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The Black Rock branch library — which quickly became a vital neighborhood meetingplace after its reopening — recently announced some uplifting news:

The four watercolor paintings of Black Rock that hung in the Black Rock Branch for years are coming home after a seven-year absence, they said.

“In 1935, Bethel artist Rolston Keeler completed these works for the WPA Federal Art Project,” reads the press release. “They depict scenes of Black Rock and St. Mary’s as they appeared in a bygone era.”

All true, and yet I clearly recognize the neighborhood. Its character, and some landmarks, remain intact to this day.

The library is hosting its first annual Black Rock Block Party from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 25. Come, they urge, “and welcome a part of Black Rock History home.”

I hope they will also explain the story of the paintings’ removal and reappearance.

More on the local art scene here.

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From "The Day the Factory Died." Click for larger image.

At the Westport art fair over the weekend, we noticed a little sign near the Starbucks, where the entrance to Domain used to be. Behold, it was a Nuartlink pop-up gallery, a temporary art space that set up between permanent tenants. It was unconnected to the art fair. In fact, you could really say it was disconnected from the art fair, giving visitors a serene gallery experience just yards from the open-air fair.

Curator Vida Geranmayeh Florian assembled  photography from nine artists: Arthur Cohen, Joel Dawson, George Diebold, Brett Froomer, Kervin Maule, Adine Segalyn, Shonna Valeska, Cibele Vieira and Christophe von Hohenberg.

The show had a Chelsea-cool to it that make me realize why the Westport show mainly left me cold. This work hit me on a much more intellectual, challenging level. Few from the art fair seemed to notice the spot. Continue reading →

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The Barnum Museum is readying the Barnum's 200th birthday

The Barnum Museum, which had great things planned for P.T. Barnum’s 200th birthday this month, is still closed, although the ground-floor space abutting People’s United Bank is open and being used.

Still, they have are showing some pluck. Here is their press release:

The P.T. Barnum Legacy of Tragedy Continues

The temporary closing of the historic Museum building will allow for clean-up and proper restoration of the valued collection.

(Bridgeport, CT July 16, 2010) —The historic section of the Barnum Museum is closed due to the after effects of the tornado on June 24. Air quality reports received on July 15 indicated elevated levels of lead in the 117-year-old structure, which is owned by the City of Bridgeport and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The lead levels discovered were not dangerous,” explained Kathy Maher, executive director and curator, “however, for the safety of our guests, we will not reopen until the entire building is ‘brand-spanking clean.”

“The reopening date will be determined as we proceed with the extensive clean-up,” continued Maher. “This highly specialized work must be done by conservation experts familiar with repairing and restoring historic artifacts.”

The People’s United Bank Gallery of the museum will continue to be open for a series of previously planned adult and children’s programs during July and August. The cirque themed and inspired sculpture exhibition by North Haven’s David Millen, “Celebrating the Spirit of P.T. Barnum! Energy, Vitality, Balance” will still open on Sunday, July 25 and will be available for viewing during normal museum hours Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4:30 p.m.

The temporary museum entrance will be at the back of the plaza on Main Street, to the right of the People’s United Bank main entrance.

The museum has launched a tornado recovery appeal urging people and organizations to make financial contributions at any level to save this treasured landmark.

For a complete listing of 200th anniversary year events celebrating this amazing – and sometimes outrageous – showman, civic leader and politician, P.T. Barnum, visit www.barnum-museum.org or call 203-331-1104 ext.100 or to make a contribution.

During this time while the core exhibitions are closed, all programs including the fabulous sculpture exhibition will be free to the general public, but donations of any amount are truly appreciated.

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Gus Moran’s “Leaves of Grass” was unveiled before a decent-sized crowd on Broad Street last evening. The band from the Downtown Thursdays gathering on the green, the next block over, paused for the big reveal.

So finally, after just one false start, is the second in a series of six outdoor public art displays in downtown Bridgeport.

