With funding from the Orange County System of Care program, the Department of Mental Health offices in Goshen and Port Jervis are interested in creating large scale paintings for their respective waiting rooms. The project is intended to enhance the physical environment, as well as create a sense of community in both spaces. The Orange County Arts Council will act as the liaison between the Department of Mental Health and the artist selected; however the Arts Council will not be involved in the actual selection process. Each location will select the artist they are most interested in working with. Once a selection has been made, the Arts Council will remain involved in all communication between the artist and the Mental Health office personnel. APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 17, 2012. All submissions should be sent to:dawn@ocartscouncil.org. Questions can be directed to Dawn Ansbro at 845-469-9168 or dawn@ocartscouncil.org. For additional information log onto our website at Artist Opportunity.

Greenwood Forest Farms will host its annual Black History Month Program at the Greenwood Lake Public Library at 10:30 AM and again at the Albert Wisner Public Library in Warwick at 2:30 PM. Actress, singer and filmmaker Patricia DeArcy will show portions of her new film “The Harlem Cultural Council” and lecture on the Black Arts Movement of the 1970′s followed by a live intergenerational performance by Youth Theatre Interactions, Inc. Free and open to the public. For more info, call 845 544-7264.

Sugar Loaf Sunday Socials: Sustaining the Black Dirt Community

February 26 & March 25

Enjoy two more Sunday suppers at the Seligmann farm in Sugar Loaf (23 White Oak Dr.) featuring locally grown food and entertainment beginning at 4:30pm. Suggested donation is $20 per person. All proceeds support the Alamo Farm Worker Community Center. For reservations, please contact the Orange County Citizens Foundation at 845-469-9459.  You can also order online or make a donation atwww.occf-ny.org.  Event details are also available on Facebook. The Event is sponsored by Community 2000, Orange County Citizens Foundation & The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health.

Ice Harvest Festival, Sunday, February 19 from 11-3pm

This historic event will take place at Arrow Park located at 1061 Orange County Turnpike in Monroe, NY. This is event is hosted by Museum Village and Arrow Park and will also have representation from the Orange County Council of Arts, local artists, and local farmers.  By demonstrating such early technologies, in this case hand tool harvesting and wooden sled transport, Museum Village hopes to demonstrate for young minds and recall to older ones how rural America lived off the land. Storytelling will be integral to the day as will the opportunity to share information about other winter traditions on the farm like cold cellars, root vegetables, jam and jelly making, canning and seed catalogue perusing. Participants will gather in the heated pavilion on the grounds. There will be food, hot drink, children’s nature activities and entertainment. Admission is $5 per person to cover the cost of the event. For further information contact: Robert Schmick, Museum Village, at rschmick@museumvillage.org or 845-781-3729.

Creative Conversations, Wednesday, February 29, 2012 6-8pm in Sugar Loaf

What are Creative Conversations? Creative Conversations are local gatherings of engaged citizens in communities across the country and are part of a grassroots movement to elevate the profile of arts in America. Some of these local convenings have grown into cohesive, organized networks, been the catalyst for the development of community wide cultural plans, and helped to shape local arts advocacy. Our topic will be The Impact of Sculpture on the Community and all are invited to attend! To learn more about Orange County sculpture, please visit this Local Sculpture Map and see how many pieces you recognize!

As part of its Arts for Vets programming, the Orange County Arts Council is proud to be partnering with The Graffiti of War Project to bring their National Art Exhibition to Mikey Teutul’s WolfGang Gallery & Store in Montgomery on President’s Day weekend. This event will open to the public on Friday, February 17th, at 5:00 p.m., and will showcase the art created by our Warfighters and civilians on location in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as art created by Veterans and concerned civilians. This Veteran-focused event will also feature special performances, including a poetry reading and a dance, as well as a military vehicle display, a flag ceremony, and key speakers.  Admission to the gallery will be free, with donations gladly accepted. Artwork and official Graffiti of War merchandise will be for sale at the gallery. www.graffitiofwar.com.GALLERY ADDRESS: 40 Railroad Avenue, Montgomery, NY

A Landscape Painting Workshop
Sunday Feb 5, from 1-4pm- $35.
In my Bellvale barn /studio
I will guide you in creating your own colormixing chart for an invaluable reference of your own. Learn to paint and enhance your skills in acrylics with award winning artist instructor, Sarah McHugh.
Many images available to work from or you may bring your own
Sarah McHugh www.mchughstudio.com
sarah@mchughstudio.com or
Call 845-987-8748
Receive a discount on basic supply kit when you register at Michaels’s in Central Valley

Tom Hedderich has been awarded first place in this year’s Warwick Valley Telephone Directory competition, with his watercolor “Black Dirt Morning.” It will be featured on the cover of WVT’s next directory. View more of Toms work, he’s listed in the members website listing to the right.

This event will take place from 11-3 pm, at Arrow Park located at 1061 Orange County Turnpike in Monroe, NY.  This is event is hosted by Museum Village and Arrow Park and will also have representation from the Orange County Council of Arts, local artists, and local farmers.  By demonstrating such early technologies, in this case hand tool harvesting and wooden sled transport, Museum Village hopes to demonstrate for young minds and recall to older ones how rural America lived off the land. Storytelling will be integral to the day as will the opportunity to share information about other winter traditions on the farm like cold cellars, root vegetables, jam and jelly making, canning and seed catalogue perusing. Participants will gather in the heated pavilion on the grounds. There will be food, hot drink, children’s nature activities and entertainment. Admission is $5 per person to cover the cost of the event. For further information contact: Robert Schmick, Museum Village, at rschmick@museumvillage.org or 845-781-3729.