The National Museum of Dance has
planned a citywide arts project for 2013,
called Saratoga En Pointe.
While Saratoga Springs may sometimes
be thought of as a city solely identified with
horse racing, it is also well recognized as
an important location within American
history both as a distinctive source of healing
mineral waters and as an ever-growing
hub for arts and entertainment, museum
officials said.
Saratoga En Pointe will be highlighting Saratoga’s rich dance history by introducing 24 five-foot-tall pointe shoe sculptures to the landscape.
The city is home to the only museum in the country solely dedicated to the art of dance. It is also home to the only dancespecific Hall of Fame. The city’s dance history is further extended by the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which has welcomed New York City Ballet each summer for nearly 50 years. Furthermore, Skidmore College has a nationally renowned dance program and welcomes world renowned companies and artists annually.
Museum Board President Michele Riggi envisioned the new way of celebrating Saratoga’s diverse cultural offerings and was inspired by the already existing horse sculptures that tout the thoroughbred racing industry.
A committee organized by the museum recently selected a diverse group of artists to apply various themes and techniques to the fiberglass forms. The artists are all locally based and propose to use everything from mosaic to metal to make the sculptures. Many will paint in lifelike styles, while others plan to explore abstract visuals.
In coming weeks each artist will be paired with a sponsoring organization or individual to select installation sites across the city. Anyone interested in sponsoring a shoe can contact the museum offices at 584-2225 or info@dancemuseum.org
Funds raised by the project will help preserve the integrity of the museum’s historic building and allow it to continue to bring arts to the community through its many exhibits and programs. A grand unveiling of the sculptures will be held at the museum on May 31. They will then be delivered to their permanent homes throughout Saratoga Springs.
The National Museum of Dance will reopen to the public for the 2013 season on March 19. Current office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information about the museum’s upcoming exhibits and events, visit www.dancemuseum.org or call 584-2225.