"Two Paths Through the Woods" Art Show Opens at Kershner Gallery June 10

Fairfield, CT -- The public is invited to a reception at the Kershner Gallery for “Two Paths Through the Woods”, the drawings of Dan Long and the photographs of MaryEllen Hendricks on June 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The artists will talk about their work at 5:30. The show runs from June 3 to July 30 in the Fairfield Library at 1080 Old Post Road and can be viewed during library hours. See www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org or call 203-256-3155.

Dan Long is an artist in Westport. He started drawing and painting at an early age, went on to receive a degree in design at the University of Michigan Art School. He then enjoyed a 30 year career as a Creative Director at some of New York City’s most prestigious advertising agencies. He has won many awards in both print and television, joined and taken part in many local art associations, showing his work, winning many awards in juried shows, and chairing art events throughout Connecticut.

Since early childhood, Dan has been drawn to the forest and fascinated by trees. He sees that as they age, tree branches become gnarled, twisted and deformed; roots lose their grip; leaves whither and trees come thundering down. Stumps remain as rotting remnants of youth and beauty. All are mere fragments of their past glory and remind Dan of the aging in his own body. In each drawn image of a tree, Dan tries to capture this idea. While he doesn’t share the same cells, he knows he shares the same fate, yet he can still fantasize that it is not going to happen to him.

MaryEllen Hendricks is a photographer living in Westport. She received her BFA from Pratt Institute over 30 years ago. Since then, she has been exploring various photographic processes in her art as well as working as a professional photographer. She has exhibited and won prizes in numerous group and one woman shows including a solo show at the Westport Public Library. MaryEllen has been working on her “Thin Places Project” for the past few years. She documents both in words and photography the personal stories of individuals who have places of peace and spirituality.

The woods have always been a special place for MaryEllen. Her childhood home was surrounded by the Watchung Reservation in New Jersey. She would spend hours exploring the woods, finding a sense of calm and joy there. MaryEllen and Dan discovered their mutual love of the woods and began going together to photograph and draw in many of the preserves and woods in Westport and Fairfield. This show is the result of their respect and appreciation of the ever shrinking natural world.

MaryEllen’s passion is late 19th and early 20th Century large format photography. She has been experimenting with printing her landscapes, botanicals and portraits using alternative methods combining historic and modern technologies.