DANBURY EVENTS

"Intellectual Property: New Work by Gene Gort" at the Gallery at Still River Editions

"Intellectual Property: Stolen #3"
© Gene Gort
The solo exhibition "Intellectual Property: New Work by Gene Gort" opens at the Gallery at Still River Editions on Saturday, April 21, 2012 with a reception from 4 - 6 pm. The show runs until Friday, June 29.

The exhibition features ten new abstract digital print editions by Gene Gort, a multi-disciplinary artist from Avon, CT. Gort received his MFA from the University of California, San Diego and his BFA from Hartford Art School, University of Hartford where he is currently Professor of Media Arts, a program he designed and directs.

From Gene Gort's artist statement:

"I have recently become interested in NOISE; visual and sonic. The current project, "Intellectual Property", focuses on the visual noise generated from attempting to extract video from copyright encrypted commercial DVD's. As an educator who uses video clips as a mainstay of my classroom practice, I am always showing samples from various sources.

Recently, while attempting to extract sequences from mainstream movies, I was struck by the endless variation of intentional visual noise this process generates in order to keep me and everyone else from illegally copying movies. [...]

The images in this series are screen-grabs from this process; a kind of performance that I do responding to the real-time events I am watching on screen. The titles are an ironic pairing of "intellectual property" and the film title, like "Stolen", "Catch Me If You Can",  "Precious", "Babel" or "Gone with the Wind". [...]

The images here represent a visual equivalent to the collision of the video, computer code, encryption algorithm and extraction process,  my aesthetic sensibility and performance acumen - an equivalency that is independent of the content of the original source."

See a video interview of Gene Gort

The Gallery at Still River Editions is located at 128 East Liberty St., Danbury, CT.

Phil Lique and Karin Mansberg at The Mercurial Gallery, Danbury

"White Men Hunting Oxen"
© Karin Mansberg
Karin Mansberg and Phil Lique are featured in a two-artist show at the Mercurial Gallery in Danbury. There will be an opening reception Saturday, April 21 from 5-7 pm. The Mercurial Gallery is located at 11 Library Pl, Danbury, CT.

Both artists are showing work in mixed media and have a tie to Western Connecticut State University's MFA program. Lique received his MFA in painting and sculpture from WCSU in 2008, and Mansberg is working on her MFA in illustration at Western in 2013.

Read about the artists and their inspirations here.

Jim Felice Studios Open House Saturday February 4, 2012

Jim Felice Studios is having a series of open house days beginning with Saturday, February 4, 2012. Felice will have open studio on the first Saturday of nearly every month in 2012 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m..

Felice is a painter, sculptor, restorer, and musician who has dedicated part of his studio to nurturing emerging artists. Other artists showing this month are Katie Bassett, Kenny Hess, KVEAZY and various guest graffiti artists.

Jim Felice Studios is located at 15 Great Pasture Road, Danbury, Connecticut.

Dates for future events in 2012 are:
Feb. 4, Mar. 3, Apr. 7, May 5,  June 2, July no event, Aug. no event, Sept. 15, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1.

Call for submissions: "Art For All" at three Danbury venues, deadlines in February and March

Text taken from the call for submissions:

"We're looking for artists who want to be part of a benefit art show that is a collaboration with the Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury and The Mercurial Gallery.

Each artist will have an opportunity to submit ONE piece of original artwork to each of the 3 locations. That means 3 opportunities to show and possibly sell your work and 3 chances to win a $500 cash prize! (Limit 1 prize per artist)

Any type of art will be considered, we're encouraging painters, sculpters, photographers, etc.

Please follow this link to download a submission form or obtain a copy at any of the 3 locations in Danbury.

Art & Frame of Danbury, 60 Newtown Rd, Route 6 Plaza, Danbury CT, (203) 748-0197. Submission Deadline is Feb. 17, 2012

The Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury, 87 West St. Danbury CT, (203) 798-2855. Submission Deadline if Feb. 23, 2012

The Mercurial Gallery, 11 Library Place, Danbury CT, (203) 417-2215. Submission Deadline is Mar. 2, 2012

There is a $15 submission fee for each one piece of work accepted at each gallery. Please be aware that the deadline for submission is different at each venue.

Some work may be relocated between galleries or even rejected due to size and space limitations.

All accepted work will be subject to judging and entered to win 1 of 3 $500 prizes which will be announced at the end of each reception. Artist does not have to be present to win."

Shows at Molten Java, Bethel and CityCenter Gallery, Danbury feature Katie Bassett of Bethel

left © Thomas Nackid
right © Katie Bassett
Sculptor and mixed-media artist Katie Bassett's work is currently on exhibit at CityCenter Danbury and Molten Java, Bethel, both in partnership with the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance.

