Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
The State of Cartooning will display works by active members of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, including Greg, Brian, and Neal Walker, who carry the legacy of their father, Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey. Other featured artists include Ray Billingsley, Bob Englehart, Bill Janocha, Sean Kelly, Maria Scrivan, and more.
Founded in 1946, National Cartoonists Society (NCS) activities and events primarily took place in New York City until 1983, when the first Reuben Award Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. At that time, the NCS also began organizing a system of regional chapters for members to participate in. There are currently 23 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brian Walker started the NCS Connecticut chapter in 1993, involving many remaining Golden Age cartoonists. Meetings were held at local restaurants, including the Silvermine Tavern, Cobbs Mill Inn, The Redding Roadhouse, and Red Barn. From 1994 to 2017, a special Legend Award was presented to 22 Connecticut Cartoonists at their annual fall dinner. Although membership has decreased as the older generation has passed on, the Connecticut chapter is still active. The State of Cartooning displays works by some of the current members of the NCS.
The State of Cartooning
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library!
“My Story Revealed" invites you on a visual journey through the heart of personal and cultural narratives. This exhibit honors the art of storytelling by showcasing the compelling and diverse experiences of some of the 8-18 year old students taking part in our international Global Voices - ArtLink exchanges over three decades.
Whether their pieces are beautifully rendered or simply drawn, delightful or thought provoking, the creation of these pieces has been a journey of self-discovery. Through their work, the young artists have expressed their identities, shared their stories, and conveyed the aspects of their lives and society they treasure - or are concerned about.
This collection brings together diverse artistic youth voices from 28 ArtLink partner countries, transcending political systems and geographical boundaries. We believe that art is a universal language, uniting us through the shared experiences and dreams of its young creators, promoting a common humanity that will lead to a more peaceful future.
As you explore the exhibit, we invite you, the viewer, to reflect on your own story, your own journey, cultivating a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the multi-faceted tapestry of human experiences we are all part of. We hope to see you there!
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Creative Connections is a nonprofit in Norwalk, CT, dedicated to promoting global understanding and empathy through art-based exchanges between youth worldwide. We connect students in the U.S. with peers in other countries, encouraging cultural sharing and cross-cultural learning. We focus on fostering global citizenship and creative communication through programs like Global Voices - ArtLink, which highlights diverse perspectives and cultural storytelling.
Details:
The opening reception will be on 9/30 from 5:30-7:30pm
The exhibit will remain up until Spring 2025.
Where:New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT
Please contact scanessa@creativeconnections.org with any questions.
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library.
The Gallery at GFC is proud to announce the opening of Jason Pritchard's latest show Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water's Path. The paintings in this exhibition feature the magical interplay between light and water along the coastline and within the communities that hug the shore. Jason captures water dancing, shimmering, or frozen as ice beneath cloud-filled New England skies. These gorgeously rendered works in oil are balm for the soul.
Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water’s Path
An Exhibition Like No Other!
This groundbreaking exhibition highlights ongoing, cutting-edge dinosaur research by American Museum of Natural History paleontologists and other leading scientists from around the world.
It explores how paleontologists today are using an incredible array of new technologies — from bioengineering computer software to CT scans — along with new discoveries and new ideas to investigate and reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries of dinosaurs, such as what they really looked like and how they actually moved and behaved, as well as the complex and hotly debated theories of why — or even whether — they became extinct.
Exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.
Made possible with generous support from GoHealth Urgent Care.
This exhibition is free for SM&NC Members, and included in the price of daily admission for visitors.
Exhibition on View: Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas
Landscape Weekend Workshop with Jill Nichols
November 2 & 3, 2024, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Price: $375.
Paint the landscape In this Weekend Workshop in the spacious Easton, Connecticut studio of renowned artist Everett Raymond Kinstler. You will be painting in the beautiful natural light of the studio and surroundings with internationally acclaimed artist Jill Harrington Nichols.
We’ll begin in the studio with an introductory presentation and demo. Then artists will paint several quick studies/sketches, (outdoors weather permitting) with a limited palette. Learning to simplify the landscape into a dynamic composition while interpreting spatial relationships, color, and value relationships. Work directly from observation or you're welcome to work from existing studies and photos. Artists are encouraged to explore, experiment, and interpret the landscape.
All experience levels and mediums are welcome including, oil, acrylic, casein, watercolor, gouache, and pastels. Demos will be in oil or watercolor/gouache/casein.
You will need to bring your easel. Details will be sent upon registration.
This special workshop is available for only $375. per student.
Landscape Painting Workshop
The Flinn Gallery is honored to launch its 2024-25 season with a unique solo exhibition, The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita. Curated by Leslee Asch, the exhibition displays Kumi Yamashita’s works of unconventional vision, versatility, and variety. The Opening Reception will be September 19 from 6-8pm.
Kumi Yamashita uses simple materials to yield surprising results. In describing her shadow work and the elusive qualities of light, she says, “I sculpt using both light and shadow. I construct single or multiple objects and place them in relation to a single light source. The complete artwork is therefore comprised of both the material (the solid objects) and the immaterial (the light or shadow.)”
In addition to Yamashita’s Light & Shadow series, the exhibition includes provocative portraits created by winding a single unbroken sewing thread around thousands of small galvanized nails.
Equally enticing is a piece of denim in which the threads have been systematically removed to create an enchanting portrait. Yamashita describes her process for this piece as, “Sometimes there is something beautiful about things falling apart. Undoing one thing while simultaneously creating another. Here I’ve taken fabric and pulled out bits and pieces of the lighter color thread to create the image.”
Yamashita’s work has been widely praised both nationally and internationally. Her solo shows include the Seattle Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay in Singapore as well as museums in Taiwan, China and Japan. She has been in numerous museum group shows, including the Louvre’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and San Francisco’s Exploratorium.
Yamashita’s work allows viewers to expand their understanding of the possibilities of the varied media she skillfully employs, and the breadth of her vision. Curator Leslee Asch adds, “The work must be seen in person to be appreciated; expect the unexpected.”
Kumi Yamashita lives and works in Woodstock, NY. She was born in Takasaki, Japan, and received her MFA from Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, and her BFA from Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, WA. Yamashita’s work can be found in impressive public collections such as Microsoft, American Express, Le Meridien, Shenyang, China; Tokyo’s Akiru Medical Center, and permanent collections at numerous museums.
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The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita opens with a reception
from 6-8pm on September 19.
The Flinn Gallery which is located on the second floor of the Greenwich Library,
101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.
The show will run through November 6.
The Flinn Gallery is a non-profit organization sponsored by Friends of the Greenwich Library.
Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 1-5pm.
Events:
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 19 from 6-8pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 26 at 2pm
The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita
The Greenwich Art Society is offering Saturday Children's Art Classes:
YOUNG ARTISTS IN THE STUDIO, AGES 6-8
12 Saturdays
Sept. 14 – Dec. 7 (Except Nov. 30)
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Program Description
This class will explore new approaches to creativity with children. Using drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and sculpture children will learn new skills and improve on old ones as they experiment with new media and different techniques. To reinforce their understanding, children will learn about important artists who are either historically significant or are forerunners in contemporary art. Come join in and stretch your imagination in a relaxed, fun environment. Materials supplied.
DRAWING AND PAINTING FOR THE JUNIOR ARTIST – AGES 9-12
12 Saturdays
Sept. 14 – Dec. 7 (Except Nov. 30)
12:30 to 2:00 pm
Program Description
Students will learn through drawing and painting the rules of perspective, proportion, shadowing, color mixing and anatomy.
They will use acrylic paint, charcoal, watercolors and colored pencils on both paper and canvas. Various brush techniques and a variety of paint applications will be covered. Students will discover important artists who are historically significant, as this exposure can lead them to explore and discover their own style.
For more information or to register visit www.greenwichartsociety.org
Saturday Children's Art Classes at the Greenwich Art Society
A very moving art exhibition featuring three extraordinary Connecticut Artists expressing the essence and effect of shadow, light, the subliminal mind and the human spirit.
THE DARK OF LIGHT
Eight area artists will be showcased in Wilton Library’s October art exhibition, “Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations.” The exhibition features the diverse works of women artists: Pam Ackley (Killingworth), Afsaneh Djabbari-Aslani (New Canaan), Alma Faham (Danbury), Cynthia Fazekas (Shelton), Mari Gyorgyey (Stamford), Katya Lebrija (Wilton), Pam Rouleau (Old Greenwich), and Nomi Silverman (Greenwich). They will exhibit their works in an array of styles, media choices, and subject matter, all portraying vibrant and varied types of resilience found in life and nature.
The opening reception on Friday, October 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is free and open to the public. Exhibition runs through November 7. A majority of the works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library.
"Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations" Art Exhibition at Wilton Library
Elisa Contemporary Art is pleased to present a Solo exhibit of the Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett. It is now open at the One River School in Westport. The exhibit will run from through November 27 at 833 Post Road East, Westport CT. Gallery hours are: Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm and Saturday/Sunday 10am - 2pm.
Join us for a Reception on Saturday, November 23 from 2-4pm
From color-infused paintings to video self-portraits, Paula Brett’s body of work incorporates various combinations of media dealing with ideas such as created identity, coincidence, ritual, and transitory spaces.
The limited edition photographs are Mandalas made from pieces of Candy, Jewels, Toys, Cars and other favorites. According to Paula, “The mandala symbolizes the law of the universe and since man is also a microcosm of the universe, many cultures believe that the mandala also symbolizes the human soul. Mandalas serve as collection point for universal forces…My intention with these mandalas is to arrange everyday sweets and favorite objects into a pattern which becomes sacred, where delicious turns divine, the enticing now exquisite.”
Brett has exhibited work in New York, CT, Chicago, San Francisco, Budapest and Romania.
About One River School:
Founded in 2012 in Englewood, NJ, “one river” west of New York City, One River School has embarked on a mission to "transform art education"® in America. Today, their innovative program teaches thousands of students in fifteen locations across six states. We are thrilled to be working with One River Westport.
About Elisa Contemporary Art
Elisa Contemporary Art represents a portfolio of emerging through mid-career contemporary artists. Founded in 2007 by
Lisa Cooper, Elisa Contemporary Art is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and collection of art as a way to enrich
and heal our lives, our communities, and the world. The Riverdale NY Gallery opened in 2008. The Art Salon in Fairfield
CT opened in May 2017 (by appointment only). Elisa Contemporary Art has participated in international art fairs in New
York, Miami and the Hamptons and curated 40+ art exhibits in public/private spaces in the Tri-State.
For additional information, visit us at www.ElisaContemporaryArt.com or Instagram: @ElisaContemporary Art
Solo Exhibit of Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett
The Carriage Barn Arts Center presents Edward Keating: A Fearless Legacy Photography Exhibition of the Pulitzer prize-winning photographer from New Canaan October 12 - November 13, 2024
This new exhibition highlights the late Pulitzer-prize winning photographer’s 40-year career, as well as his connection to New Canaan, CT. Curated with members of the photographer’s family, this first-ever retrospective features 80 photographs and additional archival materials that offer insight into Keating’s career and life as a photographer. The exhibition spans decades of his work and features editioned estate prints as well as rare and unique vintage silver gelatins printed by Keating that are available for sale.
Born in 1956 and raised in New Canaan, CT, Edward Keating moved to New York City in 1981 to become a photographer. He taught himself how to photograph by chronicling the street life of everyday New Yorkers.
Hired as a Staff Photographer at The New York Times in 1991, he covered national and international news. He was also a regular contributor to the Sunday New York Times Magazine. In addition, he co-founded the "Vows" wedding column. In 2002, Keating won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage on the attacks of 9/11. He additionally shared the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting with New York Times staff for the series, "How Race is Lived in America.” After leaving the Times in 2002, he became a regular contributor to New York Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, Vanity Fair and Time.
From Kosovo to Crown Heights, Keating often put himself in the center of highly charged conflicts - ignoring the dangers -- to best capture the emotion, devastation and humanity with his camera. Keating’s camera stayed around his neck until the very end. At just 65 years of age, he passed away in September 2021, as a result of many months of long exposure to toxic material while covering 9/11 at Ground Zero.
The Carriage Barn Arts Center is located in New Canaan's Waveny Park, hours are Wednesday-Saturday 10am-3pm and Sunday 1-5pm. Visit carriagebarn.org for more information.
Edward Keating: A Fearless Legacy, Photography Exhibition at the Carriage Barn Arts Center
The Shelton Autumn Craft Festival will take place at the Hyatt House Hotel, 830 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, CT on Saturday, November 2 from 10am to 4pm. Crafts in several categories will be featured. Free admission.
Shelton Autumn Craft Festival
Heather Gaudio Fine Art is pleased to present Betsy Eby: Of This Natural World, her first solo exhibition at the gallery. The public is invited to attend an opening reception for the artist on September 26, 5-7pm, and the show will run through November 2nd.
Betsy Eby’s encaustic paintings are infused with a unique sensibility informed by the artist’s Pacific Northwest heritage, her concerns for nature and a lifelong classical piano practice. Using trowels, knives, brushes and heat, Eby pours and spreads hot and cold natural wax-based paint onto a wooden panel, layering gestures to create nuanced marks across the surface. The paintings in this exhibition are inspired by the wilderness of nature and the way in which the natural world serves as a tonic for the human spirit. Created in her Maine summer retreat, Eby’s new body of work captures the music and rhythms portrayed in nature: the lulling of waves, the fragrance of the sea air, resinous bay berries, blueberries, honey suckle in the breeze…. all have their own sound and melodies that speak to the artist. “There is musical accompaniment in nature,” the artist states.
