Nature Up Close: Spectrum Gallery Show Opens May 16
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents Nature Up Close. As we move into the joys of summer, this exhibit invites us to take a closer look—at our gardens, blooming flowers, towering trees, and the intricate world of insects emerging with the season. Nature Up Close showcases original artwork that captures these intimate views through painting, sculpture, mixed media and photography by both established and emerging artists.
The Opening Reception on Friday, May 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm was well attended with guests enjoying the new fine art and artisan pieces, wine, and refreshments. The celebration continued with an Open House Weekend, Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. The exhibit runs through July 6 at Spectrum Art Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, Connecticut.
This exhibition features both new and returning artists whose work reflects the beauty, complexity, and surprising intimacy of the natural world. These include new to Spectrum, James Giaccio, a contemporary representational painter who works with watercolor as his primary medium for his still life and figurative which are his main subject matter. His attention to detail, charged areas of saturated color, layers of glazing and the use of dry brush at times, all supported by heavyweight Arches paper – lends a certain uniqueness to his work. Originally a commercial illustrator, he has returned to fine art with renewed passion. Annette Womack, new to the gallery, explores the intersection of man and nature in her expressive mixed-media piece, weaving in themes of spirituality and connectivity.
Also new to Spectrum is Daniel Finks who creates mixed media work using found objects, wood, and natural materials, forming pieces that explore nature’s entropy, imperfection, and vitality. He has an unconventional use of typical art materials and an unrestricted attitude to create pieces he describes as frantic, prolific, and perceptive. Kate Street expresses her intuitive vision through richly textured mixed media works. A self-taught artist, poet, and mystic, her mixed media pieces at Spectrum are filled with the symbolism of the Shoreline.
Nita Vitaliano works in acrylics, often painting landscapes, florals, insects and birch trees on upcycled canvases. A lifelong creative with years of experience in education, she is now exhibiting her work more frequently in galleries. Gillian Goodlad creates expressive acrylic landscapes inspired by both Connecticut and her native Scotland. Her work ranges from representational to semi-abstract and often explores light and mood. Jeanette Wimmer is known for her vivid watercolor depictions of birds, animals, flowers, and portraits. A retired teacher, she exhibits widely in Connecticut and has received numerous awards. Kiki Michalek brings a whimsical realism to her nature and animal-themed works using acrylics, watercolor, and airbrush techniques developed over four decades. Her current series explores wildlife conservation and biodiversity. Lori Neumann paints New England landscapes and farm animals using oils, acrylics, and pastels. A plein air enthusiast, she works with a palette knife to capture the shifting light and textures of rural life. And Maxine Klein, who paints in watercolor inspired by her travels and surroundings in Essex and Hawaii. A retired OB/GYN physician, she began painting during the pandemic and has developed a passion for portability and vivid storytelling through digital art (a shift inspired by the recent digital work of artist David Hockney). Sharon Lee Mullen-Reynolds creates Frida Kahlo–inspired floral headpieces for children and adults and colorful mixed-media work inspired by her Zentangle expertise. A former art educator, she believes in the healing power of art.
Rosemary Gates creates expressive pieces that range from portraits to historical homes. Her recent work has been shown at the Mystic Museum of Art and Lyme Art Association. Rosanna Mitchell works in a contemporary impressionist style with mixed media, often incorporating her own handcrafted collage papers and her expertise with eco-printing. Her landscapes and florals emphasize texture and color, inviting close observation. Vickie Williams paints vibrant garden and water scenes in oils, acrylics, and watercolor. A dedicated art educator and plein air painter, she brings serenity and optimism to her richly colored work.
Other favorite Spectrum painters and mixed media artists include Linda McCarthy who explores light, water, and emotional landscapes through large-scale acrylic and oil paintings. Her work often blurs the line between dream and reality, allowing the viewer’s imagination to complete the scene. Kim Kordonowy who shows several dramatic animal portraits blends acrylic washes and oil with fabric to form distinctive multimedia paintings that reflect a lifetime of global influences and her love of animals. Dianne Gorrick returns to the Gallery; she is a plein air painter who captures luminous landscapes and florals on aluminum in a style she calls Romanticized Realism. Her paintings feature vivid color and texture that invite viewers into peaceful natural scenes.
