Destination Coastal Connecticut

DESTINATION COASTAL CONNECTICUT

COASTAL CONNECTICUT

DESTINATION COASTAL CONNECTICUT

Historic Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut. Photo: Courtesy Connecticut Office of Tourism.

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rtists have long been drawn to the inspiring beauty of the Connecticut shoreline. At the end of the 19th century, American Impressionists such as Childe Hassam, Charles Harold Davis and John Henry Twachtman could be seen setting up easels and drawing paper in the quaint villages and on the picturesque beaches, painting the natural beauty of the coast. The proximity to New York City made the shoreline especially attractive to artists, and the coast continues to be a popular destination for creative types and celebrities. From Greenwich to Stonington, coastal Connecticut features classic New England charm, scenic drives along Long Island Sound, beautiful beaches and vibrant contemporary cities. Just a short drive or train ride from New York City, the area is an easy distance for an artistic adventure. With many of the shore’s art centers expanding and new exhibits and programs opening this fall, now is the time to visit the Connecticut coast.

Begin your journey in Fairfield County, at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. Once a summer destination for many American Impressionists, Greenwich is the historical home of the Cos Cob Art Colony, a vital part of American painting

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history, and a central part of the Bruce Museum’s collection. This fall the museum premieres Bruce Museum Presents on September 5, a new series of expert discussions (on the first Thursday of each month) about art and science. The first lecture, Generation ♀: How Contemporary Women Artists Are Re-Shaping Today’s Art World, features Jennifer Blei Stockman, producer of The Price of Everything, in dialogue with Laurie Simmons, Paula DeLuccia Poons and Lin Jingjing. The series continues on October 3 with From the Bottom of the World: The Art and Science of Antarctica, presented with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University. Leonard Jacobs will be in conversation with Jonny Kingslake and Kirsty Tinto, two research scientists from the observatory, along with photographer Rick Sammon, who has visited and documented Antarctica twice. The Bruce continues with its expansion and renovation project, the New Bruce, which more than doubles the size of the museum. This exciting transformation will make the museum an even more vibrant center for the community.

After the Bruce, make sure to stop by Geary Gallery on Boston Post Road in nearby Darien, one of Connecticut’s foremost galleries for

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Celebrating 40 Years!

representational art. The gallery features rotating monthly exhibits of nationally renowned and emerging artists in its 3,000 square feet of gallery space, and has represented more than 200 artists since they opened in 1984, including such prominent names as Peter Max, Gena Sparkman, Ray Ellis, A.N. Wyeth and John Stobart. The gallery is celebrating its 35th year, and this fall will feature the work of Jarvis Wilcox and Mary Morant. Wilcox’s work invites you into new worlds and surroundings with exquisite technical rendering. Morant’s work, inspired by nature and living by the water, explores place and mood, and is, as she says in her statement, an “attempt to share with others the images that stay with me even after I leave.” In addition to these artists the gallery will exhibit the Impressionistic paintings of Judith Carbine, the Romantic landscapes of Rich Gombar, the representational landscapes of George Stewart, the watercolors of William Ternes (1933–2014), the marine landscapes and still lifes of Peter Yesis and the coastal landscapes of Yasemin Tomakan.

Just a short drive north, visit the Glass House in New Canaan. This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the Glass House’s

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COASTAL CONNECTICUT collection from leading international designers of the 20th and 21st century who represent the best in creativity and craftsmanship. From a Braun watch to a Skeppshult cast iron, AMEICO distributes contemporary designs that not only tell a story, but are stories themselves. The gallery’s mission is to promote relevant, innovative products designed to stand the test of time by their craftsmanship, encouraging visitors to consume less and consume wisely. Living their own mission statement, as of August 16, 2019, AMEICO is now powered by solar panels.

Next, take in more fall foliage as you continue northeast into the scenic Litchfield Hills to the Washington Art Association & Gallery in Washington Depot. Showcasing work by both emerging and established artists, the Washington Art Association & Gallery will feature two new exhibitions this fall. Through October 19, WAA will present Chelminski & Offenhartz, featuring the work of two accomplished Connecticut artists who both have over five decades of experience making art that celebrates the light and color of Connecticut. Chelminski is inspired by his Bridgewater home and wildflower meadow, and documents his observations of space, light and form in nature in his watercolor journal, which later informs his abstract oil landscapes.

