ELLENVILLE – The ArtsWAVE Center on Market Street is currently hosting its first ever showcase of works created by Ellenville High School students. The works consist of a number of different mediums — such as ceramics, photography, and prints — and can be seen in various locations around town, including the windows of the old furniture store on the corner of Canal Street and Maiden Lane, the Wawarsing Town Hall, the Gallery Link at the Ellenville Public Library and Museum, as well as the ArtsWAVE Center itself. Iris Friedman, one of the organizers behind ArtsWAVE, says that the show is giving students a chance to showcase their works in such a way that the community can really get a sense of the strong artistic skills many Ellenville students possess.

"The school doesn't really have one large space for a show," Friedman says.

Usually, students' works are confined to spaces at the school, such as hallways, so this show gives these young artists a sense of how their works might look in a professional setting.

ArtsWAVE is also in the process of putting together its plan for art exhibits to take place over the summer. In previous years, last year in particular, there were several events going on at the same time. The 10X10X10 show, for example, last year had ten invited artists submit ten works, which were then displayed in ten different storefronts throughout the village. The center also displayed work submitted by several local artists, with parts of the two shows overlapping. Now, Friedman says that the center is combining these two ideas into a single show, which will be called ArtsWAVE 2010.

Friedman says that she and her husband Dennis Warner are in the process of putting all of this together, and that there have been what appear to be fruitful negotiations with a Brooklyn-based artists' group known as "Art Battles." The group combines live music with the production of artworks, giving people a chance to enjoy the music while watching an artist in the process of his or her respective craft.

"They're a group of artists from different colleges who've settles in New York City," Warner says. "They actually produce art while the music's playing."

Warner says that the music includes rock, jazz and a host of other styles, so most village residents should have an opportunity to hear something they'll enjoy. The group will also showcase a number of works.

"They're going to come up and put art in windows throughout the village," Warner says.

He also said that he hopes to have a sculptor working on a major work over a period of weeks at this year's farmer's market. Attendees of the market would therefore have a chance to watch the piece evolve over the spring and summer.

The center is also working again this year with the Wallkill River School, a small arts academy in Montgomery, with the two groups pairing up to host a series of art classes — last year, the school co-hosted an event in which artists worked in various outdoor locations throughout the village. Friedman says that the participation in these modestly-priced classes has been low thus far, but that the word is still getting out that they are available. There is a beginning drawing class set for this Saturday, May 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; a beginning oil painting class next Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and a portraits class which will be held on Saturday, July 24, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those interested can register online at www.WallkillRiverSchool.com, or by calling (845) 457-2787.

Friedman also wants the community to know that the ArtsWAVE center is available for use, if an organization or a civic group needs space to hold an event. The rental prices are broken down hourly, and are quite nominal. Monday through Thursday events are just $3 per hour, while events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are $5 per hour. Friedman says the low cost reflects the fact that the center is something to which the community should have ready access.

"We're a nonprofit, we're all volunteers, and we're really just looking to cover the costs of the utilities and insurance," Friedman says.

Those who might be interested in using the space can call (845) 647-7902.

Warner also said that he is currently working to help create an artists' cooperative here in the village, and that he's been talking to different people about getting something off the ground. While he cautioned that the idea is in its very early stages and that there is still much work to be done, he did say that he was excited about the possibility that a permanent artistic presence could be coming to the village streets in the not-too-distant future.