Eby savors nature holistically, poetically depicting the essence of the verdant and granite landscape against the backdrop of a shimmering coastline, using abstraction to fuse that which animates her senses. Like notes shimmering on a page, the paintings are soft gestures akin to ascending scales, glissandos or arpeggiations within ambient-like sound beds. The marks on Ravel, glyphs fleeting across the surface within and through atmospheric grounds, came from listening to the composer in the background as she worked in the studio. Eby’s work synthesizes and distills all that surrounds her, intuitively harnessing and conveying her environment on the panel. Setting Eby’s new paintings apart from previous series are the grounds, which at first glance appear more neutral but are informed with a shifting color nuance. The artist finds herself with a more atuned sensory input of late, and this is evident in her most recent work.
“I make nature based, abstract paintings that convey the musical frequencies of an ecologically balanced, natural world unspoiled by human encroachment. They are meditations on undisrupted skies, habitats and oceans, calling attention to the natural rhythms of our environment and the elements and our interconnectedness within them.”
Eby received her B.A. from the University of Oregon and splits her time between her studios in Columbus, Georgia and Wheaton Island in Maine. She has been the subject of numerous solo and group exhibitions and her work forms part of many important private, corporate and public collections including the Columbus Museum and the Georgia Museum of Art in Georgia; the Tacoma Art Museum in Washington; and the Art in Embassies in Gambia, Brunei, Dubai and Papua New Guinea.
Heather Gaudio Fine Art specializes in emerging and established artists, offering painting, works on paper, photography, and sculpture. The gallery provides a full range of art advisory services, from forming and maintaining a collection, to securing secondary market material, to assisting with framing and installation. The focus is on each individual client, selecting art that best serves his or her vision, space, and resources. The six exhibitions offered every year are designed to present important talent and provide artwork appealing to a broad range of interests. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday; 10:30am to 5:30pm; and by appointment.
Betsy Eby: Of This Natural World
This exhibition presents a group of woodcuts, engravings, and etchings from the late 15th through late 18th centuries drawn from the Wetmore Collection at Connecticut College. The collection was assembled in the early 20th century by Fanny S. Wetmore, and bequeathed to the College in 1930. From familiar favorites like Dürer’s Adam and Eve and Rembrandt’s Three Trees to hidden gems like the gold-sprinkled surface of Maria Katharina Prestel’s Virtue Overcoming Vice, the show explores more than three centuries of artistic innovation on paper.
Although little is known of Wetmore herself, her collecting activities place her within a tradition dating back to the rise of printmaking in early modern Europe. The surging production of prints by the beginning of the 16th century represented a sea change for both artists and consumers. For artists, prints provided additional revenue, increased their personal fame, and offered greater latitude for experimentation outside the traditional patronage structure. For consumers, prints represented access to visual art on an unprecedented scale; even those who would never have been able to commission an independent work from a great artist could now readily obtain an engraving or an etching. Prints were easily transported, could be pasted up on walls or into albums, and even large collections of them took up relatively little room. And, with the rise of reproductive printmaking, even geographically distant or physically inaccessible artworks could be added to the collector’s “paper museum.”
This exhibition is the second in the Museum’s history to have been co-curated with Fairfield University students, and has been supported by generous funding from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
Image: Albrecht Dürer, Adam and Eve, 1504, engraving
Ink and Time: European Prints from the Wetmore Collection
Sacred Space, organized by guest curator Juanita Sunday, draws on the rich history of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives, founded in Philadelphia in 1972 by artist Allan Edmunds. As of 2023, FUAM is home to a Brandywine “satellite collection,” joining other institutions including Harvard Art Museums, RISD Museum, and the University of Delaware Museums. This exhibition features works from FUAM’s own collection as well as loans from Brandywine itself.
Sacred Space encourages a deep exploration of spiritual connection, inviting viewers to reflect on the ancestral wisdom and memory passed down through generations. The exhibition serves as a portal into the interconnected realms of spirituality, time, space, memory, and culture. The artists pay homage to their forebears, drawing upon cultural traditions, rituals, and sacred practices to honor and preserve, as well as question, the invaluable heritage that shapes our identities.
“My belief is that art is best as the articulation of spiritual ideas or transformative intention. It can be an agent of spiritual inspiration or personal and social transformation.” - Michael D. Harris
Image: Martin Payton, Portal, 1990, offset lithograph. Partial gift of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives and Museum Purchase with funds from the Black Art Fund, 2024 (2024.0601) © Martin Payton
Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archives Print Exhibition
Free for all MoCA members; $10 admission for non-members; $8 admission for seniors and students
MoCA CT is excited to introduce ColleCTomania, an exhilarating exhibition displaying over 140 Swiss posters from the renowned collector Tom Strong. Strong is a New Haven, Connecticut-based graphic designer, photographer and collector who has spent sixty years amassing, displaying, sharing, and living amongst his archive. The exhibition, curated by Pamela Hovland and Karen Salsgiver, includes a widely diverse range of posters from the 1930s to the present.
Switzerland’s design culture has had a significant influence on the discipline of graphic design. Swiss posters in particular, especially those designed during the 1950s and 60s, have attained iconic status and are part of design education in schools across the globe. Created at uniform scale to be displayed in the streets of Zurich, Lucerne and Basel, these posters are now highly collectible, preserved in the archives of major museums and reproduced in art and design books.
Yale University’s graphic design program, the first in this country, was critical in disseminating the work and ideas of Swiss designers. Several influential practitioners were invited to New Haven to teach courses and workshops to students, including Tom Strong, eager to experiment with typography, form and craft. When Yale’s design graduates scattered around Connecticut and the country as both practicing and teaching designers, the visual language and ideology of the ‘Swiss International Style’ spread far and wide.
The poster as a large, public, graphic form has held its prominent place throughout the history of design. Tom Strong’s vast collection of Swiss posters, accumulated over six decades, spans the mid-century to today. His archive includes diverse and boundary-breaking visual strategies employed through inventive uses of type and typography, image-making, layering and collage. The posters illustrate myriad expressions in style, subject matter and ever-evolving technologies. Strong’s posters showcase both the outsized influence of Swiss design as well as the contemporary experimentation that builds on that legacy. Seeing the posters fill the gallery walls is pure visual delight.
“Why do I continue to collect Swiss posters? I guess you like Beethoven and then Stravinsky comes along with different principles, blows your head off. And then you go further, and you find more composers who you never knew anything about. The body and the brain and the ear are accustomed to surprise and difference and beauty. Other than that, I can’t defend it or describe it. These posters have power. You can’t deny it.”- Tom Strong
About the Collector, Tom Strong:
Thomas Strong was born in 1938 in Hanover, New Hampshire. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served with the U.S. Army Security Agency in Germany and Turkey. In 1967, Tom received an MFA from the Yale School of Art and Architecture and later started the graphic design firm Strong Cohen with his co-founder, Marjorie Cohen. The firm focuses on the design of signage for architectural applications, primarily for colleges and universities. When Tom isn’t busy designing or installing signs across New Haven, he dedicates his time to revitalizing the neighborhood where he works, a commitment he’s upheld for the past two decades. As a board member of the Chapel West district, he plays a key role in its development. Beyond his civic involvement, Tom has cultivated a diverse collection, including Swiss posters, HO scale model trains, Braun products, National Park Service folders, and iconic posters from Yale and Otl Aicher’s 1972 Olympics.
About the Curators:
Pamela Hovland is a Wilton-based designer, educator, writer and visual activist. She has worked extensively in the areas of identity, print communications, signage and screen-based design for corporations, nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions and individuals. Her work has been recognized by multiple organizations and publications and included in regional, national and international exhibitions. Pamela received an MFA from Yale University where she is a Senior Critic in graphic design. She is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome and a founding member of Class Action Collective, the art collective that uses design to effect social change.
Karen Salsgiver is the principal strategist and designer of the Westport-based graphic design firm Salsgiver Coveney Associates. For over four decades the studio has created design programs and communication solutions that tell the authentic story of a diverse range of corporate, educational and cultural institutions. The firm’s award-winning work has been published in multiple design books and publications. Karen earned a BS in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University and an MFA from Yale University.
ColleCTomania: MoCA CT
On View October 16, 2024 – March 9, 2025
In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, the Greenwich Historical Society presents a timely and dynamic exhibition that takes a fresh look at the impact of the Revolutionary War on our community.
The Revolution may have started in Massachusetts, but it soon spread to Connecticut, particularly Fairfield County and Greenwich, the gateway to Patriotic New England. With their safety and livelihood at risk, residents had to choose whether to support American Independence, to remain loyal to King George III or claim neutrality. This is the story of the people of Greenwich and their neighbors in Fairfield County, living, working, fighting, fleeing or dying on the front line of the Revolutionary War.
Original materials from the Revolution belonging to the Greenwich Historical Society, as well as other museums and archives, will be used to illustrate the impact of the War on our community.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of related programs and events
Greenwich During the Revolutionary War: A Frontier Town on the Front Line
The Loft Artists Association (LAA) is excited to announce its 11th Annual Juried
Exhibition, titled [Gasp!]. This year’s exhibition presents artworks that defy expectations and provoke astonishment particularly through innovative use of materials. These artworks must be experienced in-person as they inspire viewers to look slowly to discover the unexpected. The Awards & Opening Reception is Saturday, September 28, 5-7pm and is free and open to the
public.
Visiting Juror and Independent Curator, Ellen Hawley, explains, “these selected artworks elicit a spontaneous response that make us gasp with surprise when we discover unexpected imagery or materials, such as rawhide, cow bones, Band-aids (™), dice, shredded decommissioned U.S. currency, spent shotgun shells, gears and clocks, and various found objects.
[GASP!} Our 11th Annual Juried Exhibition
Learn more about the current exhibition, ColleCTomania, from an expert docent. No advance registration required; all tours included in Museum admission. Remember, gallery admission is FREE for MoCA Members.
Docent Led Tour: ColleCTomania
Please join us for the opening reception of the Weston Library Photography Club photography exhibition opening reception.
Sunday, October 6th 1-3pm
Weston Public Library
56 Norfield Road, Weston, CT
If you cannot make the opening, please visit the exhibit during the Library open hours. Call to ensure the Community Room is open for visitors: 203-222-2665
Opening Reception- Photography Exhibition "A Closer Look"
Stamford History Center takes you on a time traveling adventure back to the Gilded Age to learn about Stamford's entrepreneurs, movers, shakers, and industrialists. You will recognize some well-known Stamford landmarks including Yale & Towne Factory and the Blickensderfer Typewriter Factory. On September 22nd, Executive Director Dr. Zoubek kicks off the afternoon with opening remarks on a glorious time in history. Experience the lives of the elegant and fashionable people of the Gilded Age through our exciting collection of art, clothing, photographs, documents, home furnishings and other artifacts.
Admission $10 for non-members
SHC Members Free Admission
How the Upper Crust Lived: The Gilded Age in Stamford 1865-1905
The Bartlett welcomes best-selling author, Marta McDowell for a wide-ranging and spirited discussion about gardening, murder, and writing!
What is it about the garden that suits it to literary murder? Perhaps it is the poisonous plants, sharp tools, shady corners, and ready-made burial sites that make gardens a mainstay in the mystery genre. Perhaps it is the gardens (and writers) themselves, with their “natural malice toward weeds, rodents and other garden undesirable. Rare is the gardener who can approach a slug without homicidal intent.”
From Edgar Allan Poe to Agatha Christie to modern bestsellers, hundreds of our greatest mystery writers have found inspiration in the sinister side of gardens. Gardening Can Be Murder is the first book to explore this genre’s many surprising horticultural connections.
Bartlett Book Club: Gardening Can Be Murder
Musicians and actors and partners, Oh My!
The Norwalk Symphony has established a partnership with the Music Theater of Connecticut to bring you six performances during the 2024-2025 season in the intimate theater space at 509 Westport Avenue, Norwalk, CT.
November 1 & 2, 2024 - Stravinsky's "A Soldier's Tale"
March 7 & 8, 2025 - Gordon's "Orpheus & Euridice"
April 25 & 26, 2025 - DeFalla's "El Amor Brujo"
Tickets are available through the MTC website: Buy Tickets (musictheatreofct.com)
Norwalk Symphony Partners with the Music Theater of Connecticut
A wonderful new partnership has been created with the Music Theater of Connecticut to present Chamber works in an intimate and copy setting.
On November 1 & 2, 2024, this partnership will present Stravinsky's "A Soldier's Tale" at the MTC venue. Tickets are available through the MTC website: Music Theatre of Connecticut | Norwalk, CT | Professional Theatre and Conservatory (musictheatreofct.com)
Norwalk Symphony & Music Theater of Connecticut - November 1 & 2, 2024
Over the course of the Tony award-winning musical, In the Heights, we encounter the many colorful residents of Washington Heights — a New York City neighborhood on the brink of change. Usnavi, a first generation Dominican-American corner bodega owner, and his friends and family are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and closing neighborhood businesses. As one family struggles to figure out how to pay for an Ivy League tuition for their brilliant and hard-working daughter, a young woman is trying to put a down payment on a new apartment, and Usnavi himself is trying to get back to the Dominican Republic to reconnect with his roots after the death of his parents. In Washington Heights, community is everything, and we see how each of these individuals struggles to survive and how these same individuals come together as a community to mourn their losses and rejoice in their triumphs. Over the course of the show, we see the hard-working residents of Washington Heights grapple with love and lust, identity and racism, all while the prospect of a winning lottery ticket hangs in the air, potentially changing the livelihoods of the people and the community forever. This revolutionary new musical combines Latin rhythms and dance with hip-hop lyrics to tell a captivating story about what it means to chase your dreams as you cling to your roots, and to celebrate the community from which you grew.
