Patrick J. O’Connor: Lifelong Passion
Patrick J. O’Connor has been painting for 45 years. Be sure to stop by and see his unique and vibrant watercolor paintings.
When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?
The exact moment I knew I wanted to be an artist was in the 5th grade when I was doing a project using clay.
What inspired you to pursue your passion for art?
I was inspired by a watercolor demonstration in downtown Ithaca, New York.
Describe your art.
I think my art grabs people. I think it puts you in a place and time that you have been before. And I think my watercolors separate me from other watercolorists. If you see one of my paintings along with 100 other paintings, you would be able to pick mine out without a signature on it.
What feedback have you received from showcasing your work?
I have received nothing but positive feedback, mostly with a question of “How did you do that?”
What should attendees expect to see from you at this year’s Festival?
People should expect top-quality work.
What’s one thing that people may not already know about you?
I would like people to know that I have been painting for 45 years to get to the point that I am currently at and I am 57 years old. That is a long time.
Where/how can people purchase your work?
You can purchase paintings at the “Patrick J. O’Connor” gallery at 231 West Water Street in Elmira, New York or online at www.pjogallery.com. The telephone number is 607-483-4640.
Clinton’s Ditch: A blend of sounds that is truly American
Stage. Joe, Sean, Chris and Max of Clinton’s Ditch want us to “Dig” the Ditch Saturday, July 16 at 3:15pm at the Country Bluegrass Stage.
When did you realize you wanted to be a musical artist?
We have always been interested in music. All members of the band are self-taught on our current instruments, but have played various instruments since a young age.
What sparked that passion?
Great bands such as the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead, just to name a few.
Joe
Sean
Chris
Max
When did you first start pursuing your passion/career?
We all have been in previous bands going back since 1997 that have played out professionally. Clinton’s Ditch formed in the fall of 2009 and has been evolving ever since. In 2010, we began playing a monthly show at Artisan Works, a 40,000 square foot art space in Rochester, NY. Since then we have been playing bars and parties around the greater Rochester region.
How would you describe your music?
Clinton’s Ditch seamlessly blends together elements of blues, rock, bluegrass, reggae, and folk to create a sound that is truly American. We play mostly original music written by two songwriters, and everyone chimes in on harmonies.
Where is your music featured and sold?
Our music has been spreading by word of mouth and by fans sharing our recordings. We have played throughout the Rochester area and as far as Geneseo and Fairhaven, NY. We also have music on our website, http://clintonsditch.blogspot.com/
What feedback have you received from showcasing your music and performances?
We consistently receive positive feedback from new listeners. Many claim we have a very unique and new sound yet adhere to a certain vintage appeal. One of our more memorable experiences was to be complimented by an 18-year-old Goth-rocker and an 80-year-old art lover at the same show!
What has inspired you the most and why?
We draw inspiration from everything around us … nature, family, friends and of course the music of other artists!
What projects are you currently working on?
We have several albums worth of original material. We recently recorded our first EP, and are looking into recording our first full length album in the fall.
What do you feel you will bring to the Canandaigua Arts and Music Festival?
We will bring a unique blend of American music that will keep your feet moving and your head bobbing!
What should attendees expect to see from your performance at this year’s Festival?
We don’t know what you’ll see, but we can guarantee that you will hear over an hour of original music that will keep you “Digging” the Ditch!
What’s something people may not already know about you?
We all grew up around Rochester, and wanted our name to reflect our local heritage. Clinton’s Ditch refers to one of our favorite fishing spots … the Erie Canal. NY Governor Dewitt Clinton broke ground on the Erie Canal in 1817. At the time, many people thought that it was an impossible task, and negatively dubbed the project “Clinton’s Big Ditch”. Time would tell.
CFN: 5 guys who make beautiful music together
Clearly from Negligence is a pop group of 5 guys who draw their inspiration not only from classic pop bands, but also from Rochester’s music scene, and they are on their way to becoming a national hit. Check them out at Commons Park Stage Friday, July 15 (2011) at 1:45pm.
Alex
Luke
Marc
Danny
Ryan
How did you get your start in music and what do you play?
All the guys were into music at a young age. That has continued into high school.
Alex plays drums and a bit of guitar, and he’s been working on the bongos lately for some of our acoustic endeavors.
Luke plays sax in the school band, plus guitar, songwriting and vocals for CFN.
