(gentle upbeat music plays) (upbeat music plays) - Experience music and the Adirondacks at the Caroga Arts Collective.

Jade Warrick discusses her latest mural projects, and catch a performance from a AILA.

It's all ahead on this episode of AHA!

A House for Arts.

- [Narrator] Funding for AHA!

has been provided by your contribution and by contributions to the WMHT Venture Fund.

Contributors include the Leo Cox Beach Philanthropic Foundation, Chet and Karen Opalka, Robert and Doris Fischer Malesardi, and the Robison Family Foundation.

- At M&T Bank, we understand that the vitality of our communities is crucial to our continued success.

That's why we take an active role in our community.

M&T Bank is pleased to support WMHT programming that highlights the arts, and we invite you to do the same.

(upbeat music plays) (upbeat music continues) (video whooshes to next view) - Hi, I'm Matt Rogowicz, and this is AHA!

House for Arts, a place for all things creative.

The Caroga Arts Collective presents over 50 performances and community events in the Southern Adirondacks each year.

I recently visited Caroga Arts to speak with their founder and artistic director, Kyle Price.

(orchestra music plays) - Caroga Arts Collective is an organization that focuses on re-imagining the Adirondack experience through the power of the arts.

We started in 2012 actually as a small music festival, and in 2016 got our nonprofit status.

A few years after that, we got ownership of Sherman's Park, and so, now we're here.

What takes place here is the Caroga Lake Music Festival, which is the core program, which is the one that's been going now for its 13th season.

And we also have year-round programs, community events, like a holiday tree lighting.

We'll have things open for the community, including carousel rides.

(upbeat jazz music plays) Back in the 1920s, Sherman's was founded, and so, it really started out as a big band dance hall and beach.

It brought in some incredible artists that a lot of people don't know about.

In the thirties and forties, they had Louis Armstrong here, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Tommy Dorsey's Band, and they were all hanging out in the kind of main building next to the lake in that original dance hall.

And so, there's incredible jazz history that's hidden in Caroga, and no one really knows about it.

(whimsical upbeat music plays) From there became more of the amusement park focus that a lot of people recognize it.

That was the cool thing about when we started diving into trying to, you know, look into taking ownership of the park, was realizing that, hey, this wasn't just an amusement park.

There's actually a huge, rich musical history here and cultural history.

(gentle music plays) You know, you have a gem right here that is really a special place, and we've had legends across all of, you know, music and art here in Caroga.

And so, it allowed us to really circle back and start to bring that history back to life and see how that could help propel the economy forward and the culture forward in this area.

(gentle music plays) I got connected to this place in Caroga Lake because my grandparents moved here in the early eighties, far before I was born.

So every school break, summer and winter break, we would come to Caroga Lake.

Sherman's was a place where we always would walk by it.

We'd wanted to see what would be going on with it, you know, and once in a while, the carousel would be open, but largely it was closed for my childhood, and we'd hear a lot of amazing stories, but I think for people like myself, it was this kind of idea of like, what could we do if we could bring that back to life?

- He was like an old man when he was a baby, we all used to say.

He'd, like, hang on the swing with his arm, just observe the world going around him.

So, yeah, so I think he was already way ahead of the game in watching and thinking about things that could happen.

(orchestra music plays) - Essentially, I come from a musical family.

My mom plays the viola.

My aunt played the cello, My dad likes to say he plays the radio.

But essentially, we grew up, you know, playing music together and naturally when coming up here we'd go to festivals and we would bring friends through Caroga just to stay overnight and enjoy the lake.

But that was really it, initially.

- We'd always drive by Sherman's growing up, and he's like, "Someday, like, we're gonna have "a concert there, and we're gonna do something."

And I was like, "You're crazy.

"That's, like, it's falling apart," you know?

In my head, I'm like, "Have to get permits "and like," you know?

He was like, "Yeah, it will happen," like, you know, "It'll happen."

I'm like, "Okay."

So fast forward to college and Kyle goes, "You know, "there's the chapel down the street from grandma's.

"We really should just have some of our friends come "and play a concert," and I was like, "Okay, that sounds great."

Like, "Sign me up for that."

