Events

Gallery hours through September (during exhibitions):
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday: 1 – 4 p.m.

Check out our new What’s Happening page for images of recent events!


Mixed Media to Music
Instructor: Bill DeMott

Saturday, March 30
10 am–noon

All materials will be supplied.

$10 per participant

All ages are welcome; children under 12 should attend with a participating adult.

Class size is limited to 8 people; first come, first served.


It’s like 2 hours of SPA TIME for your mind! Bring your own coffee or other beverage! We’ll supply all the materials and the inspiration. Make art along with a variety of guest instructors. No experience necessary!

All ages are welcome; children under 12 should attend with a participating adult.

Saturdays 10:00-noon, $10 per person

Class size is limited to 8 people, first come first served.

April 6How to Keep a Sketchbook with Cris Metcalf
April 13Collage Landscapes with Marylynn Jones
April 20TBA
April 27Your Pet in Soft Pastels with Lee Shelton

Are you interested in teaching a class? No teaching experience is necessary, just a passion for art! Show someone a new technique, a new medium, a new subject! Please contact the AAO at info@oswegoarts.org and let us know what you’d like your Art with Coffee to be!


The exhibit has been hung, the opening has been celebrated, and the results are in for the 27th Annual Lakeside Statewide Juried Art Exhibition!

The AAO was jumping on the evening of March 16 for the opening of the show. Artwork from all over the state is on display in both the downstairs Kirk Beason Gallery and the upstairs Timothy McHenry Gallery. The Jimi Marley Trio entertained everyone with their mix of reggae, Americana, eclectic, and blues while visitors took in the wonderful diversity and talent of New York artists.

Photos of the winners are here.

Photos of the opening reception are here.

Come see the art in person, now through April 14!


Instructor: Brandan Meyer

This class will introduce students to the potter’s wheel; preparing clay, learning to center and creating a cylinder. Once a cylinder is achieved, students will learn about basic utilitarian shapes through demonstrations. Students will also learn about drying clay properly, trimming the base of pots, kiln firing and basic glazing techniques. Students who have taken one class are welcome to continue in order to improve their wheel skills.

This 6-week class meets on Sundays, 4–6:30 PM,
from March 24 – April 28, 2024

$200 members
$230 non-members

To register for this class, click here.

  • Class size limit: 6
  • Age and/or skill level: adults = 16+, no prior ceramics experience necessary
  • Class fees include ONE free Open Studio session per week for the duration of the class, and 2 free Open Studio sessions to be used after class ends to finish up projects made in class. These studio allowances are offered on a “use it or lose it basis” – they may not be carried forward to another week. Additional Open Studio time must be paid for at the current going rates.
  • Interested in receiving discounts by becoming a member? Please check this page: OswegoArts.org/membership.
  • Pre-registration & pre-payment are required. We cannot hold a class at these costs unless we have a minimum of 4 students. You will have the option to pay immediately directly from the registration form using PayPal, or pay later using a check or money order. If the class is cancelled by the AAO, or if you cancel at least 7 days prior to the first class, your entire payment will be returned. Payments are otherwise non-refundable.
  • PLEASE NOTE: You won’t be able to get back into the registration form later to pay electronically. You can use PayPal as a guest without signing up for an account.
  • Checks or Money Orders should arrive at least 7 days before the start of class. If there are fewer than 7 days before class starts and you want to pay by check, you need to contact us first. Checks should be made out to “AAO” and mailed to us at: PO Box 271, Oswego NY 13126. Please note the class name & participant name on the memo line of your check.