Marc plays violin in the school orchestra, plus guitar in the school’s jazz band.
Danny plays sax in the school jazz band and for CFN, plus he’s a monster on keys, and now he’s playing some guitar, too.
Ryan is going to take his bass talents all the way to Eastman school of music next year, where he’ll play double bass, just like he did in high school orchestra and for Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Of course, he handles the bass work for CFN.
How would you describe your music?
Our sound is straight pop, drawing inspiration from The Beatles, Coldplay, Keane, Arcade Fire …
Where is your music featured and sold?
You can find all of our music and some video on our website: cfntheband.com. Our CD and singles are available on our site and via iTunes for download. We also have some t-shirts on our site. You can find the CD at House of Guitars and Record Archive in Rochester, NY.
What feedback have you received from showcasing your music and performances?
Having been named one of the Top Ten Teen Bands in the country by SchoolJam USA and invited to play at Disney this year has probably been our most noteworthy accolade. However, we’ve won a lot of battles of bands, been invited to play live on a number of radio programs, and Rochester’s Democrat & Chronicle featured us recently. However, the best feedback is when we hear from new fans who have stumbled upon us and write to tell us how much they appreciate our music. That’s always the best feedback.
What has inspired you the most and why?
Being from a music town like Rochester, it’s inspiring to have so many people in the community who are musicians, or who have an appreciation for music and actively seek out new listening experiences. That makes for a vibrant music community, and it makes us want to be a contributing part of it.
What are you working on now?
We just got out of the studio at the House of Guitars, where Bruce generously donated time and space, and with his encouragement we’re releasing a new single soon. We collaborated with a producer, Sam Conjerti, at Bruce’s urging to create a song that’s a bit edgier for us but maintains the pop hook and sensibilities we love. We’re very excited about this song, and we hope our fans are, too. Stay tuned …
What will you bring to the Canandaigua Art & Music Festival?
We will bring youthful exuberance matured with age … whatever the heck that means. We’re still kids, but we think we’ve got a pretty well-honed sound.
What can we expect from your performance this year?
From our live performances, fans should expect our best effort to give them a great musical experience. Of course, it’ll help if they’ve got a funnel-cake with a lot of sugar on it!
What is one thing people don’t already know about you?
Alex is an emerging magician and recently joined the Sea Cadets.
Luke is a baseball pitcher and had the lead in the high school musical.
Marc is a skateboard instructor.
Danny plays about 6 different instruments.
Ryan will attend Eastman School of Music to perfect the double bass, and he also performs some solo acoustic guitar regularly.
So, we’re an eclectic mix of guys, who play beautiful music together . . . we hope.
Marcangelo Perricelli: Orchestral + Synthesizers = Synthestral Music
Marcangelo Perricelli aspired to be a musician and composer from a very young age. He’ll play his “synthestral” music for us starting at 1:30pm on Sunday, July 17 on the Commons Park Stage.
When did you realize you wanted to be a musical artist?
The first time I heard the Beatles.
What sparked your passion?
I really don’t know… I just wanted to be a musician after that. I started guitar lessons at 9 years old.
When did you first start pursuing your passion/career?
When I was 17 years old I bought my first keyboard, which was an organ, and I never stopped since.
How would you describe your music?
My music is melodic, poly-rhythmical, ethereal, colorful… sometimes orchestral or synthestral as I call it (orchestral but with synthesizers). My music can be harsh or soothing it all depends on what I am writing.
Where is your music being featured and sold?
My music has been featured on Ann Williams “Nightscapes” radio show, Morow.com in France and in Europe, many Progressive internet radio programs in the US. My music is available at: iTunes (Worldwide), emusic, Amazon and many other digital download music stores.
What feedback have you received from showcasing your music and performances?
People tell me they love the music! I am very happy that people like it because then I can keep performing it. 
What has inspired you the most and why?
I have been inspired by everything that surrounds me. I am a very emotional artist and I try to bring that out in my performances and my music.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on 2 new CDs. One is called “In the Valley of Teacups” which is a new age CD and the other is “The Black Plague,” which is a progressive rock and orchestral mix.
What do you feel you will bring to the Canandaigua Arts and Music Festival?
Great Music, high spirits and Fun! My wife is a photographer so we will be wandering around just feeling the good vibes there.
What should attendees expect to see from your performance at this year’s Festival?
