St. Philip Artists’ Guild (SPAG) will host an opening of the exhibit Art Vacation.  The opening reception Friday, June 5, 2009, 6pm - 9pm in conjunction with a host of events that will excite and motivate the public to explore and enjoy their lives around them, especially in these times of “Stay-cations.”  The SPAG gallery at the Manice DeForest Lockwood Mansion on the grounds of St. Philip Church

Art Vacation is an art experience that will give the viewer an opportunity to become revitalized and stimulated in these times of stress and economic hardship.

The exhibit will present artwork, music, history tours of the beautifully restored Lockwood-Mathews Mansion and Museum, as well as lecture tours of the SPAG artists’ studios.

The exhibit will allow “the public to be transported to worlds created or reproduced by artists who hope to inspire and celebrate the beauty of our retreats,” said Duvian Montoya, SPAG member and coordinator of the show, which was open to local and regional artists that submitted work based on the theme. The work of over 30 artist ranging from paintings of Fairfield county beaches to the mountains of the west to imaginary worlds and the beauty of life will be shown.

Attendees on June 5th will also have a chance to meet and greet over 30 local and regional artists while listening to the sounds by Jeremy Shockley.  Refreshments will be served.

The exhibit will continue its Open Studios on Saturday June 6, 2009, 11am - 5pm, where 12 SPAG artists open their studios to the general public.  In addition, there will be historic tour of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion and Museum conducted by city historian Ralph Bloom at 1pm with an open question and answer forum afterwards.
Country rock music by BQQby Trap will be featured at 4pm.

On Sunday June 7, 2009, from 11am - 4pm, Open Studios will conclude with 12 SPAG artists opening their studios to the general public.  Music will be provided at 1:30pm by jazz Percussionist Damon Grant.  Tours and lectures about the SPAG artist studios and of the “Art Vacation” exhibition will be held at 3pm.

“There are many interpretations of what beauty is.  We are all inspired and moved by certain colors, sounds, memories and/or symbols,” adds Dolka Morico, SPAG member and graphic designer.  “We all need a break from the monotony of the everyday so we can analyze and regroup for a fresh start.  Art can be that restart button.  We are excited about this theme and how it is needed in the this world today”

The Art Vacation exhibit will continue through July 31, 2009.  After the opening weekend, SPAG hours are by appointment only.  For more information, please contact Duvian Montoya at 505-400-4467 or by e-mail at spag.norwalkct@gmail.com.

The Saint Philip Artists’ Guild (SPAG) is located at 25 France Street (behind Saint Philip Church) in Norwalk, CT.

About SPAG
Five founding artists with a vision of creating an artists’ community launched St. Philip Artists’ Guild (SPAG) in March 2007:  Duvian Montoya, David Morico, Ralph DiMarco, Steve Bagnell, and Frank Chiapetta. These artists renovated their own studio spaces in the century-old Manice DeForest Lockwood Mansion building.  The Guild opened to the public in September 2008 with an inaugural show.   Last summer renovations were expanded and SPAG has now grown to a community of twelve artists-in-residence in the historic building located on the grounds of St. Philip Church in Norwalk, CT.

When:  Saturday, June 6, 2009

Where:  Danbury Holiday Inn, 80 Newton Road, Danbury, CT

Time:  Doors open 5 pm - 11 pm, venue will be open until 1 am

Now in its fourth year, the Film Industry Mixer (FIM) is just what it sounds like-a mix of film industry professionals and entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere. Eager- to-network attendees will include writers, producers, directors, production crew, and talent with network and feature film credits. Stephen Simon, producer of What Dreams May Come will also be in attendance.

 ”The goal of the mixer is to help make connections, and to have a good time doing it,” says Neal Thomassen, Executive Director of the FIM.

The FIM, partnering with the CT FilmFest (www.ctfilmfest.com) this year, is already projected to host a record number of attendees (600+ guests). Activities for the mixer will include VIP interviews, panels, Inside Entertainment television show, and local talent showcasing live music, actor monologues, make-up FX, wardrobe designs, and stand up comedy.

Connecticut is leading the charge for building “Hollywood” in New England. The tax incentives established in 2006 for film, television, and digital media continue to drive revenue as big ticket productions like Deal or No Deal move into the state.

“Connecticut tax breaks bring them in-the locations, talent, and crews keep them coming back. We need more events that showcase our talent and bring even more excitement to the state, which will create opportunities for our industry professionals,” says Alex Andriulli, Co-Executive Director of the FIM.

