August 17th Artist Talk with Alison Colby

Wallkill River Center for the Arts (WRCA) will welcome photographer Alison Colby for an artist’s talk on Saturday, August 17, at 2PM.

“Until I was approached by the gallery’s chief curator, Billy Noonan, I hadn’t seen my work outside of my phone,” says Colby. “Billy helped me refine what an exhibit might look like—we discussed the number and size of images to show. He could see my vision and helped make it a reality. It was a revelation to see it on gallery walls.”

Colby’s solo exhibit #keepingitsecure, currently on view at Wallkill River Center for the Arts through Sunday, September 1, has been a terrific success, a crowd favorite.

“We’ve had very positive responses to our two previous artists’ talks,” says Sarah Fortner Pierson, WRCA executive director. “It has been an enriching experience for the artists as well as the gallery visitors. Often, art receptions can be busy, noisy, social events. They are a lot of fun. But sometimes they are not ideal for a focused engagement with the art. These artists talks offer a more intimate experience with the artist and their work.”

Alison Colby’s photos have been on Instagram since 2014 (@sparkleshow). While the artist does take pictures of other things, it is traffic cones that capture her eye. This exhibition shifts the viewer’s experience from the small screen to the gallery wall.

“I’m new at all of this—and I look forward to sharing what moves me to stop and make a picture, and what I am aiming for in a photo,” Colby adds. “ At the artist’s talk, I’ll be taking my cues from the exhibit’s visitors and will answer any questions they may have. I enjoy hearing about what people think is going on in my images. Everyone has a different story, and I find them all thrilling. I like art to be fun, and I look forward to exploring audience reaction in this casual and intimate setting with the folks at WRCA.”

The public is welcome free of charge. Donations are always gratefully accepted.
The artist will offer a show catalogue, prints, and a book for sale.

Alison Colby
#keepingitsecure

Previous artistic endeavors include “Aesthetic Technicians,” a shared exhibition with visual artist Sas Colby at the The Space in Oakland, CA (1980); “Losers Weepers,” a public access cable call-in show celebrating found objects with Lizzy Yoder in NYC (1995-97) and the “Donkey Show,” a collaboration with Robin Bordie featuring modified paintings at La Serena, Mallorca, Spain (2017). She has used her creative skills to resist the destruction of the East River Park, participating in protests with East River Park Action. Most recently she participated in successful union actions for a fair contract at her job. Alison Colby has worked in magazine and newspaper production for over 40 years. She has lived in the East Village (NYC) since 1981.

Artist’s Talk
Free Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 2 PM

Wallkill River Center for the Arts
232 Ward Street (17K corner of Factory St)
Montgomery NY
www.wallkill.art

Phone: 845-457-ARTS
Email: info@wallkill.art
Gallery hours:
Friday – Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00 PM