The Arts Paper | May 2017

artists next door 4

long wharf education dept. 6

modern quilting 9

voynich symphony 10

The Arts Paper a free publication of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven • newhavenarts.org

May 2017

Dvorak, Sibelius & Lash May 4 | 7:30pm | Woolsey Hall

Featuring Guest Violinst Chad Hoopes & the World Premiere of the Voynich Symphony

203.865.0831 x20 | NewHavenSymphony.org

The Arts Paper may 2017

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Artists Next Door Hank Hoffman Interviews Printmaker Oi Fortin

staff

board of directors

Daniel Fitzmaurice executive director

Eileen O’Donnell president Rick Wies vice president Daisy Abreu second vice president

Debbie Hesse director of artistic services & programs Megan Manton director of development Winter Marshall executive administrative assistant Amanda May Aruani editor, the arts paper design consultant Jennifer Gelband communications manager

Ken Spitzbard treasurer Wojtek Borowski secretary

directors Susan Cahan Robert B. Dannies Jr. James Gregg Todd Jokl Mark Kaduboski Jocelyn Maminta Josh Mamis Greg Marazita Rachel Mele Elizabeth Meyer-Gadon Frank Mitchell John Pancoast Mark Potocsny David Silverstone Dexter Singleton Richard S. Stahl, MD

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Long Wharf Theatre Lucile Bruce Writes About the Local Theatre’s Education Dept.

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Quilting Goes Modern Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill Talks of “The Movement” and Her New Business

The Arts Paper is made possible with support from AVANGRID / United Illuminating / Southern Connecticut Gas

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Voynich Symphony The NHSO Premieres Hannah Lash’s Symphony May 4

The Arts Council is pleased to recognize the generous contributions of our business, corporate and institutional members. executive champions Yale University

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven promotes, advocates, and fosters opportunities for artists, arts organizations, and audiences. Because the arts matter.

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senior patrons Knights of Columbus L. Suzio York Hill Companies Marcum Odonnell Company Webster Bank Wiggin and Dana corporate partners Alexion Pharmaceuticals AT&T Firehouse 12 Fusco Management Company Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven Yale-New Haven Hospital business patrons Albertus Magnus College Gateway Community College Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale Newman Architects Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

honorary members Frances T. “Bitsie” Clark Cheever Tyler

business members Access Audio-Visual Systems Duble & O’Hearn, Inc. Tobi Travel Ticker foundations and government agencies AVANGRID The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven DECD/CT Office of the Arts The Ethel & Abe Lapides Foundation Josef and Anni Albers Foundation First Niagara Foundation NewAlliance Foundation Pfizer The Wells Fargo Foundation The Werth Family Foundation media partners New Haven Independent WPKN

In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, The Arts Council now prints The Arts Paper on more environmentally friendly paper and using soy inks. Please read and recycle.

Dvorak, Sibelius & Lash May 4 | 7:30pm | Woolsey Hall Featuring Guest Violinst Chad Hoopes & the World Premiere of the Voynich Symphony 203.865.0831 x20 | NewHavenSymphony.org 2 • newhavenarts.org

may 2017 •

The Arts Paper may 2017

Letter from the Editor

On the Cover

Looking at the refers on page 2, its obvious that May became something of an accidental women’s issue. I actually love that this happened naturally. Women are doing great things—in the arts and everywhere else!

A great example of this is Hannah Lash. She has been the composer-in-residence at the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for the last two years. Lash’s efforts culminate with the world premiere of her four-movement Voynich Symphony, which will be performed on May 4. The name comes from the Voynich manuscript, which is housed at the Beinecke. It’s a 15th century illustrated book that no one can decipher. I love the mystery surrounding the manuscript. I knew I had to write about it as soon as I learned about it.

Read my Q&A with Lash on pages 10 & 11.

Lucile Bruce wrote about all the good that the Long Wharf Theatre’s Education Department does for the youth in our community on page 6.

Hank Hoffman profiled printmaker Oi Fortin, who began making monotypes as a young mother just to get out of the house (something I identify with wholly) and now creates works full time out of her Erector Square studio. (pg. 4) I spoke with several Westville personalities about what they’re looking forward to about this year’s 20th anniversary ArtWalk on May 12 & 13. (pg. 8) Gemma Matthewson, one of the organizers of the Poetry Institute at the Institute Library, was kind enough to take down a few poems from their last open mic night, which is held the third Thursday of the month, year round. Fragments of these poems adorn page 5 and are meant to let

In the Next Issue …

you know about the series (if you don’t already) and to give you pause. We all need more poetry in our lives.

I also wrote about Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill, a self-identifying “maker” and Arts Council member. She has taken her graphic design esthetic and applied it to her new love— quilting. Learn about Cifaldi-Morrill and the modern quilting movement on page 9.

Read about all the Arts Council programs for the month of May on page 18. Regular readers know that this information is usually found on the back page, but a more important issue has arisen. The back page is now occupied by our campaign to save the National Endowment for the Arts. The endangered federal funding means so much to us and our community. NEA funding supports 4.13 million jobs nationwide using only around 0.004 percent of the federal budget. Connecticut alone receives roughly $1.4 million dollars yearly. Without these funds, our arts community will undoubtedly suffer. We implore you to reach out to your representatives to voice your concern about the impending loss of the NEA.

June is next, so of course we’ll be covering what to do and see at the 2017 International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Photo by Judy Sirota Rosenthal.

Sincerely,

Correction The photograph of Tom Duffy on page 8 of the March issue of The Arts Paper should have been credited to Michael Marsland.

Amanda May Aruani Editor, The Arts Paper

Explore Britain in the World Free and open to the public 1 877 BRIT ART | britishart.yale.edu Long Gallery, fourth floor, Yale Center for British Art, photograph by Richard Caspole

• may 2017

A page from the Voynich Manuscript. The New Haven Symphony Orchestra premieres the Voynich Symphony by composerin-residence Hannah Lash this month. Read about it on pages 10 & 11. Image courtesy of the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Lumia

Thomas Wilfred and the Art of Light Through July 23, 2017

YA L E U N I V E R S I T Y A R T GA L L E RY Free and open to the public | artgallery.yale.edu 1111 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut | 203.432.0600 @yaleartgallery Thomas Wilfred, Lumia Suite, Op. 158 (detail), 1963–64. Projectors, reflector unit, electrical and lighting elements, and a projection screen. Museum of Modern Art, New York, Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund, 582.1964

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The Arts Paper may 2017

artists next door

One of a Kind

printmaker oi fortin revels in the surprises of monotypes

hank hoffman

I

t was serendipity that led Oi Fortin to the creation of monotype prints. And it is serendipity—the delightful unpredictability of the medium—that keeps her invested 16 years later.

An award-winning printmaker, Fortin is partial to abstract imagery. Her monotypes are densely layered with evocative color choices, eye-catching forms and rich textures.

“I love the element of surprise in making monotypes, the forever new way of mark making, the way of introducing forms and textures,” said Fortin in an interview at her Erector Square studio. She recently returned to work full-time in-studio after 8 months of cancer treatments and is recovering well.

Monotypes are singular prints—hence the name—made by painting or drawing with ink on Plexiglas plates. Printmaking paper is overlaid on the plate, and then plate and paper are run through a press together. A print could be pulled from one pass through the press or built up through multiple layers of imagery passing through the press.

Fortin’s prints may involve 15 or more press passes. With each, she has to wait for the ink to dry before proceeding to the next. Depending on the climate of her studio, one print could take 6 weeks or 6 months to complete.

Chance and circumstance conspired to introduce Fortin to monotypes. A year and a half after her first child was born, when Fortin was a stay-at-home mother, a friend suggested she take an art class as stimulation. Checking around, Fortin found Creative Arts Workshop.

As it turned out the introductory printmaking class—covering the range of approaches— best fit her schedule. Still nursing, Fortin was concerned about working with processes like lithograph and etchings that involved toxic chemicals. Instructor Maura Galante suggested she could stick with monotypes. Fortin “completely got hooked on monotypes.”

Five years later, prodded by Kate Parenteau at Artspace, Fortin participated in her first City-Wide Open Studios at the Pirelli building.

She sold all her prints—a powerful validation.

“What I love about abstract art is the more you look at it, the more layers and density and stories that’s behind it,” said Fortin. She described her earlier work as “very serene” without as many layers of information. These days, “the more layers I can get down, the better.”

Virgen Gorda by Oi Forin. Monotype, 12”x12”. Image courtesy of the artist

Her process is intuitive and reactive. She doesn’t pre-plan her prints; the joy—and Fortin can’t resist saying repeatedly how much fun she has—is in the flow of the work.

Although her work is abstract, Fortin takes real world experiences for inspiration. As we conversed in her studio, there was a constant background gurgle of water draining from melting snow on the roof. Fortin used the sound to describe how she works.

“One day I come in and start doing work and the water’s running and I’m thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to create an image of rain coming down?’” she explained. “That’s how the creative juice gets running. I hear the water, the sun is shining, and how do I put all that together and what color would work with that?”

Color is foremost. Fortin said she probably spends more time creating a palette she is satisfied with than creating shapes and forms to ink. “If the color isn’t right, it doesn’t flow,” she said.

In La Ramblas, a recent work that is part of a series inspired by time she has spent in Spain, Fortin employed five different variations of blue. “These colors of blue come from different aspects of Spain—for its water, sky,

people, culture, and music,” Fortin explained.

Fortin uses a variety of techniques to attain the diverse textures in her work. She uses ghost prints—printing the residue of ink left on a plate after an initial pass. She inks different varieties of mesh. And she plays with manipulating the viscosity of ink in myriad ways.

One method she uses is to ink the plate, dip it into a water bath and let it dry. Preparing to print, she wets the paper before putting it and the plate through the press. The result is faint water marks.

“I love the way the water manipulates the ink on the plate,” Fortin said. “What’s even more fun is that when you do the actual printing of it, it’s nothing like what you see on the plate. You think you’re going to get this image on your plate. Then you put it through the printing press and it comes out completely different.”

Other methods of manipulating the ink include thinning it with oil, turpentine or alcohol. Stippling the inked plate with salt, sugar or rice can also produce interesting effects.

Fortin enjoys playing with geometric forms—trapezoids, ovals—that evoke a very Modernist feel. Recently, she has introduced figurative shapes into some of her works,

inspired by a commission from the Elm City Dance Collective.

“I got an idea that I wanted to have these figures in my work. It’s almost like a challenging thing because I don’t actually like to put figures into things,” Fortin recalled. “At the same time, I’m daring myself to see how that would go.”

Like many artists, Fortin finds that the toughest choice is deciding when the work is done. “I consider myself sort of this crazy monotype artist who deals with layers,” she said. A piece is finished when “there is no other layer I can add to improve the way I want to tell the story from that piece.”

