Embrace

Embrace is on exhibit from May 1 - August 1. Reception May 31 from 1pm - 3pm outside Dearlove Hall on the SUNY Adk campus.

Ronn’s latest sculpture, Embrace, differs from many of his past creations.  Not only is it one of his largest pieces to date - standing over 8 feet tall and weighing in at around 850 lbs - Embrace is a project that will end up challenging Ronn’s process from inception to reception.

Challenge #1: the grant

The funding for Embrace was made possible by a generous community arts grant from Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC), funded through the New York State Council on the Arts.

In October of 2025, we decided to follow through with something we had talked about multiple times before: apply for an art grant. Neither Ronn nor I had written a grant before, and I have to admit it felt intimidating even as someone who has long been a writer. The process turned out to be neither overly complicated nor difficult; it merely required thoughtful, concise writing. With the support, guidance and encouragement from LARAC’s Community Outreach and Grant Director, Kori Albrecht, and Executive Director Phil Casabona, the grant-writing challenge was a rewarding learning experience. In receiving the grant, Ronn accepted the challenge to his process and presentation as an artist.

Challenge #2: the location

Access to art is an important component of community culture. Our goal was to choose an exhibition site that would allow as much public access to the art as possible. In the spirit of the grant which encourages artists to work with a project that promotes growth, we sought to reach beyond the usual and familiar gallery setting. We decided to make a cold-call proposal for the sculpture to be exhibited on the SUNY Adirondack campus. 

The idea to install sculpture on the SUNY Adirondack campus aimed to reach beyond the typical art gallery population. At the same time, we rationalized that an artistic exhibit would draw people to SUNY Adk who might otherwise not set foot on campus. This collaboration would also enable Ronn to connect with the art education program including professors and aspiring student artists. Our proposal to Rebecca Pelchar, Chair of Arts, Media & Culture Division and Curator of the SUNY Adirondack Art Collection, turned out to be the right decision.  We are very grateful to Rebecca for her support of and collaboration with this project.  Her knowledge and guidance have been invaluable.

Challenge #3: the fabrication

Art has the power to unite opposites. Ronn’s work has always been a connection between his urban upbringing and love for nature; a combination of the fragile and the strong, bringing together steel and glass. Ronn was inspired to create a piece symbolizing community and connection. He also aimed to go bigger. While staying true to his commitment to the repurposing of discarded steel and glass, Ronn worked to produce a body of work that came together outside of his normal process. 

While most of his work results from spontaneous sketching with no fixed point of inspiration, this project was inspired by Ronn’s desire to engage and connect community. Creating sculpture from a predetermined theme challenged his typical method and presented an opportunity for artistic growth. The concept for Embrace was born from focused, early morning sketching which often began at 4am. The sculpting process began with the cutting of steel plate sourced from a Vermont scrap yard.

Challenge #4: the reception 

The life of an artist is not lived solely behind the scenes, in the studio. Artists attend opening receptions and are often asked to speak about their work. Ronn will tell you that he hates speaking in public.  It is something he struggles with and, at the same time, wishes he didn't. Yet, as part of this opportunity to grow, he will be giving a brief artist talk.

A reception to celebrate the culmination of this grant-funded project will be held on Sunday, May 31st from 1pm - 3pm, on the Lower Quad outside of Dearlove Hall. We hope you come to see the installation, meet Ronn and hear what he has to say about the inspiration for and process of creating Embrace.

Embrace was made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council. 

Spaces and Places 2024

Ronn often describes his work as a Phoenix: the new rising from the old; creations inspired by nature's artwork, repurposed and rebirthed into newness. Not only is this an accurate description of the sculpture he creates but also of his career as an artist. Ronn's path as an artist is the epitome of a Phoenix. Like the bird of myths, he has seen a regeneration of his work and career from the ashes of life events. As the cliche goes, when one door closes, another opens.

This has been the year of many newly opened doors.

January 2024 began with a feature in 518 Profiles Magazine - a beautiful six page spread featuring Ronn's story and his art. Also in January was LARAC's annual member show, "Day Dreamer". The closing of The Mountain Gallery in Glens Falls was marked with a beautiful ten-person select show which ran from February into March. The Laffer Gallery celebrated its twelfth year with "Renewal" which opened on June 29. It was an honor for Ronn to show alongside owner and artist, Erik Laffer for this milestone celebration. That same day marked the opening of the North Bennington (VT) Outdoor Sculpture Show for which Ronn was selected a second year running.

The closing of the W00d Hill Gallery's Bolton location this summer turned into a literal new open door when they revealed the grand opening of their Saratoga Gallery's relocation - just upstairs from their previous one on Broadway. Several of Ronn's sculptures are exhibited at Wood Hill.

In August, Ronn donated a sculpture to Saratoga Arts for their Annual Fundraiser Gala which we attended. Returning from a family trip to Madrid left Ronn inspired and motivated to create new sculpture for the Annual LARAC Juried Show, "Everything Now", which opened in October and ran through November.

With Ronn's acceptance into the New England Sculpture Association came The Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational show, and NESA's annual juried exhibition at Newbury Court in Concord, MA. The NESA membership opened other doors such as acceptance in the 4th Annual Inside and Out Exhibition at Whitin Mill in Whitinsville, MA. This show opens January 5th at the Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery and will showcase Ronn's sculpture "Rejuvenate".

Looking forward, Ronn has become a member of the Guild of Adirondack Artists which is a small group of local artists from the Glens Falls area. January 10th marks the opening of "Big Chill Redux" at Ti Arts in Ticonderoga, NY which will feature five sculptures from Ronn. In February and March, Ronn's work will be exhibited at The Laffer Gallery with a collection of other talented artists also represented by the gallery. Stay tuned for more details - you won't want to miss exciting new works in progress.

Gratitude goes to LARAC, The Chapman Museum and The Adirondack Salt Cave for continued support and exhibition space.

Thank you to all of Ronn's supporters. We wish you and yours a Happy New Year.

Muchas gracias, Madrid!

Intrigue and Inspiration in Spectacular Spain

Our family traveled to Madrid at the end of August for a semester abroad college drop off. What we knew was going to be a wonderful adventure and vacation turned into a week of considerable inspiration for Ronn. The center of Spain, one of the most populated cities in Europe with over three million people, became a catalyst for creation. While we spent most of our time in Madrid, we did take a day trip to Toldeo, a city that has protected its history through the preservation of architecture. One structure dates back to 999! We spent a good part of our day in the Santa Iglesia Cathedral where construction began in 1227. Inspired by the historical architecture, graffiti, and rusty objects most would overlook, Ronn took to sketching.

Another benefit of being an artist in Madrid are the museums. We visited Museo Nacional del Prado, Spain's national art museum and home to over 2,300 works of art from the 11th to the 18th centuries. More inspiring for Ronn, however, was Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia which is Madrid's modern art gallery of 20th century masters such as Dali and Picasso, a couple of Ronn's favorite modern artists.

Stay tuned for the results of our adventure, sculpture inspired by Spain.