In The Heights
Stand Together Against Racism (S.T.A.R), in partnership with The Glass House and the Carriage Barn Arts Center, is hosting its third annual "Through Your Looking Glass" student art showcase. This event celebrates how art, design, and architecture can promote social justice, inclusion, equity, and diversity.
Students of all ages from Fairfield County, CT, including college students, are invited to submit art that reflects a social justice topic that's important to them. (Check out the S.T.A.R website to see what other students have submitted.) We welcome all forms of art, such as paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media, sculpture, videos (including TikTok-style), or architectural designs.Art is due by November 9.
This showcase is not a competition—all student artwork will be displayed at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan starting with an opening reception on Saturday, November 16. All artists, with their families and friends should plan to attend. The showcase will remain up for approximately two weeks.
Fill out the pre-registration form linked iin this post so we know you intend to submit! When your art is ready, you'll complete a separate release form.
Fairfield County Student Social Justice Art Showcase - Call for Submissions NOW - Opening Reception 11/16
Bridgeport, CT—URSA Gallery is proud to present Can It Be All So Simple, an intimate yet profound exhibition featuring works from a diverse group of artists, including Remy Sosa, Saint Phifer, Cal Bocicault, Epic Uno, Duvian Montoya, Samantha Cosentino, Dianne Hebbert, and Tara Blackwell, who is also the show’s esteemed curator. This highly anticipated event will open on November 2 and be highlighted as part of the Bridgeport Art Trail from November 7–10.
Can It Be All So Simple captures the raw nostalgia of a pre-digital era—before camera phones and social media reshaped our experiences—when life was lived fully in real-time. The artworks reflect a gritty authenticity, exploring life’s simple pleasures and the unfiltered beauty of a time when, despite not having much, we had what we needed. It is a tribute to the moments that shaped us, reminding viewers that the most profound richness can be found in life’s simplest moments. With its compelling thematic depth and powerful visual storytelling, this exhibit promises to be one of the year’s most thought-provoking.
Can It Be All So Simple will be the inaugural show at URSA's new location on 245 Fairfield Avenue. In celebration, URSA Roasters will introduce their new house blend, available for purchase onsite, giving visitors a chance to experience the artistry of coffee alongside the gallery's creative atmosphere. A special concert will also be held upstairs at 247 Fairfield Avenue, in collaboration with Louder Than Love. The concert will feature performances from bands High, Snowpiler, Porcelain, and Bajzelle, bringing a night of live music to complement the gallery’s artistic offerings. The concert is ticketed at $15 and attendees must be 21+ to enter.
For more information on URSA, visit ursa.gallery on Instagram or contact Cris Dam at cristobal.dam@gmail.com
URSA Gallery Presents: Can It Be All So Simple
Westport Country Playhouse will open its 2024-25 Season with “The 39 Steps,” a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, running from October 22 through November 9. Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Tickets start at $40.
The 39 Steps
Join us for an extraordinary evening of classical guitar featuring the gifted local artist Andrei Orasanu and Carlos Bedoya at 7 pm on Saturday, November 2 at MoCA CT! These two talented guitarists have received international acclaim for their participation in guitar competitions and festivals.
Ticket price: $20 for adults, children up to the age of 18 are free. Reserve your tickets via this link!
A masterclass for guitarists will take place at 10-12 at MoCA on Saturday November 2nd. The masterclass program is open to the public and is free. Click here for more information about participating the masterclass program with Carlos Bedoya.
Carlos Bedoya, bio
“A complete musician that excels in all range of styles.” (Ernesto Bitetti), Colombian guitarist Carlos Bedoya is a rising concert artist currently pursuing a D.M degree at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music where he also serves as Associate Instructor. Apart from performing, Bedoya also enjoys teaching, and furthering cultural enrichment through community engagement and volunteering opportunities.
As an avid competitor, Bedoya has garnered more than 20 top prizes in national and international competitions including: Chicago Guitar Festival, Art Farm at Serenbe Guitar Competition, Appalachian State Guitar Competition, University of Memphis International Guitar Competition, Sinaloa International Guitar Competition, Hong Kong IFA Guitar Competition, Florida State University Guitar Competition, Southern Guitar Festival, Sarajevo International Guitar Festival, Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition, amongst others.
Some of his most significant concert engagements include performances at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Florida State University, Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, Antioquia Music Fest, the Cape Classical Artist concert series, Uniquindio Guit-Art Festival, and special appearances at the International Clarinet Association, the Cartagena Music Festival, and at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Aside from his career as a performer, Bedoya maintains a busy teaching schedule and has an avid enthusiasm for singing and conducting. Bedoya is also an occasional composer and arranger and is currently a Yamaha classical guitar ambassador.
An Evening of Classical Guitar
Bandleader and guitarist Michael-Louis Smith and “Take A Step Back” return to the Carriage Barn to perform the music of The Grateful Dead.
An evening of live music featuring uplifting rhythms, unique song forms, organic harmonic progressions and the gorgeous and often cryptic storytelling in the lyrics that connects the listener to the inner fabric of the universe and the spiritual elements of humanity. The love for the music runs deep in all of these musicians who realize of the important innovations and contributions The Grateful Dead made to the world of music, touring, sound engineering, technology, and live recording.
Doors open at 7:00pm, Show at 7:30pm
TICKETS ON SALE ONLINE (advance tickets $35 / $40 at the door)
https://carriagebarn.org/event/grateful-dead-night/
Grateful Dead Night, 2nd November at the Carriage Barn Arts Center
Join us for an extraordinary evening of classical guitar featuring the gifted local artist Andrei Orasanu and Carlos Bedoya at 7 pm on Saturday, November 2 at MoCA CT! These two talented guitarists have received international acclaim for their participation in guitar competitions and festivals.
Ticket price: $20 for adults, children up to the age of 18 are free. RESERVE YOUR TICKETS
A masterclass for guitarists will take place at 10-12 at MoCA on Saturday November 2nd. The masterclass program is open to the public and is free.
THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY MUSIC FOR YOUTH INC.
Carlos Bedoya, bio
“A complete musician that excels in all range of styles.” (Ernesto Bitetti), Colombian guitarist Carlos Bedoya is a rising concert artist currently pursuing a D.M degree at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music where he also serves as Associate Instructor. Apart from performing, Bedoya also enjoys teaching, and furthering cultural enrichment through community engagement and volunteering opportunities.
As an avid competitor, Bedoya has garnered more than 20 top prizes in national and international competitions including: Chicago Guitar Festival, Art Farm at Serenbe Guitar Competition, Appalachian State Guitar Competition, University of Memphis International Guitar Competition, Sinaloa International Guitar Competition, Hong Kong IFA Guitar Competition, Florida State University Guitar Competition, Southern Guitar Festival, Sarajevo International Guitar Festival, Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition, amongst others.
videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSt7neTm0rc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH44uEZIRjU
website
https://www.carlosbedoyaguitar.com/#/
Andrei Orasanu , bio
Andrei is a young American classical guitarist with Romanian roots. He began playing the instrument at the age of 5 with the help of his father and under the direction of his first teacher Daniel Hartington. During the years he has studied with many other teachers including Katty Mayorga, James Kerr, Scott Hill and for the last seven years with Dr. Tudor Niculescu-Mizil. He also studies music theory and composition with composer/pianist Lyudmila German.
Andrei has participated in many prestigious national and international competitions and festivals such as Boston Guitar Fest, Sinaia International Guitar Festival, Altamira International Guitar Competition, James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition, Guitar Foundation of America where he took altogether over thirty prizes in his age group as well as in higher age categories. Over the years he has had the opportunity to work in masterclasses and private lessons with prominent guitarists and teachers such as Rene Izquierdo, Zoran Dukic, Gabriel Bianco, Joao Luiz, Judicael Perroy, Thibaut Garcia, Andrew Zohn, Jason Vieaux and many others.
MFY and MoCA CT present Carlos Bedoya and Andrei Orasanu, classical guitar
Over the course of the Tony award-winning musical, In the Heights, we encounter the many colorful residents of Washington Heights — a New York City neighborhood on the brink of change. Usnavi, a first generation Dominican-American corner bodega owner, and his friends and family are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and closing neighborhood businesses. As one family struggles to figure out how to pay for an Ivy League tuition for their brilliant and hard-working daughter, a young woman is trying to put a down payment on a new apartment, and Usnavi himself is trying to get back to the Dominican Republic to reconnect with his roots after the death of his parents. In Washington Heights, community is everything, and we see how each of these individuals struggles to survive and how these same individuals come together as a community to mourn their losses and rejoice in their triumphs. Over the course of the show, we see the hard-working residents of Washington Heights grapple with love and lust, identity and racism, all while the prospect of a winning lottery ticket hangs in the air, potentially changing the livelihoods of the people and the community forever. This revolutionary new musical combines Latin rhythms and dance with hip-hop lyrics to tell a captivating story about what it means to chase your dreams as you cling to your roots, and to celebrate the community from which you grew.
In The Heights
Emerson Hall Foundation and Piano on Park will host an evening of jazz with the Randal Despommier Quartet. An extraordinary saxophonist, composer, and educator, Randal Despommier is internationally known for his unique fusion of classical and jazz influences. With fellow jazz artists Jason Yeager on piano, Rodrigo Recabarren on drums and percussion, and Aaron Holthus on bass, the quartet’s masterful improvisation and intricate melodies create innovative soundscapes that create a spellbinding experience.
An Evening of Jazz with the Randal Despommier Quartet
Come extend the spooky season with one of Christie’s darkest tales...a masterpiece of dramatic construction with a growing sense of dread and unfaltering tension that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Theatre Artists Workshop’s 2024 benefit production, a staged reading of Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, marks a long awaited return to our popular offering of "Fall Classics", where professional Workshop artists present a classic work of theatre for a public audience.
Much like the members of our Workshop, Agatha Christie did not shy away from the input of others on her work. Rather, she "took into account what was perceived to be the needs of audiences during a very dark time in history," according to her grandson Mathew Prichard. The novel, originally written in 1939, had a much darker ending than what Christie eventually wrote for the stage play version in 1943. Post war audiences yearned to escape to a world where things worked out neatly. And so, we have two endings. Both were successful in their own right at the time of publication. Now we're asking you to look again through the lens of today.
So, which ending will it be? Could it be...both? Come see for yourself, and join us for a talk-back following the reading.
Funds raised through this special event will allow the Workshop to continue its mission of supporting and inspiring artists and launching new work out into the world. Your support of the artists' journey is essential. Thank you.
CAST:
STAGE DIRECTIONS: Carolyn Marble
ROGERS: Sean Hannon
MRS. ROGERS: Emilie Roberts
NARRACOTT/MARSTON: Matthew Mancuso
VERA CLAYTHORNE: Molly Garbe Brown
PHILIP LOMBARD: Michael Sharits
WILLIAM BLORE: Allan Zeller
GENERAL MACKENZIE: Jim Gordon
EMILY BRENT: Miriam Kulick
SIR LAWRENCE WARGRAVE: Granville Wyche Burgess
DR. ARMSTRONG: Robert Resnikoff
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Andrea Lynn Green
Assistant Director: Luisa Tanno
Stage Manager: Kristen Kingsley
Production Assistant: Syd Young
For mature audiences. Recommended for ages 14+
Content Note: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie contains material that may be disturbing to some viewers, including references to, and depictions of, murder, manslaughter and suicide. Please also note that recorded gunshots form part of the production. If you have questions or wish to know more, please contact tawboardofdirectors@gmail.com.
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Theatre Artists Workshop is designed as a place for theatre artists to take risks. It is a theatrical lab, where theatre professionals hone their skills, stretch creative muscles, experiment, develop new plays, work with and get feedback from fellow actors, writers and directors away from the harsh glare of the public spotlight. Membership in the Workshop is open to professional actors, writers and directors. Admission is by audition, script submission or by a substantial body of recognized professional work.
Theatre Artists Workshop was founded in Westport, CT in 1983 by Susie Fuller, Keir Dullea, Haila Stoddard, Burry Frederick, Jerome Kilty, Whitfield Connor, Sidney Michaels, Patricia Englund, Chilton Ryan, James Mapes, Anne Clay, Louisette Michaels, and E. Katherine Kerr. Honorary Members include Lucille Lortel, Elliot Martin, Lester Osterman, and Max Wilk.
The mission of Theatre Artists Workshop is to advance and promote excellence in the theatrical profession through private workshop performance and peer evaluation: to provide structured opportunity for individual artistic experimentation in the theater arts, including acting, directing, and writing; to stimulate the development of unique theatrical material that may warrant future production; and in general to act as a creative influence in the community.
Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
Set in the vibrant, bohemian world of New York City's East Village, Rent follows a group of friends navigating life, love, and artistic dreams while grappling with the realities of poverty and illness. With a dynamic rock score and unforgettable characters, this Tony Award-winning musical by Jonathan Larson delivers a powerful message about living life to the fullest, no matter the obstacles. With its iconic songs, including "Seasons of Love," "La Vie Bohème," and "Take Me or Leave Me," Rent is a thrilling, emotional ride that will leave you inspired and moved.
**This production contains mature themes, scenes of intimacy, death, drug use and coarse language. Not recommended for children.​
Photo Credit: Seth Barkan Photography
The Wilton Playshop Presents the Musical RENT
They don't just pay tribute to the legendary band, Almost Queen transports you back in time to experience the magic and essence of Queen themselves. This deliberate four piece band is "guaranteed to blow your mind" with iconic four-part harmonies and expertly executed musical interludes. Almost Queen's impressive tribute to Queen is nothing short of breathtaking. The band's authenticity shines through in their impeccable attention to detail and genuine costumes, while their live energy and precision will leave music fans of all ages with an unforgettable concert experience.