Fortin doesn’t come to her studio with any agenda beyond working. “I don’t have any notion of what size piece, how many pieces, what shape I’m going to make,” she said. “It is the actual doing of the art that just flows. It’s very serendipitous.” n Fortin’s next solo exhibition runs from June 2-30 at the Artists Live Gallery at 23 Royce Circle, Mansfield Storrs with an artist talk at 5 p.m. and a reception from 6-8 p.m. on June 30.

For more about Fortin, visit oifortin.com.

Oi Fortin. Photo by Auguste Fortin VI.

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The Arts Paper may 2017

Fragments from the Poetry Institute why are you so green ?

-Jason Ramos

I collect the slaughter of petals & dry the sea growling in the corner of the earth -Derek Piotr

it all floats away into the sky -Liam Pezzano

She brought eggs and chickens and wine to sick neighborswhile telling her husband the chickens ate their own eggs and were then run over in the lane and the wine jug had sprung a leakHer stories were riddled with spousal legerdemain.

-Gemma Mathewson

a breath could not have said more You say, fight them in the streets.

I say, my street is quiet, except an occasional jogger.

You say, Jogger?

I say, Occasional.

We look and agree not to fight the joggers, occasional, and I say again, Whom?

-Mark McGuire Schwartz

-Karl Traichel

Stalactites of architecture deadly sharp, dripping cold -Susan Mitchell

Poetry Institute Poetry Series / Open Mic Institute Library, 847 Chapel St., New Haven Next event: May 18, 7 p.m.

(Third Thursday of the month, year round.)

Free. Refreshements provided. (Open Mic participants invited to bring something to share).

Outstanding featured readers. institutelibrary.org

Photography capturing essence and spirit

Judy Sirota Rosenthal info@sirotarosenthal.com sirotarosenthalart.com sirotarosenthal.com families ~ events ~ education ~ documentary

• may 2017

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The Arts Paper may 2017

Creativity, Empathy, Teamwork long wharf theatre’s education vision lucile bruce

M

adelyn Ardito’s office at Long Wharf Theatre doesn’t have any windows, but her bright smile makes up for the missing sunlight. As the newly minted Director of Education, Ardito has big plans for Long Wharf, one of the country’s most important regional theaters and a vibrant artistic hub in New Haven. For her, success isn’t measured in ticket sales or good reviews but instead, by the number of young lives she and her colleagues touch with theater.

That number: 6,000 and counting this year, reached through a wide array of programs including workshops, studio classes, summer camps, performance opportunities, and the signature Student Theatre Series, which draws hundreds of students through the doors to experience live theater in special school-day matinees.

Early in Ardito’s tenure, she and her education team came up with three core values to anchor every aspect of their work: creativity, empathy, and teamwork. Creativity, making something from nothing, includes multiple intelligences and learning styles.

Empathy is the ability to look at things from a different perspective and really hear what others are trying to express. Teamwork is the foundation of all theater, says Ardito; it includes being “humble and flexible.”

Of course, these aren’t just theater skills; they’re life skills. “We’re interested in using theater as a tool to build these skills in people of all ages, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities,” Ardito explained. “We focus on process over product.”

Working with schools is the largest piece of the Education Department’s portfolio, and much of that effort centers on the Student Theatre Series. Each year, Long Wharf Theatre (LWT) designates 3 of its regular season productions for the series: in 201617, Endgame by Samuel Beckett, Napoli, Brooklyn by Meghan Kennedy, and Smart People by Lydia R. Diamond.

For each play, the Education Department creates information packets with numerous tools for teachers to use in their classrooms. “We give them dramaturgical information about the world of the play, the vocabulary of the play,” Ardito said, who, as a former teacher at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School in New Haven, is very familiar with the challenges and opportunities teachers face. “We might include articles that relate to the themes of the play, interviews with the playwright or the director, or imagery, activities, and discussion questions you can use to explore the play.”

Guides offer teachers a treasure trove of “curriculum connections”—this year, for example, Theatre of the Absurd, Existentialism, Vaudeville, and philosophy (Endgame); Italian language and culture, immigration, family studies, healthful relationships, sexual politics (Napoli, Brooklyn); racial and gender politics, current events, and sociology (Smart People).

Also for use in classrooms, Long Wharf

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Students bow after performing at Long Wharf Theatre’s Moments & Minutes, the annual spoken word and visual art festival. Photo by Kimberly Shepherd.

collaborates with a video production company to create behind-the-scenes documentaries. These 25-minute “video study guides” are filmed throughout each play’s production process, from the cast’s first meet-and-greet to the final dress rehearsal. Themes include unpacking the script, building the show, and “beyond the play,” an exploration of the feelings and questions audiences may be left with at the end. Practical as well as philosophical, the videos include footage from the shops where sets and costumes are designed and built and interviews with actors, directors, designers, and other people integral to the process.

“The interviews show students what each person’s role is and how they contributed that that production,” Ardito said.

“It’s great for young theater artists to think about all the different possible careers they could go into, and to consider the amount of time and effort it takes to make a production happen.”

For teachers, Long Wharf’s popular “Ed Lab” offers three Saturdays of free, structured professional development. At the Ed Lab, K-12 teachers explore new ideas and techniques and connect with fellow teachers, LWT Education Department professionals, and visiting artists. Participating teachers receive free tickets for the students to see plays in the Student Theatre Series.

LWT educators show up in schools, too.

Ardito, Education Program Manager Eliza Orleans, and three part-time teaching artists are busy throughout the year leading residencies in classrooms. They teach in

after-school programs and are available for teaching and consultation around special projects. Linking with the Student Theatre Series, they visit classrooms before and after students see plays at LWT. They use their own curriculum to “activate” the themes in the plays, getting students on their feet to explore the inner workings of the play.

“Our student matinee performances are the best,” Ardito said. “You can feel the energy. Actors love them because student audiences are so honest with their responses. They’re not holding back, like adult audiences do. If they’re angry, you’re going to know it. If they’re excited, you’re going to know it.”

This year, at a performance of Napoli, Brooklyn, a packed house of students rose to their feet and cheered loudly when a young woman character stood up to her abusive father.

“We see that in a lot of our shows,” Ardito said. “Students are immediately invested in the characters. They’re rooting for them or rooting against them. And that’s great to see, because they’re going to carry the torch after we do.”

LWT’s managing director Josh Borenstein recognizes that theaters like Long Wharf make an important contribution to the field by building the artists, audience members, and arts advocates of tomorrow.

“In addition to the impact that arts education has on critical ‘soft skills’ like creative problem solving and public speaking,” Borenstein said, “Our program helps foster an appreciation and understanding of theatre as an art form. My hope is that

we are giving young people the skills to be tomorrow’s innovators, and to love the art form as audience members.”

LWT recently joined other regional theaters from across the country to participate in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, a renowned project founded by director Kenny Leon, whose dear friend, the playwright August Wilson, wrote many extraordinary monologues during his prolific career. Wilson died in 2005, and the monologue competition is keeping his work alive for the next generation of American actors. As competition participants, high school students learn about August Wilson’s works and study how to perform a monologue.

Currently in its “shadow year,” LWT’s Education Department is organizing a mock competition in New Haven in partnership with Co-op High School. Next year, the real thing: with Long Wharf as its regional theater partner, New Haven will send two students to the 2018 national competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City.

And in May, LWT’s third annual Moments & Minutes Festival will bring students from across Connecticut to perform their own original pieces on the Long Wharf stage. The Education Department received more than 80 submissions for this increasingly popular spoken word and visual arts event, organized this year around the question “What do you wish for?”

Ardito and her team will be busy this summer with expanded day camps for middle and high school students, who will adapt children’s stories into performance

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The Arts Paper may 2017

for live audiences. Program innovations include a Summer Writing Institute and an evening improvisation class that extends the learning day for interested campers.

For young people, Ardito said, theater is a powerful tool for figuring out who you are. “My focus has always been this idea of really understanding your identity as a person and an artist,” she said. “If you can do that, you will be successful because you’ll be doing work that you love. We try to focus on that using writing prompts, discussions, physical activities, and feedback sessions. We find creative ways to uncover students’ assets and skills.”

For students, the process is not always easy or comfortable, and that’s a good thing. “We try to help students understand the value of struggling,” Ardito said. “It’s important for them to see each step they’re taking and why they are important to the process. If they back away from the process, it’s going to hold everyone else back too. They are important, and we need everyone there.”

What’s next for the LWT Education Department? Ardito hopes to redevelop the Theatre for Young Audiences series to create opportunities for families to experience theater together. She’s been traveling a lot, visiting other programs to research what is happening in the field. She hopes to foster the creation of new professional productions that speak directly to young people about the issues and concerns in

Teachers participate in a day long workshop with Theatre of The Oppressed NYC for the final Educator’s Laboratory of the year. Photo by Heaven Anderson.

their lives—“those same questions of life and death, relationships with family members and society,” she said, “but done in a way that’s palatable for young people and doesn’t speak down to them.”

Toward the end of our conversation, Ardito’s phone rings. It’s an adult calling. He’s asking for classes. She takes notes. Minutes later she hangs up the phone. There’s that smile again.

Grown-ups: yet another exciting challenge for the LWT education team? She doesn’t say no.

After all, this is theater—anything’s possible. n

Join The Arts Council!

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven is dedicated to enhancing, developing, and promoting opportunities for artists, arts organizations, and audiences throughout the Greater New Haven area. Join us today! newhavenarts.org/membership The Arts Paper Read our feature articles and download the latest edition. issuu.com/artscouncil9 #ARTNHV Blog The Arts Council’s blog, which covers all things art in Greater New Haven. artNHV.com Arts Council on Facebook Get the inside scoop on what’s happening in the arts now! facebook.com/artscouncilofgreaternewhaven Creative Directory Looking for something? Find local creative businesses and artists with our comprehensive arts-related directory.

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The Arts Paper may 2017

Looking Forward to ArtWalk (20)17 The Westville Village ArtWalk is a free, annual, community-based arts festival that spans three blocks in the historic Westville Village and Edgewood Park in New Haven every Mother’s Day weekend—this year Friday (May 12) and Saturday (May 13). For this, it’s 20th anniversary year, the two-day ArtWalk will feature live music, gallery exhibitions, pop up art shows, interactive art-making for kids and adults, theater performances, walking tours, open studios in more than 25 artist spaces in the village, and a 30+ vendor artist and artisan market. Visit Westvillect.org for updates and full details.

Photo courtesy of Ilovenewhaven.org.

“I am personally most looking forward to seeing all the people involved in ArtWalk’s success over the years, coming together, to celebrate 20 years of art in Westville. The art and artists on display are always the highlight of the event.”

–Noe Jimenez, Westville Village Renissance Association’s eommunications and arts coordinator Photo by David Sepulveda.

