It’s time to hit the arts scene in Saratoga! If you haven’t yet been to the newly renovated Caffe Lena you’ll want to mark your calendars for April 13th, when you’ll have a chance to see two prominent musical artists perform. And, the Schick Art Gallery at Skidmore College is presenting a new exhibition of works which is ready for viewing as of today, March 24th.
Dan Navarro and Darden Smith at Caffe Lena
Singer-songwriters Dan Navarro and Darden Smith will be performing at Caffe Lena on Thursday, April 13th. Each of these renowned artists has an extensive and impressive resume that ensures seeing them live will be a fantastic experience.
Dan Navarro
Navarro has written, sang, and acted for over three decades. He’s written songs for acclaimed stars like Pat Benatar, The Bangles, and the Temptations, among others.
During the 1990s Navarro recorded and toured with Eric Lowden; the two continued performing together until Lowden retired in 2009. Since then, Navarro has been enjoying a solo career.
In addition to singing and songwriting, Navarro has also been a voice actor for several movies and television shows such as Happy Feet, The Lorax, Ice Age, Family Guy, and American Dad.
Darden Smith
Like Navarro, Smith also has an admirable career spanning about 30 years. He has 14 albums to his name and he’s still writing and touring across the US and Europe.
Smith’s music blends together rock, pop, country, and folk with an undertone of Texan influence, in homage to his hometown of Austin.
Although a singer and a songwriter, Smith has a strong focus on education – he found the Be an Artist Program about 10 years ago, and he conducts seminars to encourage students to expand their creativity. Smith also does workshops and creativity sessions for Fortune 500 companies, using songwriting to influence new ways to collaborate and learn in a work setting.
And, he’s worked with US soldiers transitioning back to civilian life, homeless young people in New Jersey, and HIV-affected individuals in African villages.
Graphite Vision at Schick Art Gallery
The Schick Art Gallery at Skidmore College is presenting Graphite Vision, a 15-artist exhibition of amazing works of art made from simple graphite. Most of the pieces are drawings on paper, but some are sculptures or are other types of works. The creations range from unusual and unconventional to subtle and subdued.
A press release from Skidmore describes one of the works as “delicate, pensive portraits” and another as incorporating “peculiar zoomorphic beings” – you’re sure to find a diverse range of pieces in this exhibition!
The artists showcased in Graphite Vision are:
- Sandra Allen
- Robert Bauer
- Brett Bigbee
- Matt Bollinger
- Jessica Drenk
- Renée French
- Karel Havlícek
- Dan Healy
- Hipkiss
- Anne Lindberg
- M’onma
- Catherine Murphy
- Seana Reilly
- Pete Schulte
- Joseph Yoakum
The gallery hours when you can come and check out Graphite Vision are:
- Monday through Thursday: 10am to 6pm
- Friday: 10am to 4pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12pm to 4pm
However, there is an opening reception today, Friday, March 24th, from 5pm to 7pm. Artists Matt Bollinger and Anne Lindeberg will be on site participating in a talk at 6pm.
Check out our Saratoga Arts & Culture Guide >>
