Artist Talk videos of participating artists in City Light’s Gallery’s exhibit Pattern are now available on the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County YouTube channel.

View interview with curators Suzanne Kachmar & Jane Davila, Visual Design: PATTERN. City Lights Gallery

View interviews from Liz Squillace, Tim Reimer, Norma Schlager, Adgar Cowens, and Gwen Hendrix.

PATTERN at City Lights Gallery runs until October 13, 2017… We are open W-F, 11:30-5, Thurs ’til 7, Sat 12-4

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City
A two day film festival exploring issues of urban regeneration and community preservation.

Sunday, October 15: Sunday afternoon film screenings include Survival of a Small City, an award winning documentary about South Norwalk’s struggle to pull itself out of economic decline and contend with the effects of gentrification; How to Revive a Neighborhood with imagination, Beauty and Art, an inspiring TED Talk by Theaster Gates, artistic and social activist remixing his neighborhood and disrupting conventional thinking around city planning and community building on the south side of Chicago, a second screening of Citizen Jane: Battle for the City and other urban themed film shorts. Between films, the audience will be invited to participate in an organized discussion about issues raised in the films.

On Sunday morning, Oct 15, join Urban Bike Tours of Bridgeportfor a free Citizen Jane Bike Tour, exploring the current state of bikeability in downtown Bridgeport. Meet 10:45am McLevy Green for registration. Finish the tour with lunch at Milano Wine Bar and Pizzeria (adjacent to the Bijou Theatre) at 1:20pm, in time for the start of the afternoon program at 2pm. Click for details.

CITIZENS DAY – SUNDAY OCTOBER 15

2:00 pm: Registration
2:15 pm: Welcome from Gemeem Davis, Communications Consultant, and Dean Mack, Planner, City of Bridgeport
2:30 pm: Survival of a Small City (1986, Nancy Salzer and Pablo Frasconi) 58 min. Urban Development in Norwalk.
– The Last Dance on the Main (2014, Aristofanis Soulikias) 4 min.
– The Park That Kids Built (1981, Linda Jassim) 19 min.
– How Public Spaces Make Cities Work (2014, TED Talk, Amanda Burden) 18 min.
– Transform Your City With Tactical Urbanism (2017, Clarence Eckerson) 8 min.
– Snowy Neckdowns Redux: Winter Traffic Calming (2011, Clarence Eckerson) 3 min.
– How to Revive Neighborhood (2015, TED Talk, Theaster Gates) 17 min.
4:45 pm: Discussion, moderated by Gemeem Davis & Dean Mack
5:30 pm: Citizen Jane: Battle for the City

Join the artists of the NEST Arts Factory for a fall art event. On Saturday, October 14 the nearly 40 artists and musicians of the NEST open their studios to the public. Explore the spaces, visit with the artists, learn about new techniques and processes, and find art to buy. Media includes painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, decorative finishes, furniture, and decor, lighting, and much more.

Enjoy a reception for two new exhibits plus Open Studios from 2-5 pm. Showing in the NEST Arts Factory Gallery is SPUN, a juried innovative fiber exhibit of 23 pieces by 16 artists from around the US and Canada, chosen by juror Jeffrey Mueller, Gallery Director of Silvermine Art Center. An exhibit of paintings by Christa Forrest, curated by Patrice Barrett, will be showing in the Passageway Gallery. All events are free and open to the public, refreshments served.

Spend the artful afternoon on Saturday, October 14, from 2-6 pm at the NEST Arts Factory, 1720 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. www.nestartsfactory.com/events

Ample onsite and street parking is available for all events. For more details about the NEST Arts Factory or about this or future events, please visit www.nestartsfactory.com

Event Description:

Based on the Victor Hugo novel and featuring songs from the Disney animated feature by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, the musical begins at the stately cathedral in 15th century Paris where Quasimodo, the lonely bell-ringer, is held captive in his tower. He’s enchanted by the kind and beautiful gypsy girl Esmeralda, but he has two rivals for her attention – including his devious keeper, Frollo, who will stop at nothing to have what he wants. Complete with a powerful Oscar-nominated score with classic songs like “God Help the Outcasts” and “Out There,” The Hunchback of Notre Dame is an epic and unforgettable love story that redefines what it means to be a hero.

