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A D V O C AT I N G F O R T H E G R E AT E R P U B L I C G O O D

2015ANNUAL REPORT

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The Citizens Foundation is a not-for-profit organization driven by the influence of its members. It was started over 40 years ago with one simple, but essential, message:

To improve quality of life for citizens of Orange County through public policy and advocacy.

Orange County is always changing, and needs a voice for its citizens. The Citizens Foundation is that voice. We strive to make Orange County the best it can be, and we have been the driving force behind many local organizations.

We are non-partisan, and provide open forums that generate conversation with thought leaders in business, the private sector, and government. Our goal is to help find workable solutions to our citizens’ top concerns. Various committees, led by our members and other members of the public, help fuel discussions on topics as they relate to Orange County:

• Healthcare• Water Management• Land Use

• Agriculture• Waste Management• Economic Development

• Transportation• Environmental Preservation• Cultural Affairs

Our Mission & Vision

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Table of ContentsMission & Vision

Table of Contents

Citizens Foundation Leadership

2015 Board of Trustees

A Message From Chairwoman Susan Hawvermale

Citizens Committees

A Message From President Nancy Proyect

2015 Quality of Life Report Card

Orange County Center of Business Innovation

Citizens Foundation Annual Events & Honorees

44th Annual Meeting & Cocktails on the Seligmann Lawn

21st Annual Ruth & James Ottaway Medal Dinner

7th Annual Placemaking Conference

1st Annual Oktoberfest Golf Outing

Citizens Foundation Public Outreach

Governance in New York State: REGIONALISM VS LOCALISM

PRE-TEEN & TEEN BEHAVIOR: When Should I Worry & How Can I Get Help?

Hambletonian Marathon

Citizens Foundation Making Great Places

Placemaking Tours

DOWNTOWN TURNAROUND: Creating Thriving Main Streets in a Changing Economy

Explore & Advance Orange County’s Trails

Citizens Foundation Chimes In On Sullivan County Beautification

The Seligmann Center

Seligmann On Display

Programs

Exhibitions

Oral History Project

Symposium

Into The Future

Citizens Foundation By The Numbers

2015 Membership

Events Sponsors, Major Donors, Grants

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CITIZENS FOUNDATION

LEADERSHIP

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s Susan Hawvermale, Chair

Justin Rider, Chair-Elect

Stuart Turner, Vice Chair

Robert Marchione, Treasurer

Andrea Nilon, Secretary

Brian Varley, Immediate Past Chair

Al Buckbee

Andrew Conti

Dominic Cordisco

Bonnie Croskey

Ed Diana

Lia Fierro

Jean Galli

Jo Ann Hamburg

Louis Heimbach

Maria Ingrassia

John Lavelle

Dan Mack

Joseph McPheter

Matthew Milnamow

Gaynor Rosenstein

Hon. Michael Sweeton

Sheila Warner

Ross Winglovitz

Bob Woods

Nancy Proyect, President

Bonnie Neucall, Executive Assistant

Olivia Baldwin, Seligmann Center Artist in Residence

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SUSAN HAWVERMALECHAIRWOMAN

Compelling. That’s what the Orange County Citizens Foundation is. One thing you can always count on, the challenges that the county faces receive as-tounding clarity when voiced through the Foundation. No one does the work that we do to present all sides of an issue.

These are engaging times for all organizations, and for the Foundation they are some of the more interesting. Our headquarters is on 50+ acres of the beautifully scenic Seligmann property, tucked away in the tiny hamlet of Sug-ar Loaf. It’s here that ideas are born and plans are created to bring as much knowledge about this dynamic county as possible to the public. And in the end, the Foundation helps establish strong policies for the future growth of Orange County.

In all the places I have lived throughout the United States, there has never been a resource that explores the issues and answers of my home territory like the Orange County Citizens Foundation. I have proudly been a member for over two decades, fascinated by the depth of research our committees do to throw daylight on the issues of our area.

There’s no question. The Foundation is unique, a group you belong to if you care about your county. Be a part of something big and join us as we explore the fascinating aspects of living in Orange County.

Susan HawvermaleChair of the Citizens Foundation’sBoard of Trustees

A Message From

LEADERSHIP

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AGRICULTUREAl Buckbee, Chair Rosemarie BagliaKristen Brown William Brown Joseph Coleman Michelle Gurda Michael Hayes Dan Mack Amy Noteboom Paul RuszkiewiczMichael Sweeton

ANNUAL MEETINGJo Ann Hamburg Susan Hawvermale Maria Ingrassia Eileen Kelly Janette McKay Andrea Nilon Linda Nilon

DEVELOPMENT/MEMBERSHIPAndrea Nilon, Chair Jo Ann HamburgMaria Ingrassia Sheila Warner

FINANCERich Capicchioni Andrew Conti Susan Hawvermale Scott Lask Bob Marchione Justin Rider Robert Woods

