Oblong Offers Deep Discount on My Book to Fairgoers

For anyone who hasn't wandered through either of its homey stores—one in Rhinebeck and the original in Millerton—Oblong Books & Music is a local treasure. Time will disappear as you comb through recommended novels, art books and books featuring the local area. Their music collection is simply outstanding. If you're looking for hard-to-find blues or folk recordings, Oblong is the place to be.

I jumped at their invitation to sign books at their booth at this year's fair. AND they're selling the book to fairgoers for only $9.99, down nearly 40% from its normal $15.95 price tag. Find me in Building A on Saturday from 3pm to 5pm and I'll sign your copy!

Please pass the word about this special opportunity to anyone who might be interested. Remember, this book makes a great gift to parents and grandparents with long memories of the fair.

Hudson Valley Art Studio Views Tour Labor Day Weekend

Are you staying home this Labor Day and looking for cool stuff to do? The annual Art Studio Views Tour will be Saturday and Sunday September 5 & 6 from 11am to 5pm. I’m stop #1 (sometimes it pays to have a last name that begins with ‘A’!). Come on by and see what photography I’ve been up to. There are 22 other talented artists on the tour, so make sure to leave time to visit other studios. You can download a map and artist details at artsnortherndutchess.org/asv to plan your route. My friend and fellow Hudson Valley 7 member, Joanne Klein lives just around the corner from me.

I’m going to have all kinds of photographs for sale—Dutchess County Fair, Cowgirls, Truths, Lies and Legends, New York City, Ominous Skies and more. I’ve got to clean out the barn so prices will be discounted at least 50%.

As an extra bonus, I designed the ASV brand this year—from logo to website to brochure and more. So when you go the ASV website, know that it was a Full Deck Design project. I can’t wait to see the logo plastered all over Northern Dutchess!

Fair Photos at Barnes & Noble

The Dutchess County Fair runs from August 25-30 this year. I’ll be giving a slide show with my latest fair photos as well as some historic ones at the Kingston Barnes & Noble on Sunday, August 23rd at 3:00pm. I’m always interested in meeting people with fair stories, so please pass the word to everyone who might have one to share with me. Of course, I’ll be signing copies of my book The Dutchess County Fair: Portrait of an American Tradition (Black Dome Press, 2007).

It’s also a great opportunity to see the images from my Truths, Lies and Legends collection that are hanging in the café. I’d LOVE to talk about that.

So, come out on the 23rd, we’ve got lots to talk about!

Barnes & Noble Artist of the Month

The Kingston, NY Barnes & Noble has invited me to be artist of the month for August. I'm very excited about showing 10 pieces from my Truths, Lies and Legends collection. [One of the pieces—Aluminum Foiled—is on loan from the collector.] The common thread throughout all of my work as photographer is that I consider myself a storyteller. Until now, I have used a journalistic approach where multiple images seen together tell one complete story. With The Truths, Lies and Legends images, each image tells a story of its own. I choose a spectacular natural setting and place something in the frame—a card with crayon-colored boxes, a bicycle, flowers—that transforms the scene from a landscape into a stageset. Then, I write stories to possibly explain the scene. Those stories frame each image as you can see in the above image. Come on out to see what it's all about!

Art Gallery Opens in Rhinebeck

With its quaint downtown full of shops and restaurants and its reputation as an artists’ haven, Rhinebeck is the ideal spot for an art gallery. Owners Joel and Linda Weisbrod and Executive Director Jeff Romano invite you to the grand opening of Gazen Gallery the weekend of May 1-4. Gazen will feature Hudson Valley artists working in photography, painting, sculpture and mixed media. They’ve got an exclusive to sell some of my best-known photographs from the Dutchess County Fair and Cowgirls collections. Other work for sale includes Elizabeth Watt’s gorgeous b+w photographs of flowers and nudes, Joann Klein’s striking paintings, Jeff Romano’s intriguing constructions and drawings, David Borenstein’s playful ‘paintings,’ Barry Entner’s groovy glass sculptures, Kari Feuer’s oil-painted landscapes and Joel’s photographic giclées on canvas. If you’re interested in showing your artwork in the gallery, contact Jeff.