Director: Christy McIntosh-Newsom
Musical Director: Clay Zambo
Choreographer: Lindsay Johnson

Proceeds benefit The Band Together Fund for Save the Children (Band Together has generously offered to match funds donated at the Cosmic Show up to $2000.)
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Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane, pummeling the U.S. territory with catastrophic levels of rain and winds up to 155 miles per hour. Roofs were ripped off buildings; power was knocked out for the entire island. The situation is still dire – most of the island is still without power and clean water and temperatures are scorching. Officials predict that it could be months until power is restored. Many families are without fuel or phone service and some neighborhoods are still under water.

Save the Children is currently on the ground in Puerto Rico responding to the needs of children. We are working closely with the Red Cross, FEMA, and local partners to assess the specific needs of children and families amid reports of massive damage.

ABOUT BOOBs

A provocative exhibit depicts personal stories of breast cancer patients, their caregivers and healthcare providers along with statements about the socio-economic conditions regarding treatment, healthcare, appearance, gender, age and race. Above image, “BOOB Tube” by Sooo-z Mastropietro.

Exhibiting artists include: Faith Baum and Lori Petcher, Robin Jopp, Karen Kalkstein, kHyal™, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Sooo-z Mastropi…etro, Tori Marsh, Lee Walther, Jahmane West and Francesca Winfield. Under the direction of Gaye Hyre of ArtBra New Haven local participants shared their time and creativity to make artful bra constructions on view, to support breast cancer patients. Help us hold an ArtBra Party, to raise funds for medical costs for breast cancer patients. Contact us at: clgallerybpt@gmail.com, 203.334.7748. See more about ArtBra below.

Lori Petcher and Faith Baum have complied a series of photographs called The OLD BAGS project. Brave women “of a certain age,” pose in their bra and skivvies with shopping bags over their heads. Images starkly express the sense of vulnerability and loss caused by the lack of recognition, decline of ‘sex appeal’ and a sense of anonymity via ostracism. The ’portraits’ present empowering images of hope by publicly exposing the feminine aging body for what is and becomes, breaking the prototype for the standard of feminine beauty and fashion.

Gaye Hyre is Executive Director of ArtBra New Haven, a community of breast cancer survivors, their supporters, and fine artists of the greater New Haven region. We collaborate to provide a creative emotional outlet for all survivors, and direct financial support for prescribed medical treatment for under and uninsured patients. Participants create both wearable and non-wearable art which is auctioned at our annual live runway event, modeled by survivors and supporters.

Gaye Hyre says, “We’re all in this together, so don’t worry about airing your laundry in public. ArtBras will be on view at locations throughout the art trail.”

Sooo-z will discuss her artwork which explores sociological observations of the breast through anatomical structure. Her perspectives range from motherhood and breastfeeding to surgical technologist, working on breast reconstruction and mastectomy.

Dr. Camelia Lawrence will discuss her personal experience in treating women with breast cancer, why early detection is important, the impact of socioeconomic barriers, and how knowledge about the disease translates into empowerment and vigilance. City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail thanks Dr. Lawrence for recently joining the City Lights & Company board of directors.

kHyal™ A/K/A MEGAGLAM — an artist, writer, designer, marketing executive and entrepreneur — will discuss the implications of appearance; living in a female body; and the transformative power and therapeutic value of art and design.

Join Bridgeport artists in a new fundraising effort to support the Bridgeport Art Trail, now in its 9th year this year. State funding for arts programs becomes scarcer every year and the Art Trail needs your help!

Please consider making at least one small piece of art to be sold during the Art Trail this year. All art must be exactly 4″ x 6″, either horizontal or vertical, and must be original (as opposed to a reproduction). Any medium is accepted, as long as the work is no more than 1/4″ thick. Artist & Craftsman Art Supply downtown has a fantastic assortment of substrates that are already 4″ x 6″ to work on – at super reasonable prices (watercolor paper, canvas panels, etc). Make as many of these “art postcards” as you want!

