Category Archives: Arts

Opening Reception for LOL Junior Women’s Club Art Show & Benefit Sale, Friday

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'Reverie' by Sarah Lucas is the signature work for the 98th Elected Artist's Exhibition at the Lyme Art Association.

‘Reverie’ by Sarah Lucas is the signature work for the 93rd Elected Artist’s Exhibition at the Lyme Art Association.

Each spring the Elected Artists of the Lyme Art Association (LAA) display their finest work in the historic building’s sky-lit main galleries.  The 93rd Annual Elected Artist Exhibition will be on view from April 18 through June 1.  The opening reception on Friday, April 25 from 6 to 8 pm is free to the public.  

The juror for the 93rd Annual Elected Artist Exhibition will be Dr. Keith Morgan, Director, Architectural Studies Program, and Professor, History of Art & Architecture and American & New England Studies, at Boston University. Dr. Morgan is the author of “Charles A. Platt,” the leading scholarly study of the LAA’s celebrated architect, Charles Platt.

This year the Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women’s Club returns with its benefit exhibition and sale of work by invited local artists, on view in the upstairs Goodman gallery and in the newly remodeled lower level galleries.

Over the past 27 years, the Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women’s Club Art Show & Benefit Sale has served as the organization’s largest fundraising event, with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised from the show going directly to help local charities.  This year’s two main beneficiaries are the Estuary Council of Seniors and Safe Futures.

“The Lyme Art Association is extremely excited to welcome Dr. Morgan to the gallery as a juror in our centennial year.  Dr. Morgan’s work on Charles Platt has been a tremendous help to the Association’s efforts to better understand the history of our gallery and its place in Platt’s body of work, ” comments Joe Newman, LAA Executive Director.  He continues, “We are equally thrilled to host the annual Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women’s Club Art Show, and applaud their tireless dedication to making our region an even better place to live.”

The gala reception for the annual art show will be held on Friday evening, May 2, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Lyme Art Association.  The opening night of the fundraising event features an art show, as well as a silent auction, accompanied by drinks, and hors d’oeuvres.

Both exhibitions will be on view in the Lyme Art Association’s historic galleries from April 18 through June 1.

The Lyme Art Association was founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community.

The Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within a national historic district.  Admission is free with contributions appreciated.  Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call (860) 434-7802.

Senior Studio Exhibition on View at Lyme Academy College

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Senior Studio postcard 2014
An exhibition of artwork by seniors at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is on view at the College’s Chauncey Stillman and Sill House Galleries through May 17.  These seniors are studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and will graduate in May 2014.

The Senior Studio experience at the College allows students to refine their vision and develop a skill set in order to create a body of work that exemplifies their individual interests, talents, and artistic sensibilities.  The Senior Studio Exhibition 2014 reflects the culmination of this project.  Students will be present at the opening reception and available to discuss their work.  Both the reception and exhibition are free and open to the public; all are welcome.

Each student conceives their own project for the exhibition, and—with ongoing support and input from the faculty and their student peers   ̶  executes and presents it within a set amount of time.  Hayley Ashkenas (BFA Painting) of Berkeley, Calif., explains it this way, “It’s a pre-cursor of real life with gallery deadlines.  With so much buzzing around in your head, you have to not worry about the final product and just think clearly and slowly as you go through the process.” Chris O’Flaherty (BFA Painting) of Griswold, Conn., adds, “It’s definitely a challenging ride!  It’s the bridge between here and the next step.”

Sally Seaman, Dean of Academic Affairs at Lyme Academy College, comments, “This is such an exciting time for the seniors as they create a unified body of work. In the fall they experiment with different ideas using what they have learned from the previous three years at the College. Finally, after a great deal of work and many group critiques involving faculty and the other seniors, it all comes together. It’s absolutely phenomenal how this happens each year and quite exciting to watch and experience.” Magdalena Pawlowski (BFA Painting) from Nantucket, Mass., sums up the senior experience this way, “We all work very hard. It takes a lot of devotion and really prepares you for life.”

Both the Chauncey Stillman and Sill House galleries are free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The College gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Leon and Bernadette Olivier, Outthink, Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, and Saybrook Point Inn/Fresh Salt, for this exhibition.

