Dedicated to covering the visual arts community in Connecticut.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

William Butcher painting show opens Fri., Feb. 7, at Reynolds Fine Art in New Haven

Reynolds Fine Art
96 Orange St., New Haven, (203) 498-2200
William butcher: Allegories of the Heart and Mind
Feb. 7—Mar. 14, 2014.
Artist Reception: Fri., Feb. 7, 5—8 p.m.

Press release from Reynolds Fine Art

Reynolds Fine Art is pleased to present Allegories of the Heart and Mind, a solo exhibition by the artist, teacher and profound thinker William Butcher. Butcher paints out of Connecticut and has been teaching at Suffield Academy for the past 30 years. He holds both BFA and MFA degrees from the Drake School of Fine Arts, studying under the internationally recognized artists Jules Kirschenbaum and Cornelis Ruhtenberg.

William Butcher: "The Reflection"


William Butcher finds the inspiration to create by allowing his subconscious visions and imagery, generated by the heart and mind, to come to the surface. The thoughts and ideas that present themselves to the artist, via our visual world, take form in his paintings and sculptures. His work is constantly in the process of reaffirming itself. Butcher states that he "is driven to bring these to life in a visual form... It is only in allegory that I can hope to garner a meager understanding of the hidden forces that drive my compulsion to create." The praxis of unfolding one's inner thoughts and feelings into visual language has become William Butcher's attempt in exploring the mysterious and spiritual curiosities of human life and nature.

The show will be on display from Feb. 7—Mar. 14 at Reynolds Fine Art located in New Haven’s historic 9th square on 96 Orange St. The show's opening reception will be held on Fri., Feb. 7, from 5—8 p.m.

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"Once in a Lifetime" show opens at Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery Fri., Thurs., Feb. 6

Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery
70 Audubon St., 2nd floor, New Haven, (203) 772-2788
Once in a Lifetime
Feb. 7—Mar. 21, 2014.
Artists' reception: Thurs., Feb. 6, 5—7 p.m.

Press release from the Arts Council of Greater New Haven

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven presents Once In A Lifetime in the Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery. Curated by Stephen Grant, this exhibition will be on display from Fri., Feb. 7 through Fri., Mar. 21. An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6, from 5—7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. In case of a snow storm, the public reception will take place on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.

Teresa Fortsch: "Hurricane of My Heart"
The title of this show was inspired by the Talking Heads song of the same name. The music video for "Once In A Lifetime" features a collection of cultural dance moves influenced by songwriter and lead singer David Byrne's experiences while touring with the band.

"David Byrne was always searching for inspiration at concerts and on the road," Grant explained. "Because he never limited himself to one style of art he was constantly exposed to new ideas which allowed his music and videos to always be a visual and listening experience. This is exactly what this show is all about. It's a blend of various artistic ideas combined to make a Once In A Lifetime artistic experience."

Follow this exhibition online by visiting the Once In A Lifetime blog. Updated weekly, the blog features show updates, artist interviews, images and more.

The artwork in Once In A Lifetime will range from paintings and photographs to mix media, abstract art and collages. The artists in the show include Lisa Daly, Andrzej Dutkanicz, Andre Eamiello, Teresa Fortsch, Andres Madariaga, Nick Robinson and Alexandra Shaheen.

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Friday, January 10, 2014

"New Construction" photo exhibit opens at Windsor Art Center Sat., Jan. 18

Windsor Art Center
40 Mechanic St., Windsor, (860) 688-2528
New Construction
Jan. 18—Feb. 22, 2014.
Opening Reception & Events: Sat., Jan. 18, 5—7 p.m.

Press release from Windsor Art Center

The exhibition New Construction, at the Windsor Art Center Jan. 18—Feb. 22, features six photographers who construct, assemble or otherwise build contemporary images often using the material of traditional still life—objects, artifacts, flora and fauna. Each photographer brings his/her own unique perspective and to varying degrees, the power of the cutting-edge digital toolbox to this venerable genre. Participating artists include curator Daniel Mosher Long (Storrs, CT, Web), Olivia Parker (Boston, MA, Web), Kevin Van Aelst (New Haven, CT, Web), Rebecca Clark (Storrs, CT, Web), Kimberly Witham (High Bridge, NJ, Web) and Kim Kauffman (Lansing, MI, Web).



