Hmmmm ... is that fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, flushed skin, red and watery eyes, dry cough, sore throat, watery mucus and general weakness the dreaded influenza — or is it something else?It might be the flu. Even medical experts have a hard time knowing for sure. The one thing everyone knows about the flu, though, is that no one wants to get it. At its best, it’s miserable. At its worst, it kills.Flu season has officially begun, and millions of Americans are heading for their doctor’s office, clinics, flu shot “events” and drug stores for vaccinations. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone over the age of 6 months get vaccinated, except for those allergic to chicken eggs, anyone who has had a reaction to the shot in the past or anyone running a fever.The national health organization has a mission of preventing widespread outbreaks of any contagious illnesses. But not even the experts agree that mass immunizations are the answer to stopping the spread of a virus that changes constantly — potentially as often as with each body that hosts it. This year’s vaccine is the same as last year’s, which is unusual. The annual vaccine (effectiveness is estimated at as little as six months) is formulated based on past data and predictions for what might come. The current formula is aimed at H1N1, or the “swine flu” that caused the 2009 pandemic; Influenza A (H3N2); and Influenza B.It seems that everyone has a story about why they do or do not get vaccinated. One local 54-year-old woman gets a shot at the private school where she works. As an allergy and asthma sufferer, she feels it helps protect her. She still seems to get the flu every year but she believes the vaccine reduces the length and severity.A woman in her 20s, with some medical training, said she does not get an annual shot because she is not in a high-risk category, and because of the risk inherent in the vaccine.She says the virus can activate in your system after you get the shot, so you end up getting the flu anyway. Also, she said, the vaccine given each year only protects against limited strains of virus. It’s still possible, even with the shot, to catch a different version of the flu.Dr. James Steckleberg, on the staff at the Mayo Clinic, writes on the center’s website that many strains mutate in their host. But mutations that begin with a strain formulated into the vaccine may remain similar enough so that an inoculated immune system will attack it.Can you get sick from the vaccine? The CDC says it’s possible, since it’s made from a “killed” virus that is not dormant. That means it can activate in the body.However, the Mayo Clinic says what actually happens is an immune system response that produces flu-like symptoms, most often in young adults. Some would ask, does it matter? Symptoms are symptoms, and sick is sick.One of the biggest current factors in weighing the options is cost. Some Medicare and health insurance plans cover some or all of it.But some don’t, and many families have lost benefits to unemployment or cost-saving measures by employers.Shots average around $30. It can quickly add up to more than a family can afford. Children younger than 9 should get two doses if it’s the first time they have been vaccinated for influenza. There is also the potential need for a second shot during the flu season, if a particularly virulent new strain prompts the development of a new vaccine. The flu season can also last into May — beyond the estimated optimum protection duration for the vaccine.If you do get the flu, chances are you will be advised to tough it out, and most importantly, stay home and try to avoid spreading it to others. It is impossible for medical professionals to know for sure if a patient has the flu based on symptoms alone. Laboratory tests are now available, but doctors typically use them only on high-risk patients. Antiviral drugs can be given, and are most effective when taken soon after symptoms begin.Antibiotics are effective against bacteria, not the flu, which is a virus. They may be prescribed for those at risk, or who develop conditions such as bacterial pneumonia while fighting the flu.For others, taking antibiotics with a virus can do more harm than good, according to the CDC, as they can trigger an antibiotic resistance when needed most.Getting a flu shotMILLBROOK — The Dutchess County Department of Health (DCDH) will hold a flu shot clinic on Friday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Millbrook Cornell Cooperative Extension, 2715 Route 44.Interested individuals may register and find more information about flu immunization online at www.dutchessny.gov and clicking the “What to Do About Flu” button, or visit bit.ly/DCFlushots. For those without Internet access, call the Department of Health’s Flu information line at 845-486-3435 or call to register at 845-486-3419.The fee for inactivated flu vaccine will be $32; FluMist will be $40. The fee for the pneumonia vaccine is $75. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B; individuals must bring their card to the clinic. Adults enrolled in Medicare HMOs may be required to pay the fee.The adult flu clinics will offer vaccine to anyone 18 and older wishing to protect themselves against influenza. Individuals under 19 years of age may attend one of the department’s children’s immunization clinics to receive flu vaccination and other important immunizations at low-cost or no cost. Individuals younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Go online to www.findaflushot.com to find other locations where the clinics will be held.
