Show & Tell, April 2024

D.R.A.W. collaborates with the Kingston Library to create Show & Tell, a journal of arts and literature built from the combined submissions of local artists. With the goal of highlighting the diversity of the artists and writers who live here in Kingston, the Kingston Library accepts free submissions of an enormous variety of artistic expression to be catalogued in the resulting journal, which can be received at no cost.

Guidelines and further information about the project can be found here.

Holding Space for Tenderness, Winter 2024

For several months, members of PUGG met up with members of different organizations in the area and photographed their hands tenderly holding one of their most prized possessions. We collected countless amounts of these pictures to create an incredible banner as part of a project started by artist Carmen Lizardo and carried out by members of PUGG. The resulting product is an overarching symbol of unity and connectivity between us as humans with sentimentality. The finished images are printed in cyanotype, framing each picture together in the same color and context that transcends the context and differences of the photographed people.

Jell-O Jamboree, February 2024

For D.R.A.W.’s second annual Jell-O Jamboree, we evolved from the first and built an even bigger party with more treats, more games, and more performances. Like last time we held a Jell-O sculpture contest between local artists, and our competitors came out with more inspired Jell-O sculpts than ever before. PUGG alumni Erin Dougherty won the first place prize for her iconic slug.

There was live music and belly dancing for performances, and for games we had a wobbly stacking game and a thrilling prize wheel. Every spin of the wheel came with a guaranteed prize, and winners of the stacking game would receive a special handmade trophy made of things stacked on top of each other. Complete with an array of food and especially sweet drinks, the Jell-O Jamboree was once again a spectacle to remember.

Draw-a-Thon, August 2023

In the third annual Draw-A-Thon, we embraced a monstrous theme and welcomed Drawzilla as our mascot, with a big mechanical version of her acting as that year’s Draw-A-Ton. One of our PUGGs, Vera Wilde, also created a coloring book for attendees. Also spotlighted was the use of a steamroller to print huge linocut blocks on huge pieces of paper. Local artists and friends of the D.R.A.W. were invited to cut their own linoleum designs to be utilized at the event. This Draw-A-Thon had a big outdoor presence, participants out in the sun drawing with chalk on the sidewalks. We utilized the newly formed Neighborhood Print Studio to its fullest potential.

Celebration of the Arts Expo, July 2023

MAD presented the Celebration of the Arts Expo, a day packed to the brim with art workshops and learning opportunities with the intent of letting people go through a full day of workshops they choose to attend. It’s hosted at SUNY Ulster’s Kingston location, utilizing several classrooms to occupy the many art educators who came out to teach the community. The Expo truly celebrates the arts, waving a spotlight over a vast amount of mediums and artistic outlets. From painting, to printing, to performance. There was undoubtedly something in this Expo for everyone. Look forward to our next annual Celebration of the Arts!

Neighborhood Print Studio opens, Summer 2023

After a long process of renovations, preparations, and moving, the D.R.A.W. proudly presents the Neighborhood Print Studio. Built in the name of affordable art education for all, this studio has acted as a source for countless opportunities to create and educate for those in our community. Not only do we offer classes in various forms of printmaking with our facilities as a print shop, but we’re also committed to hand-crafting our own merchandise.

Honoring Ben Wigfall and Communications Village in our efforts, we humbly accept a large printing press he used for his own work and utilize it to serve our community.

Geometric Stitchdom, April 2023

For a couple months, the members of PUGG met with Tara Foley to undergo the process of planning and putting together a show at the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum. PUGG also met with artist Sabine Reckewell and learned about her story and process when making her elaborate geometric pieces. The PUGGs would go on to make prints, and embroider them while being inspired and informed by Reckewell’s style and practice.

The PUGGs first made prints with geometric shapes and bright colors in mind. They then used embroidery to add to the print. The final products were highly expressive and handmade multi-media works. A few other PUGGs made art pieces of completely different subjects and media, showing off their individual styles and talents. An art show dedicated to the members of PUGG and their members is an important tribute.

Jell-O Jamboree, February 2023

For the D.R.A.W.’s first inaugural fundraiser, we held a Jell-O themed dance party and sculpture competition called the Jell-O Jamboree. It was held in the Fuller Building across from Kingston’s YMCA. It was a full house, and friends and family of the D.R.A.W. attended to make the event a huge success and a fun display of charity.

Present at the event was a wheel of prizes, various sweet treats, Jell-O shots, and Jell-O Jamboree shirts and buttons for sale. The sculptural talents of local artists was put to work and the Jell-O sculptures were all incredibly unique, colorful, and even fascinating. Decorations and merchandise were designed and created by members of PUGG, and the sculpture gallery was decorated by professional portraits of the PUGGs themselves.

Eco-Arts week, April 2023

The D.R.A.W. had it’s second Eco-Arts Week, headlined with an artist talk from sTo Len. Things that attendants could do include but are not limited to: Learn to repurpose clothing, make ink from nature, print with trash, make charcoal, make seed balls, make bee habitats, and even have an engraving done on a seed. During the entire week, a sculpture by Isobel Cotarelo and an ensemble of gnome sculptures made from recycled materials by Maxine Leu were on display at the D.R.A.W. space.

The participating artists include: sTo Len, Roberta Ziemba, Hudson Valley Bee Habitat, Aurora Brush, Luke Sarrantonio, Lisa B. Kelley, Sergey Jivetin, Michael Asbill, Karen Jaimes, Kelly McGrath, Isabel Cotarelo, PJ Flanagan, and Maxine Leu.