Thinking Visually illustration exhibition at WCSU VPAC Gallery

Thinking Visually: The Art of Connecticut Illustrators runs from September 25 through December 3, 2017 at the Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center on the westside campus of Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT. The fifteen illustrators included in the exhibition are Guy Billout, Leslie Cober-Gentry, Robert Crawford, Bruce Degen, Randy Enos, Robert Giusti, James Grashow, Gerard Huerta, Roger Huyssen, Christine Kornacki, Ross MacDonald, Wendell Minor, Jon Sideriadis, Bill Thomson and David Wenzel.

There is an opening reception on Thursday, September 28 from 6 pm - 8 pm. RSVP here to attend.

From the press release: "The exhibition will provide a sweeping presentation of works encompassing a broad spectrum from popular children’s book illustrations, magazine covers, cardboard constructions and stamp designs for the U.S. Postal Service to evocative graphic images for cartoons, albums, advertising, video games, films and television series. Each of the participating illustrators resides in Connecticut and has attained critical recognition nationally and abroad through unique contributions to the art of illustration."

The Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center is located at 43 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury. Gallery hours M-Thu noon - 4 pm, Sa-Su 1 pm - 4. 

40th Annual Carriage Barn Members' Exhibition 2017

The 40th Annual Carriage Barn Members' Exhibition runs from September 10 through October 7, 2017 at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan, Connecticut. A list of artists' names and selected works may be found here. Among the artists exhibiting are a number of clients of Still River Editions: Daniel Wade Barrett, Lisa Berger, Paul Berger, June Eichbaum, William Frucht, Marcy Juran, Kathie Miranda, Karen Neems, and James Stasiak. 

There is an opening reception on Sunday, September 10 from 3 pm - 5 pm. There is also an "artist coffee" on September 16 from 10 am - noon. 

From their website: "We partnered with Sorelle Gallery in New Canaan and worked in consultation with the gallery director to select works included in the member show.  At the opening reception 1-2 artists will be awarded “Best in Show” and will have a joint or solo exhibit at Sorelle in summer of 2018."

The Carriage Barn Arts Center is located at 681 South Avenue, New Canaan, CT.  

Art Walk Ridgefield 2017

"Unknown City" © Molly Olsen Leckie

Molly Olsen Leckie, and George Stewart, both Still River Editions clients, are among the over sixty artists participating in this year's Art Walk Ridgefield, which takes place in Ridgefield, Connecticut August 25 - September 8, 2017. 

Artists will show their works at downtown area businesses. Festivities include free admission, live music, and artist demonstrations. Opening night is Friday, August 25 from 5 pm - 8 pm and artist day is Saturday, August 26 from noon - 4 pm. In addition to the individual locations, one piece from each artist participating in Art Walk Ridgefield will also be on view at the "Walk on Down" show at Ridgefield Guild of Artists' Guild Barn at 34 Halpern Lane, Ridgefield through September 8, 2017. 

Molly Olsen Leckie's abstract paintings will be at William Pitt Sotheby's, 470 Main St. along with the work of Paulina Connelly. 

George Stewarts' landscapes will be at Designs by Ursula, 370 Main St. along with the work of Doris Mady.  

#IBelieveinWaterbury at the Mattatuck Museum

© Emery Roth

Photographer Emery Roth, a print client of Still River Editions, is among the artists in the group exhibition "#IBelieveinWaterbury" at the Mattatuck Museum from September 10 through December 3, 2017. There is an opening reception on Sunday, September 10 from 1 pm - 3 pm. 

Roth is the author and photographer of a book about industry in Connecticut's Naugatuck River Valley titled Brass Valley: The Fall of an American Industry.

From the Mattatuck Museum website: "Focusing on the City of Waterbury, artists are challenged to identify those unique aspects of the city and her people that resonate for him/her. We ask artists to share their inspiration with us in works that demonstrate the beauty, joy, prosperity and momentum of Waterbury. Share with non-artists what your trained eye is finding that inspires and uplifts."

The Mattatuck Museum is located at 144 West Main St., Waterbury, CT. 

Documentary on Missy Stevens now streamable on CPTV

The Spirit and Technique of Painting with Thread is a new documentary about the artistic practice of Missy Stevens, a nationally-acclaimed fiber artist who resides in Connecticut. It premiered on CPTV on June 24, 2017 and is now streamable on their website here. Stevens makes nature-inspired thread paintings using the technique of punch-needle embroidery, guided by her practice of shamanic journeying.  

Block printing workshop at Workspace Collective

Artist Karin Mansberg of Block Printed Art will be teaching a block printing workshop on June 15 and June 22, from 6 pm - 8 pm at Workspace Collective, 287 Main St., Danbury, Connecticut. Signup in advance is required from Workspace Collective's website. Students may sign up for either one or both classes.

