(Canastota, Town of Lenox, NY – May 2014) Come enjoy a wonderful day in the country at the 13th annual Spring Migration Nature Art Festival at the Great Swamp Conservancy Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4. Meet artists and crafters who capture the beauty of nature in their works. Fine artists include Jack Cotten, Tom Lenweaver, Carol Cotten, Marilyn Vona, Helga Gilbert, Claudia Chandler, Laura Fudge, Jerry Russell, Pat DeAngelo, and Gwen Lett.
Many talented artists work in more than one medium including Mickey Jones, Ethan Stockbridge, Don Burke, Nancy Klish, Renee Hillock, Kirsten Holmes, Kim Carnevale, O. George Gridley, Lawerence Kennedy, Sue Montoy and Ken & Gerri LeRoy.
This year relax with a low cost chair massage by the Finger Lakes School of Massage then shop for fragrant essential oils presented by Heather Gordon. The Canastota Library Seed Exchange will have seeds for your garden just in time for spring planting. Check out some adorable adoptables from Wander’s Rest Humane Shelter. Melanie Lett will be available for creative face painting.
Meet fishing authority, photographer, and author, Spider Rybaak, 2014 Syracuse Post-Standard Conservation Hero, and pick up some fly casting tips or his latest book, “Fishing the Great Lakes of New York, a Guide to Lake Erie and Ontario, their Tributaries and the thousand Islands.” Visit the Trout Unlimited booth and see fly tying demonstrations.
Red Fox Farm will sell their delicious small batch jams and jellies or you can satisfy your sweet tooth with some delicious maple syrup products produced by Greg Young of Skaneateles Sugar Shack. Check out beautiful framed photos of CNY at the Swamp Snappers Camera booth.
Special Saturday programs include Out of the Cage- a menagerie of rehabilitated animals, 10-noon , “Talons- Birds of Prey” 10-3pm, and Wildlife Defenders animal exhibit- 12- 3 pm. The chicken BBQ dinners will be served from 11:30 til gone. Music performers are: bluegrass by Liz Friedel-10 am-noon, American folk by Dove Creek- 12- 3 pm, bluegrass by Pigeon Post String Band 3-4 pm.
Sunday activites are: 8 am Guided Bird Walk with wildlife biologist, Michael Fishman, 10am-professional wildlife photographer, Eric Dresser will present a power point program about the Birds of CNY. At 11 am-2 pm see Cindy Page’s Birds of Prey and visit with the animals of the Utica Zoomobile. 1-2 pm be enchanted by the Open Hand Puppet Theater production. Music includes: Ann Wieder on guitar 10-noon, from Africa the Songambale Drummers 12- 1 pm, bluegrass and more by Dharma Bum String Band 1-4 pm.
Both days take the free hay wagon ride to see the great blue heron rookery, see the Insect Fashion Show, play children’s games, create make ‘n take crafts with kids, see environmental exhibits, walk the trails, connect with nature, shop for Mother’s Day, eat and play in a country fair atmosphere.
For more information visit the GSC website: www.greatswamoconservancy.org, check us out on facebook or email at greatswampconservancy@gmail.com. Located at 8375 North Main Street, Canastota, NY 13032 the event is 3.5 miles from Thruway exit 34. Cost: $3 adults, $1 child under 12.