“ArtWalk is the single most important event of the year in Westville. It’s not just an event, it’s our culture.”

-Travis Carbonella, Westville videographer

Photo by David Sepulveda.

Photo courtesy of the Westville Village Renissance Association.

“What I look forward to about this year’s Artwalk is showing some of my art—a series of mobiles created within the last few months, which will be exhibited at West River Arts in Westville. The kinetic pieces are as therapeutic to make as they are to watch. It’s a bit of a departure for me. I usually join Westville artists as part of a group endeavor making a singular work as part of an auction fundraiser for Westville Village Renaissance Alliance. I also hope to engage the festival from a participant’s perspective this year, rather than as a reporter, preoccupied with telling the overall story.

As always, it’s thrilling to watch the Westville community come together in a singular, unified effort to welcome visitors to our thriving arts district.”

-David Sepulveda, Westville artist & writer

“Artwalk is the event that is officially announces the beginning of Springtime in Westville. It is wonderful to see the streets alive and to get so much foot traffic in and out of the shops on Whalley Ave. I love having the opportunity to showcase my clothing design studio and to talk to people about what I do as an artist as well as what services our business provides. Many people think we only make clothing for women, but we do so much more. It’s a great time to highlight artistry in its many forms.”

-Neville Wisdom, New Haven fashion designer Photo by David Sepulveda.

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The Arts Paper may 2017

arts everywhere

Quilting Goes Modern amanda may aruani images courtesy of the artist Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill is not a grandma. In fact, she is barely 40, and yet she quilts. And she is not alone.

Since 2002, a movement has been brewing on social media. In 2009, it became official when The Modern Quilt Guild was established in Los Angeles. The guild now has more than 10,000 members and 150 local guilds worldwide.

The Modern Quilt Guild also hosts Quiltcon, an annual conference for quilt enthusiasts. Cifaldi-Morrill had three quilts juried into the quilt show at the conference this year (Cabana, Big Island Blossom, and Back Wall), which were selected out of a pool of more than 1,500. It is the third time her quilts have been chosen, the first time in 2015, when one of her quilts, What’s the Frequency, Love? took first prize in her category.

“I was super new,” Cifaldi-Morrill told The Arts Paper of her first Quiltcon experience. “That was one of series of events that happened to me that I decided to pursue making quilting a business.”

Today the Woodbridge native runs Whole Circle Studio, designing custom modern quilts and patterns. And even though she only began quilting 4 years ago, she has gotten so fully immersed in the culture that she teaches workshops in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Cifaldi-Morrill came to quilting through graphic design, which makes perfect sense when you see her quilts. She was always interested in quilting, and would occasionally flip thorough quilting books for inspiration for her graphic design business. One day she bought a book by Bridgeport author Denyse Schmidt, who has been featured by Martha Stewart and is considered one of the pioneers of the modern quilting movement. The rest, as they say, is history.

She started by making quilts with other people’s patterns, and quickly began creating her own designs in her sketchbook or with Adobe Illustrator.

She attended workshops, watched YouTube tutorials, and joined the local modern quilting guild out of Weston.

“I call myself a ‘maker’ because I feel it encapsulates everything,” she said. “I’m a designer, an artist, and a quilter, so ‘maker’ encapsulates all of that for me personally. When I call myself a quilter, people have preconceived ideas sometimes.”

At this year’s Quiltcon, which took place in February in Savannah, GA, Cifaldi-Morrill unveiled her first commissioned quilt. The Italian thread company Aurifil celebrated its 10th anniversary year with the commission that included all of their 270 thread colors.

Last year Cifaldi-Morrill was awarded the Craftsy Quilt Designer Fellowship, which helped Whole Cir-

Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill

• may 2017

cle Studio get pushed to the next level.

“The idea behind the fellowship was that a lot of people were self-publishing and Craftsy [a crafting website] wanted to give them a boost,” she said.

“The main part of the prize was that they rented me a booth at the International Quilt Market, which is industry only.”

There, she was able to meet other quilt companies, book publishers, fabric companies, etc. She was also given consulting hours with Craftsy’s branding developers and a stipend.

Although the designs of modern quilters are different, the techniques are the same as traditional quilting, and even though there are many automated machines on the market, Cifaldi-Morrill does it all by hand with a Juki machine, which she calls a “pretty basic, semi-industrial machine with a wide area to push a quilt through.”

Her quilts range from 18 inches square to king size at 90 by 90 inches. She sells the quilts for anywhere between $500 and $4,500, depending on how long they took to make. She also sells some of the patterns direct to consumers through her website, wholecirclestudio.com, for $10-$12. She has also licensed her patterns to magazines, sold them wholesale to shops, and has been picked up by five distributors. And it’s not hard to see why. Her designs are bold, striking, and colorful.

In the quilts in her Love series, including the award-winning What’s the Frequency, Love?, she was inspired by frequency waves. The series features quilts that are an abstract interpretation of what the word love might look like as a frequency wave.

In another, elongated, rounded stripes cut diagonal across the pattern in blues and greens. It’s not hard to imagine, in this Connecticut climate, what inspired April Showers.

“I pretty much get my inspiration from everyday life,” she said.

Other quilts include Buzz, which she designed looking out the window (her husband is a backyard beekeeper), and Aperture, which was inspired by her friend, a photographer.

When she spoke with The Arts Paper, she was playing with a new quilt.

“I have some friends that are getting married in the summer, so I have been thinking a lot about ‘Double Wedding Ring Block,’ which is a traditional pattern that a lot of modern quilters have been playing with,” Cifaldi-Morrill said.

“Sometimes [my designs] start with a pattern, and then the quilt evolves. Other times the pieces just come together. Sometimes I design and document first and other times I just dig into fabric,” she said.

Coming from an already creative field (graphic design), some might wonder why she does it.

“I really love it. It’s a lot of fun,” she said of quilting.

“I think there are a few reasons. Traditionally, as a graphic designer, you’re always behind the computer.

I like the mix of [hand] drawing and designing on the computer. It’s nice to make something tangible. …

Some of my quilts are displayed on walls some are used. I like that someone can wrap themselves in it.

“It’s just a different type of design,” she said. “I find it is really addictive. No one in my family quilted, but they can all relate to the quilt. Everyone knows what it is and has a story about a quilt and that part is really interesting to me as well.” n For more information about Cifaldi-Morrill, visit wholecirclestudio.com. For more information about the modern quilting movement, visit themodernquiltguild.com and quiltcon.com.

Back Wall

Big Island Blossom

Cabana

newhavenarts.org • 9

The Arts Paper may 2017

An Exploration of Ineffability

amanda may aruani images courtesy of the beinecke rare book & manuscript library

D

eep in the stacks of the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library lies an unassuming tome. It is 215 parchment pages thick, with a browned, rumpled, unmarked, and unassuming cover. The Voynich Manuscript, or MS 408 as it is called in the glowing marble library, has a listed abstract identifying it as a “scientific or magical text in an unidentified language.”

The illustrated book features naked women half-submerged in pools connected by branch-like tubes, intricate astrological charts, and invented plants with ringed, complex root systems and fantastical blooms.

There are also pages and pages of text.

Curling brown letters seemingly explain these inexplicable things. But no one can read it. The Voynich Manuscript has been beguiling scholars and cryptographers

10 • newhavenarts.org

alike since the book was made in the 15th century. Some call the script voynichese and spend their careers trying to “crack” the language.

And now, in New Haven, the manuscript is coming up again in conversation because it has served as a jumping-off point for New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) composer-in-residence Hannah Lash’s original symphony, which premieres in its entirety on May 4. It is the culmination of a two-year creative process evolving what Lash calls the “seed” of her idea.

The NHSO’s Chief Executive Officer, Elaine Carroll, calls the Voynich Symphony “an exploration of ineffability.”

“The Voynich is a fascinating manuscript in large part because it is indecipherable,” Carroll said in an email exchange with The Arts Paper. “But even without comprehensible words, it creates its own world and establishes a sense of wonder in the reader. Listening to a symphony can be a similar experience. The wordless melodies and rhythms create a sound world that inspires and delights the listener. I feel the abstract nature of listening to the Symphony makes it more likely to lead a listener toward transcendence. You simply lose yourself to the world of sound; everyone’s experience is unique.”

“So often new listeners tell me that they don’t understand classical music,” Carroll continued. Much like the Voynich Manuscript, “the key to enjoying our concerts is accepting that there is no need to understand—just surrender to enjoying it!”

Hannah Lash is the fourth composerin-residence that the NHSO has hosted during conductor William Boughton’s tenure. (Jin Hi Kim, Augusta Read Thomas, and Christopher Theofanidis preceded her.)

“The Symphony has performed nine world premieres in 8 years and we are

committed to continuing our advocacy of new works by America’s most talented composers,” Carroll said.

Lash received her Ph.D. in Composition from Harvard University in 2010 and has since held teaching positions at Harvard University, Alfred University, and currently serves on the composition faculty at Yale University School of Music.

The following is a Q&A with the award-winning composer. * Where are you from?

I was born in Alfred, NY, which is a tiny rural town nestled in the hills of western New York state.

How long have you been on the faculty at Yale? Do you plan on staying long term?

I’ve been on the faculty for 4 years now.

I think it is a wonderful place to teach, and I have no plans to move elsewhere at the moment.

What instruments do you play?

I am an actively performing harpist. In fact, I think of my career in many ways as equal parts composition and performance. I am functional on the piano.

How did you first hear about the Voynich manuscript?

I don’t remember the first time, really—I know I was aware of it for quite a long time, so its images and mystery had been percolating in my imagination for many years. But I do remember when it became possible to view the entire PDF online; that was great, because I actually had never had the opportunity to see it in person. When I began my symphony, the Beinecke was just about to undergo renovation. So the Voynich Manuscript moved, and was unavailable to me. Then I began my composition process, which pretty much took on a life of its own. So when the manuscript returned, I didn’t rush to see it right away, though I am certainly looking forward to seeing it soon, and expect the experience may

be a very profound one for me since it has in some strange way played a very intimate role in my life these past few years.

Were specific images inspiring to you from the manuscript, or did it impact you as a whole?

You know, this manuscript really is a very loose inspiration for the piece, so while the mystery of it and its strange beauty are very inspiring to me, I would be disingenuous if I told you that anything specific from it had inspired the music or that the music relates to it directly. For me, even if I begin with a point of inspiration, the composition process usually takes on such a strong direction of its own that the inspiration remains somewhat tangential.

Would you call it a muse?

No, although I do like to muse on it! I think it feels too distant to be a muse to me. And I like that distance—the manuscript remains special, strange, unreachable.

How does your inspiration from a muse or source get translated into music?

