making a Pedestrian Post to get my blog done earlier in the day.  Unfortunately, I had waited too long for the walk and did not have time.

Steven’s and my good friend, Tracy, arrived around Steven’s lunch time.  After I got him back to work (I dropped him off, because we intend to pick him up later), Tracy and I visited for a while then took off on some Mohawk Valley Adventures!

We started at Valley Wine and Liquor’s, for a tasting of wines from Thousand Islands Winery, which incidentally, is near where Tracy lives.  We had a nice chat with the young man pouring as well as sipping a little wine.  I was delighted to hear that the liquor store will begin carrying my favorite Thousand Island wine, Cabernet Sauvignon,  next week.  I was also interested to hear the winery is coming out with a dry red blend soon.  I’ll be looking for that!

Next, Tracy and I went to Little Falls, where we made several stops:  Prima Donna’s Boutique, Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, Rochette, Little Falls Antique Center, and Huckleberry Letterpress.  We had lots of nice chats and saw lots of nice merchandise.  I found myself mysteriously not in a mood to buy anything, but Tracy made a few purchases.

Back in Herkimer, we were feeling peckish so went to PK’s Pub, where we both had yummy salads.  Tracy had a slice of homemade Peanut Butter Pie for dessert, but I managed to behave myself.  For now.  No promises for later.

Keeping one eye on the time and the other on my word count, I think I must end this post now.  We have further adventures to enjoy!  I hope everybody’s Saturday is going as well.

 

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Wrist to Scattered Sunday

Posted on May 7, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s that time on a Sunday when all I want to do is settle down with a glass of wine, my knitting, and watch Snapped, and I remember I have not yet done my blog post.   And Snapped isn’t on!  We find a Snapped On Demand and I try to type in a fast Wrist to Forehead Sunday post so I can get back to my activities of choice.

It has actually been a delightful Sunday.  I worked for a half hour in the yard and got quite a lot done. Steven was happy when he came home and saw the progress I had made.  I got the dishes done, took a shower, and put on a cute outfit (although perhaps I flatter myself). I made myself a cup of tea and worked on my novel.   I finished a letter to a friend, wrote my weekly postcards and walked to the post office, taking a convoluted route home to make a 35 minute walk.

After Steven got home, we went to Little Falls to the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts for a reading featuring two local authors, one of whom is a theatre friend of mine.  That was fun; I must write a full post about it.  Then we had a delightful dinner at Ruggiero’s Trattoria.  Yum!  While Steven stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, I wrote a few more notes on my novel.  Maybe if I ever finish one and publish it, I can have a reading at the Center for the Arts.

So I’m going to hit Publish and call this a Scattered Sunday.  After all, I have knitting to do, wine to drink, and Snapped to watch.  Happy Sunday, everyone!

 

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Upcoming Adventures?

Posted on September 23, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is SO past time I wrote about a Mohawk Valley adventure!  I can’t even pretend I haven’t had time to have any.  My last Scattered Saturday post shows I have been getting out and doing a few things.  Why am I not writing about them?  Well, the purpose of this post is not to explore my writerly angst (picture me with my wrist to my forehead moaning, “Why, oh why am I not writing about the things I do?  Boohoo!”) (yes, I would like a little cheese with that whine).  Rather, I thought I would mention a couple things I may be doing in the near future.

I just found out today that this Sunday, Sept. 25, is Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts (MVCA) Great Art Giveaway in Little Falls.  The event takes place at the Canal Side Inn at 3 p.m.  $5 donation covers hors d’oevres with cash bar available.  You can purchase tickets to win works of art at MVCA, which is next door.  I may go to the center and look over the art on Saturday.  I like to take my time with these things.

Next Saturday, Oct. 1,  Steven and I hope to participate in the Haunted Tour of the Historic Four Corners in Herkimer, hosted by Friends of Historic Herkimer County and the Herkimer County Historical Society.  Members of the “Ghost Seekers of Central New York” will tell about their paranormal investigations at the 1834 Herkimer County Jail and the 1884 Suiter Museum Building.  There will also be members stationed outside the 1875 Herkimer County Courthouse. Tickets are $12.00 in advance, available at the Historical Society, 406 Main St.,  and $15.00 at the entrance.

You can find out more about both of these events on Facebook.  I hope to write blog posts about them afterwards.  Or maybe another angsty post about how I just can’t seem to.

 

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I Shop Small

Posted on December 1, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

One of my favorite destinations in Little Falls, NY is the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts (MVCA).  I knew the Selective Eye, the MVCA gift shop, would be a good stop on my Shop Small Spree the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Side Note:  Shop Small Spree is my name for my day last Saturday.  I don’t know if the official name was Shop Small Saturday or Small Business Saturday or even Shop Local Saturday.  I suppose I would look these things up if I was a responsible journalist, but oh well, here we come to the ugly truth about me.

And I just remembered, I can’t write about this before Christmas!  What if I bought a present there for somebody who reads my blog? I’m not saying I did.  Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.  In fact, already I’ve said too much.

Nevertheless, I need a blog post today and I’ve already typed in this many words.  I can mention one thing we saw at MVCA.  We went into the gallery, where they were setting up their next exhibit, a Student Art Show,which is to open on Saturday, Dec. 5 and runs to Dec. 24.  The show was open to any students who had taken a class at MVCA in the past year.  Just imagine!  If I would have taken a class, I could have submitted a work!  Definitely something to think about for the future.

