So I found myself recently sitting in the (very) darkened interior of the Rosendale Theater, madly scribbling notes that would later prove to be barely legible. But I wasn't there to review a film—I was trying to process a rapid-fire stream of images and information in the first-ever Slide Slam sponsored by the newly formed Rosendale Artists Group (RAG).

Twenty artists, invited by RAG's three "curators" (Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Laura Moriarty, and Jill Parisi) presented selections and explanations of their work to an audience of 70 or so interested onlookers.

As the range and depth of the work on view became apparent, once again I couldn't escape the feeling that we've got an enormous pool of artistic talent here in the Hudson Valley. Painters, photographers, printmakers, sculptors, and those who transcend all categories—they're all here, in abundance. This density of talent has something to do with the number of people moving up from New York City (at least since 9/11), but it has even more to do with the open and accepting communities—and arts organizations—that have provided fertile ground for these new flowers to spring up. But perhaps the most striking thing about this scene is the struggle that the vast majority of these talented people have in making a real go of their artwork. Periodically at the slide slam, a stray comment would creep in, like "I did this series in response to my social work clients" or "She works on production jewelry, but this is her artwork."

I'm not saying that just because somebody wants to be an artist, society owes them a living (although that might be nice, at least if the artist is talented!). But there's something very wrong when a person can easily blow $10,000 at Best Buy on a plasma-screen TV and entertainment center but has a hard time even thinking about plunking down $500 for an original work of art.

One of the major draws of this area is its cultured, art-friendly environment. On any given weekend, there are a slew of new gallery openings and other art-related events, reasons to get out of the house, look at some new things, and maybe even get to know some of the other members of the community while you're out there. The art scene has come to serve as an essential type of social connective tissue here, something that stimulates and energizes the place. Ironically, it's also one of the desirable elements driving the current crazy real estate market—bringing higher property taxes, which ultimately drive out lower-income, long-term residents, a group that quite often includes artists.

If you're the proud new owner of your own little corner of Hudson Valley heaven, then it seems only proper to anticipate your ultimate karmic return by supporting local artists—and this isn't at all complicated—by actually buying their art.

In recent years, farmers have done a fantastic job of making the case for living close to the land, supporting local (often organic) agriculture through farmers' markets and CSA memberships. The advantages are clear: Maintaining a viable economic base for local farmers helps us maintain the rural, open character of the area and provides fruits, vegetables, and meat that are a million times fresher than factory-farmed, trucked-in alternatives. In short, it's an ecologically enlightened way to dwell in harmony with the place you live, with benefits for everybody (except the big food corporations).

So why not apply this thinking to the cultural realm? To borrow a concept from Murray Bookchin, how about thinking about our social ecology as well? By developing sustainable social and economic relationships with artists—by making a point of trying to understand their work, talking about it with others, and, most importantly, buying locally-produced artwork that you enjoy—you will ensure the ongoing health and vitality of the Hudson Valley cultural scene. When you get down to it, decorating your house with a bunch of framed posters or imported knickknacks from Pier One is really the aesthetic equivalent of supplanting local farming with the Poltergeist-like horror of endless, sprawling tracts of McMansions. 

Benjamin Krevolin of the Dutchess County Arts Council enthusiastically supports this whole notion. "Artists are a natural resource of the Hudson Valley," he recently told me, "and we need to promote and cultivate what you might call 'local, heirloom art.'"

There is, of course, no shortage of ways to plug into the regional cultural scene. At a recent press conference, the mayors of Kingston, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, and Newburgh met with key arts leaders in those communities to celebrate "Art Along the Hudson," the coordination of their respective "art openings, music, theatrical events, and culinary pleasures" on each Saturday of the month. (Kingston is First Saturday, Beacon Second, etc.) These social events are a great way to get to know the various galleries and exhibition venues first-hand—and to see the tremendous range of work being produced here.

Granted, there will always be work out there by gifted (and not-so-gifted) amateurs, but you can always make your own judgment—it's art, which is supposed to depend upon some subjective appeal, after all. I guarantee that if you attend just one or two of these Saturday soirees, you'll be able to find at least one artwork that you love, and that you could thoroughly enjoy displaying in your home.

If you're tentative about taking the financial plunge, don't hesitate to ask the artist or the gallery owner (depending on the context) if they could set up a payment plan—in almost all cases, they can and gladly will. If you like the style of a particular artist on display in a gallery, but you'd prefer something bigger or smaller, or a different subject, ask. Quite often, there is an inventory of works in the back room to choose from. As a general rule, artists and gallerists are happy to discuss or explain the work they have available, as well as finding ways to accommodate your particular taste and needs. So don't be shy with your questions and concerns!

My primary recommendation this month, to adapt an old '60s motto, is tune in (check out the art listings in Chronogram and other local publications, as well as the resources listed below), turn on (find the art that really does it for you), and BUY LOCAL ART.