(orchestra music plays) - And so we ended up having about, I'd say 80 people show up just based on a lawn sign in our front yard and come to the chapel, Caroga Chapel, nearby.

And that's really when everything started.

And I think the musicians realized this is something special.

The audience who was there was, like, blown away.

And for me, I really started to connect the dots.

And so, that was a really empowering thing of, like, wow, our love for music and our love for arts and our love for Caroga can actually be one thing that's put together.

(mellow upbeat music plays) So right now, we don't have an amphitheater, but we get to do amazing things in this old bumper car pavilion.

So (laughs) we kind of transform it, built a portable stage in there.

We have the audience sit in the bumper car with us, and it's a really unique spot for music.

You know, we've played orchestra concerts in there.

We've done July 4th programs in there.

We have done collaborations with Judy Collins and Levee in there.

So we've done some really interesting programs.

You know, with the glass back, you can still see the lake behind and watch the sunset.

♪ 'Cause the sun's sinking ♪ ♪ And my best friend's found a new guy ♪ ♪ I'm only getting older ♪ ♪ I've never had a shoulder to cry on ♪ ("Beethoven's 5th Symphony") - Today is really exciting.

We are essentially playing, for the first time, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, and we're doing a conductor list.

We're doing it inside the dance hall at Sherman's so a very intimate space with 40 of, I'd say my closest friends.

- [Woman Long Dark Hair] Many of us have played it certain ways and so some people are like, "Well, traditionally, we slow down here, "and we're," and some of us are, like, "Well, you know, that's in one, you know, interpretation."

And then some of us have not played it that way, and, you know, it's funny 'cause usually, the conductor is calling all the shots.

We kind of figured out our own interpretation together.

(orchestra music plays) - The community aspect is really what defines this place for me.

And it's both that, you know, Kyle has handpicked some of the, both the best quality musicians in terms of artistry, technical ability, but also musicians that are incredibly kind, generous, supportive, and really flexible in what they're able to do.

So a really cool artist community and then, an amazing community, a larger community of patrons, supporters, concert goers.

(orchestra music plays) - What we hope to see over time is continuing to enliven the property with an amphitheater that essentially we've designed with TRW and Consigli, these two firms that are really well known in the region and nationally.

But we also were donated another property a quarter mile from here called Myhill, and it was formally owned by the Shine family.

So we're looking to build residencies for artists year round up at Myhill so we can have these year round programs where artists can come in, can study their craft, can engage in our local education programs.

So it adds a different year-round facet to the organization so it's not just summer engagement.

We're really making an impact throughout the whole year.

And we received a million dollars from New York State Council on the Arts for the amphitheater.

And then at Myhill, we received just recently an $850,000 grant to build a lodge there.

So we've received a lot of great state funding and a lot of contributions from donors in the region to help, you know, jumpstart these projects.

You should come to visit Caroga Arts because I can guarantee you, you'll see something you've never seen before.

And whether it's musically, whether it's experiential with taking a carousel ride and listening to Beethoven's 5th Symphony, or getting to talk to the artists up close and personal, I think there's something unique for everyone.

(bold orchestra music plays) - Bravo.

(audience applauds) (audience cheers) - Jade Warwick has been with us on AHA!

for two years now, and I thought it would be a good time to put her in the hot seat to see what she's been up to lately.

Hi, Jade.

- Hey, Matt.

(laughs) - How are you doing today?

- Doing great.

It's interesting being on this side of the couch this time.

(laughs) - Yeah, yeah.

You know, you've been interviewing a lot of artists, and you've been busy yourself as an artist, so I thought it was time to, like, you know, catch up with you.

- Yeah.

- [Matt] So remind everybody, what do you do?

How would you define yourself as an artist?

- Oh, wow, yeah, that's a big question nowadays.

I would say I'm a visual artist.

I work a lot in visual design, whether it be illustration, graphic design, or muraling.

That's a big one; a lot of folks know me for my - Big one.

- murals.

I also am a painter, and I do a lot of, like, strategic planning within the arts as well.

I do a lot of consulting with, like, strategic planning of arts.

How does arts impact our economy?

How does it impact our businesses?

So I try to play a little bit in both worlds, both the actual physical visual art world and then the background with the logistics and making it sustainable for people.

