NEIGHBOR HIGHLIGHTED IN THE NY TIMES

In the July 5 issue of the New York Times, a new neighbor in the village of Catskill is featured. Variegated is a new home furnishings shop located at 377 Main Street. Owners Jim Deskevich and Corbett Marshall are graphic and textile designers with a unique eye and style. Catskill is easily accessible from Exit #21 of the NYS Thruway. To see the special offerings of Variegated, visit: variegatedinc.com

For more information, call 518 943-1313.

ON-SITE COUNTRY AUCTION

On Saturday, July 21, at 10:30, the well-regarded Carlsen Gallery of Freehold,NY, will hold an old-fashioned antiques auction at 5 County Route 403 in Westerlo, NY.

The auction site is in very southern Albany County, a few miles north of Greenville, which is easily accessible from Exit 21B of the NYS Thruway, via Route 9W to Route 81 West, turning onto Route 32 North in Greenville. Route 32 will take you to Route 403.

The Carlsens were chosen to sell the contents of the home of the late Audrey Lee, and items from the Sullivan/Bowdoin family of Massachusetts, in addition to other new-to-the-market antiques moved to this on-site auction.

Expect to find antique country, Empire and oak furniture; country and fancy accessories; African objects; a doctor's buggy and sleigh; paintings and prints; Sterling silver and vintage silverplate; china and glass; quilts; clocks, and much more.

For a sneak preview of this quality onsite sale, visit: www.carlsengallery.com

Cedar Grove’s Fourth Annual Summer Party

Catskill, NY - The biggest event of the year at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site is happening on Saturday, July 21, at 5 p.m., when hundreds of supportive party-goers will enjoy cocktails on the porch of the Federal-style Main House, home of the founder of the Hudson River School, followed by privately hosted dinners at spectacular nearby homes.

Flowers will again be donated and arranged by Douglas Koch, renowned florist whose accounts include Bloomingdales, the Helmsley Hotels, Peninsula Hotel, Plaza Athenee, Elizabeth Arden, Altria, JP Morgan Chase, Solomon Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, and many others.

The event is themed around Thomas Cole's 1846 painting entitled "The Pic-Nic", featuring Cole with his friends and family enjoying a beautiful summer day with wine, food and music. In the painting, Thomas Cole is seen playing an Italian guitar with special floral detailing, a work of art now on view at Cedar Grove. The guitar is on loan for the season from Alexander Gallery in New York City. The painting is reproduced in full color on the invitation, courtesy of Ruder Finn, Inc., with additional printing donated by Hillcrest Press. Catering is by Georgia Ray's Country Caterers and photography is by Brian Branigan.

Chair of the event is Lisa Fox Martin, assisted by the event committee of Pamela Belfor, Frank Cuthbert, Jackie Dunn, Ronnie McCue, and Amy Von Scholtz.

Dinners will be hosted by Jean and Richard Bassin, Pamela and Theodore Belfor, Rosalind Daly and Glenda Ruby, Lisa Fox Martin and Dick May, Friends of Beattie-Powers, Carrie and Nick Haddad, Howard Hall Farm and Stewart House, Peter O’Hara and John Garofalo, Purcell and Jim Palmer, Ray Pierce and Bob Gillis, Janeen Sarlin, Michele Saunders, Betsy and Alfred Scott, and Ethel and Ken Williams.

Tickets are $75 for members or $100 for not-yet-members. Early reservations are encouraged. Checks can be mailed and made payable to Thomas Cole Historic Site, P.O. Box 426, Catskill, NY 12414.

For more information, call (518) 943-7465, or visit: www.thomascole.org

NEWLY ARRIVED - AMERICAN SILVERSMITHS

Just aquired .. Stephen Ensko's 'American Silversmiths and Their Marks III', a privately printed book from 1948, very rare. A comprehensive review of hundreds of silversmiths and their maker marks in early America. No dust jacket, but in fine condition. Accompanied by maps of early New York and Pennsylvania. $45.

DESTINATION - ROCHESTER, NY

Worth the trip! Interstate 90 will take you to the Memorial Art Gallery, at State University of New York/Rochester.