HEALTHCAREElaine McClung, Co-chair Gaynor Rosenstein, Co-chair Amy Anderson-WinchellJackie LawlerMichael LimperopulosJoseph McPheter Michael MelcerDarcie MillerJennie OssentjukJason RashfordJonathan SchillerChristine Wise

OTTAWAY DINNERAndy Komonchak, Co-chair Janette McKay, Co-chair Dennis Barnett Sarah Brosnan Andrew Conti Jim DittbrennerHeather GalageJean GalliMaureen Halahan Susan Hawvermale Louis Heimbach William Kaplan Brian Maher Susan Metzger Susan Najork Andrea Nilon Alan Seidman

PATHWAYSBurt Thelander, Chair Stacey CaltaJohn Czamanske Russell Hallock Andrea Nilon Al Propeack Cliff Robinson Rich Rose John Strobl Stu Turner

PLACEMAKINGMatt Milnamow, Co-chair Stu Turner, Co-chair Ross Winglovitz, Co-chair Christina Amato Jennifer D’Andrea Danielle Farrell Lou Marquet Regina McGrade Janette McKayAlan Sorenson Sheila Warner

SELIGMANNDan Mack, Chair Mary Altobelli Olivia Baldwin Joan BankemperBonnie Croskey Jean Galli Janet HamillSusan Hawvermale David HortonMarilyn Mandell Justin Rider Jerome Spector Dorothy SzefcJonathan Talbot Stu TurnerRobert Whitman

WATERDick McGoey, Chair Russell BuddBarry Cheney Tom Olley

Citizens Committees

NANCY PROYECTPRESIDENT

The year 2016 marks my 10-year anniversary as the president of the Orange County Citizens Foundation.

Since the very beginning, I have maintained my awe of the progress this organi-zation is able to make each year. I’ve learned that it takes all of us – our dedicat-ed Board of Directors, our valued members, our elected officials, and the team I work with here in the office each day – to make that happen.

Just when I think that we’re tapped out, that we’ve run out of ideas that can help make life better for residents of Orange County, an onslaught of initiatives and programming brings me back to reality. There’s always more to do, and that is so motivating.

Last year was no different. The Citizens Foundation was able to shed new light on Orange County’s quality of life, keep the public informed, develop compel-ling ideas, encourage collaborations, and advance strong policies.

We educated. We preserved. We created.

We like to think of it all as our “Something BIG” adventure, and you’re all on it with us.

In fact, our “Something BIG” adventure is SO BIG that it encompasses every one of the nearly 400,000 people who live here in Orange County.

We’re making life better, and we’re excited about what’s next.

We know you are, too.

A Message From

LEADERSHIP

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2015 Quality of Life Report CardThe Citizens Foundation released the 2015 Quality of Life Report Card in April, 2015. Although packed with valuable data, the Report Card is more than just statistics.

It tells Orange County’s story:

How hard we work.What we do to make ends meet.If we have enough food to eat.If we can afford our homes.How we raise our families.How our children are doing in school.If the air we breathe and the water we drink keep us healthy or damage us.If we are safe in our communities.

In some ways, Orange County excels, or at minimum, is doing pretty well. Most of our residents who can work, do. We enjoy a lot of open space and recreation. We don’t sit in too much traffic, our water is clean, and our air is safe to breathe. Still, there’s plenty we need to work on.

• Overall, Orange County had a low unemployment rate in 2016. Howev-er, close to a third of our school-aged children are eligible for free or re-duced-priced lunch. What that means is that our adults are working, but they are not bringing enough home to feed their families.

• The number of foreclosures in Orange County remains high, and almost half of the people who own homes in Or-ange County are considered to be in financial distress.

• A continued drop in public school en-rollments and the out-migration of our younger residents (between the ages of 25 and 45) persist. These demo-graphics reflect our younger families – a demographic we don’t want to lose.

Orange County’s story can only have a happy ending that includes better paying jobs, more affordable housing, and better transportation options. The Citizens Foun-dation will continue to track these trends, share our story, and devise alternative plot lines to get to the happily ever after that our future generations deserve.

The 2015 Quality of Life Report Card is available free of charge at occitizensfoun-dation.org. You can purchase a hard copy of the report for $25 by contacting the Cit-izens Foundation.

MAJOR FINDINGS:

• 6-7%: Unemployment rate

• 32%: School-aged children who are eligible for free or reduced lunch

• 6%: Decline in public school enroll-ment 2010-2013 (3.4%: decline in public school enrollment 2005-2010)

• 20%: Decline in 25- through 34-year-old residents 2005-2013

• 7.5%: Decline in 35- through 44-year-old residents 2005-2013

• 46%: Homeowners considered to be in financial distress

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In September 2014, the Citizens Foundation established the Or-ange County Center of Business Innovation (CBI). An all-volunteer organization, its mission is three-fold but with an overarching vi-sion to develop a united business voice in Orange County that will improve our economy. Our focuses are to:

• Enhance Orange County’s already-strong economic develop-ment efforts by incorporating agribusiness, tourism, educa-tion, housing, and other industries;

• Improve advocacy efforts by working with our legislators on regulations and laws that improve the business climate in Or-ange County, rather than reacting to legislation already intro-duced; and

• Working with local organizations focused on economic devel-opment and business growth to ensure everyone is working together and sharing services whenever possible.

