IN THE NEWS

Page 28 Delaware & Hudson CANVAS October 2008

Isolation No More! Barryville Area Artists Unite!
by Donna Kremer
As artists, we all know how isolating our work can be at times. We sit before an empty canvas, blank
page, a mound of clay or a silent keyboard and stare. And then come hours of experimentation, practice,
and hard work. Then when we finally create an end product we are left alone with it wondering how to
promote. For those who are first timers or practiced veterans it can be a daunting, lonely task. Well, two
couples and friends from Barryville have set out to change all that for their community and surrounding
area. Their solution? The Barryville Area Arts Association and a group email list.

Art advocate Sally Rowe, husband and potter Anthony Biancoviso, and their artist friends Daria
Dorosh and John Tomlinson have long played with the idea of a block association or 'hillside road
group in their neighborhood. "We have a big art community here," says Sally, "and on our road alone there
are ten or more artists, many of whom go between the city (NY) and here." But the idea never became reality.
Then one day as they were sitting around talking they expanded on the idea. Wouldn't it be nice for artists
to be able to network, to share ideas and venues, to ask questions and give advice? That's when they came
up with the idea of the group email list.

Finding participants was the easy part. They began contacting people and were surprised at the
number of interested parties. "Right from the beginning it was so exciting to have like minded people to
network with, work with, and socialize with." Friends and connections were made. Soon they realized that
Sullivan County was too massive for what they had in mind, and began concentrating on local communities
on either side of the scenic Delaware River: Barryville, Eldred, Glen Spey, Highland Lake, Minisink Ford,
Pond Eddy, and Yulan in New York State; Greeley, Lackawaxen, and Shohola in Pennsylvania. The idea
soon became reality and they held their first meeting in May of 2006. It was very informal, mostly just a
social thing with artist and craftspeople getting to know each other.

Deciding how to organize was a little more difficult, says Sally, the official communicator. "We didn't
want to get into the painful aspects of organization, bank accounts, or making money an obstacle so we
decided to make it totally free. There are no dues and we are not elitists. Its very democratic and up to the
individual to get money for their projects."

"We're a loose network of artists, digitally based so that our main means of communication is through
email," she goes on to explain. "Our only criteria: you must be over eighteen, pursue arts in some way shape
or form and agree to be email accessible. The content of the emails must also be art-related. Anyone who is
a member can work on anything, anytime, with others or alone and are accountable for their projects as
meets their individual needs. Or they can just share information amongst themselves."

Now over a hundred people strong, Sally says the association isn't just for people in the fine arts. They
have painters, a sculptor, an architect, a writer poet, a landscaper and more. Anyone in the creative world
or who support the arts is welcome, and anyone who joins gets the list. Members can be as active or passive
as they wish. The website is open to members for a small fee.

To learn more about the association, find events, or view member's work, visit them at
www.barryyilleareaarts.org.