Arts Mid-Hudson partnered with the Inn at Bellefield at Hyde Park, in a collaboration to feature our Arts Mid-Hudson member’s work throughout the hotel on a six-month rotating basis. The local artists’ work is showcased on the elevator landing strips of every floor and complements the historic/agricultural branding of the hotel.

Ilga Ziemins-Kurens lives in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She grew up in Hyde Park, N.Y. and taught art in the Millbrook Central School District for 33 years. She has been a life-long resident of the Hudson Valley. She retired from teaching in 2008. Throughout her lifetime Ilga has been involved in looking, learning, studying and acquiring knowledge and insights about art. Her B.S. in Art Education was obtained from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz in 1974. Coursework for her permanent teaching certificate was also completed at S.U.N.Y. New Paltz in 1979. Ilga began teaching art in 1974 and during her teaching career was involved in setting up many art shows of her students’ art work, has had student work published in numerous publications and has guided students forward to continue pursuing careers in art. She has also taught and developed a summer camp program for many years.

Beginning in 2008, upon retirement, Ilga has turned to more deeply exploring her own talents. She experimented with various art forms. She developed a strong interest in painting and has been pursuing this more seriously. Her painting is emerging from a more realistic style to one that also includes more semi-abstract work.

After her retirement, Ilga has studied with Shirley Blake Wilson, Brenda Belfield, Jake Hand in Florida at the Bonita Springs Art Centers well as Keith Gunderson in Hyde Park. Classes were in both realistic and abstract art. In March 2013, Ilga joined the Artists’ Collective of Hyde Park. This Gallery has work changing every two months and Ilga has displayed several paintings as well as her jewelry in each show. She is currently on the Board of ACHP and since the summer of 2014 has taken on the role of co-curator. Ilga, together with Liz St.Leger,has developed and taught a “Paint and Sip” class at ACHP since 2015. Ilga is a member of Arts Mid-Hudson where she had her jewelry and small paintings on display in the Dutchess Handmade shop. She has had several art shows both solo and in a group throughout the Hudson Valley. The Millbrook Winery has displayed her paintings many times in the juried Art In The Loft shows. Her paintings are on display at the Inn at Bellefield from January through June 2024.