Mansberg is a graduate of WCSU's MFA Illustration program. She is a native of Estonia now living in Bethel, CT. 

June 10 is CT Open House Day

Saturday, June 10, 2017, The Gallery at Still River Editions will be participating in the State of Connecticut's annual Open House Day by being open from noon - 5 pm with an opening for the exhibition, "Connecticut: Morning, Noon, and Night" by members of the CT ASMP. Refreshments, conversation, and a couple of free giveaway drawings for our services (see below). 

Here is a list of events in the Greater Danbury area, compiled from ctvisit.com. Please see individual websites to confirm events, which are subject to change.

Danbury

Art & Frame of Danbury LLC
Gallery open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., with an art opening of “Spring into Summer,” featuring live music, hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Danbury Museum & Historical Society
Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Gallery at Still River Editions
Open from noon until 5 p.m., featuring an opening reception for the exhibit, “Connecticut: Morning, Noon, and Night;” with light refreshments, art and conversation. SRE will also be doing two giveaway drawings, 1) a 16"x20" archival giclée print from either a digital file of your own or a flatbed scan up to 22"x30" ($57.78-$85.78 total value, no substitutions), or 2) a flatbed scan up to 11"x17", plus one hour of retouching, plus an 8"x10" archival giclée print ($130 total value, no substitutions). One free entry per person, drawings at 5 pm with notification by email. 
Danbury Railway Museum*
(*Right in our neighborhood, but not participating in Open House Day. Will be open on Sat. with normal ticketed rates.)

Bethel

Bethel Historical Society
Free admission noon until 5 p.m., with a presentation by Bethel’s town historian.

Brookfield

Brookfield Craft Center
Free reception from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., featuring a special showing of “Home and Away: The Photography of Colin Harrison.”
Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
From 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. At 10 a.m., baseball games with the cast and crew of “Damn Yankees.” At 2 p.m., join the improv team “17 Debacles” in improv games and rehearsal. At 7 p.m., learn a new holiday song from the “Christmas in July” event.

Ridgefield

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Free admission from noon until 5 p.m. 

Dayna Wenzel's installations at Beechwood Arts and Innovation

"The Center of the Universe" © Dayna Wenzel

Several sculptures by Connecticut artist Dayna Wenzel are installed on-site at Beechwood Arts and Innovation in Westport, and will be viewable at their arts immersion salon "Giving Voice - Through the Arts to Stories Around Us," a multi-artist event involving music, art, film, performance, writing and culinary arts on Sunday, June 4, 2017 from 2 pm-5 pm, advance tickets are required (no tickets available at the door.)

There will also be two open houses, Wednesday, June 14 from 5:30 - 8 pm, and Saturday, June 17 from 4 pm - 7 pm. 

Beechwood Arts is located at a private residence. Address given upon RSVP to events, invites to Open Houses by Beechwood's email list. 

Andrea Zimmermann's exhibition "World of Nature" at Bethel Library

© Andrea Zimmermann

Artist, writer, and librarian Andrea Zimmermann of Newtown is featured in a solo exhibition titled "World of Nature" at the Bethel Library from June 4 through July 10, 2017. 

There is an opening reception on Sunday, June 4 from 2 pm - 4 pm

The exhibit features Zimmermann's nature-inspired artwork in various media including photography, block printing, silkscreen, etching, and pastel. 

Read more in-depth about the exhibition and Zimmermann's artistic upbringing on Zimmermann's website, (reprinting an article from the Newtown Bee, May 19, 2017.) 

Bethel Public Library is located at 189 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, CT.

"Connecticut: Morning, Noon, and Night" CTASMP Photo Exhibit

"Peaceful" © Peter Wnek

The exhibit “Connecticut: Morning, Noon, and Night” at The Gallery at Still River Editions runs from June 10 through September 29, 2017. An opening reception with the photographers takes place on June 10, from noon to 5 pm, and is free and open to the public. The opening is part of the State of Connecticut’s 13th annual Open House Day.

The sixteen photographs, taken around Connecticut and representing different times of day, are by members of the Connecticut chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), the leading trade association for professional photographers. Connecticut’s chapter of the ASMP has a membership of around 100 photographers at all stages of their careers, and offers programming including speakers, seminars, and ongoing small groups that promote business and community within the profession.

The photographers participating are: Allegra Anderson (South Glastonbury), Stacy Bass (Westport), Mike Cohen (Westport), Adam Coppola (Killingworth),  Ron DiLaurenzio (Bethlehem), Ronald Glassman (Stamford), Nancy Hill (Weston), Barry Hyman (Westport), Robert Lisak (New Haven), Christopher Rakoczy (Manchester), Mark Savoia (New Fairfield), Edwina Stevenson (Branford), Catherine Vanaria (New Fairfield), Carl Vernlund (Berlin), Peter Wnek (Meriden), Gale Zucker (Branford).

