Nancy Lasar: Inter-Action at Silvermine Art Gallery

"Pirouette"
© Nancy Lasar
Printmaker, painter, and multi-media artist Nancy Lasar of Washington, CT is one of four selected for a Director's Choice solo show at Silvermine Art Gallery, 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan, CT. Lasar's show, titled "Inter-Action", runs until April 1, 2011.

Lasar works in large scale abstractions in mixed media. She incorporates giclee prints into her traditional printmaking and painting practice, making them one part of her multi-layered compositions. Sometimes natural forms are recognizable among her incredibly fluid and dynamic lines, and everything is bursting with energy.

The three other artists who are exhibiting simultaneous solo shows at Silvermine are Martin Kremer, Aleksandr Razin, and Lori Glavin.

There is an opening reception, Sunday, February 27, from 2-4 pm.

~Lys

Keith Johnson in "systems/fictions"

Photographer Keith Johnson, who specializes in what he calls "The Extended Landscape", is featured in "systems/fictions", a group show at the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism Gallery that runs until April 8, 2011.

Other artists participating include: Marguerite French, Brad Guarino, Insook Hwang, Janet Lage, Martha Lewis, Lisa Seidenberg, and Cary Smith. The artists are a selection of the recipients of the CCT Artist Fellowship for 2010.

The gallery is located at One Constitution Plaza, 2d Floor, Hartford, CT (sign in at security desk and take the elevator to the 2d floor).

~Lys

You say bah-ree-tah, we say Baryta

Recently I was asked a bit about the paper choice Hahnemuhle/ Harman Gloss Baryta, which was formerly known as Harman Glossy. That led me to find out what "baryta" means (FYI It's pronounced bah-RYE-tah) and why the paper name includes that term.

According to Wikipedia, "baryta" is another word for barium sulfite, which has been used in the coatings of high-quality darkroom photographic papers. These inkjet papers also have a multi-layered coating that includes baryta. And they look great.

And that's that!

~Lys

The Guy Show at ArtPlace Gallery, Fairfield

© Chris Durante
The Guy Show, curated by Gerald Saladyga, includes artists Chris Durante, Joe Fucigna, Silas Finch, Keith Johnson, Christopher Joy, Joseph Saccio, Felandus Thames, Zachary Keeting, Jeremy Saladyga, and Jonathan Waters. The artists work in a lively mix of media--sculpture, drawing, painting, photography.

The exhibition runs February 1-26, 2011. There will be an opening reception Saturday, Feb. 5, 3-5 pm, and an artists' talk Sunday, Feb. 13 at 3 pm. ArtPlace Gallery is located at 11 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield, CT 06824.

~Lys

Connecticut Film Festival Weekend in Torrington, CT

It's only Monday, but I wanted to write about the Connecticut Film Festival 2011, February 4-6 at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT. Both feature length and short films will be shown; documentaries, works of fiction, web series, and comedy shorts. In addition to showing films, there are workshops and round table discussions tailored to those interested or involved in the independent film industry.

Of particular interest to photographers and nature buffs is the screening at 11 am, Saturday, February 5 of two environmental films with National Geographic filmmaker and photographer Jon Bowermaster.

Also of interest, on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 6 pm there will be a program of "Connecticut Grown Films".

When film festival events were held in Danbury for the past few years, I enjoyed both the films and the feeling of communal experience.

The Warner Theatre is located at 68 Main St., Torrington, CT.

~Lys

Simpson Kalisher: The Alienated Photographer

© Two Penny Press
Two Penny Press in New York City is publishing a book of photographs by Simpson Kalisher titled The Alienated Photographer. His black and white street photographs captured 20th century life in east coast cities, particularly New York in the 60s. In them, you see the urban landscapes populated with all kinds of characters caught in the act of being human.

The introduction by Luc Sante suggests that the role of the photographer is to be an observer in the middle of, but separated from the action by the camera, which is why Kalisher considers himself "the alienated photographer".

Simpson Kalisher is perhaps best known for his book, Railroad Men: Photographs and Collected Stories from 1961. He is represented by Keith de Lellis Gallery in New York.

