Collaborative Concepts Farm Project opens Sept. 5

Editor’s note: Backstage is a regular feature in Enjoy! that offers a glimpse behind the scenes of those who work in theater, the arts and music. If you are involved in the arts and would like to contribute to this feature, email bfarrell@poughkeepsiejournal.com

Collaborative Concepts is all about large artworks with a little cow on the side. That’s right — a little moo, milk and manure on the side.

What could be sweeter to an artist than being asked to submit a large sculpture proposal doing whatever her imagination could envision? Usually an artist makes work for a show that must adhere to a theme or creates work that stays within her current body of work, especially if represented by a gallery. In short, there are not many opportunities that afford artists the freedom to create whatever they want — whether that is creating something silly, to experiment and even permission to fail. This is exactly what Collaborative Concepts offers. Throw in some fun challenges — the large scale, weather and “cow proofing” — and the show becomes even more irresistible.

While all the artists participating on the farm are seasoned professionals, some may not have done large-scale sculptures before. An artist creating his or her first 7-foot-tall sculpture will find the perspective becomes extremely dwarfed when looking from the top of a hill into a valley. On 140 acres, things can suddenly seem quite small!

In addition to scale, there are other things to consider before deciding on what to create for this type of show. The weather is really important — in particular the wind, which at Saunders Farm can get up to 75 mph and has damaged a few newcomers’ artwork in years past. Such is the learning curve for new participants!

Another defining element to consider is the cows themselves. Artists in the show learn to be careful of the color red, the only color cows can see. Making a red piece of art can mean that it will be eaten if it is any kind of fabric. Such is the case with Rebecca Darlington’s “COWmooflage” this year. Darlington’s 7-foot ironic banner of the artist eating a hamburger has the color red starting at about 3 feet from the ground. We encourage everyone to come out and see the show before the banner is devoured in another twist of ironic gluttony!

Installing at Saunders is always a great day with another set of challenges. Having completed the feat of a 20-foot-high sculpture, some use cranes to help install their work; others bring work in pieces to be assembled on the spot. Everything must be staked down and be “cow proof.” You are told to think of a cow as a huge 2-ton truck that could plow down your art. Bob Madden’s 5-foot marble “Puzzle Piece.” created for 2015, looked so inviting the cows decided it was great to use as a scratching post. The piece was crushed and broken, and has been replaced with another of his sculptures.

My sculpture this year, a collaboration and a colorful 7-foot mosaic, “Namaste Yoga Bird,” is made of hundreds of glass tiles, based on the drawings of Carol Flaitz. You also will see spiders the size of a small house, a bison made of recycled rubber tires, a couch made of recycled plastic water jugs, strange colorful things growing out of the rocks and an 8-foot steel toe dancer. Opening day is the most exciting, it gives artists the opportunity to interact with and see visitors’ reactions and best of all, see the kids’ reactions.

Artists selected by the Collaborative committee to participate are from the tri-state area, throughout the U.S. and even internationally. The imagination and the freedom to experiment, and even to fail is a great gift Collaborative gives to artists. The gift to the visitor is pure fun as they navigate cows, horses and engaging art to experience peace and joy in this Hudson Valley pastoral setting.

We invite you to spend the day with friends, family and good humor — just remember to bring your cow pie-proof shoes.

Artist Barbara Galazzo is the curator/director of Gallery 66 NY in Cold Spring. As an art promoter, she has created the ArtFull Living Designer Show House, Cold Spring Arts Open Studios Tour and First Fridays in Cold Spring. Her work has been featured in major galleries, museums and commercial installations. Visitwww.galazzoglass.com; contact her atinfo@galazzoglass.com .

If yo go

What: Collaborative Concepts Farm Project 2015

When: 2-6 p.m., Sept. 5, opening reception includes performance art and music (rain date Sept. 6); visitors can bring picnics and blankets; 2-6 p.m., Oct. 3, mid-run reception (rain date Oct. 4); exhibit runs daily 10 a.m. to dusk until Oct. 31

Where: Saunders Farm, 853 Old Albany Post Road, Garrison

Admission: Free

Information: Call 845-528-1797; visit www.collaborativeconcepts.org