On Thursday, June 28, from 5:30 p.m., in the Auditorium, enjoy an illustrated lecture by antiques appraiser Rupert Fennell, followed by a reception, 6:30 to 8:30 in Cutler Union. This is an opportunity to browse and buy ahead of the crowd expected for the annual Arts & Treasures Sale that will be open to the public taking the next day. Admission is $25 and includes the lecture, reception and sale.

Fennell spent 29 years with Sotheby¹s, retiring in 1998 as vice president and senior decorative arts appraiser. His primary focus is American, English and Continental decorative arts from the late 17th through the early 20th century. He remains active as an appraiser, consultant, lecturer and auctioneer.

The Art & Treasures Sale, in Cutler Union, is on Friday and Saturday, June 29 & 30. Hours: Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.
Friday¬Saturday, June 29-30

Don't miss the chance to buy great bargains in gently used furniture, antiques, jewelry, silver, crystal, china, rugs and (of course) fine art.

Memorial Art Gallery is located at 500 University Avenue, Rochester, New York. For information, call (585) 473-7720.

Spotlight Item: Julien Alberts

This Julien Alberts woodcut print is numbered 2/48. The artwork measures 13" x 17" and the frame measures 23" x 19". It dates ca. 1950. Alberts died in 1966, and his works from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's are exhibited in museums across the United States. This featured item is availaable at VersoFineArts.com.

Here's a link to some of his other works:

Julien Alberts

LANDSCAPES OF THE HUDSON VALLEY

Alyson and Patrick Milbourn have been friends of Verso over many years, arriving in Catskill two decades ago. Almost two years ago, Alyson and Patrick opened the M Gallery, a pre-eminent gallery in Catskill's emerging arts community. We highly recommend this dual-exhibition taking place from June 8 at their gallery, and at Beattie-Powers Place, an extraordinary historic house now owned by the Village of Catskill.

M Gallery’s Exhibition to Benefit Catskill’s Beattie Powers Historic House “Landscapes, Here and There”, Patrick Milbourn’s latest body of work, will be available for sale in an Exhibition Benefit for the Restoration Fund of Beattie Powers Place, an historic house bequeathed to the town of Catskill.

Beattie Powers Place, an 1839 house, offers seminars, plays, musical performances, and one of the best views of the Hudson River. Their 2nd Annual Fundraiser and Dinner on June 9 has a limited seating of 80 and sells out quickly. Original paintings by the award-winning painter, will be on display at Beattie Powers Place on Prospect Street and at M Gallery at 350 Main Street in Catskill, NY simultaneously.

M Gallery will donate 20% of all sales directly to the Restoration Fund. A portion of all sales is tax deductible. In addition to eight works at the Beattie Powers House during the Dinner, twelve paintings will be available at M Gallery starting June 1st. The exhibition will run through June 30, 2007. Two viewing receptions, which are free, are set for Friday, June 8 (from 4 – 8pm) and Saturday, June 9 (from 1- 8pm) at M Gallery, in conjunction with the fundraiser at Beattie Powers Place on Saturday.

Preview and pre-sale are encouraged by visiting the website, www.friendsofbeattiepowers.org or www.mgallery-online.com or by contacting the gallery directly.

M Gallery is located at 350 Main Street in Catskill, NY. Further information is available at 518-943-0380.

Today's Spotlight: Joseph Kaplan

This original Joseph Kaplan artwork features mixed media of gouache and acrylic, ca. 1970. It maesures 14.5" x 21.25" and the frame measures 31" x 24". Kaplan's work routinely sells well at auction, and this featured artwork from Verso Fine Arts is priced at $1500.

Born in 1900 in Minsk, Russia, he studied at the Educational Alliance Art School (founded in 1914), as well as the National Academy of Design, both in New York City.

He lived in Provincetown, Massachusetts and in New York City, curating several exhibitions for five Midwestern museums, the Philadelphia Art Alliance and the Cape Cod Art Association in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Kaplan was a member of several art organizations, including the Artists League of America, Audubon Artists. (From AskArt.com)

Kaplan is currently being shown at the Cape Cod Museum of Art exhibit, Provincetown: A Creative Colony.

Contact Verso Fine Arts about purchase information for the Kaplan work pictured above.

