Westport Artists Exhibit Work at Firing Circuits Studios of Norwalk

Wilton Library’s white walls will be ablaze with color when Firing Circuits Studios of Norwalk exhibits at the library this November and December.  The opening reception for the exhibition, Artists of Firing Circuits Studios,” is Friday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Eighteen artists from the studios will be featuring more than 80 of their works.  The artists participating in the exhibition are Jeanine Esposito (Westport), Andrea Farina (Norwalk), Cecilia Moy Fradet (Norwalk), Mindy Green (Norwalk), Mari Gyorgyey (Stamford), Elisa Keogh (Norwalk), Cate Leach (Norwalk), Susan Leggitt (Norwalk), Pam Lindberg (Darien), Mary Manning (Darien), Claudia Mengel (Westport), Valerie Rovins (Norwalk), Mark Schiff (Norwalk), Karen Vogel (Darien), Rachel Volpone (Ridgefield), Brian Walker (Wilton), Nancy C. Woodward (Norwalk), and Marc Zaref (Norwalk).  The reception is free and open to the public.

According to Mark Schiff, who organized the Firing Circuits artists, “When Ed MacEwen [Wilton Library’s art chairman] contacted me about this show, I was excited. When I then brought the opportunity to the artists, they all said ‘they would love to participate.’”

Ed MacEwen noted, “Mark is a wonderful, colorful artist and personality who had exhibited a number of pieces previously at the library.  I thought if he had a few artists like himself at Firing Circuits, we would have a highly skilled and bountiful exhibition.  The proof is on the walls.”

The group of artists known as Firing Circuits Studios was borne out of an abandoned factory building in Norwalk, CT about twelve years ago. The building was originally built in the early 1900s and housed the Connecticut Lace Works. The industry thrived until the 1960s after which it was home to Firing Circuits, an electrical components firm.  The business is long gone, but the letters are still proudly displayed on the building, hence it became the name of the burgeoning artist colony of close to 30 artists (www.firingcircuitsartists.com).

The studio artists work in an array of mediums, including oils, watercolors, mixed media and sculpture, which are on exhibit at Wilton Library from November 13 through December 26.  The majority of the works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library. The media sponsor for the exhibition is The Wilton Bulletin. 

Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center.  Library hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.  The library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  For information and directions, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334.