Community Calendar

In The Patient Looks Back: Portraits of My Therapist, Catskill-based painter Joyce Polance reverses therapy’s usual direction of attention by turning the patient’s gaze toward the therapist. Painted in oil entirely with her fingers, the three-year series moves between likeness and disruption, testing what close looking can—and cannot—reveal.

The opening reception is September 24, 5–7 p.m., and the artist talk is October 3, 4–5 p.m.

The show runs Sept. 17 - Oct. 10. Gallery hours M-F 9am - 6pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 6pm.

Join Jennifer and Kevin McCoy for an artist talk exploring their artistic practice, creative process, and the ideas behind their work.

Brooklyn-based new-media artists Jennifer and Kevin McCoy are internationally recognized for their pioneering work in film, video and digital media. Both earned MFAs from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and have received numerous honors, including a Rhizome Lifetime Achievement Award and Guggenheim Fellowship recognition. Jennifer McCoy is a professor at Brooklyn College, and Kevin McCoy is an associate professor of art, art education and technology at New York University.

The Teaching Gallery presents The Films of Jennifer and Kevin McCoy, an exhibition featuring three cinematic installations by the artists. Presented together for the first time, Broker, Cleaner and Quitter complete a thematic arc that began in 2016 with Broker. The exhibition also marks the first installation of Quitter, a 2025 experimental video featuring artist Eve Sussman with an original score by Lori Scacco that depicts the stakes of breaking with the patterns of modern life and asks: What does life look like without lifestyle? The production of Quitter is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The exhibit, talk and reception are free and open to the public.

The Films of Jennifer and Kevin McCoy Exhibit On View: Thursday, Sept. 24 - Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
Gallery Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Noon - 7 p.m.; Saturday, Noon - 4 p.m.
Artist Talk: Thursday, Sept. 24 from 3 to 4 p.m. in Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium
Opening Reception: Thursday, Sept. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Teaching Gallery

Fall Gala: Seeding the Future will bring together supporters, community leaders, and friends of Shaker Heritage Society for cocktails, dinner, and a special program honoring longtime volunteer stewards Rebecca Langer and Bob Reilly for their enduring dedication to the historic farm and gardens.

Proceeds from the evening will support the preservation and future stewardship of the Shaker Heritage Society site and working landscape.

Thursday, September 24, 2026
VIP Reception | 5:30 PM
Cocktail Reception | 6:00 PM
Dinner & Program | 7:00 PM

Shaker Heritage Barn
25 Meeting House Road
Albany, New York

Semi-Formal Attire

Due to the intimate nature of the event, seating is limited and reservations will be accepted as space allows.

VIP Reception access is reserved for Harvest and Orchard Sponsors and Honorary Committee members. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email director@shakerheritage.org or call 518-456-7890.

A vegetarian/vegan meal accommodation is available upon request.

5 Thursdays, 6 - 8:30 pm

September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 15 (No Class October 8th)

Ages 16+

Price: $300

This watercolor course is designed for intermediate and advanced artists looking to refine their technique and deepen their creative practice. Through structured exercises, students will enhance their observational skills, master controlled lighting, and explore advanced color mixing. Tailored assignments ensure a personalized learning experience, helping you achieve greater precision, expression, and confidence in watercolor painting.

All tools and materials will be provided.

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Please register at least a week in advance to guarantee your spot.

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We believe in access to art education for all. It takes the whole community to generate the equity our pay-what-you-can tuition generates. Behind the scenes, we work to bridge the financial gap between what our students can pay and what we need to sustain our programs. Please consider carefully before you use our discount codes.

Scholarship Codes:
For 25% discount use code "25OFF"

For 50% discount use code "50OFF"

For75% discount use code "75OFF"

This economic justice map from The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice by Alexis J. Cunningfolk is useful to assess where you may fall on the financial spectrum of pay what you can.

To request 100% off tuition, please contact wallace@mkad.art

Shakespeare & Company Presents: The Norwegians by C. Denby Swanson, Directed by James Warwick.

