Troy lights up to celebrate community
By: Michael Groissl
Staff Writer
The streets of Downtown Troy were filled with lights and laughter as members of the community were drawn to Troy Night Out.
The monthly arts and culture event takes place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the last Friday of every month. Attendees were able to enjoy countless art events, music venues, fine restaurants as well as unique boutiques of all varieties.
Various businesses participated in brightening up their windows with different lights to represent the Winter Lumify theme for February.
The Arts Center of the Capital Region had an assortment of activities lining the streets, including a long-exposure experience where you hold a pose for 10 seconds, then someone takes a long LED light and draws around you.
Zachary Pearson, an RPI graduate, set up different light installations around Downtown Troy for the event. He worked with local business owners to highlight their business through a light-medium.
A modern dance concert, “At First Glance,” was put on by difference local choreographers. Maggie Ciambrone, one of the choreographers, has been participating in Troy Night Out for about four or five years.
Ciambrone’s favorite part about Troy Night Out is the opportunity it gave her to work with friends and create something new. She doesn’t often get the chance to put her work on display. According to Ciambrone, it’s an amazing opportunity, especially given that it’s free to the public.
“IN PLY,” an art installation at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, will be on display until April 5. There are 78 different styles of skate decks in the exhibit by various artists from the area. David DiPasquale, one of the local artists, worked on some of the skate decks, as well as a mural that he collaborated on with Sean Chilson.
“They built a skate ramp just for the art show,” DiPasquale said. “It provides the local skaters somewhere to skate indoors during the winter and get to be surrounded by all of this awesome art.”
During the show, DiPasquale and Chilson did a skate demo. Local skaters showed the audience different tricks on the halfpipe. The halfpipe will be available for public use until April 22. After that, they hope to find a good home for it.
Some other actives included were the Do It Yourself screen printing, blacklight activity and art station, live painting, a screening of “Virgin Blacktop: A New York Skate Odyssey” and live music.
Troy Night Out is one way to enjoy the arts and culture in the community. Don’t miss next month’s Troy Night Out!
Visit downtowntroy.org/troy-night-out/ for more information.