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!
Artist Reception: Arthur Backstrom
Saturday, October 28th ~ 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Patrons are invited to meet our October artist, Arthur Backstrom, at a closing reception for his photography exhibit. 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!
September Art Exhibit: DON BONNER
Now on display in our Gallery
About the artist: American artist Don Bonner grew up inspired by the picturesque surroundings of his hometown in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. He lives in Avon, Connecticut near where his family roots go back to early settlements. He attended the Paier School of Art outside New Haven. Don continued with a career in commercial design, creating materials for many Fortune 500 companies. He went on to start and run his own business for 25 years, Bonner & Company Creative Communications. Don has continued to create imagery as a painter. He is passionate about telling a story on canvas, and creating it with color, lighting, and emotion. Don’s studio is in Avon, Connecticut.
July/August Exhibit: Aquatic Insects Up Close by Shepherd Myers
An exhibit of scientific illustrations of insects found in river streams and ponds both locally and world wide
On display in our Gallery for the months of July & August will be a collection of technical illustration prints by Shepherd Myers of the adult and nymph insects found in and around aquatic environments. These are inspired by observing the fly fishermen in the Housatonic River around West Cornwall. The drawings reveal in great detail the splendor and uniqueness of these small animals such as mayfly, stonefly nymphs, or dobsonfly adults.
These insects are chosen primarily for their graphic uniqueness, not based on the formal topic of study, but generally for sharing the commonality of being used as biomarkers of watershed health. Most technical illustrations disappear into esoteric research journals. This exhibit allows a much wider audience to appreciate the rendering of them. The original art work is all done by hand, carefully stippled, and required tens of hours (some of over a hundred).
Shepherd 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 also had his illustrations, photo and technical figures published in peer reviewed journals.
March Art Exhibit: Avon High School A.P. Studio Art Class
On display in our Gallery this month is the amazing work from the talented artists of Avon High School’s A.P. Studio Art Class. Their beautiful pieces will be available for viewing through the end of the month.
Students featured in this exhibit: Kristine Candy Antonio, Varda Bajpai, Brooke Barcikowski, Brett Belval, Angela Borden, Isabella Griffiths, Spoorthi Hanumanthu, Leah Haughey, Meredith Kessler, Sarah Larsen, Sandra Lu, Sawa Machida , Bebeann Oh, Sabrina Pelletier, Julia Phillips, Savannah Pile, and Julia Zheng.