The Local Artists | 3seasonsogdensburg

Ed Basta credits his love for combing nature and art to growing up on the St. Lawrence River. A native of Ogdensburg, Ed is a Registered Landscape Architect, graduating from SUNY College of Forestry and Syracuse University. He has specialized in high-end residential design since opening his private practice in Syracuse.

He creates handcrafted oil lamps, clocks, and commissioned "works of art." His life-long love of working with wood has encouraged me to create items that are both beautiful and functional.

As a woodworker, he seeks the highest quality in hardwoods such as oak, maple, cherry and some local exotic woods. My wood lamps, wood shapes and waxed paintings are all created by me and copyrighted. He has been fortunate enough to showcase his work throughout the Northeast. In 2012, his original "Woodscape" was awarded 1st place at Cornhill Arts Festival in Rochester and the same year several of his artistic entries placed 2nd & 3rd at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY.

Mary Prinz grew up in Edwards NY. Mary worked for the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office for 25 years, two years as a Corrections Officer and 23 years as a Road Patrol Deputy.

Mary has had a life-long love for photography and pretty much always has a camera in her hand. After retiring from the Sheriff's Department in 2015, she

has been able to devote more time to her photography. She prefers taking

nature photo's, and likes to find unique ways to display her photographs, mounting them on old saws or tables.
She and her husband Dan have lived on Black Lake for a little more than 20 years. While she takes photo's all over St. Lawrence County, Mary thinks Black Lake is the perfect spot to photograph nature, North Country Now has published a number of her photos.
Mary says, "It is very satisfying for me to know that people get enjoyment from looking at a photograph I took."

Mary Prinz - Photography

Edward M. Basta - Woodworker

Kim Bell - Paper Crafter

Kathy Lahendro - Jewelry Artist

Kim Bell is a paper crafter who uses stamps, ink, paper and dies to create unique greeting cards, gift bags, tags card, cardholders and more. She has been creating her line for 10 years under her brand Endless Inkabilities.

Kim has lived in the Ogdensburg, Heuvelton are since she was 5 years old, is married and has one son. Their family also includes two special Pugs, Milo & Oscar. She works full time as the Risk Manager for a local credit union.

Kim loves her craft and we're sure you are going to love her creations.

Kathy grew up in Nicholville , NY and has always been interested in creating things. I call it making something from nothing and it is my passion. I find it incredibly satisfying to start with a flat sheet of metal and turn it into thing of beauty. I have been making jewelry for about ten years, but this past year have discovered and studied several different mediums, including metal, especially copper. I like using copper because I love the color, its flexability and the patinas you can apply to it. I am a lover of the colors , textures and patterns of nature and I use it in my work whenever I can. I am always exploring new mediums, and new techniques so I am sure my art will continue to evolve and progress. I am married with three grown children, and seven grandchildren. I currently reside in Potsdam NY and I have worked in the medical field for the past twenty two years. Both my work and my art have been integral parts of my life and both help define who I am. I consider myself very lucky that I have both in my life.

Mary Prinz

Photography

Ed Basta

Woodcrafts

Kim Bell

Endless Inkabilities

Brandon Bertrand grew up in Ogdensburg and now lives in Brasher Falls and works in healthcare. He started woodworking about 6 years ago making small items but soon began producing larger pieces. After someone asked him if he had ever done any wood turning, he decided to check it out. When the wood chips started flying he was hooked. He learned from one of masters of the North Country Jan Close, an ER doctor at Canton Potsdam hospital. Jan has won many awards for his work and he is still passing on his knowledge.. When he looks at a piece of wood he tries to decide what it wants it to be. Brandon says the wood designs itself, it may be due to the imperfections in the wood or simply that the shape just isn't working and so the wood decides what it wants to be. All of these factors are what makes this an art and why he loves it.

Alison Brant - Basket Artist

Brandon Bertrand - Woodworker

Alison has been crafting since she can remember. As a teenager, she began making beads out of seeds, drilling holes and painting them. In college, she spent all her free time in in the “Craft Room” of UMASS, Amherst. There she learned everything from soldering silver to throwing pottery. Later she fell in love with sheep and began her creative exploration with all things fiber related. The common theme in all of Alison’s work is that the final product is useful. These days her focus is primarily on making quilted baskets from 'scrap material' passed along to me from my mother-in-law, who is an avid quilter. She finds this is great way to reuse/re-purpose material that would otherwise be wasted, although she does love shopping for fabric! Alison lives in Potsdam with her husband and their two small children. She is also a yoga instructor and says, "Working with my hands is my meditation."

Kathy Lehendro

Jewelry Artist

Brandon Bertrand

Woodworker

Alison Brant

Quilter