A group of artists who each took different paths to express their views of the world will comprise the upcoming Accessible Art show sponsored by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut.
Venues in Danbury and Bethel are now hosting individual exhibits through Aug. 23.
The artwork will be available for viewing at Danbury City Hall, CityCenter Danbury, Hodge Insurance, Hancock Hall and Bethel Library. Accessible Art exhibits will be shown throughout the region all year, with five different sets of artists. Artists in this series are:
Gary Stanford, Kanika Khurana, and Barbara Courtian, all of Danbury, Terrence Tougas of New Milford, and Larry Morse of New York City.
Gary Stanford
Danbury City Hall
155 Deer Hill Ave.
(203) 797-4511
“The very essence of photography is the ability to create an historical record of an event at a precise moment in time. Events may involve people, places and things and be literal or figurative. My purpose as a photographer is to depict the world around me and to offer my interpretation of that event.”
Kanika Khurana
CityCenter Danbury
268 Main St.
(203) 792-1711
“I was born and raised in Delhi, India, and came to Connecticut in 2013 to study Illustration at Western Connecticut State University. I also studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York. I love illustrating for grown-ups as well as little people as it provides a vehicle to use my imaginative gifts to contribute to human education and wellbeing. I work from my cozy studio apartment in Danbury. When I miss the buzzing city life of Delhi, I hop on a train to NYC and can be found wandering around the city in a daze.”
Barbara Courtian
13 Hakim St., Danbury
(203) 794-9466
“The nature of watercolor, my chosen medium, demands a certain spontaneity. There is a lot that is unpredictable, whether it is the way the colors flow together or how they dry on the paper. They seem to have a mind of their own and possess a certain freshness. That is what makes watercolor unlike any other medium and such a challenge. I am fortunate to have homes in both Connecticut and New York City. Exploring neighborhoods in both locations is what I love to do; It may be the quick pulse of the city or the tranquility of the country. Both offer such wonderful contrasts and are a never-ending source of inspiration.”
Terrence Tougas
Bethel Public Library
189 Greenwood Ave.
(203) 794-8756
“From an early age, I’ve always been interested in exploring the physical world around me. I have an inquisitive nature that drives me to explore and challenge the status quo. I credit this quality with leading me to a career in science and now a second ‘career’ in the arts. I have long held the view that creativity, inquisitiveness and analysis are equally important to the scientist and the artist. I am by nature very analytical. It is what drew me to chemistry and mathematics, and it continues to influence me as I explore through artistic expressions the elements of the world around me.”
Larry Morse
Hodge Insurance
283 Main St., Danbury
(203) 792-2323
“My art challenges complacency. It identifies with those who are alone or alien, at the same time reflecting my own resistance to labeling or stereotypes. A self is unique. As an artist, I process the world around me through physical, emotional, and psychological self-determination.”
The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut is the heart of the region’s creativity to help communities connect and thrive. We are a 501C-3 and regional service organization serving 10-towns in the Greater Danbury area. Our aspiration is to improve access and growth of arts and culture to improve quality of life and the economy. The Connecticut Office of the Arts provides major support.