Offenhartz is inspired by Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, and primarily uses oil pastels and ground colored pigment to create color interactions in his work. Also on view, from October 19 through November 9, will be Rock, Paper Scissors, which includes the paintings of Brad Greenwood and the sculptures of Sam

Funk. The Washington Art Association & Gallery will also offer classes in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography and ceramics this fall.

From Washington Depot, head south to New Haven and immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene surrounding Yale’s historic campus. Don’t miss City-Wide Open Studios, organized by Artspace New Haven. The month-long festival includes more than 400 artists from across Connecticut. This year’s festival explores the theme Older but Younger, featuring 13 commissioned collaborations between intergenerational artists exploring questions of longevity, renewal and memory.

The grand opening reception for City-Wide Open Studios will be October 4 at the Orange Street gallery and will feature one work by every participating City-Wide Open Studio artist arranged in a grid. The next weekend, join the bike tour and visit artists in the Westville section of New Haven and across Greater New Haven as they open their doors for Westville & Private Studios Weekend on October 12 and 13. The following weekend, October 19 and 20 will be Erector Square Weekend, at the former Erector Set Factory, now home to many artist studios. The final weekend of City-Wide Open Studios will be Alternative Space Weekend, November 2 and 3, the largest weekend of the event. Meet artists from across Connecticut at Yale’s West Campus. The weekend will also include interactive commissioned projects and many site-specific installations.

LEGENDS:

Walter Iooss, Michael Jordan, 1998, archival pigment print. LAAM, Gift of Dr. Rahul & Mrs. Sonia Shah.

construction in 1949. This iconic example of modern architecture designed by Philip Johnson is known for its innovative use of materials and seamless integration into the landscape. The Glass House is one of 14 structures on the 49-acre campus, which also features a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions, events and lectures. On view through November 30 is Gay Gatherings: Philip Johnson, David Whitney and the Modern Arts, an exhibit that explores interactions at the Glass House among eight men who played a central role in shaping the 20th century’s artistic culture: architect Philip Johnson and his longtime partner, curator David Whitney; composer John Cage; choreographer Merce Cunningham; ballet impresario Lincoln Kirstein; and artists Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Experience New England’s foliage as you explore the estate, works of art by Rauschenberg, Johns and Warhol; postcards written by the artists; photographs by David McCabe, Christopher Makos and others; and vintage films.

Take a drive north to New Milford, a historic town resting in scenic Litchfield County. There you’ll discover AMEICO Gallery, a showroom and store located at 29 Church Street. The two-story brick and limestone building dates back to 1917 where it was built by Dowling & Bottomley Co. for the Southern New England Telephone Company.

Open to both the public and the trade, the gallery offers a highly curated and exciting

203-655-6633

the Sports Photography of Walter Iooss

September 21, 2019 - January 12, 2020 Lyman Allyn 625 Williams Street

576 Post Road, Darien CT 06820 www.gearlygallery.com

A R T M U S E U M New London, CT 06320

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COASTAL CONNECTICUT While in New Haven, make sure you visit the Ely Center for Contemporary Art. Located just down the street from Artspace, on Trumbull Street, the Ely Center serves as another hub of New Haven’s art scene, and exhibits work by emerging contemporary, interdisciplinary and socially engaged artists within a beautiful two story Elizabethan house. This fall, the Ely Center will showcase work by the New Haven Paint & Clay Club from September 8 through 29. During the exhibit, they will co-sponsor a one night Postcard Art Show and Sale with Paint & Clay Club on September 26. Artists and members are invited to create and donate 5x7 original artworks to be sold to benefit outreach programs within the local community. The Ely Center will also exhibit the work of Jeanne Ciravolo from

September 8 through 29. Ciravolo explores the histories of women in her family, and themes of sexuality, abuse, shame and hope in her paintings and textiles. From October 6 to November 10, the Ely Center will exhibit work by the CT Watercolor Society in their upstairs galleries. Art Shape Mammoth, a creative community that promotes social justice, education and environmental sustainability will also be on view in the first floor galleries from October 6 to November 10.

