The Center Arts program supports LGBTQ artists as well as brings art into education on LGBT issues in the broader community.
Center Arts currently includes:
- Romaine Brooks Gallery
- Progressions Concert Series
About the Romaine Brooks Gallery
The Romaine Brooks Gallery at the Pride Center of the Capital Region is a gallery dedicated for a creative space and outlet for LGBT artists and themed work. The Gallery is coordinated by Alan Ilagan and is a participant of Albany’s 1st Friday-a free cultural event in Albany featuring numerous gallery openings, one-night shows, local shops, restaurants, and live entertainment. Check out the 1st Friday website for more details about the celebration: www.1stfridayalbany.org. The gallery is located on the third floor of the Pride Center and is open during Rainbow Café drop in hours, 6-9PM Saturday-Wednesday and 9-10PM Thursday and Friday.
About the Gallery Manager
Alan Ilagan is a young, gay professional who is passionate about the arts. He has volunteered his time with the Pride Center of the Capital Region’s Romaine Brooks Gallery for three years. Alan works at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and in his free time he enjoys reading, writing, and photography as well as theater and music. He also enjoys gardening and letter-writing, which he considers to be a lost art.
Alan became involved with 1st Friday Albany and the Romaine Brooks Gallery through a connection with Michael Weidrich. He had been taking photographs for about twenty years and incorporating them into projects, and after making the 1st Friday rounds for a few months he finally decided to take a chance and see if he could get a show at a gallery. He met Michael in 2008 and when he mentioned he was looking for a gallery manager, he started volunteering and shadowing him for the next few 1st Fridays. In September 2008 he had his first solo show, and also assumed the position of manager at the Romaine Brooks Gallery.
The first thing that Alan is most passionate about is the opportunity to showcase artists who may not have a viable outlet elsewhere. He’s heard from a number of our featured artists that the work they present at the Romaine Brooks Gallery would not be suitable or even allowed at other venues. The Romaine Brooks Gallery is a home and proud showplace for all artists, no matter the medium, the subject, or the controversial nature of the work.
2011 Featured Artists
January Adam VanBuren
February Thomasa Nielsen
March Michael Cincimino
April Sean Breen
May Rob Martin
June Pride Show
July Tim Schapker
August Rene Capone
September Susan Shafer
Current Artist
How to Exhibit Your Art in the Romaine Brooks Gallery
If you are interested in having your artwork showcased at the Romaine Brooks Gallery please contact Alan via e-mail – alanilagan@hotmail.com and include samples of your work and a proposal for a show idea. Visit Romaine Brooks Gallery on Facebook for more information!
About the Progressions Music Series
For many years, the Progressions concert series has brought LGBT musicians to the area for a range of performances. This component of the Center Arts program has expanded to collaborate with performing arts centers all over the Capital Region. Through a partnership with WAMC’s Linda Norris Auditorium, we are able to bring some of the biggest up and coming names in music (Melissa Ferrick, Cassidy) as well as movie screenings and panel discussions. The Pride Center was also pleased to be a part of Proctor Theater’s Q-Fest, the first of a planned annual LGBT film festival.
Past Progressions Events
June 2007 Adrianne w/Gregory Douglass
May 2007 Coyote Grace and Courtney Robbins
April 2007 Jules Piper w/Carlyn Hutchins
March 2007 Namoli Brennet & Liz Stahler
February 2007 Pamela Means w/Broadcast Live
December 2007 Christine Havrilla & Erin Harkes
November 2007 Jeremy James with Nathan Duprey
October 2007 Mara Levi, Liz Snavely, & Camille Bloom
September 2007 Andrea Paquin & Arjuna Greist
May 2006 Lindsay Mac w/Arielle Silver
April 2006 Mieka & Jules Piper
March 2006 Jeremy James & Mara Levi
January 2006 Kate Peterson & Sarah Cleaver w/special guest Namoli Brennet
November 2006 Adrianne and Nervous But Excited (Kate Peterson & Sarah Cleaver)
October 2006 Andrea Gibson & Katie Sawicki
September 2006 Chris Pureka w/Jeremy James
