APRIL EVENTS
VISUAL ART – NEW EXHIBITS
Open House & Spring Garden Celebration
Saturday, April 21 at 10 AM – 6 PM
Colorblends House & Spring Garden
893 Clinton Ave, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
DESCRIPTION
You are invited to the Colorblends House & Spring Garden Open House on Saturday, April 21, from 10am to 6pm. Refreshments will be served. The daffodils are likely to be in their prime, and the tulips should be showing color. Colorblends staff will be available to answer bulb questions. The newly renovated Colonial Revival mansion will be filled with art of all kinds created by local artists: Aisha Nailah, Alan Neider. Amy Kaplan, Cynthia Mullins, Jahmane, Joan Wheeler, Kristen Ambrosia, Looketha, Michael J Clocks, Roberta Chambers, and Silas Finch.
Colorblends House & Spring Garden is located at 893 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport, CT. Street parking is plentiful.
Flower Power – Art Exhibit
Opening Reception – Saturday, April 21 at 6 PM – 10 PM
Read’s Ground Floor Gallery/ Read’s Artspace
1042 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604
DESCRIPTION
Flower Power is a floral-themed art show to celebrate Earth Day at live/work artist community Read’s Artspace.
Join for the opening reception featuring live acoustic performances & refreshments. Winners of the juried exhibit will be announced.
Art East: The Launch
Opening Day & Gallery Launch and Exhibition
Saturday April 28th, 12-5pm & 7-11pm
800 Union Avenue Bridgeport CT 06607
DESCRIPTION
Join us Saturday April 28th for the launch of Bridgeport’s newest Art House and Event Space.
Our Opening Day consists of an open house from 12p-5p, and our Official Gallery Launch and Exhibition is from 7p-11p.
Come experience the latest in contemporary and fine art, as well as a host of live performers and entertainment.
ART EAST is designed with the intention to serve the community by providing a base for art education and community healing to both the youth and adults. Through various artistic platforms and activities, the founders aim to implement programs that teach residents self sufficiency and sustainability from a hands on approach.
Violence, crime and poor living conditions have left their imprint of trauma on the people of Bridgeport. These circumstances often lead to further issues, including forms of mental illness. ART EAST’s vision aims to put an end to the continuing loop and bring a much needed resolution to the community.
With your help, ART EAST can succeed in fulfilling its mission. Whether you contribute financially or by spreading the word, ART EAST NEEDS YOU!
No Vacancy – A 305 Artist Collective
Exhibition Opening
Artists of 305 Knowlton
Friday, May 4th, 6 PM – 10 PM
DESCRIPTION
The artists of 305 Knowlton Street cordially invite you to experience their very first collective art show and pop up shop of 2018. The building is officially full! Join us in celebration of a full house, art, creative spaces, collectives and inspiration! Light refreshments and wine will be served. A small works raffle and pop up shop and more! Come and mingle with the artists. We look forward to seeing you there!
FREE ADMISSION
Nest Arts Factory- May Open Studios
Saturday, May 12th from 2-5 pm
DESCRIPTION
Visit the artists of the NEST and see lots of new and exciting artworks in the studios, the gallery, and all of the hallways!
VISUAL ART – ON VIEW
“North East Space Time” Art Exhibit
Schelfhaudt Gallery
University of Bridgeport
DESCRIPTION
Seven diverse artists from NEST Arts Factory exhibit a dynamic and colorful show of work.Just along scenic Seaside Park, Schelfhaudt Gallery is an extraordinary exhibition space on the campus of the University of Bridgeport.
UB’s Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts & Humanities
84 Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
10 Women, 10 Years Art Exhibit
Exhibit runs March 22-May 11, 2018
City Lights Gallery
DESCRIPTION
2018 marks the 10th year of the Bridgeport Art Trail. City Lights recognizes 10 women artists and women run organizations, whose commitment, time and talent are integral assets that ensure the production of a successful annual city-wide arts celebration. This exhibit is the official kick-off the countdown towards the 10th annual Bridgeport Art Trail November scheduled 8-11, 2018.
Thank you to the exhibiting artists including: Alicia Cobb, Jane Davila, Robin Jopp, Crystal Heiden, Liz Helling, Marcella Kovacs, Shanna Melton, Susan Murray, Denyse Schmidt, Yolanda Vasquez-Petrocelli
Art above: Denyse Schmidt Quilts, the light in her studio in American Fabrics building casts a shadow of the artist upon one her exquisite quilts.
Housatonic Community College
First Annual Regional High School Art Show
Exhibit on View: April 9th-April 26th
DESCRIPTION
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Call for Participants: Pechakucha- A Storytelling Feast!
Save the Date: Pechakucha show May 9th
The Barnum Museum
DESCRIPTION
FIRST PECHAKUCHA IN BRIDGEPORT – VOLUME 1
6:30 – Wednesday, May 9th!!!!
ATTEND — BYOB — PLENTY OF SNACKS — FUN — LISTEN TO GREAT STORIES.
PLEASE ARRIVE BY 6:20 with TICKETS — After that all will be seated.
THEME: A quote from P.T. himself — “The noblest art is that of making others happy!!!”
PechaKucha is Japanese for “chit-chat.” It is a presentation style in which one speaker uses 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds resulting in a total time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds. This licensed format keeps presentations focused and fast-paced. There will be multiple speakers. The PechaKucha is FREE, but registration is recommended. [Please note: We are asking for people with tickets to arrive by 6:20 to be seated before people who do not have tickets.]
