Thursday opening at Atticus Bookstore Cafe in New Haven

Atticus Café
1082 Chapel St., New Haven, (203) 776-4040
Wall Art: The Photography of Philip Rubin
Through Feb. 21, 2010
Opening Reception: Thurs., Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m.

Press release

For over 25 years, Philip Rubin has been photographing wall art in urban locations around the world. The photos on display in this exhibit comprise one group of images from a book presently in development called Wall Art that features art that appears in public places, including murals, painted buildings, and a variety of street art.

All profits from sale of photographs in this exhibit will be donated to IRIS: Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, in New Haven, Connecticut.

Philip Rubin was born in Newark, New Jersey. In the 1960s he was a rock guitarist. He received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Connecticut. In the 1970s he began working at Haskins Laboratories, in New Haven, Connecticut, where he developed software for music and speech synthesis. In the 1980s he was a research scientist and started his administrative career. In the 1990s he was a principal in a multimedia company that developed websites and games.

Rubin's photography has been featured at a number of shows including What You Write? A Graffiti Show at the Small Space Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater New Haven; Philip Rubin: Photographs of Urban Art at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport; and This and That at the City Lights Gallery in Bridgeport.

Mural project at Hartford Public Library

Hartford Public Library
500 Main St., Hartford, (860) 695-6300
American Mural Project
Oct. 28—Nov. 29 2009.
Exhibit opening: Wed., Oct. 28, 11 a.m.
Artist's reception: Fri., Nov. 13, 5:30—7 p.m.

Press release

At 11 a.m. on Oct. 28, Hartford Public Library will open an exhibit of giant painted sections from the American Mural Project. When completed, this huge three-dimensional painting—120 feet long, 48 feet high, and 6—8 feet deep—will be the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world. The exhibit is free and open to the public through November 29th during library hours.

"Hartford Public Library and the American Mural project is a win-win partnership. The Library's glass walls and natural ambient lighting, combined with a 25-foot ceiling, will offer Connecticut artist Ellen Griesedieck's amazing three-dimensional artwork a truly unique exhibition space. The Library is delighted to be able to provide people of all ages and backgrounds in our community the opportunity to participate in American art culture," said Mary Crean, chief development officer, Hartford Public Library.

A tribute to the American worker, the American Mural Project (AMP) was founded by artist Ellen Griesedieck. She is visiting all 50 states and working with people of all ages who are helping her create pieces that will be included in the final artwork.

After eleven years of work, more than one third of the mural is finished and over 10,000 people have contributed to the effort.

The exhibit will feature pieces of the mural, some up to 30 feet high, as well as walking tours, lectures, and projects scheduled all month for students and adults at the library. Throughout the month, AMP will also be leading art activities with kids from local schools, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and many other organizations around the city.

"Eleven years ago, when I started this project as a tribute to working people in America, I could never have imagined it would morph into this giant barn raising of art."

Ms. Griesedieck will be at the library on Oct. 28 and 29 and Nov. 11, 17, 18, 24 and 28. On those days, visitors will be invited to paint, draw, and write on one of AMP's eight-foot recycled paper-pulp 'links,' which will be included in the finished mural along with other similar links that people are now creating across the country. This is your chance to contribute to the piece that will represent the Greater Hartford area.