The exhibition opens with a reception for the artists Jan. 18 from 5—7 p.m. The show continues through Feb. 22. The public is invited to attend the reception and exhibition.

The exhibition includes the following additional activities:

• Sat., Feb. 8, 2—3:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk with exhibition artists Rebecca Clark, Kevin Van Aelst and Daniel Mosher Long. This talk will include an overview of the exhibit, a discussion by individual artists on their work, and a question and answer session.

• Thurs., Feb. 13, 7-8 p.m.: Art Discussion and Demonstration: DSLR Still Life–Tools, Techniques, and Process. From light tents to focus stacking, curator Daniel Mosher Long presents a detailed technical account of the equipment, software, and process he uses to create his still life photography. A question and answer session follows.

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Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Blackett and Guillorn photo show opens at Gallery at Still River Editions in Danbury Sat., Jan. 11

The Gallery at Still River Editions
128 East Liberty St., Danbury, (203) 791-1474
Fadeless Imagery: Light and Memory: Photographs by David Blackett and Lys Guillorn
Jan. 11—Mar. 28, 2014.
Opening Reception: Sat., Jan. 11, 4—6 p.m.

Press release from The Gallery at Still River Editions

This two-person exhibition features the photographs of David Blackett of Stratford, Connecticut and Lys Guillorn of Shelton, Connecticut. What the two have in common is their work is shot entirely with medium-format film. Blackett uses antique, vintage and plastic cameras, and Guillorn uses a Holga toy camera almost exclusively. The initial letters of the exhibition's title are an acronym for "film."

David Blackett grew up in rural Massachusetts, and studied photography at Maine Photographic Workshops and Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. His photography is influenced heavily by coastal living in both subject matter and attitude.

David Blackett: "Audette's Balloon"

Blackett says, "My approach with photography has always been: 'I just want to go out and play with my cameras and make some pictures.' It’s what I do to have fun and to relax. I rarely go out 'on a mission' to make a statement of some sort. If I see something I like the looks of, I take a picture." The result is organic and sometimes dream-like, two qualities which Blackett's photography shares with Lys Guillorn's.

Guillorn is a lifelong Fairfield County resident who uses photography to document the otherworldly qualities she finds everyday landscapes and structures. Many of her photographs depict shadows of trees on buildings caught in early morning sunlight or later in the day, during what photographers call "the golden hour." She studied photography at Snow Farm in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, and is a photographic printmaker by trade.

Lys Guillorn: "Becket #1"

Lys Guillorn uses an entirely plastic toy camera to capture her images on black and white film, which she then scans digitally, and has printed digitally by Master Printmaker Mark Savoia of Still River Editions. "I have a digital SLR camera, but I like my Holga better because it's light and because of the softness it adds. I use Photoshop to enhance the tone and contrast, but the blurry and dark edges--that's all in the negatives. Though I like things like Instagram on my phone, I think it's cheating a bit."

The Gallery at Still River Editions has hosted national and regional photographers and artists since 1989. In spring 2011, after a brief hiatus from exhibiting new work, the gallery returned to hosting shows on a quarterly basis. The Gallery's mission is to show traditional and digital photographs and fine artwork, and to be a center of creativity and connection in the Danbury area.

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Woodcut show opens at Institute Library in New Haven Sat., Jan. 11

The Institute Library
847 Chapel St., New Haven, (203) 562-5045
In Relief: A Small History of the Woodcut
Jan. 11¬—Feb. 8, 2014.
Reception: Sat., Jan. 11, Noon—2 p.m.

Press release from Stephen Vincent Kobasa

In Relief is curated by master printer James Reed from his own collection. The show of woodcut prints will be on view from Jan. 11 through Feb. 8 at the Institute Library. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Jan. 8, from noon—2 p.m.

