Newtown Artist’s Work Included

In Traveling ‘Guitar’ Exhibit

At Discovery Museum

By Nancy K. Crevier

Bridgeport Discovery Museum curator Adam Zuckerman knew from the time that the “Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World” exhibition went up in February, that Newtown artist Doug Calderone’s works would be an ideal complement to the show.

Mr Calderone (also known as DCAL, VAN, SPUNK, and PYNG), a former graffiti artist, has been turning LPs into wall art for approximately seven years. Inspired by the Manhattan stencil graffiti of Shepard Fairey (of Barack Obama ‘HOPE’ poster fame), Mr Calderone designed his own templates of iconic rock and pop stars, cut out the whites of the images, and sprayed the designs onto the records.

“The first two stencils I made were of Bob Dylan and Jerry Garcia,” Mr Calderone recalled in his artist’s statement provided to The Bee.

His first attempts were popular with friends, and he soon had requests for more.

“I had never really thought of my art as pieces of merchandise before,” Mr Calderone said, but found that while studying studio arts at Concordia College in New York, he could make extra money selling commissions to other students, for dorm decorations.

“From the first time I saw Doug’s work, I was struck by his ability to create iconic images in a new way, and let us see them in a fresh way,” said Mr Zuckerman, a Sandy Hook resident who curated a show of Mr Calderone’s art at The Blue Z Coffeehouse in Newtown two years ago. “He works with well-known photos, like those on album covers, but he is looking at the image and creating a freehand stencil. He takes something known, and creates something new. I was amazed at his skill at using what seems so simple — spray paint and stencils — to render complex art.”

Although Mr Zuckerman was anxious to hang Mr Calderone’s works in conjunction with the guitar exhibit, it was not until the middle of last month that another space opened up in the museum, and he was able to do so.

“When I was approached [to exhibit at the Discovery Museum] I had mixed feelings,” Mr Calderone said. “It bothered me that I got stuck doing that same art for so long. I was starting to be asked to do pieces I didn’t want to do. All of the images were old to me, the methods were even old,” he said. But he realized that the images portrayed the influence of rock and roll on him, as an artist.

“Everyone I had picked was influential. I learned so many skills and techniques while painting faces of rock,” he said.

His art today is built upon what he learned, as well, said Mr Calderone. “It’s mostly made from found objects. I still do some work with LPs, but I do a lot of collage now, not just stencils,” he said. He is also part of the Penguin Collective in New York City, a group of writers, musicians, and artists that collaborate to support each other’s works. “It’s a little harder now to find time to do my art, though,” Mr Calderone said. “I work in carpentry and construction. But at least I’m still creating.”

He is hopeful that when the “Guitar” exhibition continues on to its next venue, his works will travel with that show.

Mr Calderone’s collection, as well as the “Guitar” exhibition, will be at The Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport, through May 15. General admission to the museum is $9.50 for adults; $8 for students and children; $7 for seniors; and free for children age 2 and under. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Saturday; and Sunday, noon to 5 pm.

For more information, call 203-372-3521 or visit www.DiscoveryMuseum.org.