Grantee Feature - Sarah Lopez

A Passion for Fiber Painting

Ithaca Murals Exhibit

in our ArtSpace through March

Announcing $213,000 in arts grants!

See the list of who is funded

NETWORKING EVENT - March 27

for artists and creatives - please register!

Be on the GREATER ITHACA ART TRAIL!

Applications Due April 10.

Check it out! You don't have to have a studio.

CAP is Hiring

Applications due March 23

Tompkins County Poet Laureate

Dan Rosenberg

Artist Opportunities

Local Arts Organizations and Events

Grantee Feature - Sarah Lopez

A Passion for Fiber Painting!

(written by CAP Intern, Ithaca College Writing Major Peter McNerney)

The Community Arts Partnership is proud to support artists through our grant programs. This month our featured artist is Sarah Lopez, recipient of a Strategic Opportunity Stipend ("SOS"), a grant that gives Tompkins County artists the opportunity to further their art careers (anywhere in the world)!

Sarah is a gifted Polish, Mexican- American fiber artist who specializes in hand-dyed and hand-spun art yarn on canvas, also known as fiber painting.

Sarah began her artistic journey knitting scarves to feel a connection to her grandmothers who used different plant and animal fibers to knit clothing for their families. Driven by curiosity, Sarah learned how to hand-dye and hand-spin her own art yarn which she then used to make dresses. After the dresses went unused for years, she decided to recycle them, unraveling hundreds of hours of work in the process. 

Left with a mountain of handmade yarn and a desire to showcase each unique strand, Sarah began experimenting with gluing her handmade fiber to canvas. She enjoyed the feeling of fiber between her fingers, so she rolled small pieces into swirls before applying them to the canvas. With this first experimental project, she gave birth to her unique medium of art: fiber painting. (Left: "Estar," 2023)

Sarah now seeks to use her art to explore various themes of identity, healing and mental health. All of her art yarn is still handmade using wool from a local farm in Trumansburg. She hand-dyes all of it before blending colors and other fibers together. Once everything is blended, she uses a spinning wheel to create art yarn for her paintings. She then individually places and glues each piece of yarn to the canvas to simulate brush strokes, resulting in vivid images with a unique look and feel that truly captures the viewer’s imagination and wonder.  

After participating in a few local group art exhibits, she saw an opportunity to gain exposure through solo shows and applied for and received CAP’s SOS grant.

Sarah was awarded funds for three solo exhibit opportunities to display her art around Ithaca. Her first gallery show was at Greenstar Cooperative Market, the second was at The Downstairs, and the third exhibit was at the Satori Hair Salon. She used grant funds to create 22 new fiber paintings and two immersive community activities. (Left: A Night at Sea)

Sarah has three events planned for 2025. She is part of the March Mad Lust group exhibition at MIX Gallery which will be on display until March 29th. Her first curated group show is themed around Brazil,q featuring music and movement performances along with art from local artists. The opening night is August 8, from 6pm-9pm at Hair. Color. Art on the South Hill Business Campus. She will also have a solo show featuring new fiber paintings at Library Place at 105 W Court Street in Ithaca in September. 

To learn more about Sarah, check out her website at: thefiberpainter.com

Current Exhibit" Ithaca Mural's "Urban Canvas"

Up through March

Come see this Group Exhibit at the CAP ArtSpace!

Ithaca Murals has facilitated 40-70 murals annually for the last 5 years. This fun March group exhibit celebrates many muralists and street artists in our community who have helped transform our cultural cityscape into what it is today. (Painting by Terrance Vann)

Location: CAP ArtSpace, 110 N. Tioga (Tompkins Center for History and Culture, on the Commons)

Hours and Upcoming Exhibits on our ArtSpace Page

IthacaMurals.com @ithacamurals

Thank you to our annual CAP ArtSpace sponsor, Coughlin & Gerhart!

CAP announces grant awards

$213,000 "SCR" grants to local organizations & artists

Three of the Community Arts Partnership's five grants are part of New York State Council on the Arts "Statewide Community Regrant" (SCR) program. SCR makes exemplary arts programming available to geographically, ethnically, and racially diverse segments of the State's population, and supports the continued development of local cultural resources responsive to community cultural needs.

In February, 53 organizations and 21 individuals were awarded a total of $213,000. (Since 1993, CAP has distributed over $7.5 million to support local initiatives and artists!)

The SCR grants includes our "Grants for Arts Programs" for community events, the Artist in Community grant for artists' creation of new work shared with communities in a significant way, and the Arts Education grant which brings teaching artists into schools and after-school programs for residencies.

