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onnecticut can tell a long story about artists drawn to working and living along its shoreline. Towns such as Cos Cob, Old Lyme and Greenwich were once home to thriving artist colonies recognized as trailblazers of early American impressionism. At the turn of the 20th century, artists were attracted to the area’s rural charms and picturesque vistas. As well, the state provided a comforting, restful break from bustling urban centers on the rise. Nowadays, with Boston and New York City mere hours away, the appeal remains as alluring. The shoreline offers a much-needed retreat for city-dwellers, and summer events bring culture and sophistication. Coastal villages and seaside towns are alive with the zest and energy of a metropolis paired with the pace and peace of the countryside, and this is aptly reflected in the communities and art. Our journey begins in Mystic, the historic seaport and village a stone’s throw from the Rhode Island border. There you’ll find the Courtyard Gallery, a unique and intimate gallery space with brick walls and European influence, filled continuously with work by regional and national painters and sculptors, as well as rotating exhibits. Rough winter weather damaged the building’s facade, prompting owners Del-Bourree and Kristen Bach to temporarily close-up shop while necessary repairs were made. Celebrate the return of summer at their grand reopening in early May! After your art fix, hop across the Mystic River
to Mystic Seaport, where there truly is “something for everyone.” Explore attractions of historical significance, like a recreated 19thcentury village complete with historically inspired gardens, a preservation shipyard alive with carpenters working on maritime vessels and mystifying presentations at the Treworgy Planetarium. On May 23 and 24, bring the family and enjoy a summer kick-off at the museum’s Salute to Summer–– two fun days of whaleboat rowing, antique games and delicious food. Another worthy stop in town is the Mystic Aquarium, an institution much loved for its exhibits rife with marine discoveries made by the hard-at-work research staff— leaders in oceanic research. Heading west along I-95, you’ll pass through New London. Turn south on I-395 to find Old Lyme village. There, the Florence Griswold Museum blooms into the season with its historic gardens and riverfront village. In the boardinghouse of Miss Florence Griswold, where artists including Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf and Matilda Browne stayed and painted en plein air,
Gabriel Schachinger, Sweet Reflections, 1886, oil on canvas, 51 x 31". Woodmere Art Museum: Bequest of Charles Knox Smith. Photo: Rick Echelmeyer. On view at the Bruce Museum.
WPA ★ JOBS
MARCH 28 TO MAY 23, 2015 Mathews Park, 299 West Avenue Norwalk, CT 06850 | 203.899.7999 www.contemprints.org
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you’ll find collections that aptly define the Lyme Artist Colony’s pivotal role in fostering authentic American impressionism. In addition to the boardinghouse, there is the Krieble Gallery, an airy and bright space highlighting changing exhibitions, including Peter Halley’s contemporary art through May 31, and the marine art collection of the Museum of the City of New York, opening June 6. Stop by for the annual GardenFest, June 5–14, and from June 12–14, the popular “Blooms with A View,” showcasing vivid floral arrangements interpreting the art on the walls of the Krieble Gallery. While you’re in Old Lyme, stop by Sound View Beach for a scoop (or three) of Vecchitto’s Italian Ice. The family-owned business began in 1930 as little more than a bicycle-cart ringing a
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Don’t forget to add the Guilford Art Center’s Craft Expo 2015 to your calendar in late July. This three-day exposition is a signature event on the shoreline, one of the oldest and finest outdoor craft shows in the northeast, and features fine handmade crafts by 180 high-caliber contemporary artists from North America. Find works including jewelry, clothing, pottery, glass, leather and wood while indulging in food truck treats and live music. Go to guildfordartcenter.org/ expo for more information. Next you’ll head through New Haven to visit Jane Shapiro’s Shadow Stories studio, based in Woodbridge, where you’ll find a vision and passion for the abstract, brought to the canvas in combination with numerous textures. Shapiro’s images are greatly influenced by international folklore and incorporate contemporary, ethnic and antique collectibles. As you journey through
203.641.7761 • fb.com/ShadowStoriesAssemblage
On your way to your next stop in Guilford, heading west along I-95, take a break in Madison to visit Hammonasset Beach State Park and walk out along the boulders at Meigs Point. With a few minutes spent looking out over the waves, you’ll know why this rocky cove is frequently honored by the work of local plein air painters. In the next town over, the Guilford Art Center operates as a great local community–– a school, shop and gallery promoting creativity and visual arts for all ages. The center offers classes in pottery, painting, drawing and even metalsmithing, so why not make this summer the time to follow that life-long dream of welding your own set of armor? You can start small by learning how to create a bracelet or pair of earrings, and maybe even see your dazzling work for sale in the shop of handmade crafts or the on-site free public gallery. Vibrant assemblages of visual stories; reflecting primitive, contemporary, and ethnic spirit
bell through the neighborhoods of Middletown, CT. Now it’s a hidden gem of the shoreline. With refreshment in hand, head north up Route 9 toward Essex to find the location of your next creative discovery. Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook––the newest expansion of Arts Center Killingworth––is a contemporary, lightfilled space that showcases regional and national artists and artisans, both emerging and established. In addition to presenting painting, sculpture and photography in the gallery space, the store sells fine crafts in fabric, glass, ceramics, pottery and more. This summer, Spectrum Gallery will host these exhibitions, Food: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, through May 10, and The World of Scientific Illustration, from May 22 – July 12. Now that you’ve no doubt seen a great deal of the shoreline captured in watercolor, would you like to see one of its most loved spots in person?
