Professional Photography Organization Discount on Giclee Printing and Scanning

Do you belong to one of these professional organizations? If so, you can now receive a 10% discount on fine art digital inkjet (giclée) printing and scanning from Still River Editions.

    NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals)
    ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers)
    NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association)
    NPPA (National Press Photographers Association)
    NAPCP (National Association of Professional Child Photographers)

Just give your member ID # along with your order, and as long as you keep your membership in good standing, you will receive the discount on printing and scanning (mounting, creative services, and shipping are not included). The discount doesn't combine with others, and if another higher discount applies, the higher one will be taken.

Briefly Noted: Three Shows Opening in Fairfield County Thursday, March 31

Chris Durante is one of the artists featured in the Art Faculty Show at Norwalk Community College, Art Gallery East 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk. Reception Thursday, March 31, 2011, 6-8 pm.

Western Connecticut State University MFA Thesis Exhibition Reception from 4:30 to 7 pm on Thursday, March 31.  Higgins Gallery in Higgins Hall on the university's midtown campus, 181 White St, Danbury, CT.

© Ricky Mestre
City Lights Gallery at 37 Markle Court Bridgeport, CT is hosting a juried mixed-media art show titled SameSex from March 31-April 27, 2011. There is an opening reception on Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 5:30 - 9 pm. From their executive director: "The intention of this exhibit is to provide a common ground for artists and visitors of diverse backgrounds to come together to view, enjoy, discuss or be exposed to art about being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender. Sexual orientation was not a prerequisite for this exhibit."

Artists include: Michelle Beaulieu, Binnie Birstein, Heather Braxton, Sherri Brown, Rita Breiger, Paul Cadmus, Sue Czark, Felixe d’Eon, Kristine DeMarco, Delayne Elyse, Jean Galli, Eric Gibbons, John Glover, David Greene, Stephen Harris, Leonardo Herrera, Alyssa Iwanski, Abel Lopez, Osvaldo Lugo, Mark McDonald, William McGovern, Ricky Mestre, David Morgan, Jeff Palmer, Zoe Perry-Wood, Brian Riley, Eduardo Rodriguez, Richard Taddei, Gerald Saladyga, Jean Scott, Nomi Silverman, John Sonsini, Wilhelm von Gloeden, Tim Wilkerson, Francesca Winfield.

More art openings at Connecticut Art Scene.

Fiber Art Demonstration at Written Words Bookstore, Saturday, April 2

Written Words Bookstore in Shelton is having craft demonstrations this Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 12 noon-3 pm. Darlene Mingrone of East Village Farm in Shelton will be demonstrating spinning wool on a spinning wheel. Mingrone uses natural hand-processed fibers from the farm she owns with her husband Bob Mingrone--they keep sheep, llamas, alpacas & angora rabbits for their fiber (they raise chickens, too--their eggs are fabulous.) There will also be a knitting demonstration by local knitting teacher Diane Kapoor (who teaches knitting in several levels at the bookstore), and a chef's demonstration with Leah Kapoor.

Written Words has become a community meeting place in Shelton's White Hills. Dorothy, the owner, hosts author events, fiber crafts and foreign language classes, and book discussion groups. She always has local books and local handmade gifts on hand, along with new books in all genres, and she can special-order anything.

The event is free. Written Words Bookstore is located in the White Hills Shopping Center, 194 Leavenworth Rd., Shelton, CT.

~Lys

SCRAWL Collaborative Drawing Show Closing Party in New Haven March 25, 2011

Zachary Keeting, our friend with whom we shared a studio at City Wide Open Studios last year, sent out a notice about the closing party and "Big Reveal" for SCRAWL Friday, March 25, 2011 at Artspace New Haven.

Over the last month and a half, SCRAWL brought individual artists and teams of artists into Artspace New Haven to draw on its gallery walls in a huge game of exquisite corpse. Each drawing was connected to the next without the artists being able to see each other's content. Keeting was part of a team called "The Futurists" along with other artists associated with New Haven's Educational Center for the Arts. Friday will be the first time participants and viewers can see the work in its entirety.

