Feature Artists
Dmitri Kasterine (Participating as: Activity artist, Vendor artist)
Working mainly in the field of portraiture, Dmitri Kasterine has been a photographer for 70 years. Of the many notable people that he has photographed, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, Samuel Beckett, James Baldwin and Jean-Michel Basquiat have been published worldwide. While living in London, Dmitri shot stills for Stanley Kubrick on Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange and 2001.
1986, Dmitri left Britain to move to the United States, which he first visited on an assignment to photograph Mick Jagger in Los Angeles. Living in New York, he continued working for magazines and advertising companies, as well as pursuing personal projects. In 2000 Dmitri directed and filmed the documentary Out of the Pan, about Anthony Bourdain as he moved from chef to best selling author and television celebrity. In 2012, Newburgh: Portrait of a City, a book of photographs taken by Dmitri over 20 years was published by W.W. Norton & Co. In 2016, Dmitri completed the documentary Newburgh: Beauty and Tragedy.
Today Dmitri lives with his wife Caroline near Cooperstown, NY. He continues to take portraits, has gallery shows and gives talks around the northeast at libraries, schools, and art foundations. See more about Dmitri HERE.
All artwork and photographs copyright of the artist
John Wilkinson (Participating as: Quick Draw artist, Vendor artist)
I began to paint when on vacation with family at Wanaksink Lake in the Catskills, in 1981. I discovered an old wooden easel in our cottage, and decided to paint something. We went to a shop in Monticello and purchased a canvas, brushes and acrylic paints. I chose to paint our house in Schoharie, folk style, with no shadows, no perspective and simple lines. I didn’t paint anything else until around 1995, when I opened my shop, the Blue Heron in Schoharie. There I began to paint historic scenes, villages, and events around Schoharie County. In 2003, I published a booklet of my paintings called “50 Views of Schoharie County.” What I wrote in the introduction still is true today: I paint what I see. Always it’s what people in Schoharie County are doing, or what they used to do. I choose happy themes, happy colors and places that are familiar to those who know the County. I like to paint events, parades, everyday activities, our countryside and our beautiful villages and buildings. Sometimes I adapt themes from old postcards. I enjoy seeing how people react to the paintings. Often they tell me stories of their early memories, or give me ideas for new paintings. In my paintings the sky is blue, the grasses green and the people happy. That’s how the world should be, too. See more about John HERE.
All artwork and photographs copyright of the artist
Jonathan Stasko (Participating as: Quick Draw artist, Vendor artist)
Jonathan grew up exploring the hills and valleys of Upstate New York. History in the Northeast is as rich as the soil of the valley where he still lives and it wound itself into the young artist’s fantasies and drawings.
Supported in his passions by his family, he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art. Jonathan’s art is in private and corporate collections across the country and internationally. He is represented by multiple galleries and shows regularly throughout the US in exhibitions and competitions.
History remains a second passion for Jonathan, and he pursues its study and portrayal as a major theme in his work. Additional themes he enjoys include portraiture and New York landscapes.
Fundamental to Jonathan’s philosophy is that art be constructive in its purpose—that among its virtues is art’s ability to take humankind higher in its understanding of the divine and deeper in its compassion. Jonathan’s desire is to enrich and inspire the lives of those who view his art as he strives to visually communicate truth and love. See more about Jonathan HERE.
All artwork and photographs copyright of the artist