Lovin’ Niagara: Nanci McNab [by Mary Leahy]

nanci

NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Born and raised in New Jersey, Nanci McNab made a permanent move to Niagara Falls in 2012. McNab worked in the banking industry in NJ for six years while putting herself through college. She received her Associate’s Degree from Ocean City College in Toms River. She then relocated to Niagara Falls where she has family connections. Although she misses breathing in the salty ocean air of the Atlantic, she loves her adopted city. The access to public transportation, friendly neighborhoods, walkability, great trails and of course the “eighth wonder of the world” originally attracted Nanci to the area. An enthusiastic cyclist, she appreciates the health, economic and environmental benefits of this region where you can easily bike instead of drive. She is returning to school in Buffalo this year to finish her bachelor’s degree. But, she will remain living in the Falls for the time being while completing her education in the Arts.

Currently, Nanci is loyally engaged with Niagara Falls, and especially with the art community. The Niagara Arts & Cultural Center http://www.thenacc.org/ is right around the corner from her home and she enjoys spending her spare time there. A local artist, Jonathan Rogers, made her the subject of a quadriptych entitled “The Jersey Girl” in his “portaits in the moment” series. The works are on line at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204158657112556&set=pcb.10204158659672620&type=1&theater as well as on display in the main gallery at the NACC until September in the Beyond the Barrel show. She has worked as a summer program counselor for The Kids Camp on Old Falls Street and in Delaware Park; she also was a model at the first wearable art fashion show at Wine on Third.

This summer, Nanci performed in the Infringement Fest in Buffalo where she wore a dress constructed of duct tape made by a local artisan’s company aptly called “Totally Duct.” She can envision similar events occurring in Niagara Falls on a larger scale thanks to the many talented designers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs here. Already in the process of creating her own unique wearable art pieces, Nanci believes interesting cultural projects are crucial to the city’s revival to entice an “artrepreneurial” population similar to the vibrant art scene in places like Asbury Park, NJ. In her opinion, the architecture, building facades, highway overpasses, even the popular, newly-painted fire hydrants are perfect backdrops for artistic endeavors and shows. If given the opportunity to design and paint one of the available hydrants, Nanci would use the existing shape as a wedding bell, reminiscent of the city’s former reputation as the honeymoon capital of the world.

In addition to being a performing artist, Nanci works during the tourist season as the housekeeper at WanderFalls, a local hostel and guest house http://www.wanderfallshostel.com/. One of her favorite duties there is making breakfast pancakes for the many travelers that visit the Falls from all corners of the world. Nanci especially enjoys meeting the sightseers and listening to them as they discuss the multitude of reasons they chose to vacation here and visit our local attractions. She finds the deep seeded spiritual and psychological draw of humans to water, particularly the Falls of particular interest. Many of the international guests comment on their own fascination and obviously Nanci prefers to live near bodies of water, too. When not busy working, Nanci is an urban gardener, preferring to make her own healthy meals. However, she does appreciate the local and family owned restaurants here in the Falls and visits them whenever she can.

Once she has graduated, Nanci’s dream is to marry her love of art with her natural desires to be involved and give back to the community. She believes her fulfillment could be found through teaching. Her ideal career might include developing a children’s art program, possibly even located in building she co-owns with her father in the Falls. She attributes her calling and inspiration, in part, to her love for her belated grandmother who was an educator in NJ for many years. Ironically, portraits of her grandmother are also on display at the NACC. The photo above pictures Nanci with a portrait of her grandmother, the late Catherine Jones.

In the arts, timing is everything: the musician’s backbeat, the actor’s delivered line, the dancer’s choreographed leap. For Nanci, the leap and transition to Niagara Falls during this great period of change for the city coincided with her own life’s circumstances. And hopefully her independent, artist-driven spirit will continue to make a difference in Niagara Falls for many years to come.

[ From education to art, people in Niagara Falls are making fantastic things happen!  “Lovin’ Niagara” is a series of articles by contributor Mary Leahy highlighting some of our outstanding citizens. Do you know someone who you feel should be featured? Contact us! ]

Comments

  1. Atta babe! Glad to hear you are doing well. Miss you. Take Care.

  2. Sean says:

    You’re so cool. Miss you and love you, kiddo! So happy to see that your art, and your drive to create it, is thriving. Best wishes to you!

  3. Nanci McNab says:

    <3 Thank you. I assume you are from Timberline Lake

  4. Anonymous says:

    Welcome to Niagara Falls!

  5. peturd says:

    I love you nancer… keep killing it… love always hunter and kaileb

  6. Anonymous says:

    Don’t know if you remember us from the campground or not but we want to wish you the best of luck in your journey~~~ <3

  7. That’s our girl! We are blessed to have her as part of the Wanderfalls Team and the city is lucky to have her as well. If we could only clone her . . .

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