BAT 2021 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE

The Bridgeport CT creative community is unformidable! After adapting the annual Bridgeport Art Trail city-wide open studio arts celebration to an online event in 2020, we are preparing a robust 4 day schedule of events of visual art, music, poetry and spoken word, even belly dancing. The 2021 BAT theme is “Discovery and Re-invention.” Here’s a sample of the rich and unusual activities taking place from 11/11-11/14/21.
The program guide s still being designed. The numbers for every site will be updated by the end of October,

THURS 11/11/21
Downtown Artists’ Party 5:30-9:30

Meander and mingle touring 9 venues. View art exhibits. Enjoy live music and outdoor projections of music videos and visual art Live music 6:30-8:30 at Read’s ArtSpace and the Arcade mall.

Two outdoor projection sites are on the corner of Broad St and Cannon St. near the Arcade Mall, Ursa Gallery and Main St and Golden Hill St. near Berlinetta Brewing#

BAT Downtown Thursday Art Party Sites:

The Firm Open house

lionheART # Open house

Twig Lips # Open house



Wpkn radio, Open house at their new broadcasting studio

City Lights Gallery and City Lights Vintage 5:30-7:30 “It’s Complicated” exhibit opening reception,
below art by Mark Rich in “It’s Complicated”

Ursa Gallery “The Coral Reef Principle”, eco-art exhibit opens, featuring 50 artists from around the world.

Arcade shops # Live Music by Fuzz and friends in the Arcade mall.

Reads # Artists Choose Artists Exhibit opens, live music features a fusion of Jazz, Latin and African Rhythms by old friends, Bridgeport legends Steve Clarke, Asher Delerme, James Moss, Eddie Rivera

NBALAB open house

Freeman Ctr open house Black Life Matters exhibit by Chefren Gray

Damon Wayans Jr at the Stress Factory #

Bijou Theatre the Golden Gays

Berlinetta Brewing 90 Golden Hill St projection art, BAT post party

FRI

12-5

Housatonic Museum of Art #

City Lights Gallery #; It’s Complicated exhibit
City Lights Vintage # Seasonal Sale

Richual Boutique Thrift shop at the Arcade Mall #

Freeman Ctr Open house, Black Life Matters photography by Chefren Gray

4-6 pm

FRI 11/12/21 4-6 Metro Art Studios Ribbon Cutting, celebrate the newest artists’ working space



5 to 7 pm
Arts Alliance of Stratford and Sterling House Community Center present the art of members of the business community who follow their creative passions after hours in the exhibit, “Creative After Hours”, opening reception Fri 11/12/2021 at Sterling House Coommuniity Center, 2283 Main St, Stratford, CT.


SAVE THE DATE, “Legacy of a Collector” has been rescheduled for 12/12/21, Sun 2:30-5:30pm

“LEGACY OF A COLLECTOR” Paier College Gallery # 3, BAT Fundraiser see more details #21

Bridgeport Art Trail Fundraiser at Paier College Gallery,
the Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts & Humanities 84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport
Admission $50, to purchase tickets go to https://bridgeport-art-trail.org/portfolio/contribute/

In the spirit of Barnum himself, collectors and curiosity-seekers can catch a preview of select works from one of Bridgeport’s best kept secrets of an extensive art collection that will be on view at this Bridgeport Art Trail fundraiser, Enjoy reception fare and live music by the Hot Club of Black Rock. Artists in the collection include Banksy, Christo, Rauschenberg, Alice Neel, Shepard Fairey and many others.

7:30-? DOWNTOWN

7:30/9:30 Damon Wayans Jr Stress Factory #

8pm BPT Creates #, Never Say No Improv, “Love, Laugh & Lyrics”

Bijou Thearte CT, Shakira & Enrique Iglesias Tribute

SAT

8-9 Urban Bike Tours # meets for coffee at City Lights # for annual BAT bike tour and photo op, then heads off to discover Bridgeport art.