- Wow, now I know, - Yeah.

- like murals, like you said, that's a big part of what you do.

What is it about murals that you love?

- I love painting big.

You know, as a kid I always was like, "Ah, man, "I love drawing on a piece of paper that's, like, "8.5 by 11, but I wish I could go bigger" because I personally have never been good at details, like small details.

So when Capital Walls, which is a mural initiative led by the Albany Center Gallery, and I believe the Albany Barn, Tony Iadicicco, and I believe Kristen Holler created this amazing, just like, mural initiative where they just get emerging artists and just be like, "Hey, here's a mural.

"Do your thing."

(Matt laughs) So Tony kinda hit me up, and he's like, "Hey, I have this wall.

"Jeff Ewell has this wall.

"Do you wanna paint it?"

And I was like, "All right, bet, let's go; let's do it."

It was like 100 feet giant, giant (laughs) wall space, corrugated aluminum, dead of October.

It was cold, but it was my first mural project I've ever done and ever since then, it just clicked.

I was like, painting big is definitely what's for me, and it pays enough that I can survive off of it as well.

- Yeah, I mean since you've been on the show, you've made some big career changes.

- Yes, I have.

- You took the leap.

You kind of stepped aside from the day job, and you are a full-time artist.

- Yes.

- Wow.

- Yeah, I know.

(laughs) - How that sounds, that seems kind of scary but also very exciting.

So tell us how that's been.

- So, it's been great, you know, definitely took a little encouragement from several acquaintances, friends, and people who I just do art next to.

And so, yeah, after, you know, since getting out of college, I think, when I was 21 to like not even like 31, I believe I was just working in an office, whether an admin, whether in corporate, or whether in, like, some type of federal or government position.

I also worked as the director of placemaking and public art for the art center for a stint.

But none of those jobs really matched what I wanted to do.

You know, I really wanted to be able to break the chains of, I don't know, just being able to just be free within my thoughts.

Not really having to work within the system, whether it's being bogged down by white supremacy within a lot of institutions, bogged down with the corporate-ness within institutions, and bogged down with the people last.

You know, I'm a very people-first, artist-first type of a person, and that's the type of approach I appreciate, so it's been really nice to be able to take myself out of those environments.

And those environments are not bad.

They just did not match what I wanted to do.

And what I want to do is just be an artist that is able to take, or an artist that's able to create a foundation for other artists to succeed.

So how can I teach other artists what I've learned to be as successful as I am?

And I'm still learning, myself, to be honest.

(laughs) But, you know, it's really nice to just be able to feel free and to be able to work in something that I'm very, very, very passionate about.

- Yeah, and you know, there's kind of a misconception about being, you know, a full-time artist and, oh, that must be fun, but it takes a lot of work to be free.

- Yeah.

- So what advice do you have for others who might be thinking about taking that leap?

- Prepare, you know, like, (Matt laughs) before I even leaped, I made sure I got a CPA, all my taxes were together.

I made sure that I had enough funding to support me for the next year.

You know, I paid all my bills and everything for the first year.

You know, you need definitely a few thousand dollars for that.

Making sure that I had gigs lined up.

Making sure that I am emotionally immensely sound.

I got a therapist, you know, 'cause it's a big leap to do this by, you need to have emotional, mental, physical, and financial support and making sure all those things are in line is what helped me because I did have all those things.

But it took me, I would say four years to build up to all of that.

Like, it's not something that's quick, you know?

And it feels like I did it really quick and off the gun, but I really didn't.

I was really methodical about it.

I sat on it for a while.

I saved, I saved, I saved.

I grind, I worked, got all my affairs in order.

So I think it's just really preparing yourself and understanding what you need to be prepared for to be solo, you know?

- And you're happy with it?

- Oh, yeah, super happy.

- Beautiful.

- [Jade] 'Cause honestly, the happiest I've ever been.

My girlfriend's ecstatic.

She's just like, I haven't - Awesome.

- seen you this happy (Matt laughs) in a while because it really does feel nice to have control of what you do because I have a personality, I have ADHD, spectrum, all these things that make it a little bit difficult to work in a extreme structured environment.

