Play, Pastimes & Recreation – Spectrum Art Gallery Exhibit Opens July 26

Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation with an Open Reception, Friday, July 26 from 6:30 to 9pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and during the Open House Weekend, Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 6pm, and Sunday, July 28 from 1 to 5pm. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.

It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme. 

Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.

Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments.  Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing.  He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature. 

Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool.  Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.

Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum.  Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.

Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery.  Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.

New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick. 

Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.

Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver. 

A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone. 

Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.

Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211

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