Plein Air Collection

Opens Sunday

By Shannon Hicks

Carol Garbarino, the gallery director for River Glen Fine Arts Gallery, announced this week that more than 70 new works have been created for “Tercentennial Celebration: En Plein Air Exhibit of Newtown and Sandy Hook,” which will open on Sunday, August 14, from 1 to 4 pm.

The exhibition will offer a brand-new collection of works created specifically for Newtown’s tercentennial celebration. The public is invited to the opening, and Mrs Garbarino said this week that many of the participating artists are planning to be in attendance on Sunday afternoon.

Those who have signed on for the project are Melody Asbury, Patricia Barkman, Shane Blomberg, Betty Christensen, Marilyn Colman, Ron DeFelice, Will Doyle, Frank Federico, Leslie Levy, Barbara Madden, Dick McEvoy, Ruth Newquist, Alain Picard, Sandi Randall, Ralph Schwartz, and Peter Seltzer.

While not all of these artists are Newtown residents, all are award-winning Connecticut artists who have accepted the challenge of working outdoors at some point during recent weeks in order to create new images for the tercentennial plein air exhibition.

Mrs Garbarino and Mr McEvoy were at the gallery to hang the show this week, and the collection is stunning. From the moment visitors walk in the gallery door they will see on the opposite wall a small rendering by Leslie Levy of one of the town’s most famous landmarks. Though small in size, the painting’s strong colors call out even from its location.

In between the far wall and the gallery entrance the gallery is just full of color and framed pieces of all sizes and styles. There are landscapes and familiar buildings, and even a few animal portraits in the familiar style of Melody Asbury.

River Glen Fine Arts Gallery, at 3 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook, will host the exhibition until September 11.

Ten percent of the total proceeds from the Newtown plein air collection will be donated to Newtown Scholarship Association.

The gallery is open Tuesday from noon to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am until 4 pm, and by appointment. Call 270-1199 for additional information.