Friday, June 13
Dance | Music | Theatre | Visual Art | Workshops & Demonstrations
Dance
Footloose and Fancy Fitness
YMCA Gym, 290 West Avenue, 7 – 9 p.m.Admission: $5 or free with ARTSPASS
Performance of various forms of dance (hip-hop, belly dancing, etc.) plus demonstrations of dance-related fitness workouts such as zumba and capoeira. In several instances, the demonstrations will include instruction and the audience may join in.
Martha Graham Dance Company
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park,8 – 10:30 p.m.
Admission: $25; $20 with ARTSPASS
Sponsored by Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Skidmore College Office of the Dean of Special Programs
This special performance will illuminate Graham’s revolution in American dance. Prelude and Revolt, a multimedia montage, brings perspective to six seminal dances from the 1920s and 30s — the era when Martha Graham burst on the scene. Errand into the Maze (1947), one of Graham’s signature roles with a score by Gian Carlo Menotti, and Maple Leaf Rag (1990), a light-hearted look at the frustrations of the choreographic process, complete this celebration of American innovation.
Music
Albany Symphony Chamber Orchestra
Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street,5:30 – 6:15 p.m.
Admission: ARTSPASS only
Enjoy works from some of the most famous composers of the Baroque era including J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni and others. The award-winning orchestra will be conducted by David Alan Miller, with Jill Levy, Albany Symphony Concertmaster, performing as Violin Soloist.
Barefoot Boys
Lake Ave. Elementary School, 126 Lake Ave., 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.Admission: ARTSPASS only
The Barefoot Boys sing traditional American music, much of which originated in New York State. They play acoustic instruments including guitar, bass, fiddle, mandolin, concertina, banjo, and whistles. Their recent CD release contains songs about New York inland waterways.
Brown-Bacchiocchi Duo
Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street, 7 – 8 p.m.Admission: ARTSPASS only
Since 2001, Kristin Bacchiocchi-Stewart, flute, and Joel Brown, guitar, have appeared in recital halls across the United States, dazzling audiences with their virtuosity and exceptional musical rapport. Selections will include music from Argentina, Italy, Brazil, and more. Ms. Bacchiocchi-Stewart is a Faculty Associate at the Peabody Conservatory. Mr. Brown is a Senior-Artist-in-Residence at Skidmore College.
Sarah Pedinotti Band, Upbeat on the Roof
Tang Museum rooftop, Skidmore College, 7 – 8:30 p.m.Rain location: Payne Room, Tang Museum
Admission: free and open to the public
Bluesy folk rock and jazz by one of Saratoga’s own!
Biscuit Burners
Caffè Lena, 47 Phila St., 8:30 – 10:00 p.m.Admission: $15; $12 with ARTSPASS
The Biscuit Burners from Asheville, North Carolina, offer “fiery
mountain music,” combining the style of old country ballads with
progressive bluegrass to create an original sound full of energy and
passion. They are currently one of the hottest young bluegrass acts
around, having appeared on BBC World TV’s Destination Music,
NPR’s Mountain Stage, and PBS’ Roadtrip Nation.
Gerald Clayton
Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street,8:30 – 10 p.m.
Admission: ARTSPASS only
Sponsored by the Skidmore College Jazz Institute
“At a time when jazz piano prodigies are moving into the spotlight around the world, Gerald Clayton is showing all the signs of becoming one of the most significant young jazz artists to emerge in the Southland in recent years.” — Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times. Joe Sanders (bass) and Justin Brown (drums) join Clayton.
The Veltz Family
Lake Ave. Elementary School, 126 Lake Ave., 9 – 10 p.m.Admission: ARTSPASS only
Sponsored by Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau
A phenomenally talented family of songwriters and musicians, The Veltz Family has gained tremendous popularity playing original music, featuring flawless three-part harmony and infectious pop songwriting. The Washington Post says their music “fills your heart and soul and makes you glad to be alive.”
Gravity
Gaffney’s, 16 Caroline St., 9 p.m – 1 a.mAdmission: free and open to the public
Gravity is comprised of seasoned musicians, playing a versatile mix of classic rock, funk, blues, modern rock and top 40. A night with Gravity can vary, but one thing is sure: everyone is dancing!
Theatre
Do Elephants Dream of Eclectic Sheep?
Bushwick Starr PartyDee Sarno Theater, Saratoga County Arts Center, 320 Broadway,
6 – 7 p.m.