Almost Queen: A Tribute to Queen
On Saturday November 2, 2024, at 8pm, Westport CT’s Voices Cafe will present Cheryl Wheeler, with special guest Kenny White.
Cheryl Wheeler is a gifted singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice, as well as a natural storyteller with a fantastic sense of humor. Cheryl's songs are often emotional portraits of people, leaving you with the impression that you know the characters. You will find yourself being pulled into each song rather than standing outside and observing, yet other songs are hilarious situation comedies.
Kenny White joins Cheryl for this concert and brings a deep career as a touring singer-songwriter, an accomplished pianist and guitarist, and a clever lyricist. It is a rare treat to see them together, promising an evening filled with touching moments, as well as fun and laughter.
The concert date is Saturday November 2nd, doors open at 7:30pm, showtime is 8:00pm. Tickets and information are available at voicescafe.org. Concert admission is $30 per ticket.
Voices Cafe concerts offer a BYO setting with a choice of coffee-house style seating at tables or individual seating. Guests can bring their own beverages and snacks; coffee and sweet treats will also be available for purchase. Groups of four or more can reserve table space.
Voices Cafe concerts support social justice programs in our local community, under the guidance of The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport. This concert will be held at 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport CT.
Voices Cafe Presents Cheryl Wheeler with special guest Kenny White
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
Curated by Walker with help from the Library’s Exhibit Curator Carole Erger-Fass, Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut derives from Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection and aims to explore an important piece of local history. It will feature 40+ original cartoons by some of the area’s greats, including Dik Browne, Mel Casson, Stan Drake, John Cullen Murphy, Leonard Starr, Jack Tippit, Mort Walker, and more.
Proximity to major syndicates and publishers in New York City drew cartoonists to Fairfield County. Many worked at home in their studios, frequenting Max’s Art Supplies on the Post Road and seeking companionship with their professional peers at local spots: over a game of golf at Longshore, or at local restaurants like Mario’s Place, across from Westport’s train station.
Cullen Murphy, author and son of the cartoonist behind Prince Valiant and Big Ben Bolt, refers to the history of cartooning in Connecticut with fondness.
“For a period of about 50 years, right in the middle of the American Century, many of the nation’s top comic strip cartoonists, gag cartoonists, and magazine illustrators lived within a stone’s throw of one another in the southwestern corner of Connecticut,” he wrote in Cartoon County, “a bit of bohemia amid those men in their gray flannel suits.”
The Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection (Westpac) was conceived by local art teacher Bert Chernow, who began acquiring a diverse collection of artworks in 1964. Featuring many notable local artists, Westpac comprises more than 1,800 works in a broad range of media including paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and murals.
Westport cartoonist Mel Casson was instrumental in building Westpac’s Cartoon Collection, which includes more than 120 original comic strips, gag cartoons, editorial cartoons, and illustrations. Over the years, the Westpac collection has been displayed in schools and public buildings around town to educate and entertain residents.
This exhibit features many highlights from the collection, representing the major cartoon genres. The graphics on the walls are from Mort Walker’s 1980 book, The Lexicon of Comicana, which will be reissued by New York Review Books in 2025.
Special thanks to Westpac co-chairs Ive Covaci and Anne Boberski, and to the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center for their continued support.
Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
The State of Cartooning will display works by active members of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, including Greg, Brian, and Neal Walker, who carry the legacy of their father, Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey. Other featured artists include Ray Billingsley, Bob Englehart, Bill Janocha, Sean Kelly, Maria Scrivan, and more.
Founded in 1946, National Cartoonists Society (NCS) activities and events primarily took place in New York City until 1983, when the first Reuben Award Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. At that time, the NCS also began organizing a system of regional chapters for members to participate in. There are currently 23 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brian Walker started the NCS Connecticut chapter in 1993, involving many remaining Golden Age cartoonists. Meetings were held at local restaurants, including the Silvermine Tavern, Cobbs Mill Inn, The Redding Roadhouse, and Red Barn. From 1994 to 2017, a special Legend Award was presented to 22 Connecticut Cartoonists at their annual fall dinner. Although membership has decreased as the older generation has passed on, the Connecticut chapter is still active. The State of Cartooning displays works by some of the current members of the NCS.
The State of Cartooning
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library!
“My Story Revealed" invites you on a visual journey through the heart of personal and cultural narratives. This exhibit honors the art of storytelling by showcasing the compelling and diverse experiences of some of the 8-18 year old students taking part in our international Global Voices - ArtLink exchanges over three decades.
Whether their pieces are beautifully rendered or simply drawn, delightful or thought provoking, the creation of these pieces has been a journey of self-discovery. Through their work, the young artists have expressed their identities, shared their stories, and conveyed the aspects of their lives and society they treasure - or are concerned about.
This collection brings together diverse artistic youth voices from 28 ArtLink partner countries, transcending political systems and geographical boundaries. We believe that art is a universal language, uniting us through the shared experiences and dreams of its young creators, promoting a common humanity that will lead to a more peaceful future.
As you explore the exhibit, we invite you, the viewer, to reflect on your own story, your own journey, cultivating a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the multi-faceted tapestry of human experiences we are all part of. We hope to see you there!
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Creative Connections is a nonprofit in Norwalk, CT, dedicated to promoting global understanding and empathy through art-based exchanges between youth worldwide. We connect students in the U.S. with peers in other countries, encouraging cultural sharing and cross-cultural learning. We focus on fostering global citizenship and creative communication through programs like Global Voices - ArtLink, which highlights diverse perspectives and cultural storytelling.
Details:
The opening reception will be on 9/30 from 5:30-7:30pm
The exhibit will remain up until Spring 2025.
Where:New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT
Please contact scanessa@creativeconnections.org with any questions.
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library.
The Gallery at GFC is proud to announce the opening of Jason Pritchard's latest show Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water's Path. The paintings in this exhibition feature the magical interplay between light and water along the coastline and within the communities that hug the shore. Jason captures water dancing, shimmering, or frozen as ice beneath cloud-filled New England skies. These gorgeously rendered works in oil are balm for the soul.
Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water’s Path
Landscape Weekend Workshop with Jill Nichols
November 2 & 3, 2024, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Price: $375.
Paint the landscape In this Weekend Workshop in the spacious Easton, Connecticut studio of renowned artist Everett Raymond Kinstler. You will be painting in the beautiful natural light of the studio and surroundings with internationally acclaimed artist Jill Harrington Nichols.
We’ll begin in the studio with an introductory presentation and demo. Then artists will paint several quick studies/sketches, (outdoors weather permitting) with a limited palette. Learning to simplify the landscape into a dynamic composition while interpreting spatial relationships, color, and value relationships. Work directly from observation or you're welcome to work from existing studies and photos. Artists are encouraged to explore, experiment, and interpret the landscape.
All experience levels and mediums are welcome including, oil, acrylic, casein, watercolor, gouache, and pastels. Demos will be in oil or watercolor/gouache/casein.
You will need to bring your easel. Details will be sent upon registration.
This special workshop is available for only $375. per student.
Landscape Painting Workshop
A very moving art exhibition featuring three extraordinary Connecticut Artists expressing the essence and effect of shadow, light, the subliminal mind and the human spirit.
THE DARK OF LIGHT
Elisa Contemporary Art is pleased to present a Solo exhibit of the Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett. It is now open at the One River School in Westport. The exhibit will run from through November 27 at 833 Post Road East, Westport CT. Gallery hours are: Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm and Saturday/Sunday 10am - 2pm.
Join us for a Reception on Saturday, November 23 from 2-4pm
From color-infused paintings to video self-portraits, Paula Brett’s body of work incorporates various combinations of media dealing with ideas such as created identity, coincidence, ritual, and transitory spaces.
The limited edition photographs are Mandalas made from pieces of Candy, Jewels, Toys, Cars and other favorites. According to Paula, “The mandala symbolizes the law of the universe and since man is also a microcosm of the universe, many cultures believe that the mandala also symbolizes the human soul. Mandalas serve as collection point for universal forces…My intention with these mandalas is to arrange everyday sweets and favorite objects into a pattern which becomes sacred, where delicious turns divine, the enticing now exquisite.”
Brett has exhibited work in New York, CT, Chicago, San Francisco, Budapest and Romania.
About One River School:
Founded in 2012 in Englewood, NJ, “one river” west of New York City, One River School has embarked on a mission to "transform art education"® in America. Today, their innovative program teaches thousands of students in fifteen locations across six states. We are thrilled to be working with One River Westport.
About Elisa Contemporary Art
Elisa Contemporary Art represents a portfolio of emerging through mid-career contemporary artists. Founded in 2007 by
Lisa Cooper, Elisa Contemporary Art is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and collection of art as a way to enrich
and heal our lives, our communities, and the world. The Riverdale NY Gallery opened in 2008. The Art Salon in Fairfield
CT opened in May 2017 (by appointment only). Elisa Contemporary Art has participated in international art fairs in New
York, Miami and the Hamptons and curated 40+ art exhibits in public/private spaces in the Tri-State.
For additional information, visit us at www.ElisaContemporaryArt.com or Instagram: @ElisaContemporary Art
Solo Exhibit of Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett
An Exhibition Like No Other!
This groundbreaking exhibition highlights ongoing, cutting-edge dinosaur research by American Museum of Natural History paleontologists and other leading scientists from around the world.
It explores how paleontologists today are using an incredible array of new technologies — from bioengineering computer software to CT scans — along with new discoveries and new ideas to investigate and reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries of dinosaurs, such as what they really looked like and how they actually moved and behaved, as well as the complex and hotly debated theories of why — or even whether — they became extinct.
Exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.
Made possible with generous support from GoHealth Urgent Care.
This exhibition is free for SM&NC Members, and included in the price of daily admission for visitors.
Exhibition on View: Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas
Free for all MoCA members; $10 admission for non-members; $8 admission for seniors and students
MoCA CT is excited to introduce ColleCTomania, an exhilarating exhibition displaying over 140 Swiss posters from the renowned collector Tom Strong. Strong is a New Haven, Connecticut-based graphic designer, photographer and collector who has spent sixty years amassing, displaying, sharing, and living amongst his archive. The exhibition, curated by Pamela Hovland and Karen Salsgiver, includes a widely diverse range of posters from the 1930s to the present.
Switzerland’s design culture has had a significant influence on the discipline of graphic design. Swiss posters in particular, especially those designed during the 1950s and 60s, have attained iconic status and are part of design education in schools across the globe. Created at uniform scale to be displayed in the streets of Zurich, Lucerne and Basel, these posters are now highly collectible, preserved in the archives of major museums and reproduced in art and design books.
Yale University’s graphic design program, the first in this country, was critical in disseminating the work and ideas of Swiss designers. Several influential practitioners were invited to New Haven to teach courses and workshops to students, including Tom Strong, eager to experiment with typography, form and craft. When Yale’s design graduates scattered around Connecticut and the country as both practicing and teaching designers, the visual language and ideology of the ‘Swiss International Style’ spread far and wide.
The poster as a large, public, graphic form has held its prominent place throughout the history of design. Tom Strong’s vast collection of Swiss posters, accumulated over six decades, spans the mid-century to today. His archive includes diverse and boundary-breaking visual strategies employed through inventive uses of type and typography, image-making, layering and collage. The posters illustrate myriad expressions in style, subject matter and ever-evolving technologies. Strong’s posters showcase both the outsized influence of Swiss design as well as the contemporary experimentation that builds on that legacy. Seeing the posters fill the gallery walls is pure visual delight.
“Why do I continue to collect Swiss posters? I guess you like Beethoven and then Stravinsky comes along with different principles, blows your head off. And then you go further, and you find more composers who you never knew anything about. The body and the brain and the ear are accustomed to surprise and difference and beauty. Other than that, I can’t defend it or describe it. These posters have power. You can’t deny it.”- Tom Strong
About the Collector, Tom Strong:
Thomas Strong was born in 1938 in Hanover, New Hampshire. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served with the U.S. Army Security Agency in Germany and Turkey. In 1967, Tom received an MFA from the Yale School of Art and Architecture and later started the graphic design firm Strong Cohen with his co-founder, Marjorie Cohen. The firm focuses on the design of signage for architectural applications, primarily for colleges and universities. When Tom isn’t busy designing or installing signs across New Haven, he dedicates his time to revitalizing the neighborhood where he works, a commitment he’s upheld for the past two decades. As a board member of the Chapel West district, he plays a key role in its development. Beyond his civic involvement, Tom has cultivated a diverse collection, including Swiss posters, HO scale model trains, Braun products, National Park Service folders, and iconic posters from Yale and Otl Aicher’s 1972 Olympics.
About the Curators:
Pamela Hovland is a Wilton-based designer, educator, writer and visual activist. She has worked extensively in the areas of identity, print communications, signage and screen-based design for corporations, nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions and individuals. Her work has been recognized by multiple organizations and publications and included in regional, national and international exhibitions. Pamela received an MFA from Yale University where she is a Senior Critic in graphic design. She is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome and a founding member of Class Action Collective, the art collective that uses design to effect social change.
Karen Salsgiver is the principal strategist and designer of the Westport-based graphic design firm Salsgiver Coveney Associates. For over four decades the studio has created design programs and communication solutions that tell the authentic story of a diverse range of corporate, educational and cultural institutions. The firm’s award-winning work has been published in multiple design books and publications. Karen earned a BS in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University and an MFA from Yale University.
ColleCTomania: MoCA CT
On View October 16, 2024 – March 9, 2025
In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, the Greenwich Historical Society presents a timely and dynamic exhibition that takes a fresh look at the impact of the Revolutionary War on our community.
