Meet the artists and view the pieces they have donated to be auctioned at the RISE Together: Memorial Art Auction for Therapy and Healing.
Jay White
Jay White’s portfolio of work includes a variety of mediums such as stone sculpture, metal fabrication and machining, and woodworking.
Jay was born and raised just outside Albany, New York, by two deeply artistic parents who always encouraged his creativity, providing him with the tools and materials to bring his ideas to life. After high school, he worked as a laborer for stonemasons, learning precise craftsmanship and the traditional art of shaping stone. This sparked his passion for sculpture and led him to Vermont, where he began studying figure and architectural sculpture.
For the next 20 years, Jay continued working as both a stonemason and sculptor, all while expanding his abilities to include metalworking, woodworking, electronics, and computer programming. He now lives and works in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he blends the diverse skills, he’s honed over a lifetime to bring any idea he imagines into reality.
To learn more about Jay and his creations visit the The Jay White Creations Workshop in Saratoga Springs New York.
Featured Art Piece
Moon Wheel, kinetic 60 year lunar phase calendar
“This is a kinetic sculpture intended to be played with and enjoyed visually but that is also capable of calculating the phase of the moon on every day of any month for the next 60 years. This is my own original concept and design and to the best of my knowledge there is nothing else like it.” states Jay.
It comes with a tabletop stand that completes the circle when in place and can be removed to expose the wheel to enjoy the visually hypnotic motion or to set the current month.
Jay says, “It looks precise and delicate, but it is made of maple finished with polyurethane, very sturdy, meant to be handled and used for at least 80 years and fully engraved so the writing and indications will never wear away. It is currently on display at the National Maritime Museum in London, England where people can discover it’s beauty.”
Zack Lobdell
Straight from his website as it can’t be said any better…Zack Lobdell creates outsize, high-energy abstract paintings that merge street art, expressionism, and the chance-based creative practices of Surrealism.
Painting from a place where hope and critical awareness collide, Lobdell is prolific beyond compare, creating densely packed paintings that appear at first loose and freeform, then give way to minute, linear details. Gestural explosions become, in turn, regimented and systematized.
Dynamic swaths of color are punctuated by a mysterious cuneiform, architectonic configurations, and the occasional cartoon-like animal. Canvases radiating vibrant yellows and pinks are incongruously dystopic
Zack’s work has been collected, exhibited and represented internationally, including Singapore, London, Miami, New York City and throughout the United States. Late 2024, his art was on display at The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, NY. He can be found in his studio in Greenwich, New York, uncovering his next exciting movement.
“Zack Lobdell is not only a talented artist, but he’s also a generous friend to RISE donating his gorgeous art for auction benefitting the Art Therapy programs at RISE year-round.” States, Sybil Newell, Executive Director
To learn more about Zack and his amazing work, visit his website at zacklobdell.com
Featured Art Piece
“Making Space” a 46”x30” oil on canvas
Kendra Farstad
Kendra has lived an adventurous life, anchored in deeply held convictions and the desire to connect to the world at large while protecting the earth and our shared relationship with it. Deeply intuitive, with an insatiable curiosity and reverence for both culture and nature, Kendra is perpetually curious about the complex relationship between the two and she uses her artwork as a vehicle to inspire important conversations about topics ranging from environmental stewardship to civil rights and social justice.
In 2020, Kendra moved back to Upstate New York full time and jump started her career as a mural artist. She took on several large community-based projects including the role of Art Supervisor for the installation of The Uniting Line, Troy, New York’s largest public art project to date.
Kendra is a long time supporter of RISE. Her murals grace the common spaces of many RISE Residences.
Her mural work lives in residential, commercial, and public art spaces in several U.S. states and Costa Rica and she is eager to build upon this base and would eventually like to paint murals in all 50 states. In April of 2023, her first solo gallery show, The Nature of Perseverance, opened in Saratoga, New York at the Spring Street Gallery. The show was inspired by the majesty of everyday life in rural Upstate New York.
Kendra has been a long-time supporter of RISE and the work we do. She has given her time and talent, painting the walls of our residences and community rooms to bring tranquility and comfort to the spaces.
To learn more about Kendra, please visit her website kendrafarstad.com.
Featured Art Piece
12” x 18” Landscape, Oil on Panel
Kate Edwards
If you stroll down Phila Street downtown Saratoga Springs, 13 Phila to be exact, you will likely see Kate Edwards in her store front window or sitting beside the entrance to her shop enjoying a glass of wine on a sunny day. She owns Kettlewell & Edwards Fine Art and Framing shop with her dear friend, Chloe Kettlewell.
Together, this dynamic duo not only has over 35 years of combined experience in custom framing, but they are both exhibiting artist and have a strong background in the knowledge and handling of all types of artworks.
When approached by RISE, Kate & Chloe were happy to sponsor the art auction as well as Kate agreeing to donate a piece of her art to the RISE Together: A Memorial Art Auction for Therapy & Healing. This art auction is in memory of Sharon Walker Boyd, a devoted wife, mother, and friend, artist, social worker, and ardent advocate for children and the less fortunate. Sharon’s family is devoted to the mission of RISE Housing and Support Services.
Kate spent most of her childhood in New Jersey, though her family traveled often. She has always loved creating art but wasn’t sure how to turn it into a career. After earning a degree in illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology, she began working at Gallery Picture Framing in Pittsford, NY, where Kate’s framing career took off. Around the same time, she started painting landscapes, inspired by the Genesee River Valley. Kate became a Certified Picture Framer in 1999.
