Category Archives: Arts

Lyme Art Association Presents an ‘Exhibition in Four Acts’ Through April 7

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‘Port of Pecceto’ in acrylics by Len Swec is one of the featured works in the ‘Wanderlust’ show.

OLD LYME  — Four new exhibitions, each with a different theme, will be on view in the historic galleries of the Lyme Art Association (LAA) from March 4 through April 7.  ‘Poetry of Motion’, ‘Black and White’, ‘Wanderlust’, and ‘Renewal: Visions of Spring’ will run concurrently, each in a separate room.

The Exhibition in Four Acts is one of the LAA’s most engaging exhibitions, bringing together four distinct types of representational art.

Poetry of Motion showcases the work of talented artist members, who set out to capture the fleeting gestures of action and movement within their artwork.

Black and White features work of all themes in black and white and all the greys in between.

Wanderlust will take visitors on vacation with the artists.

‘Speckled Eggs’ in watercolor by Liz McGee is one of the signature works in the ‘Renewal: Visions of Spring’ show.

Renewal: Visions of Spring focuses on uplifting imagery of springtime and rebirth.

Four Acts is generously sponsored by Guilford Savings Bank in partnership with the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.

“A visit to the Lyme Art Association to see the Exhibition in Four Acts feels like visiting four different galleries. There is a variety and a shift in mood as you move from one gallery to the next,” states gallery manager, Jocelyn Zallinger.

She adds, “This show also allows a visitor to focus on each genre in a way that is not possible in other exhibitions.”

Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival Returns July 30, LYSB Hosts 5K Run in Morning — Registration Now Open!

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Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival will take place Saturday, July 30, this year with an opening concert at the Florence Griswold Museum the evening before.

OLD LYME — After the disappointment of Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival being cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID pandemic, we are thrilled to announce that it will be taking place again this year!

So mark your calendars now for the full-day event on Saturday, July 30, with the traditional, outdoor concert at the Florence Griswold Museum taking place the evening before, Friday, July 29.

Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau will be hosting its traditional 5K road race on the morning of July 30. Registration is open at this link.

We will publish more details as they become available.

Florence Griswold Museum Hosts Exhibition of Historic Quilts, Bedcovers Through May 1, Masterpieces from Local Area

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Attributed to Jerusha Foote Johnson (1755‒1831), Colchester, Bed rug, 1782. Wool, Collection of Rick and Susan Copeland.

OLD LYME — A new exhibition titled,  New London County Quilts and Bed Covers, 1750–1825, is on view at the Florence Griswold Museum (FGM) in Old Lyme through May 1, 2022. The exhibition examines some of America’s most celebrated items of textile folk art, all produced here in the southeastern corner of Connecticut.

Curated by Lynne Z. Bassett, this exhibition of rare beauty and historic value is an important addition to women’s and Connecticut history and contributes significant scholarship in the field of American textile history.

Unidentified maker, Quilted petticoat fragment, ca. 1750‒1760. Silk, wool, DAR Museum, Gift of Mrs. Robert Weber.

The project began in August 2019 when Bassett, a leading historical textile expert, visited the Museum on a research trip to examine a whitework quilt in the FGM collection. She had become intrigued by the extraordinary tradition of New London County bed furnishings and garments that grew out of this part of Connecticut, which she described as a “hotbed” of uniquely excellent textiles.
In studying these objects and trying to identify their makers, she pondered the larger question: Why was such incredible work done here?

Unidentified maker, “PG”, Quilted petticoat made into a bed quilt; petticoat ca. 1750‒1760; bed quilt ca. 1810‒1840. Wool, broadcloth/muslin, International Quilt Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2005.016.0001.

What started with the FGM quilt turned into discovering examples of works from an extraordinary roster of institutions: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, American Folk Art Museum, Historic Deerfield, the International Quilt Museum, the Henry Ford Museum, Winterthur Museum, and the DAR Museum.
Visit the exhibition to explore the heritage of these textiles, the ingenuity of their design inspiration and techniques, and learn how New London County fostered such exceptional handiwork.

Unidentified maker, Quilted petticoat fragment, ca. 1750‒1760. Silk, wool, DAR Museum, Gift of Mrs. Robert Weber.

This exhibition has been made possible by generous support from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts, The Connecticut Cultural Fund, The Coby Foundation, Connecticut Humanities, Mr. & Mrs. J. Geddes Parsons, Bouvier Insurance, Barbara and Wayne Harms, Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Booth, Mr. & Mrs. Jeb Embree, Dr. Margaret O’Shea & Mr. Daniel O’Shea, as well as donors to the Museum’s Annual Fund.
The Media sponsor is WSHU Public Radio.

PARJE Selects Lead Artists for Sister Murals in Old Lyme, New London

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An opening frame from the time-lapse video by Emida Roller shows the Sister Mural in Norwich, which was unveiled on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2022.

