Millerton falls head over heels for art Sept. 24 and 25

MILLERTON  — The village of Millerton is a haven for artists. In fact, the 14th Colony Artists, a group of multimedia artists from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, has an ever-growing hold on communities in the Harlem Valley. Paired with the Millerton Business Group (MBG), 14th Colony is holding Fall for Art on the weekend of Sept. 24 and 25, from when businesses open their doors in the morning till when they close them in the evening.

The first Fall for Art was held in 2009; thousands attended, though participation has dropped slightly since then.

“We basically ask merchants to on their own find an artist and usually they seem to all find them, if not we have a little group of artists who don’t know anybody in town to match them up,” explained MBG leader Dick Hermans. “Then people come to walk around that day. They come to the village and see what’s happening. We hope it’s a relaxed day to discover  a little something different in Millerton that isn’t there every other day of the year.”

Mark Liebergall, an artist with the 14th Colony, said the weekend has become part of the fabric of the community.

“It’s become a mainstay event annually in Millerton, and has contributed to the village being known as an arts destination,” he said. “It’s been a very beneficial relationship for both the artists and the merchants. The artists have had an opportunity to exhibit and sell their work and the merchants have found that there is increased interest in their shops and in their merchandise. So, it’s been very good for both.”

During Fall for Art, artists’ work will be showcased in merchants’ windows along Main Street and beyond. There will be an art exhibit at North Elm Home Furnishings on Route 22, north of the light, and at Irondale Schoolhouse, at the head of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail on both Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, there will be a group exhibit at Veterans Park, the green across the street from The Moviehouse.

“What the Millerton Business Group is trying to do is get the business community to do things like this, where we all do a little bit and in the end it turns out to be something larger than any of us individually could pull off,” said Hermans, who said 25 shops are participating this year. “I just hope people come and enjoy it and that the weather is OK. If that happens, we’ll all be good and are already talking about next year.” 

“It’s a tremendous amount of fun,” said Liebergall. “We get to interact with other artists, members of the community, merchants and visitors.”

He added that those who attend the arts day can expect to see a diverse showing of artwork throughout the village, “and enjoy being in a community that is focused for the weekend on sharing the art of nearby regional artists.

“We hope with the broad range of styles and pricing you’re sure there will be something for everyone to enjoy,” the artist added, noting that the event highlights Millerton as an arts destination — which he said it should be year round, but especially during Fall for Art.