In 2015, CBI experienced significant successes on several fronts. Some of those are outlined below:

• Hired two Mount Saint Mary College students as interns (thanks to the generous support of Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell and Advance Testing Company) to fo-cus on administration, research, and marketing

• Established a CBI scholarship with the Community Founda-tion of Orange and Sullivan Counties

• Tourism Economic Development: ⊲ Through a collaboration with the Orange County Partnership, Orange

County’s director of Tourism traveled to Wisconsin to explore a water park attraction candidate

⊲ Encouraged and applauded an increased budget for the Department of Tourism in 2016

⊲ Encouraged collaboration between the Department of Tourism and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce

⊲ Conducted tourism focus groups, which resulted in specific recommenda-tions to the County regarding tourism focuses and spending

⊲ Heightened awareness of “Airbnb”

• Began researching the role of a director of Agriculture to be held in the private sector, and supported by stakeholders

• Hosted quarterly Vision 2020 sessions to keep the commu-nity abreast of CBI, issues affecting the business community overall, and to gain input from the community on CBI focuses

• Conducted a session on workforce development with stake-holders

• Continued to build a relationship with the Orange County Chamber of Commerce to encourage its focus on advocacy, tourism, agribusiness, etc.

• Hosted an Economic Development Strategy Session with key stakeholders, including the county executive, to provide feedback and input on the Orange County Economic Devel-opment Plan

• Held discussions with stakeholders to eventually develop a county fair we can all be proud of

• Provided the county executive with recommendations for appointments for vacancies on both the Orange County In-dustrial Development Agency and the Foreign Trade Zone boards

The Citizens Foundation will continue to work with the CBI to en-hance the business community in Orange County as part of its own efforts to find a balance between economic growth and qual-ity of life for all of our residents.

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CITIZENS FOUNDATION

ANNUAL EVENTS & HONOREES

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The Orange County Citizens Foundation’s 44th Annual Meeting & Cocktails on the Seligmann Lawn brought together Foundation members, supporters, and guests to celebrate the past year, and to raise awareness of the Foun-dation’s ongoing quality-of-life initiatives.

Guests were encouraged to explore the Seligmann grounds and facilities, including the Seligmann home, onsite sculpture displays, and the Citizens Foundation’s Art Reference Library. In addition, they were also afforded the opportunity to preview two new exhibits, both rooted in Surrealism.

Those exhibits included:

• The Eventual Outcome of an Instant, featuring a series of site-specific sculptures by Artist Sue Wrbican (suewrbican.com); and

• A display of Kurt Seligmann’s own paintings, prints, and papers from the permanent collection of the Citizens Foundation.

There was also a trailer screening of Magnetic Mountain, the Seligmann Center’s documentary on Kurt Seligmann (in production). The documentary is being directed by Brandon Knopp and Seligmann Center Artist in resi-dence Olivia Baldwin, with cinematography by Robert Jakubik.

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ANNUAL EVENTS & HONOREES

THE LATE ANNE M. COON

As a result of her unparalleled commitment to arts and culture in Or-ange County, the late Anne M. Coon was selected as the 2015 Selig-mann Award recipient.

Ms. Coon, a dedicated community servant and passionate supporter of the arts, was involved in everything from helping showcase local talent to historical preservation. She was an artist, tireless member of count-less boards and committees, and a museum docent. Even in retirement, she worked as the Cultural Affairs coordinator at SUNY Orange’s New-burgh campus. Ms. Coon died in 2015 after a short illness.

Seligmann Award Recipient

“Ms. Coon’s creative spirit, civic pride, and

indefatigable enthusiasm for volunteerism

made her the perfect choice for this

year’s Seligmann Award. Though sad we

must bestow this honor posthumously, we

know that the positive impact Anne has

made on our communities and neighbors

has created a legacy that will live on for a

long, long time.”

-Nancy Proyect

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21st Annual Ruth & James Ottaway Medal Dinner

The 2015 Ruth & James Ottaway Medal was award-ed to Advance Testing Company Founder and Presi-dent James Smith, Jr. at the Orange County Citizens Foundation’s 21st Annual Ottaway Medal Dinner, held at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.

Mr. Smith, a well-known community business lead-er, has demonstrated three decades of community commitment, serving on the Board of Directors for numerous organizations including the Newburgh Rotary, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Partnership, Orange County Work-force Investment Board, Hudson Valley Boy Scout Council, Orange County Citizens Foundation, Mount Saint Mary College, SUNY Orange, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, Pattern for Progress, New York State Chapter of the Associated General Contractors, and the Construction Contrac-tors Association of the Hudson Valley.

