Local Artists To Be Featured

Even More Frequently At Craft Center

BROOKFIELD — Brookfield Craft Center (BCC), a national profile not-for-profit school and gallery for fine craftsmanship, has launched a new program entitled “Featured Artist of the Month.” The first choice for this special honor is New Preston glass artist Linda Banks. Ms Banks is a faculty member at the craft center and is the studio manager of its new glass studio which is housed in a historic railroad station on Route 25.

Brookfield Craft Center’s Retail Manager, Judith T. Russell, who created the program, states: “Each month we plan to feature an in-depth selection of work by some of our more popular local artists. With so many great artists associated with BCC, it’s hard to pick from our faculty, students and gallery artists, but we hope to honor a great many of them through this new program. We have reserved a special area in our gift shop to display work by these featured artists. There will also be information about the artist and their designs, how they make their work and what inspires them.”

Linda Banks is a multi-faceted artist whose media include glass, jewelry, baskets and gourds.

“The joy in life is what I put into all that I do especially my art,” said Ms Banks. “Glass is my passion. I like to help people smile with my glass. I love the colors, the sparkle, and the way the light shines through and reflects its beauty to others. I like to encourage students to find their joy of life in the creation of their glass. Life is too short so enjoy all you can.”

Ms Banks will be teaching a variety of fused glass classes at the Center in April including a “Fused Glass Weekend” April 19-20, “Fused Glass Fantasies” on Wednesday mornings, April 23 through May 28; and “Combing Hot Glass” on April 29.

Brookfield Craft Center, at 286 Whisconier Road, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

Already On View

A new exhibition entitled “Jump: The Synergy of Connection” has opened in the Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery at Brookfield Craft Center. The show will remain on view daily through May 4.

According to Kristin Muller, the center’s education director, “Metalworkers have been using ‘jump rings’ – or interconnected rings of various materials – since before the 11th Century to make chain maille to protect the body and jewelry to adorn the human form.”

Guest curator David Licata, a glass artist and faculty member at the Center, has brought together a group of cross discipline contemporary artists who use the repetitive process of joining multiple circles, or jump rings, to create rhythmic patterns and interesting forms that are sculptural and ornamental. The endless possibilities of patterns and forms are according to him, “riveting.”

The artists selected for this exhibition employ their own unique ways of working with their chosen materials to redefine what chain maille means in today’s world of body armor and wearable art for the body. The work on display represents a unique collection of items suitable for architectural applications as well as for personal attire or artful sculpture. The participating artists are David Austin, Conner Bishop, Ruth Borgenicht, Robert Dancik, Dennis Gardner, Lindsay Ketterer Gates, Cas Holman, Scott David Plumlee, Leslie Pontz, Judy Walker and Donovan Widmer.

New Lecture Series

A new series of free public forums entitled “The Craft Continuum” has begun at BCC. Designed to connect BCC artists with the public, the monthly lectures and discussions will be held in the craft center’s River Room.

Education Director Kristin Muller created the series to provide a chance for artists associated with the school and gallery to share their art and its influences with other artists and with the public in a relaxed, casual setting. The informal artist forums will involve slide shows, discussions and displays of the artist’s current work. The goal is to bring together BCC’s creative community to exchange ideas and foster growth in the culture of fine craftsmanship.

The Spring 2008 series will offer three separate get-togethers. A summer and fall series is also being planned. The series has been designed to provide inspiring looks at the current creative initiatives of some of the region’s most fascinating artists.

“Craft Continuum” lectures will run Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. Refreshments will be served, and attendees are welcome to bring treats to share with the group.

The series began April 9 with BCC faculty member and sculptor Dave Licata and BCC operations director and fiber artist Heather Laskowski.

Next up will be Barbara Allen on April 30. Ms Allen is a long time BCC faculty member and a ceramic and mixed media artist. She will present images of her work in Ghana with both university trained and indigenous potters and sculptors as well the products they developed for export. She will also share her many experiences working on projects with school children.

The spring series will wrap on June 18, from 6 to 8 pm, with Myra Serrins and Kristin Muller. Ms Serrins is a fiber artist and BCC faculty member who works with hand woven, dyed and discharged techniques. She will show her work and talk about her many inspirations.

Ms Muller is an accomplished ceramic artist and instructor who works primarily with wood fired kilns. She will be presenting her experience with this exciting process and the inspirations which enable her work.

For more information call 775-4526 or visit BrookfieldCraftCenter.org.