Walls of Color
The Murals of Hans Hofmann May 2 to September 6, 2015 Hans Hofmann (1880–1966) Mosaic mural, north side, 711 Third Avenue, New York (detail), 1956 Works by Hans Hofmann used with permission of the Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust
The Ways of Water May 7 - 25, 2015 Opening Reception: Thursday May 7, 5-8pm
BRUCE MUSEUM
Greenwich, Connecticut 203 . 869 . 0376 brucemuseum.org
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Handwright Gallery & Framing New Canaan, CT www.handwrightgallery.com Kim Muller-Thym “July”
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CONNECTICUT SHORE these mythological archetypes, you may discover a connection to your own personal story. Since you’re nearby, a stop in New Haven is always worth the time, especially for one decidedly delicious reason. Ask any Connecticut native—whatever you do, you can’t leave without trying a slice of the famously coal-fired New Haven-style “apizza.” You’ll find the best slices of pie on Wooster Street, where Sally’s Apizza and Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria compete for title of the very best. Wherever you choose to dine, make sure to fill up—and fuel up—because your next destination is a detour worth taking. About an hour north, to the western part of the state, is the historically significant Washington Art Association in Washington, celebrating its 63rd year serving the art community. It was established in 1952 by a group of local artists who sought ways to nurture creative
life in and around Litchfield County, and in its earliest years, represented high caliber artists such as Alexander Calder, Andrew Masson and Yves Tanguy––and you’ll find the same dedication to creative quality today. Opening May 16, Next: Singular Perspective is a stunning display of painting and modern art objects by Kevin Dunn, Mounira Scott and Peter Kirkiles. On your way back to the coast, swing down Route 39 toward New Fairfield to see the summer studio of Diane Farr, whose oil painting and portraiture seem to capture the emotion of a moment in time. “I paint because it both connects me to the world around me and, paradoxically, allows me to travel to different (and sometimes imaginary) times and places without leaving my studio,” Farr says in her artist’s statement. “To me, painting provides a means to truly contemplate and appreciate a particular image or idea––with
Peter Halley
time and concentration involved in its creation, and time and engagement involved in its viewing.” Visit her website dianepfarr.com to call and schedule a visit. Travel south through Danbury along Route 7, and find your way to Fairfield, a beautiful coastal town often touted as one of the best places to live in the Northeast. The Fairfield Museum and History Center has made a powerful impact on the local art community with its mission to use history to inspire the imagination, stimulate thought and transform society. To celebrate the remarkable 25-year career of Connecticut-based photographer Howard Schatz, the Fairfield Museum will present an exhibition of highlights for his work titled Howard Schatz: 25 Years of Photographs. Schatz is known for his dynamic and intimate portraits of the human body, and his photographs make up a veritable
GUILFORD ART CENTER SCHOOL
guilfordartcenter.org GUILFORD ART CENTER
Classes + Workshops in the Visual Arts for Adults and Children
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Fine American Handmade Crafts
through May 31
Juried + Invitational Exhibitions 411 Church Street Guilford, CT 203.453.5947
FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org
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GALLERY Explore the past, Imagine the future
2015
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JULY 17, 18 , 19 180 Fine Craft Exhibitors on the Guilford Green Silent Auction Craft Demos Food • Music
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CONNECTICUT SHORE catalog of body types and personalities, from newborns and mothers to athletes and bodies underwater. The exhibition will be on display May 14–August 31, and it serves as a stunning accompaniment to the annual juried photography competition, IMAGES 2015, on view from May 14–July 19. Heading further west toward Stamford and Greenwich, stop in Westport for an engaging afternoon at the Westport Arts Center. For more than 40 years, the Westport Arts Center has been dedicated to connecting the community through outstanding arts and educational programs. From May 8 through June 27, the center will host SOLOS 2015, an exhibition featuring selected artist members, juried by accomplished artist, curator and writer Richard Klein. The Westport Arts Center is also excited to launch the EAST meets WESTport Artist