"Local Works", the show at The Upstairs Gallery at Molten Java features the work of Bassett and illustrator Thomas Nackid, and will be on view through February 18, 2012.

There will be an opening reception this Friday, January 27, at Molten Java, from 6 - 8 pm. Molten Java is now located at 213 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel. Article from the Danbury News-Times.

"Deeper than Dark", Bassett's show of mixed media, charcoal drawings, and paintings at CityCenter is on view through February 16, 2012. On February 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. there will be an opening reception at CityCenter Danbury, 186 Main St. Article from the Mercurial. The show is part of the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance's Accesible Art Project for 2012.

Three Artists / HVCA Accessible Art opening Weds. Jan. 18, 2012 at Danbury City Hall

© Deanne Komlo
On Wednesday, January 18, 2012 there will be an art opening from 4 - 6 p.m. at The Gallery at Danbury City Hall for the exhibit featuring Kateleen Foy, Deanne Komlo, and Aparna Phadnis as part of Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance (HVCA) Accessible Art Project. It is free and open to the general public. The exhibit is on view from now until February 16, 2012 during normal business hours of City Hall.

Read more about this exhibit via The Mercurial.

The Gallery at Danbury City Hall is located at 155 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, Connecticut.

Exhibition Highlights Creation of WCSUs New Arts Building

Stills excerpted from "Over five days in August, 2011"
© Catherine Vanaria







Connecticut Photographics' co-owner Catherine Vanaria, who is also a professor of photography at Western Connecticut State University, has a video piece in the exhibition "Groundbreaking: Looking Forward" at the university.  Her time-lapse video is comprised of stills taken at intervals during the demolition of the former Roberts Avenue School located on the downtown campus.

The collection of works by WCSU students, alumni and faculty, will be on display from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays from Thursday, Oct. 20, through Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Higgins Gallery in Room 101 of the Higgins Hall Annex on the university's Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. There will be an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20. The exhibition and reception will be free and open to the public.

The official groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday, October 17, and included the participation of WCSU's fine and performing arts departments, Connecticut's Governor Dannel Malloy, Mayor Mark Boughton, former governor and local resident M. Jodi Rell, and other honored guests and attendees. For more information about the building project: WCSU Visual and Performing Arts Center

The Mercurial Collective Art Gallery Opening April 30: "Out of the Woodwork"

© Erin Walrath
The Mercurial Collective, a new art gallery in Danbury, CT, is having its grand opening on Saturday, April 30, from 4 - 7 pm. The inaugural show features work-neighbors Erin Walrath, Amanda Bloom and Chris Durante--who each have permanent studios on Library Place, as well as Alec Jordan, Catherine Lucia and David Haislip.

The opening will also feature with live music by String Fingers Band, a fun bluegrass band from Easton who have just released a new CD, Don't Forget. The Mercurial Collective is located at 11 Library Place, Danbury, CT. Also open will be Erin Walrath's studio at 13 Library Place, and Chris Durante's at 9 Library Place. Parking is at the Bardo Garage directly across the street, or at metered spots along Main St.

Their Facebook event page is here.

Free screening of "An Unlikely Weapon- The Eddie Adams Story"

There will be a free screening of the documentary "An Unlikely Weapon" the Eddie Adams story, April 14th, 2010 at Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT, White Hall, Viewing Room #1 on the midtown campus.
There will be a short talk/presentation by Professor Marcy May from the WCSU History Department on photography and it's impact on our historical memory before the start of the movie.

The talk will start promptly at 7pm with the movie beginning immediately after.

Free and open to the public.

Upcoming, interesting, local: in the mix...


© June Bisantz

June Bisantz is featured in a show called Commentary/Herself along with Jennifer Knaus and Rachel Siporin at the Brickbottom Gallery, 1 Fitchburg St., Somerville, MA from May 28-June 27. There is an opening reception Sunday, May 31 from 3-5 pm. Bisantz's work is thought provoking, and often humorous. (Check out her website to see the very cool things she's done with public utility signage and billboards.) 

Chalk Walk Danbury Saturday, May 30 10 am-2pm on the Danbury, CT Green. "Participants turn the sidewalks of CityCenter Danbury into an artistic walkway." If you feel like participating and drawing out in the sun on Sat, check it out. There will be some live music, and music from WXCI radio. 

The Connecticut Film Festival comes to Danbury June 2-7. "6 days and nights of film, music, interactive & screenwriting, 140 films, 70 bands, 100 workshops, panels & keynotes, and lots of industry networking & parties." Last year we went to several films and events. I have yet to peruse the schedule. If there's anything photography or art-related, or just plain too cool to go unmentioned, I'll be sure to post it.

If you're coming to our little city for any event, and want a few insider restaurant suggestions, please feel free to drop a line...

~Lys