'OpenCanvas' Launches for Creative People in Hastings

If you've ever found the art-making process to be isolating, you are not alone.

Sleepy Hollow's Jill Liflander, puppeteer, realized she spent much of her creative time in her bedroom before performing unshared works to an audience. Yearning for more collaboration and community, she talked to her friend , Patch blogger and writing coach (among other hats), about the idea of starting something of a support group.

Vladeck said she had been talking with Sarah Silbert Hinawi, Executive Director of  Center in Hastings about just this sort of thing. So the three exchanged lots of emails and had a few meetings and OpenCanvas was born.

OpenCanvas plans to meet monthly starting in the fall at The Purple Crayon, with guests paying a nominal fee (to help pay for the space and special workshop leaders) to learn from and inspire each other.

The first meeting however is free and coming soon: Tuesday, July 31 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

The three founding women really compliment each other very well with their “different skill sets" and varying experiences, Liflander said. Liflander is a performance artist, while, she said, “Naomi is from a theater and coaching background, and Sarah has an incredible space for people to actualize their true selves.” Together in this space they will be facilitators, “bringing people and programs together.”

The women are crafting a curriculum which will follow the needs of the group, and include everything from creative exercises, to brainstorming, critical feedback sessions, workshops, networking and performances.

“Use the group for your needs,” Liflander said. “We want to overcome artistic obstacles but in a really creative, artistic way.”

Liflander described the PC space, an old church, as just “magnificent” and full of different possibilities, from the office space downstairs to the “awesome space upstairs just begging for theater/movement.”

So far they've gotten interest from writers, choreographers, and more, and are open to all sort of mediums and experience levels. “Anyone looking for more in their life than just their art,” Liflander said.

From their invite:

We welcome artists at all stages of development, from professional working artists to those who are beginning to make space for their creative pursuits.

We invite you to kick off this project with us, meet the organizers and other artists from the area, and join the conversation to bolster community around your needs and visions.  

Please RSVP by following this link. The Purple Crayon is located at 52 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson. Info@purplecrayoncenter.org.

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