Closing party and "reveal" is this Friday, March 25, 2011 from 6-8 pm at Artspace New Haven, 50 Orange St., New Haven, CT. The reception is free and open to the public. There is a VIP cocktail hour from 5-6, and admission to that portion of the evening's events is $10.

~Lys

Koenig Frameworks' Spring Photography Show 2011: Call for submissions

Koenig FrameWorks in Newtown is hosting a juried spring photography show on the theme of "Fantasy." They are receiving submissions between April 9th and April 23, 2011. The exhibit will run from May 6-May 27, 2011.

They define fantasy as "a supposition based on no solid foundation; visionary idea; illusion; something that people believe is false." They are encouraging photographers to enter "images of any location, setting, or thing that portrays a fantastical element. It could be hidden, or leak into the real world. It may entirely occur in a fantasy world."

The opening reception and awarding of ribbons will be on May 6th.

Koenig FrameWorks is located at 97 South Main St. (Rt. 25) Newtown, CT.

Loft Artists Gallery: LAA Draws III, "An Examined Life"

Loft Artists Association is hosting an event in conjunction with the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum's "Draw On" from March 11 to April 17, 2011. LAA Draws III, "An Examined Life," features original drawings of Stamford, CT scenes.

There is an opening reception on March 13, 2011 from 3-6 pm.

Free workshops are being offered Saturday, March 19, 2-5 pm and Saturday, April 9 from 2-5 pm. On March 19, guests will have the opportunity to sketch their favorite scenes of Stamford from provided photographs. On April 9, as part of "Draw On!", the LAA hallways will be covered in paper, and public will be invited to create drawings on the wall.

LAA is located at 845 Canal St., Stamford, CT

Other Draw On! events are taking place later in the month at The Aldrich and Silvermine Art School.

~Lys

Monitor tuneup without a hardware calibrator



We are always getting asked "How do I know my monitor is calibrated"?

Well there is several factors that come into play. If you are using a inexpensive one or one that came "free" with your computer deal, all the adjusting in the world may just be a frugal effort. And if you are using a old and tired one, it might be time for a new one. A good monitor is your eyes to what you are doing on your computer, especially in Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, or one of the many other graphic programs out there. It is one of the key elements to a good digital workflow.

Recommendation 1: Get a good monitor, spend a little bit more then you think it should cost, it will save you time and money later. Do your research and stick with major brands, they have been around for years and have the most advanced technologies and features. Laptop monitors are not very accurate, so if your laptop supports an external monitor, use that as you main work screen and your laptop screen for tools.

Recommendation 2: Get a hardware monitor calibration device of some kind, they start at $99 but can  go up to hundreds. If you purchase a more expensive one, share the cost (and it) with a few friends, you really only need to use 10-12 times a year.

If you decide NOT to get a hardware calibration device you can attempt to calibrate using your eyes, but of course it becomes very subjective. Here is a good website that has many technical test screens and procedures to use. 

Mark

James Grashow's Corrugated Fountain at Allan Stone Gallery, NYC


"Corrugated Fountain"
© James Grashow

James Grashow’s sculpture,  Corrugated Fountain, will be exhibited from March 3-April 23, 2011, at Allan Stone Gallery, 113 East 90th St., New York, NY. There will be an opening reception with the artist on Saturday, March 12, from 4-6 pm. 

Grashow works in cardboard. That sounds like it might look blocky until you see the result. The sculpture, inspired by Rome's Trevi Fountain, looks incredibly fluid, full of graceful curves and sea creatures, at the center of which is a very mighty-looking Poseidon. The cardboard looks hardly monochromatic—the dimensionality enhances the rich, brown tones of the paperboard. 

The gallery will also be screening excerpts from The Cardboard Bernini, a documentary on James Grashow by Olympia Stone. A fully-illustrated book of his work will be available.

~Lys

Announcing Still River Editions' Website Redesign

We would love it if you would check out our improved website, and give us feedback if you can. Your feedback will help us do a better job serving your needs. 

We've changed the menu a bit, moved a few things around, and have added some pages to help folks find what they're looking for. 

