Rockland Arts Festival: 15 Days of In-Person and Virtual Arts Events

The fifth-annual Rockland Arts Festival begins on January 26 with 12 virtual and in-person exhibitions, performances and panel discussions that showcase the tristate area’s wealth of creative talent through February 9.

The festival’s sole in-person event is a free February 4 exhibition at the Palisades Center that will feature work by more than 50 artists on the Center’s first-floor courtyard. The afternoon event offers live music and art bingo.

“I consider the in-person event our major highlight. It’s always well attended,” said Lisa D’Amico, a member of the organizing committee. “It’s such a great outreach to the community.”

Virtual events range from a dance class with Anna Mayta, a Chilean choreographer and dancer who has taught in Africa, India, England and the United States, to a computer animation demonstration with Ashley Gerst, an associate professor of animation and game design.

D’Amico said it was initially an all in-person festival until the Covid-19 outbreak forced organizers online, a move that boosted the event’s popularity.

“It was so successful that we just kept the format because we reached so many people through the virtual events and it gives such great exposure to the artists who participate,” said D’Amico.

In its five-year run, the festival has grown significantly. Last year, it attracted more than 150,000 guests to its mostly virtual events.

D’Amico said that one of this year’s most popular virtual events is with arts attorney Jane Cowles.

“Artists want to be empowered and they want to expand what they’re doing, and they want knowledge. So next year we’ll do the attorney again and make it either a two-parter or extend the time of the webinar,” said D’Amico.

The festival draws on the work of more than 120 artists and performers who dwell in a regional creative ecosystem of galleries, museums, theaters, sculpture parks, cultural events and film festivals.

Participating photographer Collette Fournier explores color, light and tonal values. Her work ranges from scenes of daily life in Africa to civil rights activism and portraits.

Artist Erwin Ong takes inspiration for his illustrations and murals from natural wonders and city life. Ong will moderate a webinar with 12 artists about creativity and the artistic process on January 27.

Arts education is also a focus of the festival. On January 29, the webinar Inside the Artist’s Mind welcomes Christina Brady, Inness Hancock, Udor Rothenko and Jean-Marc Superville Sovak to discuss how they succeed in their arts careers.

An organizing committee runs the Rockland Arts Festival Rockland Arts Festival. Artist/curator D’Amico; photographer Michael Craft; artist Aviva Sakolsky; artist Debbie Silberberg; and Andrew Fuge, PBL & Associates and PFLAG Rockland are the co-organizers.

“I’m proud of the committee and their commitment to this festival. They are the backbone. Without them, none of this would happen,” said D’Amico. “That’s what makes me most proud. Everybody is so invested in promoting and exhibiting the artists, while also delivering a huge number of virtual events.”