OPEN MONDAY, JUNE 15TH THRU THURSDAY, AUGUST 13TH
"In summer, the song sings itself." - William Carlos Williams
"And so I wander 'round this town/'til summer comes around," sang musician Keith Urban in his haunting hit song, reflecting what poet William Carlos Williams so aptly noted, when "the song sings itself." This summer, three artists - Elisabeth Levy (Bethel), John Longobricco (Danbury), and Chris Plaisted (New Milford), joined by art students of the regional YMCA's ESCAPE to the Arts - will reveal their "visual songs" as the 7th year-long, multi-site series,Accessible Art, continues, opening Monday, June 15th and running through Thursday, August 16th. Presented by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, the exhibition program is presented in both public and private venues, providing opportunities for artists to show work in alternative spaces and to make art more accessible to the general public. "Accessible Art is also a way for business leaders to leverage creative talent to promote economic development and bring life to downtown communities," says Executive Director Lisa Scails, She notes thatAccessible Art has presented almost 100 local and regional visual artists since its inception. (Times at venues vary. Call ahead. All exhibitions are subject to change.)
Elisabeth J. Levy photography
Exhibition 1
Portofino's Restaurant & Wine Bar, 213 Greenwood Ave., Bethel
Reception: Friday, Saturday 20th, noon to 3:00pm
Known for her luminous yet intimate images of the Natural World, Elisabeth has turned her camera towards a local treasure, Candlewood Lake. Growing up spending summers on the Lake and later living there year-round, she feels Candlewood is under-appreciated for its natural beauty during the “in-between times” as she calls it. With "Candlewood Kiss: An Alternative View of a Beloved Lake", Elisabeth captures this engineered waterscape after the boats and swimmers are gone, and the docks pulled out. "It was my last winter on the Lake and I felt like it was giving me a kiss good-bye, hence the title of the series.” Levy says that what drives her work is a desire to bring attention to beauty in the everyday. (www.ejLphoto.com)
Exhibition 2
Danbury Public Library, 170 Main Street
In contrast to "Candlewood Kiss," Elisabeth's ode to The Big Island, "Mahalo Hawaii", (Mahalo means "thank you" in Native Hawaiian) is the title of this body of work because of the gratitude the Artist says she feels towards this extraordinary place. "Hawaii’s magical land, it’s blue, white, and lavender dancing waves, its glittering multicolored stones, active volcanoes, and aged, hardened planes of lava brought me great joy and healing during a difficult time in my life," she says. Her hope is that the Images will not only inspire people to visit the beautiful islands of Hawaii but also to move them to want to protect them. She believes that the best way to preserve a place is to empower its native people. (www.ejLphoto.com)
CityCenter Danbury, 268 Main Street
John writes: "I am an active Danbury Senior Citizen. Besides doing a lot of local volunteer work, art is my passion. It is an honor to be included in the Accessible Art series in my favorite city." John is also a carver and craftsman.
Chris Plaisted sculpture & paintings
YMCA's ESCAPE to the Arts, 293 Main Street, Danbury
Reception: Friday, June 19th, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Chris' exhibition, “alloy & abstraction”, will feature a range of sculpture, drawings and paintings, each focusing on forms of contrast: whether in the concept such as man vs. nature or social vs. emotional, or in the tension created by the use of materials. There is a connection with the juxtaposition of different materials: steel with copper and concrete, wood with metals. "The opposing materials, forms, or colors in my work intensify each element’s properties to produce a more dynamic form of expression," he comments. Chris received his education from Parsons The New School for Design in New York City which launched a 20-year career as a graphic designer. (http://cpdsculpture.businesscatalyst.com)
ESCAPE to the Arts students
Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Avenue
The Regional Y began in the late 1800's as a storefront operation in downtown Danbury and is currently ranked as the 3rd largest Y in Connecticut. The non-profit community service organization's mission is dedicated to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. (http://www.regionalymca.org/escape_about.html)
For more information about the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut and Accessible Art, call (203) 798 0760 or visit artswesternct.org