A theme has been chosen for the annual Saugerties art-in-the-streets celebration. The sculptures will be childhood favorite rocking horses, said Saugerties Chamber of Commerce co-chair Peggy Schwartz, owner of Town and Country Liquors.
“We talked to a number of artists, and they liked the idea of continuing the horse theme that began last year when we honored the Saugerties Stallions baseball team,” Schwartz said. “Right now we’re looking for sponsors.”
Each year businesses have supported the art-in-the-streets project by sponsoring a horse, and “we are hoping they will do so again this year,” Schwartz said.
In addition to businesses, the town and village of Saugerties governments also sponsor a horse.
Thirty-four horses will be on display throughout the village, and a 35th horse on display at Town and Country Liquors on Route 212 will be raffled off.
The rocking-horse art works will be put up in time for Memorial Day and will come down around Labor Day. They are scheduled to be auctioned off September 16 at the Saugerties Performing Arts Factory (SPAF).
A meet-and-greet with artists and sponsors will be held at New World Home Cooking on March 5. There will be a preview of the art work at SPAF in mid-May, Schwartz said.
According to Schwartz, the art-in-the-streets projects are still drawing interest. “People come into my store and ask about the art projects all the time,” Schwartz said. “There are street-art groupies that take a weekend and travel from town to town to town to look at the art works.”
“And each year through sponsorships, and purchase of the art works, we are able to raise money for not only chamber activities but for scholarships the chamber awards to students each year, and for donations to local charities,” she said.
Several years ago, the art in the street program enabled the chamber to donate money to the Town of Saugerties’ Small World playground.
When the works are auctioned off in the fall, one-third goes to the chamber to cover their costs associated with the program, one-third goes to a local charity, and one-third goes to the artist.
To learn more about the Saugerties art-in-the-streets program or to download an artist’s application, go to discoversaugerties.com. To sponsor a horse, either go to the website or contact Schwartz at 246-8931.
Various Hudson Valley cities and towns have art-in-the-streets displays.
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