The Ottaway Medal is named in honor of Ruth and James Ottaway, Sr., who set the bar for local com-munity involvement years ago. The couple helped to found the Orange County Citizens Foundation, and also lent personal and financial support to many oth-er community treasures.

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ANNUAL EVENTS & HONOREES

“Mr. Smith’s level of dedication to the Hudson Valley is an

inspiration to so many in our community; he gives back in

ways that truly make a difference.”

-Nancy Proyect

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In late March, the Orange County Citizens Foundation pre-sented its 7th Annual Orange County Placemaking Confer-ence, Placemaking From Concept to Reality to encourage community revitalization, downtown redevelopment, and the creation and preservation of great places in our region.

The event featured keynote speaker Robert G. Shibley, Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture & Planning, and winner of the 2014 Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture. In his keynote address, Mr. Shibley set the tone for the conference by describing revitalization efforts in the City of Buffalo and surrounding areas. He pro-vided an inspirational presentation focusing on the impor-tance of collaboration, flexibility, vision, and patience.

The event also featured panel discussions, with a diverse group of speakers including:

• Jeff McHugh, Mount Beacon Incline• Pete Berman, The Ruby Group• Denise Frangipane, Sullivan Renaissance• Lisa Silverstone, Safe Harbors of the Hudson• Supervisor William Herrmann & Kerron Barnes,

Town of Mamakating• Danielle LeClerc Moser & Megan Tennerman,

Orange County• Drew Kartiganer, Architect• Stuart Sachs, Sach’s Furniture

• Eric Jarmann, Newburgh Mercantile

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Placemaking Award RecipientsThe Citizens Foundation awarded cash prizes in recognition of individuals, organizations, and projects from the public and private sectors for making positive contributions to the creation of “places” in the areas where they live and work, through projects that exemplify placemaking concepts and practices.

• The Ruby Group and the Middletown Community Health Center received the Urban Revitalization Placemaking Award for the Pathway to Health Project at the former O&W Railroad station site in downtown Middletown. The project was honored for its elements of historic preservation, adaptive re-use, and community health in an urban setting.

• The Community Placemaking Award was presented to the Town of Crawford. The selection com-mittee chose the project for the way in which it engaged the public in developing a planned space that would benefit all.

• The Sugar Loaf Community Foundation was honored with the Beautification Placemaking Award. The Foundation was chosen for its efforts in creating new, inviting places through gateway gardens and flower plantings.

ANNUAL EVENTS & HONOREES

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The Orange County Citizens Foundation held its inaugural Oktoberfest Golf Outing on October 16th at the Winding Hills Golf Course in Montgomery. The round was heightened by a series of fun on-course competitions, including a “Lederhose-In-One” con-test. Golf concluded with a lively cocktail reception, which provided ample opportunity for networking and showing support for the Citizens Foundation and its ongoing programming.

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ANNUAL EVENTS & HONOREES

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CITIZENS FOUNDATION

PUBLIC OUTREACH

Governance in New York State:REGIONALISM VS LOCALISM

The conflict between regionalism and localism in government has been affecting our residents on daily basis without getting much attention. From economic development to emergency services and transportation, our municipalities and county are dealing with a move toward regionalism when traditionally our communities have been governed locally. It’s important to understand the chal-lenges, advantages, and impact to our communities as a result of this shift.

In late April, the Citizens Foundation hosted a discussion at the Se-ligmann Center on changes in governance throughout the State.

Wendell Cox, Principal of Wendell Cox Consultancy and Senior Fellow, Center for Opportunity Urbanism, and Dr. Gerald Benja-min, Associate Vice President for Regional Engagement at SUNY New Paltz shared their knowledge and views on the topics of re-gionalism and localism.

The discussion was moderated by former Orange County Execu-tive and Citizens Foundation Board Member Lou Heimbach.

Dr. Gerald BenjaminAssociate Vice President, Regional Engagement SUNY New Paltz

Wendell CoxPrincipal, Wendell Cox ConsultancySenior Fellow,Center for Opportunity Urbanism

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PUBLIC OUTREACH

H E A LT H C A R E F O R U M

PRE-TEEN & TEEN BEHAVIOR:When Should I Worry & How Can I Get Help?

Also in April, the Citizens Foundation hosted an informative discussion titled “Pre-Teen & Teen Behavior: When Should I Worry & How Can I Get Help,” at Touro College in Middletown. The healthcare discussion was led by a panel of Orange County healthcare leaders, including:

• Drs. Lisa & Nick Batson: Crystal Run Healthcare• Jackie Lawler: Epidemiologist, Orange County Department of Health• Darcie Miller: Orange County Commissioner of Social Services and Acting Commissioner

of Mental Health• Dr. Minoo Pedoem-Shapiro: New Windsor Pediatrics• Theresa A. Reynolds: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Orange-Ulster BOCES• Patricia Tuber: Assistant Director, Mobile Mental Health

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PUBLIC OUTREACH

The Citizens Foundation was fortunate enough to be a beneficiary of the third an-nual Hambletonian Marathon, held in Oc-tober through Goshen and Chester, and along the Heritage Trail. This year, we put together a public relations and market-ing committee to increase efforts on that front. Thanks to Kristin Doyle, Bill Braine, Mark Trocino, Kathleen Rifkin, Amy John-son, Jessica Fetoni, and Rosie Foster for contributing to our efforts!

