By Joe English

After six months of collecting artwork, copy editing, and reviewing drafts, the Village Press released Reflections of Galway: From the foothills of the Adirondacks today.  The book compiles photographs, paintings, poems, and short stories into a comprehensive coffee table book, capturing the essence of the Galway community.  Half of the work featured in the publication is from student artists, and the other half is from artists living in the Galway area.

Reflections of Galway was inspired by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 2009.  After seeing another student-published coffee table book at the convention, Business department director Mark Swain laid the foundation for Galway’s own publication.  Swain reached out to the Galway Public Library last summer to make the project a community-wide effort, securing $2,800 in funding through a grant written by Olga Regina Doi–director of the Galway Public Library’s.  The grant was provided by the Saratoga Program for Arts Funding as part of a New York State decentralized grant program, and, supplemented by grants from the Galway Education Foundation and Dockstadder Charitable Trust, allowed the Village Press to print 100 full-color books at no cost.

Not only does the book celebrate the spirit of Galway, it represents a wide range of local artists and artistic styles.  Over seventy different artists are featured in Reflections of Galway, supplemented by a selection of thirty poems and short stories.  In the three main sections (Culture, Wildlife, and The Town), readers can find abstract art, still-life paintings, sports photography, reflective poems, and countless other works that help commemorate Galway culture.  Due to the amount of work submitted to the publication staff, a website and extended edition of the book will be published in coming months, featuring even more school and community work.

The coffee table book has attracted immense media attention in recent weeks as well.  In May, Mr. Mark Swain, Joe English, and Brian Mothon were interviewed by Phil Bayly on Channel 13 News, discussing the inspiration, production, and success of the book.  This past week, several regional newspapers featured the Village Press and its latest venture, including the Saratogian, Daily Gazette, and Times Union.  The local reaction to the book has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the emphasis on community involvement, praising student initiative, and discussing the past success of Galway’s business department.  The publication will be officially showcased on Wednesday, June 13 in the Cock ‘n’ Bull at 7 p.m.  Books will be sold, poems read by authors, and copies signed by artists, authors, and publishers.

To read the Times Union article on Reflections of Galway, click here.  To order a book, email Mark Swain at [email protected].

To visit the new Village Press website, click here!