NEW THIS YEAR: BRIDGEPORT ART TRAIL SHUTTLE BUS!!

The BAT Shuttle Bus service connects all artists’ studio space sites. Park downtown and pick up a Shuttle Pass at City Lights, which is partnering with Neighborhood Studios to provide this service.
Passes are free, but a $5 donation is suggested.

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OPENING NIGHT: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015
DOWNTOWN KICK-OFF AND ARTIST’S PARTY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 6-9PM
READ’S GROUND FLOOR GALLERY
1042 BROAD STREET
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06605

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THIS YEAR’S OVERVIEW

City Lights Gallery, the lead organization of the Bridgeport Art Trail, is joined by several anchor locations throughout the city – all products of successful gentrification initiatives. These include the American Fabrics Arts Building, hosting its 10th annual “Open Studios” showcase, The Bridgeport Innovation Center, the historic Arcade Mall, Read’s Artspace, 305 Knowlton, and The NEST Arts Factory. Additional participating galleries, studios, and spaces include: B:Hive, Gallery @ 999, PenRod Studios, Bridgeport Creates Gallery, Burt Chernow Gallery, Misencik Photography, Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative, Revisit Bridgeport, The Seasides, Black Rock Galleries, SteP uP Gallery, Pious Bird, Source Coffeehouse, Barnum Publick House, Trattoria ‘A Vucchela, and Harborview Markett. Several Open House events take place at locations such as the Bridgeport School of the Arts, (Steve Hladun’s Jefferson School Loft in the South End), Hall Arts Academy, the Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, and Soundview Community Media.

Bridgeport’s recognized institutions are participating in BAT this year, including the University of Bridgeport’s Schelfhaudt Gallery, the Housatonic Museum of Art, the Discovery Museum, the Barnum Museum, and community radio station WPKN. Additionally, Bridgeport’s renowned concert halls and theatres celebrate the weekend with significant performances scheduled for The Klein Memorial Auditorium, marking its 75th anniversary, the Downtown Cabaret Theatre, and The Bijou Theatre. The city’s New England Ballet also presents a free all-day ballet workshop. Activities added to the mix include poetry readings, an all-day BAT bike tour, morning yoga session, vinyl record sale, Moroccan brunch, and Gambian-food evening opening.

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“As BAT continues to grow and expand, this year’s event promises to be the best and most satisfying thus far” said Suzanne Kachmar, Executive Director of City Lights Gallery and lead organizer of BAT.

“So much is taking place over the weekend including visual art, music, poetry and film. The fact that we’re now celebrating our 7th Annual Bridgeport Art Trail speaks to the remarkable support we’ve received from the City of Bridgeport, the artists, exhibitors, and participants, and all of our sponsors, as the entire community opens its doors and proudly celebrates how the arts enhances everything positive that the City of Bridgeport has to offer. Our mantra? View art, talk art, buy art.”

AMERICAN FABRICS ARTISTS / WPKN VINYL SALE/ TWO ROADS BREWERY BEER TASTING…

Another BAT anchor location is the American Fabrics Arts Building (AFA), which presents its 10th Annual Open Studios, showcasing over 25 artists in studios where the creative process happens. Two Roads Brewery will host a beer tasting at the AFA building where WPKN will present its popular Vintage Vinyl Record Sale. AFA is located in a renovated factory building where linen and lace were once manufactured. The event has become a destination for collectors, interior designers, and art lovers alike. AFA’s diverse group of artists are engaged in painting, printmaking, sculpture, quilting, jewelry, photography, ceramics, textiles, design, mixed media, and more.

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MORE WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

A sampling of other BAT highlights includes visual art exhibitions ranging from Denyse Schmidt quilts, short videos and still photos from Misencik Photography, supersized drawings by Rick Shaefer, a fashion show Boutique presented by Bridgeport Creates & Fashion Oasis with works from local and regional designers, and a film presentation at the Bijou Theatre hosted by City Lights entitled “Mostly Silent” featuring vintage-to-contemporary film, news reels, and animation commercials, plus a presentation of works by Saturday Night Live’s animation and creative powerhouse J.J. Sedelmaeir.

The 5th Annual Bridgeport Art Trail Bike Ride, a BAT favorite, begins at City Lights Gallery at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, with a coffee and a bagel, then heads out with Bob Halstead to stops that include Mountain Grove cemetery, the final resting place of PT Barnum and Tom Thumb, plus the historic Majestic and Poli Theatres, and a number of open studio locations.

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MORE ART TRAIL ANCHORS

The Bridgeport Innovation Center (BIC), site of a number of special weekend events, has been providing a nurturing space for artists, entrepreneurs, community organizers, and small to mid-sized companies to grow and flourish since 1989. The building itself possesses a rich history and is a hidden historical gem of Bridgeport’s East End. The oldest of the 10 buildings within the complex dates back to 1914 and for the majority of its life it was occupied by the Weed Tire Chain Company. Today, BIC is home to artists, entrepreneurs, business professionals, community organizations, religious organizations, and mid-styled companies in a variety of industries.

MUSIC ON THE TRAIL: FROM BAROQUE TO BLUEGRASS TO THE BLUES

Music is also on the BAT menu, with Paul Shaffer, the famous bandleader from television’s “Late Night with David Letterman” and Saturday Night Live hosting and emceeing The Klein Memorial Auditorium’s 75th Anniversary Concert on Saturday night, November 14. The Downtown Cabaret Theatre presents Musicals in Concert: CHESS, with an onstage band and a large cast also on Saturday, November 14. Singer-songwriter Rick Reyes performs with a quartet at the opening night Artists Party between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., at Read’s Artspace, and goes solo at the NEST Arts Factory, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 14. On the classical side of things, harpsichordist Owen Burdick, an internationally active composer and conductor, joins flutist Richard Wyton for a performance at the NEST Arts Factory at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 13. Singer-songwriter Lys Guillorn adds her musical talents to the Bridgeport Innovation Center at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 14. Guillorn’s performance is preceded by music in the same space from Chica Non Grata at 2 p.m., the wife and husband duo of Julie Beman and Eric Bloomquist. And at 4 p.m., also at the Bridgeport Innovation Center, Abner, Lawson & Company featuring local artists Vincent Abner and John Lawson perform jazz, rhythm and blues, and classic rock. 8:00 pm The Bijou Theatre presents “Songs from my AM Radio” with Michael Dunham on vocals and Dave Schneider of the Zambonis on guitar along with sax and percussion covering ‘60s and ‘70s chart-topping pops songs at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 13. Kenny Owens kicks off a pair of Bridgeport Art Trail close out parties on Sunday, November 15, on Fairfield Ave. in Black Rock. His band HITCH and the Giddy UP strum up bluegrass favorites from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at BRYAC (the Black Rock Yacht & Athletic Club). Free admission. Visitors can then head to the Acoustic for Grammy award winning blues with Alvin Young Blood Hart, closing out the weekend with happy musical trails.

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The Bridgeport Art Trail is being organized and produced by City Lights, a nonprofit arts organization located in downtown Bridgeport providing free exhibitions and outreach programs year round.

Online information about the Bridgeport Art Trail is available on the BAT website: http://bridgeport-art-trail.org/ . There are some ticketed events, primarily at concerts at The Klein, Downtown Cabaret, Acoustic, and Bijou, but most of BAT’s open gallery events are free of charge, unless noted in the program brochure.

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