With this event, Still River Editions is also celebrating its 30th anniversary as a business. In addition to the gallery, Still River Editions is a fine art print studio that specializes in traditional black and white photographic prints, scanning/fine art capture, digital prints of fine art and photographs, and digital restoration.
 
The Gallery at Still River Editions is located at 128 East Liberty St., Danbury, CT. Regular gallery hours are 8:30 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Michael Friedman's Lost Rock and Roll Photographs at Rhinebeck

"Mick Jagger, Madison Square Garden, 1969"
© Michael Friedman

An exhibit of 40 of Michael Friedman's never-before-seen black and white rock and roll photographs from the 1960s and 1970s will be on view at Barn Star Productions' Antiques at Rhinebeck show from May 27-28th, 2017.

Among subjects are The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, The Band, James Cotton, and numerous other stars and legendary session players. 

The show is at the Duchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Ave., Rhinebeck, NY and runs Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm, and Sunday 11 am - 4 pm. Admission is $10 each day.

Friedman worked in various facets of the music business, during which he traveled and was close to many great artists. He has been a dealer of Western antiques for many years . 

The photographs on exhibit were printed by Master Printmaker Mark Savoia of Still River Editions. 

Read an article on the exhibit in the Antiques and the Arts Weekly here. 

Paintings by Ann Harriet Carew at Southbury Public Library

© Ann Harriet Carew

Landscape and still life oil paintings by Roxbury artist Ann Harriet Carew are on view at Southbury Public Library from April 30 through May 29, 2017. Southbury Public Library is located at 100 Poverty Rd., Southbury, CT 06488. 

Beth Houghtaling - Jonestown: What Flavor Are You Drinking? at Trailer Box Project

© Beth Houghtaling

Beth Houghtaling's mixed-media installation "Jonestown: What Flavor Are You Drinking" is at Trailer Box Project from May 6 through June 3, 2017. There is an artist's reception on Saturday May 6, from 5 pm - 7 pm. 

From the press release: "In 'Jonestown: What Flavor are You Drinking?', Houghtaling utilizes mixed media including resin, stamp carvings, and Flavor Aid packets to resolve her spiritually and physically abusive past through the lens of the Jonestown murders. 

'I had the idea of making something out of Flavor Aid packets and the stamp carving, so I
bought 70 packets of Strawberry Flavor Aid on the internet. Once I made that first piece, the
floodgates opened and the art has not stopped spewing yet,' says Houghtaling. 'But it wasn’t
until early October 2016, as I was looking at the photos of Jonestown residents in life to use in an
art piece, that I realized my Jonestown Art was my way of expressing the emotions from my own
spiritual abuse, which only seems to make my art more powerful.'

rtist Beth Houghtaling, a Danbury native, is a mother and respiratory therapist. She is currently
studying Holistic and Integrated Health at Western Connecticut State University and plans to
pursue a career in art therapy."

The exhibit also has a musical/sonic collage component by Malcolm Tent.

This exhibition marks the opening of the Trailer Box's 2017 season. 

Trailer Box Project is located at 15 Great Pasture Rd., Unit 15, Danbury, CT. 

WCSU 2017 Senior Thesis Exhibition

The 2017 Senior Thesis Exhibition at The Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center at Western Connecticut State University. The exhibition features graduating seniors culminating work for their Bachelor of Arts in Art degree at WCSU. The exhibit runs from Wednesday, April 19 through May 4, 2017 with an opening reception on Thursday, April 19 from 6 pm - 8 pm. 

Included in the exhibition, and broken down by focus

Graphic design: Andrew Bonadio, Joel Carberry, Astrid Enderica, Carly Iwanicki, Conor Kovatch, Mie-Ly Lou, Kimberly Rabita

Illustration: Killian Bradbury, Amanda Parente

Photography: Emma Crowcroft, Karalyn Demos, Jessica Dice, Samantha Gotthardt, Jesse Longo, Nicholas Sackar, Emily Swift

Studio Art + Painting: Andrea Rios

Studio Art+ Sculpture: Zipporah Tompkins

The Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center is located on WCSU's Westside Campus, 43 Lake Ave. Ext., Danbury. 

Revolutionary Weekend at The Danbury Museum and Historical Society

April 20, 21, 22, and 23, 2017 spend a Revolutionary Weekend at the Danbury Museum and Historical Society.

Please see their website for full details. 

Thursday, April 20th, Eric Chandler is hosting a program "Connecticut During the Revolutionary War - Provision State & Arsenal of the Revolution" from 5 pm - 7 pm. It's a lecture and Q&A co-sponsored by the Danbury Library. Free and open to the public. 