The Revolution may have started in Massachusetts, but it soon spread to Connecticut, particularly Fairfield County and Greenwich, the gateway to Patriotic New England. With their safety and livelihood at risk, residents had to choose whether to support American Independence, to remain loyal to King George III or claim neutrality. This is the story of the people of Greenwich and their neighbors in Fairfield County, living, working, fighting, fleeing or dying on the front line of the Revolutionary War.
Original materials from the Revolution belonging to the Greenwich Historical Society, as well as other museums and archives, will be used to illustrate the impact of the War on our community.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of related programs and events
Greenwich During the Revolutionary War: A Frontier Town on the Front Line
Westport, CT – First Folk Sunday is showing its true roots. Before you go to the polls on Tuesday November 5, come to the Woody Guthrie concert at First Folk Sunday on Sunday November 3. Woody Guthrie, the man who wrote the song that many people have adopted as their own personal national anthem, “This Land is Your Land,” would be very happy to know that Westport’s favorite folk series, First Folk Sunday, is honoring him and his music 2 days before the election.
Suzanne Sheridan, First Folk Sunday’s headline singer and artistic force for the past two seasons, will be joined, for this ultimate tribute to the musical icon of American democracy and freedom, by Matt Lavigni, Paul Bluestein, Susan T. Reid, Myra Healy, and Colin Healy. Matt Lavigni is returning to First Folk Sunday following his sold-out solo appearance last year.
Susan T. Reid and Paul Bluestein each have been playing string instruments for more than fifty years – just not together, until recently. Susan started as a guitar player in her teens and later studied fiddle with Eileen Ivers, the fiddle virtuoso. She eventually took up the banjo and was taught by her friend, Pete Seeger. She comes from a love of traditional Scottish, Irish and American music and released an album of her favorites titled “Bridges to Home” in 2016. Paul Bluestein got his first guitar when he was 16 and learned to play by listening to the folk singers of the 60’s and then the folk-rock of the 70’s. Performing together as the duo “Side by Side” Paul and Susan have blended the music of Appalachia, Greenwich Village and Long Beach, California.
Colin and Myra Healy, as teenagers, discovered folk music together. They performed at local events and ran the Lorien Coffeehouse in Huntington Center in the 60’s and the Twelfth Note Coffeehouse in Stratford in the 90’s. The Healy’s performed with the Ash Creek String Band for almost 4 decades. They currently host a song circle at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stratford on the second Friday of each month. Colin is a founding member of the Walkingwood Mandolin Quartet. Myra taught music and children’s literature for preschool students at Housatonic Community College. They perform a wide variety of popular (and obscure) roots music on many vintage and handmade instruments including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, octave mandolin, harmonica and 5 string banjo.
For tickets to the performance on November 3, click on the First Folk Sunday website. The music cover charge is $15. Table service is available for those who would like to enjoy brunch or lunch, and cocktails and beverages are offered, also.
Doors open at noon for this Guthrie musical afternoon. There is ample parking at the Saugatuck Rowing Club with additional parking across the street at 518 Riverside Avenue. For more information visit the First Folk Sunday website at https://firstfolksunday.com and for questions, call 203-984-7562.
First Folk Sunday and Woody Guthrie - "Voice of the People" on Nov 3
The Flinn Gallery is honored to launch its 2024-25 season with a unique solo exhibition, The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita. Curated by Leslee Asch, the exhibition displays Kumi Yamashita’s works of unconventional vision, versatility, and variety. The Opening Reception will be September 19 from 6-8pm.
Kumi Yamashita uses simple materials to yield surprising results. In describing her shadow work and the elusive qualities of light, she says, “I sculpt using both light and shadow. I construct single or multiple objects and place them in relation to a single light source. The complete artwork is therefore comprised of both the material (the solid objects) and the immaterial (the light or shadow.)”
In addition to Yamashita’s Light & Shadow series, the exhibition includes provocative portraits created by winding a single unbroken sewing thread around thousands of small galvanized nails.
Equally enticing is a piece of denim in which the threads have been systematically removed to create an enchanting portrait. Yamashita describes her process for this piece as, “Sometimes there is something beautiful about things falling apart. Undoing one thing while simultaneously creating another. Here I’ve taken fabric and pulled out bits and pieces of the lighter color thread to create the image.”
Yamashita’s work has been widely praised both nationally and internationally. Her solo shows include the Seattle Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay in Singapore as well as museums in Taiwan, China and Japan. She has been in numerous museum group shows, including the Louvre’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and San Francisco’s Exploratorium.
Yamashita’s work allows viewers to expand their understanding of the possibilities of the varied media she skillfully employs, and the breadth of her vision. Curator Leslee Asch adds, “The work must be seen in person to be appreciated; expect the unexpected.”
Kumi Yamashita lives and works in Woodstock, NY. She was born in Takasaki, Japan, and received her MFA from Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, and her BFA from Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, WA. Yamashita’s work can be found in impressive public collections such as Microsoft, American Express, Le Meridien, Shenyang, China; Tokyo’s Akiru Medical Center, and permanent collections at numerous museums.
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The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita opens with a reception
from 6-8pm on September 19.
The Flinn Gallery which is located on the second floor of the Greenwich Library,
101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.
The show will run through November 6.
The Flinn Gallery is a non-profit organization sponsored by Friends of the Greenwich Library.
Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 1-5pm.
Events:
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 19 from 6-8pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 26 at 2pm
The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita
The Loft Artists Association (LAA) is excited to announce its 11th Annual Juried
Exhibition, titled [Gasp!]. This year’s exhibition presents artworks that defy expectations and provoke astonishment particularly through innovative use of materials. These artworks must be experienced in-person as they inspire viewers to look slowly to discover the unexpected. The Awards & Opening Reception is Saturday, September 28, 5-7pm and is free and open to the
public.
Visiting Juror and Independent Curator, Ellen Hawley, explains, “these selected artworks elicit a spontaneous response that make us gasp with surprise when we discover unexpected imagery or materials, such as rawhide, cow bones, Band-aids (™), dice, shredded decommissioned U.S. currency, spent shotgun shells, gears and clocks, and various found objects.
[GASP!} Our 11th Annual Juried Exhibition
Learn more about the current exhibition, ColleCTomania, from an expert docent. No advance registration required; all tours included in Museum admission. Remember, gallery admission is FREE for MoCA Members.
Docent Led Tour: ColleCTomania
Eight area artists will be showcased in Wilton Library’s October art exhibition, “Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations.” The exhibition features the diverse works of women artists: Pam Ackley (Killingworth), Afsaneh Djabbari-Aslani (New Canaan), Alma Faham (Danbury), Cynthia Fazekas (Shelton), Mari Gyorgyey (Stamford), Katya Lebrija (Wilton), Pam Rouleau (Old Greenwich), and Nomi Silverman (Greenwich). They will exhibit their works in an array of styles, media choices, and subject matter, all portraying vibrant and varied types of resilience found in life and nature.
The opening reception on Friday, October 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is free and open to the public. Exhibition runs through November 7. A majority of the works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library.
"Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations" Art Exhibition at Wilton Library
The Carriage Barn Arts Center presents Edward Keating: A Fearless Legacy Photography Exhibition of the Pulitzer prize-winning photographer from New Canaan October 12 - November 13, 2024
This new exhibition highlights the late Pulitzer-prize winning photographer’s 40-year career, as well as his connection to New Canaan, CT. Curated with members of the photographer’s family, this first-ever retrospective features 80 photographs and additional archival materials that offer insight into Keating’s career and life as a photographer. The exhibition spans decades of his work and features editioned estate prints as well as rare and unique vintage silver gelatins printed by Keating that are available for sale.
Born in 1956 and raised in New Canaan, CT, Edward Keating moved to New York City in 1981 to become a photographer. He taught himself how to photograph by chronicling the street life of everyday New Yorkers.
Hired as a Staff Photographer at The New York Times in 1991, he covered national and international news. He was also a regular contributor to the Sunday New York Times Magazine. In addition, he co-founded the "Vows" wedding column. In 2002, Keating won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage on the attacks of 9/11. He additionally shared the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting with New York Times staff for the series, "How Race is Lived in America.” After leaving the Times in 2002, he became a regular contributor to New York Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, Vanity Fair and Time.
From Kosovo to Crown Heights, Keating often put himself in the center of highly charged conflicts - ignoring the dangers -- to best capture the emotion, devastation and humanity with his camera. Keating’s camera stayed around his neck until the very end. At just 65 years of age, he passed away in September 2021, as a result of many months of long exposure to toxic material while covering 9/11 at Ground Zero.
The Carriage Barn Arts Center is located in New Canaan's Waveny Park, hours are Wednesday-Saturday 10am-3pm and Sunday 1-5pm. Visit carriagebarn.org for more information.
Edward Keating: A Fearless Legacy, Photography Exhibition at the Carriage Barn Arts Center
The Greenwich Art Society presents:
NEW WORKSHOP!! DRAWING & PAINTING SKILLS FOR THE SERIOUS YOUNG ARTIST - AGES 9-12
4 SUNDAYS Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tuition $325.00
This four-week workshop is for students who want to improve their drawing skills and transition into painting. Drawing fundamentals such as composition, light and shadow, negative space and mark making will be covered. Painting in black and white will lead to painting in the gray scale. We will touch on color theory and paint with acrylics for the last class.
The Greenwich Art Society is offering Drawing & Painting for the Serious Young Artist
New Canaan Library presents another exciting Chat and Chop culinary education experience! Emmy-award winner and co-anchor of NBC’s Today, Al Roker, and his daughter, Courtney Roker Laga, will share their passion for food, family, and fun on Sunday, November 3rd, at 2:00 PM in the Library’s Kend Kitchen.
Whether a seasoned cook or just looking for some kitchen inspiration, everyone will witness Al and Courtney’s dynamic cooking techniques, learn handy tips and tricks, and discover the stories behind beloved recipes.
Tickets are $75 and include a live cooking demonstration by Al and Courtney, plus a sample of their favorite recipe. Attendees will also receive a copy of their new cookbook Recipes to Live By which Al and Courtney will be happy to sign.
Chat and Chop with NBC’s Al Roker and Courtney Roker Laga
Set in the vibrant, bohemian world of New York City's East Village, Rent follows a group of friends navigating life, love, and artistic dreams while grappling with the realities of poverty and illness. With a dynamic rock score and unforgettable characters, this Tony Award-winning musical by Jonathan Larson delivers a powerful message about living life to the fullest, no matter the obstacles. With its iconic songs, including "Seasons of Love," "La Vie Bohème," and "Take Me or Leave Me," Rent is a thrilling, emotional ride that will leave you inspired and moved.
**This production contains mature themes, scenes of intimacy, death, drug use and coarse language. Not recommended for children.​
Photo Credit: Seth Barkan Photography
The Wilton Playshop Presents the Musical RENT
Come extend the spooky season with one of Christie’s darkest tales...a masterpiece of dramatic construction with a growing sense of dread and unfaltering tension that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Theatre Artists Workshop’s 2024 benefit production, a staged reading of Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, marks a long awaited return to our popular offering of "Fall Classics", where professional Workshop artists present a classic work of theatre for a public audience.
Much like the members of our Workshop, Agatha Christie did not shy away from the input of others on her work. Rather, she "took into account what was perceived to be the needs of audiences during a very dark time in history," according to her grandson Mathew Prichard. The novel, originally written in 1939, had a much darker ending than what Christie eventually wrote for the stage play version in 1943. Post war audiences yearned to escape to a world where things worked out neatly. And so, we have two endings. Both were successful in their own right at the time of publication. Now we're asking you to look again through the lens of today.
So, which ending will it be? Could it be...both? Come see for yourself, and join us for a talk-back following the reading.
Funds raised through this special event will allow the Workshop to continue its mission of supporting and inspiring artists and launching new work out into the world. Your support of the artists' journey is essential. Thank you.
CAST:
STAGE DIRECTIONS: Carolyn Marble
ROGERS: Sean Hannon
MRS. ROGERS: Emilie Roberts
NARRACOTT/MARSTON: Matthew Mancuso
VERA CLAYTHORNE: Molly Garbe Brown
PHILIP LOMBARD: Michael Sharits
WILLIAM BLORE: Allan Zeller
GENERAL MACKENZIE: Jim Gordon
EMILY BRENT: Miriam Kulick
SIR LAWRENCE WARGRAVE: Granville Wyche Burgess
DR. ARMSTRONG: Robert Resnikoff
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Andrea Lynn Green
Assistant Director: Luisa Tanno
Stage Manager: Kristen Kingsley
Production Assistant: Syd Young
For mature audiences. Recommended for ages 14+
Content Note: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie contains material that may be disturbing to some viewers, including references to, and depictions of, murder, manslaughter and suicide. Please also note that recorded gunshots form part of the production. If you have questions or wish to know more, please contact tawboardofdirectors@gmail.com.
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Theatre Artists Workshop is designed as a place for theatre artists to take risks. It is a theatrical lab, where theatre professionals hone their skills, stretch creative muscles, experiment, develop new plays, work with and get feedback from fellow actors, writers and directors away from the harsh glare of the public spotlight. Membership in the Workshop is open to professional actors, writers and directors. Admission is by audition, script submission or by a substantial body of recognized professional work.
Theatre Artists Workshop was founded in Westport, CT in 1983 by Susie Fuller, Keir Dullea, Haila Stoddard, Burry Frederick, Jerome Kilty, Whitfield Connor, Sidney Michaels, Patricia Englund, Chilton Ryan, James Mapes, Anne Clay, Louisette Michaels, and E. Katherine Kerr. Honorary Members include Lucille Lortel, Elliot Martin, Lester Osterman, and Max Wilk.
The mission of Theatre Artists Workshop is to advance and promote excellence in the theatrical profession through private workshop performance and peer evaluation: to provide structured opportunity for individual artistic experimentation in the theater arts, including acting, directing, and writing; to stimulate the development of unique theatrical material that may warrant future production; and in general to act as a creative influence in the community.
Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
The first thing you’ll notice is two cellos, not two violins, in this fiercely creative string quartet. Violinist Alexi Kenney, violist Ayane Kozasa, cellist Gabriel Cabezas, and cellist-composer Paul Wiancko (now also a member of the iconic Kronos Quartet) weave together new compositions with original arrangements of music ranging from the 1600s to the present. Owls' distinctive instrumentation allows them access to beautiful and exhilarating new sound worlds, effectively guaranteeing that each performance is uniquely them and without limits.
This special program is made possible through the generous support of the Howard and Katherine Aibel Foundation and the Lundberg Family Foundation.
The Howard and Katherine Aibel Memorial Concert: Owls
Over the course of the Tony award-winning musical, In the Heights, we encounter the many colorful residents of Washington Heights — a New York City neighborhood on the brink of change. Usnavi, a first generation Dominican-American corner bodega owner, and his friends and family are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and closing neighborhood businesses. As one family struggles to figure out how to pay for an Ivy League tuition for their brilliant and hard-working daughter, a young woman is trying to put a down payment on a new apartment, and Usnavi himself is trying to get back to the Dominican Republic to reconnect with his roots after the death of his parents. In Washington Heights, community is everything, and we see how each of these individuals struggles to survive and how these same individuals come together as a community to mourn their losses and rejoice in their triumphs. Over the course of the show, we see the hard-working residents of Washington Heights grapple with love and lust, identity and racism, all while the prospect of a winning lottery ticket hangs in the air, potentially changing the livelihoods of the people and the community forever. This revolutionary new musical combines Latin rhythms and dance with hip-hop lyrics to tell a captivating story about what it means to chase your dreams as you cling to your roots, and to celebrate the community from which you grew.
In The Heights
An Evensong for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day
Sunday, November 3 at 5PM
Choral Evensong (sung Evening Prayer) is one of the most beautiful services of our tradition. Most of Evensong is sung by the choir, freeing the congregation to attend prayerfully to the “holiness of beauty.” The St. Mark’s Choir & Soloists offer a service of Evensong for the Feasts of All Saints & All Souls. During the service, Lydia Cseh Dahling will sing Maurice Ravel’s extraordinary setting of the Kaddish, chanted during Jewish prayer services in mourning for the dead. The service will also feature music of the French composer Maurice Duruflé (movements from his Requiem), a Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis on Plainsong themes as well as a setting of the Preces & Responses, allcomposed for the occasion by our Director of Music Ministries. The service will be accompanied by Christopher Houlihan.
In addition to our honoring those saints and souls who have gone before us, we will sing in memory and celebration of the life and ministry of the Very Reverend Robert Andrew Willis, former Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. Dean Willis passed away on October 22, was a friend to thousands around the world (both individuals and numerous Anglo-Episcopal parishes), and was the life-partner of Fletcher Banner. The congregation is invited to bring framed photographs or other mementos of those whom they love and who have died. Those mementos will be blessed during the singing of the “Kaddish.” Please join us for this beautiful, candle-lit service. A reception will follow.
An Evensong for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day
Westport Country Playhouse will open its 2024-25 Season with “The 39 Steps,” a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, running from October 22 through November 9. Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Tickets start at $40.
The 39 Steps
Curtain Call’s Theatre Arts Workshops: Back to School Means Back in Action!
For over 30 years, Stamford’s longest-running and only nonprofit, theatre-producing company has offered opportunities for kids grades K+, teens, and adults to ACT OUT with classes after school, evenings and weekends throughout the school year, AND full-day summer workshops! Our Fall 2024 Session of exciting lineup of classes for kids (grades K+), teens, and adults in acting, improv, musical theatre, dance, AND MORE begin September 16, 2024 and run for eight weeks. (See our website for details.) Scholarships, payment plans and sibling discounts. For questions, contact our Education Director, Brian Bianco at brian@curtaincallinc.com.
Curtain Call's Fall Drama Arts Classes for Kids, Teens & Adults
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
The State of Cartooning will display works by active members of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, including Greg, Brian, and Neal Walker, who carry the legacy of their father, Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey. Other featured artists include Ray Billingsley, Bob Englehart, Bill Janocha, Sean Kelly, Maria Scrivan, and more.
Founded in 1946, National Cartoonists Society (NCS) activities and events primarily took place in New York City until 1983, when the first Reuben Award Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. At that time, the NCS also began organizing a system of regional chapters for members to participate in. There are currently 23 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brian Walker started the NCS Connecticut chapter in 1993, involving many remaining Golden Age cartoonists. Meetings were held at local restaurants, including the Silvermine Tavern, Cobbs Mill Inn, The Redding Roadhouse, and Red Barn. From 1994 to 2017, a special Legend Award was presented to 22 Connecticut Cartoonists at their annual fall dinner. Although membership has decreased as the older generation has passed on, the Connecticut chapter is still active. The State of Cartooning displays works by some of the current members of the NCS.
The State of Cartooning
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
Curated by Walker with help from the Library’s Exhibit Curator Carole Erger-Fass, Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut derives from Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection and aims to explore an important piece of local history. It will feature 40+ original cartoons by some of the area’s greats, including Dik Browne, Mel Casson, Stan Drake, John Cullen Murphy, Leonard Starr, Jack Tippit, Mort Walker, and more.
Proximity to major syndicates and publishers in New York City drew cartoonists to Fairfield County. Many worked at home in their studios, frequenting Max’s Art Supplies on the Post Road and seeking companionship with their professional peers at local spots: over a game of golf at Longshore, or at local restaurants like Mario’s Place, across from Westport’s train station.
Cullen Murphy, author and son of the cartoonist behind Prince Valiant and Big Ben Bolt, refers to the history of cartooning in Connecticut with fondness.
“For a period of about 50 years, right in the middle of the American Century, many of the nation’s top comic strip cartoonists, gag cartoonists, and magazine illustrators lived within a stone’s throw of one another in the southwestern corner of Connecticut,” he wrote in Cartoon County, “a bit of bohemia amid those men in their gray flannel suits.”
The Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection (Westpac) was conceived by local art teacher Bert Chernow, who began acquiring a diverse collection of artworks in 1964. Featuring many notable local artists, Westpac comprises more than 1,800 works in a broad range of media including paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and murals.
Westport cartoonist Mel Casson was instrumental in building Westpac’s Cartoon Collection, which includes more than 120 original comic strips, gag cartoons, editorial cartoons, and illustrations. Over the years, the Westpac collection has been displayed in schools and public buildings around town to educate and entertain residents.
This exhibit features many highlights from the collection, representing the major cartoon genres. The graphics on the walls are from Mort Walker’s 1980 book, The Lexicon of Comicana, which will be reissued by New York Review Books in 2025.
Special thanks to Westpac co-chairs Ive Covaci and Anne Boberski, and to the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center for their continued support.
Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library!
“My Story Revealed" invites you on a visual journey through the heart of personal and cultural narratives. This exhibit honors the art of storytelling by showcasing the compelling and diverse experiences of some of the 8-18 year old students taking part in our international Global Voices - ArtLink exchanges over three decades.
Whether their pieces are beautifully rendered or simply drawn, delightful or thought provoking, the creation of these pieces has been a journey of self-discovery. Through their work, the young artists have expressed their identities, shared their stories, and conveyed the aspects of their lives and society they treasure - or are concerned about.
This collection brings together diverse artistic youth voices from 28 ArtLink partner countries, transcending political systems and geographical boundaries. We believe that art is a universal language, uniting us through the shared experiences and dreams of its young creators, promoting a common humanity that will lead to a more peaceful future.
As you explore the exhibit, we invite you, the viewer, to reflect on your own story, your own journey, cultivating a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the multi-faceted tapestry of human experiences we are all part of. We hope to see you there!
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Creative Connections is a nonprofit in Norwalk, CT, dedicated to promoting global understanding and empathy through art-based exchanges between youth worldwide. We connect students in the U.S. with peers in other countries, encouraging cultural sharing and cross-cultural learning. We focus on fostering global citizenship and creative communication through programs like Global Voices - ArtLink, which highlights diverse perspectives and cultural storytelling.
Details:
The opening reception will be on 9/30 from 5:30-7:30pm
The exhibit will remain up until Spring 2025.
Where:New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT
Please contact scanessa@creativeconnections.org with any questions.
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library.
The Gallery at GFC is proud to announce the opening of Jason Pritchard's latest show Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water's Path. The paintings in this exhibition feature the magical interplay between light and water along the coastline and within the communities that hug the shore. Jason captures water dancing, shimmering, or frozen as ice beneath cloud-filled New England skies. These gorgeously rendered works in oil are balm for the soul.
Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water’s Path
An Exhibition Like No Other!
This groundbreaking exhibition highlights ongoing, cutting-edge dinosaur research by American Museum of Natural History paleontologists and other leading scientists from around the world.
It explores how paleontologists today are using an incredible array of new technologies — from bioengineering computer software to CT scans — along with new discoveries and new ideas to investigate and reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries of dinosaurs, such as what they really looked like and how they actually moved and behaved, as well as the complex and hotly debated theories of why — or even whether — they became extinct.
Exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.
Made possible with generous support from GoHealth Urgent Care.
This exhibition is free for SM&NC Members, and included in the price of daily admission for visitors.
Exhibition on View: Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas
The Greenwich Art Society is offering:
Portrait Drawing & Painting with Andrew Lattimore (with live model) with ANDREW LATTIMORE
Program Description:
We will be working from a live model. Emphasis will be on lighting, features, values, composition, background, drapery, and anatomy. We’ll focus on developing a technical proficiency in rendering the portrait while working from direct observation. Emphasis on understanding anatomy, proportion, value and form and how it relates to portrait drawing. We will also concentrate on the importance of a well-balanced and thoughtfully executed piece through understanding composition using both drawing & painting media. Student work will be evaluated daily through individual critiques during class by the instructor.
Registration, supply list and recommended reading at www.greenwichartsociety.org
299 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich, CT 203.629.1255
The Greenwich Art Society is offering Portrait Drawing & Painting with Andrew Lattimore
​Greenwich Art Society Studio School, Fall Term 2024
Registration for ALL students,
NOW OPEN!
Classes start Monday, Sept. 9, 2024!
Register online at www.greenwichartsociety.org for your favorite class or workshop!
Classical Portrait Drawing,
Acrylic Painting Classes, Figure Drawing,
Process Painting and more!!!
Create your own account and then select and pay
for your classes!
Our Mission: "To enhance our legacy of personalized visual arts education, outstanding art exhibitions, and children's community outreach."
299 Greenwich Ave., 3rd floor, Greenwich, CT 06830
Greenwich Art Society Studio School, Fall Term 2024 Registration for ALL students, NOW OPEN!
The Flinn Gallery is honored to launch its 2024-25 season with a unique solo exhibition, The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita. Curated by Leslee Asch, the exhibition displays Kumi Yamashita’s works of unconventional vision, versatility, and variety. The Opening Reception will be September 19 from 6-8pm.
Kumi Yamashita uses simple materials to yield surprising results. In describing her shadow work and the elusive qualities of light, she says, “I sculpt using both light and shadow. I construct single or multiple objects and place them in relation to a single light source. The complete artwork is therefore comprised of both the material (the solid objects) and the immaterial (the light or shadow.)”
In addition to Yamashita’s Light & Shadow series, the exhibition includes provocative portraits created by winding a single unbroken sewing thread around thousands of small galvanized nails.
Equally enticing is a piece of denim in which the threads have been systematically removed to create an enchanting portrait. Yamashita describes her process for this piece as, “Sometimes there is something beautiful about things falling apart. Undoing one thing while simultaneously creating another. Here I’ve taken fabric and pulled out bits and pieces of the lighter color thread to create the image.”
Yamashita’s work has been widely praised both nationally and internationally. Her solo shows include the Seattle Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay in Singapore as well as museums in Taiwan, China and Japan. She has been in numerous museum group shows, including the Louvre’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and San Francisco’s Exploratorium.
Yamashita’s work allows viewers to expand their understanding of the possibilities of the varied media she skillfully employs, and the breadth of her vision. Curator Leslee Asch adds, “The work must be seen in person to be appreciated; expect the unexpected.”
Kumi Yamashita lives and works in Woodstock, NY. She was born in Takasaki, Japan, and received her MFA from Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, and her BFA from Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, WA. Yamashita’s work can be found in impressive public collections such as Microsoft, American Express, Le Meridien, Shenyang, China; Tokyo’s Akiru Medical Center, and permanent collections at numerous museums.
.
The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita opens with a reception
from 6-8pm on September 19.
The Flinn Gallery which is located on the second floor of the Greenwich Library,
101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.
The show will run through November 6.
The Flinn Gallery is a non-profit organization sponsored by Friends of the Greenwich Library.
Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 1-5pm.
Events:
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 19 from 6-8pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 26 at 2pm
The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita
A very moving art exhibition featuring three extraordinary Connecticut Artists expressing the essence and effect of shadow, light, the subliminal mind and the human spirit.
THE DARK OF LIGHT
Eight area artists will be showcased in Wilton Library’s October art exhibition, “Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations.” The exhibition features the diverse works of women artists: Pam Ackley (Killingworth), Afsaneh Djabbari-Aslani (New Canaan), Alma Faham (Danbury), Cynthia Fazekas (Shelton), Mari Gyorgyey (Stamford), Katya Lebrija (Wilton), Pam Rouleau (Old Greenwich), and Nomi Silverman (Greenwich). They will exhibit their works in an array of styles, media choices, and subject matter, all portraying vibrant and varied types of resilience found in life and nature.
