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Denyse Schmidt Quilts Improve Workshop. A complimentary workshop will be raffled.

The American Fabrics Arts Open Studios, now in its seventh year, is one of the most eagerly anticipated art events in Bridgeport. On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 and 11, the artists will open their doors to the public from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The public is invited to visit the artists, explore their studios and purchase their works. The historic re-purposed American Fabrics Arts building, at 1069 Connecticut Avenue in Bridgeport, was the American Fabrics Company textile factory, founded in 1909.

AFA Open Studios has been drawing crowds from the tri-state and New England areas on an annual basis. Walking from studio to studio, you will find families learning about the arts to serious art collectors interested in adding to their collections.  The weekend event will showcase more than 24 artists and crafts people in their studios. The diverse community includes painters, illustrators, commercial and fine art photographers, sculptors, jewelry designers and quilters. In addition, there will be a variety of demonstrations throughout the weekend, such as printing demonstrations by Emily Larned on her vintage printing press; pottery throwing demonstrations by Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong; and laser wood-cut demonstrations by Neil Pabian.  All of the artists will be on hand to speak about their work and their process.

One of the annual events during the Open Studios is the Denyse Schmidt Quilts Annual Sample Sale held on the 4th floor. Guests will find samples and overstock items from the DS Couture collection, Works collection, and one-of-a-kind studio quilts which are priced at 50% off retail list price. In addition, she will be hosting a quilting demonstration and bee 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday by members of Peace by Piece: the Norwalk Community Quilt Project.

The AFA Art Raffle returns to the event. The raffle gives guests the chance to win arts and/or crafts from tenants in the building when they enter their email address or home address on a raffle ticket.  Some of the items that will be raffled off include a gift certificate to a Denyse Schmidt Improvisational Patchwork Workshop valued at $350, a custom handbag from Artbags by Debora Crichton, a one-of-a-kind Krochet Kritter by Janine Brown and a “mystery handmade pen” from Wooden Ages.

The AFA Open Studios event is sponsored by Westrock Development and the Bridgeport Arts Trail.

LIST of ARTISTS: Janine Brown, Elizabeth Bullis-Wiese,  Tommy Conch, Dylan and Lauren Cotton (The Cotton Press), Patrick James, Andre Junget, Thomas Mezzanotte, Gus Moran, Neil Pabian, Ulla Surland from Fairfield; Denyse Schmidt Quilts Kedon Beckford Photography, Richard Killeaney (Ocheltree Design),  Bruce Brereton (Shekinah Photos), Emily Habansky, Wayne Pankey, Tamara Wood from Bridgeport; Emily Larned, Kvon Photography, Olmsted Audio from Stratford; Judith Corrigan, Lisie S. Orjuela from Trumbull; Brechin Morgan from Milford;  Debbie Crichton of Artbags from Ridgefield; Kevin Ford from Norwalk; Barry Doss Designs from New York City; Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong from Westport; Al Nakas from Weston; and Laura Appelman from Easton.

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City Lights Gallery is making a big splash this evening with a reception for “Waterworks,” , 5:30-8:30 p.m at their Markle Court gallery. Usually I sneak out at lunchtime to give myself a preview of the show, but I’ve been too busy this week to explore. But as soon as I can, I’m headed over, followed  by dinner at Star of Istanbul, the restaurant that just opened next door. (I’m killing two birds with one stone tonight if I eventually write a “Shared Dish” column)

The show is sponsored by Captain’s Cove Seaport and the Aquarion Water Company

One focus of the exhibit recognizes Kaye Williams, who is best known for his popular Black Rock destination, Captain’s Cove Seaport.  On view starting today are nautical constructions of Kaye Williams, artist’s renderings of his many project ideas and even Kaye’s electric blue coffin complete with a large compass ready to guide his way on his ultimate adventure.

Artists in the show include: Amy Arledge, Brec Morgan, Michelle Beaulieu, Jay Misencik, Kaz Oda, Liz Helling.  Christy Gallagher, John Kochiss, Dominick Botticelli, Claribel Correano, Steve Gerber, David Teti and Bruce Williams (Kaye’s son). The exhibit runs until Aug. 22.

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When visiting the Yucatan some time ago, we met a chef from New Zealand named Brent Marsh. We had already known about him by virtue of his website, which promotes his Remixto concept. Described as a “culinary salon,” Remixto brings a modern point of view to an ancient cuisine. Already sold on the local food, I was taken with the instructional videos he had posted online. He figured out how a modern kitchen with accessible ingredients can bring Mayan kitchen kitchen wisdom into the 21st century — a year that happens to be bringing a lot of attention to the Maya themselves.

We ended up being guests in the future home of Remixto, hosted by Brent and his partner, architect Stan Kahng. The home itself also reflects a modern take on something very, very old. Life in the tropics of Merida, Yucatan, isn’t like living in Florida, where blasting air conditioning is the most common solution. Cross-ventilation, living partially in- and out-of-doors, embracing the elements — that’s the secret. Their remodeling project is documented on another blog, Merida Hideaway, and their obsessive attention to detail, and reverence for history, is again apparent — and rendered a very modern way. The results are smart and attractive.