Friday, April 21st, is Archives After Dark a "late night search & research session from 7 pm to 10 pm" browsing the museums collections with the guidance of Executive Director and City Historian Brigid Guertin, Research Specialist Diane Hassan, and Collections Manager Michele Amundsen. Free event, and advance registration is appreciated. 

Saturday, April 22 free tours of the historic buildings from 10 am - 3 pm. Then from 4 pm - 6 pm Cocktails & Conversation with DMHS Board Member Robert Young with a presentation "Why Danbury" about Danbury's roles as a supply depot for the Continental Army. Free and open to the public. 

Sunday, April 23 The Mary Wooster Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution present "The Not-So-Good-Life of the Colonial Goodwife". Admission $10 to benefit the Mary Wooster CTDAR and is open to the public. Begins at 2 pm. RSVP requested. See website for more information. 

The Danbury Museum and Historical Society is located at 43 Main St., Danbury, CT.

Benefit for Danbury Arts In Action 3/25 and awareness event for A Common Ground 4/8

A Common Ground Community Arts Center is hosting an acoustic coffeehouse-style benefit for its program Danbury Arts In Action on Saturday, March 25, 2017 featuring folk musical artist Leif Smith. There is also an open mic portion with signup at 7:30 pm. Admission is by free-will donation. 

There is also a unity event for the art center itself on Saturday, April 8 from 2 pm - 10 pm. The center is currently suffering from a decline in enrollment, and is hosting a multi-faceted event to raise awareness and inform the community about its range of classes and functions. There will be live music, food, poetry, vendors, and childrens' activities.

A Common Ground Community Arts Center is located at 33 Crosby St., Danbury, CT. 

Shona Curtis's exhibit "To Be Real" opens 4/8 at The Gallery at Still River Editions

"Daniel" © Shona Curtis

The work of New Preston photographer Shona Curtis is featured in the solo exhibition "To Be Real" at the Gallery at Still River Editions. The exhibit runs from April 8 through June 2, 2017, with an opening reception on Saturday, April 8 from 2 pm - 4 pm. The event is free and open to the public. 

The exhibit features dramatic and intimate black and white portraits by Curtis. She says of her work, "I believe that portraiture is not simply about the subject or the photographer, but the alchemy between the two. To Be Real, an exhibit of film and digital photography, exposes what lies behind our masks when we feel safe enough to reveal ourselves. This collection illuminates what I see as the fragility and exquisite beauty of being human, in other words, our shared humanity."

Regular gallery hours are 8:30 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday. 

Artist Panel Discussion at "Prints that Work," Housatonic Museum of Art

© Roxanne Faber Savage

Roxanne Faber Savage, Kelsey Miller, John O'Donnell, and Neil Daigle Orkans are featured in a group exhibition titled "Prints that Work" curated by Leslie Giuliani at the Housatonic Museum of Art, 900 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, CT The exhibit runs through March 25th, 2017, and there is an artist panel discussion on March 23, 2017 from 6 pm - 7:30 pm. The artists "will discuss the role of printmaking in their artistic practice, as well as how they approach communicating broad artistic concepts." 

Roxanne Faber Savage's work in the exhibition, ELEPHANTELEPHANTx2 "is Roxanne's second installation concerning elephants and ivory. Her prints depict a visual story about her concerns about the current state of elephants and ivory poaching."

The exhibit contains mature subject matter and is meant for those 18+. 

Transport to the Past: Tara Tomaselli at Hancock Hall, Danbury

© Tara Tomaselli

Tara Tomaselli is featured in a solo exhibition of photographs titled, "Transport to the Past" which will be at Hancock Hall from Thursday, March 16 through April 14, 2017. 

Tomaselli says of this work, "My new exhibition entitled "Transport to the Past" includes 15 images that examine the relationship between past and present. Theses photographs depict functional transportation-related objects of the past, after their transformation over time. My works capture the rusted relics of bygone eras and the various ways these objects are honored by their owners. While each object has its own history, viewers are invited to imagine and make their own personal connections to the objects – uniting past with present."
 
The exhibition is part of the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut’s Accessible Art Program.

The Newtown Bee wrote a story about the exhibit, viewable here. 

Hancock Hall is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center located at 31 Staples St., Danbury, CT.

Corrugated World of Artist James Grashow at Flinn Gallery, Opens March 16

"Corrugated World," a solo exhibit of the art of James Grashow, will be at Flinn Gallery in Greenwich from March 16 through April 26, 2016.

There will be a reception with the artist on Thursday, March 16 from 6 pm - 8 pm. Additionally, "The Cardboard Bernini," a documentary film about Grashow by Olympia Stone, will be screened on Friday, March 24th at 8 pm with an artist's talk. A public talk with the curators will be held on April 6 at 11 am. 

Grashow is a world-renowned artist who works in corrugated sculpture and intricately carved woodcut printmaking. 

Flinn Gallery is located at 101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.