Trumansburg creators featured in documentary film project

“Finger Lakes Makers,” an exploratory documentary film project by Dave Katz, features some creative Trumansburg residents, shedding light on talented community members.

Katz, a filmmaker who grew up in the Finger Lakes, is exploring the region’s artisans, farmers, crafters and small businesses in his documentary series. The world traveler has a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Binghamton University and enjoys storytelling and sharing local human interest stories. 

Katz conducts in-depth, on-camera interviews with talented subjects using professional-grade audiovisual equipment. The interviews are then synced with footage to highlight the creative processes of local residents. 

Subjects of the project receive a three- to five-minute finished video, delivered digitally and ready for internet publication. Katz has been uploading these videos to his social media pages, spreading the word of the area talent.

Trumansburg’s Gunther Kiel, a maker of wooden toys, was recently featured in “Finger Lakes Makers.” 

Kiel, the owner of Wild Apple Toys, creates whimsical wooden animals inspired by the woods and the creatures that live there. Pull toys, piggy banks, puzzles, story boxes, and other items are available on his website. Kiel’s work can be found near and far, featured in Hartsville Museum in Hartsville, New York and the permanent collection of the Toy Museum in Nuremberg, Germany.

Kiel, who owns 50 acres of land, has a woodworking shop, farms the land and uses the trees on his property for heating and for making boards.

The craftsman describes his process in the film. “We try to make the wood speak,” he explained, holding up a wooden giraffe made of sycamore, which has distinctive flecking. 

When he is inspired to create a new piece, Kiel conducts research and notes how technology has made it easier for him to plan the toy. He used to pore over art books in the Cornell University Library, but recently he’s found inspiration by going online. “It’s marvelous what you can find there,” Kiel said.

Kiel’s wooden toys can be found at www.wildapples.com.

A second local artist, Jay Seaman, is also featured in “Finger Lakes Makers.”

Seaman, a sculptor and builder, has a home studio in Trumansburg. Katz captures Seaman’s sprawling studio and structures that are adorned with various unique pieces, such as a giant dragonfly.

With a history of carpentry, Seaman shares that he’s been an artist all of his life and would always put an artistic flair in his work, finding customers who were interested in out-of-the-ordinary homes. 

About 10 to 15 years ago, Seaman became exclusively interested in art, creating sculptures, mosaics and art made mostly out of metal.

“[I’m] always looking for the ‘wow’ factor, always looking for pieces that will turn heads,” Seaman said. “It’s not something that you’re looking to put on your coffee table, it’s more for properties, businesses, outside peoples homes,”  he said, adding that he loves doing public art. “You can get a lot of people looking at your work rather than a piece that is hidden behind someone’s home that nobody ever sees,” he said.

Seaman’s materials are versatile, and he experiments with various mediums like glass, steel, copper, concrete and even stone.

Seaman notes that birds tend to be a favorite, and no two are the same. “Everyone seems to be drawn to the birds,” he said.

To learn more about Jay Seaman’s work, visit www.jamesseaman.com.

To learn more about Dave Katz, visit www.tenacityinpursuit.com.

Trumansburg Connection appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Recreation Volleyball held in Trumansburg Middle School

The start of a new year signals the beginning of a new volleyball season, according to Recreation Volleyball, held on Tuesday nights.

Players who are interested in participating can do so every Tuesday in the gymnasium of Trumansburg Middle School between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. 

All skill levels are welcome. The total price for all 23 sessions is $35.

Participants who are interested in taking part in the Town of Ulysses Recreation Program can sign up on the program’s website at ulysses.recdesk.com.

Trumansburg Porchfest date set

A date has been set for Trumansburg Porchfest. The festival will be held on Saturday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Trumansburg Porchfest invites the community and visitors to stroll village streets while listening to more than 40 bands play between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. While there, enjoy shopping in local stores or having a meal in one of Trumansburg’s eateries.

Free parking will be available in the village’s municipal lot and on Main Street; however, attendees are asked to refrain from parking on side streets.

The band application and schedule will be available on the Trumansburg Porchfest website closer to the event date.

For more information, please visit www.tburgporchfest.com.  For questions, please email tburgporchfest@gmail.com. 

Trumansburg Food Pantry releases 2023 distribution dates

The Trumansburg Food Pantry has released its 2023 distribution date calendar. 

There is no financial requirement for the food pantry, as the mission is to simply share food with anyone who needs it, said the organizers.

The pantry is located at Trumansburg United Methodist Church at 80 East Main Street, Trumansburg. Distribution dates can be found by visiting www.trumansburgumc.org.