Emil Orlik: "Die Naherin"

According to printmaker Fritz Eichenberg (1901-90), "The woodcut deserves the most honored place in the history of the print, since it is the most ancient, the most direct and—by virtue of its great simplicity—easily the most democratic medium of graphic multiplication and artistic expression."

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New shows open at Silvermine Guild Art Center on Sun., Jan. 12

Silvermine Guild Art Center
1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan, (203) 966-9700
The Answer Is Risom
The New Members Exhibition
The Gabor Peterdi International Rint Collection
Jan. 8—Feb. 16, 2014.
Opening Reception: Sun., Jan. 12, 2—4 p.m.

Press release from Silvermine Arts Center

The exhibits opening for the new year on Jan. 8 at Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan, CT, bring the highly anticipated annual New Guild Members show, plus the work of Lifetime Guild Artist member Jens Risom, and The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection. All are welcomed to the opening reception on Sun., Jan. 12 from 2—4 p.m. The exhibits will run through Feb. 16, 2014.

Jens Risom: Lounge chair
Silvermine Arts Center is honored to showcase the works of Jens Risom (b. 1916), an icon of Danish American furniture design, and a Silvermine Guild Member since the 1950’s. The upcoming exhibit The Answer is Risom, will feature several of Mr. Risom’s signature furniture designs along with original drawings and other historical items from an influential career that has spanned over 70 years. Although he learned the trade in Denmark (he trained at the Copenhagen School of Industrial Arts and Design), he is often counted among the American designers who were shaping postwar design, and indeed his most important contributions to the modern style were made after his emigration here in 1939. Mr. Risom’s commitment to design also extended to his advertising. One of the more notable examples, a series of ads he did in the 1960’s with famed fashion photographer, Richard Avedon will be included in the exhibition. Throughout the decades, Risom's work has continued to reflect our human need for warmth, beauty, and simplicity.

Mr. Risom first made his mark on the design world with his signature chairs, whose simple and elegant design incorporated surplus parachute straps into a birch frame. These chairs were some of the first designs to be manufactured by the critically acclaimed Knoll, Inc. (a collaboration that began in 1941) and lead to the development of the "Jens Risom Collection," which was featured in the company’s first catalog. Knoll considers Jens Risom to be the first true Knoll designer. After his service in WWII, Mr. Risom ended his relationship with Knoll and formed his own company, Jens Risom Design, which he ran until the early 1970’s. In the 1960’s, Jens Risom, along with fellow Knoll designers, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia, were noted as designers who were "revolutionizing furniture in America." Examples of his work can be found in many major institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, Cooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum, Museum of Modern Art, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum and the Yale University Art Gallery. A longtime resident of New Canaan, Connecticut, Risom is a trustee of the Rhode Island School of Design and was knighted by Queen Margrethe of Denmark in 1996. Jens Risom summed up his stylistic philosophy and his approach to interiors as, "Good design means that anything which is good by itself will go with other things."

Twice a year, each spring and fall, artists are selected, through a jurying process to become new members of the Silvermine Guild of Artists. The Silvermine Guild of Artists is a distinguished group of professional artists comprised of over 300 members who work in a wide array of media and are represented in prestigious museums, and private and corporate collections. Selection into the guild is based on several criteria including creativity; uniqueness or timeliness;, excellence of technique; compelling notion or idea; cultural or social relevance; professional presentation of work; clarity and continuity of style; and professional accomplishment.

Silvermine New Member Grid 2014

The New Members Exhibition will showcase the works of nine new Guild Artist members inducted in the spring and fall of 2013. Representing a variety of media, the new members include: Naya Bricher from South Kent, CT (Painting); Nina Buxenbaum from Bethel, CT (Painting); Amanda Duchen from Woodbridge, CT (Ceramics); Charles Geiger, from Poughkeepsie, NY (Painting); Jana Ireijo from Westport, CT (Painting); Cynthia MacCollum from New Canaan CT (Printmaking); Joe Madrigal from Decorah, IA (Mixed Media Sculpture); Mitchell Visoky from White Plains, NY (Mixed Media/Encaustic); and Karen Vogel from Darien, CT (Printmaking).