The opening reception on Friday, October 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is free and open to the public. Exhibition runs through November 7. A majority of the works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library.
"Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations" Art Exhibition at Wilton Library
Elisa Contemporary Art is pleased to present a Solo exhibit of the Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett. It is now open at the One River School in Westport. The exhibit will run from through November 27 at 833 Post Road East, Westport CT. Gallery hours are: Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm and Saturday/Sunday 10am - 2pm.
Join us for a Reception on Saturday, November 23 from 2-4pm
From color-infused paintings to video self-portraits, Paula Brett’s body of work incorporates various combinations of media dealing with ideas such as created identity, coincidence, ritual, and transitory spaces.
The limited edition photographs are Mandalas made from pieces of Candy, Jewels, Toys, Cars and other favorites. According to Paula, “The mandala symbolizes the law of the universe and since man is also a microcosm of the universe, many cultures believe that the mandala also symbolizes the human soul. Mandalas serve as collection point for universal forces…My intention with these mandalas is to arrange everyday sweets and favorite objects into a pattern which becomes sacred, where delicious turns divine, the enticing now exquisite.”
Brett has exhibited work in New York, CT, Chicago, San Francisco, Budapest and Romania.
About One River School:
Founded in 2012 in Englewood, NJ, “one river” west of New York City, One River School has embarked on a mission to "transform art education"® in America. Today, their innovative program teaches thousands of students in fifteen locations across six states. We are thrilled to be working with One River Westport.
About Elisa Contemporary Art
Elisa Contemporary Art represents a portfolio of emerging through mid-career contemporary artists. Founded in 2007 by
Lisa Cooper, Elisa Contemporary Art is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and collection of art as a way to enrich
and heal our lives, our communities, and the world. The Riverdale NY Gallery opened in 2008. The Art Salon in Fairfield
CT opened in May 2017 (by appointment only). Elisa Contemporary Art has participated in international art fairs in New
York, Miami and the Hamptons and curated 40+ art exhibits in public/private spaces in the Tri-State.
For additional information, visit us at www.ElisaContemporaryArt.com or Instagram: @ElisaContemporary Art
Solo Exhibit of Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett
Please join us for the opening reception of the Weston Library Photography Club photography exhibition opening reception.
Sunday, October 6th 1-3pm
Weston Public Library
56 Norfield Road, Weston, CT
If you cannot make the opening, please visit the exhibit during the Library open hours. Call to ensure the Community Room is open for visitors: 203-222-2665
Opening Reception- Photography Exhibition "A Closer Look"
Join Jackie DeLise, master certified meditation and mindfulness teacher and stress management expert, for a guided meditation class from the comfort of your home. Jackie will share ancient wisdom for your modern lifestyle, and will guide you in becoming your true self.
No prior experience necessary - learn how to cultivate inner calm, clarity, peace and harmony in your life. All are welcome!
Please join this link at the time start of this event: thequicklive.com.
To learn more about Jackie: https://www.jackiedelise.com/
Please note: This event is virtual only.
Virtual Meditation and Mindfulness
Historian Doug Melville will discuss his book, Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America's First Black Generals. The conversation will be moderated by Ruth Hubbard, Director of Product Strategy at Fiserv.
Red Tails, George Lucas’s celebration of America’s first Black flying squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen, should have been a moment of victory for Doug Melville. He expected to see his great-uncle Benjamin O. Davis Jr.—the squadron’s commander—immortalized on-screen for his selfless contributions to America. But as the film rolled, Doug was shocked when he realized that Ben Jr.’s name had been omitted and replaced by the fictional Colonel A. J. Bullard. And Ben’s father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., America’s first Black general who helped integrate the military, was left out completely.
Invisible Generals recounts the lives of a father and his son who always maintained their belief in the American dream. As the inheritor of their legacy, Melville retraces their steps, advocates for them to receive their long-overdue honors and unlocks the potential we all hold to retrieve powerful family stories lost to the past.
Registration required.
Doug Melville is one of today’s most innovative and sought-out voices in diversity, equity and inclusion. He is a celebrated author and three-time TEDx speaker. He has been featured prominently in the media, including CBS Saturday Morning, TIME, The Daily Show, The Guardian, The Breakfast Club and The Washington Post. He is a forbes.com contributor.
As a Director of Product Strategy at Fiserv, Ruth Hubbard plays a key role in driving the product vision, strategy and roadmap of the Merchant Acquiring business. She evaluates product areas for Artificial Intelligence (practical use cases) and program manages initiatives to scale frequency, volume and multi-channel support of Clover’s marketing campaigns to achieve Fiserv’s $4.5B run rate in 2026.
Before joining Fiserv in 2023, Hubbard was a Strategy & Insights Manager at Google, where she deciphered consumer behavior trends and transformed insights into tangible business outcomes for financial services, travel and pharmaceutical advertisers. Her expertise was crafting compelling narratives about harnessing the power of YouTube to drive impactful consumer engagement, increase purchase decisions, and position YouTube's efficacy in comparison to other ad-supported platforms like TikTok and Netflix.
An Evening with Doug Melville, Author of "Invisible Generals"
Westport Country Playhouse will open its 2024-25 Season with “The 39 Steps,” a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, running from October 22 through November 9. Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Tickets start at $40.
The 39 Steps
When Will is faced with the impending death of his younger sister Shay, he realizes he must do something to stop it. With a little help from a statue of St. Francis (and possibly also the edibles he ingests like cough drops), he connects with a miraculous power inside him. A power that can heal her but may cost him his own life. If he can only get past his mother, who both believes and doubts it all.
WillJee
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
Curated by Walker with help from the Library’s Exhibit Curator Carole Erger-Fass, Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut derives from Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection and aims to explore an important piece of local history. It will feature 40+ original cartoons by some of the area’s greats, including Dik Browne, Mel Casson, Stan Drake, John Cullen Murphy, Leonard Starr, Jack Tippit, Mort Walker, and more.
Proximity to major syndicates and publishers in New York City drew cartoonists to Fairfield County. Many worked at home in their studios, frequenting Max’s Art Supplies on the Post Road and seeking companionship with their professional peers at local spots: over a game of golf at Longshore, or at local restaurants like Mario’s Place, across from Westport’s train station.
Cullen Murphy, author and son of the cartoonist behind Prince Valiant and Big Ben Bolt, refers to the history of cartooning in Connecticut with fondness.
“For a period of about 50 years, right in the middle of the American Century, many of the nation’s top comic strip cartoonists, gag cartoonists, and magazine illustrators lived within a stone’s throw of one another in the southwestern corner of Connecticut,” he wrote in Cartoon County, “a bit of bohemia amid those men in their gray flannel suits.”
The Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection (Westpac) was conceived by local art teacher Bert Chernow, who began acquiring a diverse collection of artworks in 1964. Featuring many notable local artists, Westpac comprises more than 1,800 works in a broad range of media including paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and murals.
Westport cartoonist Mel Casson was instrumental in building Westpac’s Cartoon Collection, which includes more than 120 original comic strips, gag cartoons, editorial cartoons, and illustrations. Over the years, the Westpac collection has been displayed in schools and public buildings around town to educate and entertain residents.
This exhibit features many highlights from the collection, representing the major cartoon genres. The graphics on the walls are from Mort Walker’s 1980 book, The Lexicon of Comicana, which will be reissued by New York Review Books in 2025.
Special thanks to Westpac co-chairs Ive Covaci and Anne Boberski, and to the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center for their continued support.
Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
The State of Cartooning will display works by active members of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, including Greg, Brian, and Neal Walker, who carry the legacy of their father, Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey. Other featured artists include Ray Billingsley, Bob Englehart, Bill Janocha, Sean Kelly, Maria Scrivan, and more.
Founded in 1946, National Cartoonists Society (NCS) activities and events primarily took place in New York City until 1983, when the first Reuben Award Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. At that time, the NCS also began organizing a system of regional chapters for members to participate in. There are currently 23 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brian Walker started the NCS Connecticut chapter in 1993, involving many remaining Golden Age cartoonists. Meetings were held at local restaurants, including the Silvermine Tavern, Cobbs Mill Inn, The Redding Roadhouse, and Red Barn. From 1994 to 2017, a special Legend Award was presented to 22 Connecticut Cartoonists at their annual fall dinner. Although membership has decreased as the older generation has passed on, the Connecticut chapter is still active. The State of Cartooning displays works by some of the current members of the NCS.
The State of Cartooning
The Gallery at GFC is proud to announce the opening of Jason Pritchard's latest show Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water's Path. The paintings in this exhibition feature the magical interplay between light and water along the coastline and within the communities that hug the shore. Jason captures water dancing, shimmering, or frozen as ice beneath cloud-filled New England skies. These gorgeously rendered works in oil are balm for the soul.
Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water’s Path
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library!
“My Story Revealed" invites you on a visual journey through the heart of personal and cultural narratives. This exhibit honors the art of storytelling by showcasing the compelling and diverse experiences of some of the 8-18 year old students taking part in our international Global Voices - ArtLink exchanges over three decades.
Whether their pieces are beautifully rendered or simply drawn, delightful or thought provoking, the creation of these pieces has been a journey of self-discovery. Through their work, the young artists have expressed their identities, shared their stories, and conveyed the aspects of their lives and society they treasure - or are concerned about.
This collection brings together diverse artistic youth voices from 28 ArtLink partner countries, transcending political systems and geographical boundaries. We believe that art is a universal language, uniting us through the shared experiences and dreams of its young creators, promoting a common humanity that will lead to a more peaceful future.
As you explore the exhibit, we invite you, the viewer, to reflect on your own story, your own journey, cultivating a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the multi-faceted tapestry of human experiences we are all part of. We hope to see you there!
-----
Creative Connections is a nonprofit in Norwalk, CT, dedicated to promoting global understanding and empathy through art-based exchanges between youth worldwide. We connect students in the U.S. with peers in other countries, encouraging cultural sharing and cross-cultural learning. We focus on fostering global citizenship and creative communication through programs like Global Voices - ArtLink, which highlights diverse perspectives and cultural storytelling.
Details:
The opening reception will be on 9/30 from 5:30-7:30pm
The exhibit will remain up until Spring 2025.
Where:New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT
Please contact scanessa@creativeconnections.org with any questions.
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library.
An Exhibition Like No Other!
This groundbreaking exhibition highlights ongoing, cutting-edge dinosaur research by American Museum of Natural History paleontologists and other leading scientists from around the world.
It explores how paleontologists today are using an incredible array of new technologies — from bioengineering computer software to CT scans — along with new discoveries and new ideas to investigate and reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries of dinosaurs, such as what they really looked like and how they actually moved and behaved, as well as the complex and hotly debated theories of why — or even whether — they became extinct.
Exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.
Made possible with generous support from GoHealth Urgent Care.
This exhibition is free for SM&NC Members, and included in the price of daily admission for visitors.
Exhibition on View: Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas
The Flinn Gallery is honored to launch its 2024-25 season with a unique solo exhibition, The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita. Curated by Leslee Asch, the exhibition displays Kumi Yamashita’s works of unconventional vision, versatility, and variety. The Opening Reception will be September 19 from 6-8pm.
Kumi Yamashita uses simple materials to yield surprising results. In describing her shadow work and the elusive qualities of light, she says, “I sculpt using both light and shadow. I construct single or multiple objects and place them in relation to a single light source. The complete artwork is therefore comprised of both the material (the solid objects) and the immaterial (the light or shadow.)”
In addition to Yamashita’s Light & Shadow series, the exhibition includes provocative portraits created by winding a single unbroken sewing thread around thousands of small galvanized nails.
Equally enticing is a piece of denim in which the threads have been systematically removed to create an enchanting portrait. Yamashita describes her process for this piece as, “Sometimes there is something beautiful about things falling apart. Undoing one thing while simultaneously creating another. Here I’ve taken fabric and pulled out bits and pieces of the lighter color thread to create the image.”
Yamashita’s work has been widely praised both nationally and internationally. Her solo shows include the Seattle Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay in Singapore as well as museums in Taiwan, China and Japan. She has been in numerous museum group shows, including the Louvre’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and San Francisco’s Exploratorium.
Yamashita’s work allows viewers to expand their understanding of the possibilities of the varied media she skillfully employs, and the breadth of her vision. Curator Leslee Asch adds, “The work must be seen in person to be appreciated; expect the unexpected.”
Kumi Yamashita lives and works in Woodstock, NY. She was born in Takasaki, Japan, and received her MFA from Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, and her BFA from Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, WA. Yamashita’s work can be found in impressive public collections such as Microsoft, American Express, Le Meridien, Shenyang, China; Tokyo’s Akiru Medical Center, and permanent collections at numerous museums.
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The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita opens with a reception
from 6-8pm on September 19.
The Flinn Gallery which is located on the second floor of the Greenwich Library,
101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.
The show will run through November 6.
The Flinn Gallery is a non-profit organization sponsored by Friends of the Greenwich Library.
Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 1-5pm.
Events:
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 19 from 6-8pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 26 at 2pm
The Elusive Art of Kumi Yamashita
Eight area artists will be showcased in Wilton Library’s October art exhibition, “Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations.” The exhibition features the diverse works of women artists: Pam Ackley (Killingworth), Afsaneh Djabbari-Aslani (New Canaan), Alma Faham (Danbury), Cynthia Fazekas (Shelton), Mari Gyorgyey (Stamford), Katya Lebrija (Wilton), Pam Rouleau (Old Greenwich), and Nomi Silverman (Greenwich). They will exhibit their works in an array of styles, media choices, and subject matter, all portraying vibrant and varied types of resilience found in life and nature.
The opening reception on Friday, October 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is free and open to the public. Exhibition runs through November 7. A majority of the works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library.