If you have any suggestions, we'd love to hear them, whether positive or negative.

Keep watching the blog, because we have exciting things in store for 2011.
~Lys


Eight by Ten Concealed: Film Festival Benefit in New Milford

This Saturday, March 5, 2011, from 5-7 pm, an event called Eight by Ten Concealed will take place at a "pop-up" gallery at 77 Railroad St., New Milford. It is a secret photograph sale to benefit the Litchfield Hills Film Festival (formerly the Kent Film Festival.) From their website: "the event will consist of over 75 unique photographs by acclaimed and emerging artists will be for sale, and the artists’ identities will be revealed only after purchase."

Mark (Savoia), Cathy (Vanaria) and I (Lys Guillorn) each donated photographs, but we can't tell you what, because we are keeping the secret.

Local film festivals are great community boosters. Hills Film Festival is now based in New Milford, and the events will all be within walking distance of the town green, centered around the Bank Street Theater in New Milford. (If you haven't been to New Milford, it's got a cute little downtown.) Organizers Patrice and Frank Galterio are hoping to be able to host indie film events year round.

In addition to the secret image sale, there will also be a silent auction of photographs by Bill Eppridge, Garry Burdick, and J. Barry O'Rourke, three  accomplished photographers who are Connecticut locals.

~Lys

Upcoming Bill Eppridge Exhibition, and Call for Submissions from the Fairfield Museum


Fairfield Museum and History Center is hosting its Third Annual Juried Photography Exhibition,  IMAGES 2011, which will be held from May 1 to August 28, 2011. Serious amateurs, professionals, and students may enter. A direct link to the entry may be found here. The deadline for submission is Monday, March 28, 2011.

The exhibition will be juried by extraordinary photojournalist, Bill Eppridge (LIFE, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated), Adrienne Aurichio, photo editor and director of Bill Eppridge Photography, accomplished photographer Stephen Wilkes, and photographer and teacher Tom Mezzanotte.

From the Fairfield Museum's website: "The Fairfield Museum will also feature a retrospective exhibition celebrating legendary photojournalist Bill Eppridge,  whose storied career spans over fifty years. His iconic collection of work for magazines such as LIFE, National Geographic and Sports Illustrated captures many of the most important moments in American political and cultural history."

Saying that Mr. Eppridge created many iconic images is an understatement, and I will write a more detailed description of his exhibit as that date approaches. His most recent book is A Time it Was: Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties; it shows RFK during his incredible, energetic 1968 campaign to which Eppridge was given all access, right up to its tragic end. 

There will be a Gala Preview (tickets are needed), and also a free artist reception and awards ceremony with the jurors on Sunday, May 1, 2-4 pm. 

The Museum is located at 370 Beach Rd. Fairfield, CT.

Call for Submissions: Small Works at Koenig FrameWorks in Newtown

Koenig FrameWorks in Newtown, CT is calling for submissions for their upcoming show "Small Works: Art for small spaces". Entries should be dropped off between March 21st through March 26th, 2011 (10 am to 5 pm)

Accepted media: "Acrylic, oils, watercolors, mixed media, pen and ink, charcoal, pastel, sculpture, etchings, monoprints. Photography and jewelry are not being accepted." For full details, exact sizing and framing regulations, please see their website--entry information and an entry form are linked here as pdfs. Art must be for sale.

The show will run from April 1 through April 23, and there will be an opening reception on Friday, April 1, from 6 - 8 pm.

Koenig FrameWorks is located at 97 South Main St., Newtown, CT.

~Lys

City Lights Gallery hosts Taino Art

City Lights Gallery in Bridgeport is exhibiting Taino artifacts and pottery in part to celebrate Dominican Independence Day. The ancient Taino culture migrated into Cuba, Dominincan Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico.

The opening is Friday Feb. 25 from 5:30-8:30 pm, and features a Latino poetry reading. City Lights is also  hosting a party for Dominican Independence Day on Sunday Feb. 27 at 12:30 pm and a movie screening of "The Time of the Butterflies" on March 4 at 6:30 pm.

City Lights Gallery is located at 37 Markle Court, Bridgeport, CT.

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