~Lys

The Gallery at Black Rock is now 305 K, Grand Opening Saturday, Feb. 12

© 305K Gallery
The Gallery at Black Rock, which helped put Bridgeport on the map as an arts destination, has moved to 305 Knowlton St., Bridgeport, CT on Bridgeport's East Side. The new gallery is aptly named Gallery 305K and is part of a growing community of arts-based businesses in the historic Knowlton St. building.

Weds., January 25, 2011 at 7 pm, the gallery is hosting University of Munich students who will be participating in a presentation along with Bridgeport Design Group called "After Industry: Recycling the City of Bridgeport", and looks at possibilities for sustainable urban planning in Bridgeport.

Sunday, February 5, 2011 at 3 pm [opening rescheduled to Saturday, February 12 at 3 pm] There will be a grand opening for 305K in conjunction with a group exhibition of works by artists who had previously shown at Gallery at Black Rock, or who will be in upcoming exhibits. Artists include Joan Fitzsimmons, Liz Squillace, Marcella Kurowski, Felipe Soltero, Mark DeRosa, Ricky Mestre, Michelle Beaulieu, Greg Olfanos, Marcella Kurowski Tom Mezzanote.

~Lys

Ruth Newquist in "Investigation, Imagination" at the Bruce S. Kersher Gallery

© Ruth Newquist
The Bruce S. Kershner Gallery in the Fairfield Library is host to a three-artist exhibition that opened January 9, 2011 and will run until February 27, 2011 during regular library hours. The exhibit, titled "Investigation, Imagination," features watercolorist (and client) Ruth Newquist, painter Duvian Montoya, and sculptor Roe Halper.


Newquist's watercolors are photographic, but not rigidly so. Her paintings, whether New York street scenes, or snow-covered New England houses, seem illuminated from within. From her website: "Sunlight is the focus of my paintings. I am drawn to make a painting when  I see dappled light or interesting shadows falling on historic New England buildings or barns." Many of her cityscapes capture the feeling and light of walking around New York City on a gloriously sunny day, of looking at the architecture and people.

Newquist is a member of several prestigious arts organizations, including National Watercolor Society, Connecticut Watercolor Society, the Salmagundi Club, and Allied Artists of America.

The opening has already happened, but on Thursday February 3, at 2 pm there will be a "Walk and Talk" with the artists. The Fairfield Library is located at 1080 Old Post Rd., Fairfield, CT

~Lys

New Takes on Portraiture - Thilo Hoffmann and more opening at The Aldrich Museum, January 30, 2011

Thilo Hoffmann, ME AND MANHATTAN
CAELEY PERRINE/NEW YORK CITY
(detail), 2010
Figurative work is back in style, as evidenced by the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum's Portraiture exhibition.

Still River Editions made the large-scale digital giclee prints of Swiss artist Thilo Hoffmann's work for this exhibition. Hoffmann works in collaboration with his subjects to create unique environmental photographic statements. His series "High School Portraits" puts much of the creative direction in the hands of those pictured in them. 

Also showing: Shimon Attie: MetroPAL.IS., James Esber: Your Name Here, Hope Gangloff: Love Letters, Timothy White: Portraits, and Jenny Debnau: Head On.

The opening reception and opportunity to meet the artists takes place on Sunday, Jan. 30 from 3:30-5:30 pm. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is located at 258 Main St., Ridgefield, CT.

~Lys

City Under Lights: Photographs by Morgan Kaolian at City Lights Gallery in Bridgeport

© Morgan Kaolian
Morgan Kaolian, pilot and photographer, will be exhibiting his evening photographs of Bridgeport at City Lights Gallery, 37 Markle Ct. Bridgeport, CT until February 19, 2011. Kaolian was the voice of aerial traffic reports on WICC when I was growing up, and his photographs often appear in CT publications.

This is the first solo exhibition to be taking place at City Lights Gallery. There will be an artist's reception, Friday, Jan. 21, from 5:30 pm to 8 pm. A special mini-fundraiser for the gallery called "City in Flight" will be taking place on Fri., Feb. 4 with videos about flight, food, and presentations by flight experts.