In 2012, Silvermine Galleries officially named its print collection The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection, in honor of Silvermine’s print collection founder, Gabor Peterdi. Having started the printmaking department at Yale University, Peterdi established the National Print Biennial competition at Silvermine in 1956. The juried exhibitions, the Arts Center established the foundation of a permanent print collection through the acquisition of juror purchase awards. In subsequent years, additional prints were added to the collection via donations and bequests. The recent efforts have enabled the Galleries to conserve the collection, while actively growing its holdings.

The past year, The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection received, several significant donations to the collection; including works by such renowned artists as Josef Albers, purchased with funds honoring the late Guild Member, Tina Rohrer; a Robert Cottingham screened print; and a Gabor Peterdi Print donated by the Gabor Peterdi Estate. This year’s exhibition will feature recent acquisitions of prints by Fritz Brosius, Alexander Calder, James Flora, Charles Hinman, Liliana Porter, and a print attributed to Salvador Dali; and a selection of other highlights from the collection.

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Monday, January 06, 2014

Support Gorky's Granddaughter IndiGoGo fundraising drive

Since 2009, artists Christopher Joy and Zachary Keeting have interviewed artists in their studios, posting over 200 videos of these encounters on their Gorky's Granddaughter site. These videos are smart, informative, often funny, warm, engaging. They are currently pursuing a crowd sourcing campaign on IndieGoGo to enable them to expand their efforts.

From their appeal:

We (Chris Joy and Zach Keeting) established Gorky's Granddaughter in 2009 as a way to engage in and intensify artistic discourse. Through making video documents of working artists and publishing them on the web, Gorky's has established a large and dedicated audience of artists, art-world practitioners, collectors, and art lovers.

By providing access to artists in their personal studios, we create a safe space for intimate and in-depth conversations that don't happen anywhere else. Both intensely focused and refreshingly informal, our conversations get to the heart of artists' thoughts as well as the complex meanings that surround the work they show us.

In a sense, we see ourselves as creating a visual, living version of long-form catalogue essays in an engaging, accessible, and entertaining format.

Please consider contributing to this very worthwhile project.

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Voisine exhibit opens Friday at Giampietro Gallery on Orange Street

Giampietro Gallery—Works of Art
91 Orange St., New Haven, (203) 777-7760
Don Voisine: New Work
Jan. 10—Mar. 1, 2014.
Reception: Fri., Jan. 10, 6—8 p.m.

Press release from Giampietro Gallery

Fred Giampietro Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new paintings by Don Voisine. The exhibition is Don Voisine's first solo show at the gallery. The show will be on view from Jan. 10—Mar. 1, with an opening reception on Fri., Jan. 10, from 6—8 p.m.

Don Voisine: "Flicker"
Voisine's hard-edged, overlapping, tilted-shaped abstractions, with interplays of matt and glossy surfaces, invite viewers to meditate on the relationship between form and texture. His powerful but often small-scaled work seems larger than life. Much like the work of sculptors such as Nonas, Andre and Serra, Voisine's paintings typically interact with and energize the spaces they occupy. His meticulous work expands on the hard-edged, purely abstract work of the modern masters and seems both fresh and timely.

Don Voisine has been exhibiting his work nationally and internationally since the 1970’s. His recent exhibitions include group shows at the National Academy Museum in New York, the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA, the Hôtel de Sauroy in Paris, Galerie Lindner in Vienna, as well as solo exhibitions at Alejandra von Hartz Gallery in Miami and Gregory Lind Gallery in San Francisco. Voisine has been awarded many prestigious awards including the Hassam, Speicher Betts and Symonds Fund Purchase Award from American Academy of Arts and Letters in NY, The Portland Museum of Art Biennial Purchase Prize, the Henry Ward Ranger Fund Purcahse Award from the National Academy Museum in New York and an Honorary BFA from Maine College of Art.

The exhibition will take place at the Fred Giampietro Gallery’s new downtown location, 91 Orange St., in the historic 9th-Square district. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 11 AM to 6 PM.

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