"Abundant Autumn" Show Opening and Reception
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, "Abundant Autumn," with a collection curated to celebrate the essence of autumn—a season marked by transformation and anticipation for the chillier days ahead. A diverse array of works from both well-established and emerging artists will showcase paintings, sculptures, mixed media, and photography that delve into themes of harvest and change, natural cycles where leaves shed, and plant life prepares for dormancy. An Open Reception is Friday, September 27 from 6:30 to 9pm with wine and refreshments, and an Open House Weekend, Saturday, September 28 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, September 29 (1-5pm). The exhibit is at 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, Connecticut, and runs through November 9.
Returning favorites and new artists include award-winning painter Beth Pite who paints in loose, gestural strokes of vivid color. Elizabeth Goor, new to the gallery, explores abstract expressionism presenting a vibrant piece in oil and cold wax. Gillian Goodlad, also new to the gallery, is a painter who divides her time between rural life in Scotland, and coastal Connecticut. Working mostly in acrylic, she also enjoys watercolor, Indian ink, and wax to create semi-abstract effects. She presents “Salt Marsh in Early Fall”, an acrylic and wax work on cradled wooden board. Also new is Jena Maki, an artist known for her realist landscapes in oil. Inspired by the picturesque landscapes of New England, she explores where reality merges with the imagined. A new abstract painter at Spectrum is Laura L. Palumbo known for blending abstraction, minimalism, and translucency. Her work evokes peace and tranquility.
Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing several new pieces with an autumn palette. Painter Jeannette Delmore is inspired by the beauty of the New England landscape. She is an award-winning artist who works in oil, pastel, and more recently watercolor. Jennifer Crandall is a new artist to the Gallery and shows several colorful Autumn works in acrylic. Carol Dunn, a printmaker, photographer, and mixed media artist, shows several altered photographs using alternative processes. Ceal Swift returns with several vibrant autumnal paintings for the show, as does Deepti Gondia, who paints in semi-abstract and abstract styles and presents a vibrant landscape in this show.
Italian-born Louie Pisterzi has experience in painting, drawing, architecture, and photography. His work focuses on the human experience and psyche. He offers a new oil on canvas, “Faces of Autumn’s Whisper.” Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a serene waterscape scene with wildlife in oil. Oil painter Edith Skiba LaMonica returns and treats viewers to several semi-abstract visions of autumn. Kim Coughlin, who works in acrylic, mixed media, and experiments with abstraction, expressionism, and bold use of color shows a peaceful landscape. Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates larger mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, shows an autumn piece she calls “Autumn Explosion” which displays changing leaves in all their glory. Also returning is artist John Murray who presents his new watercolor work, “Autumn in New England” which showcases a New England home framed by a large tree at the height of its fall foliage.
Other important artists at the Gallery include Patricia Corbett whose vibrant use of dramatic color highlights the autumn color palette. Vivian Zoë an artist and arts educator with a varied background shows new colorful Autumn works in oil while Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed dried botanical fine art pieces. Also presenting are artists Dan Nichols, Gloria Nilsson, Anna Mastropolo, Barbara Rossitto, Vickie Williams, Bivenne Harvey Staiger, Marjorie Sopkin, and Michelle Gore.
New and returning photographers presenting include Donna Spencer who explores her passion for animals, flowers, and in this show a colorful park scene, and photographer Zili Zhang shows an expansive waterscape with a stunning reflection. Other award-winning photographers include Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Paul Ramsey.
Spectrum’s Store includes many fine artisans working in ceramic, pottery, glass, fabric, wood, and paper. These include woodworker Andy Teran; basket weaver Anne Carney; paper collage artist Marianne Ditz; Barbara Hernandez-Froehlich with seasonally decorated shells and standing glass and slate panels; polymer clay jewelers Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss and Bruce and Gail Barton (new to Spectrum) who collect rare sea glass shards to create unique jewelry pieces. Other artisans include Maria Johnson showcasing her charming cat clock wall sculpture, fused glass artist Sharon Lewis; stained glass artist Maryann Flick who has created new stained glass window panels with fall themes; fabric designer Elaine Sych with new home décor pieces; and Irene Dizes, also a fabric artist, with an array of felted cowls just right for the coming colder weather. Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, offers, felted bookmarks, and decorative felted boxes in fall colors. Candlemaker Janice Wood has new pure soy candles in the scents of Autumn; and Valerie Owens, a fabric artist and jewelry designer, presents new fall themed travel bags for makeup and other treasures. And there’s a new children’s book in the Store by Samuel Swap who is an illustrator, printmaker, and educator from Essex who draws on his love of biodiversity and the natural world to present his ABC’s of Bats sure to encourage respect for these very important creatures of the night.
Potters in the Store include returning favorites Terry Van Heusen, Eric Ambler, and Hannah Leckman. Lyn Harper also returns with ceramics inspired by the design aesthetics of Scandinavia and clean lines of everyday objects. Potter Niko Scharer creates finely crafted functional serving ware, and Janet McCready for this show has built stand alone pumpkin sculptures from Maple slices to give an orange pop to any fall home décor.
As always, a wide mix of unique and daring fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles and materials by designers such as Jessica Dickens, Gillian Davis (new to Spectrum), Lisa Faton, Joan Wenzel, Michele Kleiman, Pauline Clifford, and Jessica Pack.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, with gift cards also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211