It doesn’t. The music really does form its own life and seems in many ways wholly self-sufficient once I get going. I don’t really believe in muses, actually. Sometimes I will become very excited by an idea or a thing (as I am excited by the Voynich Manuscript) and my mind enters an effervescent and very creative state as a result of this feeling of excitement. Then oftentimes my ideas flow particularly well as a result of being in this state. But as far as I can tell, the relationship of my own ideas to the thing which inspired the excitement is (and I think actually must remain) rather indirect.

What role did the mystery—or unreadability—have on you?

I think I would love this manuscript far less if we understood what it said. If the language is one day deciphered I know I will be sad. I love the stubbornness of this object and its utterly bizarre world.

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The Arts Paper may 2017

Is the music affected by not being able to understand the manuscript? For example, does it take unexpected turns or breaks from tradition?

Well, as I was saying before, the music has taken on a life all its own, so correlations like that are far too literal. My music always takes unexpected turns and breaks from tradition. Maybe that’s why I feel attracted to the manuscript—I feel some degree of kinship to it!

When do your ideas usually come to you? While listening to music? In dreams?

In the shower? At the harp/piano?

Anytime, I guess. Not usually listening to music, though, because when I’m listening to music, that’s all of what I’m doing, and I’ve entered fully into the piece I’m listening to. It would feel like some kind of awful breach to be imagining my own music while listening to an existing piece. But one thing I have learned from the music I listen to and love is that good ideas “become” rather than “are”—they are not born crystallized and cannot be separated from their contexts.

This is something I find both enormously comforting and also humbling. The best and noblest work I feel I can do as a composer is the hardest and humblest: simply making the music move forward, and watch it grow, guiding it, as a gardener trains vines, plans plots, etc.

What else do you usually get inspiration from? Other books in the past? Images?

I don’t believe in inspiration. I believe in building my craft, and working hard, day in and day out. I learn my tools and ways in which I can use them from the music I love and admire, and then I invent my own tools and figure out how those are used. I think if there is inspiration it comes somewhere within the process, amidst all the sweat and dirt, when you realize suddenly that the vines you worked so hard to train upwards were suddenly forming a far more spectac-

ular pathway than you had envisioned. Then you let them climb that path, and allow that path to inform other paths for other vines.

Is this the first symphony you have ever composed?

Yes, as such. I’ve written quite a bit of orchestral music, but never before a full length four-movement symphony.

Can you describe your ideas/processes behind the four movements?

First movement: “Herbal” It is as a very quirky and lively dance. I [imagined] these somewhat quirky plants like what you would see in Voynich—very fanciful things growing up, and maybe vines that wind around one another and carry themselves in a very kind of organic way.

When we think of music in the most traditional, western sense, especially songs, we think of a melody, and we think of that melody being set to harmony. But I like to think of my music very differently than that. I like to think of the whole piece both on the melodic level and on a harmonic level being evolved from one single seed. So for me the spaces between the notes matter a great deal and the way in which those intervals, as we call them, are allowed to evolve into other intervals and develop the piece in general, also has a lot to do with how I think about music.

I like this a lot because it actually reminds me of the way a plant looks—you imagine it stemming from a single thing and then the various branches coming off of that, and of course extrapolating from there. There’s this beautiful root system that we have under the ground. So I think of that root system a little bit the way I think of all of these kind of beautiful inchoate musical thoughts that one has when one initially sits down to compose.

And from that they focus in on the stem, and from that stem branching out, in terms of evolving your idea in different ways.

Second movement: “Astronomical” The material from this piece comes from material from the first movement of the piece. So what happens at the end of the first movement of the symphony is that the harp and the percussion trail off in this staggered entrance of very triadic line. So what I did was, I took that line, I took the material from the end of the first movement, and I abstracted it and I rethought it and I stretched it out in time, so it becomes much slower and it stretches through much of the fabric of the second movement.

What I liked about this

“I love the stubbornness of this object and its utterly bizarre world.”

-Hannah Lash

• may 2017

Hannah Lash. Photo by Bob Handelman, courtesy of Yale School of Music.

was that in that stretching it out in time and making it very slow, it reminds me a little bit of looking up in the night sky and watching the stars and knowing that their position another night will be a little bit different, or even certain bodies through different times of the night will be in different places in the sky—but you can’t see that motion literally because it’s so vast.

The second movement is titled “Astronomical,” which relates to one of the sections in the Voynich Manuscript, a section which illustrates astronomical bodies and things which seem to pertain to the universe—celestial bodies, that sort of thing.

The second movement [has] a slow tempo, has a rather austere character, and I was imagining a very cool and slow motion of planets and stars and the universe.

Third Movement: “Biological” “Biological” is a darkly humorous scherzo.

Fourth Movement: “Cosmological” “Cosmological” ties the whole symphony together, using material from all movements and weaving it together in a wholly new way. I think the symphony ends on a much darker note than I had originally imagined it might.

Does the symphony feature any particular section more heavily? Any solos you’d like to mention?

As you might imagine, the harp is important, but doesn’t really have a solo role at all.

What has it been like to work with the NHSO & William Boughton?

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with William Boughton and the NHSO. I am very fortunate to say that William has become a friend, and I value his tremendous musicianship and insights enormously. His dedication to this project has been wonderful, and I daresay this will remain one of the most meaningful musical experiences of my life.

What is next for you?

An opera, a piano concerto, a double harp concerto, another piano concerto, a couple of smaller orchestra pieces, three string quartets, a project for solo harp which may take me the rest of my life to complete, and a few other things. n *The Q&A has been slightly edited for size. It also includes quotes from the NHSO’s YouTube videos where Lash describes the first two movements of the Voynich Symphony.

For more information about the NHSO, including how to get tickets to the Voynich Symphony, visit newhavensymphony.org.

For more information about Hannah Lash, visit hannahlash.com. To see the Voynich Manuscript, visit the Beinecke at 121 Wall St., New Haven or see the digital version at http://brbl-dl.library.yale.edu/vufind/ Record/3519597.

Y institute of sacred music

Performances · Lectures and more Presenting

Great Organ Music at Yale · Yale Camerata Yale Schola Cantorum · Yale Literature and Spirituality Series and more

For latest calendar information call 203.432.5062 or visit ism.yale.edu

newhavenarts.org • 11

The Arts Paper may 2017

CALENDAR

Classes & Workshops

Davison Art Center Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, 301 High St., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events Converging to a Center: Photographs from the Collection of Andrew Szegedy Photography has evolved dramatically since 1970, when Wesleyan’s Jane A. Seney Professor of Greek, Professor of Classical Studies and Environmental Studies Andrew Szegedy-Maszak started collecting.

Converging to a Center highlights 35 photographs acquired in the last two decades. Through May 28. Tuesday-Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Free.

Annie Sailer Studio Space Erector Square, 315 Peck St., Building 2, 1st Floor, Studio D, New Haven. (347) 306-7660. anniesailerdancecompany.com Modern Dance Classes Adult beginning and intermediate-level classes taught by Annie Sailer.

Adults of all ages welcome. The atmosphere is friendly, non-competitive, and professional. anniesailer@gmail.com. Beginning level classes: Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. and Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Intermediate level classes: Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m. 10-class card: $150. Single class: $18.

Guilford Art Center, Mill Gallery The Artists of Gallery One, 411 Church Street, Guilford. (860) 575-9113. galleryoneCT.com The Artists of Gallery One & Friends at Guilford Art Center, Mill Gallery The work is by a diverse group of mid-career artists who utilize current modes of expression in a variety of contemporary media.

The hanging intentionally emphasizes connections between representational and abstract work. Closing reception with gallery talk by Julia Pavone on Sun., May 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. On view Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. through May 7. Free.

Bethesda Lutheran Church 450 Whitney Ave., New Haven. (203) 787-2346. bethesdanewhaven.org/dance Ballroom Dance Classes Bethesda Dance offers free weekly ballroom dance classes with Christina Castaneda. Flexible attendance policy. See church website for monthly schedule. Beginners and experienced dancers welcome. Singles and couples can attend. Wear comfortable clothing. Sign up and info: BethesdaDance@yahoo.com. Tuesdays 6-7 p.m. through May 30. Suggested donation to the church: $5 per week.

Neighborhood Music School 100 Audubon St., New Haven. (203) 624-5189. neighborhoodmusicschool.org Jr. Summer Winds Registration open for a fun and intensive, week-long chamber music experience with daily master classes for beginning/intermediate students grades 5-8 (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn). 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Chamber Winds Registration now open for programs Wednesday-Sunday, July 5-9. For Grades 9 and up*, Intermediate/advanced students, college and adult players (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn) *Current 8th graders may participate in Chamber Winds with permission from the director. Please see website for details. 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Summer Rocks! Aug 14-18. For Ages 8-adult. Come celebrate American rock music by region, coast to coast. Sharpen your musical and performance skills while having fun. One year of experience recommended. All instruments welcome, including voice! Student performance Aug. 18, 5:30 p.m.

Please see website for details. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Summer Jazz! Program runs Aug. 7-11; for ages 12adult. Small ensembles, big bands, theory, master classes and jam sessions, all taught by NMS faculty and noted guest clinicians. Student performance: Fri., Aug. 11, 5:30 p.m. Students will experience a master class with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery. Please visit website for details. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

RSCDS at the Whitneyville Cultural Commons 1253 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. (203) 281-6591. rscdsnewhaven.org Scottish Country Dancing Enjoy dancing the social dances of Scotland. Come alone or with a friend.

All dances taught. Wear soft-soled non-street shoes. Every Tuesday evening 7-9:30 p.m. through May 23. $8 per evening. First night free.

Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook. (860) 767-0742. spectrumartgallery.org Art Classes for All Ages and Summer Camps Spectrum Gallery offers art instruction for all ages including After School Art for children ages 7-11, as well as classes for adults: oil, acrylic, watercolor, drawing, and more. Try a Sunday afternoon workshop, and spend a few hours creatively experimenting with a variety of media. Summer camps are also offered in nature art and fashion design. spectrumartgallery.org.

12 • newhavenarts.org

Kat O’Connor’s painting Quiet Enough for Color to Sound. On view this month at Reynolds Fine Art. Image courtesy of the gallery.

Suzanne Siegel Studio 2351 Boston Post Rd., Bldg.

2, Suite 210, Guilford. (203) 215-1468. suzannesiegel.net New Drop-In Program Come & work on your art among a supportive and friendly group of artists in a quiet, large, and comfortable studio with good light and large tables. Enjoy an interactive process with questions answered, tools supplied, and plenty of suggestions for improving your process with your materials. Email to sign up: suzanne@ suzannesiegel.net. Every Wednesday morning 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $30/week.