Fairfield County Weekly's story on the exhibit

Colin Burke & Krys Swiatek: Articulated Bodies

© Colin Burke
Colin Burke & Krys Swiatek: Articulated Bodies will be on exhibit through Feb. 5, 2011 at Gallery 46, 46 Union St., Vernon-Rockville, CT. There will be an artists reception Sat. Jan 15, 6-9 pm. The two-person show focuses on cyanotype photograms.

In addition to exhibiting his work, Burke has begun giving cyanotype workshops locally, and also turning various gallery and other spaces into camera obscura. Burke was selected as 2011 Artspace New Haven's Artist-in-Residence. He will be working on cyanotypes and solargraphs in a gallery transformed into a studio space.

~Lys

Michele Russell in "Facades" show in Stamford, CT

"Old Church, New Mexico"
© Michele Russell

Painter and photographer Michele Russell is participating in a group exhibition at The Ferguson Library of downtown Stamford, which has completed a three-year renovation. The architecturally-themed show is titled "Facades", and it is co-presented by  The Stamford Art Association.

Russell, who works in several media, has one giclée-printed photograph and one painting in the show. "Facades'" opening reception is Thursday Jan. 13, 2011 6-8 pm, and the show will remain on view until April 7.

The show takes place at Ferguson Library Auditorium Gallery, 3rd Floor, One Public Library Plaza (Corner of Bedford and Broad Street), Stamford, CT.

~Lys

Tatiana Golovnya at N.A.W.A. Gallery Associate Members Exhibition

© Tanya E. Miller (Tatiana Golovnya)
Tatiana Golovnya is exhibiting in a group show for associate members at the National Association of Women Artists Gallery from now until January 25, 2011. The opening reception is re-scheduled for Weds., January 19 5-7 pm. 80 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1405, New York, NY.

Golovnya's lively drawings and giclée prints are inspired by fashion design and Russian folk costume.

~Lys

Calls for Submissions

Here are some upcoming art deadlines.

City by the Sea Art Fair - Feb 28 deadline - juried art exhibition to take place May 14-15, 2011 in Black Rock, Bridgeport, CT. Urban/maritime theme, open to all media. Connecticut Art Scene's Hank Hoffman has a more thorough blog post about it.

Images 2011 Presented by Shoreline Arts Alliance - January 28-30, 2011  (matted photographs) - Annual photography competition and exhibition

Artspace New Haven Flatfile - February 2, 2011 deadline - Artspace New Haven, CT, selects 2-D and digital artwork annually for their flatfile through which patrons may browse and purchase.

Do you teach workshops? Can you present them in a school setting? Apply to this:

Directory of Performing and Teaching Artists - Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism - Deadline Feb. 28, 2011 - "a reliable resource of high-quality Connecticut performing and teaching artists who have been juried for excellence in their art forms and readiness and capacity to work in schools and community settings.  The Directory will serve as a catalogue from which presenters must choose when applying to CCT for fee support grants (for performances, master classes, workshops, residencies and other related activities)."

Also of interest: resource links from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism

Now's the time to polish up the ol' bio and CV or write new ones. Shine those babies up to a mirror gloss.

~Lys

Photographs by Vito Pasquale in Mount Kisco, opening Sat. Jan. 8

"Golden Galleon"
© Vito Pasquale
Photographs by Vito Pasquale will be exhibited at Mount Kisco Library, 100 East Main St., Mount Kisco, NY. January 3-28, 2011. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, January 8, at 10:30 am.

Pasquale's photographs explore place and proximity in a way that is often color-saturated and playfully off-kilter.

Pasquale will also be exhibiting "A City of (Second) Guesses" next month--from January 30-February 27, 2011 Harrison Public Library
2 Bruce Avenue, Harrison, NY. The reception will take place on February 5 from 2-4 pm.

~Lys

A few snaps from the opening:




 

Digital Resolutions for the New Year

At the end of the year, I invariably think about how the year turned out, and what I'd like to do differently in the new one. I don't usually make resolutions like "go to the gym more" (which should be permanently on there anyway, as a given, right?), but positive things I'd like to learn and do and make.

I thought I'd share mine here and if you want, please share some of yours in the comments.

