“Transforming our Notions of Space” may sound like a juried multimedia exhibit at a somewhat hip modern art gallery, but it is actually what is going on all around us as social and cultural institutions adapt to unprecedented conditions, under duress, and with no proven playbook. Theaters, galleries, clubs and multi-use community spaces are dark across the land, with a winter of profound uncertainty bearing down even as the apples ripen and the last of summer serves up the best weather of the year.
With their facilities indefinitely unavailable, or available on terms so reduced it is nearly impracticable, arts organizations like New Paltz’ venerable Unison Arts Center are asking and answering the toughest questions about survival — economic and creative. Where is the soul of an arts center? Does it lie in the actual physical space, with the high ceilings, wood beams, track lighting and acoustic treatment? Or does it live in the curatorial and community impulse?
A modest outdoor stage may not seem like a major cultural development, but at Unison it’s a blow against cynicism and despair, and an optimistic wish for this community. Tucked into the trees and surrounded by Unison’s enchanted sculpture garden, the new outdoor performance space last weekend welcomed an audience of 40, starved for music and for company. The inaugural performer was Sweet Megg, the stylish and versatile interpreter of jazz, cabaret, blues and Western swing standards and hidden gems.
“She is exactly what Unison tends to like,” says Alex Baer, Unison’s executive director. “We had little lights, squirrels running around, crickets in the background, and people loved it. They were so happy to be out.”
Baer, her husband Guy Barroilhet, and Unison’s music booking specialist Rob Leitner built the stage in two days, with an assist from Art Riffenberry. As Covid redefines personal space and ubiquitous signage instructs us in the new traffic patterns of social life, compliance and extreme ingenuity become the concern of every venue. Unison’s first question regarded situating the stage on its sprawling grounds.
“We waited until Cuomo gave us the okay to open back up, which is why we didn’t build this back in June. We weren’t allowed. Originally, we wanted to do it in the big back field. We ran into some logistical problems with neighbors, so we decided to build it in the sculpture garden itself, which turned out to be great — nestled in the woods, surrounded by art, listening to music. It’s a very Unison thing.
“We are very careful,” Baer says. “There are 40 spots that we have delineated with black mulch and numbers in non-toxic chalk spray paint. You pick a number. We made sure every spot has a good view of the stage. People pre-bought tickets and came in with chairs and snacks. We offer Prosecco and wine for donation.”
Like every other organization that has taken the action outdoors, Unison faces questions about the season: how long it runs, what is possible, and when their indoor facilities may be in play again. “My dad was an immunologist,” says Baer. “He worked for the CDC. I am very cautious about any of this getting any better before spring.
“But my Dad was also German,” Baer says, “so if it were up to me the outdoor season would just be forever. I’d put on puffy jackets and have heaters and hot cider and do some winter concerts. I could see that happening if musicians are willing to play for 45 minutes or half an hour — lively music, dance around. Especially kids shows. We have a fire pit for ‘smores. I see a full season, if people are willing. You’re stuck in the house. It’s a Sunday afternoon at noon. It’s going to be dark at four o’clock. I think we would have plenty of people coming. People just need to be hardy.”
“They do it in Europe,” she explains. “They have outdoor markets. Kids play outside until dark with their coats on and their runny noses. This is going to be that kind of winter. I refuse to back off the arts. We’re going to see what we can do to keep our community happy. We might do a winter tracking class. We’re being ingenious. What can we do?”
Like all of the suffering arts organizations now, Unison needs income. Luckily, quite a few musicians have asked either for low fees or have volunteered to do it for free, because they realize Unison too is having a hard time.
On Saturday, September 19 at 6 p.m., Unison welcomes the jazz folk artist and regional favorite KJ Denhert in a stripped down performance. The Grenadan-American artist has won four Independent Music awards, including one for Best Social Action song for “Choose Your Weapon” in 2015. She was named one of the top vocalists of 2009 by Jazz.com.
On Saturday, October 3, the Unison stage makes room for the Hudson Valley String Quartet, a regular at Unison. While the quartet’s program for the evening has not yet been specified, other HVSQ concerts in 2020 — before Covid put an end to all that — have focused on the seminal quartets of Beethoven on the 250th anniversary of his birth.
“The beauty of Unison,” says Baer, “has always been in its intimacy, an intimate, local space where musicians can come and relate to 80 people in ways that they can’t when it’s to hundreds or thousands.” And that’s still the house style, though it is 40 or 50 people, not 80, and it is no longer in the house.
Unison Arts is at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For tickets and information, visit www.unisonarts.org or call 255-1559.
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