Tickets are $30 from May 25th until June 4th. Tickets will be $40 at the door.

 For more details and event tickets please visit: www.filmindustrymixer.com

Carriage House announces auditions for “Beyond Therapy,” directed by Michael Limone, will be held on Monday and Tuesday, June 1 & 2 at 7:30pm. Auditioners will be asked to read from the script.

“Beyond Therapy” will be performed July 31, August 1, 7, 8 & 9 at 8pm with a twilight matinee on Sunday, August 2 at 4pm.

“Beyond Therapy” is a wacky comedy and a singular love story. It is the tale of Prudence and Bruce, two unusual people who are deeply into therapy.

Prudence’s macho therapist is urging her to be more assertive and place a personal ad while Bruce’s wacky female therapist wants him to meet women by doing the same. Both Bruce and Prudence are striving to wrest happiness from an indifferent world, with hilarious results.

Bruce doesn’t know how to handle poor nervous Prudence and Prudence doesn’t know what to make of her unpredictable new boyfriend.

This is a story which will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered why-with the millions of new therapists brandishing their advanced degrees-people seem to be just as screwed up now as they were in earlier eras? Or perhaps even more so.

Carriage House is seeking FOUR male and TWO female actors:
Prudence (25-35): Writer for People magazine. Prudence has trouble finding a satisfying relationship; all of the men she dates are either boring or crazy. She is completely risk averse, and when she meets Bruce, her otherwise structured and gray life goes technicolor all of a sudden.

Bruce (30-40): The lawyer Prudence meets through a personal ad. He’s emotionally expressive (he cries a lot), bisexual, and he’s looking for a different kind of relationship by putting a personal ad in the paper for a woman. His life is full of upheaval, yet he seems oblivious.

Stuart (40-60): Prudence’s therapist. Stuart has a really bad habit–he sleeps with most of his female patients. He had an affair with Prudence and isn’t exactly thrilled with her decision to date Bruce instead of him.

Charlotte (40-60): Bruce’s therapist. She is completely uninhibited. She says or does whatever she wants to, whenever she wants to. Her philosophy: it is better to risk and be insane than be boring, normal, and structured.

Bob (30-40): Bruce’s male lover, a pharmacist. He’s not exactly happy abut Bruce’s decision to date women, and will do almost anything to keep Bruce to himself.

Andrew (20-30): Waiter at the Restaurant. Andrew is in therapy with Charlotte; his problem is that he doesn’t show enough empathy for others. Andrew was in reform school for three years, until it burned down.

The Carriage House Arts Center is located in Cranbury Park, 390 Grumman
Avenue, (at the intersection of Kensett and Grumann Avenues), in Norwalk, CT.

For more information call (203) 229-9797, e-mail the Carriage House at info@carriagehouseartscenter.org or visit the Web site at www.carriagehouseartscenter.org.

Exhibit opens at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking on May 28th

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP) 7^th Biennial Miniprint International Print Competition 2009, an exhibition of miniature prints, opens with a gallery reception on Thursday, May 28, from 4-7 PM. Refreshments will be served. The exhibition runs from May 28 through August 15, 2009, and is free to the public. Exhibit hours are Mon.-Sat., 9 AM - 5 PM. CCP is closed on Sundays.

The Miniprint exhibition provides a venue for the public to view a selection of small, special format artworks-the total image area of each print measures four square inches (25.8 cm) or less-by artists from many states, countries, and cultures in the world.

The show was juried by Lisa Hodermarsky, of The Sutphin Family Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Yale University Art Gallery and Craig Zammiello, Master Intaglio Printer at the Two Palms Press in New York.

First prize-Carolyn Sheehan (New York) “Untitled 01″

"Untitled 01"

Second prize-Konstantin Kalynovych, (Ukraine) “Autumn Eclipse”

"Autumn Eclipse"

Third prize-Federenko Oleksiy (Ukraine)

Fourth prize-Josef Werner (Germany)

The Marvin Bolotsky Purchase Prize was awarded to Petru Viochescu (Canada) “Noces”

"noces"

The Biennial International Print Competition and exhibition at CCP was started in 1997, and has grown into a major event for printmaking artists everywhere. This year, CCP received more submissions than ever before, reviewing 752 entries from 255 artists in the United States and around the world. At the exhibition, approximately a fourth of the entries are displayed on the walls of the gallery, while the rest of the prints are available for viewing in the gallery salon portfolios. The International Miniature Print Competition is held every other year and alternates with the new CCP biennial, Footprint International.

