Pearl City Clay House, the new secondary location of Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, is proud to announce the opening of ‘Natural Selection’, a unique art exhibit featuring four local female artists and their perspectives on wilderness. On September 9, visitors will have the opportunity to view oil paintings, watercolor, ink drawings, photography, textiles and more.

‘Natural Selection’ features the work of four local artists: Angela Caley (oil, acrylic & ink), Ash Pickering (Minutiae – gouache, watercolor, acrylic & ink), Jennifer Bittner (photography) and Sarah Brown-Millspaw (watercolor & textiles). Each artist has created works that explore a different aspect of nature with their own unique style.

The artists’ works are all heavily inspired by time spent in nature, and a love for the natural world. Ash Pickering shares, “Lady Bird Johnson once said, ‘The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.’  Natural Selection was inspired by our own unique experiences and personal relationships with the natural world; it is a tribute to the interconnectedness of nature and the human experience, and how it supports us all. Each artist created a new series of work for this show and we are thrilled to share this unique experience with the public!”

Natural Selection opens at Pearl City Clay House (220 East 2^nd St) on September 9th at 7pm – 9pm EST. Refreshments will be served and admission is free. During the reception there will be three short talks given by local biology and sustainable living experts, Dr. Elizabeth Burgess, Kara Bemis, and Melanie Smith.

“I am so excited to see this exhibit happen at Infinity’s new satellite site ‘Pearl City Clay House,’ said Infinity Executive Director, Shane Hawkins. “These four talented artists are well known to Infinity and I can’t wait to see their tribute to nature and the human experience. Stop down, support these artists and get a peek at what Pearl City Clay House offers!”

Pearl City Clay House Program Director, Debra Eck added, “We are excited to kick off our new operating year with the opening of this exhibition, which heralds the beginning of regular, rotating exhibitions in the Gallery at Pearl City Clay House. After the ‘Natural Selection’ opening event, the gallery will be open to the public during all regularly scheduled studio hours – which can be found on our website and social media.”

This program is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature as well as support from the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County Projects Pool Grants Program.

Hello Students and Families!

Our team of staff and instructors miss seeing all of you each week! We hope you are doing well and settling in to a new normal.

The Infinity Center is closed until further notice but our team of program staff and instructors continue to work remotely. Staff members will be reaching out individually to families regularly, and feel free to connect with us at any time. Email is the best way to reach us during the NYS on Pause phase: info@infinityperformingarts.org

At this challenging time, we are focusing on finding creative ways to keep students learning and teachers teaching! While in-person lessons are not possible, our instructors were amazing in their ability to transition to digital lessons. Additionally, I hope you check out the wonderful videos our instructors are working hard to create for you during this time away from the Infinity Center. See examples here:
Infinity YouTube page here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHebt8WTbJNtpOF_zgOJng
Infinity Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/InfinityVisualandPerformingArts

As we know this time is financially challenging for many families, long-term and temporary scholarships are available. We would love to see students continue learning, we encourage you to reach out and inquire about our scholarship options. The scholarship application* can be found here: https://infinityperformingarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-20_ScholarshipApplication_Fillable.pdf

Students from the Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center have been working hard since October to prepare for this year’s annual Spring Showcase! Sponsored by Shults Auto Group, the Infinity Spring Showcase will take place on June 8, 2019 at the Jamestown High School Auditorium at 7:00pm.

Infinity students have the opportunity to practice and hone their talents through various performance opportunities at the Infinity Arts Café and throughout the community. Spring Showcase serves as the largest student performance of the year.

The Spring Showcase is a well-rounded evening of student performers featuring various music ensembles and soloists, as well as dance and theater performances. You will be amazed at the amount of talent displayed on the stage, and the amount of hard work the students put in to this event.

Infinity students have had the pleasure of working with instructor and area musician, Steve Davis, who has served at this year’s Artistic Director of the show. Steve has been a piano and drum instructor and ensemble director at the Infinity Center since 2003 and is also one of the original seven Infinity students!

Also working with students is Instructor Dylan Carlson who recently competed in the widely known “American Idol” national competition. Dylan is using his performance experiences to coach vocal students participating in the opening and closing numbers.

Area favorite Adam Owens will be the Stage manager for the event and coordinating the event this year is Infinity’s Program Coordinator, Kate Rinko. Kate says ”This event is so important because it incorporates every aspect of the arts disciplines we offer and involves so many students who work with a variety of our wonderful instructors!”

The cost to attend the Spring Showcase is $10 dollars for adults (seven dollars pre-sale). Children under 18 are free! Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Infinity Center, located at 301 East 2^nd Street, Suite 101 in Jamestown, or online at www.infinityperformingarts.org/shop. Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening of the event.

Executive Director, Shane Hawkins, says “This event is a celebration of youth empowerment, talent, and the mentorship bond between our students and their instructors. It is one of our favorite Infinity events each year. Thank you to everyone who comes out to support the kids’ and instructors’ hard work!”

In addition to great performances by our area youth, Infinity will be offering the chance to win one of three gift baskets. This year’s prizes include $150 cash, $300 in gift certificates to area restaurants, or a $300 Value Grab Bag Basket. Tickets are five dollars each or four for just ten dollars, and can be purchased at the Infinity Center, online, or from any of Infinity’s board members.

More information about Spring Showcase, including a list of performers, can be found on Infinity’s Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/InfinityVisualandPerformingArts

For questions or more information, please call the Infinity Center at 716-664-0991.

We are in the home stretch of this year’s Annual Campaign!!

There are a number of ways you can help.

1. Make a donation! Any amount, no matter how small, is important and makes a difference.

DONATE HERE

Infinity’s 5th Annual Art Market and Auction has begun! 

Stop into the Infinity Arts Café today between 11am-4pm.

Support a variety of local artisans, bid on your favorite auction pieces to support Infinity, check out a student art show and live musical performances by Infinity students, take a mini-art class with Renee Pye, and more!

$5 admission at the door. 18 and under admitted free with ticketed adult. We’ll see you soon!

Click here to learn more about the available auction items, participating artists, and see our sponsors!