Dance 5 Friday Spring Faculty Dance Concert – Shake CFA Theater, Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Shake is a rambunctious and tender duet born out of a nine-year friendship between Wesleyan artist-in-residence Iddi Saaka and Bates College Associate Professor of Dance Rachel Boggia. The world premiere of their first choreographed work features their shared love of vibratory movement, smooth breath, and cheesy humor. Fri., May 5, and Sat., May 6, 8 p.m. 271 Washington Terrace, Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

7 Sunday Worlds of Dance Concert Crowell Concert Hall, Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Introduction to Dance and beginning dance students perform works of various styles including hip

hop, Bharata Natyam (South Indian classical), and West African dance. May 7, 2 p.m. 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

12 Friday West African Drumming and Dance Concert CFA Courtyard, Wesleyan University Center for the Arts. Featuring choreographer and Wesleyan artist-in-Residence Iddi Saaka joined by his students and guest artists and drummers, this invigorating performance showcases the vibrancy of West African cultures through their music and dance forms. The rain site for this concert is Crowell Concert Hall, located at 50 Wyllys Avenue. May 12, 3 p.m. 283 Washington Terrace, Middletown.

(860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Exhibitions Artists Live 23 Royce Circle, Mansfield Storrs.

(860) 933-6000. kathleen-zimmerman-artist.com Artists Live is a visual arts program that was awarded a Regional Arts Grant. It features monthlong exhibitions starting the 1st Friday of each month March through December except for August. The final Friday of each month the exhibiting artist and Kathleen Zimmerman will have an artist conversation at 5 p.m. followed by a reception at 6 p.m. Exhibition on view 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Hamden Art League at Miller Library Sr. Center Hamden Art League, 2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden. (203) 287-1322. hamdenartleague.com Opening Reception for the Hamden Art League’s Goldenbell’s Art Exhibition Come meet the artists of The Hamden Art League’s 62nd Annual Goldenbells Art Exhibition and Sale. This festive event features refreshments and beverages, raffles of art-related items, and award presentations to winning artists. Their artworks in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphics, and mixed media will be for sale. May 9, 7- 9 p.m. The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. If the library is closed due to inclement weather, the reception will be cancelled and, if possible, rescheduled. The Goldenbells Art Exhibition and Sale runs May 3-30, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.

Institute Library 847 Chapel Street, New Haven.

(203) 562-4045. institutelibrary.org 2nd Floor Show: Looking Then Reading An exhibition of paintings by local artists, displayed in the nooks and crannies of the historic Institute Library. Artists: Susan McCaslin, Heather Hill Young, John Keefer, Barbara Marks, Daniel Eugene, Amy Vensel, Noe Jimenez, Frank Bruckmann, and Steve Digiovanni. Through May 25 (Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.).

Free. Donations accepted.

3rd Floor Show: The Gallery Upstairs: Mincing Words: The Tactile Language Works by contemporary visual artists using the play between image and word to comment, in a very literal sense, on our current condition. Artists: David Borawski, Matthew J. Feiner, Kirsten Hassenfeld, Learn –as– Protest, Cayla Lockwood, Jeff Mueller/Dexterity Press, Scott Schuldt, Rita Valley, and Robert Zott.

Curated By Martha Willette Lewis. Through Sun. May 21 (Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.). Free. Donations accepted.

Kehler Liddell Gallery 873 Whalley Ave., New Haven. (203) 389-9555. kehlerliddellgallery.com HOME: One Planet. One Home. Since November 2016, it feels like so much of what we love is under attack. Among their many plans, the current administration is working to dismantle the EPA by 2018. Why is climate change still up for debate?

HOME: One Planet. One Home is a juried exhibition that confronts these issues. On view from May 4-28 with special events and reception(s) during Westville’s Artwalk Weekend (May 12 & 13). See website for gallery hours. Free.

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1 State Street, New Haven • 203-865-0400 kofcmuseum.org • Free admission & parking

Write Your Story.

Pursue Your Dream.

Change Your World.

MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING Summer Residency at Enders Island

July 14 –22, 2017 35 MFA GRADUATES HAVE PUBLISHED BOOKS

fairfield.edu/mfawriting

The Arts Paper may 2017

Left to right: Marjorie Wolfe, Cape Beach Barrier, photograph. Brian Flinn, Nest, digital collage. Wolfe and Flinn’s works will be on view as part of the HOME: One Planet. One Home. juried exhibition at Kehler Liddell Gallery May 4-28.

Keyes Gallery Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Road, Stony Creek, Connecticut. (203) 488-8702. arty.rt@gmail.com, geomorphictank.com Construction Workers Featuring works by Debbie Hesse and Rashmi Talpade. On view May 7-30.

Please join us for an Artist Reception: Sunday, May 7, 4-6 p.m. Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday & Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-4 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Museum 1 State St., New Haven. (203) 865-0400. kofcmuseum.org Fleeing Famine: Irish Immigration to North America From 1845 to 1860, more than 1.5 million Irish immigrants sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to North America in the cramped quarters below the decks of the “coffin ships.” On view through September 17, 2017. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission & parking.

Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies Gallery Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, 343 Washington Terrace, Middletown.

(860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events The Old Northern Capital - Beijing This exhibition’s prints from hand-tinted color lantern slides of the Chinese imperial gardens, palaces, and ritual cen-

Works, including this one by Rashmi Talpade and others by Debbie Hesse, will make up the Construction Workers exhibit at the Keyes Gallery in the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Stony Creek this month. Reception: May 7, 4-6 p.m.

14 • newhavenarts.org

ters in Beijing date from the 1930s, when the city was no longer China’s capital and its old name, Northern Capital, had been replaced by “Beiping” or Northern Peace. The prints were in the collection of Henry Courtenay Fenn. Through May 10, Tuesday-Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Free.

Memorial Chapel Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, 221 High St., Middletown. (860) 6853355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events A Celebration of Silent Sounds Celebrate the writing excellence of students in Middletown Public Schools, grades 6 through 12, and hear their winning submissions of essays, short stories, and poetry from the annual literary magazine Silent Sounds. May 2, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Walls, Doors and Fences: Obstacle, Protection, Honor This exhibit explores the question: What are walls, doors and fences for both positive and negative uses? Do they protect, honor, and entice? Or are they obstacles, exclusionary, and isolating? Can they be objects of beauty or ugly and nightmarish? Opening reception: March 17, 6:30-9 p.m.

On view through May 7, Wed.-Sat. 12-6 p.m.; Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free.

Group Summer Festival Show A gallery show featuring a variety of artists who are participating in the Outdoor Summer Arts Festival (Essex, Connecticut town green June 17-18). Opening reception: Friday, May 19, 6:30-9 p.m. Visit the Gallery Wed.-Sat., 12-6 p.m. and Sun., 12-5 p.m.

May 19-July 2. Free.

Mitchell Library New Haven Free Public Library, 37 Harrison St., New Haven. (203) 946-8117. nhfpl.org The Zen of Nimbus Comics and Artwork by Michael Sloan Art opening and talk by the artist Michael Sloan, an illustrator, painter, musician, and the author of “The Zen of Nimbus” comics and graphic novels. His illustrations have appeared in the pages of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the New Yorker. May 8 at 6 p.m. On view May 8-June 30. Free.

Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon St., 2nd Floor, New Haven. (203) 772-2788. newhavenarts.org Community Multimedia works by artists who work outside of their studios to interact with their community. Learn ways to expand your art practice.

April 21- June 2. Reception and artist talks: Thursday, May 18, 5-7 p.m. Curated by Adam Chambers and Keana Dubose. On view Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 14. Free.

New Haven Museum 114 Whitney Ave., New Haven. (203) 562-4183. newhavenmuseum.org Road Trip! Exhibition at New Haven Museum New Haven Museum’s exhibition, Road Trip! is a celebration of the architecture, food, and fun found on the byways and back roads of America. Through June 17. See website for museum hours. $2-$4.

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven. peabody.yale.edu/ exhibits/dinosaurs-take-flight-art-archaeopteryx Dinosaurs Take Flight: The Art of Archaeopteryx Dinosaurs are taken to new heights in Dinosaurs Take Flight: The Art of Archaeopteryx. Discovered in 1861, Archaeopteryx provides a critical bridge between dinosaurs and birds. Its fossils have been critical to our understanding of the origin of birds, and the origin of flight. It is an icon of evolutionary theory!

Through August 30. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. $6-$13.

Perspectives... The Gallery at Whitney Center The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden. (203) 281-6745. newhavenarts.org Where The Whole Universe Dwells Curated by Debbie Hesse. Multimedia show featuring works

by Jennifer Davies, Anne Eisner, Nancy Eisenfeld, and others. May 17-September 3. Reception: Saturday, May 20 from 3-5 p.m., Artist Talks 2-3 p.m.

On view Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-7 p.m. & Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Free.

Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main St., Centerbrook.

(860) 767-0742. spectrumartgallery.org

Film 4 Thursday Science Fiction & Spirituality Film Series | 2001: A Space Odyssey 2001: A Space Odyssey, the ultimate science fiction film by director Stanley Kubrick, explores themes of existentialism and the relationship between technological innovation

and its destructive potential. May 4, 7 p.m., Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St., New Haven. (203) 432-3220. ism.yale.edu/calendar.

Kids & Families Music Together Classes First Presbyterian Church, 704 Whitney Ave., New Haven. (203) 6919759. MusicalFolk.com.

Musical Folk Offers Music Together Classes for Children A fun creative music and movement program for babies through 5 years and those who love them. Sing, dance, and play instruments in an informal and fun setting. Classes and demo classes ongoing throughout the year in New Haven, Hamden, Woodbridge, Cheshire, and Branford. Classes held everyday (morning, afternoon, and weekend classes available).

11-week semester is $249 and includes a songbook and CD. Each semester is a new collection of music.

Four semesters per year. Demo classes are free.

Neighborhood Music School 100 Audubon St., New Haven. (203) 624-5189. neighborhoodmusicschool.org Summer KinderArts A morning of music & dance adventures for ages 3.5-5.5. Aug. 7-11 & Aug. 14-18. Through music and songs from around the world, children explore a variety of instruments and learn music fundamentals such as pitch, rhythm, tempo and dynamics.

Dance, yoga & visual arts are all featured. 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Music 3 Wednesday South Indian Music Student Recital Students of Adjunct Assistant Professors of Music B. Balasubrahmaniyan and David Nelson perform music from the Karnatak tradition of South India. Performances will feature vocal and instrumental music, percussion, and solkattu (spoken rhythm). May 3, 7 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

4 Thursday The Conqueror Worm Suite The Institute Library is proud to present The Conqueror Worm Suite:

may 2017 •

The Arts Paper may 2017

six-part multimedia suite of music, poetry and projected visuals based on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Conqueror Worm, featuring music by the trumpet and accordion duo of Ben Holmes & Patrick Farrell and visuals by Natalie C. Sousa. Thursday, May 4, 7-9 p.m. $15 members/$20 non-members. Institute Library, 847 Chapel St., New Haven. (203) 562-4045. institutelibrary.org.