The six artists are presenting their works for two months in the year-long, rotating exhibit on view on the Broad Street side of 211 State St.

Read more

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The last time I hyped a big downtown Thursday, the city incurred millions of dollars in storm damage. So I’m taking no chances. Here’s a lazy man’s post, a cut-and-pasted press release (with my comments in italics) from MainStateVentures.

MainStateVentures Public Art Competition

Please join us (Thursday, July 8 at 6 p.m.) to celebrate the latest work by (Bridgeport artist) Gus Moran — the second artist displaying his work in a series of six outdoor public art displays in downtown Bridgeport. (This was originally going to happen two weeks ago, but that wee little storm came through, with some of the worst damage right by the intersection where this is happening. The storm came 45 minutes after workers pulled down the previous artwork depicting a fanciful character called Weather sKwirl™, so you tell me there’s not something supernatural going on here.)

Pre-unveiling, check out “Downtown Thursdays” on McLevy Green — The Big Fat Combo starts playing at 5pm, but they will be taking a break at 6pm, just in time for the artwork to be unveiled right across the street!

After you view Gus Moran’s beautiful contribution to the public art exhibit, head over to Tiago’s (whose plate glass window was shattered during the storm) for the artist reception, or back over to McLevy for live music until 7pm!

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One of Kahn's works

A reception this evening will unveil the recent works of Bridgeport’s new art czar, but the gathering is up in Hartford where for many years he was executive director for the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Yes, Kenneth Kahn doesn’t just promote the arts, he’s also an accomplished painter.

The exhibit, “A Year in Pompano,” was inspired by Kahn’s time spent in South Florida during the past year, where he served as public art administrator of Broward County’s Cultural Division.

Kahn is donating 25 percent of the proceeds of the sale of his work to benefit the Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign. Here’s a price list and more information.

According to the council’s press release, the works are primarily 5″x7″ works on board, with several pieces ranging up to 10″x14″. The collection “offers the vision of sun-soaked, salt-sprayed South Florida coastal living, including paintings focusing on beach cottages, people frolicking on the sand, beach horizon lines spotted with ocean-going vessels, clusters of boats, and rosy sunsets.”

“I hope my quickly painted oil sketches of South Florida landscape subjects speak directly to you in a compelling way even if the work is unassuming and makes no great demands on your senses or on those of would-be art ‘crickets’,” said Kahn. “I spent early mornings, late afternoons, and weekends during the past year with paint, in order to connect with my surroundings, mostly in Pompano and Ft. Lauderdale and a bit in Miami Beach, an old haunt where I lived during my tenure as Director of the Miami Dade Cultural Affairs Department all through the ’80s.”

The Greater Hartford Welcome Center, 45 Pratt St., Hartford, (860) 244-0253
Kenneth Kahn: A Year in Pompano, Through June 7—Aug. 6, 2010.

Artists’ reception: Tues., July 6, 5:30—7 p.m.

More on local art and artists here

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McLevy Green

The Bridgeport Arts Fest is coming up quick — Saturday, July 17 — and for artists this is an inexpensive vehicle for getting positioned in the middle of a fun event at McLevy Green.

The Bridgeport Arts Fest is a one-day gathering of artists, artisans, craft-makers and musicians, with food from area restaurants and craft-brewed and home-brewed beer. Sounds like a cool alternative to the more traditional old-timey fairs the other towns have.

Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County (formerly MACH) will bring children’s art activities and its youth jazz ensemble. The Ralphola Taylor Community Center’s youth African dance ensemble will perform. And Connecticut favorites Saint Bernadette and Cosmic Jibaros will also rock the green.

The Bridgeport Arts Fest is co-sponsored by the city, the Downtown Special Services District and local businesses.

The fee for a booth site is $25. There are no other fees but if you want a tent the city will help you with a discount rate of $125.

Contact Ben Henson at ben.henson@bridgeportct.gov or call 203-576-3972 by Friday, July 9.

Read more about area art-oriented events at my blog, www.leesteele.com