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Residency, a collaboration with Quinnipiac University and other cultural institutions from Bridgeport, CT, to Hungary, which aims to introduce visiting artists to New York and Connecticut’s art communities. The first artist to participate will be Marton Nemes, a Hungarian artist who will exhibit a selection of his work at the Westport Arts Center Project Space beginning May 8. In nearby Norwalk, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking can be found in Norwalk’s Mathews Park, and plays an essential role in the cultural vitality of Fairfield County. This June, it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary, honoring two decades of bringing exceptional printmaking to the community. The center offers a unique combination of multi-media studios, and a gallery and resource center dedicated exclusively to exhibiting original works
on paper. Through May 23, stop by to see the exhibition WPA: JOBS, which showcases works by The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Federal Arts Project (FAP). Established in 1935 during the height of the Great Depression, the WPA and FAP were created by President Franklin Roosevelt to create jobs for citizens and help Americans find employment. The selected works of art will tell, through their imagery, a visual history of the economic hardships of the 1930s. Nestled in the heart of downtown New Canaan, Handwright Gallery & Framing is a full-service picture framing and art gallery that caters to both small town and big city clients alike. After working in the framing industry for over 35 years, Betsy Jesup opened her doors in 1998, and her work has since earned Handwright a solid reputation as one of the leading galleries
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CONNECTICUT SHORE in Fairfield Country. From May 7–25, you’ll see The Ways of Water, an exhibition of seascapes, rivers, marshes and lakes from artists along the East Coast. After marveling at the color works of art, don’t forget to give a friendly hello and belly rub to Snaffles, the oh-so-cute gallery guard dog. The grand finale for your journey along the Connecticut shore lands you in Greenwich, one of the most renowned and culturally significant towns in the state, and celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. The Bruce Museum is much loved by the local community for its dedication to versatility. You’ll find art, science and natural history all under one extravagant roof, originally built as a private home for Robert Muffat Bruce, a wealthy textile merchant who dedicated the property to the Town of Greenwich in 1908. This summer sees an exciting line-up of exhibitions, including a showcase of the curious wonders of
Madagascar in the science gallery, and the firstever show focusing on the abstract expressionist public wall murals by Hans Hofmann. Another program beginning at the end of June is a collaborative exhibition revolving around The Seven Deadly Sins. The Bruce Museum will embody “pride,” the sin of ambition, through objects of art and material culture from the renaissance to the contemporary period. The exhibition is one of––you guessed it––seven showcases depicting the deadly sins, brought together by the Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance (FWMA). It may take you a few days or more to adequately soak in the cultural significance of the Connecticut shoreline, so before you embark, we suggest planning a well-deserved summer getaway. Many charming cottages and beachfront homes are available for rent during the season, not to mention beautiful seaside resorts
like The Delamar, settled along the waterfront at Greenwich Harbor and in Southport. Stunning jewels for travelers with a taste of Old World style to pair with their top notch technology, these premier boutique hotels rank among the most elegant in the country. Besides a welldeserved dinner of French cuisine at the stylish l’escale restaurant, The Delamar at Greenwich Harbor offers a state-of-the-art spa, a haven for total bliss and rejuvenation after a long day of exploring. Adding even more art to your journey, the Delamar Southport’s guestrooms and public spaces are graced with original artworks by wellknown artists, commissioned by the property or loaned from esteemed galleries. It’s an extraordinary collection. We encourage you to get comfortable and stay a while. The Connecticut shore awaits. —Samantha DiMauro
Experience the Art of Luxury Service
DELAMAR SOUTHPORT 275 Old Post Road, Southport, CT • 203-259-2800
www.thedelamar.com
DELAMAR GREENWICH HARBOR 500 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT • 203-661-9800
Diane P. Farr Oil Paintings and Portraiture
dianepfarr.com 53 Lake Dr. South New Fairfield, CT
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(440) 463-1866 dianefarr@att.net
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