So I'm always a person who says, "If you want something and you don't see it "somewhere else, try to make it yourself."

And that is something that I live by.

So I didn't see an institution or anywhere where I fit in that worked for me minus state work, but you know, kind of boring after a while.

So that really didn't fit in with me because it does get boring working for the state for a little bit.

But you know, building my own foundation, building what I wanna see is what, you know, I wanted to try to do, so yeah.

- Great, well, switching gears now, Jade, you've interviewed around 50 guests - Yeah, quite a bit.

- so far, artists, creatives of all kinds.

So what have been some of your favorite interviews or what have you taken away from all these creatives that you've talked to?

- I would say my favorite interview would probably be Eugene.

That's one of my favorites just because Eugene O'Neill is a person who I've worked with side by side for a while.

So it's really nice to see how him and I have grown artistically together.

So Eugene is a muralist and an art educator.

We run a mural program called Amplified Voices together.

We also travel and run other programs together and do a lot of consulting work side by side.

So having interviewed him and then seeing the growth since that interview, which was what, like maybe a year ago at that has been pretty amazing.

And then, just being able to interview all my friends.

You know, I've had a lot of friends on here that I've interviewed, and I've also made a lot of friends, you know, interviewing on here, too.

Like folks with the SPAC or, you know, any organization, I tend to keep contact with a lot of these people, too, 'cause I'm like, "Whoa, you're an artist.

"I'm an artist; like, let's not lose touch," you know?

- Yeah, that's great.

- So gaining relationships have been really great as well.

- So we've got a minute left.

What are some upcoming projects that you wanna share?

- So the big one, we got a $10,000 grant, Grow and Thrive Grant, from the Arts Center of the Capital Region.

With that grant, we are going to run a program from my Amplified Voices Wellness and Art program.

We're gonna run a program with the Connect Center youth, where we're gonna teach 12 students how to paint a professional mural within that space.

- Wow.

- So, yes.

- Wait a minute, I wanna learn a little bit about how to do that.

Can I show up?

(laughs) - Absolutely, yeah.

Bring the whole crew.

The kids would love it.

But yeah, so we're just gonna be there I think seven days just painting, learning from each other.

There's a big wellness component of that, too.

So my program, Amplified Voices, has a big wellness component.

So you can even come do some yoga with us in the beginning of the day before we paint.

So yeah, and then we're gonna kick it off with a big old party and the big piece that's different about this program from any other program that I've done is that we've created a hybrid piece to it where after the physical painting and everything is done, we're actually gonna provide consultation to the students that opt in, how to build a resume, how to build an art portfolio, and how to survive in the business of public art.

So we're not only just taking these students and teaching them, hey, here's how you paint a mural, but here's how you actually become a muralist as a career if you want to.

- Wow, that's awesome, Jade.

- Yeah, so it's gonna be great.

- Well, I can't wait to see that happen.

I can't wait for you to teach me some skills.

- Yeah, me too.

(laughs) - Stay tuned for that, everybody.

(laughs) Thank you, Jade, so much for joining me today.

- Thank you so much.

(laughs) - Please welcome AILA.

