The Serious Make-Believe of Artist Danielle Klebes

Painter Danielle Klebes' next exhibition will open at Jennifer Terzain Gallery in Litchfield, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 29 Self-portrait photo by Danielle Klebes
On the penultimate floor of Maxon Mills in the Wassaic Project's 2023 summer exhibition, "Counting the Seconds Between Lightning and Thunder," several life-sized, 3D portraits on wooden cutouts stood like ushers, guiding the viewer to climb the last staircase and enter the final installation: Danielle Klebes' "7th Floor Walk-up."
A collection of over 100 paintings made up the contents of this space, an interior blending reality with imagination. From the red plastic Solo cups on the mantle to the taxidermy on the walls, from the books on the bookshelf to the magazines on the coffee table to the floor itself, everything in the space was a painting, creating a liminal space between reality and fantasy.
Klebes was born in Rochester, N.Y., but moved for the first of many times just two weeks later. Her mother, an artist as well, lived her life following her muse, which meant that Klebes and her sister followed along with her.
This itinerant childhood left Klebes with brief stints in "all of New England," Florida, and even some time in Japan. Now rooted more than she's ever been in Wassaic, a hamlet in Amenia, N.Y., Klebes is investigating place and what it means to be in a community.
In 2020, she applied to The Wassaic Project's exhibition and residency program. "It's pretty famous in the art residency world," said Klebes, "and I'd been doing residencies for about three years, so I was dying to get to Wassaic."
The residency and the exhibition were both canceled due to the pandemic. A fellowship opportunity opened instead, which Klebes applied for and received. She was a fellow for about five months and then was hired as the full-time programming coordinator. "This is like my dream job, so I'm so excited."
This is also the longest she's ever been anywhere. Standing relatively still, Klebes now gets to observe as other artists come and go, inspired and ignited by an ever-changing cast of characters. She said: "I love the community aspect of being in a residency. It keeps me pushing myself. If I'm alone in my studio, it's too easy to let yourself off the hook. It's really important to be around people that inspire you."
Klebes knew she loved painting from a very early age. She took a painting class as a child at the Currier Gallery (now Currier Museum) in New Hampshire. "I wasn't interested in make-believe. I was very serious." It is this kind of serious make-believe that is at the center of Klebes' work. Her upcoming solo show, "NOWHERE," at the Jennifer Terzian Gallery in Litchfield, Conn., opening Sunday, Oct. 29, will showcase interiors transporting viewers into a world where reality and imagination coexist.
The beauty of everyday life is in a conversation with the intricate details that often go unnoticed in what Klebes calls a sort of "eye spy" approach to painting. "I'm having fun doing multiples," she said, "where the same things appear…find this car, find this calendar..."
In the few weeks leading up to the show, Klebes is interested in painting real spaces and the made-up ones of her imagination. She explained, "It's the accidental things that make you realize it's a real space." She continued: "I did this painting of my brother and sister, and my brother was wearing these weird black socks, and you realize these would never be there unless they were really there because they're just so strange. Those moments only happen in real life. By inventing, it cleans it up too much somehow. So in my last month before the show, I want to paint real spaces."
Sharing a home with her girlfriend, former Wassaic print fellow McKinzie Trotta, and working at The Wassaic Project has provided Klebes a new stability and space to explore. It has also provided ample storage space for her paintings—her mother's ever-changing abode required a recent relocation of her artworks from her basement.
The question of what makes a space "real" now pervades her artistry. With incredible attention to detail, she dissects the essence of presence, the tangible evidence of existence, and the struggle to portray "now HERE" instead of, perhaps, "nowhere."
"There's something about queerness in a small town," she explained, "I feel much more like I want to shout it from the rooftops." Now reunited with some of her older work, she's curious about the characters and what role they will play, the role that a chosen family plays in one's life.
Klebes mused, "I am still trying to find the balance of reflecting my life in my work," and continued, "I love painting. Period. I'm curious. I like people. It's what always comes back."
SALISBURY — Amanda Cannon, age 100, passed away Oct. 15, 2025, at Noble Horizons. She was the wife of the late Jeremiah Cannon.
Amanda was born Aug. 20, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York the daughter of the late Karl and Ella Husslein.
She was widowed at the age of 31 and worked as a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Company and other oil companies in New York City until she retired at age 72.
Amanda moved to Noble Horizons in 2013 to live near her daughter Diane and son-in-law (the late) Raymond Zelazny.
She enjoyed her time in the Northwest Corner and was an avid nature lover, albeit considered herself a native New Yorker as she was born and resided in NYC for 88 years.
She was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville and attended Mass regularly until the age of 99.
Amanda was the grandmother of (the late) Jesse Morse and is survived by her daughter, Diane Zelazny, her grandsons, Adam Morse, Raymond Morse and his wife Daron and their daughter and her great granddaughter Cecelia Morse.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. at St Mary’s Church in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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.