Beginners Javanese Gamelan Experience the culture of Java with beginning students of the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble. The concert will include a prelude by the Wesleyan Youth Gamelan Ensemble. May 4, 7 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan. edu/cfa/events.

Dvorak, Sibelius & Lash Chad Hoopes returns to the Woolsey Hall stage for Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and the NHSO plays the culminating event of the two-year Lash/Voynich Project: the world premiere of the entire Voynich Symphony. Be part of this historic moment in classical music! May 4, 7:30 p.m. $15-74; college students $10; kids 7-17 go free with the purchase of an adult ticket. New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Woolsey Hall, 500 College Street, New Haven. (203) 436-4840.

NewHavenSymphony.org.

5 Friday Wesleyan Chamber Music Concert Students from the Wesleyan chamber music program perform works by various composers on a variety of instruments. May 5, 12 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Heinrich Isaac Hofkomponist to Emperor Maximilian I The Wesleyan University Collegium Musicum, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music and Medieval Studies Jane Alden, performs works by Heinrich Isaac (c.1450-1517), a prolific composer born in the Flemish-speaking low countries who achieved international fame. May 5, 6 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the

Arts, Memorial Chapel, 221 High St., Middletown.

(860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Wesleyan Korean Drumming and Taiko Ensembles Wesleyan’s Taiko Drumming Ensemble, directed

by Visiting Instructor in Music Barbara Merjan, performs the thunderous and thrilling rhythms of Japanese kumi daiko drumming. The Korean Drumming Ensemble, directed by Visiting Assistant Professor Jin Hi Kim, plays a variety of mesmerizing rhythmic patterns from the samulnori repertoire. May 5, 8 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

The Bear & Le Pauvre Matelot Yale Opera presents a new double bill of Walton’s The Bear and Milhaud’s Le Pauvre Matelot (The Poor Sailor) in Sprague Hall with music direction by Doug Dickson & Timothy Shaindlin. May 5-May 6. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $10, Students $5. Yale School of Music, Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Hall, 470 College St., New Haven.

(203) 432-4158. music-tickets.yale.edu/single/ EventDetail.aspx?p=16011.

6 Saturday The Sweet Pain of Nostalgia: Mozart and Brahms Quintets Two giant composers, almost exactly one hundred years apart, decide to take upon themselves the task of creating a work for clarinet and string quartet, all because of their love for the clarinet and its contemporary master. May 6, 7:30 p.m. Suggested Donation: $20/10 - Adult/Student. Tickets available in advance via our website, or at the door. The Second Movement, mActivity Cafe and Fitness Center, 285 Nicoll St., New Haven. (307) 760-0457. www.secondmovementseries.org/brahms-and-mozart.

Wesleyan University Orchestra Concert The Wesleyan University Orchestra, under direction of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Nadya Potemkina, will feature winners of the annual Concerto Competition. May 6, 8 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Crowell Concert

The Mitchell Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library will host an exhibition and talk by Michael Sloan, an illustrator, painter, musician, and the author of “The Zen of Nimbus” comics and graphic novels. Opening reception and talk May 8 at 6 p.m. On view May 8-June 30.

Hall, 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 6853355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Renee B. Fisher Competition for Young Pianists 40th Anniversary Winners’ Now in its 40th year, the Rene B. Fisher Competition for Young Pianists nurtures the growth and development of student musicians who live or study in Connecticut. The winner’s concert showcases the most outstanding performances of commissioned works by two international composers. May 6, 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Neighborhood Music School, Recital Hall, 100 Audubon St., New Haven. (203) 624-5189. neighborhoodmusicschool.org.

7 Sunday Wesleyan Concert Choir The Wesleyan Concert Choir, under direction of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Nadya Potemkina, presents a program featuring both acappella and accompanied selections from classical and modern choral repertoire.

May 7, 4 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Memorial Chapel, 221 High St., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Wesleyan Chinese Ensemble Spring Concert The Chinese Music Ensemble presents traditional and contemporary repertoire under the direction of Huan Li. May 7, 8 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

University Glee Club Concert Blowin’ in the Wind Selections range from Yesterday to Beloved Land, There is Nothin’ Like a Dame to Hello Mary Lou, Blowin’ in the Wind/America to We Sail the Ocean Blue. All invited to attend. May 7, 4 p.m. $15 Donation. University Glee Club of New Haven, Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Avenue, New Haven. (203) 314-0890. universitygleeclub.org.

The Odessa, oil on canvas, c.1994. The painting is on view as part of the Knights of Columbus Museum’s Fleeing Famine: Irish Immigration to North America exhibit, which is on view through September.

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New Haven Chorale - Modern Masterworks The Chorale welcomes distinguished guest conductor Edward Cumming, the Hartt Symphony Orchestra, and the Hartt School choruses for a spectacular performance celebrating three great modern masters, Bernstein, Debussy, and Poulenc in the reverberant acoustics of majestic Woolsey Hall. May 7, 4:30 p.m.

General admission: $20 Seniors: $15 Children & students with I.D.: Free. New Haven Chorale, Woolsey Hall, 500 College St., New Haven. (203) 776-SONG. newhavenchoraleauditions.com.

Greater New Haven Youth Ensembles Concert Please join us for our Greater New Haven Youth Ensemble Concert at Battell Chapel. Tickets available at the door. May 7, 2-5:30 p.m. Adults: $10 Seniors and children (under 12): $5. Neighborhood Music School , Battell Chapel, Yale University, 400 College St., New Haven. (203) 624-5189. neighborhoodmusicschool.org.

9 Tuesday WesWinds Spring Concert The Wesleyan Wind Ensemble performs an exciting array of pieces for winds and percussion. May 9, 8 p.m. Free.

Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Toneburst Electroextravaganza The Toneburst Laptop and Electronic Arts Ensemble, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Paula Matthusen, teams up with Artist-in-Residence and University Organist Ronald Ebrecht to present a series of works involving live-electronics and the Memorial Chapel organ. May 9, 9 p.m. Free.

Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Memorial Chapel, 221 High St., Middletown. (860) 6853355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Competition Winners Oneppo Chamber Music Series featuring the winners of the annual chamber music competition at the Yale School of Music. May 9, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $10, Students $6. Yale School of Music, Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Hall, 470 College St., New Haven.

(203) 432-4158. music-tickets.yale.edu/single/ EventDetail.aspx?p=15697.

10 Wednesday Composing, Performing, and Listening A concert of new compositions by students in MUSC 220 “Composing, Performing, and Listening to Experimental Music,” taught by Professor of Music Ronald Kuivila. May 10, 7 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Ave., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.

Annual Organ Romp The annual Organ Romp and Toneburst Electroextravaganza concerts combine new compositions by Wesleyan faculty, students, and special guests with repertoire ranging from standard to wacky. The Organ Romp is considered part of the students’ Spring Fling event. Costumes

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The Arts Paper may 2017

encouraged. May 10, 9 p.m. Free. Wesleyan University Center for the Arts, Memorial Chapel, 221 High St., Middletown. (860) 685-3355. wesleyan.edu/ cfa/events.

13 Saturday USNH IV: Musical Mosaic The Haven String Quartet is joined by Music Haven students to play Vivaldi. Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Four Violins in B Minor, Op. 3, No. 10. Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131. May 13, 7:30 p.m. $20 General Admission; $10 Seniors/ Students/USNH Members. Music Haven, Unitarian Society of New Haven, 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden. (203) 745-9030. musichavenct.org.

Ani Kavafian Farewell Recital The NHSO celebrates Ani Kavafian’s artistic gifts and contributions to the community during her tenure as concertmaster at a special season finale event featuring Ani and NHSO New Generation Artist Michael Brown playing Ani’s favorite solo and duo works by Mozart, Bach, Franck, Mendelssohn, and Kreisler.

May 13, 7:30 pm $15-74; college students $10; kids 7-17 go free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Trinity Lutheran Church, 292 Orange Street, New Haven. (203) 7876521. NewHavenSymphony.org.

Songs of Our Present In Songs of Our Present, the women of Another Octave will showcase music created since the year 2000. Stage and screen will feature prominently, as we perform songs from The Color Purple, Fun Home, The Lord of the Rings, and Waitress. Jazz and songs reflecting current political realities also on program. May 13, 7 p.m. $20 in advance online; $22 at the door; $15 senior/student/ child; $30 preferred. Another Octave: Connecticut Women’s Chorus, Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, 949 Main Street, South Glastonbury.

(203) 672-1919. anotheroctave.org.

Spring Concert The New Haven Oratorio choir will perform choral works by composers from the northernmost countries, including pieces by Grieg, Pärt, Gjeilo, Sibelius, Backer-Grøndahl, Arnesen, Salkeld and others. A reception with refreshments will follow the concert. May 13, 8 p.m. $20, $15 for student and seniors. New Haven Oratorio Choir, Church of the Redeemer, 185 Cold Spring St., New Haven. (860) 339-6462. nhoratorio.org.

20 Saturday Songs of Our Present In Songs of Our Present, the women of Another Octave will showcase music created since the year 2000. Stage and screen will feature prominently, as we perform songs from The Color Purple, Fun Home, The Lord of the Rings, and Waitress. Pop and country tunes by Sara Bareilles, Natasha Bedingfield, and Kimberly Perry, plus jazz and political songs. May 20, 7 p.m. $20 in advance online, $22 at door, $30 preferred, $15 senior/student/child. Another Octave: Connecticut Women’s Chorus, Unitarian Society of New Haven, 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden. (203) 672-1919. anotheroctave.org.

21 Sunday Choral Extravaganza! Vivaldi’s festive Gloria and A New England Requiem (world premiere) by Scott Perkins, featuring poetry from New England and traditional Christian texts. Choirs of Bethesda and United Church on the Green, with soloists and orchestra, led by Lars Gjerde and Caesar Storlazzi.

Reception to follow. Program lasts over an hour.

Free parking. May 21, 4 p.m. Free. Bethesda Music Series, Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Avenue, New Haven. (203)787-2346. bethesdanewhaven.org/music.

Talks & Tours 3 Wednesday & 6 Saturday Shubert Backstage Tour These hour-long tours are

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Leahy Radding, I Am Splendor from The Artists of Gallery One & Friends, an exhibition of recent works by this professional cooperative group of regional artists, will be on view through May 7 at the Mill Gallery at Guilford Art Center. There will also be a closing reception with guest speaker Julia Pavone on Sunday, May 7, 2–4 pm. the perfect activity for any theater or history enthusiast—you’ll be amazed by the incredible history of the legendary Shubert. Please meet at the main lobby doors. No reservations required. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven. (203) 562-5666. shubert.com.

3 Wednesday The Poignant Side of General Pershing and WWI at NHM In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I, historian Andrew Carroll will give a presentation based on his book, My Fellow Soldiers: General John Pershing and the Americans Who Helped Win the Great War, at the New Haven Museum. May 3, 5:30 p.m. Free. New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave., New Haven.

