Main Gallery – RADIUS (February 27 – March 27)

Attention:  Tomorrow’s Radius Opening Postponed

Weather permitting the Radius exhibition will be open on Sunday, February 28 from 12 – 4 pm with the reception taking place on Saturday, March 6 from 2-4 pm.

Please note:  The Radius Professional Practice Forum at the Aldrich will take place on Sunday, February 28 instead of Saturday.

RADIUS

Radius has entered its second decade!  Radius is a professional development program organized by The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in conjunction with the Ridgefield Guild of Artists to promote the growth and interests of regional artists. The Radius program has multiple components, including a professional practice forum, annual juried exhibition, workshops, and networking events.

Learn about technology’s impact on today’s studio practice then celebrate the 12th annual Radius exhibition of work by up-and-coming regional artists on Saturday, February 27, 2010.

Radius Professional Practice Forum

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum; February 27, 2-3:30pm; FREE

Panelists:  George Fifield, founder and director of the Boston Cyberarts Festival; artist Eva Lee; and Steven Sacks, director of Bitforms Gallery

Radius Exhibition Opening Reception

Ridgefield Guild of Artists; February 27, 4-6pm; FREE

Artists:  Mia Brownell, Geoffrey Detrani, Thomas Doyle, Brad Guarino, The Ladies’ Auxiliary, Sabrina Marques and Blake Shirley

Annual Juried Exhibition: February 27 – March 27, 2010

34 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield, CT; 203.438.8863; www.rgoa.org

Open Wednesday – Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm


Upstairs Gallery – Sholeh Janati’s SECRETS: NEW WORKS (Feb 15 – March 14)

SECRETS: NEW WORKS

This exhibit will feature 28 of Sholeh Janati’s abstract paintings from February 15 - March 14th.  An open-house style reception will be held on Sunday, February 28 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. with a talk by the artist at 2 p.m.

Sholeh Janati is an accomplished artist whose works are found in Europe, Middle East and North America . Her work is characterized by strong brush strokes, rich textures and vibrant colors, and her creative, spontaneous and affectionate personality shines through her paintings, which unite past, present and future and represents a great strength of cultural identity.

Born in Tehran, she adopted the US as her home in 1988. While her talents were originally recognized by Persian traditionalists, she has since concentrated on still life, nudes, portraits and abstract paintings, which has brought her praise from a broad spectrum of American and European enthusiasts. The vibrancy of her colors and her ability to express real life through her work is the defining characteristic of her creativity. Her recent works have focused on abstract paintings, through which she expresses her vision through a myriad of colors and shapes.

Sholeh’s paintings typically evoke a unique response. Collectors of Sholeh’s work have commented that her paintings provide a constant interaction with the viewer — as if taken on a journey to a new place and time. Repeated viewings of her work reveal something that hadn’t seen before ~ a constant interaction with the individual, as if the painting changes dynamically time after time. In this sense, the individual finds each of Sholeh’s works as an expression of their own artistic vision.

Sholeh maintains her studio in Westport , Connecticut . In the last twelve months, some of her most recent award-winning works have been on display at the Bowery Gallery in New York City (curated by Paul Resika); the Viridian Artists Gallery in New York City; Andrews Art Museum in Andrews, NC; FABRIKA in Paterson, NJ; and Westport Arts Center in Westport, CT.

Upcoming … Upstairs Gallery: Studiomates (March 19-April 11)

My Friend Visits by Sharon Nakazato

STUDIOMATES

Paintings by Sharon Nakazato & Christopher Staples

March 19 – April 11, 2010

Reception:  Sunday, March 21, 2-4 pm

Mixed-media artists Sharon Nakazato and Christopher Staples, artists who share a studio in Carmel, N. Y., present works that combine symbolic and literal imagery with vibrant color and diverse cultural references in a showing of their art at the Ridgefield Artists Guild.

“Working across the table from an active, innovative, highly creative individual actually strengthens my awareness of what is uniquely me and my own,” says Nakazato, a licensed teacher of Japanese calligraphy, whose years working as an artist in Japan are subtly reflected in her current offerings.  Having a studiomate, she says, also reinforces her determination to make art a priority in her life.

Musing I by Christopher Staples

Staples, an award-winning artist and workshop leader, renovated a barn on her property to serve as a studio in 2005.  She initially sought a studiomate to help defray expenses, but soon found that having a fellow artist in residence also provided mutual psychic benefits.

“Sharon and I often share creativity-enhancing, self-searching exercises that we have developed or found to provide fresh well-springs for our art-making,” says Staples.  “While our work is very different, we are fellow travelers on the same path.”

One creative practice shared by the studiomates is that of creating “mandalas” — circular drawings filled with subconscious symbols that stimulate and inform their other creative works.  Many of these will be included in in the show at the recently renovated Upstairs Gallery which is open from 12 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Upcoming: Main Gallery – Bedlam 2010 (April 10 – April 24)

BEDLAM

Calling All Members . . .

CONTEST

The Guild’s Bedlam committee is sponsoring an E-vite Contest for the promotion of our 2nd annual Bedlam show.   Send us your work if it evokes chaos, mayhem, confusion — BEDLAM.  The Bedlam committee will choose up to 2 pieces from all entries.  The winner’s work will appear on all publicity and graphic outreach as well as on our website. Send artwork (jpeg format) via email to the Guild (rgoa@sbcglobal.net) by March 8.  Please reference Bedlam in the subject line.  Please Note: While the Bedlam committee is looking for Bedlam imagery for publicity — the Bedlam show itself is not themed!  All types and themes of artwork are acceptable.

BEDLAM – A Themeless Member Show

RECEIVING

Come HANG with us!  Bring your favorite piece of artwork and for just $10 a nail – hang it yourself – anywhere in the Gallery!  Come join the fun!

Receiving for the BEDLAM show will be on Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10, 12-4pm.  Members will hang their own art during the two days of receiving.  The Guild reduces their traditional 40% commission down to 10% for this show and it is a good opportunity to reflect that reduction in your artwork prices.  Hanging fees for work measuring (horizontally or vertically including frame) under 36″ is $10 per piece; anything over 36″ is $15 per piece. Up to three works may be brought in.

CELEBRATION

A member/opening party will take place the final day of hanging on Saturday, April 10 from 6-8pm.   We are asking for a $1.00 entry fee that will also include a raffle ticket for a door prize.  This show will run through April 24.

EXHIBIT  Saturday, April 10 – Saturday, April 24

Gallery Hours:  Wed – Sun, 12 – 4pm

For more information, please call the Guild at 203.438.8863.

VOLUNTEERS

Would you like to get involved in Bedlam?  The Guild is seeking committee members for receiving/pick up; hospitality (check-in reception for party, bartender); and publicity (distribute flyers around town).  Contact Mary Louise O’Connell at rgoa.sbcglobal.net.