Whimsical Windows - E Street Gallery

As a member of the local small Valley Arts Council, I like being part of this artist's group - not an artist (actually the organization's Treasurer), but an admirer of art. The gallery just moved one storefront to the left, so for the weekly meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I thought that the unpretentious portals and panes were a perfect subject this week. The new sign shows the name change to E Street, and should you be in the neighborhood of 35 Elizabeth Street in Derby CT, stop in an see the little arts council that holds its own with the fine work of local artisans...

Whimsical Windows - Retro Gallery

For Toby's meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors I am traveling back a couple of days to a reception at a new gallery in a cool old factory in a nearby town.

Owner and artist (in so many disciplines :) opened Studio E.Y.E. (Express Yourself Endlessly).

This old facility has the requisite windows to let lots of natural light in to this stylish gallery, workshop and classroom to those in the pursuit and learning of making metallic art...not to mention paint parties. A very cool place!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Mechanical

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and shadows can be art by themselves. And the mechanics of making art can make shadows too. Yesterday, we attended a reception for a new gallery in a cool old factory in nearby Beacon Falls CT.

Known as Studio E.Y.E. (Express Yourself Endlessly), there were more than a few shadows emanating from the metalworking tools of the trade of artist and owner Robert Dancik  He works all sorts of metals into jewelry and offers art classes as he describes "to learn, play and express your creativity"

Most wouldn't look at presses, shears, grinders, hammers and anvils as stylish, nor this old factory studio. I do, and this workspace is full of shadows too. The creativity of artists can never be underestimated :)

Shadow Shot Sunday - Streetlight Shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns and I am going back merely to 3 July and the fireworks show and gathering in downtown Derby. A warm and humid evening prior to the colorfully exploding sky, and these two shots are a bit grainy (cheap camera) in the evening lighting but shadows emerge. Bella's makes a fine and tasty thin crust pizza and of course, we truly enjoy our favorite small and local art Gallery@37. I don't know if anything was sold, but keeping the doors open and allowing potential patrons to enjoy the pieces made by local artists. Happily, it was a fine day for shadows!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Circles

Original wheel

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 arrives at today's 6:00 opening opening of a new exhibit at our local and favorite Gallery @ 37 in Derby, the Celebration of the Circle which showcases our favorite concentric shape...

I do not consider myself an artist, but the very circular 1936 Dodge tire and wheel assembly that I posted recently on SSS2 seemed the perfect subject for this show. Plenty of circles here: tire, whitewall, trim ring, rim and hubcap. So I looked at a few edits to consider my framed exhibit...

Posterized

B-W 

Inverted color

Gimp, a balky but free photo editor for Mac, was used. I finally settled on the retro look of sepia, and framed it...I call this Dependable Dodge as that is how Chrysler referred to this brand in the early-mid '60s (you are right, I am old enough enough to remember :)

Ruby Tuesday - Art Gallery

Inside the Gallery@37...captured by Patti

Ruby Tuesday 2 is back with its simple proviso - red, a lot or a little. Plenty or minimal, ruby is all about us. Today it is a look at our favorite local arts venue, the eclectic Gallery@37 in Derby, with its current red walls, slightly washed by the flash. It is different from the normal eggshell or ecru hues on gallery walls. In that sense, the bold paint is a fine backdrop to the artists wares. I like this - a lightbulb may be a symbol of an idea, so this is great for RT2...see more artisic rubies at this fun meme!

Whimsical Windows - Our favorite little art gallery

Entrance of Gallery@37, Elizabeth Street, Derby, Connecticut

Toby hosts the fun Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, where we look for portals of seriousness or mirth. My post today includes pictures from yesterday's small town (13,000) Derby Day street festival. The subject is the lower Naugatuck River valley Gallery@37, the showplace for the Valley Arts Council. I'd say that an @ symbol makes the door a bit delirious - and elicits a smile :)

We are also members, and this unpretentious gallery makes it a fun group. Patti in fact has started a blog to showcase the artists and personalities that sometimes inhabit the space. Art is not just available in the toniest districts, but also in our midst!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Old vs Modern

Old mechanical vs New Digital

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 reappears, and we are always on the lookout for shadows. expansive to small, normal to not so. Like today. 

At our local art venue, Gallery@ 37 in Derby, there is an exhibit opening this month referred to as The Art of Futures Past: A Steampunk Exhibition. Patti notes: "Think retro, think steam-powered (before electricity), think unique contraptions and you have the formula".

We don't really have anything that suggests Victorian era modernity. So I decided to create something that maybe bridges the eras, such at the old metal tools, solder, fasteners and machined parts that clash with the sleek MacBook laptop. 

No Assy. Req'd

Well, I will defer to the opinions of others as to what constitutes serious art.

However, shadows that follow the shapes are all over. The light fixture adds reflections and shadows too. show up all over the place. 

So, shadows act as an artistic medium too...The edited picture will be placed in an old style frame for exhibit. I am not sure what art ought to be to a serious non-artist, except that it has been fun...

Ruby Tuesday 2 - Parking place

Ruby Tuesday (2) arrives, and this week I am ready with a vision in neon.

The place is the parking garage in the heart of Derby Connecticut. We were at an artists event at the Gallery@37 Elizabeth Street. At these food and wine events, a few sub-parties form around the venue, at this one we are on the street (on a warm-for-January evening). I saw this and thought RT, and asked Allegra to capture the sign with her new I-Phone. Which she did! Follow the ruby reds at this fun meme!