Well, I guess they’re going to see 5 great musicians playing their butts off! LOL We are hoping to create a WOW factor with our music.
What’s one thing that people may not already know about you?
I collaborate with the former lead singer of the band “YES,” Jon Anderson. We have been doing this for 3 years now and we send music back and forth to each other. He works on my music and I work on his. We have become very good friends over the years and I have learned much from the master of progressive rock. He’s just a great guy!
“Wah-Say-Lan” – Through the eyes of a Seneca
James Herbert Smith creates historical fiction by looking through the eyes of a young Seneca woman during the Revolutionary war.
When did you decide you wanted to publish a book?
After I read “Old Yeller” in 4th grade. I tried when I was 25 then I tried and succeeded when I was 53, though it took me 10 years to complete it.
What was your inspiration for the story?
We spent time every summer on Canandaigua Lake. As a boy I listened to my grandmother, aunts and uncles talk about the Seneca Indians on the lake. I day dreamed about how silent it must have been back then, just the lapping of their canoe paddles in the water. So the lake itself is my inspiration.
In your own words what are the book’s main themes?
It is a true story with fictional characters told from the Native American point of view through the eyes of a 17-year-old Seneca woman — Wah-Say-Lan — about how her people had lived on Canandaigua for eons but their life is about to be turned upside down. Through Jamwesaw, a slave fighting for his freedom in the Continental Army, the story also examines the contradiction of the Founding Fathers birthing a nation based on freedom and independence, yet many of them were slave owners. Jefferson and Washington are key characters in the book. There are lessons, but fundamentally it is a love story and an adventure story that readers tell me holds their interest.
How did it feel to write in the voice of your main character, Wah-Say-Lan?
She is a young, smart, strong, independent woman. I raised four young, smart, strong, independent daughters and so I had good role models for my character. I worried sometimes that I wasn’t smart enough to keep up with Wah-Say-Lan. That was a challenge.
Which character from the story do you identify with most?
That’s a tough question. One reviewer wondered aloud that Jamwesaw is similar to my own name. He is unquestionably the most noble character in the book — vowing to find and free his mother from slavery, willing to entirely change his life because of his love for Wah-Say-Lan. When you create characters (and have them interact with real historical figures) you really get inside their heads; and so I think I’d have to say that I identify with Wah-Say-Lan as much as with Jamwesaw.
What was the best part of writing this book and what was the most challenging?
The best part was finishing it and getting it published. My B.A. from SUNY Brockport is in American History and there are seven pages of bibliography and so the research was challenging, yet also a marvelous trip into Iroquois and American Revolutionary War scholarship. There is an awful lot of excellent scholarship on the Six Nations of the Iroquois, but not a lot of fiction. Creating the story and seeing people turn the page to see what is happening next is the most satisfying feeling.
“Wah-Say-Lan” is available through NH Booksellers for $19.95
Purchase the book here -bring your questions and your copy to be signed at the festival!
The Beaumonts: Bringing…sandwiches?
The Beaumonts play music you have to hear to be able to define. Steve (vocals and guitar) told us what got him started in music and how the band works together for inspiration.
When was the exact moment you realized you wanted to be a musical artist?
The first time I ever actually SAW someone doing it…as opposed to just listening. I was on vacation in Cape Code in 1974 and my parents stopped at a restaurant on the way home to Avon, NY. There was a band on a small stage there, and when I walked back to our table from the bathroom the guitar player winked at me. I was mesmerized by the sight and sounds of live musicians.
What sparked that passion?
I have been moved by music since before I could walk. I remember hearing songs on the radio even back then that seemed to take me to another world; the combination of the melody against the chords was like a complete language to me. The idea of being able to create that was the most exciting idea I’ve ever had.
When did you first start pursuing your passion/career?
My friend’s parents had a country band, and in 1979 I would go downstairs at their house and play the drummers kit. One day his father came in the house while I was playing and asked “Hey, where’d you learn to play drums like that?” I said, “On your kit….” So he gave me his old kit which I played on for about a year and a half until my brother brought home the first Van Halen album. I sold my drums 3 days later and bought a guitar. I was 15 years old.
How would you describe your music?
I describe it as alternative pop rock … but what does that mean? I always have to describe it using elements that make it up in terms of what most people might already know. It’s old Chicago meets Bob Marley meets the backing band to Amy Winehouse meets Doves with some Elvis Costello and Cardigans thrown in. It’s all original music. You have to just hear it and make up your own label I guess.
