Sacred Waters Flow Through Cherry Valley: Artist Angelica Palmer Awarded NYSCA Support for Artists Grant
Cherry Valley continues to shine as a creative hub in Upstate New York. Local artist and ritualist Angelica Dzeli Gosiewska Palmer has been awarded a Support for Artists grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)—a major recognition that will fuel the next chapter of her deeply rooted, community-centered work.
Sponsored by New York Folklore, this grant will support Sacred Waters, the newest iteration of the Cherry Valley Water Project, a multi-year exploration into the relationship between people, place, and the waters that sustain us.
A Community Ritual Inspired by Ancestral Traditions
Sacred Waters will introduce a new community water ritual created specifically for Cherry Valley. Palmer draws inspiration from the indigenous Slavic and Animist traditions of her ancestors from the Biebrza River Valley in Podlasie, Poland, weaving old-world wisdom into the landscapes and waterways of Upstate New York.
Her work blends nature connection, somatic practices, music, storytelling, and community participation—inviting residents not just to observe, but to experience art as a form of shared healing and reconnection.
At its core, the Cherry Valley Water Project asks a simple but transformative question:
How can a community build sacred, caring relationships with its local waters?
About the Artist
Her projects often invite residents into rituals that feel both ancient and brand new—rooted in tradition yet shaped by the land and people of today’s Cherry Valley.
To explore her work, visit:
🌐 dzeli.com
📘 facebook.com/dzeli
📸 Instagram: @dzelisnow
A Statewide Commitment to the Arts
Palmer’s grant is part of $80.9 million awarded by NYSCA in FY 2026 to arts and culture organizations across all 10 New York regions—a historic investment that includes a record number of individual artists.
Governor Kathy Hochul praised the impact of the arts sector, calling it a cornerstone of New York’s identity and a driver of both local economies and cultural vibrancy.
NYSCA leadership echoed the importance of this statewide support:
- Erika Mallin, Executive Director, emphasized that arts funding is “an investment in New York’s future.”
- Patrick Willingham, Chair, highlighted the dedication of the artists and organizations who “strengthen and benefit us all.”
Learn more about NYSCA at arts.ny.gov.
Why This Matters for Upstate NY
Creative placemaking and community-driven arts projects are a powerful force in shaping the future of rural regions. Sacred Waters adds another dimension to the cultural landscape of Otsego County, inviting residents and visitors to experience Cherry Valley through a lens of reflection, ancestry, and ecological care.
For What’s Upstate NY, it’s another reminder of what makes our region special:
artists who help us remember where we come from—and imagine where we’re going.
Photos by Angelica Palmer
