Two meetings took place this week at the Aroma Thyme Bistro that could have a lasting influence on how Ellenville will proceed with its endeavor to redefine itself as an arts community.

On Wednesday, November 15, a group consisting of local artists, government officials, business owners and interested community members known as the Ellenville Area Arts Alliance ("EA3" for short) met to consider their next big step.

The group felt that one of the major deficiencies in their effort thus far, which included the 10x10x10 and AWE street exhibits of this summer, was that there was little to no involvement of the area's youth.

A contingent representing the Ellenville High School, consisting of Superintendent Lisa Wiles, teacher Patty Steinhoff, students Erin Grey and Glenda Nunez, was on hand in the hopes of offering suggestions and becoming liaisons to the youth community of Ellenville and Wawarsing.

In that vein, projects like a poetry competition, known as a "slam" was suggested, as well as possible apprenticeships with local artists, and a snowman building contest that would take place on the school's athletic field.

The "snowmosapien" building contest (term coined by local artist Chuck Davison) would be open to the entire community and would be an art effort for families and friends to collaborate with on a winter's day. The idea would be to take Friday night under the lights on the athletic field and populate the area with snow creations of all shapes and sizes.

Other avenues to continue the development of the Ellenville "arts scene" is to continue the 10x10x10 program for next summer. Judy Sigunick, this year's organizer, will again be taking the reins as the show's driving force.

Another idea like inviting painters to set up work stations on Ellenville's downtown street and produce a work of art were considered but a final decision was not reached.

The major news for arts in the community is the establishment of a ceramic studio in the heart of Ellenville that will take in 4,000 square feet of the old "Richie's" building. Judy Sigunick, who would be in the artist in residence at the facility, informed the group that most of the equipment, including kilns was already in the space and further money was required to remodel the inside for the space's future use.

The one major decision that was reached was to have the EA3 achieve a 501-C3 status that would allow the group to be designated a non-profit entity that would be eligible for grant funding.

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The next night, on Thursday, November 16, 2006, the Ellenville Area Arts Alliance met again to discuss its future in conjunction with representatives from Ulster Arts, a collaborative effort between the Ulster County Arts Council and the Highland Cultural Center.

Sherri Brittain, Executive Director of the Ulster County Arts Council and Elisa Pritzker, Executive Director of the Highland Cultural Center, both pitched the idea of EA3 joining with them. The meeting was meant to present the idea of the newly formed and "strengthening" collaboration of the two organizations into Ulster Arts and to hand out a survey asking what Ulster Arts could do for Ellenville.

The meeting became somewhat contentious as a highly developed sense of territoriality permeated the meeting. A number of people representing the Ellenville arts initiative bluntly asked the Ulster Arts representatives, "Why do we need you?" The feeling was, for the most part, that Ellenville had not received a great deal of help from either organization and that the newly formed Ulster Arts group needed Ellenville's arts group to legitimize and strengthen itself.

This led to some awkward exchanges where Ulster Arts representatives who were not a part of the official presentation explained that, "Ellenville was the flavor of the month", implying that it would need the efforts of Ulster Arts to sustain and expand local efforts.

Another Ulster Arts member, announcing that she had been a social worker for Ulster County, said that she knew Ellenville's reputation ant that, "they only sent the worst employees down here." What she meant by her statement remains unclear but several local residents appeared to take great offense.

The meeting ended with the EA3 group taking the survey from the Ulster Arts organization but still strongly leaning towards exploring relationships with arts organizations outside of Ulster County; most notably Dutchess.

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