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Textile designer Justine Valla sits in her father’s chair, which she painted, alongside her husband, illustrator and muralist Victor Valla, in their Atelier Valla studio.
“I was always drawing as a child,” Justine recalled. Victor dreamed of illustrating magazine covers like those of the “Saturday Evening Post.”
Victor studied design and illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology, then received a fellowship to study painting and printmaking at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigne. He graduated in 1967. The following year, he received a grant from the Tiffany Foundation to study printmaking in Paris at Atelier 17, an experimental graphic arts workshop founded in 1927.
“What a great experience that was!” he recalled.
Returning home after the Paris uprisings of 1968, he discovered that the magazine covers he’d hoped to paint had largely given way to photography. His agent suggested trying record covers, which he pursued along with illustration and graphic design.
He also began teaching at Kean University in New Jersey.
“Kean had a wonderful graphic design and illustration department. I loved teaching Graphic Design, even though I never thought I would.”
He later taught at Syracuse University and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
In the late 1980s, he decided to stop teaching and concentrate on his own art. He moved to Falls Village, to a house on the corner of Minor and Prospect Streets.
“I used to call the studio ‘Minor Prospects Atelier,’” he said.
He continued working in illustration and graphic design, creating book covers for stories by H.P. Lovecraft and other authors, along with magazine covers, logos, advertising and murals.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback
His local commissions include the green and gold Noble Horizons signage and wall murals for the Stockbridge Inn, the Spa at Norwich Inn, Orchards Hotel in Williamstown and the David M. Hunt Library’s children’s section.
Justine grew up in the Bronx and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating, she took on whatever work she could find, including designing toys and novelty items for Russ Berrie. But her true calling was textile design.
She moved to Los Angeles to pursue that calling, where she learned silkscreen printing from 1960s design icon Corita Kent.
“I was in her program at Immaculate Heart College. All fabric design at that time was silk screen. My first job in textile design was in L.A., creating wallpaper for Bob Mitchell Design.”
Justine returned to New York City, where the advent of computers required her to learn new design techniques. She enrolled at Parsons School of Design, studying Photoshop, Illustrator, Lectra U4ia and Kaledo.
Around this time, she met Victor online and moved to Falls Village.
A recruiter found her a job in Arkansas at Dillard’s, a department store chain operating in 30 states and known for its exclusive designer collections.
“They had the best equipment I’d ever seen,” she said.
She became a senior computer-aided design designer there, designing fabric and preparing purchased designs for production.
The Vallas left Falls Village for Little Rock.
“It was a big move,” she said. “It was a different culture, but Little Rock was very progressive.”
The originally planned to stay in Arkansas for five years but ended up remaining for nearly 10.
Then Justine was hit by a car. She suffered injuries to her leg and head and required four years of rehabilitation.
“I lost the ability to paint after the accident. I struggled to paint again.”
The Vallas returned to Connecticut, this time settling in Salisbury, where they’ve lived since 2013.
After leaving Dillard’s, Justine had planned to sell her work through Printsource in New York City, an international showcase for surface and textile design. But after the accident, she no longer had the mobility or energy to travel back and forth to the city.
Instead, she began selling her work locally at craft shows, including clothing, hand-printed tea towels and floorcloths.
She is currently working on selling her collection of textile designs.
In December, Justine will have a show of her tea-themed watercolors at the NorthEast-Millerton Library.
Victor recently exhibited “The American West: A Pictural History” at the NorthEast-Millerton Library. The series, created in the early 1990s, was part of a commission from the Postal Commemorative Society for which he completed 100 paintings in two years.
