TOUR: Albany Barn [PHOTOS]

Last night I was so excited to have the opportunity to check out Albany Barn at the 5th Annual Fusion.

Albany Barn, in partnership with the Albany Housing Authority and the City of Albany, has re-purposed the long-abandoned St. Joseph’s Academy and turned it into a community center focusing on arts and creativity. The Barn opened in April 2014, and has 22 subsidized live/work apartments for artists and over 13,000 square feet of low-cost work and rehearsal suites, a recording studio, and ample exhibition, performance and programming space.

Last night was Fusion 2016, an anti-gala celebrating the 10th anniversary with the theme of ‘the fusion of art and industry,’ calling for works to be produced with wood and metal. Artists featured were: Matthew Bartik, Emily Dorr, Tabitha Heisch, Casey Polomaine, and Craig Shufelt. In partnership with the Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival, FUSION featured a custom menu from Chef Michelle Hines Abram, with help from The Cookie Factory, Druthers & Empire Wine. Food included: an artisan cheese board, golden Camembert en crute, caprese skewers, pulled pork sandwiches, endive spears with blue cheese and candied walnuts (LOVED that), soup shots, ratatouille crostini & roasted corn and chevre quesadillas (I could’ve eaten all of these- LOVED). It was a really nice event with great food, great music, great art, in a great atmosphere. The feel was relaxed as people came and go as they wished, dress was business casual and the bar was open.