The finished work will be packaged in clear sleeves and hung by Velcro dots onto temporary walls, for visitors to choose, buy, and carry away, while we replace sold art with more art. The art postcards will be for sale for $30 starting at the Artists’ Kick-off Party at Read’s ArtSpace on Thursday, Nov 9 during the Trail and then they’ll move to City Lights. This is a fabulous way to get your work into people’s hands (so make sure your small pieces reflect the type of art you normally make!), for visitors to take away an art souvenir from Bridgeport, and for all of us to support the work that the Bridgeport Art Trail does on our behalf.

Include a business card or piece of paper with your contact information with each art postcard you submit to be included with each packaged card so collectors can find you after they purchase your work.

Art postcards will be due by October 15 and can be turned in at Artist & Craftsman, American Fabrics Arts, 305 Knowlton, City Lights Gallery, or the NEST Arts Factory.

If you have any questions, please contact Jane Davila at: nestartsfactorygallery@gmail.com

This is an easy way to give back and make sure the Art Trail keeps going!
Thank you!

All artists are invited to take part in the annual NEST Arts Factory fundraising exhibit, 10 x 10, this November.

All artwork will be sold for $100, with $50 going to the NEST and $50 going to the artist. All artwork must be exactly 10″ x 10″ square and no more than 2″ deep. Work must be finished and ready to hang. If framed, the frame must be 10″ x 10″ square. All artwork must be original (no reproductions), but any medium is acceptable. The exhibit opens during the city-wide Bridgeport Art Trail and work will be sold, cash and carry, and then replaced during the show. The proceeds from this annual fundraiser will go toward operating costs for the Gallery and upgrades to support the NEST and its community spaces, which are available for public use.

Artwork for the 10 x 10 exhibit must be dropped off on Saturday, November 4 from 1-4 pm. There is no entry fee and entries are limited to 3 per artist. Local art supply store Artist & Craftsman Supply stocks 10” x 10” canvas and panel boards, and both Artist & Craftsman and IKEA sell 10” square frames, all at very reasonable prices.

“Painted Stairway” is a community mural by artist Liz Squillace in partnership with the social action network Bridgeport Generation Now! The risers of the Broad St. steps have been painted color by color throughout the summer and are finally complete.

The iconic stairway starts where Broad St. meets Elm St. and leads up to the Downtown Cabaret Theatre. –Fairfield Hamlet Hub

“The mural was designed and implemented with the theme of celebrating the diverse population of Bridgeport collaborating together to achieve unity and prosperity.” -Artist, Liz Squillace

Housatonic Museum of Art is pleased to present SCROLLS, paintings by JOE ZUCKER, on view in the Burt Chernow Galleries at the Housatonic Museum of Art September 7 through October 15, 2017.

The exhibit features unique, double-sided paintings exploring the legends and lore of pirates. Images of cannon balls, sailing frigates, oceans, islands and the iconic Jolly Roger flag with skull and crossbones share the spotlight only with the materials themselves. Scrolls of varying sizes, evoke impressions of commerce raiders, seaborne warriors, and adventurers in search of booty.

“With inspired ingenuity, Joe Zucker has once again intertwined history, subject matter and the physical materials of his work,” said Robbin Zella, Director of the Housatonic Museum of Art, “to create an inventive iconography that aptly captures the swashbuckling energy of these infamous buccaneers.”

The LATINISIIMO II exhibit celebrates Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month at the Margaret E. Morton Government Center, 999 Broad Street.

Curated by Yolanda Petrocelli of Read’s Artspace, the exhibit features painting, photography, and works on paper. Participating artists include Carlos Hernandez Chavez, Ernest Lopez, Mercedes Tata Arsenberg, Janeivy Hilario, Ben Casi Año, and Yolanda Petrocelli

An early celebration of national Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), Benjamin Casiano has curated this exhibition of work by notable Latino and Latina artists.

