Home Sweet Home

Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents its 2020 Holiday Show, Home Sweet Home, November 20-January 10, 2021The seven-week exhibit brings together some of the region’s most original new artwork and fine crafts that explore and honor one of the most basic and important parts of our lives: Home.

Fundamental on many levels, “home” offers shelter, refuge, fun, peace, connection, and now for many, work and schooling.  Presented through a variety of mediums, the gallery exhibit, located at 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, offers visitors the opportunity to take in the art and fine crafts of the holiday show, while enjoying a glass of wine and snacks during the opening weekend, 12:30-6pm, November 21st and November 22nd

Our shows have for the past 7 years opened with receptions attracting groups of enthusiastic people but in these challenging times for the safety of all in lieu of these larger gatherings, we will be hosting those who want to see the show early for the entire opening weekend with wine and snacks.. Do join us and continue to visit throughout the duration of the show as new inventory from the many creative artists we are involved with will continue to come in.  From everyone at Spectrum Gallery we wish you a happy and safe holiday season,” notes Barbara Nair, Director of Spectrum Art Gallery and Store.

Home Sweet Home is the perfect place and time for visitors to discover a new artist to add to their collections, and a place to find a fine craft for oneself or as a thoughtful and unique present.  Also in the exhibit are dozens of one-of-a-kind stocking gifts, as well as handmade ornaments crafted by local fine artisans available for purchase from the Gallery’s six-foot annual holiday tree.

Artists presenting in Home Sweet Home include Melinda Shea who creates elaborate collage works with handmade papers, gold leaf and other materials affixed to glass. Returning favorite Regina Thomas, known for her adventurous use of mixed media, has several collage works as well as birdhouses; artist Deborah Simmons  also presents a handmade birdhouse for purchase; and Claudia Van Nes returns to Spectrum with several watercolor paintings. Other returning artists include woodblock printer Diane Rubacha; watercolorist Lisa Arnold; oil painter Dan Nichols; painter and calligrapher Ned Farrell; painter and pastelist Gigi Liverant; and painters Pam Carlson, Patti Maher, Catherine Satsuk, Gloria Nilsson and Edwin Lopez.  New to Spectrum is artist Mari Firkatian and artist Darlene James who exhibits a watercolor capturing the grandeur of a Shoreline home; and Maria Miro Johnson who explores everyday life using emotionally expressive brushwork in her paintings.

A variety of original photography and limited-edition prints are presented including those by returning favorites Robert Thomas, Paul Ramsey, Maryann Flick, Dianne Roberts, Elin Dolle, Paul Essenfeld, and new to Spectrum, photographer Ginger Muscarella.

Home Sweet Home includes many fine artisans such as botanical artist Anna Sidorow and new to Spectrum beader Bonnie Han; potters Rachel Brown, Hannah Leckman, Caroline Yankura, Sandra Nyren and Sharon Hosley.  Returning favorites are potters Rosemary McClain and Claudine Burns Smith known for her intricate hand building; glass artisans Carole Young, Jeni-Gray Roberts and Lynn Webber; fiber artisans include Holly Bollier, Dale Gardner-Fox, and Jillian Nielsen; as well as the versatile and creative knitter Elaine Sych and candlemaker Janice Wood who presents her newest holiday soy candle scents.

Many exciting jewelry designers are refreshing their pieces for the holiday show such as Gloria Nilsson, Carol Dorman, Joan Wenzel, Jeni Gray-Roberts, Sue Braden Hull, Sandra and Whitney Huber, Kristin Trainor, Kristie Foss, Linda Saucier, Lynn Sheft, Linda Theadore and new to Spectrum’s jewelry collections jewelry designers and glass artisans Jean Gresham and Melinda Shea.

As mentioned, Spectrum’s holiday exhibit includes a wide variety of original ornaments to choose from for your home or given as a thoughtful gift.  Many artists mentioned above have contributed these ornaments as have others such as Beverly Waters, Carol Dunn and Clara Buitrago.  New to Spectrum are the hand painted glass ornaments of artist Lisa Fatone. Additionally, the Store will offer a selection of handmade holiday greeting cards created by Joan Mueller and card designer Patti Maher as well as calendars with original paintings by artist Beth Pite.

Spectrum Gallery and Store adheres to all safety measures and asks that visitors wear masks and use hand sanitizer upon entering. Spectrum Anytime at spectrumartgallery.org/shop is the place to browse and shop online with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for holiday gift giving and other upcoming events; gift cards are also available in the Store and online.  Spectrum Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm).  From December 12th through the 24th, the Gallery is open daily. For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. To follow on social media visit facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrum_art_gallery, and twitter.com/spectrum_ct.