Centrally located in the Montgomery Row building (around back), make visiting Gazen part of your May Day weekend plans. They’re open from 10am to 7pm. The official address is 6423 Montgomery Street. Phone 876.4ART (4278).

Dutchess County Fair 2008

Thought I'd end the year with a bang. Finally got around to sifting through my photos from August's Dutchess County Fair. My faithful fair companion Harriet Bass, Ryley and I jam-packed our two fair days with old favorites like Rosaire's Racing Pigs and bull riding, and events that were new this year like gospel singers Sammy Terry and the Highlights, Hansen's trapeze act and the high diver who plunged 80-plus feet. Things are changing at the fairgrounds as the new manager settles in. Now's your chance to let him know what you liked and what you didn't like. Leave me a comment (click on comment window below this post) and I'll forward it to him.

I haven't gotten releases for all of these images, so if you recognize someone, let me know how to contact them.

The Fair Isn’t Over

Join me September 18 for a presentation about the Dutchess County fair. Hosted by the Millbrook Historical Society, I’ll be giving a slideshow and talk on the fair’s history. Tom Odak will then speak to the group about his 29 years as fair manager. A great storyteller, I’m sure his remembrances will be fun and memorable.

Members of the historical society are preparing visual displays and fair memorabilia. I’m bringing my research notebook which is full of articles from the Agricultural Society’s 168 years including agricultural census information dating back to the 1840s and a copy of IBM’s Thomas Watson’s original speech—cross outs and all—to international representatives after the end of WWII.

WHERE: Lyall Federated Church, 30 Maple Avenue in downtown Millbrook, New York
WHEN: 7p.m. Thursday, September 18

It’s All About Merritt

Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY is the coziest bookstore I’ve ever been in. Comfy couches and chairs are scattered throughout for a quick, or lengthy (they don’t mind), perusal. The kids section is stuffed with great books you don’t see anywhere else. The people who work there love books and love to share what they know.

Owners Scott and Alison Meyer are committed to supporting the arts and the community. They host music and art shows as well as author readings, and were the masterminds behind last spring’s popular book festival. The upstairs area of the store is a big, open gallery space where we (thanks again Bill!) just installed a show of my Dutchess County Fair photos. Go on down to the store, enjoy the art and buy a book!

New Rhythm and Blues

Last Sunday at the Kingston Barnes and Noble a surprise guest came to visit. Terry Adams, piano player for NRBQ, stopped by to buy a book and tell me that they played a surprise set at Raphael’s talent tent in 1969. They weren’t competitors, but knew DJ Raphael and stopped by for fun. He was delighted to hear that Don McLean won the contest not long before that. I asked him to look for photos. Keep your fingers crossed!

I'll be at Barnes & Noble Aug 16/17—Will You?

It's fair time again! That means I'll be in local bookstores for book discussion/signing. I'm going to be reading a 1889 speech given by NY Governor Flower at the fair on How to Keep Boys and Girls on the Farm. He was addressing the threat posed by western expansion. Very prescient.

A collection of my photographs from the fair are on display in the Kingston B&N. They're having an artist reception the same afternoon of my reading. A 2-for-1 Molly Ahearn day!

Poughkeepsie Barnes & Noble: book discussion/signing, Saturday August 16, 1pm

Kingston Barnes & Noble: book discussion/signing, Sunday August 17, 3pm

Kingston Barnes & Noble: artist reception, Sunday August 17, 3:30pm

About Town Hired Me to Write an Article

A month or so ago, Paul De Angelis, Editor of About Town called to ask if I’d be interested in writing an article about Bob Grems’ first year as Dutchess County Fair Manager. Took me by surprise that someone would want to hire me for my writing skills! I’m always ready to talk about the fair though, and once Bob told me he’d be thrilled to help me out, I took the job. If you’re local, pick up a copy. If you’re not, download a pdf or go to About Town online.