From New Haven, continue north on I-95 to the Guilford Art Center. This fall, the art center features work by resident potter Dana Lofink, on view until September 4. The Guilford Art League 72nd Annual Juried Exhibition, juried by Patricia Miranda, will be on view from September 9 to 28 at the Mill Gallery. From October 3 to 5, the

EXPLORE

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SCIENCE

AT THE BRUCE MUSEUM

BRUCE MUSEUM Greenwich, Connecticut 203.869.0376 www.brucemuseum.org

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Guilford Art Center will also host Designers Circus, a pop-up fashion sale featuring creative fashions and accessories from over 70 domestic and international craftswomen and small-scale designers. During October, the gallery will be preparing for Artistry, the art center’s annual holiday sale of fine handmade craft, jewelry and unique objects from artists throughout the country, an event that runs November through December. On November 10, the art center will host Soup for Good, a fundraiser to benefit the Guilford Art Center and the Guilford Food Bank.

In addition to gallery programing, the Guilford Art Center’s fall semester classes and workshops for adults and children run from September 17 through November 22. Be sure to check out their wide range of course offerings in ceramics, jewelry, metals, weaving, glass, drawing and painting, blacksmithing and stone carving.

The next stop on the tour of Coastal Connecticut is the shoreline town of Old Lyme.

The area’s estuaries, woodland hills and rocky pastures attracted the painters known as the Lyme Art Colony, whose story is told at the Florence Griswold Museum. The museum includes art galleries, gardens and the historic boardinghouse where many of the artists stayed and worked at the turn of the 20th century.

Through September 8 the exhibit Fragile Earth: The Naturalist Impulse in Contemporary Art showcases new commissioned work by Jennifer Angus, Mark Dion, Courtney Mattison and James Prosek that incorporates and responds to the natural world. Opening September 27, the museum presents Nothing More American: Immigration, Sanctuary, and Community. The exhibit features photographs of Matthew Leifheit, who shares the story of a Pakistani family who sought refuge in the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme for five months. His work is juxtaposed against paintings of this same church by 19th and 20th century painters. The exhibit explores questions of nationality and identity through various media ranging from portraits to landscapes across over a century of art. The exhibit is on view through January 26, 2020.

Just a five-minute walk down the street from the Florence Griswold museum is Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds, the working studio of Gilbert Boro. Boro is a sculptor, architect, educator and international design consultant.

His sculptures focus on the interaction of space, place and scale. This fall, explore, touch and

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COASTAL CONNECTICUT interact with more than 100 large and small-scale sculptures throughout 4 1/2 beautifully landscaped acres of gardens and courtyards along the serene Lieutenant River.

Bring a picnic lunch and be inspired by the connection between art and nature. On view until October 26 is also the 5th annual Summer Sculpture Showcase, which includes work by 19 established sculptors scattered throughout the property. After visiting Boro’s studio and grounds, make sure to see his solo exhibition, Knot Theory-The Sculptural Works of Gilbert Boro, at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, through November 3. Knot Theory is the latest exhibit in Lyman Allyn’s Near :: New contemporary series, and highlights Boro’s metal knot sculptures. The exhibition is on

view both in the Glassenberg Gallery, and on the museum’s grounds.

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum has other exhibits on view this fall including Legends: The Sports Photography of Walter Iooss, featuring more than 60 photographs of Iooss’s work from the 1960s to the present. The exhibit is up from September 21 to January 12. Brought to Light: European Paintings from the Collection, showcasing works from their permanent collection from the Renaissance through the 19th century, is on view through September 20, 2020. The exhibition Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London is an ongoing exhibit exploring the life and career of artist, designer and glassmaker Louis Comfort Tiffany through the lens of New London, focusing on the artist’s

connections to the region. American Perspectives is also an ongoing exhibit, celebrating American art from colonial times through the 20th century through the lens of Connecticut and New London County. In addition to these exciting exhibits, the museum’s permanent collection includes over 17,000 objects from ancient times to the present, with a strong collection of American paintings and decorative arts. Outside, the museum is surrounded by sculpture trails on 12 acres of gardens and lawns—a perfect way to spend a fall day.