Where is your music being featured and sold?
We play all over. We opened up for Michael Franti two years ago, Eddie Money last year. You can buy our music at our shows, or just get a hold of us through www.beaumontsmusic.com. We also have videos on YouTube and will have songs on iTunes soon.
What feedback have you received from showcasing your music and performances?
Most people who have never heard us assume we’re from out of town because we have a killer horn section and a very tight rhythm section. It’s tough to be an all-original band in Rochester but we have gotten some great reactions to our songs over the years. 
What has inspired you the most and why?
We seem to inspire each other. Everyone in the band is very talented at what they do and we get excited about what everyone brings to a song. In the end, it’s about emotion and connecting with others through that emotion.
What projects are you currently working on?
We are headed into the studio in the next month to begin a full recording project.
What do you feel you will bring to the Canandaigua Arts and Music Festival?
Probably some sandwiches…is that ok?
What should attendees expect to see from your performance at this year’s Festival?
A polished band with some amazing original music.
What’s one thing that people may not already know about you?
We like great conversations, walks on the beach, and are just as comfortable in jeans as we are in, say, a classic evening gown.
The Vassar Brothers Want You to Dance
Playing on the Country Bluegrass Stage Sunday, July 18 is the band Vassar Brothers. From 5-6pm they promise to entertain everyone nearby with music that will make you want to dance. For a band whose Facebook page lists themselves as working on “the road,” attending the school of “hard knocks,” and whose political and religious views are both summarized as “funk,” their attitude is spunky, tongue-and-cheek and entertaining.
When did you first start pursuing your passion/career?
We formed in July, 2010.
When was the exact moment you realized you wanted to be a musical artist?
August 7, 2010 – The date of the first Vassar Brothers gig. We played for about 10 people in someone’s front yard.
What sparked that passion?
Each member of the band brings something different to the table which makes each rehearsal, show, etc. fun and exciting.
How would you describe your music?
Polyethnic funkgrass
Where is your music being featured and sold?
You can check us out on Facebook and myspace.com/vassarbrothers.
What feedback have you received from your performances?
Usually people pass out from excitement, make babies, and, in general, relate it to a religious experience.
What has inspired you the most and why?
Being in a 7-piece band, everyone brings their own inspiration to the table and we’re able to draw from that, which ends up creating a unique sound.
What projects are you currently working on?
We’re currently writing material for our first album, Oxford Barn.
What do you feel you will bring to the Canandaigua Arts and Music Festival?
A Vassar Brothers show is a mix of funk, bluegrass, rock and blues so everyone should expect to dance from the first note to the last.
What can we expect from your performance at this year’s Festival?
We play a mix of cover songs and originals. We try very hard to never put on the same show twice and we always play music for dancing!
Unique Letters: Building Word Art
Phyllis Frankenfield photographs things that look like letters. Using these “letters”, she builds custom word photo artwork on demand.
How did you come up with your name?
It just seemed to fit the letters!
How did you get your start in photography?
I had this passion, and my parents give me my first Kodak camera when I was about 10 years old.
Who inspired you to become a professional photographer?
My cousin’s husband. He was a great professional photographer doing weddings and art shows for many years in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania.
What types of products do you offer?
Letter Art Photography in black and white.
What feedback have you received from showcasing your work?
This must be the best part about doing Letter Art, from small children with their parents being able to do their names, to seeing the faces of someone that does a special gift for the hard-to-buy-for person. I like the idea of having my work in homes all over the states and many countries.
What can attendees expect to see from you at this year’s Festival?
I will bring letters from the state of New York.
What’s one thing that people may not already know about you?
I am working on being married to my husband, Bob, for 50 years.
Where/how can people purchase your work?
Art shows in the New York State area this summer or online at www.unique-letters.com
Flying Whale Studios: Merging dreams with reality
Kevin Schoonover created Flying Whale Studios to create and share interpretations of the world around him.
Where does the name “Flying Whale Studios” come from?
I love whales. I’m a huge whale nut. I studied them in Hawaii in the 1980s and I hope to see all the major species in the 
wild before I die. The image of a Humpback whale, with its outstretched lateral flukes, whether gently swimming under the waves or dramatically breaching through them, suggests flight. The absurd idea of such a mammoth creature taking to the air has a dreamlike quality. This is what I strive for in my photos — the idea of a dream or a memory.
