Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy
Artist Rodney Alan Greenblat, world famous for his whimsical, vibrant, and fun artwork, is the owner/operator of the Rodney Shop boutique, one of the many artist-run boutiques on Main Street in Catskill, NY. His interest in art began as a young child and he was propelled into the arts world with his first “gig” doing an illustration for his school PTA handbook at the age of 11.
As a sculptor and painter, his work became an integral part of the East Village Art scene of the 1980s, where he had several one person shows at the legendary Gracie Mansion Gallery. In 1985 his large sculpture “Ark of Triumph” was featured in the prestigious Whitney Museum Biennial exhibition.
In the 1990’s Rodney took on another title, and published four children’s books published by Harper Collins. Uncle Wizzmo’s New Used Car, Aunt Ippy’s Museum of Junk, Thunder Bunny, and Slombo The Gross.
When newer technologies started to revolutionize the video game industry, he became the artistic force behind the best selling game for Sony Playstation called “Parappa The Rapper.” This led to a whole line of products distributed in Japan, and a weekly animated television series. Rodney is known as one of the world’s top character designers.
Rodney is a great example for artists everywhere, especially younger artists. He is a living breathing example of how a passion for the arts can lead to many options beyond the stereotypical “starving artist” if that talent and passion is nurtured and supported.
His artwork is shown regularly at the prestigious BCB ART gallery in Hudson NY. His wares can be purchased online, or in the Rodney Shop store at 362 Main Street in Catskill NY.
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Article by Ashleigh Kinsey
Creative Economy Mixer at Indian Ladder Farms
WHEN: September 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: 342 Altamont Rd, Altamont, NY 12009
Were you at the Indian Ladder Farms Creative Economy Mixer?
At this #CreativeEconomyMixer we had:
Check out the Photo highlights below. These photos were taken by Ed Sager of Ska City Photos.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Workforce Development Institute, Community Loan Fund, MVP Health Care, and our event host, Indian Ladder Farms. Produced in partnership with Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, Helderberg Brewing at the Carey Institute for Global Good, 2440 Design Studio. and WMHT.[/cs_text][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5451.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5363.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5368.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5372.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5384.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5376.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5387.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”2/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5394.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5475.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5501.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5400.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5393.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.upstatecreative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_5518.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][rev_slider IndianLadderMixer][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
The connections between creativity and conservation run deep. The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC) was founded in 1992 to protect the natural, scenic, agricultural, and cultural landscapes of the Mohawk and Hudson river valleys. We protect natural resources, working farmlands, air and water quality, and climate-resilient landscapes. Yet there are other benefits, less tangible but equally significant, which these spaces provide: and these benefits connect us with the creative communities in our service area.
These forests, fields, mountains, and rivers are not only ecologically and economically valuable; they are beautiful, and there is value in that beauty. From the vistas of the towering Helderberg Escarpment south of Albany to the rolling farmlands of Montgomery County, these undeveloped lands inspire reflection, creativity, and a palpable connection to the natural world.
Tens of thousands of visitors enjoy 2,000 acres and over 36 miles of trails at our 18 public nature preserves every year. We continue to find that these visitors receive a creative boost from their time outside. A walk in the woods, an afternoon sitting by a stream, a morning trail run… these are experiences to be shared, cherished, and protected. Without the natural world made available to the public, the constant thrum of development in our region will continue to take away our opportunities to experience, draw inspiration from, and find solace in nature.
As MHLC provides natural experiences for our community, many of our partners provide artistic, cultural, and musical experiences. Last June, we collaborated with the brass musicians of the Albany Symphony for an al fresco Celebration of Music and Nature in Rensselaerville. Our plein air painting classes led by art educators have been a powerful opportunity for local painters to find inspiration from the sights and sounds of our preserves. Our Family Wilderness Crafts workshops with Ondatra Adventures encourage young people to use their hands, engaging with the natural world and with their own creative spirit.
Our volunteer Art on the Rail Trail (ART) committee has been an incredibly successful creative endeavor. This dedicated group of neighbors began fundraising and installing public pieces of art along the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail in 2017. Vibrant pieces by local artists Andrea Hersh and John DeMarco have been installed, and the committee is already seeking proposals for a third mural. This volunteer committee encourages local artists to connect their art to the landscape, encouraging a community sense of ownership and pride for the Rail Trail.
These connections between local landscapes and the local creative economy continue to develop and deepen. Earlier this year, at MHLC’s 2018 Annual Awards Dinner, guest speaker Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, spoke of the ties between conservation and the arts, and encouraged the audience to work together to cherish, preserve, and protect beauty in all of its forms. Ms. Sobol declared, “It is at that moment of shared beauty – birdsong, sunset, Mahler, Bach – that we are most utterly – and most fully – human. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we are here to preserve and protect.”