Finally, make your way to Mystic Aquarium, located right on the shore in Mystic. What better way to explore the coast than through close observation of its natural life? Mystic Aquarium is home to thousands of marine

Touch the sculptures at this en plein air art experience where visitors can explore the bond between art, nature and people. Enjoy large and small-scale sculpture on 4.5 beautifully landscaped acres along the serene Lieutenant River. Bring a picnic lunch, de-stress and be inspired by 90+ sculptures and lush gardens. Free to the public 365 days a year! View sculpture from national artists

Guilford Art Center 411 Church St, Guilford 203.453.5947 • guilfordartcenter.org

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Classes & Workshops for All Ages

celebrating all things three-dimensional from June through November during our annual Summer

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Unique Works by American Artisans

Sculpture Showcase.

GALLERY

Juried & Invitational Exhibitions

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mammals, fish, invertebrates and reptiles, and is the perfect way to explore nature, hands on. At the Aquarium, you’ll find several events this fall, in addition to their regular exhibitions.

On September 13, Aquarium After Dark features Prosecco with Penguins in the main gallery, where you can unwind with beautiful underwater views and visit with one of Mystic Aquarium’s most popular animals. On September 16, watch penguins transform plain white tiles into artwork at the Penguin Tile Paint Night. On September 21, the Aquarium hosts their annual Ocean Commotion Gala. This black-tie gala raises funds to support the Aquarium’s mission to inspire people to care for and protect the ocean through conservation, education and research. After exploring the ocean first hand, spend your day at the seaport, with shops, galleries and restaurants.

Make sure to visit the art exhibits at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport Museum, and at the Mystic Museum of Art. Any fall excursion through New England should include an overnight or two. Relax and enjoy the change in the air as well as the seasonal switch to light sweaters and turtlenecks. If your new to exploring the Connecticut shore, look to the Delamar Hotels for excellence in comfort, cuisine and location. With properties in Southport, West Hartford and Greenwich Harbor, Delamar Hotels attract art and history lovers with their Connecticut Art Trail Package. The

package includes luxury accommodations, an in-room bottle of wine and access to the Delamar’s Connecticut Art Trail Passport, granting admission to myriad museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. This incredible artimmersion begins in the lobby of each hotel, containing an extensive collection of original art. Thoughtfully-designed public spaces and guest rooms at each Delamar hotel showcase oils, giclées and prints from well-known artists or loaned from noted galleries, including the special rotating display of works from the New Britain Museum of American Art in Delamar West Hartford. Art lovers can then venture out with their Connecticut Art Trail Passport and enjoy free admission to the region’s cultural heritage museums, contemporary art museums, and galleries vibrant with innovative exhibits.

There’s so much to see this fall along Connecticut’s coast. With its exciting history of Impressionism and artist colonies, expanding museums and art centers, open studios and new exhibits opening, the Connecticut coast is a rich cultural and artistic destination. Located conveniently between New York and Boston, a trip to the coast is perfect for this fall, and there’s no better way to experience Connecticut’s coast than on a crisp fall day, driving through quaint seaside villages exploring art. So head to the coast, and get lost in a sea of art!

—Jessica Fallis

“We believe your life is made better by good design.”

Chelminski and Offenhartz August 31 – October 12 Opening reception August 31 from 4 - 6pm

Bryan Plaza, Washington Depot, CT 06794 860-868-2878 / washingtonartassociation.org

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29 Church Street, New Milford, CT ameico.com

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DINING

EXPERIENCE THE CONNECTICUT ART TRAIL

WITH AN ESCAPE TO DELAMAR

OUR ART TRAIL PACAKGE INCLUDES A B O T T L E O F W I N E W I T H Y O U R S T AY B O O K Y O U R G E T A W AY A T D E L A M A R . C O M GREENWICH HARBOR

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