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking is a non-profit institution dedicated to the art of the print: intaglio, lithography, monotype, silkscreen, woodblock printing, paper works, book arts, and digital arts. The CCP fine art print workshop and galleries are located at 299 West Avenue, in Mathews Park, Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A. .

For more information, please visit www.contemprints.org or call 203-899-7999. The Center for Contemporary Printmaking is a member of the statewide Connecticut Art Trail, a partnership of fifteen world-class museums and historic sites, www.arttrail.org.

Open Call for TheatreWorks’ Production of

John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt in New Milford

The auditions will be held at TheatreWorks, 5 Brookside Ave, New Milford, on Monday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 5, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

All roles are available and both professionals and amateurs are welcome. The audition will consist of readings from the script. No appointments are necessary. TheatreWorks offers a stipend to all performers, technicians, and directors. For character breakdowns, audition sides, and directions to the Theatre, visit: www.theatreworks.us.

Set in a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, Doubt concerns Father Flynn, an amiable new priest who believes the clergy should be thought of “as members of the family” to its congregation. His forward-thinking views immediately clash with those of Sister Aloysius — the authoritarian principal who favors discipline over compassion. The conflict mounts towards an explosive climax when Aloysius accuses Flynn of “interfering” with a student based on unproven evidence. The play was the basis for the 2008 Academy Award-nominated film with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Norwalk Historical Society Lecture Series on May 3rd

Making Silent Souls Speak:

Digging up the Past at Pine Island Cemetery

About Our Speaker:

Ms. Cuzzone has been a resident of Norwalk for over 29 years and holds a B.A. and M.A. in Biology from the City University of New York. Holly received her certificate in the Archaeology as an Avocation from Norwalk Community College in 2003 and received an M.A. degree in Archaeological Studies from Yale University in 2007.

Her archaeological field experience includes both prehistoric and historic excavations in South Carolina, New York and Connecticut. In addition to her work at Pine Island Cemetery, she has researched and developed an exhibit, “Cranbury Park Past and Present” for the City of Norwalk in 2007 and has worked in the Yale Peabody Anthropology collection. She was an archaeological consultant for Lucas Film’s release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Holly is the Vice President and Program Director for the Norwalk Community College Archaeology Club.

For more information on this and other 2009 NHS Lectures, please call the Norwalk Historical Society at (203) 846-0525 or e-mail info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org.

For more information on the Norwalk Historical Society, please visit the NHS Web site at www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org.

The Feminine Series

at 22 Haviland Street Gallery

GLORIA SANTOYO RUENITZ’s one-woman exhibit, The Feminine Series, opened at 22 Haviland Street Gallery in South Norwalk on Friday, May 1^st and will run through May 31^st.

Gallery Hours are: Wednesday and Thursday from 3-6 PM, Friday from 3-9 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 PM. Other hours are available by appointment.

The exhibit is comprised of a collection of 5-foot tall mixed media pieces printed on Sekichu paper with encaustic that combines words and images in a unique textural mythology that has been created by the artist. The handmade paper substrate is transparent when backlit, revealing the complex and beautiful textures of both sides at once.

Ms. Santoyo Ruenitz was born and raised in Mexico City in a Cuban/Mexican family. She came to the United States to study Art & Design at the Art Center of College of Design in Los Angeles, California and subsequently studied at and Parsons in New York City.

After completing her formal education, she spent 25 years as a designer/creative director in advertising, where she developed images for major brands. This experience has added methodology and diversity of thought to the mixed media work today she creates today.

Her work is conceptual and has been shown at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art (CT), The Mattatuck Museum of Art (CT) the Fenn Gallery (CT), City Lights Gallery, the Silvermine Guild Arts Center(CT), Westport Arts Center (CT), Center for Contemporary
Printmaking (CT), Carl Van Brunt Gallery (NY) Simone’s Gallery (NY), and Citibank (NY) among others. Her work is also represented in private collections in New York, Connecticut, Florida and Mexico.

Her writing has been published in the New York Times, the Stamford Advocate and in many regional Publications. She was a speaker on a panel at Southern Connecticut State University during the national conference on Women, War & Peace.

She has also acted as curator and juror for several exhibitions in Connecticut

Detail from “Balance” (60″ x 12″)

For more information about the work of Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz, please check the Web at http://gruenitz.blogspot.com or at  www.ruenitz.com

Find us in downtown South Norwalk CT 06854 on Haviland Street, a short 1 block-long, one way street with traffic heading east. The Gallery is located on the ground floor of a 19th c. house at 22 Haviland Street.  It’s the 7th house on the right, directly across from the Haviland Street Parking Deck.

