S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
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FOCUS ON FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT ooking for a city escape, or maybe a quick coun-
try getaway? Want to breathe salt air and take in
a scenic coastline? Only forty miles from
Manhattan, you can enjoy all three experiences in south-
western Connecticut’s Fairfield County. Two dozen communities in this sophisticated, diverse corner of the
Nutmeg State are rich in a vibrant arts and culture scene.
Connecticut’s most populated city, Bridgeport, prom-
ises urban adventure, as revitalization over the past two decades has breathed new life into the downtown. The cultural transformation of Park City—the nickname
derives from Bridgeport’s many open spaces—included the conversion of what once was New England’s
largest department store into Read’s Artspace, a live/
work development for artists with a 4,000 square foot public gallery space on the ground floor.
Read’s Ground Floor Gallery is among the partici-
pating galleries and three theaters in the 4th Annual
Photos: Michele Frentrop
Bridgeport Art Trail happening over Veteran’s Day
weekend. Each year an average of 2,000 Art Trail visitors turn out to meet the city’s artists, enjoy music, and purchase art. New this year is a guided bus tour on Satur-
day morning that starts downtown at City Lights Gallery
at 34 Markle Court, a block from the Barnum Museum,
and then heads to the American Fabrics Building of
Design, Neighborhood Studios, Gallery 305k, Read's
Ground Floor Gallery and studios, and The Nest. Other
weekend diversions include a bicycle tour and a limited number of free Greater Bridgeport Transit bus passes.
Also participating in the Art Trail is the Housatonic
Museum of Art at Housatonic Community College. The generosity of artists and collectors has led to this world class museum which has Rodin, Renoir, Christo and
Jeanne-Claude, Warhol, Picasso, Mirò, and Chagall as
MONOTHON2012
Discover the Bridgeport Art Trail Tour Open Studios Veteran’s Day Weekend, Thursday-Sunday 11/8-11, 2012
IS COMING!
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LIVE AUCTION AND PART Y
November 17, 6 –9 pm Original works by Wolf Kahn, Emily Mason, Bryan Nash Gill, James Prosek, Julio Valdez and other prominent artists Guy Bennett, Auctioneer
Online Auction Preview at contemprints.org
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5 4 6
Venues Include: 1 American Fabrics Arts 2 305 Knowlton Street 3 Read’s Ground Floor Gallery 4 City Lights Gallery 5 The Nest 6 Barnum Museum For full listing of participating venues, schedule and bus tours:
299 West Ave | Norwalk CT | 203 t 899 t7999 www.contemprints.org
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ART NEW ENGLAND
November/December 2012
www.bridgeport-art-trail.org (203)334-7748