“In 2004, I moved to the Saratoga Region, framing for Frame of Mind and later for Framework, now Kettlewell & Edwards. Today, I live in Bacon Hill near the Hudson River, where I paint the surrounding farmland and river scenes.” Kate, states.
Kate’s work has been shown at The Finger Lakes Exhibition, Landscapes for Land’s Sake, The Three Pears Gallery in Vermont, Riverfront Studios (now the Laffer Gallery), and the Southern Vermont Arts Center. Her art is also part of many private collections.
Featured Auction Item (Not Shown)
At the request of Gordon Boyd, Sharon’s husband, Kate painted a fabulous portrait of Sharon depicting the way everyone knew and loved her, with a beautiful smile.
Although this piece is not for sale, another one of Kate’s beautiful works will be available for purchase.
Portrait of Sharon is not for sale.
Takeyce Walter
Takeyce Walter is an award-winning contemporary American painter (Jamaican-born), art instructor, and media producer living and working in upstate New York. Since her formative years, the impulse to create has driven her, resulting in a lifelong journey of artistic expression. Takeyce’s work is a testament to her deep-rooted connection with the Northeastern landscape, reflecting her profound contemplation of humanity’s relationship with nature and the environment.
Through the masterful manipulation of oil paint, gouache, and pastels, she crafts evocative portrayals of the natural world, capturing its essence in every stroke—be it the meandering rivers, the ethereal skies, or the tranquil lakes. Each composition exudes a sense of intimacy, serenity, and veneration, inviting viewers to find belonging and connection in the beauty of the natural world.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Takeyce serves as a staunch advocate for both art and the environment, dedicating her time and expertise to local non-profit organizations championing these causes. Her philanthropic efforts underscore her commitment to nurturing the very landscapes that inspire her work. In her latest explorations, Takeyce delves into the intricate interplay between humanity and nature, probing questions of access and connection to natural landscapes. Through her artistry and advocacy, she continues to illuminate the significance of preserving our natural heritage for generations to come.
In 2022, spurred by her volunteer work, Takeyce initiated a youth program titled, Art and the Environment in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Adirondack Chapter, and Black Dimensions in Art. This program aims to provide young artists with opportunities to engage with local preserves, learn the art of plein air painting from professional artists, and understand the significance of natural landscapes in both art and life.
Furthermore, in 2014, Takeyce launched “Creative February,” a daily creative project that has since inspired artists worldwide to engage in daily art creation throughout the month. The project fostered inspiration and camaraderie beyond its initial duration, extending far beyond the twenty-eight days of February.
Takeyce is represented by several regional galleries in upstate New York and her work has been acquired by numerous private collections across the United States and internationally, including these notable collections: The Adirondack Experience,Brookside Museum,Hudson Headwaters Health Network,andSaratoga Hospital Foundation.
Her accolades go beyond this spotlight. To learn more about Takeyce, please visit her website takeycewalter.com.
Featured Auction Item (Not Shown)
Takeyce is donating a very special piece of her work. In addition to her piece for the show, she is also donating a private session Plein Air instructions for two! Simply priceless!
Elisa Sheehan
Elisa Sheehan’s art is an invitation to consider the fluent language of nature, the beauty in the broken, and the symphony of color and shape gifted to us by the world itself.
With a background in fine art and design, Elisa brings both technical acuity and an unbridled spirit of wonder and discovery to all of her creations.
Her works, which span across mediums from fine art painting to kintsugi-inspired eggshell installations, are woven with common threads that ask the observer to ponder the relationship between fragility and strength, to embrace a staggering spectrum of color, and above all, to notice the indelible mark of the natural world on everything we consider beautiful and valuable.
Elisa lives rogue and rural in Upstate New York with her family—her favorite tribe of co-adventurers with whom she explores nature, pockets always laden with stones and sticks, and inspiration always within reach. She believes in making art that sustains others, by inviting the outdoors in.
To learn more about Elisa, please visit her website at elisasheehan.com.
Featured Art Piece
Elisa is donating an original Kintsugi Eggshell piece. This stunning work is framed in acrylic measuring 4”x4”x3”.
What is kintsugi?
Working from the beautiful concepts of kintsugi, Elisa creates a visual interpretation of that craft in eggshells.
She aims to celebrate imperfection and honor the value in what might be considered broken.
Gorgeous framed art for your home or for gifting, each eggshell is painted individually, and gold metal leaf is applied to represent the repairs that are typically made to pottery by kintsugi artists.
Each and every eggshell is unique.
A Treasure Trove of Art, A Legacy of Generosity
We are thrilled to present the extraordinary personal art collection of Gordon and Sharon Boyd, now available at auction in support of RISE Housing and Support Services’ Art Therapy Program. Their heartfelt generosity promises to make a lasting impact through the healing power of art.
This remarkable collection features celebrated artists including Arlene Targan, Joan Semmel, Anne Diggory, Lucy Kettlewell, Kristine DeFord, Gary Golio, Joanne Gramaglia, Thomas Cole, Vincent Harris, and George Wilson—a lineup sure to captivate collectors and art lovers alike.
But that’s not all—joining the lineup are works from seven other visionary contributors, including Round Lake Décor and the talented creatives from C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios.
Art piece on auction from Round Lake Décor
Altogether, this curated selection is valued at over $30,000—an inspiring blend of artistic excellence and community spirit. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of this unforgettable event!