There will be an opening reception for the show Saturday, Dec. 5 from 2 to 4 p.m.  I have attended openings there before and enjoyed them.  I’ve talked to other art lovers, and sometimes the artist speaks about his or her work.  However, to really appreciate the works I prefer to go when the gallery is less crowded.   I hope to do that sometime before the 24th.  For another reason, I can shop some more at the Selective Eye.

While looking at MVCA’s Facebook page to confirm the dates of the exhibit, I noticed an event called “Bedazzled” will take place Saturday, Dec 19 from noon to 4 p.m.  It is a sale of gently used jewelry, purses, scarves and other items.  Sounds good to me!

Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts and the Selective Eye are located at 401 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-0808.  For more information you can visit their website at www.mohawkvalleyarts.org.  You can also Like them on Facebook.

Further note:  I did just a little kind of, sort of research… OK, I typed stuff into the search bar in Facebook and learned that many communities held events Saturday with any number of titles utilizing some of all of the words Shop, Small, Local, Business, and Saturday.  Whatever you call it, it’s a good thing to do.  You can have a lot of fun, and you can buy some good stuff.

 

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Pre-Spree Post

Posted on November 29, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not shop on Thanksgiving Day nor yet on Black Friday.  However, Small Business Saturday, that’s is right up Mohawk Valley Girl’s alley!  My wonderful husband, Steven, only works till two today, so we are planning a spree.  I want to get my blog post written pre-spree, so this is in the nature of a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Our destination is Little Falls, NY, because we want to go to the Black Box Theatre in Stone Mill.  I read in the paper that it is New Play November, and LiFT Theatre Company is presenting three plays written by director Matthew Powers.  I certainly hope to write more about this.  In the meantime, if you’re interested, you can Like LiFT Theater Company on Facebook.

There are several retail establishments we hope to visit this afternoon.  At the top of my list is the Selective Eye, the gift shop at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts (MVCA).  No doubt I will wander into the gallery to check out the artwork while we’re there.  MVCA is located right across from Little Falls Antiques Center, where in addition to the Black Box, we intend to visit the Mustard Seed and Stone Mill Antiques as well as the Shops at 25 West.

If we have time we may visit Fall Hill Bead and Gem.  We may be early enough for a snack at That Little Place on Main, which is right nearby.  However, we mustn’t snack too heartily, because we are also meeting friends at Copper Moose Ale House for dinner.

We have a lot of stops planned.  However, before we leave Herkimer, I’m hoping we have time for a quick stop at Vintage Spirits.  They are celebrating their 10th anniversary by offering tastings all day and giving away canvas totes that say “Shop Small.”  Now wouldn’t that be a good place to put today’s purchases?

In all, it promises to be a fun day, and I can enjoy it with a clear conscience now that my blog post is written.  I wonder if I can make enough stops to keep me in “real” posts for the entire week. Well, maybe not on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I hope you’re all having a lovely holiday weekend.

 

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Saturday Adventures

Posted on April 16, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had an afternoon of Mohawk Valley adventures on Saturday with my sister Cheryl.

We drove to Little Falls for an an exhibit opening at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. I always feel artsy when I say I’m going to an exhibit opening.  We had parked at the Shops at 25 West, since we also intended to visit there and at the Little Falls Antique Center.

I’ll write more about the exhibit in a later post.  For now I’ll just say. these openings are very popular. At times the crowd made it difficult to really appreciate the art.  We enjoyed what we did see, then looked at The Selective Eye gift shop which Cheryl had not seen before. We spotted a couple of good Christmas presents, but I mustn’t say what in case… that person happens to read this post. I even saw a few things Steven might like to purchase for me.

I plan to return to MVCA when I can take my time and enjoy the exhibit. It’s all very well to feel artsy, but I also like to look at the art.

Next we walked across the street to Little Falls Antique Center at Stone Mill.  We spent some time browsing there at at The Shops at 25 West.  Cheryl was particularly interested in looking at old lanterns. We saw a few but not exactly what she had in mind. I took a particular interest in looking out the windows at the canal. A lot of the winders there have beautiful wide window sills.

“If I had windows like that in my house,” I said, “I”d put cushions on them and sit there with a book.” I suppose I’ll have to move into a converted factory if I want to implement that interior design inspiration.

I was also interested in some of the items available from the Alpaca place. Cheryl knows where they are located. Perhaps we can make a trip there one day soon, for future blogging purposes.

After we left Little Falls we were feeling peckish so we stopped at Crazy Otto’s Empire diner in Herkimer. Cheryl had never eaten there before, so I was happy to introduce her to one of Steven’s a my favorite spots. When she ordered her grilled cheese sandwich the waiter asked if she wanted fries.

“It comes with the best homemade chips,” I told her. She agreed they were good, and she nicely shared them with me. I had conservatively ordered an English muffin, in case my stomach was still bothering me (I know2, the chips were probably not the best thing on a bad stomach; let’s see YOU resist Crazy Otto’s homemade chips!).

We had a really fun afternoon.  It’s always fun to go adventuring with a sister.

 

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