Open Letter from Roderic H. Blackburn

To our clients, colleagues and friends,

Here is the newest installment of The Real Estate Report. It is all about the issues of "location" which a buyer should be more aware of. Some issues are obvious, but others are sometimes unforeseen and can be devastating to value, comfort or ego. Sellers, of course, are all too aware of their own location issues after they have experienced feedback from would-be buyers.

For those of you who are new to this emailed Real Estate Report, do enjoy it as it is distributed gratis to those who we know or have recently met who have some relationship to the real estate market or home ownership. It has been issues nearly every month for the last two years. All back issues are easily accessed on our websites (rhblackburn.com or GreatPeriodHouses.com). If it is not relevant to your interests just let me know (blackburn@berk.com).

Our websites have been extensively changed to include new programs. We are just not gearing up to offer desirable seasonal rentals of high quality homes. Our region is becoming an attractive alternative to the crowded shores. For those with well maintained homes with swimming pools we encourage you to explore the financial rewards of offering your home for rent (week, month or season) for as much as $10,000 a month. We are also offering another related service, scouting desirable properties for commercial photo shoots, usually furnishings or fashion advertising. Ad agencies and merchandise corporations are actively looking for larger homes which are suitable for their ads and catalogs. For home owners, this is an opportunity to earn in one week what you pay in property taxes in one year. Again, look at our website for full details and examples of the many houses we represent.

Have a wonderful summer. We are so luck to live in one of the loveliest regions for summer activities. Best regards, Rod Blackburn

Download THE REAL ESTATE REPORT


Roderic H. Blackburn, Broker
R. H. Blackburn & Associates, Inc. Real Estate
Main Office 17 Broad Street Kinderhook NY 12106
518 758-1788 Fax 518 758-6211 blackburn@berk.com
www.rhblackburn.com www.GreatPeriodHouses.com

Branch offices at Hudson, Catskill and Athens

IMPORTANT AUCTION @ CARLSEN GALLERY

Freehold, NY - On Sunday, June 3, at 11 a.m., Carlsen Gallery will conduct an important Spring Antique Auction. Abby and Russ Carlsen for many years have held top-quality auctions at their gallery on Route 32, just north of Freehold, with easy access from the NYS Thruway via Route 23 west to Route 32 north, in Greene County.

Expect a large offering of fine American antiques, both traditional and country in style, fine art, porcelains, statuary, Native American rugs, and fine manuscripts. Of particular note are two volumnes of McKenny & Hall's History of Indian Tribes of North America, the 1838 edition - a fine documentation of Native American life, and highly prized.

Previews are taking place today, June 1, and tomorrow, Saturday, June 2. Also visit the Carlsen's website for a detailed listing - www.carlsengallery.com

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT: Staffordshire Pitcher

From the collection at Verso Fine Arts, this Staffordshire water pitcher dates to the year 1815 and is in remarkable condition. This item sold at auction in 1977 at Sotheby's for $100. It features beautiful colors of white, gold, and maroon.

Staffordshire pottery is still in production today by Spode, Royal Doulton, and the Wedgwood Group, and the industry of Staffordshire (today Stoke on Trent) began production in the 17th century.

Visit our Verso website or walk in at 358 Main Street in Catskill to view this special item.

CATSKILL'S 'SECOND SATURDAY' STROLL

On Saturday, June 9, VersoFineArts and the many other merchants on historic Main Street in Catskill welcome you to our 'Second Saturday' Stroll. Excellent buys, music, entertainment and refreshments will be offered throughout this 200-year-old village, in the heart of the upper Hudson Valley of New York.
Catskill in the last two years has gone through an extraordinary renewal .. and Main Street is lined with beautiful 19th century buildings, and surrounded by neighborhoods with distinctive architecture.

Also visit Cedar Grove, home of Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River School of Art; Beattie-Powers Place, a historic merchants house overlooking the Hudson River, and The Point, a complex of historic buildings, a cafe, and a public park unrivaled in a 50-mile radius .. while yachts and pleasure crafts sail by you.

Visitor Note: The work of Asher Durand is currently on exhibit at Cedar Grove - a must see exhibition of 19th century Hudson River School of art.