Sandy Hook Welcomes Its

Newest Destination Location

By Shannon Hicks

Artists, art lovers, and collectors alike gathered for a three-hour celebration last weekend to mark the grand opening of River Glen Fine Arts Gallery.

On December 11, a steady crowd of patrons and well-wishers streamed into the gallery located in the lower level of the Masonic Temple at 3 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook. The gallery is in the location of the former Grey Horse Gallery. Grey Horse owner Daryl Ifkovic has scaled back her business and will continue to run Grey Horse Framing from the location, but the gallery’s new focus will be on the presentation of fine art by a number of selected artists.

For its inaugural show, River Glen Fine Arts Gallery is presenting paintings in pastel, oil, and watercolor by Rainie Crawford, Frank Federico, Leslie Lillien Levy, Dick McEvoy, Alain Picard, and Peter Seltzer, and a few small-scale sculptures by Sterett-Gittings Kelsey. The gallery expects to have at least four shows during each year.

Ms Ifkovic was at the reception on Saturday, along with her daughter Cheryl, and looked happy with the direction the gallery has taken. One of her biggest concerns, she told The Newtown Bee recently, was that the gallery would fall into the hands of someone who would not be able to continue a business she started.

“After 31 years [including framing work prior to the opening of Grey Horse Gallery] I didn’t want this full-time anymore,” Mrs Ifkovic said. “It’s been a beautiful experience, and I didn’t want the gallery to fall into the wrong hands, or worse, to fall apart.”

Grey Horse Gallery originally opened in 1981, when Ms Ifkovic purchased the former Sandy Hook Post Office building at 2 Washington Avenue and turned the space into an art gallery. In January 1998 Ms Ifkovic moved the gallery across the street, into the first floor space of the Masonic Temple. For the past few years the gallery has exclusively presented paintings by the Newtown artist Dick McEvoy.

Mr McEvoy and his wife Jane, of Newtown, were busy mingling with family and friends on Saturday. An easel has been set up in one corner of the gallery, and visitors will be able to watch Mr McEvoy creating new works in the future.

Paula Stephan, who will begin working at the gallery on weekends soon, was already familiarizing herself with the featured artists.

Mr Picard seemed pleased with the new location. He and his lovely wife Mirjam (who was the inspiration for Mr Picard’s pastel “Daydreaming”) were both at the opening reception, greeting fellow artists including Mr Federico and Ms Kelsey and meeting others in attendance.

Gallery director Carol Garbarino was also pleased with Saturday’s celebration.

“This is just wonderful,” she beamed, looking over the crowd as more people showed up and few left. “We’re ready to go. This should help Sandy Hook, and with the recent work by the other Sandy Hook merchants to make this area a destination, I’m very excited to be a part of this.”

River Glen Fine Arts Gallery will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm, Tuesdays from noon until 4 pm, and Thursdays from 7 until 9 pm. The gallery can be contacted at 270-1199.

Daryl Ifkovic’s framing samples will remain at the gallery, and visitors will be able to look at them on Tuesdays or by request.