Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Shelley Lowell

November 17 through January 5, 2014 Shelley Lowell was born in the Bronx, NY in 1946 and started drawing before she was four years of age. She graduated Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, with a BFA in Advertising Design & Visual Communications. She is a painter, sculptor, illustrator and designer as well as poet. Her paintings are allegorical stylized surreal landscapes. These works inspire poetic stories. She has been writing poetry since the early 1970s and performed them in Asheville, NC, the Metropolitan Washington DC area and New England. Many have been published and recorded. Her current paintings and their inspired poems have been in solo exhibits. She performs the paintings’ poetry at her solo art show receptions. Her illustrations have been published in print advertising, brochures and books. She won the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators Award of Merit and many other awards for her paintings and graphic designs. Her artwork and designs have been published in numerous books and publications. She is also known for her commissioned pet paintings. This work can be seen at www.GreatPetPaintings.com. Her landscape paintings with their poems are her way to communicate her inner-self and her reactions to her surroundings. Her artistic ability was developed over the last 40+ years expressed as contemporary artwork with an edge, a statement and a message. Early in her artistic career (1970s), her art earned her the label of New York City feminist representational and social commentary visual artist as she produced monumental original artwork and poetry as a counter statement to what she felt as demeaning aspects of the sexual revolution of the period. This artwork was in exhibits with such notable feminist artists as Judy Chicago, Miriam Schapiro, Joan Semmel, Anne Sharp, Linda Benglis, Agnes Denes, Hannah Wilke, Sylvia Sleigh and Judith Bernstein to name a few. Her feminist art is in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Feminist Art Base on the Brooklyn Museum web site. This work has been in museum and gallery exhibits and published in feminist art journals and publications. Biographical information and image of one of her paintings is in Women Artists of America II. Throughout her artistic career, she has maintained a thread of communicating messages or making statements in her art due, no doubt, to her studying Advertising Design & Visual Communications at Pratt Institute. Her messages and statements have changed as she has grown artistically and personally, but her statements are always been about humanity and the human condition. She has always remained an innovator in her art. Her work is in corporate and private collections. Aside from her inclusion in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Feminist Art Base, she is also in Clara, the Archive Library of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington, DC), and WAAND, the feminist woman artists data base at Rutgers University. She resides in Danbury, CT where she has her studio.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Mo Myra Illustrations

Mo Myra is a local Hartford artist who mainly focuses on landscapes the figure and fashion illustrations. Her work has been displayed nationally and in many different group exhibitions. She is completing her BFA this year at the Hartford Art School. Mo Myra is currently available for portrait commissions. Please contact her be phone of email as listed on her website.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Angelica Mendes Student Artist

August 25-October 6, 2013 Since I was a little girl I loved to spend hours drawing and doodling on any paper that I could fine. Now, I am a student artist and currently attending Northwestern Connecticut Community College. I have been working on my Associate Degree in Fine Arts for the past two years. I have been in two art student shows at Northwestern Community College and a student art show at Artwell Gallery in Torrington, Connecticut. Also, several of my artworks are displayed in private collections. I am currently employed as an Art Teacher at a Private School. The work that I am displaying at the New Milford Public Library ranges from oil paintings, film photography, and charcoal drawings. I will also be displaying in a case pottery, cardboard and clay objects, and additional film photographs. My favorite medium of art is oil painting and film photography. I enjoy working with the materials and having a hands on experience with my art work rather than working with computers and technology.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Celebrating Robert E. Walker

Celebrating Robert E. Walker A Life of Art (1927- 2012) What: Robert E. Walker’s lifetime artistic endeavors and accomplishments will be on view for the first time ever. When: On June 2nd, 2013, for approximately 6 weeks Where: The New Milford Public Library, New Milford, CT 06776 Why: Robert Walker passed on July 9, 2012 leaving a legacy of Great Art and Design. He came ‘up’ weekend’s (from NYC) to the New Milford area for over 40 years. For over 60 years ‘Bob’ evolved as an Artist and Designer both personally and professionally. He was always very talented and well received. What you will see are the Major Stages of this Artist’s life, Childhood/School Years, through his Professional and Retirement Years. What were his major influences? How can someone who grew up in a small Mid-Western town end up working and ‘making it big’ in a big city? Art was Bob’s life from the time he could color in a coloring book. Much can be learned, by both young and old, from this Graphic Genius, Humanitarian and Company Man. Bob was a man of true humble beginnings. He had a ferocious drive and boatload of innate talent, creativity and passion for both art and his fellow man. A rare man indeed, Bob was loved by all throughout his entire life. This exhibition will show the depths of his classic and endless talent and creativity and that a nice guy really can, and did, finish on top. Bob lived and worked during the Golden Age of Art and Design in New York City and the world. Many of the Great’s either knew or worked with Robert Walker including photographer Irving Penn. Mr. Walker was influential in the discovery of several well-known actors and actresses in the 60’s through 80’s. Recruited by Alexander Leiberman directly out of UCLA, Bob spent 15 years as art director at Vogue Magazine. Later, he spent 17 years as Creative Director at Clinique, where he was recognized by Leonard Lauder, Estee Lauder/Clinique Executive as “...such a big part of our success.” Upon ‘semi-retiring’ from the Big Apple Bob said: “It’s curious to me now, looking back at my artistic endeavors and how I’ve evolved, how I am still anxious for the next challenge life brings my way.” As you the viewer will see, Bob was always comfortable with Color, Composition and Design and Drawing! As a lifetime Creative Director for and amongst the best, Bob never found an assignment he couldn’t or wouldn’t do and, yes, excel at doing. All ages and aspirations will gain BIG from viewing this accomplished (award winning) man’s incredible journey.