FAIRY DOORS OF DANSVILLE
Who lives behind those tiny doors in Dansville?
Fairy Doors of Dansville is a fully accessible trail of little doors, each one a unique piece of folk art that often reflects the nature of its host’s business or location. There are 31 whimsical little doors located in the business district, with several more in the trees of Pioneer Park next to the Dansville Area Historical Museum. Use the free map to seek out the locations of all the doors, and stop by Dogwood Trading Company or Dansville Public Library to receive a surprise!
Follow Fairy Doors of Dansville on Facebook and Instagram, and post your picture with one of the doors! Tag us #fairydoorsofdansville!
Fairy Door hosts include Dansville Public Library, Dogwood Trading Company/Dansville Stationers, North Dansville Town Hall, Tony’s Pizzeria, Mill Creek Optical, Genesee Valley Federal Credit Union, Dogwood Floral Company, Village Clipper, Empire Realty, Sugar Bowl, Star Theatre, Howard Hanna, Rushbottom Heights Salon, Clara Barton Chapter American Red Cross, Dansville Area Historical Museum, Mike Adam Insurance, Thomas P. Wamp Real Estate, MacFadden Coffee Company, Lori's Elite Hair Design, WDNY Radio, R'Meraki Hair Salon, Homegrown Coffee Bar, James Sullivan Agency, TLC Life Coaching, Leaning Tower, Dansville Granola Company, Dansville Acupuncture Center, Community Bank N.A., The Event Space at 170 Main, Spindle & Knots, Dansville Gymnastics, and Tots Town. More doors and fairies are in Pioneer Park, located next to Dansville Area Historical Museum. These little doors will be in place indefinitely to delight children of all ages. Fairy door trail maps are available at all fairy door host locations.
Don't miss our annual Fairy Fest during Second Saturday Dansville, happening next on Saturday, June 14, 2025, 11am-2pm, in downtown Dansville. Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages for details.
Our life-size fairy door is on display at Dansville Stationers, 178 Main Street! Add this to your "Things I Have to See!" list.
For more information, contact fairydoorsofdansville@gmail.com.
This project is made possible in part with funds from the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts' Aid to Localities program.
Pick up a fairy door map from any fairy door host.
ART EXHIBITS
Eye-Magine The Future Youth Art Exhibit, 2025
The Eye-Magine The Future Youth Art Exhibit was an inspiring celebration of creativity, innovation and imagination-featuring stunning works by Dansville students in grades K-12. From bold ideas to imaginative visions of tomorrow, the exhibit captured the incredible talent and forward-thinking spirit of our local youth.
Organized by Dansville Artworks board member Allie Oliver-Burns, a working freelance designer, the event brought together art, community and imagination in a unique way.
The show opened at the GCC Dansville Campus from September 13th-26th, then wrapped up with a vibrant closing exhibit at MacFadden Coffee Company from October 1st-11th. Visitors from near and far came to experience the artwork, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive!
Adding a fun twist, MacFadden Coffee Company even dubted a special edition boba drink, "The Futuristic," created exclusively in honor of the exhibit.
We're proud to celebrate every young artist who participated and extend a huge thank you to The Genesee Valley Council of the Arts for making this inspiring event possible. The future looks bright-and imaginative!
THE STORIES THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM
Storyteller Cris Riedel presents traditional stories of immigrants to Livingston County
The Stories They Brought With Them features traditional stories from the cultures of the earliest Livingston County immigrants, all adapted and told by professional storyteller Cris Riedel. This free one-hour program is suitable for adults and older children.
This program has concluded for 2025 and was funded by the Genesee Valley Council of the Arts’ Aid to Localities Program. Dansville ArtWorks serves as a conduit organization.
Cris is developing a new program for 2026; more news will be shared in the spring.
DANSVILLE MURAL PROJECTS
Dansville Granula Mural, 2026
Dansville ArtWorks Mural Committee is delighted to announce the selection of Josi Opolentisima as muralist for the upcoming Granula Mural project which will be completed and dedicated this summer. The mural will be placed on the north-facing wall of Sunrise Restaurant, a highly visible site in the historic Main Street business district ow
Dansville ArtWorks Mural Committee is delighted to announce the selection of Josi Opolentisima as muralist for the upcoming Granula Mural project which will be completed and dedicated this summer. The mural will be placed on the north-facing wall of Sunrise Restaurant, a highly visible site in the historic Main Street business district owned by the Mitrousis family.