Good Time Trotters Relay

Hambletonian®

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CITIZENS FOUNDATION

MAKING GREAT PLACES

The Orange County Citizens Foundation is proud to continue its efforts to support the creation of great places throughout Orange County.

Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design, and management of public spaces. It involves looking at, listening to, and asking questions of the peo-ple who live, work, and play in a particular space to determine their needs and aspi-rations. This information is then used to create a common vision for that place.

Basically, placemaking is creating great places where people want to live and work with community input at its core. The vision can evolve quickly into an implementa-tion strategy, beginning with small-scale improvements that can immediately bring benefits to public spaces and the people who use them.

Placemaking can create community, preserve the environment, and embrace the area’s heritage and culture. Every year the Citizens Foundation works diligently to promote non-motorized transportation and pedestrian connections in Orange Coun-ty through awareness, endorsement, and development of trails and sidewalks.

The Seligmann Center at the Citizens Foundation and the Orange County Heritage Trail, along with the Arboretum at Orange County Park, the D&H Canal Park, and theNeversink Valley Area Museum, are some of our placemaking successes.

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Placemaking Tours

The Citizens Foundation continued its Placemaking Tours across Orange County in an effort to help educate participants about how to apply placemaking in their own communities.

The guided walking tours feature presentations by community and government leaders about successes and challenges in making great places.

Revitalization or reuse of public spaces isn’t new, but often communities struggle with questions about how to bring improvement plans to life. Education is an essential component of successfully executing these efforts.

The tours, which include pre-tour presentations and guided walking tours, target community leaders, interested citizens, and local planning and zoning officials, and highlight how placemaking has been used effectively or could be improved upon.

Recent tours have been held in Tuxedo and Cornwall. Previous tours explored Middletown, Montgomery, Bea-con, Cornwall, Goshen, Monroe, Sugar Loaf, Walden, Pine Bush, and Warwick, as well as Ramsey, N.J. and Mil-ford, Pa. In Tuxedo, the tour served as a precursor to a more intense community planning effort there led by a diverse group of community members. In Cornwall, the Citizens Foundation worked with the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce to focus in on their role in the community.

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MAKING GREAT PLACES

The Orange County Citizens Foundation, in conjunction with the Newburgh Professional & Business Association and Re-Think Local, welcomed the public to a Placemaking Panel Dis-cussion, Downtown Turnaround: Creating Thriving Main Streets in a Changing Economy, on September 24th.

Speakers included local business owners and community advocates:

• Maria Luisa Whittingham; owner, Maria Luisa & ML• Nick Valentine; owner, Broadway Tailors• Agnes Devereux; owner, The Village Tea Room• John Gilvey; co-owner, Hudson Beach Glass

Local business plays a huge role in placemaking and the expe-rience of local business owners can provide significant input for other businesses and the community at large. Each panelist brought his or her unique story and perspective to the event, sharing ideas, provoking discussion, and providing inspiration to all who attended.

Creating Thriving Main Streets in a Changing Economy

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Explore & Advance Orange County’s TrailsIn early spring, the Orange County Citizens Foundation, in conjunc-tion with the Orange County Department of Parks & Recreation De-partment and the Orange County Planning Department, hosted a trails forum at the Town of Deerpark Town Hall.

Attendees had the opportunity to:

• Learn about trails/non-motorized transportation opportunities in western Orange County;

• Discuss efforts to promote collaboration with public and not-for-profit groups in Orange County and the surrounding region; and

• Ask questions and share suggestions for improvement and growth of the trail system.

Trails are incredible assets to our communities, not only for recreational, health, and environmental reasons, but also as economic and eco-tourism drivers. Collaborating actively to promote innova-tion in establishing non-motorized transportation options is vital.

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MAKING GREAT PLACES

Explore & Advance Orange County’s Trails

Citizens Foundation Chimes In On Sullivan County Beautification

Citizens Foundation President Nancy Proyect was honored to once again be included among experts from outside Sullivan County who evaluated projects competing in Sullivan County’s beautification and placemaking program, Sulli-van Renaissance. Some of the other judges included Citizens Foundation friends Town of Warwick Supervisor Mike Sweeton, RJ Smith, Deborah Sweeton, Village of Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard, Ann Smith, Mary Lewis, and Peter Patel. The judges – experts with horticultural and community planning knowledge – re-viewed dozens of projects to select those that would be awarded grants through a variety of Sullivan Renaissance programs. Sullivan Renaissance was created in 2001 as a beautification program that rec-ognized the power of flowers to not only beautify, but to foster community pride and volunteerism. The program continues to place a strong emphasis on design, sustainability, and long-term maintenance.

