Snowshoeing in a Winter Wonderland…

 

Our latest adventure brought us to Rice Creek Field Station at SUNY Oswego. Located just off Thompson Road in Oswego, the facility is a hidden gem for students and the community to learn about and engage with the great outdoors that Oswego County is so well known for.

Rice Creek Field Station opened in 1966 on property that was once farmland. With nearly 400 acres of varied habitats that support diverse plant and wildlife, it includes open fields, shrub lands, streams and creeks. Visitors will also discover mature hardwood forests that were once part of a farm woodlot and abandoned orchards, stone walls and hedgerows from its earlier days as an agriculture site. When the facility was first developed, conifer plantations were introduced along with select European and Asian trees and shrubs. A 26-acre pond was also created by the construction of a dam on Rice Creek.

The history of the area can be traced back to the late 18th century when Asa and Elizabeth Rice settled with their family at the mouth of Rice Creek, then known as Three Mile Creek. Eventually, they moved upstream and other families joined them to establish a small farming community called Union Village, later renamed Fruit Valley.

The facility closed in 2012 for a major renovation project and was re-opened last fall. At more than 7,600 square feet, the new main building is double the size of its predecessor. It contains state-of-the-art wet and dry laboratories, a research lab and library, a lecture room and reception area, an observatory control room and administrative offices.

The renovation project included advances in green technology. It was built to be close to a net-zero carbon emissions structure and achieve LEED Gold Certification. The exterior has high-rated insulation and a sun-shade system to reduce energy consumption. Other features include advanced storm water retention basins, rain gardens, energy-efficient heating and cooling, light and motion sensitive lighting as well as a rooftop solar system that provides approximately 40 percent of the facility’s electricity.

True to its purpose as a living laboratory, the field station continues to maintain the Ruth Sachidanandan Herb Garden and an extensive trail network for people to learn about and enjoy nature first-hand. The grounds now also include the 16” telescope observatory which was relocated from the Romney Field House parking lot.

Here is a map overview of the property:

The four nature trails are open to the public and vary in length, terrain and habitat. All of the trails allow hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing; however, only the Orange Trail also permits biking. As this is a wildlife study area, visitors are asked to stay on designated trails and not remove or disturb wildlife or vegetation. For the same reason, other outdoor activities such as camping, boating, swimming, hunting, trapping or fishing are not allowed on site and visitors are asked to carry out any trash they create or find.

We recently took advantage of the new snowfall and moderate temperatures to enjoy an afternoon snowshoe hike on the Blue Trail. Here is our adventure:

In addition to hosting student classes and research projects, Rice Creek Field Station also engages the community with a variety of nature programs throughout the year. “Exploring Nature” targets the natural curiosity of children. “Rice Creek Rambles” invites individuals and families to follow a naturalist-led walk through the property to learn about the environs. “Story Hour” introduces children and families to wildlife and the environment through stories. These programs are all free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children and space is limited, so programs cannot accommodate groups.

Don’t miss these upcoming programs at Rice Creek:

Rice Creek Rambles

February 8: Snowshoe Hike
March 8: Track Tales
March 22: Winter Weeds

Story Hour

February 22: “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen and John Schoenher
March 29: “The Stranger” by Chris Van Allsburg

More Important Dates:

March 1: Deadline for “Exploring Nature” scholarship applications
               (go to www.oswego.edu/exploringnature for more information)
March 8: the river’s end bookstore hosts a book sale at Rice Creek
March 30: Ecology and Environmentalism Presentation

For more information about Rice Creek Field Station and its programs, trail maps and conditions, or to schedule a group tour, call 315/312-6677, e-mail diann.jackson@oswego.edu or go to www.oswego.edu/ricecreek.

 

For more ways to enjoy our winter wonderland, go to www.visitoswegocounty.com.

Cheers,

Kelly

 

Bringing Art to Life

ARTSwego welcomes students and the community back to the SUNY Oswego campus as it launches its 2013-2014 Performing Arts Series with The Cashore Marionettes!