For more information about the exhibition or Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, contact the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at 860-434-3571, ext. 135 or ologan@lymeacademy.edu

Exhibition Commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 at the CT River Museum

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As part of the 200th anniversary of the British Raid on Essex, the Connecticut River Museum is hosting a traveling fine art exhibit by members of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA).  Twenty-five paintings by 16 different artists illustrate the various arenas of military action that unfolded during this War which was largely fought on the water.

The exhibit is comprised of three theaters of war: the oceans; the Great Lakes; and the bays, estuaries, sounds and rivers of the Eastern United States.  The paintings include oils and watercolors, and depict scenes of famous engagements as well as lesser known vessels and locales.  While many of the works of art present traditional views of the great navy vessels on the high seas or in action, others feature more personal views of men, giving the war a human face.

The American Society of Marine Artists was founded in 1978 by a small group of professional artists, who shared a love for all things maritime.  The Connecticut River Museum is delighted to have teamed with ASMA for this themed exhibit.

The Connecticut River Museum is one of five national venues in which this exhibit will travel.  It will be on display during the bicentennial of the April, 1814 British Raid on Essex.  The Raid has been the subject of considerable research and attention at the Museum in recent years and will culminate during the spring of 2014 with this special exhibit along with a series of related programs and events.

For more information on the exhibition and related programs, visit ctrivermuseum.org.  The Connecticut River Museum is located at 67 Main Street, Essex and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Mondays.

Sunshine of Lyme Wins 2014 Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year, Age 13-16

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Braiden Sunshine of Lyme performs at the NACMAI competition in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Braiden Sunshine of Lyme performs at the NACMAI competition in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Last month, Braiden Sunshine of Lyme was named the 2014 Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year for age 13-16 in the ‘New Country’ category  by the North American Country Music Associations International (NACMAI) at their national competition held at Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Nacmai_trophy_2014_301KBSunshine had previously participated in the Southern New England Country Music Awards (SNECMA), which covers Connecticut and RI, where in August he won the title of 2013 Male Vocalist of the Year in his age group 13-16 for New Country Music.
He then moved on to the New England completion and in November won his category again.  All state winners are eligible to compete in the National competition in Tennessee.
There were three main genres of music being performed in Pigeon Forge; Gospel, Bluegrass and Country (Traditional and New Country).  Sunshine competed in the New Country category as it was the closest to his style of music.  The performers took the stage at the Country Tonight Theatre every eight minutes from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. each night Monday to Saturday.
Each day, Sunshine and his mother, Liz, watched some of the performers, making a point to see all the other Connecticut performers.
After the performances, Sunshine would practice and join in the jams in the hotel conference rooms.  Liz comments, “This was the real fun, getting 20 performers in a circle playing and singing, building off each other.  They would go around the circle taking turns as to who would lead the next song.  It was amazing to watch and outstanding to listen to.  There is an incredible camaraderie that these artist have with one another [in that] they almost don’t have to speak they just follow the music.”  She adds, “The jam sessions went late into the night.  Braiden would tell me that his fingers were in agony from playing for five hours straight.”
During the competition, Sunshine’s performance caught the eye of Mike Jennings and Sunshine was asked to be on the Nashville Spotlight Television Show.
Locally, you can see Sunshine perform on April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Buckley House, 111 Bank St., New London or Captains Pizza on Sunday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Congratulations, Braiden!

Cappella Cantorum Presents Durufle’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Sunday

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Barry Asch

Barry Asch

Cappella Cantorum’s 45th anniversary celebration begins April 6 with a performance of Maurice Durufle’s ” Requiem” and the Easter section of Handel’s “Messiah,” under the continuous musical direction of co-founder Barry B. Asch.  The concert will begin at 3 p.m. at John Winthrop Middle School, 1 Winthrop Road, Deep River (exit 5 off Rte. 9.)

Durufle’s “Requiem” reflects a haunting and spiritual Gregorian chant influence, while Handel’s “Messiah” is uplifting and inspiring in true Easter fashion.

Simon Holt, artistic director of Salt Marsh Opera, will be organist for the Durufle “Requiem” with Chamber Orchestra, and Deborah Lyon will be organist for the Easter section of the “Messiah.”

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased on www.CappellaCantorum.org or by calling 860-767-8452 or at the door.