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The Seligmann Center at the Citizens Foundation has enjoyed significant growth over the last year.

Marked by new partnerships, and continued collaborations with Weinstein Gallery in San Francisco and Cornell University, the Center broadened its network and estab-lished its place in the field of surrealism.

Diverse programming, the expansion of the Seligmann Center’s permanent collec-tion, and the beginnings of a documentary on Kurt Seligmann were just a few of the many ways in which it continued to expand.

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Seligmann On Display

SURREALISM AND MAGIC

“Surrealism and Magic” was an exhibition that traveled from Cornell University to the Boca Raton Museum of Art, where it remained on display for several months.

Presented by the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art and Cornell University and curated by Andrew Weislogel and Laurent Ferri, the exhibition centered around Kurt Seligmann’s scholarship, interests, and artwork, and defined Seligmann as the magic and occult expert of the Surrealists. It also asserted his importance within the Surrealist movement. The Seligmann Center loaned a significant portion of the material in the exhibition, and was widely recognized for its contributions.

KURT SELIGMANN: FIRST MESSAGE FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD OF THE OBJECT

Weinstein Gallery presented “Kurt Seligmann: First Message from the Spirit World of the Object,” the first Amer-ican retrospective of Kurt Seligmann’s work in 54 years.

The Seligmann Center loaned the paintings “Amphitrite” and “Leporello” for the exhibition, as well as several photographs. Our team also assisted with research for the exhibition catalogue. Rowland Weinstein, who spent seven years building the exhibition, called it the achievement of his career. The opening events featured a roundtable discussion with scholars and authors Martica Sawin, Stephen Robeson Miller, Stephan Hauser, and Gallery Director Kendy Genovese, as well as a lecture by Martica Sawin.

The closing events included a screening of the “Magnetic Mountain” trailer, a lecture by PhD candidate Grazi-na Subelyte, and a screening of Thomas Bouchard’s film, “The Birth of a Painting,” which documents Selig-mann’s painting process.

The Center concluded the year with an exhibition of Seligmann’s work, which featured six paintings and five prints from the Seligmann Center’s permanent collection, as well as three loans from Weinstein Gallery.

Through the generous gifts of Stephen Robeson Miller, the Seligmann Center’s permanent collection has expanded to include more photographs and publications related to Seligmann. Two of Miller’s contributions included a photograph of Kurt Seligmann, taken by Irving Penn, and a postcard written to Seligmann from fellow artist Wols.

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THE SELIGMANN CENTER AT THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION

Programs

Throughout 2015, the Seligmann Center presented compelling programming and lecture series featuring regional, national, and international artists and notable scholars of surrealism.

Performers and presenters included:

The Seligmann Center also partnered with the Warwick Summer Arts Festival to present a poetry reading, live performance, mask-making workshop, and a film screening. In addition, the Center presented its first annual Surrealist Masquerade, in honor of Seligmann’s 115th Birthday and the Swiss tradition of Fasnacht (Carnival).

• Jack Walls• Janet Hamill• Jonas Bers• The Hudson Valley Jazz Players• William Seaton• Shie Moreno and the No Name Crew

• Steve Roe• The Metropolitan Hot Club• Big Kitty• Spreaders• The Naked Roots Conducive, and• many others.

ROBERT JAKUBICK, PHOTO BY JOHN MONTALVO, “SURREALIST MASQUERADE” 2015

PHOTO BY JOHN MONTALVO, “SURREALIST MASQUERADE” 2015

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Exhibitions

BY CHANCE

Artists Riva Weinstein, Lisa Breznak, and Mimi Czejka Graminki collaborated to present “By Chance,” an exhi-bition of fiber, ceramics, sculpture, performance, installation, and poetry investigating chance and celebrating the ephemeral.

HERMANOS ROMENO

“Hermanos Romeno” featured the paintings of Shie Moreno and his brother, Havana-based photographer Adonys Moreno Millan.

LAWS OF SYMPATHY

In her exhibition “Laws of Sympathy,” multimedia artist Katarina Riesing showed corporeally-based works in Kurt Seligmann’s studio, as well as looping videos in the guest house.

THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME OF AN INSTANT

The Seligmann Center collaborated with Washington, D.C. based artist Sue Wrbican to present “The Eventual Outcome of an Instant,” a social practice sculpture project. Wrbican’s students from George Mason University worked alongside locals to design, build, and erect a 20-foot sculpture based on the painting “Hyphen” by Seligmann’s friend and colleague, Kay Sage.

EXHIBITION IMAGE FROM “LAWS OF SYMPA-THY,” AN EXHIBITION BY MULTI-MEDIA ARTIST KATARINA RIESING

IMAGE FROM “SHIE MORENO & THE NO NAME CREW” PERFORMANCE, AUGUST 2015. AFRO-CUBAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING “HERMANOS MORENO” EXHIBITION

KATARINA RIESING, “FINGERS,” FROM “LAWS OF SYMPATHY”

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THE SELIGMANN CENTER AT THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION

Oral History Project

KURT SELIGMANN, KURT SELIGMANN WALKING TO STUDIO, SILVER GELATIN PRINT, CIRCA 1960

The Seligmann Center and documentary filmmakers Brandon Knop, and Robert Jakubik initiated an oral history film project that began with the goal of re-cording oral histories of those who knew or were influenced by the Seligmanns.