"Resilience, Reflection, and Revelations" Art Exhibition at Wilton Library
A very moving art exhibition featuring three extraordinary Connecticut Artists expressing the essence and effect of shadow, light, the subliminal mind and the human spirit.
THE DARK OF LIGHT
Elisa Contemporary Art is pleased to present a Solo exhibit of the Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett. It is now open at the One River School in Westport. The exhibit will run from through November 27 at 833 Post Road East, Westport CT. Gallery hours are: Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm and Saturday/Sunday 10am - 2pm.
Join us for a Reception on Saturday, November 23 from 2-4pm
From color-infused paintings to video self-portraits, Paula Brett’s body of work incorporates various combinations of media dealing with ideas such as created identity, coincidence, ritual, and transitory spaces.
The limited edition photographs are Mandalas made from pieces of Candy, Jewels, Toys, Cars and other favorites. According to Paula, “The mandala symbolizes the law of the universe and since man is also a microcosm of the universe, many cultures believe that the mandala also symbolizes the human soul. Mandalas serve as collection point for universal forces…My intention with these mandalas is to arrange everyday sweets and favorite objects into a pattern which becomes sacred, where delicious turns divine, the enticing now exquisite.”
Brett has exhibited work in New York, CT, Chicago, San Francisco, Budapest and Romania.
About One River School:
Founded in 2012 in Englewood, NJ, “one river” west of New York City, One River School has embarked on a mission to "transform art education"® in America. Today, their innovative program teaches thousands of students in fifteen locations across six states. We are thrilled to be working with One River Westport.
About Elisa Contemporary Art
Elisa Contemporary Art represents a portfolio of emerging through mid-career contemporary artists. Founded in 2007 by
Lisa Cooper, Elisa Contemporary Art is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and collection of art as a way to enrich
and heal our lives, our communities, and the world. The Riverdale NY Gallery opened in 2008. The Art Salon in Fairfield
CT opened in May 2017 (by appointment only). Elisa Contemporary Art has participated in international art fairs in New
York, Miami and the Hamptons and curated 40+ art exhibits in public/private spaces in the Tri-State.
For additional information, visit us at www.ElisaContemporaryArt.com or Instagram: @ElisaContemporary Art
Solo Exhibit of Candy and Toy Mandala Photographs by Paula Brett
This exhibition presents a group of woodcuts, engravings, and etchings from the late 15th through late 18th centuries drawn from the Wetmore Collection at Connecticut College. The collection was assembled in the early 20th century by Fanny S. Wetmore, and bequeathed to the College in 1930. From familiar favorites like Dürer’s Adam and Eve and Rembrandt’s Three Trees to hidden gems like the gold-sprinkled surface of Maria Katharina Prestel’s Virtue Overcoming Vice, the show explores more than three centuries of artistic innovation on paper.
Although little is known of Wetmore herself, her collecting activities place her within a tradition dating back to the rise of printmaking in early modern Europe. The surging production of prints by the beginning of the 16th century represented a sea change for both artists and consumers. For artists, prints provided additional revenue, increased their personal fame, and offered greater latitude for experimentation outside the traditional patronage structure. For consumers, prints represented access to visual art on an unprecedented scale; even those who would never have been able to commission an independent work from a great artist could now readily obtain an engraving or an etching. Prints were easily transported, could be pasted up on walls or into albums, and even large collections of them took up relatively little room. And, with the rise of reproductive printmaking, even geographically distant or physically inaccessible artworks could be added to the collector’s “paper museum.”
This exhibition is the second in the Museum’s history to have been co-curated with Fairfield University students, and has been supported by generous funding from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
Image: Albrecht Dürer, Adam and Eve, 1504, engraving
Ink and Time: European Prints from the Wetmore Collection
Sacred Space, organized by guest curator Juanita Sunday, draws on the rich history of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives, founded in Philadelphia in 1972 by artist Allan Edmunds. As of 2023, FUAM is home to a Brandywine “satellite collection,” joining other institutions including Harvard Art Museums, RISD Museum, and the University of Delaware Museums. This exhibition features works from FUAM’s own collection as well as loans from Brandywine itself.
Sacred Space encourages a deep exploration of spiritual connection, inviting viewers to reflect on the ancestral wisdom and memory passed down through generations. The exhibition serves as a portal into the interconnected realms of spirituality, time, space, memory, and culture. The artists pay homage to their forebears, drawing upon cultural traditions, rituals, and sacred practices to honor and preserve, as well as question, the invaluable heritage that shapes our identities.
“My belief is that art is best as the articulation of spiritual ideas or transformative intention. It can be an agent of spiritual inspiration or personal and social transformation.” - Michael D. Harris
Image: Martin Payton, Portal, 1990, offset lithograph. Partial gift of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives and Museum Purchase with funds from the Black Art Fund, 2024 (2024.0601) © Martin Payton
Sacred Space: A Brandywine Workshop and Archives Print Exhibition
Our favorite Break-Out Day returns!
As President Country the Appaloosa horse wraps up her term, we’ll need your help electing a new Head of the Farm for the coming year. Come greet some of your favorite farm animals and this year’s candidates up close, enjoy a day of crafts, and even a scavenger hunt on our trails! Of course, we’ll end our day with S’mores over the campfire at 2:30 pm.
Tuesday, November 5
11:30 am – 3 pm
Members: FREE
Non-Member: FREE w/Admission
No Registration Needed but click here for additional information
A schedule will be online closer to election day.
SM&NC Election on the Farm
Please join us for the opening reception of the Weston Library Photography Club photography exhibition opening reception.
Sunday, October 6th 1-3pm
Weston Public Library
56 Norfield Road, Weston, CT
If you cannot make the opening, please visit the exhibit during the Library open hours. Call to ensure the Community Room is open for visitors: 203-222-2665
Opening Reception- Photography Exhibition "A Closer Look"
Designed for teens and adults of all ages who are either non-musicians, novice singers or instrumentalists, or hobbyists who believe that they have a story to tell through music, the Songwriters Workshop provides a one-on-one coaching environment with access to acoustic and electronic instruments along with a digital recording studio to allow students to craft the songs they hear in their head, hum in the car or sing in the shower! Sessions are 45 minutes each between 4:00 - 6:30pm. One or two students per session depending on availability.
Your coach, Dr. K, has been writing songs for 30 years. In his workshop at Westport School of Music he will help you:
- explore song structure
- express your lyrically
- work with instruments
- compose and record
- edit, mix and publish your work!
CRAFTING A SONG - Songwriters Workshop
Jack Nicholson is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, with twelve Academy Award nominations, making him the most nominated male actor in the Academy’s history. He has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice, once for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and once for As Good as It Gets (1997). In this lecture, we will look at his career and his iconic roles in films like Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970), Chinatown (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The Shining (1980), Batman (1989), A Few Good Men (1992), and The Departed (2006).
A Long Island based filmmaker, film historian, and lecturer, Greg Blank has over 20 years of experience as a producer, director, cinematographer, and editor. He is an award-winning producer for the show "Push Pause Long Island" on Verizon Fios1, and as a documentarian for the films "Undocumented" (2016), and "A World Within a World: The Bay Houses of Long Island" (2020).
Registration suggested.
The Career and Films of Jack Nicholson
Westport Country Playhouse will open its 2024-25 Season with “The 39 Steps,” a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, running from October 22 through November 9. Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Tickets start at $40.
The 39 Steps
Curtain Call’s Theatre Arts Workshops: Back to School Means Back in Action!
For over 30 years, Stamford’s longest-running and only nonprofit, theatre-producing company has offered opportunities for kids grades K+, teens, and adults to ACT OUT with classes after school, evenings and weekends throughout the school year, AND full-day summer workshops! Our Fall 2024 Session of exciting lineup of classes for kids (grades K+), teens, and adults in acting, improv, musical theatre, dance, AND MORE begin September 16, 2024 and run for eight weeks. (See our website for details.) Scholarships, payment plans and sibling discounts. For questions, contact our Education Director, Brian Bianco at brian@curtaincallinc.com.
Curtain Call's Fall Drama Arts Classes for Kids, Teens & Adults
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
The State of Cartooning will display works by active members of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, including Greg, Brian, and Neal Walker, who carry the legacy of their father, Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey. Other featured artists include Ray Billingsley, Bob Englehart, Bill Janocha, Sean Kelly, Maria Scrivan, and more.
Founded in 1946, National Cartoonists Society (NCS) activities and events primarily took place in New York City until 1983, when the first Reuben Award Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. At that time, the NCS also began organizing a system of regional chapters for members to participate in. There are currently 23 chapters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brian Walker started the NCS Connecticut chapter in 1993, involving many remaining Golden Age cartoonists. Meetings were held at local restaurants, including the Silvermine Tavern, Cobbs Mill Inn, The Redding Roadhouse, and Red Barn. From 1994 to 2017, a special Legend Award was presented to 22 Connecticut Cartoonists at their annual fall dinner. Although membership has decreased as the older generation has passed on, the Connecticut chapter is still active. The State of Cartooning displays works by some of the current members of the NCS.
The State of Cartooning
Sheffer Gallery
September 7 through December 10
Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 6-8 pm, in the Trefz Forum; click here for more information.
(Reception kicks off at 6 pm, followed by a keynote presentation by cartoonist and comics historian Brian Walker starting at 7 pm.)
Curated by Walker with help from the Library’s Exhibit Curator Carole Erger-Fass, Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut derives from Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection and aims to explore an important piece of local history. It will feature 40+ original cartoons by some of the area’s greats, including Dik Browne, Mel Casson, Stan Drake, John Cullen Murphy, Leonard Starr, Jack Tippit, Mort Walker, and more.
Proximity to major syndicates and publishers in New York City drew cartoonists to Fairfield County. Many worked at home in their studios, frequenting Max’s Art Supplies on the Post Road and seeking companionship with their professional peers at local spots: over a game of golf at Longshore, or at local restaurants like Mario’s Place, across from Westport’s train station.
Cullen Murphy, author and son of the cartoonist behind Prince Valiant and Big Ben Bolt, refers to the history of cartooning in Connecticut with fondness.
“For a period of about 50 years, right in the middle of the American Century, many of the nation’s top comic strip cartoonists, gag cartoonists, and magazine illustrators lived within a stone’s throw of one another in the southwestern corner of Connecticut,” he wrote in Cartoon County, “a bit of bohemia amid those men in their gray flannel suits.”
The Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection (Westpac) was conceived by local art teacher Bert Chernow, who began acquiring a diverse collection of artworks in 1964. Featuring many notable local artists, Westpac comprises more than 1,800 works in a broad range of media including paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and murals.
Westport cartoonist Mel Casson was instrumental in building Westpac’s Cartoon Collection, which includes more than 120 original comic strips, gag cartoons, editorial cartoons, and illustrations. Over the years, the Westpac collection has been displayed in schools and public buildings around town to educate and entertain residents.
This exhibit features many highlights from the collection, representing the major cartoon genres. The graphics on the walls are from Mort Walker’s 1980 book, The Lexicon of Comicana, which will be reissued by New York Review Books in 2025.
Special thanks to Westpac co-chairs Ive Covaci and Anne Boberski, and to the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center for their continued support.
Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library!
“My Story Revealed" invites you on a visual journey through the heart of personal and cultural narratives. This exhibit honors the art of storytelling by showcasing the compelling and diverse experiences of some of the 8-18 year old students taking part in our international Global Voices - ArtLink exchanges over three decades.
Whether their pieces are beautifully rendered or simply drawn, delightful or thought provoking, the creation of these pieces has been a journey of self-discovery. Through their work, the young artists have expressed their identities, shared their stories, and conveyed the aspects of their lives and society they treasure - or are concerned about.
This collection brings together diverse artistic youth voices from 28 ArtLink partner countries, transcending political systems and geographical boundaries. We believe that art is a universal language, uniting us through the shared experiences and dreams of its young creators, promoting a common humanity that will lead to a more peaceful future.
As you explore the exhibit, we invite you, the viewer, to reflect on your own story, your own journey, cultivating a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the multi-faceted tapestry of human experiences we are all part of. We hope to see you there!
-----
Creative Connections is a nonprofit in Norwalk, CT, dedicated to promoting global understanding and empathy through art-based exchanges between youth worldwide. We connect students in the U.S. with peers in other countries, encouraging cultural sharing and cross-cultural learning. We focus on fostering global citizenship and creative communication through programs like Global Voices - ArtLink, which highlights diverse perspectives and cultural storytelling.
Details:
The opening reception will be on 9/30 from 5:30-7:30pm
The exhibit will remain up until Spring 2025.
Where:New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT
Please contact scanessa@creativeconnections.org with any questions.
Join us for "My Story Revealed", a global student art exhibit at the New Canaan Library.
The Gallery at GFC is proud to announce the opening of Jason Pritchard's latest show Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water's Path. The paintings in this exhibition feature the magical interplay between light and water along the coastline and within the communities that hug the shore. Jason captures water dancing, shimmering, or frozen as ice beneath cloud-filled New England skies. These gorgeously rendered works in oil are balm for the soul.
Riverbanks to Shorelines: The Art of Water’s Path
An Exhibition Like No Other!
This groundbreaking exhibition highlights ongoing, cutting-edge dinosaur research by American Museum of Natural History paleontologists and other leading scientists from around the world.
It explores how paleontologists today are using an incredible array of new technologies — from bioengineering computer software to CT scans — along with new discoveries and new ideas to investigate and reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries of dinosaurs, such as what they really looked like and how they actually moved and behaved, as well as the complex and hotly debated theories of why — or even whether — they became extinct.
Exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.
Made possible with generous support from GoHealth Urgent Care.
This exhibition is free for SM&NC Members, and included in the price of daily admission for visitors.