Artists included are:
Ricky Mestre
Benjamin Casiano
Mercedes Tata Arensberg
Yolanda Petrocelli
Ruben Marroquin
Rene Soto
Sandra Rossini
Ana Ruiz Castillo

Curated by Ben Casiano.

VISUAL DESIGN: PATTERN
The first in a series of exhibits exploring the principles and elements of design

A new series of exhibits based on the visual elements and principles of design opened September 7th at City Lights Gallery in Bridgeport. Executive Director Suzanne Kachmar is grateful to Jane Davila for contributing her curatorial skills to this collaboration which grew out of conversations regarding programs that explore the basic concepts of visual design.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT AND ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
The elements of design are “building blocks” and their arrangement forms the composition of a work of art. The principles of design are the guidelines used to arrange the elements into a composition. The elements of design are line, color, shape, value, size, and texture and the principles include balance, emphasis, harmony, rhythm, pattern, movement, proximity, repetition, variety, proportion, and space.

This first exhibit explores the Pattern. The principle of Pattern is constructed by repeating or echoing a form, shape, symbol or mark to create a sense of balance, harmony, contrast, rhythm, or movement.

The exhibition opens September 7 and runs through October 13, 2017.
City Lights Gallery is open Wednesday-Friday 11:30-5, Thursday we are open until 7 p.m. Saturdays 12-4, and by appointment. Call 203.334.7748. Visit www.citylightsgallery.org
City Lights Gallery presents local, regional, and emerging artists to Bridgeport and its visitors. It provides opportunities for artists of all levels, backgrounds and abilities to present and sell their art.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The artists selected to participate in this exhibit are showing both large and small works that highlight the many facets pattern and texture, rendered in a variety of media from fiber art to painting to weaving. Participating artists include Adger Cowans and Liz Squillace of Bridgeport, Gwen Hendrix of Oxford, Norma Schlager of Danbury, and Tim Reimer of Stratford.

PATTERN features 3 Bridgeport Art Trail artists.

Adger Cowans resides in his Bridgeport studio. He is a fine arts photographer and abstract expressionist painter has experimented with a myriad of mediums over his artistic career. He was the first Black stills photographer in the film industry. He is renowned in the world of photography and fine art, his works have been shown by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, International Museum of Photography, Museum of Modern Art, The Studio Museum of Harlem, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Harvard Fine Art Museum, Detroit Art Institue, James E. Lewis Museum and numerous other art institutions.

Read more about Adger below. View CBS new archive.

Liz Squillace also lives and works out of her Bridgeport studio and maintains a workshop in the historic downtown Arcade Mall. She is a painter, silkscreen printer and mural artist. Her most recent work is the visual transformation on the steps between Golden Hill St. and Elm St.in downtown Bridgeport. CT. Words cannot do it justice. The steps connect Elm St. and Golden Hill St. leading you to City Lights Gallery. Attendees can enjoy the neighboring steps as an exterior focal point of the exhibit.

Gwen Hendrix is an abstract painter, mixed media and fiber artist. She is a master of surface design. Her working studio is at the NEST Arts Factory in Bridgeport.

Co-curator Jane Davila is Bridgeport Art Trail working from her studio at the NEST Arts factory where she coordinates NEST art events and exhibits, teaches workshops, creates fiber art, prints, and graphic design work.

Adger Cowens served in the United States Navy, he worked as a photographer before moving to New York, where he worked with Life magazine photographer Gordon Parks and fashion photographer Henri Clarke. He is the recipient of a John Hay Whitney Fellowship and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Caesar Chavez, Rosa Parks Visiting Scholars Award, Wayne State University. He attended Ohio University where he received a BFA in photography. He furthered his education at the School of Motion Picture Arts and School of Visual Arts in New York. While serving in the United States Navy, he worked as a photographer before moving to New York, where he later worked with Life magazine photographer, Gordon Parks and fashion photographer, Henri Clarke. Adger Cowans was awarded the Lorenzo il Magnifico alla Carriera in recognition of a Distinguished Career at the 2001 Florence Biennale of Contemporary Art.