September 4-October 4th at 2 pm and 7 pm at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Set in a Minnesota bar where heartbreak is served alongside beer, The Norwegians is a sharp, surprising dark comedy about love gone wrong—and the lengths we go to set things right. Betty and Olive, two women reeling from romantic betrayal, hatch an unlikely plan: hiring a pair of Norwegian hitmen to deal with the men who wronged them.

Enter Tor and Gus, professional killers who turn out to be unfailingly polite, disarmingly gentle, and almost aggressively nice. As the women’s simmering rage collides with the hitmen’s courteous manners, the play finds humor in the contrast between Midwestern civility and the brutal business at hand.

With witty dialogue and a clever premise, The Norwegians explores the culture of America’s “flyover country,” where kindness runs deep—even in the most unexpected professions. At once dark, funny, and oddly tender, the play examines love, revenge, and cultural identity, reminding us that people are rarely what we expect and that even the politest among us may be capable of surprising extremes.

Tickets are $30-$88 and on sale now at shakespeare.org, or by calling the Box Office at 413.637.3353

Vermont Timbre (Amelia Struthers and Mike Mrowicki) hosts an Open Stage at Next Stage Arts, welcoming musicians, poets, storytellers, and performers of all kinds. This supportive community event invites performers to share 10–15 minute sets and audiences to come discover local talent. To perform, email Mike at mmrowicki@gmail.com. Audience members can RSVP at nextstagearts.org. Come to perform, come to listen, or come to do both!

Utica University’s free Films on Thursday series continues its Fall 2026 season on Thursday, September 24 at 7:00pm with the movie, Eat Drink Man Woman.

Ang Lee’s 1994 classic about a master chef who prepares dazzling culinary delights but struggles to communicate with his three adult daughters still resonates more than 30 years after its debut. In 2022, Eat Drink Man Woman was ranked as one of the 100 greatest foreign-language films by BBC Culture. Nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a British Academy Film Award, among others, this enduring comedy about love, relationships, and yes, food, is filled with unexpected and hilarious twists.

A complete list of the Fall 2026 film series, the campus map, parking information, and more information are available at https://www.utica.edu/film.

All films are shown at 7 p.m. in Macfarlane Auditorium in DePerno Hall and are free and open to the general public.

In The Patient Looks Back: Portraits of My Therapist, Catskill-based painter Joyce Polance reverses therapy’s usual direction of attention by turning the patient’s gaze toward the therapist. Painted in oil entirely with her fingers, the three-year series moves between likeness and disruption, testing what close looking can—and cannot—reveal.

The opening reception is September 24, 5–7 p.m., and the artist talk is October 3, 4–5 p.m.

The show runs Sept. 17 - Oct. 10. Gallery hours M-F 9am - 6pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 6pm.

Running back our sold-out event from May with ANATOMIE, and back with even more fun and excitement!! Join us for this fall-themed social workout class with crafts, mimosas, other take homes, and more!!

INCLUDED IN YOUR TICKET:

45-minute bodyweight strength-focused HIIT Class with ANATOMIE instructors

Burgundy yoga mat

Special exclusive-designed tote bag

Custom embroidery on tote bag

Bottomless mimosas and mocktails

Pumpkin craft to take home

Unlimited photo booth prints

Local food and snacks

Live DJ, Professional photo ops

And more fun goodies and surprises!

AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AND ADD ON TO YOUR TICKET:

Permanent jewelry (silver or gold)

American Stories Curator Talks

Spend a morning with our curators exploring Norman Rockwell Museum’s expansive and thought-provoking exhibition commemorating 250 years of America. Each session will focus on a theme drawn from the exhibition. This program occurs before public opening hours, providing a unique opportunity for reflection and enjoyment of the exhibition.

Service and Sacrifice – Chief Curator Stephanie Haboush Plunkett will describe how during times of war artists and illustrators have worked as reporters, makers of propaganda, and mythmakers. This session will consider the ethical responsibilities of artists – including Norman Rockwell and J. C. Leyendecker – involved in wartime image production and will pose questions about memory, accountability, and the relevance of wartime imagery in our society.

Limited space: reservations recommended.