Compared to other New York State cities our size, Kingston has the highest concentration of arts and cultural establishments per person. It’s an enormous source of local pride and represents an important cultural and community focus. It’s also an important part of our local economic engine. According to the City of Kingston’s website, the arts and cultural sector generates over 1,600 jobs and well over $167 million in revenue per year. In addition, the arts are very complementary with our tourism-concentrated local economy. As such, local leaders are increasingly taking a greater interest in supporting the creative sector, as illustrated by a much-anticipated Ulster County Arts & Culture Plan, to be released April 22. This will be the first-ever county-level comprehensive plan to serve as a blueprint for our local arts and culture landscape to further build upon.

When it comes to the arts, galleries are an important feature that enables artists to exhibit their work in public, and to sell. Our city currently has well over 20 galleries and exhibit spaces, with more opening all the time. And a new addition has recently been added, called the Roundabouts Now gallery. Sitting just off of Sawkill Road at 25 Barbarossa Lane in a former medical office building, the gallery sits just outside of Kingston’s city limits. As commercial rents continue to go up in Kingston, finding affordable studio and exhibit space becomes harder and harder.

Another example of “New Kingston” is that while the Kingston-New York City artist connection has existed “forever,” the local arts scene appears to be benefiting from changing demographics in Ulster County. As our area’s average population becomes more affluent and educated, it’s increasingly home to a larger art benefactor class. This in turn has motivated more art professionals to take an interest in moving to our area, expanding and adding greater sophistication to our creative scene.

Originally from New York City, Rondabouts Now gallery owners, Craig Monteith and Alta Buden, first met in the Brooklyn arts scene years ago. Alta, an artist and art teacher, and Craig, who owns an art transport business, first became acquainted while working together on various art shows, starting in Brooklyn and then in Manhattan. The story of their coming to Kingston is a familiar one to many of us. About 10 years ago, Craig visited a friend who had a place in Kingston. He quickly became intrigued and excited by its supportive arts community and creative scene. After several visits, and spending a year living in the area, he decided to make it his permanent home. He was able to connect with local celebrated artists, including renowned performance artist Linda Montano and other established creatives through local workshops. Craig’s business partner and friend Alta also ended up moving upstate, and with excitement about the local arts scene, they decided to establish an artist-run gallery in Kingston and continue their business collaborations upstate.

As it turns out, art galleries are not all the same — some are for-profit and focus on selling art to generate revenue, often with an emphasis on art for interior design and decorative purposes. Non-profit galleries, on the other hand, rely on grants and donations for funding and often involve showcasing emerging artists. And then there are cooperative, artist-run galleries, like what Craig and Alta have launched. Artist-run or “cooperative” type galleries are established by a group of creatives who share costs and responsibilities, and show their own works, but not exclusively. The Roundabouts Now gallery is dedicated to being a platform for artists, poets and musicians (mostly local), with an emphasis on community-building.

Although the Roundabouts Now gallery owners say they exhibit a diverse range of artworks, their niche would seem to be focused on conceptual art. This is art where the idea presented by the artist is considered more important than its appearance or execution. Craig and Alta made a point to encourage visitors to not rush when visiting their gallery, but to take time to consider each piece and what it says to them. Often laden with social commentary, it’s undoubtedly apropos for today’s increasingly sophisticated Kingston art scene.

Craig and Alta’s common vision is to build a warm and inviting space where guests are comfortable in exploring and engaging with the artwork. One of the ways the gallery works to establish an inviting environment is to encourage time-pressed parents to bring their children. They even host “Kids Morning” events where various kids activities are offered, enabling parents to enjoy the art, meet others and build community. And of course, four-legged family members are also welcome.

In response to why they have been so successful in working together on so many initiatives over the years, Alta and Craig both said that having a great working relationship is based on having a deep understanding and trust in each other. They find their collaboration easy-going, and both share a common interest in maintaining a low-stress environment where they can both enjoy what they do. While the public sees and enjoys a well-organized and relaxed environment, Alta and Craig both noted that gallery work requires far more work than most realize. Despite the hard work, it’s a passion for them — a characteristic often associated with entrepreneurs and business owners.

The next exhibit opening at the Roundabouts Now gallery is Saturday, May 10 from 4-7 p.m. Titled “Liquefier,” the exhibit shows works by Meg Lipke and Jeff Williams, featuring primarily sculpture, as well as drawings and paintings. Both artists have independently focused on visiting caves where humans have left evidence of past societies. The show recreates the feeling that a cave can be a portal through time, connecting the ancient past with the present.

Raleigh Green is a local business owner specializing in marketing communications consulting and services. If you enjoy this column, please "like" it on social media and share online. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer; they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Kingston Wire Editorial Team.