Artists’ Work Will Fill Two Vacant Spaces in Bolton Landing

The Lake George Arts Project will fill the storefront last occupied by Next Summer, the home furnishings shop, with art inspired by the lake through July 27.

Arthaus, which occupied the former gas station last August, will return July 18.

The work of the four artists that transformed that space into a gallery last year will be on view through August 9.

“We’re very pleased to welcome all these artists to Bolton Landing,” said Supervisor Ron Conover. “The galleries will add to the richness and variety of Bolton Landing, making it an even more attractive destination for visitors and enhancing the quality of life for our residents.”

According to Laura Von Rosk, the director of the Lake George Arts Project’s Courthouse Gallery, the pop up gallery in Bolton Landing is an expansion of its annual one-day event, “Art at the Lake.”

“ ‘Art at the Lake,’ which we’ve sponsored for the last four years, has been great for the Arts Project and for the artists, who not only had an opportunity to sell their own art, but to buy each other’s art and spend time together,” said Von Rosk.

But, she said, “Every year, we included more artists, and it reached the point where there was almost too much art to appreciate within a single afternoon. So, being able to show work for the entire month of July will enable us to show more work, provide greater exposure for the artists and stimulate more interest in the Lake George Arts Project.”

More than 70 artists will display work in a variety of media, available for purchase in a range of prices, said Von Rosk.

Artists share the proceeds of sales with the Lake George Arts Project, which enables the organization to defray some of the costs of mounting exhibitions at its Courthouse Gallery in Lake George Village.

A reception for the artists will be held at the Bolton Landing store on Sunday, July 12 from 4 to 7 pm. The store will be open Thursdays through Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm and on Sundays from noon to 7 pm.

Arthaus will host an opening reception on Saturday, July 25 from 6 to 8 pm.

“We’re very excited to be coming back for a second year,” said Barney Bellinger, one of four artists who will exhibit works in marble, stone, steel and wood at Arthaus. The others are Caroline Ramersdorfer, Jonathan Sweet and John Van Alstine.

“Last year’s exhibition was very successful, and not just because we all sold work and found new clients,” said Bellinger. “The excitement and enthusiasm of Bolton Landing, of people who appreciate contemporary art, was inspiring. And the feedback, from other artists expanded my range as an artist. I came away from those conversations with a new direction.”

The four artists have exhibited together in the past, most notably at Silver Bay, where they installed temporary shows in the boathouse.

John Van Alstine and Caroline Ramersdorfer are both well-known, non-representational sculptors whose works have been exhibited and installed in public spaces throughout the world.

Jonathan Sweet is a designer and builder of custom furniture whose refined take on natural materials has led to commissions to design and craft whole interiors.

Bellinger is best known as the Adirondacks’ pre-eminent rustic artist, whose reputation recently led Old Hickory to commission a line of products from him.  His range has expanded however, to include everything from modernist landscape paintings to furniture made from recycled industrial steel.

This year, Bellinger said, “I’m going to twist it upside down. I’ve got some crazy sculpture that people won’t be familiar with. I hope it will be thought provoking.”

Once it opens, the group’s exhibition will be open daily from 11 am to 6 pm.