Some of my digital resolutions for 2011:
Learn Photoshop a bit deeper / search out the most efficient techniques for the things I do
Take a photography, design, or printing-related workshop
Co-teach a workshop at the lab
Make at least one book of new work
Enter more photography shows/competitions
Go to more art shows & openings
Connect with more people via the blog
Make video tutorials for the lab
Find new ways to support the fellow artists in my life
Invent and design an app useful for our clients

The best part is forgetting about this list, and re-reading it many months down the road, and realizing how many have actually been accomplished. If I don't make, one I miss out on that feeling.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a great and successful 2011.

All the best,
Lys

PS - HOLIDAY HOURS--we are open normal hours T-W-Th, then Friday Dec. 24th, we close at noon, and are closed the following week for equipment maintenance. We reopen Monday the 3d at 8:30 am.

Locals Rule, Festively: Holiday Round-Up

© Space
There are a few of notable events happening this week that focus on festive shopping for Connecticut-made art and functional objects. While not necessarily directly related to photography or printing, these spaces are venues for local artisans of all varieties. It's energizing to see what other artists and designers are making and promoting.

Space, 285 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT, grand opening Thursday, December 16, from 7-10 pm. This is downtown Bridgeport's brand new original design and handmade store. 

City Lights Gallery, 37 Markle Court, Bridgeport, CT, Holiday Cheer and ArtFul Gifts, Thursday, December 16 (and Dec. 23), 5-7 pm.

Ground Floor Gallery at Read's Artspace, 1042 Broad Street Bridgeport, CT, Holiday Art and Music Event, Friday, December 17, 5:30-8:30 pm, featuring the exhibition "Artists Choose Artists"

© Elm City Handmade
Elm City Handmade, 71 Orange St., New Haven, CT is part of New Haven's Project Storefronts, and carries an astounding and nicely arranged assortment of local-made items. Wednesday nights folks head over there from 7-9 pm to meet other crafters, make things and absorb the creative juices of the locals at hand.

The Glass Source, 415 Howe Ave. #104,  Shelton, CT is having a holiday sale of handmade glass ornaments and gifts made in downtown Shelton, CT. The area has a long history with art glass, and the tradition continues, as the Glass Source does design, restoration, and offers stained-glass classes.

If you are looking for art gifts, photographs, or anyone/anything in particular and need ideas, just drop me an email. I can hook you up with original artists of all ilks. (The ilks pull the reindeer. That's what they don't show you on TV.)

~Lys





Gifts of Prints or Reprints

Just a reminder to let you know that you can order reprints online or over the phone (if we have the files on hand), and we can have them ready for you in time for the holidays. There is still time to come in with new work or upload new files. We can also make traditional black and white prints from negatives of pretty much any size, new and antique.

Better to have relatives crying over old pictures than burnt roast beef. Let me know if there's anything we can do to help.

Happy Holidays!
Lys

GIF/t Jam: Artist and Designer Sale in South Norwalk, Saturday 12/11, Also: call for GIF animation submissions

© 2010 DesignerGrill
design by fiZz
GIF/t Jam Holiday Sale will take place 12-5 pm Saturday, December 11, 2010 at creativeplacement, 13 North Main St., South Norwalk, CT. The event is created and hosted by kHyal™ and Karl Heine, the power-design-team behind DesignerGrill.


The sale features art and hand-made wares by local artists/makers including: Juliano Michelangelo Barrotti, DesignerGrill,  DesignerJournals, Paula Fener Jewelery, FreshBeam, Leslie Giuliani, Lys Guillorn, Alexander Isley, Inc., Jargon Boy, Kelley Kapp, Emily Larned, Moody Designs, E Fitz Smith, TerraLuminiere, The Weather sKwirl™.

In addition to the holiday sale, the GIF Jam will be a GIF animation festival that "celebrates the power of the animated GIF", date TBA. The deadline for entering is extended to February 4, 2011, and it looks like other dates will be updated soon. Guidelines and entry information are here [pdf].

It causes me technolo-glee to read that the file size limit is 40k--how often do we get to do something lo-fi in this day and age. Go 8-bit and stretch those kilobytes?

~Lys