(203) 562-4183. newhavenmuseum.org.

7 Sunday Closing Reception with with guest speaker Julia Pavone Closing reception with guest speaker Julia Pavone on “Gallery One, a Concept not a Place.”

Julia was the co-founder and curator/director of the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art for 24 years.

She is also an artist, most recently of encaustic and found object paintings, and an instructor of art history. Sunday, May 7, 2-4 p.m. with talk at 2:30 p.m.

The Artists of Gallery One, Guilford Art Center, Mill Gallery, 411 Church Street, Guilford. (860) 575-9113. galleryoneCT.com.

Theater Nonnie Cimino’s Kitchen Award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc. presents a new musical about family and food. A lovable, sharp-witted Italian grandmother in a story about family, love and lasagna. Book & lyrics by Bert Bernadi. Music by Justin Rugg. Sponsored in part by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. April 21-May 7. Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. All seats $20 online, $22 at the door. 40 Railroad Avenue South, Milford. (203) 937-6206. pantochino.com.

Mary Jane As Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son, she finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life. Mary Jane is Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog’s remarkably powerful and compassionate portrait of a contemporary American woman striving for grace. April 28-May 20. Tuesday-Saturday, 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$98. Student and group dis-

counts are available. 1120 Chapel St., New Haven.

(203) 432-1234. yalerep.org/ productions-and-programs/production/mary-jane.

Listen Here: Know-It-All Join us for an evening of great short fiction performed by members of the New Haven Theater Company, followed by a halfhour “talk back” with the New Haven Review team.

Donations accepted; registration encouraged. Tuesday, May 16, 7-9 p.m. Free. 847 Chapel Street, New Haven. (203) 562-4045. institutelibrary.org.

The Addams Family Whether you know them from the iconic Charles Addams single-panel comics, the 1964 television series, or the ‘90s era movies, The Addams Family will give you a new perspective on love and acceptance in this original musical, performed by students of Choate Rosemary Hall and directed by Tracy Ginder-Delventhal. May 19-20, 7:30 p.m. Adults $20; seniors and students $15. 332 Christian Street, Wallingford. (203) 6972398. choate.edu/arts/pmac/event-details/ ~occur-id/6926865.

11 Thursday A Hip Road Trip: Roadside Architecture at NHM Mary Donohue, an architectural historian and guest curator of the Road Trip! exhibit at the New Haven Museum, will hold a lively presentation on Connecticut’s roadside architecture: “A Hip Road Trip!” Donohoe will take attendees on a grand tour of Connecticut roadside architecture using vintage postcards, rare brochures and matchbooks, early automotive maps, etc. May 11, 5:30 p.m. Free. New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave., New Haven.

(203) 562-4183. newhavenmuseum.org.

Another Octave will perform Songs of Our Present on May 13 & 20. Photo courtesy of Another Octave.

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The Arts Paper may 2017

BULLETIN BOARD

The Arts Council provides bulletin board listings as a service to our membership and is not responsible for the content or deadlines.

Call For Artists The 2017 Art Kudos International Juried Online Art Competition sponsored by Artshow. com offers $4,500 in cash awards. Awards Judge: Mike Calway-Fagen, Assistant Professor of Sculpture at the University of Georgia. All media except video/film and wearable art. $35 for 3 images. Deadline: June 30th. artkudos.com Artists The Colors of the Night Entry Deadline: June 30, 2017. Exhibition Dates: August 19 -September 30. Smithtown Township Arts Council invites submissions for its upcoming juried fine art exhibition The Colors of the Night at Mills Pond Gallery. Juror/Judge Tim Newton.

This exhibition/competition will encompass all varieties of nocturnal art. Twilight/dusk, dawn, urban, interiors, landscapes, figures, etc. are all possibilities. No subject is off limits.

Juror expectations will be originality/creativity, good design, and skillful execution within your medium. Open to USA artists age 18 or older.

All media considered except photography and computer generated art. Entry fee $45 for up to 3 images. Awards: $1,000 best of show, $500 second place, $250 third place. Prospectus at stacarts.org/exhibits/show/103. Contact gallery@stacarts.org; (631) 862-6575.

Artists Connecticut Women Artists announce their dates for 2017 National Open Juried Exhibition to be held September 1-29, 2017 at the Vernon Arts Center East in Vernon, Connecticut. The juror of selection and awards will be Nancy Stula, Executive Director of the William Benton Museum of Art, UConn, Storrs, Connecticut. You need not be a member to submit work to this show. See prospectus for complete info at ctwomenartists.org. Submissions are being accepted at onlinejuriedshows.com. Entry deadline: Friday, July 30, 2017 until midnight.

Artists Spectrum Gallery and its affiliate, the Arts Center Killingworth, present two annual outdoor Arts Festivals with concurrent gallery exhibitions (Summer Arts Festival, Essex Town Green, Essex, Connecticut on June 17-18 and Autumn Arts Festival, Madison Town Green, Madison, Connecticut on October 7-8). Register by May 26 to participate in the Essex Festival. Multiple opportunities for artists throughout the year! Spectrum hosts 6 exhibits per year and is always looking for artists and artisans working in various media. Please visit spectrumartgallery.org/future-exhibitions to see the calendar of exhibits, themes and festival prospecti. The non-profit Spectrum Art Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut is a contemporary gallery and fine artisan store.

Housing Are you a New Haven resident with an extra bedroom willing to host a visiting Artspace alum during our reunion June 23-25? artspacenh.wufoo.com/forms/x8qo37v18rshsl/.

Musicians The New Haven Chamber Orchestra has openings for strings for the 2016-2017 season. The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday evenings at the Fair Haven School, 164 Grand Avenue. Rehearsals begin after Labor Day. The orchestra performs 3 concerts per season. To sit in on a rehearsal or to audition, contact the orchestra via e-mail at info@newhavenchamberorchestra.org.

Past Staffers, Curators & Volunteers of Artspace: Save the date for Artspace’s reunion June 23-25, 2017. Artspace is planning its 30th anniversary reunion to which you and all

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artists, interns, and volunteers who have been associated with Artspace in its first 3 decades are invited. Register now: artspacenewhaven. org/reunion/.

Photographers Are you a fan of photography?

A program of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, the Photo Arts Collective aims to cultivate and support a community of individuals who share an interest in photography through workshops, lectures, exhibitions, portfolio reviews, group critiques, and special events. The Photo Arts Collective meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Kehler Liddell Gallery, 873 Whalley Ave., New Haven.

Proposals Ely Center of Contemporary Art, 51 Trumbull Street, New Haven Gallery seeks artist site-responsive projects in all media that consider the gallery’s unique architecture and history. info@elycenter.org for more info. elycenter.org Singers The award winning Silk ’n Sounds Chorus is looking for new members from the greater New Haven area. We invite women to join us at any of our rehearsals to learn more.

We enjoy 4-part a cappella singing, specializing in the Barbershop Harmony style. Our repertoire has broadened to include Jazz, American Song Book and other styles. Rehearsals are every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Spring Glen Church located at 1825 Whitney Ave. in Hamden. You can contact Lynn at (203) 6231276 for more information. Visit us at silknsounds.org.

Singers of all experience levels are invited to join Greater New Haven Community Chorus for the 2017 spring semester. The repertoire for GNHCC’s June 10 concert will feature John Rutter’s Requiem. Every Thursday evening through mid-June. 7-9 p.m. $50 per person per semester ($75 for two from the same household).

Greater New Haven Community Chorus, First Presbyterian Church, 704 Whitney Ave., New Haven. (203) 303-4642. gnhcc.org.

Volunteers The non-profit Spectrum Art Gallery and its affiliate, Arts Center Killingworth, offer numerous opportunities for volunteers!

Learn new skills, meet new people, and be part of a creative organization that gives to the community. Opportunities exist throughout the year for a variety of events and ongoing programs.

Teens are welcome and can earn community service credit. Email Barbara Nair, Director, at barbara@spectrumartgallery.org or call (860) 663-5593.

Volunteers Arts for Learning Connecticut, a state-wide arts in education organization, is seeking Board Members and volunteers. Please call Eileen Carpinella, Executive Director, at (203) 230-8101 or email ecarpinella@aflct.org regarding your interest. aflct.org.

Volunteers and Interns Volunteering at the Institute Library is a great way to meet your local community, have fun, and make a major difference at one New Haven’s great treasures. More volunteers means more (and longer) hours that we can stay open! Contact us if you are interested at home@institutelibrary.org. Our internship program is also expanding! Let us know if you are a high school, college, or continuing ed. student looking for credit and a meaningful professional development experience.

celebration with a Monster Drawing Rally at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art on Friday, June 23, 7-9:30 pm. This will be the first event hosted by Artspace where artists in the Greater New Haven community will be invited to participate to share and showcase their artistic talents. Over the course of the night, artists at all stages of their careers take shifts to draw for an hour in front a live audience, bringing their private studio practices to the public. As spectators spy on the creative process, sketches morph into full-fledged artworks. Artists will then donate works to be bought the night of the event for one flat price. There will be ticketed bourbon tasting and food available for purchase at Farm Belly’s Food Truck. Throughout the night Dave Coons will DJ tunes to set the mood.

All art lovers, supporters, and enthusiast are welcomed to this free event. All proceeds will go to support programming at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art and Artspace New Haven.

We would like to invite volunteers excited to help with this event to contact Rachael McNerney at info@artspacenh.org.

Creative Services Grant Program Support and Training: RFP alignment, writing and wordsmithing, grant development plans. Contact janet@jansartconnections.com.

Historic Home Restoration Contractor Period appropriate additions, baths, kitchens; remodeling; sagging porches straightened/leveled; wood windows restored; plaster restored; historic molding & hardware; vinyl/aluminum siding removed; wood siding repair/replace.

CT & NH Preservation Trusts. RJ Aley Building Contractor. (203) 226-9933. jaley@rjaley.com.

Web Design & Art Consulting Services Startup business solutions. Creative, sleek web design by art curator and editor for artist, design, architecture, and small-business sites. Will create and maintain any kind of website. Hosting provided. Also low-cost in-depth artwork analysis, writing, editing services. (203) 387-4933. azothgallery@comcast.net.

Space Event and Classroom Space 1,300 sq. feet of open space available for events, exhibitions, or to teachers looking for space to teach art classes or workshops. Beautiful new building, large storefront windows and natural light, free parking. Tables and easels are also available for use. Located in Woodbridge, just over the New Haven line. mail@paletteartstudio.com or (475) 282-1802.

Jobs Please visit newhavenarts.org for up-to-date local employment opportunities in the arts.

The Arts Paper advertising and calendar deadlines: The deadline for advertisements and calendar listings for the June issue of The Arts Paper is: Monday, April 24 at 5 p.m.

