Spectrum Gallery’s Holiday Show Opens November 18
The festive spirit of the holidays starts early with Spectrum Gallery and Artisan’s Store Holiday Show Ornamentation and Embellishment opening November 18 through January 8. The upcoming exhibit showcases fine artists who use decorative detail, adornment or materials to make their pieces more elaborate, photographers who feature heightened expressionism with intricate detail or intense color, as well as artisans who embellish their creations with flowers, felting, and other materials. The seven-week show, located at 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, Connecticut includes an Open Reception on Friday, November 18 from 6:30-9 pm.
“The gallery is overflowing with unique pieces some created just for this show,” says Barbara Nair, Director of Spectrum Gallery. “I never thought this theme would encourage so many submissions and so much enthusiasm among artists. It’s truly a celebration for the holiday season and beyond.”
Presenting in Spectrum Gallery is painter Lauren Cryan with new colorful and intricate mandalas; Liam Aiken, a film and television actor who creates elaborate paper wall sculptures, as well as Aiken’s mother Moya, an Emmy award-winning graphic designer and abstract mixed-media artist. Newly presenting at Spectrum are Florin Firmita and Swedish-born artist Ake Arnedal. Firmita’s work explores the juxtaposition of the real and imagined, while Arnedal is inspired by the patterns and ornamentation of folk art as well as the elements of exuberant and exaggerated language of the Baroque. Artist Pavani Arigila presents a highly-ornamented folk art work of the Indian God Ganesha in the Kalmkari style, and Michelle Sakhai, an abstract painter who uses warm colors and gold and silver leaf to reflect the energy of light. Her work is influenced by a background as a plein air painter and experiences from living in Japan for 20 years.
Returning to Spectrum include painters Margaret vonKleist Edmond who presents her vibrant, semi-abstract works; Beverly Waters who creates colorful metal freeform wall sculptures, Sandee Spahr with winter sports-themed sculptures; Nan Runde with illuminated manuscript work; fabric artist Marsha Borden who creates work from upcycled materials; and Kathy Johnson, Laura Lyons and Regina Thomas who present several mixed-media collages. Other fine artists at Spectrum include Nancy Gormley, Colleen Casner and Victoria Sivigny.
Photographers at Spectrum include Ralph Chappell with three of his explosive firework photographs; Elin Dolle with her photo, Tribal Dance, a highly-detailed and embellished photo of an American Indian dancer; Ursula Coccomo showing a unique shot of a 2015 lunar eclipse; Sally Perreten with several new works including Drink to Me, an intensely colorful image of sculptural glasses; Mary Ann Flick, a glass artisan and photographer showing two of her orchid photographs on gold-washed paper; and returning photographer Robert Thomas with highly-detailed photographs of Grand Central and New Haven Terminals during the holiday season.
Favorites as well as new artisans in the Store section of Spectrum include Richelle Leigh Walk from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania who designs jewelry with pearls and sterling silver, and Hannalore McDaniel from New York, whose award-winning beading creations are shown in a variety of venues including the Museum of Natural History and the Fashion Institute of Technology; felter Isabelle Lee whose bags are perfect for gift giving or embellishing a wardrobe; and Kristy DeCosta, an emerging jewelry designer who has been creating since childhood.
Returning to Spectrum with new creations include potters Nancy Scilipote and Kiara Matos and glass artisans Maryann Flick, Carolyn Teschke, Carole Young, and the stunning glass panels of Francis Barkyoumb, and the new jewelry offerings by Sherie Gage, Helene Dworski, Azra Hussain, Gail and Bruce Barton, Carol Dorman, Jessica Dickens, and Gloria Nilsson. There are highly-decorative frames by Joanne Brown, new wooden gift items by William Waldron, new adult and children’s birch wood puzzles by Will Carswell, and fabric apparel from Laura Lyons, Annette Savio, Theresa Santoro-Smith, Irene Dizes and Sylvia Loomis. Also in the Store are unique felted vessels from Holly Bollier, vibrant botanical art from Anna Sidorow, green stoneware menorahs by Debbye Rosen, colorful dolls from Jackie Princevalle and Nancy Hileman, the decorative and highly embellished shoe sculptures of Valerie Riveras Rhodes, perfect for a side table, holiday buffet or door stop, a ceramic new line of birdhouses from Susan Pinckney, and holiday cards and prints from Gail Grgurich and Alyssa Ingram.
In addition to being a holiday gift destination, Spectrum Gallery exhibits a six-foot holiday tree adorned with ornaments by local artists. Ornaments for purchase range from the felted creations of Stephanie Jamieson to knitted creations of Marsha Borden and Laura Lyons, one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces of Lydia Becker, found object designs of Ruth Sack, and the paper stars of Kathy Johnson and glass ornaments of MaryAnn Flick, Drew Mingolello and Sharon Lewis.
Holiday events offered to the public are a Holiday Wreath Design Workshop, Sunday December 4 (1-3:30pm) to create a 30” live wreath for display using freshly-picked greenery, hand-made bows and painted objects including pinecones for embellishment. Stylish Coiled Paper Ornament Workshop is scheduled for Sunday December 11 (1-3:30pm) where participants create whimsical and contemporary-designed ornaments and a Pressed Flower Workshop using an abundance of holiday botanicals to make your holiday cards works of art this season also December 11 (1-3:30pm).
Free to Member/Donors and their guests is a Papier-mâché Ornament Evening on Friday, December 9 (6:30-9pm) at Spectrum. Public is invited for a $5 fee for materials.
Spectrum Gallery and Store holiday hours are Wednesday-Saturday (Noon-6pm); and Sunday (Noon-5pm). Beginning December 10 until Christmas Eve, Spectrum will be open Monday-Friday (Noon-6pm); Christmas Eve the Gallery closes at 4pm and reopens Saturday, December 26 at Noon.
Spectrum Gallery is an expansion of the non-profit Arts Center Killingworth which organizes classes, workshops and art camps and offers opportunities for emerging and established artists to develop, display and sell their work.