History is Aliiiive

Kudos to Merritt Books for a fun, well organized festival. I love the idea of celebrating books; planting the seed of reading. Our local history panel discussion had a cozy attentive crowd. I enjoyed listening to our moderator, Wray Rominger from Purple Mountain Press, and all the other writers. Carleton Mabee explained how he tries to make his historical characters come to life by imagining their thoughts, feelings and lives. Jim Heron’s terrific sense of humor punctuated his talk about writing the history of Dennings Point. Ed Henry shared the evolution of his writing style—and the northeastern mountain ranges. Several people took the time to speak to me personally about memories of the fair. Thanks to all who came.

A Good Book is Easy to Find

Merritt Bookstore is behind an unusual spring festival May 16 and 17 in Millbrook, NY. Rather than food or music, books will take center stage. Authors from many different genres will participate in panel discussions and book signings. Kickoff events on Friday night at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies include live music from Bindlestick Bill and New York Times environmental reporter Andrew Revkin. Saturday, bring the kids for a pancake breakfast, followed by children’s story hour at Merritt and a parade.

I'm on the Local History Panel
I’ve been invited to be a member of the Local History panel which will meet at the Lyall Memorial Federated Church at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 17. Other panel members include: Pulitzer Prize winner, Carleton Mabee, The American Leonardo: A Life of Samuel F. Morse (Alfred A. Knopf); Laurence Carr, The Whytheport Tales (Codhill Press); Edward Henry; Jim Heron, Dennings Point, A Hudson River History from 4000 BC to the 21st Century (Black Dome Press); and John Polhemus, History of Preston Mountain (Purple Mountain Press). Wray Rominger, co-publisher of Purple Mountain Press and Harbor Hill Books will moderate. Other panel topics include: spirituality, poetry, historical fiction, mystery, childrens’ books and young adult fiction and nonfiction.

Many of the authors will be available for book signings throughout the day on Saturday at Merritt Books at 57 Front Street in Millbrook. I will be there from 12:30 to 1:30. Come see us!

Directions to Lyall Memorial Church
Westbound off of Route 44 in Millbrook: take the second left past the light onto Maple Avenue.
Eastbound off of Route 44 in Millbrook: take a right onto Maple Avenue (before the traffic light).

Fair Sales

Unbelievably, I sold 998 copies of my book, The Dutchess County Fair: Portrait of an American Tradition, from its release in July through the end of January! If I’d known the count was so close, I would have bought two books myself to make it an even thousand. Thanks to everyone who bought a copy and thanks to Debbie and Steve at Black Dome Press.

Dutchess County Fair 2007

I’m finally getting around to sorting through my photos from last summer’s Dutchess County fair. Even though I finished my book on the fair, I’m looking for material for the second edition!

Heard lots of great stories at the book signings and events I was invited to attend. One senior told me that she took a ferry with her friends from Kingston to Rhinecliff and then walked those long uphill miles to the fairgrounds. They spent the day enjoying themselves only to have to race back to catch the last ferry home—and face the uphill climb back to their house.

The Dutchess County Fair got a new manager in 2007 - congratulations Bob! He brought some new events which we loved. I wasn't sure how they were going to fit the bull riding event into the small area between the grandstands and the stage, but they did, and it was exciting. There wasn't an empty seat; in fact, we were packed in tight as sardines. I didn't realize that we had so many cowboys locally. The other event that was sheer fun was the ESPN dogs. I have a whole series of happy pups shaking the water off as they proudly dropped the sodden frisbee or ball or duck at their trainer's feet.

Bad habits die hard, so once again I find myself in the position of not having gotten releases from some people. If anyone knows the husband caller, please let me know. The kid photos that I don’t have releases for I’ll have to share at a later date.

Let me know what you think of the photos or tell me a fair story by leaving me a comment after this blog entry.