The Ridgefield Arts Council invites local artists and creative professionals to the next installment of “The Generator.” The networking event will feature three speakers discussing their respective artistic endeavors, and will be held at 7:30pm, Monday, June 26th at the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance.
During the event, artists, writers and performers gather with the goal of learning, sharing, and networking with others to enhance both their creative process and their careers. The events are managed via the website Meetup.com and feature innovative speakers, arts demonstrations and presentations geared toward the creative community.
Mixed Media/Graffiti Artist Michael Cerullo will discuss his creative process and how visual artists work. Cerullo, a Ridgefield native, creates intense three-point perspective abstractions of letter forms that blur the lines between graffiti and fine art. He attended Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. There, he became heavily influenced by the bold colors and letter forms found in graffiti. He applied his love of letter forms and graffiti to the techniques he is currently working with, such as the three-point perspective seen in a majority of his pieces. Cerullo recently completed commissioned murals at Whip Underground Salon, Joy Ride and The Prospector Theater, all in Ridgefield.
Michele Gargan, PsyD began her professional dance career in the 1970s, performing with the Joyce Trisler Dance Ensemble and other modern dance companies. She will speak on arts and the brain and the body-mind connection. Gargan, who earned a master's degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, participates actively in dance, taking classes regularly and performing character roles for Connecticut Ballet. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, has taught Bartenieff Fundamentals and Effort/Shape to dance professionals and has developed mind-body clinical methods for working with chronic pain. She is in private practice and serves as the Director of Support and Education for the US Pain Foundation. She writes a regular column for Pain Pathways Magazine.
Following the brief presentations, members of The Generator will be encouraged to mix and mingle with presenters and each other while enjoying wine, light fare and refreshments. Creative types who live in and around Ridgefield are welcome to attend. The cost of attending The Generator is $5 for pre-registration (via meetup.com/The-Generator-Ridgefield-CT) or $10 at the door, which covers the cost of wine and light snacks.
The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance is located at 444 Main Street in Ridgefield. For more information about the Ridgefield Arts Council, visit their Facebook page or www.ridgefieldartscouncil.org.