Future deadlines are as follows: July/August 2017: Friday, May 26, 5 p.m.

September 2017: Monday, July 24, 5 p.m.

October 2017: Monday, August 28, 5 p.m.

November 2017: Monday, September 25, 5 p.m.

December 2017: Monday, October 23, 5 p.m.

Calendar listings are for Arts Council members only and should be submitted online at newhavenarts. org. Arts Council members can request a username and password by sending an e-mail to communications@newhavenarts.org.

The Arts Council’s online calendar includes listings for programs and events taking place within 12 months of the current date.

Listings submitted by the calendar deadline are included on a monthly basis in The Arts Paper.

Studio/Event Space at Erector Square in New Haven available for dance and theatre rehearsals and performances, events, workshops, and exhibitions. 1,500 sq. ft., 1st floor, 14 ft. ceilings, white walls, great light, wooden floors. Contact Annie at anniesailer@gmail.com.

Studio Space for dance, performing arts, events hall. A 1,500 sq. ft. space with adjoining rooms in a turn-of-the-century mansion in a historic district. Hardwood floors. Vintage stage with curtains. Mahogany woodwork and glass doors.

Ample natural light. Chairs and tables on premises. Contact whitneyartsctr@aol.com.

Volunteers Artspace will kickoff their 30th Anniversary Alumni Reunion weekend and

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The Arts Paper member organizations & partners

Arts & Cultural Organizations A Broken Umbrella Theatre abrokenumbrella.org Alyla Suzuki Early Childhood Music Education alylasuzuki.com (203) 239-6026 American Guild of Organists sacredmusicct.org Another Octave-CT Women’s Chorus anotheroctave.org (203) 672-1919 Artfarm art-farm.org Arts for Learning Connecticut www.aflct.org Arts in CT artsinct.org Artspace artspacenh.org (203) 772-2709 Artsplace: Cheshire Performing & Fine Art cpfa-artsplace.org (203) 272-2787 ARTTN Gallery www.arttngallery.com Ball & Socket Arts ballandsocket.org Bethesda Music Series bethesdanewhaven.org (203) 787-2346 Blackfriars Repertory Theatre blackfriarsrep.com Branford Art Center branfordartscenter.org

Branford Folk Music Society branfordfolk.org

Firehouse 12 firehouse12.com (203) 785-0468

Chestnut Hill Concerts chestnuthillconcerts.org (203) 245-5736

Gallery One CT galleryonect.com

The Choirs of Trinity Church on the Green trinitynewhaven.org

Guilford Art Center guilfordartcenter.org (203) 453-5947

City Gallery city-gallery.org (203) 782-2489

Guilford Art League gal-cat.blogspot.com

Civic Orchestra of New Haven civicorchestraofnewhaven.org Classical Contemporary Ballet Theatre ccbtballettheatre.org

Guilford Poets Guild guilfordpoetsguild.org Guitartown CT Productions guitartownct.com (203) 430-6020

College Street Music Hall collegestreetmusichall.com

Greater New Haven Community Chorus gnhcc.org

Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus ctgmc.org 1-800-644-cgmc

Hamden Art League hamdenartleague.com (203) 494-2316

Connecticut Natural Science Illustrators ctnsi.com (203) 934-0878 Creative Arts Workshop 203-562-4927 creativeartsworkshop.org Creative Concerts (203) 795-3365 CT Folk ctfolk.com East Street Arts eaststreetartsnh.org (203) 776-6310 EcoWorks CT ecoworksct.org Elm City Dance Collective elmcitydance.org

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Hamden Arts Commission hamdenartscommission.org Hamden Symphony Orchestra hamdensymphony.org Hopkins School hopkins.edu The Institute Library institutelibrary.org International Festival of Arts & Ideas artidea.org Jazz Haven jazzhaven.org Kehler Liddell Gallery (203) 389-9555 kehlerliddell.com

Knights of Columbus Museum kofcmuseum.org

New Haven Museum newhavenmuseum.org (203) 562-4183

Susan Powell Fine Art susanpowellfineart.com (203) 318-0616

Long Wharf Theatre longwharf.org (203) 787-4282

New Haven Oratorio Choir nhoratorio.org

University Glee Club of New Haven universitygleeclub.org

Lyman Center at SCSU www.lyman.southernct.edu

New Haven Paint & Clay Club newhavenpaintandclayclub.org

Wesleyan University Center for the Arts wesleyan.edu/cfa

Madison Art Society madisonartsociety.blogspot.com

New Haven Symphony Orchestra newhavensymphony.org (203) 865-0831

Mattatuck Museum mattatuckmuseum.org Meet the Artists and Artisans meettheartistsandartisans.com (203) 874-5672 Milford Fine Arts Council milfordarts.org (203) 878-6647 Music Haven musichavenct.org (203) 745-9030 Musical Folk musicalfolk.com (203) 691-9759 Neighborhood Music School neighborhoodmusicschool.org (203) 624-5189 Nelson Hall at Elim Park nelsonhallelimpark.org New Haven Ballet newhavenballet.org (203) 782-9038 New Haven Chamber Orchestra newhavenchamberorchestra.org New Haven Chorale newhavenchorale.org New Haven Free Public Library nhfpl.org

New World Arts Northeast (203) 507-8875 Orchestra New England orchestranewengland.org (203) 777-4690 Palette Art Studio paletteartstudio.com Pantochino Productions pantochino.com Paul Mellon Arts Center choate.edu/artscenter Reynolds Fine Art reynoldsfineart.com Shoreline Arts Alliance shorelinearts.org (203) 453-3890 Shoreline ArtsTrail shorelineartstrail.com Shubert Theater shubert.com (203) 562-5666 Silk n’ Sounds silknsounds.org Site Projects siteprojects.org Spectrum Art Gallery & Store spectrumartgallery.org

Whitney Arts Center (203) 773-3033 Yale Cabaret yalecabaret.org (203) 432-1566 Yale Center for British Art yale.edu/ycba Yale Institute of Sacred Music yale.edu.ism (203) 432-5180 Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Child Life Arts & Enrichment Program www.ynhh.org (203) 688-9532 Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History peabody.yale.edu Yale Repertory Theatre yalerep.org (203) 432-1234 Yale School of Music music.yale.edu (203) 432-1965

Creative Businesses Access Audio-Visual Systems accessaudiovisual.com Hull’s Art Supply and Framing hullsnewhaven.com (203) 865-4855 I Luv A Party 203-461-3357 Toad’s Place toadsplace.com

Community Partners Connecticut Experiential Learning Center ctexperiential.org Department of Arts Culture & Tourism, City of New Haven cityofnewhaven.com (203) 946-8378 DECD/CT Office of the Arts cultureandtourism.org (860) 256-2800 Fractured Atlas fracturedatlas.org JCC of Greater New Haven jccnh.org New Haven Free Public Library nhfpl.org

Yale University Art Gallery artgallery.yale.edu

New Haven Preservation Trust nhpt.org (203) 562-5919

Yale University Bands yale.edu/yaleband

Town Green Special Services District infonewhaven.com Visit New Haven visitnewhaven.com

may 2017 •

The Arts Paper arts council programs

Perspectives …

The Gallery at Whitney Center Location: 200 Leeder Hill Drive, south entrance, Hamden Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-7 p.m., and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.

Where the Whole Universe Dwells Curated by Debbie Hesse Dates: May 17-September 3, 2017 Reception: Saturday, May 20, from 3-5 p.m., artist talks: 2-3 p.m.

Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery Location: The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon St., 2nd Floor, New Haven Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Community

Multi media works by artists who work outside of their studios to interact with their community. Learn ways to expand your art practice.

Dates: April 21- June 2, 2017 Reception: Thursday, May 18, 5-7 p.m.

Arts on Air Listen to the Arts Council’s Arts on Air broadcast on Monday, May 15 during WPKN’s Community Programming Hour, 12-1 p.m. Hosted by the Arts Council’s Director of Artistic Services and Programs, Debbie Hesse, Arts On Air engages in conversations with local artists and arts organizations. This episode will focus on internships in the arts. Listen live and online at wpkn.org.

Jennifer Davies. Where the Whole Universe Dwells. Perspectives ... The Gallery at Whitney Center.

Advice from the AC

Need help finding exhibition space/opportunities, performance/rehearsal space or developing new ways to promote your work or creative event? Schedule a free oneon-one consultation with Debbie Hesse, the organization’s director of artist services and programs, by calling (203) 772-2788. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Dates: Thursday, May 11, 1-4 p.m.

Location: Arts Council offices, 70 Audubon St., 2nd Floor, New Haven

Photo Arts Collective The Photo Arts Collective is an Arts Council program that aims to cultivate and support a community of individuals who share an interest in photography through workshops, lectures, exhibitions, portfolio reviews, group critiques, and events. The Photo Arts Collective meets the first Thursday of the month at the Kehler Liddell Gallery, 873 Whitney Ave., New Haven, at 7 p.m. To learn more, email photoartscollective@gmail.com.

Left to right: Arts on Air host Debbie Hesse with Rita Valley, Dee Roulx, and Rachel Schmidt.

Technical Support Workshop Series: The Art of the Press Release with The Arts Council’s Communication Manager Jennifer Gelband Date: Thursday, May 18, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

How to Write an Effective Artist Statement with The Arts Council’s Director of Artistic Services and Programs Debbie Hesse Date: Tuesday, May 16, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Cost per workshop: $5 members, $15 non-members.

Light snacks provided.

Location: The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon St., 2nd Floor, New Haven.

Writers Circle Lunch & Learn with Colin Hosten Date: Thursday, May 25, 12–2 p.m.

Location: The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon St., 2nd Floor, New Haven More info at newhavenarts.org

Leigh Busby. Community. Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery.

• may 2017

Anne Eisner. Where the Whole Universe Dwells. Perspectives Gallery.

For more information on these events and more, visit newhavenarts.org or check out our mobile events calendar using the Arts, Nightlife, Dining & Information (ANDI) app for smartphones.

newhavenarts.org • 19

Save The nea At the signing of the bill that created the National Endowment for the Arts in 1965, President Johnson said: “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves, and to others, the inner vision which guides us as a nation.”

Art makes us human, catalyzing hope and empathy in our everyday life. In spite of this, government funding for the arts is under attack alongside many policies that will change our community. With so much at stake, the role of the arts is more important than ever.

TAKE ACTION 1. Call

2. Write

3. Donate

In response to this funding risk, The Arts Council of Greater New Haven will not participate in the Great Give this May 2-3 but asks that you donate instead to our local arts organizations and call or write our elected representatives to tell them why the arts matters to you.

Senator Richard Blumenthal 706 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-2823

Senator Chris Murphy 136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-4041

Representative Rosa DeLauro 2413 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3661 2413

newhavenarts.org/advocacy