Saturday evening opening at Picture Framer in Cheshire

The Picture Framer Artshack Gallery
96 Elm St., Cheshire, (203) 272-2500
Karl Stephan: March Madness
Mar., 2008
Opening reception: Sat., Mar. 1, 6-9 p.m.

Press release

Artist Karl Stephan of Cheshire is having his first one-man show - more than 25 years after graduating with a degree in fine art from tiny Guilford College in North Carolina. The Picture Framer at 96 Elm Street Cheshire will host "March Madness" for the entire month of March.

Stephan is a member of the Cheshire Art League, and has exhibited in Cheshire, Hartford, New Haven, Greensboro NC, Minneapolis MN and Natick MA. In 2007, his works "Watermelon at Twilight" and "Icon" were selected by Cheryl Brutvan for display at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists annual juried exhibition. He recently gained gallery representation in Boston.

Born on a U.S. naval base in Morocco, Stephan has traveled widely in the U.S. and abroad and studied many touchstones of western art first-hand. Studying under a modern master like Roy Nydorf and taking classes with others like Gabor Peterdi, William Bailey, Yvonne Jacquette and Russian artists Komar and Melamid gave Stephan an appreciation of art that plays a central role in life. He refers to this as "Art That Is Real".

By day, Stephan pursues a successful career in technology sales. By night and on weekends he paints in his basement studio. He also publishes a monthly email newsletter called "Garage Noir" after a series of recent paintings, of which one: "Evidence" appears in the Cheshire show. Garage Noir is also a MySpace page devoted to "Art That Is Real". Stephan's ultimate goal is to make a life of "Art That Is Real" starting in Cheshire.

An artist reception is planned for Saturday, Mar. 1, 6—9 pm. This reception is free and open to the public. For more information and gallery hours call 203-272-2500.