("Cue the Soiree" plays) ♪ Every mornin' ♪ ♪ Don't you go hide ♪ ♪ Every mornin' ♪ ♪ Don't you go hide ♪ ♪ I'm feelin' irritated ♪ ♪ Trapped in the ways of my own thinkin' ♪ ♪ This prison has no wards ♪ ♪ Only senses for calculatin' ♪ ♪ Sun is bakin' ♪ ♪ Beatin' and glowin' on my skin ♪ ♪ I'll show the leg or two ♪ ♪ For the crowd to see and cue the soiree ♪ ♪ Glasses clink, they're fancy for days ♪ ♪ Folks embracin' one another knowing that they can ♪ ♪ They good days, no fear of missin' out on our side craze ♪ ♪ We in here drinkin' lemonade on the beach ♪ ♪ Because we do care intentional ♪ ♪ I'm intentional with my visions ♪ ♪ And reasons as to why it's important ♪ ♪ To know perspective ♪ ♪ A third person point of view ♪ ♪ Won't leave me out here guessin' ♪ ♪ Wonders and lessons and sandpapers ♪ ♪ Will feel like lessons ♪ ♪ I'm not stressin' ♪ ♪ This is as good as it gets ♪ ♪ This meaning what you think is the best of the best ♪ ♪ It's always changing the elusive ♪ ♪ In the wispy, wispy whispers ♪ ♪ A string of unexplainable, innocuous tongue twisters ♪ ♪ Every mornin' ♪ ♪ I will go out ♪ ♪ Every mornin' ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Da da da da da da ♪ (upbeat music plays) ♪ Da da da ♪ ♪ Da da, dom di palma ♪ ♪ Check it ♪ ♪ A baby goat born in the womb ♪ ♪ For the music and the hope oblivious to the drama ♪ ♪ And the things that people spoke ♪ ♪ I think karma gonna get them every time ♪ ♪ They want the smoke, so I, I, I, I take a step back ♪ ♪ To figure out the game of shows ♪ ♪ Everybody got a story they gone wear, aren't they coats ♪ ♪ And, yes, me being the little homie knows ♪ ♪ All look where to step when it comes to ♪ ♪ Stepping on the people's throats ♪ ♪ The flow goes menancing ♪ ♪ The words fluidly dancing ♪ ♪ Through the curves in the music ♪ ♪ They got the bugs that go scoopin' ♪ ♪ Buckle up for ride driven by your hungry student ♪ ♪ If you listen to the speech, you know ♪ ♪ Stay hungry and stay foolish ♪ ♪ Taking life so serious comes with a price ♪ ♪ But I knew this; it's all fun and games ♪ ♪ So somebody gotta do it ♪ ♪ They think it's also effortless ♪ ♪ It is, baby, I do this ♪ ♪ I live that, I be that ♪ ♪ Life is being trueness ♪ ♪ Not a care in the world ♪ ♪ And I'm breathin' ♪ ♪ To be there in the world that, that I'm seein' ♪ ♪ Not a care in the world ♪ ♪ And I'm breathin' ♪ ♪ To be there in the world ♪ ♪ Let them see and take my eyes up off the call ♪ ♪ Just to paint a pretty picture ♪ ♪ For the shadows and the darkness ♪ ♪ Bring 'em all out on the front and hit a step ♪ ♪ But you out here bringing dolls out, play with Barbie ♪ ♪ Then you getting called out, excuse me, AI, ♪ ♪ There's been a system overload ♪ ♪ You've been dubbed as the pretty girl ♪ ♪ That gives at every show, genetically modified ♪ ♪ To fit ideas of people's notes ♪ ♪ Generating images with words like a true poet ♪ ♪ This is a statement, a starting point in my life ♪ ♪ My name is in the pavement to building my foundation ♪ ♪ The (indistinct) and the base ♪ ♪ An authentic AI creation ♪ ♪ Innovative in a way that's posing as the matrix ♪ ♪ But I digress ♪ ♪ I leave one more for learning less ♪ ♪ An even score, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm settlin' score, boy ♪ ♪ Not a care in the world ♪ ♪ And I'm breathin' ♪ ♪ To be there in the world ♪ ♪ That I'm seein' ♪ ♪ Not a care in the world ♪ ♪ Then I'm breathin' ♪ ♪ To be there in the world ♪ (random voices rap at once) (random voices rap at once) ♪ Oh wow ♪ ♪ Uh ooh wow ♪ ♪ Listen, I pull up outside ♪ ♪ Ready for the fun when I see about three guys ♪ ♪ Drunk as hell with their hypnosis eye ♪ ♪ Walk upstairs instantly seein' my home girls ♪ ♪ Up the stairs, I went ♪ ♪ I'm all trippin' over myself ♪ ♪ Dang, get it together ♪ ♪ No blame, just nervous ♪ ♪ Haven't been outside since Thursday ♪ ♪ Looking kinda homeless ♪ ♪ Wait, what's that mean, and should I keep the cycle goin' ♪ ♪ I'm seein' some random things ♪ ♪ Without thinking that goes I know this ♪ ♪ I need ♪ ♪ To feel me ♪ ♪ See this why I don't go out ♪ ♪ I haven't been tendin' to my feelings ♪ ♪ I need ♪ ♪ To feel me ♪ ♪ See, this why I don't go out ♪ ♪ I haven't been tendin' to my feelings ♪ ♪ I bump the beat ♪ ♪ Have some drinks ♪ ♪ Now feeling me, but feeling great ♪ ♪ Gettin' a call from my mama ♪ ♪ I drink too much alcohol ♪ ♪ The dough and pasta ♪ ♪ Mama asking where I'm at ♪ ♪ I'm at a party, Ma ♪ ♪ She says, Hey, AILA, why you there ♪ ♪ Your man's so not up to par ♪ ♪ I try to reason sayin', Ma, we goin' out to the bars ♪ ♪ But now what, don't even make sense, man ♪ ♪ I'm so confused ♪ ♪ Won't go lit, she ain't seein' a thing ♪ ♪ Goddamn back to back because me, myself again ♪ ♪ The big homie ♪ ♪ I put the, ow, one big ouch, a reflection ♪ ♪ Everywhere I go, a big mirror, now I see me ♪ ♪ My body give out and now my mouth tasted sour ♪ ♪ We've been two-steppin' two a beat for how many hours ♪ ♪ What a bore; is this what I deemed ♪ ♪ As experiencing bar, man ♪ ♪ What was I thinking ♪ ♪ I knew I didn't wanna party ♪ ♪ Yet, I still went out looking for a party ♪ ♪ I knew I didn't wanna party ♪ ♪ Yet, I still went out looking for a party ♪ ♪ Um, hey girl ♪ ♪ I'm about ready to get the Uber ♪ ♪ You ready, too ♪ ♪ Woo (laughs) ♪ ♪ All right, bet (laughs) ♪ ♪ I needed to ♪ ♪ Feel me ♪ ♪ Se, this why I don't go out ♪ ♪ I haven't been tending to my feelings ♪ ♪ I need ♪ ♪ To feel me ♪ ♪ See, this why I don't go out ♪ ♪ I haven't been tendin' to my feelings ♪ ♪ We on the way home, feelin' tight and ready to return ♪ ♪ Back home to our thrones ♪ ♪ The throne would then ♪ ♪ The driver chattin' us up about these topics.