Bivenne Harvey Staiger brings her award-winning watercolors of birds and florals, known for their luminous color, detail and expressive movement. A Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society, Staiger is also a published author and teacher. Beverley Fisher uses watercolor, gouache, and collage to create intimate works inspired by nature’s small treasures. Her walks outdoors often inspire compositions built from found objects. Carol Hawes delights with her air-dried clay mini sculptures drawing inspiration from her early experiences in her mother’s ceramic studio.
Anna Mastropolo combines textiles, hand-knitted elements, and painting to explore femininity and pattern in her mixed media compositions. For Nature Up Close she shows a dramatic portrait of an eagle. B. Rossitto paints in oil, watercolor, and pastel, often capturing gardens, animals, boats, and places that hold personal meaning. Her work blends technical skill with emotional resonance. Carol Dunn exhibits award-winning work in mixed media and printmaking. Known for her use of alternative processes, she captures nature’s quiet drama through layered textures and subtle tone. She is also an accomplished photographer who presents several floral images.
Molly Waite Lund is an analog collage artist who repurposes vintage paper to create surreal, evocative works. Her pieces have been included in international exhibits, publications, and a solo show in Connecticut. Maryanne Dietz creates cheerful, whimsical art in multiple mediums. A lifelong executive assistant turned artist during the pandemic; she now focuses on work that aims to spark joy. Ned Farrell is a painter, calligrapher, and beekeeper whose oil and acrylic landscapes are inspired by his travels and Peace Corps service in South America. A lifelong artist and entrepreneur, Farrell blends traditional technique with occasional whimsy, capturing nature with both heart and imagination. With Spectrum once again is Daniel Dahlstrom, who paints beloved New England landscapes, especially scenes of Chester, the Connecticut River, and Long Island Sound. An award-winning artist, he works both en plein air and in the studio. Lisa Fatone, a Graduate of Paier College of Art and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. Along with a partner she owned and operated a graphic design business which flourished for two decades. For this show she displays, Energy in Bloom, a stunning, joyful mixed media piece along with her jewelry in the artisan store. Kristen Owens reminds us Summer is finally here with her welcoming door wreaths while multi-media artist Maria Johnson stimulates those Summer vibes further with her elegant acrylic fruit paintings.
Richard Abarno crafts imaginative sculptures from self-made materials like wood, clay, paper, and metal. A retired illustrator and graphic designer, he is inspired by dreams, curiosity, and an ever-growing sketchbook. He has received multiple awards including from the Society of Illustrators in NY, Society of LA, Newport Museum of Art, Print Magazine, 3×3 Magazine of Illustration and the Westerly Artist Coop regional show award. Regina Thomas’ collage and mixed media art is a mélange of visual stimuli, colors, and shapes involving different genres from the representational to the abstract. These multi-layered works portray her view of the world injecting her own narratives, metaphors, and icons. Regina works instinctually, and her desire is to stimulate and intrigue the viewer and make a connection, so they can bring their own experiences to each piece.
Among the photographers exhibiting in Nature Up Close is Bryn Souza who returns with new nature photography. An award-winning Connecticut photographer, her work has appeared in Today.com, USAToday, and MarthaStewart.com. Carol Lowbeer blends photography with digital painting to create emotional nature scenes, especially florals exhibited in this show. Her work has won awards and been featured in nature centers across Connecticut. Carole Drong, also a graphic designer and illustrator, brings her animal-themed photography honed through decades of work in both fine art and corporate settings. Her images have been featured in magazines and calendars. Sarah Anderson has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the City University of New York at Hunter College School of Social Work. Her travels have inspired her love of photography especially of flora and fauna which she displays in the current show at Spectrum
Dianne Roberts returns to Spectrum. She captures fleeting moments in nature, with a special sensitivity to changing light and form. Her work has won multiple awards including national recognition from the National Wildlife Federation. David Zeleznik is an underwater and nature photographer who shares rarely seen perspectives from beneath the surface. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions and includes dynamic lighting techniques developed through his dive training. Gary Connolly brings a seasoned photographer’s eye to seascapes, nature and action photography, and solar phenomena. His recent eclipse photo is a standout, and his wide-ranging technical experience is backed by FAA drone certification and decades of practice.