What inspired you to become a professional photographer?
The compulsion to document and the desire to share.
How did you get your start in photography? 
In 1983, after taking some introductory courses at RIT, my grandmother gave me my first SLR camera, and an entire darkroom set-up to go with it. When I mentioned to her then that I was having trouble finding a place to buy a “safe” light bulb, she opened a drawer in a cabinet in her living room, dug back a ways, and pulled one out that she and my grandfather had last used in the 1940s developing his pictures. “You mean one of these,” she asked mischievously.
What types of products do you offer?
My current work revolves around two major subjects: The seashore and abandoned rural buildings. The joy and freedom and color one associates with the beach juxtaposed against the washed-out sadness of empty barns and houses appeals to me. There is a dreamy nostalgia for a time that never really existed.
What’s one thing people may not already know about you?
I am not a photojournalist. My work is not exactly as the world appears but more how I wish it were. Or how it could be. Or how it might have been. Or not. I strive for a version of reality rather than reality itself. Contrary to popular belief, the camera does lie. I dabble in a variety of post-production techniques that affect color, contrast, clarity, etc. I believe it is the job of the artist to interpret the world, not just report on it.
What feedback have you received from showcasing your work?
The response has been incredibly favorable and very gratifying. I have an image of young Mennonite women frolicking in the ocean surf that, practically without fail, generates broad smiles and squeals of delight. Making people happy and eliciting such strong, positive emotions is a great feeling.
What should attendees expect to see from you at this year’s Festival?
I have a variety of limited-edition photographs, signed and numbered, in three basic sizes. Many are framed; all are matted. I also carry a line of blank photo cards.
Where/how can people purchase your work?
Images are always available at www.FlyingWhaleStudios.com.
2011 Exhibition of work: “Abandoment Issues” at Stomping Grounds in Geneva (June 25-August 27)
2011 Exhibits: Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival (July 29-31), Arts at the Gardens in Canandaigua (August 20 & 21), Clothesline Festival in Rochester (September 10 & 11), Quaker Arts Festival in Orchard Park (September 17 & 18), Naples Grape Festival (September 24 & 25), Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival (October 1 & 2), Letchworth Arts & Craft Show (October 8-10), Canandaigua Christkindl Market (November 11-13), Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale in Rochester (November 18-20)
Meet One of Our Sponsors: Wegmans
By Kelly Sabetta
Wegmans, another sponsor who continues to support the Canandaigua Art and Music Festival, will be in attendance throughout this year’s three-day event. Sharing similar core values as the Festival, Wegmans believes in making a difference, as well as making personal connections, with the community. We conducted an interview with Rob Emling, Merchandising Area Manager of Canandaigua, and here is what he had to say about being a part of this year’s Festival.
What inspires your company each day?
Providing the best incredible customer service, helping our customers and employees lead healthier better lives and giving our employees the tools to learn and grow.
What would you like others to know about your company that they may not know?
We have a strong commitment to the community and to helping make it stronger. We have participated in this event for a number of years, and also partner with other local businesses/agencies. We have and will continue to partner with the YMCA on helping their folks live healthier, better lives.
What made you want to be involved in this year’s Canandaigua Art and Music Festival?
This event falls right in line with our core values. Specifically, sponsoring this event provides us with a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the Canandaigua community
What do you feel your company can bring to this year’s festival?
I know that we can educate the attendees on the items that we will be offering. These, like all of the products that we offer, are high-quality items at a great value.
What would you like attendees to learn about your company?
Over the 3 days, attendees will meet a sampling of our 580 employees. They will see many of our values in action (caring, respect, and high standards). These values are exhibited by each of our employees daily.
Why do you feel it is important to support an event such as this?
As I said above, one of Wegmans’ core values is making a difference in our community. A big part of making a difference is more than making a monetary donation; it’s going out and making a connection with the community. We know that we will get the opportunity to connect with a number of folks during this event.
How do you feel the festival will benefit the community?
The amount of traffic that this event will bring in will make a significant economic impact to this community. It will help the Canandaigua BID continue to support many of the businesses and shops in the community.
For attendees, what do you hope they will experience while at the festival?
From us specifically, I hope that they will have fun and learn about a number of the products that we are proud to offer our customers everyday.
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For more information about Wegmans, please visit their Web site, http://www.wegmans.com.
