HISTORICAL DATES AND EVENTS:

(Not just Albany Artists Group dates and events, but other significant dates in the local Visual Arts scene)

  • 1944-45…Albany Artists Group Founded…some of the most involved initial founders were: Eva Marshall Bates, Edwin Austin,

  • May 1945…The AAG started the crowning of a Tulip King and Queen at the annual ball that the AAG held in the 1940s. This event was later sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce

  • 1945-1946…Possibly our most famous and internationally successful member, DAVID SMITH, was listed as a member these years.

  • 1949…"“Pigment Patter” Newsletter started by Bob Passarelli, the President of AAG at the time. Betty Warren was the editor in the 1950s, followed by Eva Weaver, who was editor for 8 yrs. and “historian” for 30 years. (NOTE from website editor: If we had the records that Eva Weaver had before her passing, we would have a much more detailed and complete history of the Albany Artists Group! They are probably lost to the ages!)

  • Sept/Oct 1994…Last AAG Newsletter with the title “Pigment Patter”

  • Oct/Nov 1994…First AAG Newletter simply called “AAG Newsletter”

  • May 1996…AAG withdraws from the Albany/Schenectady League of Arts

  • Dec. 27, 1997…Les Urbach dies…founder of Albany Center Galleries and a strong voice for local art in the 1980s and 1990s.


MEETING VENUES:

  • Doering’s Restaurant, Washington Ave., Albany the first meeting in 1944

  • Richardson Hall, Joseph Henry Memorial Building, New York State College For Teachers, Western Ave., Albany 1940s

  • Albany Institute of History and Art, in the basement room, 1950s

  • Albany Women’s Club, 725 Madison Ave., Albany, 1950s-1960s

  • McEnaney Building, 79 North Main St., 1960s

  • Harmonus Bleeker Center, Dove & Washington, Albany, until 1980

  • West End Presbyterian Church, 585 Central Ave., 1980 - 1986

  • Baptist Church, 901 Madison Ave. at Partridge, Albany, 1986-1991

  • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Hackett Blvd, Albany, 1991-to 200?

  • University Club, Washington at Dove, 200?-201?





  • PRESIDENTS:

  • Erwin Austin, first president, pro-tem, 1944, also elected 1947-48

  • Howard Blanchfield, first president, elected 1945

  • Robert Passarelli, 1948-1949

  • John Gallucci, 1950

  • Angelo DeSousa, 1951

  • Nick Apgar, 1952-1953

  • Winifred (Nancy) Holt, 1953-1954

  • James Gilliland

  • Frank Reed

  • Norman Johnson

  • Mary Jo Suksdorf

  • Christine Tarbox

  • Bea Arkell, 1962

  • Martha Lando

  • Richard Becker

  • Anthony Keller

  • James Miller

  • Gertrude Smith

  • Gladys Siegel

  • Millicent Cummings

  • Daniel Sekellick

  • Peter Borst

  • Mildred (Millie) Beaudette, 1980-1985

  • Maerita Tybur, 1985

  • Vivian Quell, 1985

  • Perley Leighton, 1986

  • Lucille Bogdanowicz, 1987

  • Mildred (Millie) Beaudette, 1990-1991

  • Margaret (Peg) Ciccolella, 1991-1995

  • Mary Bruno, 1995-1999

  • Norman Swanson, 2000-2014 (our last and longest serving President)




  • STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:

    FOR MANY YEARS, THE ALBANY ARTISTS GROUP AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP TO AN ALBANY CITY ART STUDENT PLANNING ON CONTINUING THEIR STUDIES IN ART. THE FOLLOWING LIST ARE JUST SOME OF THE RECIPIENTS AND THE SCHOOLS THEY ATTENDED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE:

  • 1984 Gina Camparella, Albany High School (AHS)

  • 1993 Duane Smith, Albany High School, Pratt Institute

  • 1994 Katherine (Katz) Cunningham, AHS, Rhode Island School of Design

  • 1996 Kathie Elizabeth Vaccariello, Albany High School




  • AAG SHOW VENUES:

  • MAYFAIR STORE, Central Ave., Albany

  • RICHARDSON HALL, Albany State Teachers College, Western Ave.

  • STATE EDUCATION BUILDING, Washington Ave.

  • ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY AND ART, 1940s-1960s

  • STUDIO of MAIN BROS. BLDG, 79 (or 179?), North Main St., Albany, 1950s - 1960s

  • ALBANY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, Whitehall Rd, Albany

  • JOSEPH HENRY MEMORIAL BLDG., Capital Park, Albany , 1970s

  • SUNY ALBANY, PERFORMING ARTS BUILDING (New Uptown Campus)

  • COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE

  • “GREENWICH VILLAGE SHOW”, Strand Theater

  • “TENT SHOW” on Capitol Grounds, 1959-1979

    (Click HERE for July, 1969 Tent Show Photos)

  • CITY & COUNTY SAVINGS BANK, State Street, Albany

  • WESTGATE SHOPPING CENTER, Central Ave., Albany

  • COLONIE CENTER, Central Ave., Albany

  • DELAWARE PLAZA, Delaware Ave., Delmar

  • EMPIRE SUPER MARKET at Loudon Arms

  • ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Hackett Blvd., Albany

  • CHILDS HOSPITAL, Hackett Blvd., Albany

  • CROSSGATES MALL, Washington Ave., Albany

  • ITALIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER, 1991, 1992, 1993

  • WILLIAM SANFORD COLONIE TOWN LIBRARY, Annual Spring Show in June since 1993

  • ALBANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, 1993

  • GUILDERLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, Annual Fall Show since Nov 1993 (originally organized by Peg Vetro)

  • THE UNIVERSITY CLUB, Washington Ave. at Dove St., Albany, late 1990s through early 2010s

  • UNCOMMON GROUNDS, 1235 Western Ave.. Albany, 2005-2007

1969 TENT SHOW

AAG TENT SHOW, Times Union, Wednesday, July 16, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Times Union, Wednesday, July 16, 1969

Page 2 of AAG TENT SHOW, Times Union, July 16, 1969

Page 2 of AAG TENT SHOW, Times Union, July 16, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

AAG TENT SHOW, Knickerbocker News, Friday, July 18, 1969

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