For additional information, contact us on the Internet at 22haviland@optonline.net or call us at (203) 852-6727 for suggested parking options or more directions.

And remember: on-street parking is FREE on Sundays.

Carriage House Arts Center Opens 2009 Season

with Paul Rudnick’s “I HATE HAMLET”

The 2009 Summer season at the Carriage House Arts Center* in Norwalk’s Cranbury Park kicks off with the hilarious Paul Rudnick farce “I HATE HAMLET.”

Directed by Anthony Carregal, “I HATE HAMLET” deals with the life and times of actor Andrew Rally.  To an outside observer, he seem to have it all: celebrity and acclaim from his starring role in a hit television series; a rich, beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park.  What could possibly go wrong?

Remember the old axiom “be careful what you wish for?”  Well, for Andrew there are a couple of glitches in paradise that keep audiences delighted as they witness his “perfect world” coming apart.

Andrew’s series has been canceled.  His girlfriend is clinging to her virginity with unyielding conviction and, utter heresy for an actor, he has no desire to play Hamlet.

When Andrew’s agent visits him, she reminisces about her brief romance with John Barrymore many years ago-in Andrew’s apartment! This bizarre revelation prompts them to conduct a séance to summon Barrymore’s ghost.

From the moment Barrymore returns, dressed in high Shakespearean garb, Andrew’s life is no longer his own.

“I HATE HAMLET” opens on Friday, May 1st  and features a talented and energetic case that includes Andrea Garmun, Michael Limone, Glenn Packman, Robert J Sherwood, Sarah Smegal and Laura Warfield.

The show will continue for two weeks, with performances the weekend of May 1, 2 at 8 pm, with a twilight matinee on Sunday, May 3 at 4pm , and the following weekend, May 7, 8 & 9 with all curtains at  8pm.

Tickets are $20 for Fridays and Saturdays and $15 for Thursday & Sunday.  For for tickets, or more information, please call 203-229-9797, send an e-mail to the Carriage House Arts Center at info@carriagehouseartscenter.org or visit their Web site at www.carriagehouseartscenter.org

And, a tradition at the Carriage House Arts Center, complimentary wine and cheese at intermission.

Carriage House Arts Center
390 Grumman Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
203-229-9797

* Carriage House Arts Center productions are supported by The Norwalk Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture

Lockwood-Mathews Hosts Annual

Victorian Tea Party on Sunday, May 3rd

“Hats” will be the theme at the second annual Victorian Tea in the Rotunda of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum on Sunday, May 3rd.

LMMM interpreter and docent Shary Seaburg will talk about the role of hats during the Victorian era and share with guests some interesting and unusual facts. Although hats are not required for guests at this event, prizes will be awarded for hat originality, beauty and daring to those that wear them.

The Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting is known as the creator of “teatime.” Lunch, in the Victorian era, was a rather meager fare and apparently did not provide adequate sustenance to the Queen’s entourage. Hence, the duchess decided to invite friends over for teatime, at around five o’clock, beginning a tradition that continues to this day.

In past years, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion had honored this tradition and members and volunteers decided to revive it and share it with Fairfield County residents and visitors. Guests at the mansion’s Victorian Tea Party will enjoy a traditional tea fare of scones, Devonshire cream, lemon curd, tea sandwiches, tea cakes, tartlets and cookies.

The event will also feature a performance by harpist Alix Raspe, a sophomore at Greenwich High School who has been a student of harp since she was eight years old. In 2007, Alix received the Annapolis Music Festival Maestro Award as Outstanding Soloist and premiered a piece commissioned for her and the Greenwich Central Middle School Orchestra entitled “Fidele & Esperance” by Catherine McMichael. Currently, she performs in the Principal orchestra of the Norwalk Youth Symphony.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Victorian Tea Committee includes: Chairperson Susan Lewis a resident of Norwalk, CT, Shary Seaburg, Interpreter,  from Darien, Norwalkers Anna Veccia, Ester Stefanidis, Jean Lebedeff, Dot DeFinis, Shirley Headley, Natalie Gibbs, Rosalie Rinaldi and Connie Kozma, as well as Susan Viola and Sasha Goldman of Greenwich and Linda DiMeglio of Redding.

Admission for non-members is $30.00 and $25.00 for members.  At press time the event is sold out, but a waiting list is available by contacting Brian Fischer at 203-838-9799 or by e-mail at bfischer@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.