The summer months in Connecticut serve up a bounty of art, music and beautiful vistas that makes it easy to find a destination for all of these checkpoints within easy driving range. As a teaser for the summer, I set off in early June for the Mattatuck, Lyman Allyn and Florence Griswold museums, where I found each flourishing with imaginative exhibitions and plenty of enrichment activities. The MATT, as it’s known, has long dipped into the industrial history of the Naugatuck Valley, a region known for its clocks, watches and rubber, as well as its waves of immigrants. While the downtown-based museum is undergoing a significant expansion, it has been using this time to display to the public the charms of Rose Hill, the Henry Austin — prominent 19th century Connecticut-based architect — designed estates once occupied by the Scovills, the Chases and the Weltons, leading 19th century … [Read more...] about CONTEMPORARY CONNECTICUT: TIFFANY GLASS, RIVER WALKS, FRESH VIEWS BECKON
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND: OCEAN WALKS, SAILING AND GALLERIES ABOUND
On a sunny day, Newport, Rhode Island, has the atmospheric brightness of the French Riviera. Glints of silvery light play on the deep blue ocean and animate the waterfront. No matter the Fahrenheit, somewhere there is a breeze, and this contributes to making Newport a great yachting destination. If arriving by car, it is worthwhile to take the Newport Bridge with its $4 toll to enjoy the magnificent panorama of boats plying the harbor, many of which are beautiful under sail. Other options for travel might be by private yacht, cruise ship or taking a ferry from Providence, Block Island or Jamestown. “The City by the Sea” is cosmopolitan. It is a destination for events, day trips or a summer, autumn or even a winter getaway. Home of the U.S. Naval War College, and also the Pell Center for International Relations, it has varied cultural institutions, including museums, galleries, … [Read more...] about NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND: OCEAN WALKS, SAILING AND GALLERIES ABOUND
ROCKLAND, MAINE: FINE ART, FINE DINING, FINE ACCOMMODATIONS
Maine is famous for its picturesque, artsy villages dotting the craggy coastline from Kittery to Cutler. Rockland was long included among the scores of such charming oceanside hamlets, but over the past few years, it has quietly evolved into a world-class destination for visual art. Anchored by the Farnsworth Art Museum — an international mecca for Wyeth fans — Rockland made a quantum leap forward with the 2016 opening of the architecturally exquisite Toshiko Mori-designed Center for Maine Contemporary Art. While Rockland already boasted more galleries than any other Maine municipality — including Portland — the sleek new CMCA underscores that cutting edge contemporary art has decisively overtaken traditional plein air painting as Maine’s primary output. With the fresh blossoming of art venues, finer amenities followed. Whereas Main Street was once quaintly lined with tchotchke … [Read more...] about ROCKLAND, MAINE: FINE ART, FINE DINING, FINE ACCOMMODATIONS
MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS: AN ART BROKER CAN FILL WALLS, EMPTY PORTFOLIOS
Most artists dream of seeing a red dot next to their work on exhibit. The red dot is the almost-international symbol that an artwork has been sold. Selling art is difficult enough. In order for an artist to increase their chances of selling, they need to exhibit frequently and at high-traffic venues. Consistency is key when selling art one piece at a time. But — imagine selling multiple pieces of work at a time. Wonderful but, how? You need the assistance of a reputable art broker, or dealer, with not just a proven sales record but an established network of buyers as well. There’s an old business adage that 80 percent of your sales come from customers who live the furthest away. That doesn’t always have to be the case. Large local businesses, institutions and organizations can enhance their image and brand by acquiring and showcasing art created by emerging and established … [Read more...] about MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS: AN ART BROKER CAN FILL WALLS, EMPTY PORTFOLIOS
CELEBRATING DORIS EPSTEIN: SOLO SHOW HIGHLIGHTS FALMOUTH SEASON
The Falmouth Art Center, which opened in its new digs in 2009 as an outgrowth of the original Falmouth Artists Guild founded in 1966, is a happening place of spirit and vitality for members and the public alike. Presenting 36 shows of every media imaginable in three galleries throughout the year, FAC offers classes, workshops, summer art camp, hands-on participatory demos, movies and more for all ages and all abilities in 11,000 debt-free square feet that also holds two classrooms, as well as rooms for weaving, sculpting and pottery. “We’re dedicated to the community as an art center for everybody and to serve the local artists, that’s what sets us apart,” director Laura Reckford stressed. “We’re unique on the Cape in that anybody can pay a small fee and exhibit your piece on the wall to sell if you choose.” This July and August, they’ll be presenting “The Falmouth Art Center’s … [Read more...] about CELEBRATING DORIS EPSTEIN: SOLO SHOW HIGHLIGHTS FALMOUTH SEASON
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: DYNAMIC AND INVENTIVE RECYCLING AT ART COMPLEX
“Some Assembly Required,” a brilliantly curated exhibition by contemporary curator Craig Bloodgood, asks the question, “What do we do with our trash?” Eleven artists answer the question with sarcasm, humor, whimsy and innovative techniques. In a bold and visually-lively exhibit, the artists use almost every physical discard in our trash barrels and recycling bins in imaginative ways to create rockets, motorcycles, mannequins, tapestries and jewelry. All of the recycled and assemblage artworks require time-consuming techniques and hand-craft skills. Red, white and blue plastic trash from every conceivable source is used by Tom Deininger to form a huge American flag. Made in the pre-President Trump year, 2015, “UnAmerican Flag” is a sarcastic metaphor for public patriotic virtue. Symbolic word messages, “Love it or Leave it, Blah” and “C0- 2” give us a clue about Deininger’s none too … [Read more...] about SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: DYNAMIC AND INVENTIVE RECYCLING AT ART COMPLEX