July Art Exhibit: Shepherd Myers – Ants: Earth’s Terrestrial Landlords
~An exhibit of scientific illustrations of ants found throughout the world~
On display in our Gallery this month is a collection of technical illustration prints by Shepherd Myers of ants that can be found throughout the world. The drawings reveal in great detail the characteristics and uniqueness of these small but mighty insects. More commonly noticed as pests when they interfere with human activity, these scaled up illustrations of ants reveal the vast array of morphology (morph = form, ology = to study) of all the individual species. This exhibit is educational, informative and beautifully rendered. It will be on display in the Gallery for the month of July.
ARTIST RECEPTION ~ Monday, July 22nd ~ 5:30-7:30pm
Meet our July artist, Shepherd Myers, at an opening reception on Monday, July 22nd from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in our Gallery. Light refreshments will be served. Learn about Shepherd’s experience as an entomologist, and how his curiosity and creativity gave rise to these beautifully detailed illustrations currently on display.
About the exhibit & the artist:
Ants are among the most dominant organisms of the world and make up 10 to 15 percent of the entire animal biomass. The approximately 8,800 known species can be found from the arctic circle to as far south as Tasmania – only some Polynesian islands east of Tonga have no native ant species. Their role in terrestrial ecology is vast: they turn more soil then earthworms, are channelers of energy, and dominatrices of other insects as lead predators of other insects and invertebrates. As invasive pests they are some of the most destructive insects of Central and South America, damaging crops to hospitalization from stinging. As eusocial colonies or superorganisms they live in complex caste systems, with division of labor including a queen for reproduction, soldiers, workers and minors who strictly tend to the brood.
Shepherd Myers is an entomologist and illustrator who previously was the Collection Manager at the The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for over a decade in Honolulu. At fourteen million specimens, it is the largest Pacific Rim and the third largest insect collection in the United States. He has done extensive science outreach with school groups, class room visits, at fairs, festivals, etc, and enjoys teaching as much as working with research and collections. He has also had his illustrations, photos and technical figures published in peer-reviewed journals.
ARTIST RECEPTION ~ Monday, July 22nd ~ 5:30-7:30pm
Meet our July artist, Shepherd Myers, at an opening reception on Monday, July 22nd from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in our Gallery. Light refreshments will be served. Come and see the July exhibit entitled Ants: Earth’s Terrestrial Landlords, and then meet the talented artist behind the highly technical drawings. Learn about Shepherd’s experience as an entomologist, and how his curiosity and creativity gave rise to these beautifully detailed illustrations currently on display.
About the exhibit & the artist:
On display in our Gallery this month is a collection of technical illustration prints by Shepherd Myers of ants that can be found throughout the world. The drawings reveal in great detail the characteristics and uniqueness of these small but mighty insects. More commonly noticed as pests when they interfere with human activity, these scaled up illustrations of ants reveal the vast array of morphology (morph = form, ology = to study) of all the individual species. This exhibit is educational, informative and beautifully rendered. It will be on display in the Gallery for the month of July.
Ants are among the most dominant organisms of the world and make up 10 to 15 percent of the entire animal biomass. The approximately 8,800 known species can be found from the arctic circle to as far south as Tasmania – only some Polynesian islands east of Tonga have no native ant species. Their role in terrestrial ecology is vast: they turn more soil then earthworms, are channelers of energy, and dominatrices of other insects as lead predators of other insects and invertebrates. As invasive pests they are some of the most destructive insects of Central and South America, damaging crops to hospitalization from stinging. As eusocial colonies or superorganisms they live in complex caste systems, with division of labor including a queen for reproduction, soldiers, workers and minors who strictly tend to the brood.
Shepherd Myers is an entomologist and illustrator who previously was the Collection Manager at the The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for over a decade in Honolulu. At fourteen million specimens, it is the largest Pacific Rim and the third largest insect collection in the United States. He has done extensive science outreach with school groups, class room visits, at fairs, festivals, etc, and enjoys teaching as much as working with research and collections. He has also had his illustrations, photos and technical figures published in peer-reviewed journals.
June Art Exhibit: Sandhya Paladugu
Our June exhibit features multi-media artwork by Sandhya Paladugu. Her beautiful and exquisitely detailed pieces will be on display in our Gallery through June 28th.
ARTIST RECEPTION ~ Saturday, June 15th ~ 12:00-4:00pm
Meet our June artist, Sandhya Paladugu, at her opening reception on Saturday, June 15th from 12:00 – 4:00 pm in our Gallery. In addition to the framed pieces that are on display in the Gallery, Sandhya will be bringing additional painted items including bottles, eggs and small seeds!
Artist statement:
My name is Sandhya and I immigrated in 1992 to Windsor, CT, during which I studied to receive my masters at UConn in civil engineering. After finishing my studies, I traveled around the States, including Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota. However, my love for the New England seasons brought me back to Connecticut and I have loved being a resident of Farmington over the past two decades. While working as a software engineer at Aetna, I discovered a new passion and hobby during the COVID. I became very interested in acrylic canvas art and miniature/jewelry art. From last year I expanded my art to include painting on egg shells ( Pysanky) and also into painting on small seeds.
‘Annapurna Creations’ is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and after the Hindu Goddess Annapurna ( goddess of nourishment). My grandmother’s name translates to “full of food”, signifying her desire to ensure everyone that came across her path was taken care of and had the proper necessities. Food is considered sacred in Hinduism, and prayers are offered before consuming it. Annadanam, the donation of food, is highly praised in Hinduism. I am planning to contribute some of my proceedings to charity. In my art, I hope to translate the message of ‘Annapurna’ to others especially because it helped support and raise the majority of my childhood. I hope you enjoy my painting in your home as the values it represents contribute to a major part of my upbringing. Please contact me at AnnaPurna.Creations.USA@gmail.com if you are interested in any of my art prints.