See who was funded on our "Recent Award List" page

(Image Top Row: Sarah Lopez - SOS grant / State of the Art Gallery - GAP grant/ Student at Caroline Elementary - Ann Reichlin Residency, Arts Education grant. Middle Row: Yamilka Portorreal, Artist in Community grant / Mural with Ithaca Murals and Southside Commnity Center - GAP grant. Bottom Row: Ageless Jazz Band - GAP grant / GIAC Jumpers - Arts Education grant / Kathy Lucas - GAP Grant.)

Come to our Next Networking Event!

Thursday eve, March 27th, at GIAC

FUN & NETWORKING & SNACKS & COOKIES

WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 5:30 to 7:30pm

WHERE: Greater Ithaca Activities Center, 301 W. Court Street, Ithaca, 14850

WHY: Come and hang out with fellow artists and creatives. We'll do a few networking type conversation starters so you can meet new people!

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE. 

(Registration is requested so we know how many people to expect AND so that we can contact you if there are any changes. THANK YOU!)

Thank you to our 2025 sponsor for networking events and future CAP workshops, Tompkins Community Bank.

Join the Greater Ithaca Art Trail

Deadline: April 10

Email to Robin to find out more!

We are seeking new members that represent the awesome diversity in our communities.

Note: YOU DON'T NEED A STUDIO!

Artists can join just for the annual publicity (ads, social media... all to drive customers to your websites)! And/or you can join in on any of the Trail's optional events (Open Studio dates, Zoom Artist Talks, Group Exhibit)

Application deadline is April 10th for the next season, starting in July. There's a fee, but if artists can't pay, we have some trade options (such as helping out at our annual Art Sale.)

Find the Guidelines and Application for NEW MEMBERS at ArtTrail.com and ask Robin questions anytime!

CAP is Hiring!

Apply by March 23rd for a new position at CAP, a part time Community Engagement Coordinator.

Information is on the news page on our website.

Tompkins County Poet Laureate!

On February 19, 2025, the Tompkins County Legislature appointed Dan Rosenberg as the County’s next Poet Laureate.

Read the full story on the CAP website

Visions Cares

IRA Contribution Reminder

Are you saving enough toward retirement? You still have time! Visions reminds you to maximize your IRA contribution by April 15th for the 2024 tax year. Learn about IRAs, contribution limits, and more at visionsfcu.org/IRAs.

Thank you to Visions for sponsoring CAP's monthly ArtsLetter!



Artist Opportunities

Join The Frame Shop for a special open house: 

How to Frame Without Breaking the Bank 

Sat, March 29, 2pm to 4pm, at The Frame Shop, 414 W. Buffalo Street, Ithaca

Discover budget-friendly ways to display your artwork beautifully! Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, they will share expert tips on affordable framing, DIY display solutions, and learn what you need to be aware of when buying framing materials. Stop by for inspiration, refreshments, and great conversation with fellow artists!  Please RSVP to: info@theframeshopithaca.com

CALL FOR MURAL PROPOSALS for TC3

Ithaca Murals is facilitating a mural project at TC3 for Tompkins or Cortland artists for a at TC3, 13' x 21'. $4,000 (for artist stipends & supplies)

Applications Due: March 20, 2025

Find info on facebook or instagram. Questions? Text Ithaca Murals 607-273-5242

$56,000 Available for Southern Tier Murals!

Smart Energy Choices and Ithaca Murals are excited to announce $56,000 available for 16 mural projects across the Southern Tier of New York State.

Please help by sharing with mural artists passionate about justice that live in Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Tioga, Broome, Chenango, and Delaware County. Ithaca Murals will be facilitating 1-3 "THRIVING FUTURES" themed murals in each of these counties. Awards of: $5,000 and $2,000 per project. ithacamurals.com/thriving-futures-2025.html

Application Deadline: March 21, 2025

Civic Ensemble and the Community School of Music and Arts invite you to join the Beloved Artistic Community Meet Up!

The BAC Meet up will be providing free artistic workshops to community members ages 18 and up. Each month a guest artist will be offering a performative or expressive arts workshop to expand the artistic skills and practices of our local community.