2023 Best of Show and an award of $300 went to Sarah Martin of Sterling, NY for her oil and acrylic called Balance

2024 Accepted Works List:
Click here!

Wednesday, February 21Deadline for receipt of online entry materials and fees (by midnight) 
Monday, February 26List of accepted works posted on the AAO’s website by 6 PM 
(This is the only method of notification for accepted works.) 
Friday, March 8Hand-delivery of accepted works at the AAO from 10 AM to Noon 
Saturday, March 9Hand-delivery of accepted works at the AAO from 10 AM to Noon 
Saturday, March 9Deadline for receipt of accepted artworks by mail 
Saturday, March 16Exhibition opens with a reception from 7 to 9 pm (with awards at 8 pm) 
Sunday, April 14Exhibition closes at 4 PM
Sunday, April 14Pick up work at the AAO from 4 to 6 PM* 
Monday, April 15Pick up work at the AAO from 6 to 8 PM* 
Monday, April 15Return of shipped artwork begins 
*Any work not picked up within 30 days will become the property of the Art Association of Oswego.

February 23 – March 7, 2024

Opening reception: Friday, February 23, 6–8 pm

Suzanne Gaffney Beason combines floral inspiration with a lifelong attraction to abstraction in this exciting show. This solo show will begin in the downstairs gallery and continue upstairs in the main gallery as well. The opening for the show intentionally coincides with the 2nd Annual Women’s Voices event so it’s sure to be an entertaining and welcoming mix of friends and art lovers. Stop by after 6 pm on Friday, Feb. 23 at the AAO for the opening reception, partake in some light refreshments, and meet the artist and the performers.

Suzanne holds her MA and BFA in Studio Arts from SUNY Oswego. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Art History and Design. Suzanne moved to Oswego in 2015 after a wide-ranging career in publishing in NYC.


Open Studio:
Pottery–Mondays and Thursdays, 5–8 pm
Classroom Studio–Wednesdays, 10 am–2 pm

Looking for some time to focus on your art?  Members can utilize the AAO facilities to participate in a non-structured creative environment with the potential to collaborate with others who share their medium of choice, information sharing, art talk, learning a bit about other’s mediums, building an art community, and overall artistic enrichment. This is not a formal class as members are expected to work independently.

Participants must bring their own supplies, drop cloths, tablecloths, or whatever is necessary to protect the studio from spills.  For the safety of all, no noxious chemicals such as turpentine, markers, or mediums that create a lot of dust, or fixatives will be allowed. Odorless mineral spirits (OMS) are permitted if kept in a sealed container of no more than 2 ounces.  Members will also be responsible for leaving their work area as they found it. Any rags with OMS should be removed from the building by the member and disposed of properly at their homes.

Participants under the age of 18 must have their parent’s permission.

Cost:

  • Pottery Studio: $10/session, $50/month.
  • Classroom Area: Free for members, $5 for non-members

Hope to see members out in full, creative force!


Gallery Sitters Needed!

Gallery hours are Saturdays 10 am – 1 pm and Sundays 1 – 4 pm
during exhibitions.

Gallery Coordinator: Cris Metcalf: cmetcalf317@gmail.com

Gallery Sitters open the door, turn on the lights, put out the Open flag, and welcome visitors to the exhibitions.

We have a guide and will show you what you need to know.

It’s also a great time to work on your own art, writings, musings, or what have you. Explore the internet on one of our new Macs, chat with visitors, stand on the deck and take in the beautiful view of the fort. You might even catch a softball or baseball game across the road!

Please sign up to gallery-sit during exhibition hours. For more information, click here.
Click here to go to the sign-up form.
Thank you!


Interested in Plein Air?

Aspens by Kim Rossiter

Anytime is a great time to get out and create art while enjoying the great outdoors!  

If anyone has an interest in plein air painting and drawing, as well as doing some photography shooting, then come on and join in. Kim Rossiter goes outdoors to paint and draw often and is looking for others who would like to join in. Participation is very informal where all you need to do is text Kim with your phone number and she will contact you prior to every outing. The venues will vary throughout Oswego County as well as the days and times being weather dependent.  Everyone and all mediums are welcome and no prior experience or fee is required.

Kim can be reached at 315-593-5609.