Submit a proposal here by April 12: http://bit.ly/pk-bridgeport-proposal
GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pechakucha-bridgeport-vol-1-tickets-44086019471?aff=efbeventtix
If you have any questions email PKBridgeport@gmail.com or call John Swing at the Barnum Museum (203) 331-1104 (X100).
Call for Performers: Make Music Bridgeport
Registration opens March 15, 2018
Save the Date: June 21st, 2018
DESCRIPTION
The CT Office on Culture has invited the city of Bridgeport to join the international Make Music Day by participating in CT’s first statewide Make Music Day celebration on June 21. An eclectic mix of free-opportunities to make and enjoy music are in formulation, including lunch-time music in public spaces like the Broad St steps, an open-mic evening at McLevy Green and live performances and interviews broadcasted from WPKN radio, 89.5 fm.
Community partners organizing the Make Music Bridgeport are City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail, the Downtown Special Services District, WPKN radio 89.5 fm.
Bridgeport is the home of a growing community of musicians and recording studios producing Reggae, Rap, Blues, Baroque, Bluegrass and more. Homegrown music events include PorchFest, the Black Rock Famer’s Market Hootenanny and Downtown Thursdays. Interested musicians please email clgallerybpt@gmail.com.
Mark your calendar for June 21. Check back to http://www.makemusicday.org/bridgeport/ as we grow our list of programs and performers which presently consists jazz, bluegrass and Afro-Caribbean drumming.
The Make Music Day celebration started in France 35 years ago and is growing into a popular global event. Learn More Here: http://www.makemusicday.org/
Welcome Bridgeport Arts & Cultural Council!
Friday, April 27 at 5 PM – 10 PM
Blends Gallery
DESCRIPTION
Join us in celebrating the return of the Bridgeport Arts and Cultural Council and kicking off our 2018 season! There will be local food, drink, music and of course ART!
This will also be the kick off to our program called “Celebrate Bridgeport,” an inspiring community gathering the fourth Friday of every month, each held at a different location in Bridgeport.
The Bridgeport Flea Market
Saturday, April 28, 2-5 PM
Blends Gallery
DESCRIPTION
April showers us in all dope and creative things like THE BRIDGEPORT FLEA, Saturday APRIL 28th from 12-5. Located at Blends Gallery 1163 Main St., Downtown Bridgeport! Cool, Quirky, Colorful, Dope, Vintage, Refurb’d, Handmade, all here!!!!
SPACE IS AVAILABLE…. INTERESTED VENDORS email us at bpt.flea@gmail.com, spaces are $25.
City Lights Charity Benefit
Friday, May 11th
City Lights Gallery
DESCRIPTION
A special night at City Lights to raise funds for City Lights Gallery and City Lights Vintage. The party will take place on the patio space between the 2 locations on Golden Hill St. Enjoy light fare contributed by local restaurants including samples from Asylum Distillery. Robin Jopp of Made in Bridgeport can help you peruse the inventory of the CL Vintage Pop-Up shop. Piano music by Wayne Hiller will set a relaxing party mood to socialize, stroll, munch and mingle.
City Lights Charity Benefit
Admission
$50 per person for Friend
$100 per person Patron (includes recognition in program)
$250 per person Benefactor (includes ad in program and recognition at event)
Sponsorship Opportunities
$125 business card sized ad in program
$500 Bronze (admission for four and half page ad in program)
$1,000 Silver (admission for eight and full page ad in program)
$2,500 Gold (admission for eight, cover ad in program, name included in event title)
FILM
WPKN Music on Film Series Presents
Documentary – 24 Hour Party People
Thursday, April 19th
Doors: 6:00 pm / Show: 7:00 pm
DESCRIPTION
Spanning from the 1970’s to early 1990’s, this is the story of the Manchester music scene… Tony Wilson is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by an unknown band called the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester’s punk groups are clamoring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records and the Hacienda Club, and bands like Joy Division, New Order, and the Happy Mondays emerge to change the industry forever.
PERFORMING ARTS & THEATRE
Sleeping Beauty
April 14 – May 20
Downtown Cabaret Theatre
DESCRIPTION
It’s not always easy being a princess, especially when a wicked witch places a spell on you. But all is not lost for Princess Adelaide as long as she has her three silly but good-natured fairy Godmothers by her side. But even the best intentions can’t always protect the princess, and when the spell comes true, only a very special prince can free her.
Our Children’s Theatre shows approximately run 75-80 minutes with a 10-minute intermission.
Director: Frank Root
Choreographer: Abby Root
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
April 27 – May 20
Downtown Cabaret Theatre
DESCRIPTION
Based on the smash-hit movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends, Tick, Bernadette and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. They hop aboard a battered old bus (nicknamed Priscilla) searching for love and friendship, and end up finding more than they ever could have ever dreamed of. With dazzling costumes and a hit parade of dance floor favorites including “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive”, “Hot Stuff,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “I Love The Nightlife,” this wildly fresh and funny musical is a journey to the heart of fabulous!
Director: Christy McIntosh-Newsom
Musical Director: Eli Newsom
Choreographer: Emily Frangipane
CALLS FOR ART
