Our Inception
The Upstate Artists Guild was originally formed by a group of ten artists.
Over the course of our first six months, before we opened our doors to
members, this core group planned and organized our events, worked to fund
our expenses, helped to locate our new HQ, and defined the UAG's identity.
This group of artists remain active on all levels of the Guild's interests
and constantly provide direction and resources.
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Nina Stanley Trained as a classical figurative painter, she enjoys turning her friends into archetypes of the Tarot, gods and goddesses, and characters out of faerie tales. Nina loves to share her knowledge, so be sure to ask about classes and workshops offered through the UAG on figure drawing and oil painting! |
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Robyn Diaz |
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Christa Dijstelbergen & Together with the other Crasis team members, digital video artist/VJ Jason Cosco (also a UAG founding member) and pan-Asian fusion chef Goutam Rajput, they have conceived, designed and executed avant-garde events and environments with the UAG at their former location, Art4Central. 2005 saw Crasis install large scale work at Albany Underground Artists shows such as the Community Arts United Show in a 19th century mansion on the corner of State and Englewood and the Institute Show at the Albany Institute of History and Art. The New Year was rung in with the installation of Col. Gustav and Lady Annabella, larger than life puppets, in the lobby of the Palace Theatre as part of the UAG's First Night installation project. More recent work includes a pair of seven-foot tall fully functioning puppets of the Giant and his Wife for Confetti Stage's children's production of Jack and the Beanstalk, two installations for Illuminations at the UAG Gallery and The Narthex, a room size installation at the recent B.Sides art show at Scarlet East Recording Studio on North Pearl St, Albany. The group seeks to create eclectic atmospheres encouraging total immersion where observer becomes both participant and component of the work. |
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Colin Wilkinson Colin currently designs video games by day and develops websites by night. Somewhere in the middle he finds time to perform his duties as the acting president of the Upstate Artists Guild. |
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Jason Cosco |
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Tommy Watkins Since arriving in The Capital District, Tommy has slowly transcended into a highly recognizable and respected artist. His style is distinct and his abstract modern paintings can be seen in several area businesses, with many more commissioned paintings created for individuals' private art collections. Beyond his talent as a painter, Tommy has intense passion for uniting local artists and has been working to build a dynamic and cultured art scene in upstate New York. This has culminated in a myriad of events and exhibits that have realized his vision. As a co-founder of the Albany Underground Artists and the Upstate Artists Guild he has been part of a wonderfully supportive community of artist, but has also has stepped out on his own in organizing events showcasing area artists. A very memorable example of this was the mansion show, as it was the largest local art show, with over 1500 attendees on a single night in March of '05. In addition to the fine arts community, Tommy has also taken a strong role in the local fashion scene, organizing and taking part in fashions shows that allowed him to showcase talented local designers, as well the signature glam punk style of his own line, Liability. |
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Rebecca Schoonmaker Rebecca received her MFA from SUNY Albany and has exhibited her work all over New York State. She also is an adjunct Professor at SUNY Cobleskill where she teaches drawing and design classes. |
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Curtis Canham I moved to Albany, New York from Oslo, Norway several years back to help form what is now the Upstate Artists Guild. I gave up my horns and the sea for my true calling, vector art. I would like this time to thank a few individuals for their passion and support of the arts: Stephanie (wife and mother of our new born Chloe), Trent Walker, Bernard 'Beanie' Campell, Drunk Asa, Wes Mantooth, the Captain and Tennille, Pete La Fleur and of course, all the founding members of the UAG.
I would like to end my bio with an old viking song (Monty
Python's Flying Circus): |
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Chris Horton His love for green eventually took over his ocean-lust and Chris decided to take a job teaching art at the Doane Stuart School. This turned out the first in a series of fortunate events, which of course includes his introduction to the then Art 4 Central crowd and rapid inclusion into the Upstate Artists Guild. Professionally, Chris works as a designer, photographer, and educator. However, his passion and undying artistic expression is generally in the form of steel sculpture. His current focus is on bar-based, linear sculpture of human forms in a variety of poses and scales, focusing mainly on male figures at a two-times life size scale. |
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