The house is designed along contemporary lines, but integrates shapes, colors and patterns from the original house, or from its era, probably sometime in the 19th century. We ate, drank and shared stories in a room that opened up dramatically to a central courtyard. To this New Jersey boy who has lived his adult life in Connecticut, and has traveled mainly in cold-weather climates, the concept of center courtyards still blows my mind. I first saw on in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico — I still remember how grand and romantic a gesture it all seemed. Opening up the center of your house to the sky is …  exactly the opposite of what anyone in New England would ever consider. A hole in the middle of my house in Bridgeport would be catastrophic. In Merida, it’s proper air flow. (Just remember to install mosquito screens as well.)

Their reinterpretation of architecture and cuisine inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and write a story for Taste, which appeared a week ago. I couldn’t fly a photographer down to Merida, much to the disappointment of our photographers, so I relied on Brent to supply the images for the piece. We have a policy of crediting non-staff or non-wire photos as “contributed photo.” But you should know that these beautiful images are Brent’s. Seems he’s a talented photographer as well.

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I took down my website temporarily today to protest SOPA, but luckily I still have this blog to remind you about the epic photo show going on at City Lights Gallery.

The show contains a thoughtful range of perspectives, but all from photographers with lenses trained on Bridgeport. The artists featured are:

The masterful Jay Misencik who has documented Bridgeport’s people, landmarks and soul for the past 30 years

Yves Francois Wilson a young, up-and-coming photographer, filmmaker and all-around talented artist

Michelle Beaulieu who possesses a great sense of design and a poetic eye, and also works in the New York/Connecticut theater and staging industry

Yolanda Vasquez Petrolcelli, a deep, yet whimsical artist who makes richly manipulated and collaged photographs

Pete Finch, who presents a stark, to-the-point perspective of Bridgeport

Peter Tepper, who grew up in the Hollow and went to “photo school” in the U.S. Army in the mid 50′s and had a full career as a professional photographer.

See a gallery of photos

Update: Both Lee Steele and my expat blog about Merida are back up, and I thank you for your support!

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If you look across the Connecticut Post newsroom,  you’ll see that at least half the workstations have Kennedy Center wall calendars tacked on their nearest wall or post. I think it’s because each month’s cheery, charming image provides a nice counter balance to all the bad news we find ourselves reporting.

For me, I just love the art work, and always have. These uncomplicated, color-saturated images are as good as it gets.  The Unique Perspectives Calendar, as it’s called, demonstrates that mental disabilities don’t necessarily stymie creative power and the power to create something beautiful.

Michael Finelli gives us “Winter Dots” in January, an abstract of violets, blues and crimson. February brings us Marc Iaizzi’s four sporty cars in profile, “Chevy Nova X Four.” Then comes a county landscape dense greens and cyans, “Spring Run Off” by Alice Dubois. I won’t even peek into the next months because I like to be surprised.

Somehow, we almost missed getting them this year. Somehow, I overlooked the invitation to their annual calendar reception, which was last month at City Hall Annex. Somehow, I was lucky enough to grab what has become a rare handful to distribute to my newsroom friends.

As they have since 1983, People’s Bank funded this project, with additional support from Merit Insurance, Maggie Daly and Imperial Graphics.

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Amazingly, the Barnum Museum has never recovered from the tornado that hit Bridgeport over a year ago. Tomorrow’s gala celebration is an attempt to set Bridgeport’s most treasured downtown institution on the right course.

The museum first opened in 1883, but has been closed since June 24, 2010,  just as it was planning a huge yearlong celebration of P.T. Barnum’s 200th birthday. The museum’s namesake, the famous 19th-century showman, was also mayor of Bridgeport for a time.

Reconstruction has been slow, and the museum has had to undertake them without any federal funds, which is strange considering we’re talking about a historical building shuttered by a natural disaster. But even before the storm, there were signs of trouble. Remember when they couldn’t pull together enough funds for a cash register? I mean, can’t the Barnum get a little more love?

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“Humanity of Horses,” paintings by Judith Corrigan of Bridgeport, opens at the Nylen Gallery with a reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. It runs through Nov. 12.  Reception: Friday, October 7th, 5:30- 7:30pm.

The gallery, owned by Black Rock’s Wendy Nylen, sent this release:

DaVinci said: “Art is not a thing of the eye ? it is a thing of the mind. Every mature genuine artist must come to the realization that their work is a psychic self-portrait; a self-history.”

It’s clear that Judith Corrigan has arrived at that place with her work. Her work is the unfolding of her subconscious images; those images we all have that are a record of our felt experiences. She deals with her connections to her past, to her world and to her present.

Her work is vibrant, energetic, and direct. She combines the spontaneous with critical assessment. The beginning artist explores, as does the mature artist; the difference is that the mature artist ? finds. Judith has found a voice, and a soul, and it is a genuine piece of music. It’s to our benefit if we can listen. Continue reading →

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Darien artist Tina Duryea will  show recent portraits at Brendan’s 101 in Rowayton, starting with a reception 7-9 p.m. Saturday Aug. 13. The show runs all month.

Duryea’s contemporary snapshot type compositions capture her subjects’ emotion and personality.  Her portraits are executed primarily on Yupo Paper, a 100% recyclable, tree-free plastic paper made in the U.S.  She is one of a handful of artists working with this highly specialized paper in oils.

Tina’s specializes in portraits of children and animals but also is known for her abstract landscapes and large scale equestrian portraits.

A lifelong resident of Darien, Tina is a graduate of Darien High School, Mount Holyoke College and the School of Visual Arts.