Village of Warwick names Dramatis/Poet Laureate and Artist of Residence

WARWICK — In April, the Village of Warwick posted a call for a Poet Laureate and Artist of Residence, whose criteria includes one or many of the fine arts discipline.
As Mayor Michael Newhard noted: "The creative individuals hidden in Warwick once again stirred and answered, sending us their portfolios and offering their dedication. We sifted through many exceptional applications and were met with difficult decisions.
"Nonetheless, we are pleased to announce our two newest Artist in Residence and Dramatis/Poet Laureate into Warwick. We are proud of their talent and what they will bring to Warwick culture," the mayor added. "The three we have chosen, boast an incredible array of talent. Their artist footprint is seemingly everywhere, yet they are all beautifully distinct from one another, providing us with unique collaborative possibilities."
Dramatis/Poet LaureateDonna Haley has lived in the village for 27 years bringing her jubilant nature. She has been inspiring and garnering talent in all age groups with her charismatic teachings in The Warwick Actor Training School since 1996.
Haley is an established actress with an impressively long resume, appearing on Broadway, in commercials, and even in the well-known television show, "Law and Order."
She is a leader and encourages collaboration, as suggested by her open-porch policy when she paints in her free time.
Haley proposed a creative project based on “Spoon River Anthology” by Edgar Lee Masters as a springboard for a dramatic piece using “Warwick Stories.”
"It is the poetic and theatrical nature of the project," Newhard said, "that inspired us to choose Ms. Haley as our Dramatis/Poet Laureate for 2018."
Artist of ResidenceThe Artist of Residence blend disciplines from different ends of the spectrum.
Peter Liepke originating from Minneapolis Minnesota, is a fine art photographer and print maker.
He has lived in Warwick for 19 years. He maintains a classical approach using traditional methods of color film processing and rare forms of 19th century print making through his own custom lab at home.
His work has been published around the world and is sold in galleries throughout the United States.
His Artist in Residence colleague is Elliot Belokostolsky, born and raised in Warwick. He is an up-and-coming abstract mixed media artist with bold taste and direction.
A graduate of SUNY Orange and Oneonta, his work is driven by a will to escape the confines of reality, barring all rules. His work evolves through a direct reflection of his mind and emotions, creating work with the purpose and power to invoke.
"The Village of Warwick is thrilled to have these new artists representing the future of Warwick’s artistic culture," the mayor concluded. "The diversity in their talent will offer us creative content that will be an inspiration. We have asked the three creative talents to collaborate on an inspired rendition of Ms. Haley’s proposal of an Anthology of Warwick Stories. "
(See related story - "Call to the Warwick Community" on page one.)