George Fellner, an architect and photographer, also returns; he explores both natural forms and macro imagery in his fine art. His Imaginary Realms series focuses on stones and crystals, drawing influence from Impressionism, Surrealism, and science. John Murray captures landscapes, florals and city scenes in both color and black and white, using photography to highlight the beauty in everyday life. His work spans more than 50 years and includes darkroom mastery and national recognition. And Robert Thomas brings an engineer’s perspective to photography, merging precise digital techniques with a creative eye. His works explore reflections, textures, and landscapes shaped by decades of global travel. Emerson Frost also returns to Spectrum, a poet and author, she shows a unique photograph of a heart created by moss in Nature Up Close.
Visitors will also find an exciting collection of fine artisans’ works, including handmade jewelry, glass, wood, pottery, textiles, and home décor available at the Spectrum Artisans Store. These include Andy Teran who presents driftwood sculptures of whales and loons that reflect his deep-rooted connection to carpentry and nature. Barbara Hernandez-Froehlich brings her one-of-a-kind seashell art and glass panels to the show. Her whimsical creations blend mixed media with found natural elements. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss display their polymer clay jewelry with vibrant colors, intricate textures and whimsical designs.
Elaine Sych creates colorful fiber toys, bags, stylish sunhats and garments, inspired by her garden and lifelong love of fabric, yarn, and sewing. Gloria Nilsson brings floral silk paintings to the gallery show and artisan-crafted jewelry and original notecards to the Artisans Store. She teaches at Spectrum Gallery and other community venues, and her work is known for its creativity and elegance. Justin Gerace is a ceramic artist and art educator whose handmade pottery explores pattern, negative space, and layered slip techniques. Based in Southington, Connecticut, he has exhibited nationally and been featured by Ceramics Monthly and NBC’s Today Show.
Linda Saucier is a jeweler who designs elegant pieces using materials ranging from platinum to fossilized shark teeth. She holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon and Cranbrook and has exhibited internationally. Lynn Webber transforms glass into joyful garden sculptures, including bird baths, feeders, and flowers that bring year-round color and character to outdoor spaces. Maria Campbell works in ceramics, mosaic, pastel, and jewelry, creating varied and exploratory pieces that reflect a curiosity-driven approach to craft and design.
Maryann Flick creates stained glass pieces that explore how light transforms color and design. A former scientist, she blends art and observation to craft decorative works that glow with organic beauty. Patti Rasie, new to Spectrum, crochets soft sculptures and colorful home décor with humor and heart. Inspired by her children and crafted with care, her imaginative works bring smiles and warmth.
Sandra Huber is a lampwork bead maker whose vibrant glasswork is inspired by nature and fine craftsmanship. Her home studio in Essex, CT, is the foundation for her intricate and colorful designs. Sherie Gage creates enamel jewelry and porcelain ceramics. With a background in sculpture and teaching, she crafts her jewelry and functional art pieces inspired by nature and movement. Michele Kleiman is a bead weaving and embroidery artisan whose work reflects a deep love of texture, nature, and found materials. Originally from lower Manhattan, she has explored a range of tactile art forms—from ceramics and woodworking to collage and metalwork—before devoting herself to beadwork over the past 15 years. And fine artisan Ceil Rossi returns with beautifully crafted artisanal works made from gourds.
Spectrum Art Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6 pm) and Sunday (12-5 pm). For more information about exhibits, workshops, and Fashion Summer Camps, call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US.
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