In time, the project has expanded to something more ambitious, encompassing scholarly perspec-tives and considerable research. Although still in production, the documentary team has made great progress in uncovering previously unknown materi-al, including audio of Arlette Seligmann from 1968. The feature-length film, “Magnetic Mountain: The Life and Legacy of Kurt Seligmann,” has a projected release date of January 2017.

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Symposium

The Seligmann Center presented a two-day sympo-sium which included a roundtable discussion with scholars:

• Martica Sawin• Susan Aberth• Jonathan Eburn• Stephen Robeson Miller• Celia Rabinovitch

There was also a lecture by Celia Rabinovitch, a screening of Thomas Bouchard’s “The Birth of a Paint-ing,” and a live printmaking demonstration of one of Seligmann’s plates on his etching press, performed by Jonathan Talbot.

The weekend was rich and stimulating and propelled discussion of the Seligmann Center’s future direc-tions. In response to the symoposium’s success, the Seligmann Center formed a Legacy Committee, com-prised of many of the participating scholars. The Lega-cy Committee is committed to facilitating partnerships and executing initiatives that further the Seligmann Center’s development.

KURT SELIGMANN, KURT SELIGMANN BOOKPLATE, ZINC PLATE ON WOODEN BLOCK, CIRCA 1943. DISCOVERED ON THE SELIG-MANN HOMESTEAD IN NOVEMBER 2014

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THE SELIGMANN CENTER AT THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION

Into The Future

The Seligmann Center’s 2016 calendar offers a dynam-ic exhibition schedule, the continued presentation of compelling, contemporary programming, and new part-nerships with New York University’s Gallery 80WSE, the Occult Conference of the Humanities, and Vancou-ver Art Gallery. We are grateful for the progress of the last year and look forward to continuing our work.

RIVA WEINSTEIN, HANGING BY THREADS, THREAD, METAL, ROD, WOOD, 2015 PART OF “BY CHANCE”

PHOTO BY JOHN MONTALVO, “SURREALIST MASQUERADE”, 2015

JACK WALLS AND JONAS BERS PERFORMING IN KURT SELIGMANN’S STUDIO

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CITIZENS FOUNDATION

BY THE NUMBERS

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Orange County Citizens Foundation, Inc. & AffiliateConsolidated Statement of Financial Position Dec. 31, 2014(with comparative amounts at Dec. 31, 2013)

2014 2013ASSETS

• Cash & cash equivalents $23,115 $21,596

• Accounts receivable $11,819 $8,155

• Investments $9,330 $8,727

• Property & equipment, net $1,145,565 $1,177,784

$1,189,829 $1,216,262

LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS

Liabilities• Accounts payable & accrued expenses $55,368 $24,019

• Deferred revenue $17,399 $50,000

Total Liabilities $72,767 $74,019

Net Assets• Unrestricted

• Undesignated $566,200 $591,381

• Board-designated $278,014 $278,014

• Permanently restricted $272,848 $272,848

Total Net Assets $1,117,062 $1,142,243

$1,189,829 $1,216,262

PATRON Advance Testing Co., Inc.Armistead MechanicalCatania, Mahon, Milligram & Rider PLLCChurch CommunitiesF. Edward DevittKaplan Family FoundationJames Ottaway, Jr.West Point Tours

SUSTAINER Burke, Miele & Golden LLPDeGraw & DeHaan ArchitectsEmpire State BankHDR Engineering, Inc.Hudson Valley Investment AdvisorsMedia Solstice, LLCMJJ Builders Corp.Orange & Rockland UtilitiesRieger Homes, Inc.Smith, Seaman, QuackenbushTango Under the TentTurner Miller GroupUlster Savings BankVanacore, DeBenedictus, Digovanni & Weddell, LLPWalden Savings Bank

CONTRIBUTOR Andrew ContiThe Badgley AgencyBarbara & Carl DuBoisBellvale FarmsCentral Hudson Gas & ElectricFellenzer EngineersJoel Finkelstein & Bonna HorovitzFocus MediaEdward F.X. GallagherVeronica & Ronald GalletlyJacobowitz & GubitsJo Ann HamburgLouis HeimbachHudson Valley Federal Credit UnionSusan & Richard LogothetisMcGoey, Hauser & Edsall Consulting EngineersJoseph & Janette McKaySusan NajorkAndrea NilonEileen & Steve Nixon

Nugent & Haeussler PCBonnie OrrPropinquity Associates, Inc.Rider, Weiner & FrankelRichard RowleyToshiba Business SolutionsValuation ConsultantsVisconti Bus Service, LLCWilliam A. Smith & Son, Inc.Sheila Warner