Next: Stand Up Comedy & Humorous Storytelling with Kenneth McLaurin

Wednesday, March 19 from 6:30-8:30pm

at the Community School of Music & Arts in Ithaca (330 E. State St)

Click to learn more and sign up: civicensemble.org/beloved-artistic-community

Upcoming Area Arts Events

Great Sources for Local Events Listings:

IthacaEvents.com

ithaca.com/calendar

So much music - so many concert series!!!

visitithaca.com/events/live-music

Ageless Jazz Band

agelessjazz.org

Comedy Events

comedyonthecommons.com/events

Buffalo Street Books  

See their slate of public vents!

buffalostreetbooks.com/event  

Canaan Institute

Traditional Music / Outdoor Activities.

canaaninstitute.org

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra

Orchestral Series: Translations, Ford Hall, Ithaca College

Saturday March 22nd at 7:30 pm

ccoithaca.org

Cherry Arts

Blue Heron's Journey, March 21, 7:30

thecherry.org

Cherry Gallery

five cents a can, multimedia exhibition

March 28 to May 3

thecherry.org/five-cents-a-can

Cinemapolis  

See what's playing at

cinemapolis.org

Circus Culture

Check out their drop-in classes

circusculture.org

Civic Ensemble

Visit their website to learn about the youth theatre program

Beloved Artistic Community Meet-up with Kenneth McLaurin

Comedy and Huomours Storytelling, March 19, CSMA

civicensemble.org

Community School of Music and Arts

Explore their programs. Check out their latest exhibit, rent rehearsal and event space!

csma-ithaca.org

Cornell Concert Series

See Sona Jobarteh perform in Bailey Hall

Friday March 21st at 7:30pm to 9:00pm

cornellconcertseries.com/202425-season

Corners Gallery  

Sitting With Chairs, open to March 22 

cornersgallery.com

Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers

Watch concert recordings

dorothycottonjubileesingers.org

Gallery Nights!

First Friday of every month in downtown Ithaca

ithacagallerynight.com

Gallery at South Hill  

Considered Forms, to April 19th

thegalleryatsouthhill.com

Greater Ithaca Activities Center

Do you know about all of their programs?

cityofithaca.org/327/Greater-Ithaca-Activities-Center

Here's where you'll find their events!

facebook.com/IthacaGIAC

Hangar Theatre

Always something happening!

Check out and subscribe to their summer season.

hangartheatre.org

The History Center in Tompkins County

Current Exhibit: Plains, Trains, and Automobiles

thehistorycenter.net

Ink Shop Printmaking Center

Exhibits and workshops! Exhibits and workshops!

Jaden Demarest Natural Discoveries open until Mar 21st

Ink-Shop.org

Ithaca Ballet

Sleeping Beauty

April 12^th at 7:00pm and April 13^th at 3:00pm

ithacaballet.org

Ithaca Community Orchestra

National Sounds

Saturday, May 10, Ford Hall, Ithaca College

ithacacommunityorchestra.org

Johnson Museum   

Free and open to all.

museum.cornell.edu 

Kitchen Theatre

Letters from Max, May 7^th to 18^th

kitchentheatre.org

Lansing Area Performance Hall

See their Jazz Stars, and Poetry Series

savageclubofithaca.com

Lilypad Puppet Theatre

Special Guest Puppet Artist Lyon Hill, marionette, shadow, and experimental puppet shows, April 4-6 at The Cherry

lilypadpuppettheatre.org/mixtape

Mix Art Gallery

March Mad Lust, mixed media group show

through March 29

mixartgallery.com

Newfield Public Library

Check out their website for lots of events.

newfieldpubliclibrary.org

Opera Ithaca

International Competition of Voice,

Hockett Recital Hall, Ithaca College, March 30, 3:00pm

www.operaithaca.org

Opus School of Music

Classes! Scholarships available!

OpusIthaca.org

Pandoluci Studios

Theatre and Dance workshops or private lessons.

Pandoluci.com

Poetry and Prose Open Mics and other great events!

at The Downstairs

Saltonstall Foundation

Screening of "The Friend" at Cinemapolis

March 19, 6:30pm

saltonstall.org

Southside Community Center

Check out their social media on facebook and follow them on instagram

Southworth Library

Check out their website for dozens of interesting events!

southworthlibrary.org

State of the Art Gallery  

See their programs and exhibits

soagithaca.org

State Theatre

Upcoming shows at

stateofithaca.org/events

Story House Ithaca

Upcoming events: book club, story nights, mending circle, listening room and more!

storyhouseithaca.org/events

Tompkins County Public Library  

There are always great events at the library!

tcpl.org

Ulysses Library

There is always more to do than read at a Library!

trumansburglibrary.org

DONATE TO CAP.

Your support makes art happen.

Learn more and donate now at our website: ArtsPartner.org

Instagram:@community_arts_partnership

Facebook: /ArtsPartner

Email: Programs@artspartner.org

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