♪ ♪ And now we retreat ♪ ♪ He's dropping knowledge, wisdom, ♪ ♪ Remindin' us of papa tefillin' us to go home ♪ ♪ And wash our backwards ♪ ♪ Hours to be mindful of our hours ♪ ♪ He drops us off, we tip him well ♪ ♪ Give thanks for all his blessings ♪ ♪ Go inside, you're ready to sleep good ♪ ♪ With all our lessons ♪ ♪ And I don't have no problems with partyin' ♪ ♪ But when I'm trying to avoid something brewin' within me ♪ ♪ That's where things start to go left ♪ ♪ And now I'm startin' to see ♪ ♪ I enjoy my people but not when I'm trying to flee ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to be more aware of what I'm feeling within ♪ ♪ And I realize that I do great with human connection ♪ ♪ But not artificially nor only when I'm drunk ♪ ♪ I enjoy my people sober ♪ ♪ Gettin' down and gettin' crunk, yeah ♪ ♪ Gettin' down and gettin' crunk, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Gettin' down and gettin' crunk, yeah ♪ ♪ Gettin' down and gettin' crunk ♪ ♪ I enjoy my people sober ♪ ♪ Getting down and gettin' crunk ♪ (gentle music plays) - Thanks for joining us.

For more arts, visit wmht.org/aha and be sure to connect with us on social.

I'm Matt Rogowicz.

Thanks for watching.

(bold upbeat music plays) (bold upbeat music plays) (bold upbeat music continues) - [Narrator] Funding for AHA!

has been provided by your contribution and by contributions to the WMHT Venture Fund.

Contributors include the Leo Cox Beach Philanthropic Foundation, Chet and Karen Opalka, Robert and Doris Fischer Malesardi, and the Robison Family Foundation.

- At M&T Bank, we understand that the vitality of our communities is crucial to our continued success.

That's why we take an active role in our community.

M&T Bank is pleased to support WMHT programming that highlights the arts, and we invite you to do the same.