SUPPORTER Suzy AllmanChristina AmatoJoseph AmatoCharles BazydloBrandon BellKristina BellJack BerkowitzMelissa BonacicWilliam Braine & Claudia DepkinCraig BrownPaul CampanellaJohn CareyBarry CheneyCitizens for LarkinRandy ClarkDebra CorrClare CostelloJeffrey CristBonnie CroskeyEdward DianaErin & John DuffelMichael EganEP Jansen NurseryPaul Ernenwein & Hyun Chin KimRuben EstradaThe Exposures GalleryCathy & Sherm FarberNoreen FennellSpencer FernMichael FurmanFusco Engineering & Land Surveying PCJean GalliEdwin GarlingJoseph GiglioGail & Thomas GuarinoRussell HammondSusan HawvermaleHospice of Orange & SullivanJudith IngrassiaLouisa IngrassiaMaria Ingrassia

InspireMarlene & Gerald JacobowitzClaudia JacobsEllen & Graham JamisonJohn Vero AgencyPhillip JohnsonMark KalishRobert KrahulikLanc & Tully Engineering & Surveying, PCSandy & Ed LeonardDaniel MackMansfield Commercial Real EstateMaser ConsultingAnn & John MayoJohn McCareyElaine & Dr. James McClungJoseph McCormickJoseph Kerry McGuinessJanette McKayGeorge McManusJohn & Jen MemmelaarRoger MetzgerPaul MurrayNagpal Dental AssociatesNew Paltz Wines & SpiritsOccupations, Inc.Ben & Joan OstrerRichard ParryPete Mathieu & AssociatesPietrzak & Pfau Engineering & Surveying Dr. Paul PomerantzAndrew RegenbaumCarol & Mark RoeJohn Safe John SaftSedore & CompanyGraham SkeaJames SkoufisRoslyn SmithAlan SorensonMark StammH. Malcolm StewartStraub’s WeldingMichael SweetonDorothy & John SzefcE.J. SzulwachRobert ThatcherBurton ThelanderCharles ThomasMark J. TierneyVerticon Inc.Karen & Ian WallaceRichard Wallace

William WebberMichelle WeyantRoss WinglovitzScott Wohl

SENIOR SUPPORTER Dr. Michelle FigliomeniJohn GoodredsDr. Richard HullIngrid & Karl JacobAndrew Komonchak

YOUNG CITIZENS Cathy CollinsLyle ShuteChad Wade

STUDENTChloe Ann Ingrassia

2015 Membership

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William WebberMichelle WeyantRoss WinglovitzScott Wohl

SENIOR SUPPORTER Dr. Michelle FigliomeniJohn GoodredsDr. Richard HullIngrid & Karl JacobAndrew Komonchak

YOUNG CITIZENS Cathy CollinsLyle ShuteChad Wade

STUDENTChloe Ann Ingrassia

EV

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PO

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OR

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MA

JOR

DO

NO

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S Advance Testing Company

AGCNYS

Armistead Mechanical

Bank of America

Barton & Loguidice

Bonura Hospitality

BBG&G Advertising

Bruderhof

Judy & Al Buckbee

Catania, Mahon, Milligram & Rider, PLLC

Citizens for Larkin

Clark Patterson Lee

Clay Boone Woodcarving

Community Playthings

Construction Contractors Association

Couch White

Crystal Run Health Care

Courtnay & K. James Dittbrenner

Drake Loeb

Dyson Foundation

Empire State Bank

Engineering Properties

Fabricators, Erectors & Reinforcing

Joseph Giglio

Gillin Custom Design

Gladys & Roland Harriman Foundation

Hambletonian Marathon &

Good Time Trotters Relay

Jo Ann Hamburg

Hudson Valley Builders

Maria Ingrassia

Kaplan Family Foundation

Eileen Kelly

LAN Associates

M&T Bank

Mary W. Harriman Foundation

Masterwork Home

Media Solstice, LLC

MJJ Builders Corp.

Mount Saint Mary College

Museum Village

Susan Najork

Andrea Nilon

Northern Windows

Orange & Rockland Utilities

Orange County Association of Towns, Villages & Cities

Orange County Community College

Orange County Partnership

Orange County Trust Company

Orange Regional Medical Center

James Ottaway, Jr.

RJ Smith Realty

Rider, Weiner & Frankel

Riverside Bank

Roger Showalter

Sloan Publishing

St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital

Sullivan County Partnership

Tallie Carter Law

Taylor Biomass

Thalle Industries

Tilcon New York, Inc.

Transit Construction

Turner Miller Group

Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell

Verticon

YMCA of Middletown

Walden Savings Bank

West Point Tours

William A. Smith & Sons

Yonkers Contracting

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23-26 White Oak Drive • PO Box 525 • Sugar Loaf, NY 10981-0525845.469.9459 • info@occitizensfoundation.org