Admission: ARTSPASS only
The Bushwick Starr Party, a New York-based performance group, presents experimental, multi-media work with a variety of artists and art disciplines. The current work in progress takes inspiration from both Margery Williams’ The Velveteen Rabbit, and noir film classics such as Notorious and The Big Sleep. The idea is to explore and theatricalize the divergent concepts of what is real and what is not-and how one becomes the other. This piece is told through movement, music, and text.
The History of Kisses
Epiphany Theater, 153 Regent Street, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.Admission: ARTSPASS only
For Adult Audiences Only
Actor David Cale performs a collection of interwoven monologues that explore the romantic drives of everyday people, their secret lives, and the lengths some of them will go to find that elusive kiss that will shake up their world.
Visual Art
In addition to these time-specific events, special SaratogaArtsFest exhibits, as well as nearby galleries and museums, are open all weekend. For a complete listing, see the Museums and Galleries page or our Art in Alternative Spaces page.
SaratogaArtsFest Paint Out
Broadway, Art District on Beekman Street, and Congress Park,11 – 4 p.m.
Admission: free and open to the public
Watch the transformation from blank canvas to arts treasure as local artists paint while you look on. Greet the artists and view their finished paintings at the sale and reception on Sunday, from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall’s Community Room.
Creole Jazz and the Blue Pony
Frankie Flores Fine Art Gallery, 462 Broadway, 2nd floor,4 – 6 p.m.
Admission: ARTSPASS only
10% discounted purchase with ARTSPASS
Enjoy live jazz and homemade gumbo while artist Frankie Flores transforms the sounds of jazz into colorful, jazzyful paintings on canvas.
Opening Reception: G. J. Bradley and Katrina Van Tassel
The Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, 207 Broadway,4 – 6 p.m.
Admission: free and open to the public
Photographers G. J. Bradley and Katrina Van Tassel have each developed their own unique style of working with digital photography. Bradley’s work reflects his passion for capturing the beauty of Saratoga’s parks, architecture and historic sites. Van Tassel’s photography highlights her love of the outdoors, and the places less traveled, including hidden places in the Catskills and the Adirondacks. G. J. Bradley, Curator.
Opening Reception: SaratogaArtsFest Invitational Art Exhibit
Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring Street5 – 7 p.m.
Admission: free and open to the public
Featuring the works of Emma Dodge Hansen, Patricia Ann Lee, Beverley Mastrianni, Joanne Murphy, Laura Neadle, Tony Shortway, and Michelle Winne, all of whom were selected through a panel process to exhibit in the SaratogaArtFest Invitational. Each of these artists is well-known in the greater Saratoga region and beyond. The Invitational offers a bold and rich mix of media including photography, abstract painting, sculpture, pastel, watercolor, oils and acrylics.
Opening Reception: Maxine Tucker
Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street5 – 7 p.m.
Admission: free and open to the public
Maxine Tucker has completed a series of large character studies of the old church on Washington Street, now known as Universal Preservation Hall. These oil paintings reflect Ms. Tucker’s representational style of creating thoughtful and compelling work reflecting the community around us. Dee Sarno, Curator.
Opening Reception: Stu Eichel & Jeremy Lebediker
SaratogaArtsFest Gallery and Information Center, 328 Broadway,5 – 7 p.m.
Admission: free and open to the public
Stu Eichel loves to paint landscapes that include man-made items: a barn, a truck, or a tractor. Stu’s passion is old vehicles tucked within his landscapes, as in this current exhibit, Resting & Rusting. Jeremy Lebediker’s paintings and drawings convey mood and energy. He uses a wide range of application techniques and brushstrokes to create not only a likeness but also a humanistic personality for each of his subjects. Often inspired through music, the portraits in his current exhibit, Expressions, take on a life of their own.
Workshops & Demonstrations
Adventures in Acting Workshop 
Presented by Saratoga Children’s TheatreSaratoga County Arts Center, 320 Broadway, Classroom #2,
4 – 5 p.m.
Admission: ARTSPASS only
Maximum: 20 participants. RSVP by June 12 to Kate at 376.3244.
Young actors and actresses ages 7 – 16 will explore the tools of acting by creating characters through improvisation, play-acting games, and creation of a theater craft.
Art Rally Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Saratoga Children’s Museum, 5 – 7 p.m.Admission: $10 per kit (includes admission to the Museum for this event)
Are you up for a family challenge, with fresh air and a search for art and architecture around Saratoga? Families can pick up their Art Rally for Kids kits between 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Then, simply follow the clues and answer the questions, as you go around downtown Saratoga Springs in search of different pieces of art and architecture. When you have completed all the questions, you will end back at the Museum.
Indicates events especially for children