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8/15/06
For Immediate Release:

Artists on the Rock
Artist Paintout on Bannerman Island
by E.Virginia Donovan

On August 12, 2006, a group of artists had a fabulous time painting on Bannerman Island. It was a perfect day: a little warm, a little breezy, the castle glowed, the sky was a glorious blue. A call for artists for a juried paintout attracted artists from Brooklyn, Long Island, Monroe, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie. Artists painted while on-island tours were conducted around them. They painted the Tower, the Residence, Twin Towers, the River, etc. It was a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Artists participating in this event were: Lee Haber, Brad Marshall, Walter Mosely, Linda Richichi, Mary Mugele Sealfon, Stephanie Koslow, Paul Bachem and Virginia Donovan. The outing was organized by Virginia Donovan. This paintout was a prelude to a Silent Auction to benefit the restoration and stabilization activities on Bannerman Island. The auction will be held on October 14 at a benefit dinner at Torches Restaurant in Newburgh. The paintings from this event and also provided by other area artists will be on display for early bidding at Bannerman Island Gallery, 150 Main Street in Beacon, NY, from September 29 - October 13. For information about the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, contact Neil Caplan at 845-234-3204.

Tours are made possible under a special arrangement with The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, through Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc., a "Friends organization" working with NYS Parks. Bannerman tours are available on weekends through October, departing from Newburgh and Beacon. For information on the tours, call Lynne Kirschoffer of Hudson River Adventures at 845-220-2120.

Photo: Artists on the Rock, Standing l to r: Stephanie Koslow, Paul Bachem, Brad Marshall, Linda Richichi, Virginia Donovan, Lee Haber. Down in front Walter Mosely, Mary Mugele Sealfon.

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9/05/06
For Immediate Release:

Art Show Opening in Mt. Kisco:
Hudson Valley Landscape Paintings
Local breast cancer survivor paints to celebrate life

Dates: Sept 1-30th, 2006, Reception Sept. 10th 3:30-5:30, all welcome
Location: Hudson Valley Flying Pig Restaurant, Mt. Kisco Train Station,
2 Depot Plaza, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549

From the moment she heard the words “You have advanced breast cancer,” Poughkeepsie resident, Stephanie Koslow was determined not to allow it to take over her life. Before her diagnosis almost two years ago, on any given weekend you’d find this avid nature lover hiking and exploring the nooks and crannies of the Hudson Valley. But her illness put a damper on that for a while. Looking for a way to cope with the sudden life changes of her illness, Stephanie began to paint the landscapes she so loved. “For me, finding painting was literally like finding a lifeline” says Stephanie, “It was something tangible and beautiful to cling to. Flowing from some deep-seated force within me, out it poured –color, light, and energy – not mourning what I'd lost, but celebrating the gift I’d been given – discovering the true artist within me, the excitement of finding a way to share my intense passion for the beautiful Hudson Valley where I live.” Painting primarily local landscapes, her artwork bursts forth with color, light and energy. Her distinctive style, with its dark ground and bright color palette is refreshing and inviting.

It quickly becomes apparent that her paintings are much more than landscapes – they carry a message of hope and inspiration for every breast cancer survivor. Especially for those living with advanced breast cancer, like Ms. Koslow. ”I want people to know that stage 4, advanced breast cancer isn’t the end. It can be a new beginning.” she says.

To remember all those who’ve also walked this journey, she’s hidden within each of her landscapes a tiny pink breast cancer survivor ribbon. With this gesture, much loved by fellow breast cancer survivors, she tells us that she’s painting for every woman who walks a similar path. Sharing her joy of life. “Nature speaks to me with passion, and I in turn, share the words I hear.”

Stephanie Koslow with some of her Hudson Valley landscape paintings
at the Flying Pig Restaurant in Mt. Kisco.

