Beacon Free Loop Features the Work of Local Artists at Bus Shelters

Date Published: May 2, 2019

In August 2018, BeaconArts launched the Beacon Free Loop in the vibrant, revitalized riverfront city. It’s no secret that Beacon has become one of Dutchess County’s hotspots, offering visitors with a charming, walkable Main Street featuring boutique shops, art galleries, craft beverages and eateries, which is why it seems like a no brainer to incorporate a free hop-on, hop-off transportation system. The bus route allows people easy access to attractions like Dia:Beacon, Mount Beacon, Main Street and the Howland Cultural Center from the train station.  We were beyond excited when we heard about BeaconArts’ initiative to feature the work of five local artists at the different bus shelters throughout the city. What a wonderful way to highlight local talent and expose it to both visitors and residents alike. The subject matter of the artwork ranges from climate change and flowers to the beauty of Beacon.

Featured artist, Theresa Gooby, believes that “by bringing art out of the gallery and into a public space that is normally used for advertising or just plainly overlooked, maybe we can brighten someone’s day. Maybe we can make someone’s commute a little more interesting.” Gooby’s work, “Majorettes” can be seen at the shelter at Forrestal Heights on Wolcott Avenue.

Susan Walsh is another featured artist, who expressed, “I was very excited to have my work, ‘Wind Drawing,’ on this bus shelter because it calls attention to what we shield ourselves against wind or rain, for instance,” says Susan Walsh. Walsh has an MFA in photography and is known to incorporate the relationship between the sun, shadows and time in her pictures, capturing the passage of time “through an observable change in natural phenomena.”

As an artist who found an interest in art when he was 12 years old, Zachary Skinner, creates art mainly centered on big global issues such as climate change, pollution, sustainability, and more. His goal is to show viewers that they have a voice and should use it to vocalize their ideas and thoughts, especially those of younger generations who will be inheriting this planet in the future. When describing “Anthropocene,” his piece for this project, Skinner stated that “Three aspects of climate change are increasingly violent storms, resource scarcity, and desertification. All three are encoded within this painting of water collection tents besieged by a fierce storm within an arid landscape.”

Adam Lister talking about his hope to help promote what’s new in Beacon by stating, “My work deals with deconstruction and reduction, taking familiar subjects and breaking them down into an organized set of geometric shapes. I was honored to participate in this project. As a Beacon resident, it is very special to contribute a piece of my work to help promote new things here in the city.”

Kyra Husbands is a recent graduate of Beacon High School and is currently studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York. During high school, Kyra was involved in her school’s art club and participated in programs at Dia:Beacon where she got the opportunity to collaborate with peers. One of her biggest honors thus far in her career was having her work displayed in the Black History Month art show at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon for three years in a row as one of the youngest artists. “My piece symbolizes the positivity, happiness, and overall growth,” says Kyra Husbands about her artwork, “Untitled,” on the bus shelter, “my mom didn’t know what would be in her life at one point when things may have seemed uncertain, which is what I wanted to show on the left with the image of my mom.”

The Beacon Free Loop launched in August of 2018 with the goal of 

providing unlimited free rides for both residents and visitors of Beacon, NY. The Free Loop bus is a collaboration between the City of Beacon, BeaconArts, and Dutchess County. BeaconArts’ goal is to help visitors easily discover what makes this area so special. Residents use the bus to get to and from the train for their commute as well as parking-free access to Main Street. The bus operates Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to all ages. The project was made possible, in part, through funding from Dutchess Tourism, administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.

For more information, visit beaconarts.org

Information for this Spotlight provided by BeaconArts.