Master puppeteer Joseph Cashore leads this widely-acclaimed company, enthralling audiences across the globe with his life-like creations and graceful movements. His remarkable collection of enchanting pieces demonstrates his unparalleled artistry. For more than 30 years, Cashore has designed and given life to these unique works of art.

The marionette first caught his eye when he was a boy on a family vacation. Upon seeing the suspended puppet, his imagination took flight. Cashore went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Notre Dame and later studied portrait and figure painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His many accomplishments include the Henson Foundation Grant and the Pew Fellowship for Performance Art. He was also named a PennPAT Roster Artist and awarded the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, the highest honor a U.S. puppeteer can receive.

Here are samples of his brilliant talent, courtesy of the Cashore Marionettes:

Cashore shares his craft with audiences through an extended four-day residency program which will include visits to three local communities in addition to his performances on campus.

The first “meet-and-greet” takes place on Thursday, September 5 at 7 p.m. at the H. Lee White Marine Museum  in Oswego and the second is scheduled for Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m. at the CNY Arts Center in Fulton. Adults and children ages 8 and above will enjoy meeting the artist as he discusses and demonstrates his inspiration and passion for puppetry. For both of these events, admission is free for children accompanied by an adult, and adults are asked to make a $3 donation to the host organization.

Then, on Saturday, September 7, the Cashore Marionettes present two performances in Tyler Hall’s Waterman Theatre on the SUNY Oswego campus.

At 2 p.m., “Simple Gifts,” a short matinee for families begins. This performance entertains children through a series of acts that highlight characters and actions from everyday life. Families will delight in the theatrical illusion of Cashore’s masterful puppetry, set to a backdrop of classical music. This program is best suited to children age 8 and older. Admission is $5 for both children and adults with open general seating.

At 7:30 p.m., the troupe offers older audiences their full-length feature, “Life in Motion.” This show welcomes adults and young adults as the artists demonstrate the very essence of humanity, from the comedic to the tragic, through a series of short but powerfully entertaining portrayals with engaging characters and evocative music. Admission is $18 for adults and $5 for students.

Cashore wraps up his residency with a marionette master class for adults and art students who are interested in learning more about his technique. The session takes place on Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m. at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center in Pulaski. For admission details, call the center at (315) 298-7007.

The Cashore Marionettes’ community residency program is made possible by grant funding from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, and the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by CNY Arts. It is also made possible by the partnering host organizations.

Committed to artistic excellence, ARTSwego presents diverse cultural programming to enrich and entertain students and the surrounding community. For more events, visit www.oswego.edu/arts. Advance tickets for SUNY Oswego performances can be purchased at any SUNY Oswego Box Office. Parking for these shows is included in the cost of the ticket and is available in lots E-6 (in front of Culkin Hall) and E-18 (behind Hart and Funnelle halls).

Join ARTSwego for this truly one-of-a-kind experience and enjoy the show!

Cheers,

Kelly

The stage is set for laughter…

As the SUNY Oswego Theatre Department begins its new season, a talented group of aspiring thespians take the stage in Tyler Hall's Waterman Theatre to bring George E. Kelly’s “The Torch Bearers” to life.

Set in small-town America, the play offers us a glimpse of community theatre during the early 1920s. Mrs. Pampinelli, the narcissistic and grandiose directress, leads an awkward troupe of amateur actors as they attempt to stage a small play. After a disastrous rehearsal, the show goes on with hysterical results, including missed cues, forgotten lines, jammed doorknobs and collapsed sets.

The brilliantly animated performances hold the audience captive. The physical comedy is exquisitely choreographed to carry off the tumbles, stumbles and near misses. We watch in awe; in turn holding our breath for the moments of potential injury or laughing out loud in relief when they are avoided. Through our own amusement, it is plain to see that the performers are having great fun as well.

Here are images of the show, courtesy of Jon Vermilye and the SUNY Oswego Theatre Department:

The SUNY Oswego Theatre Department provides cultural programming on the campus for students and community residents alike. Theatrical productions include both classic and contemporary works as well as innovative and original shows. For more information about the department or for a list of upcoming shows, visit www.oswego.edu/theatre.