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9/20/06
For Immediate Release:

Longaberger Consultants join with the American Cancer Society in fund raising event
Local Artist and Breast Cancer survivor is Guest Speaker

Dates: Sept 24th, 2006 12- 4pm
Location: Thayer Hotel - West Point, NY

On September 24th, Stephanie Koslow will be the guest speaker at a fund raising event hosted by Longaberger Home Consultants to help raise funds for breast cancer research. This Champagne Brunch event is at the Thayer Hotel in West Point, NY. A local Poughkeepsie resident, Stephanie is both a Hudson Valley Landscape artist and a survivor of advanced breast cancer. With a theme of "Not Only Can We Survive, We Can Thrive", Stephanie will speak about her journey thus far, and how she turned a negative, terrifying experience, into a positive, joyful one, and the impact that finding painting had on her life. Says Stephanie, "Suddenly I saw beyond what I had painted. Here was a way to try to inspire women in similar situations. To let them know that advanced breast cancer isn't the end. It can be a new beginning."

"I began to hear how inspired my fellow breast cancer survivors were by my paintings and my words." she continues, "How my refusal to be brought down by this dreaded disease filled their hearts with hope and courage too. I couldn't ask to hear a more wonderful thing." With her art already showing at the Flying Pig Restaurant in Mt. Kisco, NY, Ms. Koslow continues to spread her message of hope as guest speaker at this event where she will have an audience of over one hundred people.

Beginning at noon, this event, which is hosted by a team of Longaberger consultants from the mid-Hudson Valley, is a part of a company wide campaign called “Horizon of Hope”. www.horizonofhope.com . Joining with the American Cancer Society for the twelfth straight year in the fight against breast cancer, The Longerbager Company raises funds from the nationwide sale of each Horizon of Hope Basket. To date, this partnership has raised over $12 million for the American Cancer Society and reached an estimated 18 million women with potentially life-saving information

Limited edition, hand signed giclee prints of Stephanie Koslow's artwork will be available for purchase with 10% of the purchase price donated to the American Cancer Society.

To purchase tickets for this event or a Horizon of Hope Basket, please contact Longaberger Independent Home Consultant, Gina Lacey at (845) 233-4113 or ginalacey37@yahoo.com

 

10/16/06
For Immediate Release:

Think Pink! Open Art Studio at Barrett Clay Works
Local Breast Cancer Survivor/Artist hosts Fund Raiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Stephanie Koslow, artist and breast cancer survivor, will have an open studio tour Saturday October 21st from 4 to 8 pm. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and “Think Pink!” is the theme for her studio that night with a portion of her proceeds going to the American Cancer Survivor. There will be several other studios of painters and potters available to visit that same night at Barrett Clay Works. The public is invited to tour the various studios and join the pink-themed party at Stephanie Koslow’s studio on the third floor.

Koslow began painting not long after being diagnosed with advance breast cancer, as a way to deal with the drastic life changes her sudden diagnosis brought about. Not long after, she realized she was onto something big -- she realized her paintings held a vital message for every woman who walks the earth fighting this beast – she began to hear from her fellow breast cancer survivors that her paintings sent them a powerful message of life and hope. “Suddenly I saw beyond what I had painted.” Koslow says, “Here was a way to let others know that stage IV, advanced breast cancer isn’t the end. It can be a new beginning.” By tucking a tiny, pink breast cancer ribbon into each of her paintings, she tells us she's painting for every woman who walks a similar path.

In two separate events, Koslow began her campaign last month to raise awareness that more and more women are living day to day with advanced breast cancer. She hosted an art show event in Westchester and was keynote speaker at a breast cancer fundraising event at the Thayer Hotel.

Living in Poughkeepsie, Koslow is a local Hudson Valley Landscape painter. Her unique style with its energetic strokes and vivid color palette convey her enthusiasm for nature, as well as for life. She will have original, framed paintings for sale, as well as hand-signed, limited-edition fine art prints of her artwork. Koslow plans to donate a portion of sales from Saturday’s open house to the American Cancer Society.

“I’m hanging on until they find that cure.” she says with a twinkle in her eye.