OLD LYME/NEW LONDON — This spring, Public Art for Racial Justice Education (PARJE) will bring its Sister Murals Project to Old Lyme and New London.

PARJE, which was officially launched March 1, 2021, utilizes the broad appeal of art and education to confront racial injustice. Last month, after the unveiling of its first Sister Mural in Norwich on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the group has now partnered with two more artists; Jasmine Oyola-Blumenthal in Old Lyme, and Marvin Espy in New London. 

Lead artist for the Old Lyme Sister Mural is Jasmine Oyola-Blumenthal.

Oyola-Blumenthal will serve as the lead mural artist for the Old Lyme mural. She joins the Sister Murals Project as an alumna of Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and is looking forward to her homecoming there.

The Old Lyme Sister Mural will be installed inside Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School,  adjacent to the gymnasium. In addition to her role as lead artist, Oyola-Blumenthal will work with school faculty to develop student workshops, which will coordinate with the project. 

Oyola-Blumenthal and her counterpart, Marvin Espy, in New London were selected from a field of nearly 20 applicants.

In her application, Oyola-Blumenthal referred to the ability for art to inspire people to talk to one another saying, “Art is a neutral vessel that can bring forth conversations that can be uncomfortable and promote opportunities to open dialogue on racial justice and education.”

Oyola Blumenthal also has extensive experience working with students.  

Marvin Espy is the lead artist for the New London Sister Mural.

Espy, the lead artist for the New London mural, is also committed to involving and empowering area youth through art and education. From mentoring young artists to promoting art therapy, Espy appreciates the countless applications of art.

Discussing the potential for Sister Mural sites to be safe spaces that assist in facilitating difficult conversations, Espy tells Eddie Long, PARJE Co-Chair, “What  excites me the most about this project is the chance to hear from the community, especially the  students.” 

Espy is a transplant to New London, but the local community has gotten to know him quite well. His  studio is inside the Dewart Building, which houses the studios of several New London artists. Last summer, Espy had a popular solo exhibition, ‘Patina,’ at the Thames River Gallery in New London.

The Sister Mural in New London will be installed in Fulton Park, which is located on Water Street. Easily walkable from New  London’s downtown, Fulton Park includes basketball courts as well as a playscape for children. The large space is nestled between two large apartment complexes and the New London Police Department. In 2018, Charlie King, owner of Hive Skate Shop in New London, led a successful effort to have a skate park built on the grounds of Fulton Park.  

With the help of RiseUP for Arts and CT Murals, PARJE will install five Sister Murals in five towns:  Norwich, Old Lyme, New London, East Lyme, and Old Saybrook.  

Public Art for Racial Justice Education is a broadly-based, interracial, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization consisting of volunteers from all around southeastern Connecticut.

For regular updates on the progress of the Sister Murals Project, check out Public Art for Racial Justice Education on Facebook and Instagram.  

For additional information, email racialjusticeart@gmail.com or visit racialjusticeart.org.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued by PARJE.

Lyme-Old Lyme HS Students Win Major Awards at 2022 CT Scholastic Art Contest

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This work by Lyme-Old Lyme High School Senior Elle Myers titled, ‘Coming to the surface,’ was awarded a Gold Key in Painting at the CT Scholastic Awards.

OLD LYME — Six students from the Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) Art Department were recognized at this year’s prestigious Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards. The contest celebrates the work of talented young artists in the state in grades 7 through 12.

Student artwork is juried by professional artists and university art faculty and selected on merit for inclusion in a statewide art exhibition held at the Hartford Art School. Beyond the honor of being chosen for this highly selective exhibition, students are eligible for Gold or Silver Keys and Honorable Mention awards in each of 17 media categories.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School Senior Elle Myers received a Gold Key in Painting, as well as Silver Keys in both Painting and Drawing.

‘Timothy Posing’ by LOLHS Senior Elle Myers received a Silver Key in Drawing at the CT Scholastic Art Awards.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School Senior Olivia Schaedler was awarded a Gold Key in Photography for her work titled, ‘Cables,’ pictured below.

The winners of Gold Keys will subsequently have their artwork submitted digitally to the National  Scholastic Art Awards where they will be juried against Gold Key winners from all 50 states.

Senior Samantha Geshel received two Honorable Mentions in Painting, and Senior Shawn Grenier was given an Honorable Mention in Digital Art.

Junior Lea Wilson was awarded a Silver Key in Comic Art for the work titled, ‘Bread Duck,’ pictured above, and Sydney Goulding received an Honorable Mention in Ceramics and Glass.

The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards Program is sponsored by the Connecticut Art Education Association and the University of Hartford, Hartford Art School.

A virtual Awards Celebration was held Feb. 12.