BCC Open House With A New Offering: Artisan Trail

BROOKFIELD — The Brookfield Craft Center (BCC) Fall Open House and Artisan Trail will take place on Saturday, October 6, from 10 am to 4 pm.

New this year, The Artisan Trail will showcase 11 area artists who will be opening studios throughout northwestern Connecticut, from Newtown to Kent. In each studio, artists will demonstrate their mastery of a given medium, and immerse guests in their experience in crafting a work of art.

Artwork will also be for purchase at each venue.

Signs will be posted at each studio for easy identification.

 “We expect this type of event to appeal to people interested in education, art, and culture, and we are hoping to bring new visitors to the Craft Center in the future,” said Fleuri M. MacIntyre, a member of BCC’s Media Committee.

Newtown Studio

Nestled in the woods of Newtown, with a lovely view of Lake Lillinonah, is Joanne Conant’s serene home and studio. Located in the lower level of her home, Ms Conant’s studio presents itself as a highly organized workspace. Looking out the huge window it’s easy to imagine how the seasonally evolving landscape would be a constant source of inspiration. Ms Conant recently added central heat so she would be more comfortable working in her studio when the cooler New England temperatures take hold.

Ms Conant works in jewelry and enameling as well as painting. Her two kilns, used to melt delicate enamel and glass pieces, are compact and sit on a small shelf next to her work surface. When firing the kiln for glass, kiln temperatures can reach as high as 1,350 degrees.

While the work to create a piece of jewelry can take several days, the firing process is just several minutes depending on the size of the piece. The colors are the result of adding tiny pebbled glass beads prior to firing. With each subsequent firing, the colors, depth and complexity of the piece increase. 

In 2006 Ms Conant was introduced to painting, and now also works with oil on canvas. Her paintings evoke outdoor scenery using deft strokes saturated with soft natural colors. Canvas sizes vary, with the largest being 30 x 40 inches. 

Ms Conant teaches both in her home studio and at Brookfield Craft Center.

Also Participating

In addition to Ms Conant, the artists participating in the Artisan Studio Trail are wood turners Jim Degen of Brookfield and Richard Hoblitzell of New Milford; metal artist Bob Keating of Southbury; sculptor Peter Kirkiles of Kent; ceramic artists Alison Palmer of Kent and Elizabeth MacDonald; and wood artists Don Metz of Southbury, Andy Peklo, and Peter Petrochko of Oxford.

Sculptor Danielle Langford will be set up in Brookfield Craft Center’s Faculty House, marking the first stop for anyone participating in the tour.

Maps for the full studio tour will be available at the craft center, and volunteers will staff the BCC Open house. The Gallery and its studios will be open also for the public to visit for a closer look to learn more about BCC’s many class offerings.

Open House

Brookfield Craft Center’s annual Open House opens the doors of the retail gallery and core studios for blacksmithing, ceramics, fiber arts, glass arts, jewelry and woodturning.

Visitors can view the six teaching studios and meet faculty members who will provide live demonstrations of skills that are taught in BCC’s ongoing education programs. The demonstrations will include work in glass, ceramics, weaving, woodturning, blacksmithing, bladesmithing and jewelry making.

Family friendly activities on campus will encourage children to express themselves through craft.

October 6 will also be the final day for “Local Treasures: Fiber Art & Woodturning,” the final of BCC’s recent exhibitions representing local fiber artists and woodturners. This collection features works by David Bishop, Jim Degen, Barbara Drillick, Jane Doyle, Joshua Friend, Leslie Smith Jackson, Don Metz, Allen Nemetz, Richard Rheys, Ken Rist, Myra Serrins, Buster Shaw, Christa Shaw and Christine Wilkinson.

The Artisan Studio Trail and Open House are being held in celebration of American Craft Week, October 5-14. Brookfield Crafts Center is joining artists and locations across the country in recognizing that life’s most essential tasks transform into enriching experiences when using and appreciating handmade works of art.

Brookfield Craft Center is at 286 Whisconier Road in Brookfield. Call 203-775-4526 or visit BrookfieldCraftCenter.org for additional information.