He hopes to place the series in a museum and has created books from its images, complete with text. Over the years, he has designed many other books that are ready for publication, including “Looking In, Looking Out,” a cosmic view of the universe.
Reflecting on his career, Victor said, “It’s about doing what you love”.
Justine agreed.
To see, purchase or commission work, contact Justine at justinevalla@gmail.com or Victor at victorvalla@comcast.net, or call 860-596-4282.
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Jane Herold’s beautifully simple dinnerware.
Cornwall ceramicist Jane Herold explained that there’s quite a lot of enthusiasm for Clay Way among the region’s ceramic artists.
“We all need work space, which is hard to find or afford in urban areas. The wood-fire crowd needs lots of wood and outdoor space. This area is great because it’s rural enough for us, but has a wonderfully enthusiastic and supportive population of pottery [patrons].”
While many of the artists are returning from previous years, the loose collection of unofficial organizers likes to keep the event manageable for the public, limiting the number of artists and studios each year. A direct drive from the southernmost point at Ann Heywood’s studio in Wingdale to Herold’s big barn in Cornwall is under 40 minutes. But if you want to catch it all, plan for a full day’s worth of art exploration along some of the most beautiful roads in New England.
Starting at its northernmost point, Herold’s studio will host Matin Malikzada of Afghanistan, whose polished, modern interpretations of traditional forms are instantly recognizable. They’ll be joined by wood-fired ceramicists Steve Johnson, with his raw, organic forms, and Harry Levenstein, whose works relate closely to Johnson’s while making even more direct references to nature.
Herold herself creates work that is both beautiful and utilitarian. Her prolific output of objects is intended to be used by everyday people as part of their daily lives.
Moving south is Todd Piker of Cornwall Bridge Pottery. Piker has been making pots in his giant wood-fired kiln since 1971. The kiln looks more like an ancient blast furnace than something designed to transform clay into ceramics, but over the years, he’s mastered its intricacies and produces an impressive amount of fine work.
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided
Piker will host Sanah Peterson, who works at Cornwall Bridge Pottery and draws inspiration from both her time with Piker and her time traveling the globe as a child. They’ll be joined by Stephanie Haines, whose vibrant, eye-catching work features underglaze illustrations of birds, fruit and the bounty of nature.
Further along in Warren, Jessica Dubin’s pieces will be on display at the studio of Christine Owen. Both artists seem to appreciate the chaos and unpredictable nature of clay but find ways to refine it all using their own unique methods.
Heading east to Washington, Conn., Will Talbot’s creates intricate work while allowing for the unpredictable nature of clay to play a role. His studio will house Tom Knox and his wide variety of textures and forms, as well as New York City-based Alex Lebedev, who lets music and the nature of improvisation guide his work.
There will be two studios participating in South Kent. Alison Palmner, whose page on the Clay Way website states she “strives to achieve a lighthearted meld of human forms, animals and the vessel.” Her studio will host Ben Eberle, who trained under the guidance of legendary potter Toshiko Takaezu; James Guggina, whose intricate work can appear both deliberate and whimsical; and Paula Shalan, who blends rough, unrefined surfaces with polished precision in individual pieces.
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided
Nearby is Joy Brown, whose work have become a staple of the area, with her figurative sculptures dotting the Northwest Corner. Brown’s studio will also feature Bonnie Levine, who taps into the beauty of chaos and destruction in her work, and Brendan Moore, whose more utilitarian forms are perfect for everyday use.
Finally, the tour crosses the border into Wingdale, New York, where the studios of Drew Montgomery, Ann Heywood and Amy Brenner will host Jackie Sedlock, Lynn Behrendt,and Kathleen Heidemann.
Brenner creates some of the most colorful and vibrant pieces on the tour, while Behrendt’s work is among the most studied and precise. Heywood creates carefully considered, intuitive forms, while Heidemann moves from simple minimalism to intricate textures. Montgomery and Sedlock both find new ways of playing with traditional forms, producing delightfully distinctive pieces.
To learn more about the artists and download a map of participating studios, visit clayway.net
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