SUMNER
MCKNIGHT CROSBY JR. GALLERY
Formerly Small Space Gallery
Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery, a program
of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, is located at the
Arts Council offices at 70 Audubon Street, 2nd floor. The
gallery features regional artists in group and thematic shows.
Hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
CURRENT EXHIBITION
Through March 6, 2011
The Arts Council of Greater New Haven presents New Americana,
an exhibition curated by Margaret Bodell and Debbie Hesse,
in the Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery, 70 Audubon St.,
2nd floor. The exhibition will be on display during business
hours from Monday, January 24 through Friday, March 4. A
public reception is scheduled for Friday, January 28, 2011,
from 5 to 7pm.
Curated by Margaret Bodell and Debbie Hesse, New Americana
is an exhibition of drawings and paintings by emerging contemporary
artists with disabilities. Featured artists will include Vito
Bonanno, Ricky Hagedorn, Kenya Hanley, Andy Lacouture, Bill
McDonnell, Susan Oliver, Michael Pellew and Chris Platt.
Curator Margaret Bodell, a community arts advocate in New
Haven, works to develop programs and exhibits such as New
Americana, which highlight the extraordinary contributions
of underrepresented artists such as those with disabilities.
“The work of these artists is highly personal,”
she says. “Much of it focuses on themes of current events
and reflects a strong sense of the artist’s community.”
She describes the artists’ work as “contemporary
Americana,” a term she uses to acknowledge the ever-expanding
impact and significance of the work of artists with disabilities
and other marginalized artists, commonly classified as “Outsider
Art.”
Artist Bill McDonnell has Asperger’s Syndrome. “What
I always wanted to be was a comic book artist. Now I go to
a program called Second Sight where I write and draw and play
music in a band.” McDonnell’s work has been shown
in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York City and New Jersey.
Each artist in the show works with at least one artist-mentor.
The artist-mentors are highly attuned individuals that aid
in the process of enabling the artist to bring forth their
artistic visions. Robert Sanchez is one such artist-mentor:
“My work with Vito is collaborative. Vito has developed
his own "brand" around characters that emerge through
his experiences. My role is helping him bring his characters
to life through our discussions and through collaboration
on new pieces.” Other artist-mentors include Nate Carroll,
Toni Carroll, Justin Crosby, Mathew Murphy, Dan O’Brien,
Liz Pagano, Carlos Sanches, Liz Squillaceliz and Katro Storm.
Artists' Reception a Success (Photos courtesy of Margaret
Bodell)
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Carlos Sanches, Katro Storm, Liz Squillace,
Vito
Bonanno & Liz Pagano |
Artist Christopher Platt - Watches,
2004 Ink on Paper |
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Image of Christopher Platt's hands
by Joan
Fitzsimmons |
Curator Margaret Bodell, Christopher
Platt, Carlos Sanches, Ricky Hagedorn, and Daniel O'Brien |
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| Artist Katro Storm - Untitled,
Acrylic on canvas |
Christopher Platt, Daniel O'Brien,
and Margaret Bodell |
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In
case you missed it, here's the podcast for the New Americana
show on emerging contemporary artists with disabilities,
featuring an interview with curator Margaret Bodell >>
"New Americana" showcases
artists with disabilities, from The Yale Daily News.
Check out this preview article about the exhibit >>
Artists' Opportunity
If you would like to be considered for an exhibit at Sumner
McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery, please send images, résumé
and bio to: Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon
Street, New Haven, CT 06510. For more information, call Debbie
Hesse at 203-772-2788 or email dhesse
[at] newhavenarts.org.
Past Sumner McKnight
Crosby Jr. Gallery (formerly Small Space Gallery) Exhibits
Cellutations
Hang-ups
Heavy Metal
Visions in Light
Spectra 2010
Through Nick's Eyes
Working/Drawing
Red Alert
planet/hospital
Small Works, Big City
Technical support provided by Odonnell
Company.
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