Rockland County, NY — Art enthusiasts have a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant world of Contemporary Rockland Artists at the RoCA Faculty Exhibit, which commenced on September 7 and will run until September 30, 2023. Although the grand Opening Artists Reception took place on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the exhibit continues to captivate visitors. The best part? It remains open to the public, and admission is free.
This ongoing exhibition celebrates the exceptional teaching artists of RoCA, who have served as wellsprings of inspiration for students of all ages and skill levels. These accomplished faculty members not only share their knowledge but also actively contribute to the artistic landscape, showcasing their work throughout the Hudson Valley and across all fifty states.
Prominent educators featured in this exhibition include:
- Kate Poland Hetman: With expertise in functional pottery, Hetman crafts plates, platters, boxes, and pitchers that engage the senses. Her unique approach treats clay as a canvas, resulting in layered, dimensional surfaces. With over two decades of experience in ceramics, she currently serves as a full-time visual arts teacher at Fort Lee High School.
- Tjok Gde Arsa Artha: In high demand, Artha returns to teach a series of classes following a well-received watercolor and ink drawing workshop earlier this year. His work draws inspiration from the spiritual-based mythology of his Balinese homeland, seamlessly blending Western color schemes and perspectives. Artha’s richly saturated artworks often feature figures set amidst dense, detailed foliage. Beyond his artistry, he’s a grant recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, a professor at Bard College, a member of the Giri Mekar, a community gamelan orchestra in the Hudson Valley, and currently serves as the Director of The Pomona Cultural Center in Rockland.
- Poramit Thantapalit: Hailing from Thailand, Thantapalit excels in mixed media, recycled arts, photography, and cyanotype. His artistic process transforms images of nature into captivating art pieces, employing color, harmony, spacing, and recycled objects painted by sunlight to create unique blue art compositions. With over 15 years of experience as a graphic designer, artist, and photographer in global marketing organizations, his installations and artworks have graced prestigious venues worldwide.
- Kanitra Perrault: A skilled instructor in cartooning, Manga, Anime, and Claymation, Perrault introduces the world of stop-motion animation to her students. Her educational journey included studies at Cooper Union and Pratt Institute, majoring in film/animation. Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to multicultural arts education at the Martin Luther King Center in Spring Valley, NY. Her passion for film and animation led her to develop a media arts program that currently offers video/animation and claymation production opportunities for students of all ages.
The ongoing exhibition welcomes the public to explore the extraordinary artistic talents of Rockland until September 30. Although the grand Opening Artists Reception already took place on September 9th, visitors can continue to enjoy this cultural celebration.
The venue for this exhibition is the Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA), located at 27 S Greenbush Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994. For further details, visit the RoCA website at rocklandartcenter.org or contact the RoCA team at 845-358-0877.
RoCA extends its heartfelt appreciation to all supporters, whose contributions make these programs possible. The event enjoys support from various sponsors and funding sources, underscoring the significance of the arts within the community.
Funding for this exhibition is facilitated, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, as well as the County of Rockland. It stands as a testament to the enduring commitment to the arts in Rockland County and the vibrant artistic community it nurtures.