ARTIST RECEPTION ~ Saturday, June 15th ~ 12:00-4:00pm
Meet our June artist, Sandhya Paladugu, at her opening reception on Saturday, June 15th from 12:00 – 4:00 pm in our Gallery. Everyone is invited to come and see her beautiful and exquisitely detailed work. In addition to the framed pieces that are on display in the Gallery, Sandhya will be bringing additional painted items including bottles, eggs and small seeds!
Artist statement:
My name is Sandhya and I immigrated in 1992 to Windsor, CT, during which I studied to receive my masters at UConn in civil engineering. After finishing my studies, I traveled around the States, including Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota. However, my love for the New England seasons brought me back to Connecticut and I have loved being a resident of Farmington over the past two decades. While working as a software engineer at Aetna, I discovered a new passion and hobby during the COVID. I became very interested in acrylic canvas art and miniature/jewelry art. From last year I expanded my art to include painting on egg shells ( Pysanky) and also into painting on small seeds.
‘Annapurna Creations’ is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and after the Hindu Goddess Annapurna ( goddess of nourishment). My grandmother’s name translates to “full of food”, signifying her desire to ensure everyone that came across her path was taken care of and had the proper necessities. Food is considered sacred in Hinduism, and prayers are offered before consuming it. Annadanam, the donation of food, is highly praised in Hinduism. I am planning to contribute some of my proceedings to charity. In my art, I hope to translate the message of ‘Annapurna’ to others especially because it helped support and raise the majority of my childhood. I hope you enjoy my painting in your home as the values it represents contribute to a major part of my upbringing. Please contact me at AnnaPurna.Creations.USA@gmail.com if you are interested in any of my art prints.
ARTISTIC EDGE STUDIO presents: Seeing Takes Time
A student art show featuring over 100 pieces of artwork by 50 artists
On display in our Gallery: April 1 – April 28, 2024
Fine artist Heather Bondorew Sawtelle is the founder and sole teacher at Artistic Edge Studio.
“Teaching art and sharing what I have learned has been one of the great joys of my life. Most of my time over the past 25 years has been dedicated to teaching students the fundamentals of art and showing them how to expand their vision and grow in their knowledge of technique and materials to produce realistic artwork that is truly spectacular.
Talent is overrated. Patience, diligence, and acquiring the correct thought process enables each artist to attain the true skill of seeing, observing, and creating masterful works of art.
We all have creativity inside us, but learning the techniques to showcase our creativity and skill is imperative to achieve quality artwork. Most people don’t know where to begin, but EVERYONE CAN CREATE MEANINGFUL ART. This show is a celebration of aspiring artists of all ages.”
You can learn more about the studio by visiting www.artisticedgect.com.
March Art Exhibit: Avon High School AP Studio Art
On display in our Gallery for the month of March is the Avon High School AP Studio Art Student Art Show. This eclectic and impressive collection of work is a testament to the creativity and imagination of the students and their teachers. Make sure to stop by and see this wonderful show!
Students featured in this exhibit:
Kristine Antonio, Varda Bajpai, Aishwarya Balaji, Brooke Barcikowski, Angela Borden, Ying Yang Cheng, Grace Deng, Isabella Fasano, Gabriel Frenkel, Benjamin Hakim-Pourkavoos, Leah Haughey, Julie Iwama, Evan Keane, Sarah Larsen, Hannah McKinniss, Sawa Machida, Sabrina Pelletier, Julia Phillips, Savannah Pile, London Ward and Melody Wei.
November Art Exhibit: The Faces of Freedom – Photographs & Oral Histories of U.S. Military Veterans
Our November exhibit features The Faces of Freedom by Walter Schuppe. It is a collection of photographs and stories of U.S. military veterans. Walter began this project in July of 2019 to express gratitude to, and honor the sacrifices and service of U.S. military veterans and their families. The project uses black and white portraits and oral histories, as told by each veteran, to help connect a face with a personal story. Each story captures not only their recollections of their time in the service, but also their memories of their childhood, their life after the military and what it meant to each of them to be part of something bigger than themselves and to be in the service of others. You can learn about all 105 veterans that participated in this project at https://www.facesoffreedom.us/. If you are a veteran and would like to tell your story, or if you know a veteran that would like to participate in this project, you can contact Walter by email (walter11_22@yahoo.com) or phone (860-558-1072).
This powerful and moving exhibit will be on display for the month of November. We can’t think of a better way to recognize Veteran’s Day this month than to stop by our Gallery and see Walter’s work.
October Art Exhibit: Arthur Backstrom
Our October exhibit features the photography of Arthur Backstrom. Art is a photographer who was born and raised on Staten Island, the busiest port in the world. He is an ex-merchant seaman and the son of a merchant seaman. As an artist, he naturally gravitates towards ships and the sea. He has been a devoted photographer for the last 21 years, specializing in fine photos from film captured with manual cameras. His work has been featured at ArtSpace Hartford, Open Studio Hartford, 100 Pearl Street Gallery, and the Staten Island Museum Fence Show.
This exhibit will be on display October 3rd – October 31st.
An artist’s reception open to the public will be held on Saturday, October 28th from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served – all are invited to stop in!
