By Mark Reynolds
Amy Dooley opened Studio 89 in 2021 and has created a thriving artist run workspace, gallery and shop in the hamlet of Highland. Her studio has become a focal point for local artists who work in a variety of mediums.
This month Dooley is showing a diversity of art work, calling this annual event her “Holiday Maker and Artist Market.” She has gathered together works by artists mostly from Highland and some from the greater Hudson Valley.
“We have pottery, clay and acrylic jewelry and paintings. Some are a little bit more conceptual, like wall hanging sculptures,” she said. “And I have one big painting by my daughter, who is in grad school for art at NYU.”
Dooley has her own pieces of pottery on display, with some fired in an Anagama Wood Kiln.
“There are a few people in the country who have these very large Japanese kilns,” she said. “You need a group or people to work these kilns because they run 24 hours a day and you have to feed it with wheelbarrows of wood about every five to ten minutes. You have to get it to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit.” Dooley travels to New Prospect Pottery in Pine Bush to use just such a kiln that is owned by Lynn Isaacson.
“It’s a community type of firing where bunches of people put in all of their pieces and we work the kiln together and have breakfast and lunch together. Those who do the night shift often sleep over,” she said.
Studio 89 is located at 89 Vineyard Avenue and is open on Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m.; Thursday 1 to 6 p.m.; Friday 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. They can be reached at 845-594-7807 for more information.