Newtown Artists Selected For Westport ‘Summer Shorts’ Series

WESTPORT — Westport Arts Center has opened a new series of exhibitions, “Summer Shorts: Members Show 2005.”

Chaired by Roe Halper and Lee Chmielewski, the summer-long show of Arts Center members’ work takes an entirely new format — five successive exhibitions, spanning 11 weeks total. Three of the five shows are devoted solo exhibitions, selected by a jury of member artists, while the remaining two exhibitions are themed group shows.

“This new format for our Members Show maintains the Arts Center’s tradition of giving every member artist the chance to show their work,” explained Arts Center executive director Eileen Wiseman. “But by adding the juried solo component, we not only showcase the breadth of talent and incredible number of artists who live and work in our community, but highlight individual artists and their body of work.”

“We introduced these solo shows because they will allow the selected artists to show their work in greater depth,” added exhibition chair Roe Halper. “And the artist can show work of a larger scale. By implementing these changes, we hope to make our annual members show more coherent and interesting.”

“Summer Shorts” opened on June 17 with one of the new solo shows. On display through June 28 is work by Stamford sculptor Barbara Hotz, Easton artist Peter Landa, watercolorist Ruth Newquist of Newtown, New Milford printmaker Deborah Waimon, and Westport resident Barbara Wilk.

The second group of solo shows opens Friday, July 1, with a reception at 6:30 pm. Featured in the exhibition are Brooklyn painter W.R. Claps; Suzanne Crossland, watercolorist from Wilton; photographer David Kalman of Westport; Wilton oil painter Jen Shelley; and Newtown resident and watercolorist, Virginia Zic.

“Eye for the Abstract,” the first group show, will open Friday, July 15. Works by over 100 members in all media and focused on abstract themes — design, color, shape and line — fill the Arts Center’s gallery through August 1.

On Friday, August 5, “Eye for the Natural” will open with a reception at 6:30. This second group show will feature more representational work. Many pieces, created in a variety of media, look to the natural world for inspiration.

“Summer Shorts” will then close WAC’s summer gallery season with a final solo show opening Friday, August 26, and running through September 2. On display will be pastels by Southport resident Janine Brown, monotypes by Norwalk resident Katharine Draper, murals by Joan Gardner of East Haven, black and white photographs by New Canaan resident Leigh Leibel, and mixed media drawings by Woodfin Wood of Wilton.

Westport Arts Center’s Gallery is at 51 Riverside Avenue. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and weekends noon to 4 pm. Admission is free.

For more information visit www.WestportArtsCenter.org or call 203-222-7070.