One of seven applicants, Opolentisima is a Rochester, New York resident, parent and artist and showcases her portfolio at ForeverSpringStudio.com. Her unique interpretation of the mural theme resonated strongly with the Mural Committee. For her part, Opolentisima shared, "I am honored to be the muralist for this year's project and to have the opportunity to explore such a unique piece of Dansville's history. The story of Dr. Jackson and the development of granola (granula) is a fascinating part of Dansville’s local identity. I’m looking forward to translating that history into a bold, visual landmark that the community can enjoy for years to come."
Dansville ArtWorks launched this project in early 2025, and funding has been provided through a 2026 Arts Ignite grant from the Aid to Localities Program
through the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts and the New York State
Senate, as well as generous private donors. The Mural Committee is comprised of Susan DeMuth, Salome Farraro, Jennifer Luce, Donna Nagle, Sonja Olbert, Lorri Welch, and chair Julee Acomb, who stated, “The Mural Committee is thrilled to be orchestrating another historical mural for our community. We are certain that Josi’s artistic expression and design will complement the surrounding environment. We are looking forward to having this beautiful piece of public art in downtown Dansville for all to enjoy.”
Painting will begin in July, with some community participation opportunities to be finalized. A formal dedication is scheduled for Second Saturday Dansville on August 8. Follow the mural project on dansvilleartworks.com, as well as ArtWorks’ Facebook and Instagram pages. Please tag us in your mural photos #dansvillemurals.
Dansville ArtWorks’ Mural Committee intends to place additional historically-relevant murals in Dansville. Contributions to support this effort may be made to Dansville ArtWorks Inc., PO Box 741, Dansville NY 14437; please note Mural on the memo line.
Josi Opolentisima of Rochester, New York. Selected artist for the 2026 Granula Mural in Dansville.
The Clara Barton Mural, 2024
The Clara Barton Mural, 2024
Dansville ArtWorks Inc.'s Mural Committee served as project manager for the installation of the Clara Barton Mural on the south facing wall of 170 Main Street (Ossian Street side). Barton founded the American Red Cross in Dansville. Its Chapter No. 1 House is just steps away from this building at the intersection of Ossian and Elizabeth S
Dansville ArtWorks Inc.'s Mural Committee served as project manager for the installation of the Clara Barton Mural on the south facing wall of 170 Main Street (Ossian Street side). Barton founded the American Red Cross in Dansville. Its Chapter No. 1 House is just steps away from this building at the intersection of Ossian and Elizabeth Streets.
A LivCo First Impressions Village Edition grant authored by Dansville ArtWorks and awarded to the Village of Dansville drove this public art project. Additional support came from Jane Schryver, a Community Arts Grant from the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts, and Dansville ArtWorks' funds. Building owners Dr. Joe DePra and his son Joshua DePra fully committed to their responsibilities and were excellent partners in the project.
This summer project began June 24, 2024, was completed July 12, 2024, and dedicated August 10 of the same year.
Our lead muralist was Melissa Stratton-Pandina. She resides and makes her studio in Westborough, Massachusetts but has family in Dansville! Learn about her work at deshria.com or @deshriastudio on Instagram. Her assistant was Gabriela Sepulveda of Springfield, Massachusetts. Follow Gabby on Facebook or Instagram @theivorybunny.
Please tag us in your mural photos #dansvillemurals.
This project was made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.
DANSVILLE WOMEN'S CRAFT NIGHT
Make Art! Make Friends!
Dansville Women's Craft Nights are held at the GCC campus (Clara's Commons) located at 31 Clara Barton Street in Dansville.
Bring your own craft project—knitting, painting, scrapbooking, sculpting, etc., this is your time to work on what YOU love!
Feel free to also bring your favorite snacks and enjoy a relaxing evening of creativity, laughter, and making new friends!
Any questions about the event, please reach out to
Allie Oliver-Burns at posemanikin@me.com.
There is no cost to participate.