10-5 CITY-WIDE
Open Studios City-wide American Fabrics , Metro Arts Studios, The NEST, The Knowlton



Above artist Rick Shaefer in his studio, with “The New Colossus”.

11-5
ARTcade # Vintage & Artisanal vendors and live music to shop by at the Arcade mall #

Ursa Gallery # The Coral Reef Principle, eco art exhibit, features 50 artists

WPKN # radio spins discs at Vintage Vinyl sale at American Fabrics #

City Lights Gallery # It’s Complicated exhibit, wax resist painting, hands on activity for children



12-3
CL Vintage # Seasonal Sale and Sit and Sew

Freeman Ctr #  Open house, Black Life Matters photography by Chefren Gray

1-3 Demos at the NEST#: glass blowing, belly dancing, puppet storytelling for children of all ages


1:30 Djeli Village, Folkloric Storytelling with Puppets by Iyaba Ibo Mandingo

2:15-3:15 Viewers’ Talk at City Lights #, Curator Suzanne Kachmar and storyteller Nina Lesiga host a community conversation with viewer/visitors discussing what they see in the art on view. Since art is interactive and viewers are encouraged to be actively involved in what the art is expressing, this breaks with the tradition of an artists’ talk, where the artists lead the conversation. 

3-4 Bpt Film Fest # Screening Shorts, “Curator’s Choice” at the NEST Arts Factory #

3:30-5:30 NBALAB # open house and presentation with artists/designer/entrepreneur Billi Kid

4-6 P-ART-Y at the NEST #: View a building full of art. Enjoy live music by the Latin Americana ensemble with Rick Reyes, Dick Neal and friends with reception bites and drinks.

DOWNTOWN
7:30-?

7:30/9:30 Damon Wayans Jr at the Stress Factory #

8 pm Bijou # Chicago Tribute – Connecticut Transit Authority

Dragonfly Poetry Exchange Online Program # hosted by Shanna Melton

8 pm Greater Bridgeport Symphony # at the Klein #

8 pm BPT Creates # 8 yr anniversary party

SUN

10-5 Open Studios City-wide,
American Fabrics #, Metro Arts Studios #, The NEST #, The Knowlton #

Mongers Market # tour a vast warehouse of vintage, antique, artisanal vendors, including furniture, lighting, architectural elements, clothing. Rummage through an extensive inventory of salvaged industrial and antique items. 

11-3
City Lights Gallery #
Ursa Gallery # The Coral Reef Principle, eco art exhibit, features 50 artists
12-3 CL Vintage # Seasonal Sale

Art for Everyone at the Knowlton #, Laser guided live art experience, painters of all ages welcome.

11-5
WPKN radio# spins discs, Vintage Vinyl sale at American Fabrics #

12 Bijou # “Inheriting the Well” play reading by Lisa McCree, directed by Jan Mason


1-3 pm
Beer Brunch & Art at Berlinetta Brewing
We did it. We figured out an art event that pleases everyone, art lovers and beer lovers. Yes, some love both. Breaking the wine and cheese reception model, Berlinetta and the BAT host a Beer Brunch/Artists Talk with renowned artist Tom Sanford, whose painting at Berlinetta enshrines Cliff from Cheers a.k.a. Bridgeport’s John Ratzenberger as the Patron Saint of Beer, at least Berlinetta’s awesome Czech-style Pilsner. Meet the artist, enjoy his sardonic humor and R Crumb aesthetic while enjoying good beer and good food. 

3-4 Bpt Film Fest # Screening Shorts, “Curators Choice at the NEST Arts Factory. 

5:30 PechaKucha # Storytelling at the Bijou #

8:30 Bijou Theatre # Ken Butler, Eco musician is “. a crazy instrument builder who can get virtuoso riffs from anything.”  The Village Voice End the BAT weekend celebration with an astonishing musical performance on instruments made from found objects. Ken has performed on TV and arts centers including Jay Leno Show and Lincoln Center.