“The Torch Bearers” will continue this week-end with shows at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. The play is suggested for ages 12 and older. For more information or to reserve your tickets, call the Tyler Box Office at 315/312-2141 or email tickets@oswego.edu.

Cheers,
Kelly

Break Out of Your Routine…

With the academic year in full swing at SUNY Oswego, the ARTSwego Performing Arts Series has launched their 2008-2009 season. We recently attended the opening performance of “Rome & Jewels” by Rennie Harris Puremovement.

A bold and provocative production, the show illustrates the dark rivalry of B-boys and hip-hop street gangs. As the fog rolls over the audience, we are filled with anticipation for what is to come.

“Rome & Jewels” is progressive and dramatic storytelling. Shakespearean verses are juxtaposed with Ebonic sonnets to create contemporary poetry on stage. It is Romeo and Juliet meets West Side Story on the urban streets of today. We witness the struggles of our protagonist as he comes to terms with his destiny, and we are reminded that violence begets violence.

The show is infused with dynamic music and features incredible dance moves. The exuberance of the artists permeates the theater and the audience soon becomes a lively part of this high-energy performance.

The images below appear courtesy of ARTSwego and Rennie Harris Puremovement:















Committed to artistic excellence, ARTSwego presents diverse cultural programming for campus and community residents. This includes a Performing Arts Series, a Writing Arts Program, the Ke-nekt’ Chamber Music Series, selected gallery exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and movie screenings.

For more information about ARTSwego programming, call 315/312-4581. For a complete arts calendar listing, visit www.oswego.edu/arts.

Cheers,
Kelly

Imagine a new world...

A world in which anything is possible, if you can dream it. A world where we live in harmony with our environment. A world where function meets form. A world where the past becomes the present. This world is now on view at the Tyler Hall Art Gallery…

Eco-Tankers: Exhibition by Bruce Conkle
Conkle’s vision of sustainability comes to life in this show. A celebration of the union between reason and imagination, this exhibition features the eco-tanker – an ocean vessel that produces food, grows trees and captures rainfall. Conkle’s drawings are transformed into three dimensional models; each resembling a virtual Noah’s Ark of horticulture and ecology. The subject fills the room with a lively discourse and hints at possibility for the future. A true collaboration, the show presents the work of students from a breadth of ages and disciplines alongside the artist’s conceptual renderings.

A Personal Landscape: Contemporary Quilts
These pieces are created by fiber artists using unconventional techniques and embellishments to portray the natural world. Full of light and depth, they are more like watercolors or collages. Each composition captures the attention and curiosity of viewers and skeptics of fabric art become believers. Patterns, shapes, color and texture come together to convey the artist's message and fill the room with stories of love and beauty, time and space, hope and renewal, nature and life.

Rocks and Rills: Nature Themes from the Permanent Collection
Working in harmony with the natural themes of the visiting exhibits, pieces from Tyler Art Gallery’s permanent collection are unveiled. Works from local artists such as Charles Henry Grant and James Gale Tyler (for whom Tyler Hall is named) hang alongside those of Italy’s Louis Bosa and France’s Lucien Pissarro (son of famed Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro). From the palpable isolation of Grant’s “Moonlight at Sea” to the haunting beauty of Bosa’s “Wind in the Willows”, the show invites fresh perspectives of earlier works.

Sponsored by Auxiliary Services and the SUNY Oswego Student Association, these exhibitions will run through October 19, 2008.

To help you find your way:
Tyler Hall Art Gallery is located just off the main entrance of the SUNY Oswego campus on New York State Route 104 West in Oswego, New York. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All exhibitions are free and open to the public. Individuals with a disability can call 315-312-2113 for assistance in attending gallery events.

With two working showrooms, Tyler Hall Art Gallery hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the academic year, including traveling shows and works created by the students and faculty of SUNY Oswego. The venue is a teaching gallery as well and provides many opportunities for students. It introduces them to professional artists and their work, involves them in the daily operations of a gallery and allows them to show their own pieces.

For more information about this show or upcoming exhibitions, call 315-312-2113 or visit www.oswego.edu/tylerartgallery.

Cheers,
Kelly