Winter! Its Beauty and Secrets
Spectrum Gallery’s Holiday Show Opens November 17
Blizzard, limited edition photograph by Paul Ramsey
Spectrum Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents its holiday show: Winter! Its Beauty and Secrets, November 17 through January 14. With original artwork that uniquely features views of winter – both its beauty and challenges – the show explores how nature survives and even thrives in the harshest of seasons. The eight-week show, located at 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, Connecticut includes an Open Reception on Friday, November 17 from 6:30-9pm with food, wine, and the entertainment of harpist Kathy King who plays a 34-string acoustic lever harp, both as a solo instrument and in combination with her voice.
In addition to being a holiday gift destination, Spectrum Gallery comes alive this season with a special event and a White Holiday Tree, adorned with original ornaments crafted by fine local artisans. On Friday, December 8 (6:30-9pm) Spectrum hosts Holiday Body Painting and Ornament Making with performance artist Ana Ughetti. Sip wine, enjoy desserts, and take in the visual spectacle as Ughetti transforms a model into a Winter Nymph combining techniques of body paint and makeup art. While at Spectrum that evening, create a fun ornament from upcycled wine corks– a great holiday ornament gift for wine lovers! Holiday Body Painting is $5 for the general public, while children, Members and Donors of the Arts Center Killingworth (parent organization of Spectrum Gallery) are free.
“So many of us dread winter as if life stops, but that is far from the truth.” says Barbara Nair, Director of Spectrum Gallery. “Nature and people not only survive but thrive during this season where we depend on the company of others even more than other times of the year. Why we even plan for the coming year! So with this in mind, we decided at Spectrum to explore these ideas. And to my pleasant surprise winter’s forms, shapes and palette also inspired the artists in Spectrum’s Holiday show.”
Survivor, digital photographic print, 15×20 by Elizabeth Burnell
Artists presenting at Spectrum include Anne Coffey who creates stark landscapes with collage; Suzanne Kirschner whose abstract piece explores the whites of snow; Eugenie Diserio who makes kinetic, abstract paintings with vibrant and muted color juxtapositions, brushstrokes, markings, and calligraphy; and abstract painter Jay Petrow whose background as a landscape designer influences his paintings. Other artists presenting at Spectrum include Kathleen DeMeo, a printmaker, painter and mixed-media installation artist whose subjects are imaginative landscapes and abstractions; artist Kelly Taylor working with acrylics, gels, collage, and photo transfers to create her abstract mixed media pieces; painter Jonathan Wilner who brings to his work his mysterious interpretation of the winter season and Teri Glassman gives us a glimpse of the ephemeral Northern Lights. New to Connecticut is New York artist James Pizzimenti who paints and sculpts his 3D winter scenes onto wood panels. Returning to Spectrum are printmakers, Sandra Mayo, with her take on winter flowers and Carol Dunn’s fine etchings which feature the beauty of the winter New England landscape. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas returns showcasing the stark beauty of the trees of winter while Marsha Borden, an installation artist, warms us with her colorful interpretation of the holiday season.
Photographers in the Winter Holiday Show include Elizabeth Burnell, Maryann Flick, Normand Charlette, Paul Ramsey, Dianne Roberts, Robert Thomas, Elin Dolle, Stephen Martin as well as the stunning Gold Box illuminated letters of artist Maris Fiondella.
Fiber artists are Diane Cadrain, creating winterscapes with roving wool and chenille sticks, and felter Holly Bollier whose felted cards are one-of-a-kind as are her unique take on the vase. Knitters include Laura Lyons, Isabelle Lee’s variety of handbags, Sylvia Loomis’ scarflets, Linda Lundqvist’s stylish hats and Christine Rook’s charming clothes for children. Many Spectrum potters, glass artisans, wood artisans and jewelers are refreshing with holiday pieces including the new jewelry designs of Emily Van DerMaelen and Annika McKenna and the exotic wood mirrors of furniture designer Philip Bird.
Spectrum Gallery and Store holiday hours are Wednesday-Saturday (Noon-6pm); and Sunday (Noon-5pm). Beginning Saturday, December 9 through December 23rd, Spectrum will be open Monday-Saturday (Noon-6pm); Sunday (12-5pm). Spectrum is closed Christmas Eve.
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. For more information call Spectrum (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org; call the Arts Center (860) 663-5593.