Our staff and Board of Directors are continuing to follow these moments of shared beauty, these connections between nature and art, as we strive to foster a deep connection between residents of the Capital Region and nature. By creating outdoor experiences, and by encouraging a creative engagement with our local landscape, we can create a sense of place. This sense of connection to the farmlands, the river valleys, the hill tops, and the forests of the Capital Region will help us love, cherish, and protect the open spaces of our home.
Join the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy, Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery, and other community partners for a Creative Economy Mixer on September 5. Indian Ladder Farms was protected by the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy through a conservation easement in 2003.
We’ll enjoy tours and tastings of their amazing cider and beer and learn more about the creative collaborations and networks that make our rural regions work and connect us with our natural world.
Guest post by Daron Blake, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
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ACE met with Laura Ten Eyck, the 4th-generation Vice President of Indian Ladder Farms, ahead of the September 5th Mixer on their property. Laura returned to the family business after a career in journalism, and used her writing experience to co-author a book titled The Hop Grower’s Handbook. Laura’s husband Dietrich Gehring runs the Indian Ladder Farmstead Cidery and Brewery LLC along with partner Stuart Morris. Dietrich has a background in photography editing for publications and calendars, but turned an interest in home-brewing into the Brewery two years ago.
Location: 342 Altamont Rd, Altamont NY
Employees: Between 10-100+, depending on season
In business since: 1916
What hurdles and successes do you see after 102 years in business?
Success is to stay sustainable during the transition from my father’s generation to me and my brother, and to pass the business on to the next generation if they are interested. This is a community resource; we can’t just walk away from it. We all live here. We placed a Conservation Easement on the farmland to restrict development; by selling our development rights we reinvested in the farm to protect the future.
We face the same struggles as all agricultural businesses. The weather has been made more intense with climate change, which has brought new pest species and severe weather that is problematic. Ultimately, keeping on top of pests like termites is tougher than it has ever been before. That being said, fortunately, there are plenty of pest control experts in our area to keep unwanted insects under control. Correspondingly, if you would like to learn more about how to tackle termites and other common pests, you can find a wide range of useful information on websites like: https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/termite-control/. A hot March causes an early bloom, then a typical April overnight in the 20s brings a killing frost – that has increased in recent years. Also, the labor market is tight and finding seasonal workers for minimum wage level work is a real challenge: we do over 50% of our business in 8 weeks in September/October. Hiring and training people for that short a period is difficult.
Is there still room for growth?
You have to be careful not to grow too fast, and we want things to remain authentic. We don’t do anything artificial. We are in the process of renovating a building as a production brewery and it will include increased event space. Currently, we can’t host weddings in the fall because the space is used for apple cider. Once this structure is complete we can move the apple cider donut production to a larger space since they are so popular. The Brewery and Cider LLC opened in 2016 and should continue to grow. We may do a book about hemp production; we have a lot of plans moving forward to expand the business. We’ve looked at getting something like this promotional custom embroidery merchandise that is specifically for Breweries.
Is there an opportunity for creatives in Farming?
The skillset of the creative mind is a necessity for a business like this. There has to be new and innovative ways to solve problems, and the creative mind is a huge benefit in a business where you have the ability to actually act upon those ideas and not just be a cog in a corporation’s machine. Others hit a roadblock and may not be able to get around it. Innovation has always been a key aspect of farming, whether it be improving crop productions by using creative agricultural design, similar to the designs Impact Engineering, or thinking outside the box to expand the farm into the wedding industry, for example. Other ways of increasing crop production might also include using good-quality farming equipment. For instance, in the agricultural sector, a tractor is useful for digging irrigation canals, harvesting, fertilizing, and so on. Even if a part of a tractor is damaged, it can be replaced by its new parts, which could be bought at reputable web-shops like Costex Tractor Parts (or similar others) and make it work efficiently again.
We have a large number of creatives here: our cider presser and assistant farm manager are both talented musicians, our Farm Manager does carvings and has a great visual eye. The seasonality works for a lot of creatives, where they have winters free for other pursuits.
What should ACE members expect to see when visiting Indian Ladder Farms for the September 5th mixer?
There will be music in the Beer Garden (Zan & the Winter Folk), a tour of the brewery and of course refreshments. The farm is open, so they can see the hop garden and animals. We want everything to remain real and authentic here; this is a working farm and people really enjoy seeing it in action.
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