Collage exhibit brings layers of history and art to Falls Village

Ingrid Freidenbergs at her studio in Lakeville.
L. Tomaino
Ingrid Freidenbergs at her studio in Lakeville.
From July 12 through August 8, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host “Collage Redux!,” an exhibit featuring the collages and box constructions of Lakeville resident, Ingrid Freidenbergs.
A highlight of the exhibit will be Freidenberg’s Art Talk on July 24 at 5:30 p.m., featuring a screening of “Cycles,” a short film by her son, Paul Feder, who also co-composed the score with fellow musician Sam McCoy. The film presents the photography of Freidenbergs’ late husband Jack Feder, whose photos appeared in “Life,” “Newsweek,” and “The New York Times.”
The film is an important piece of the show.“This is my first show without Jack here. A way to bring Jack in is to show the film.”
Although both Freidenbergs and her husband were psychologists, they also pursued and loved the arts. When they first met and throughout their years together, “Art was the thing we communicated about,” said Freidenbergs.
Freidenbergs recalled a trip to the British Museum.She’d been studying watercolor with painter John Hardy and with a letter of introduction from him, she and Federal went into the vaults and spent the day looking at cases of Turner watercolors. “I loved it,” remembered Freidenbergs.
She and Federal traveled the world together, bringing home pieces of art they loved.
Freidenbergs’ art was — and continues to be — heavily influenced by her family’s flight from Latvia when she was just an infant in 1944.In her personal statement she says, “World War II changed my life, so little wonder that collage has become my mode of expression as well. The family farm disappeared; fortunes were buried and scattered. So, we too were scattered around Europe, then America, picking up pieces of culture and cast-off debris along the way.”
She and her family spent seven years in displaced persons camps in Europe before emigrating to the United States.
Freidenbergs began her pursuit of art with watercolor but after her son’s birth, she found collage to be a perfect fit for her. “It was something I could do with the many distractions of a young child.” She developed a method of working that she still utilizes.“I could put things down, walk away, go back, move things, look at them upside down and all ways, and walk away again…” until she arrived at the perfect composition.
Collage also combined her love of cloth, paper, color (red being a recurring theme), feathers, buttons, old books, and other found materials.
And most perfectly, collage gave her an outlet to “make sense of a shattered world. Form, line, texture, and color are joined to balance the disparate parts. Through the process of assembling these parts I can once again start to feel in control of my life,” she explained.
Of one show Freidenbergs participated in, “The New York Times” wrote “there is no doubt as to Freidenbergs’ gift for conveying atmosphere thick with something, be it guilt, intrigue, death or simply a relish for the forbidden.”
The David M. Hunt Library is located at 63 Main Street in Falls Village and Collage Redux! will be on view during library hours.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Back seat passenger Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.