Small Town Hound

• By Æsc –

Finding Creative Venues and Adventures in NYS

42°57’44″N 77°8’15″W

After taking care of the usual, with my human pulled behind, I went in search of adventure. 

Each town has its own history, and this one was no different. The tall, brick buildings speak of the past—in this case a past bathed in healing waters. I am a dog and, as such, I live in and am most excited about the present. I want to see what’s happening here, and now…and I love to find and greet people. I headed toward a couple of pedestrians, ignoring—temporarily—the smell of food that also drifted my way.

My first destination was Main Street Arts, 20 West Main Street in Clifton Springs, NY (42°57’44″N 77°8’15″W). The wooden floors felt cool against my feet as I rushed in to meet Bradley Butler, Executive Director and Gallery Curator. He offered a grand welcome to me and to my human companions. Then we all went exploring, taking in the eye candy that he had hung on the many walls and shelves.

The gallery downstairs features two main rooms that are spacious and bright. The exhibition here was Small Works 2020: A National Juried Exhibition of Work 12 Inches or Less. Bradley told the people (he didn’t think I was listening) that this was the seventh year of this exhibition. There were so many things here that I liked: Tight Rope by Kelly Roberts; Chosen One by Jay Michale Balmes; Swim Swim, Quack Quack by Sarah Hyatt; Study #55 by John Aquilino; Realm of Possibilities #81 by Diana Godfrey; She Only Sees Goodness by Helen Bishop-Santelli; and Ritual by JC Caballero. I would be remiss if I did not mention Out of the Woodwork by Ray Easton; I hear owls near our home at night and I speak to them. My human stopped for a long time to look at the Sugar Jar by Caitlyn Marsh, and later she brought it home and gave it to my other human. There was so much to see, and I just sat and looked around, trying to take it all in.

I headed upstairs, where there was another exhibition (that’s what I heard Bradley call the collections of things). This exhibition was of cups. I know about cups because my humans use them. Some of these cups looked like that, but others were way different. The Cup, The Mug 2020 exhibition had so many colors and shapes. There was a cup with an owl and, yikes, a cat. (I have a cat at home, but we have not quite warmed up to each other.) These cats had faces like humans—they were made by Maliya Travers-Crumb. The BulbBot Mugs by Michael Klaptho were really cool, as was the Pattern Clash #3 cup by Amber Hamblin.  

Brad talked about a new art library they are setting up soon. I don’t read much, but I don’t eat books either—especially not art books; I love art.

On my way upstairs I had noticed a back exit. I was curious, so we went out to look after saying goodbye—some young people were coming in for an after-school workshop, another thing they do there (I would have loved to visit with the kids…did I mention I like people).

Our next stop was Sulphur Books at 18 East Main Street. Sulphur Books is a store operated by the gallery. We were greeted—while mostly I was greeted—by Sarah Butler. Sarah manages Sulphur Books, and she is also Assistant Director of Main Street Arts. Our other travel companion, Laurie, commented, “what town visit would be complete without venturing into a bookstore.” She is so right. Judging from this experience, if there is one thing that bookstore people love more than books, it’s dogs. At least that was my take. Bradley was great, don’t get me wrong, but Sarah really loves dogs—I could tell—and she gave me her undivided attention when I came in. After that, we quietly perused the interesting titles. As I walked from aisle to aisle, I could smell all the humans who had come before. I was doing great until this thing caught my eye.* I simply could not figure out what it was, and I rushed toward it tentatively. Then I did something that I do not often do; I barked, repeatedly, in a voice that even surprised me. My human said, “It’s just a duck.” It did not look anything like the ducks I had seen by Canadice outlet during our walks. 

Anyway, this seemed like a good time to leave the store (nothing calmed me down, nothing). We did a little reassuring walk to one of the brick buildings, over a bridge, and across Sulphur Creek. It was a pretty nice day and there were three—that’s three—humans sitting outside. I got to visit with all of them; they were grand. 

Remember that food smell I mentioned earlier? That ended up being our final stop, (well, the humans’ final stop—restaurants are a bit tricky when it comes to dogs). The people (who I did not get to meet) at Warfield’s Bakery and Restaurant, as it was called, said I could relax in the garden—provided I exhibited proper English Garden etiquette, of course. I was fascinated with the fountain (all fountains, as it turns out; more about that later). I got to look in through the glass while the humans took turns going inside. The humans shared brownies—which I passed on—and my human took home some pumpkin scones, which I got a small taste of. There were many other smells coming out that made me wish I could explore more. 

As we walked back toward the truck, the humans talked a little about the tall brick buildings all along Main Street, and the history that built such a place. It turns out the Sulfur Springs that the town and the bookstore are named after drew people to the area starting in the 1800s. In 1849, a human named Dr. Henry Foster came here, and things really started picking up then. The town was called Sulphur Springs back then. Clifton, BTW, is short for cliff town. There is so much history here, but that is for another visit. It was time to go home. I am sure I will visit again, and you should too. 

*There is a happy ending to my tale of the thing I saw. It turned out to be a stuffed toy duck (silly me), which is why it did not look like the ducks I had seen at the outlet. I took my person back there a few weeks later, and she bought that toy duck for me. At first, I was not sure how I felt about that, but now I love seeing it, and I get to hold it after I work.

•To learn more about Main Street Arts And Sulphur Books, and their support of literary and visual arts, go to mainstreetartscs.org. The Heavy Metal exhibition runs through January 8, 2021. Heavy Metal honors the 95th birthday of Robert Ernst Marx. It includes a collection of new and recent paintings with metal leaf along with bronze sculpture. See image adjoining page.

– An Exhibition that runs until February 19, 2021 features paintings, prints, and installation works by Sara Baker Michalak, Bill Santelli, and Mizin Shin. 

•To learn more about Warfield’s Bakery and Restaurant visit warfields.com.