Gilbert & Bennett Factory Revisited

At Wilton Library Exhibit June 1

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GILBERT & BENNETT FACTORY REVISITED AT WILTON LIBRARY w/1 cut

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WILTON, CONN. — The once vibrant factory of Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company is the subject of Wilton Library’s June art exhibition, “Reflections on Gilbert and Bennett,” opening Friday, June 1, from 6 to 7:30 pm. Four artists and a photographer from surrounding towns have captured the fading history of a site that had been a manufacturing mainstay for this area for more than 150 years.

Artists Dorothy Hyde and Jen Shelley from Wilton, Lynda Pattee from Redding, Ann Kromer from Ridgefield and photographer Gretchen Yengst from Wilton focus their talents on the aging property and provide their interpretation of era long gone. The retrospective is a collection of photographs, mixed media, oils and watercolors represented in more than 50 works.

According to Hyde, “I hope our paintings of Gilbert & Bennett will invite the viewer to admire the beauty of these historic factory buildings. The buildings come to life — in my mind — as I reflect on the lives, the work and the activities of the many people who worked there.

The different viewpoints provided by the artists allow the viewer to see a range of styles, angles and moods. Shelley said, “I wanted so much to ‘get it’ before they tore it down. We all felt that way — it’s that remarkable a place.” Kormer noted, “There was a sense of melancholy. We felt a part of the change — one day as we painted they were taking away the ground cover bushes and sign on the building in front of us.”

Hyde is artistic interest is primarily in painting scenes from nature. She has exhibited previously at Wilton Library, as well as Greenwich Art Society, Silvermine Guild of Artists and Westport Arts Center.

Kromer has exhibited extensively including a previous solo exhibition at Wilton Library.

Pattee, also an artist who previously has shown at the library, had 30 years experience as a graphic designer.

Shelley paints in oil, watercolor, gouache and pastel and has exhibited extensively in Connecticut and New York, including Wilton Library.

Yengst is a family photographer in the area whose passion is reflected in her work, which has been exhibited at Wilton Library during the Wilton Arts Council photography shows.

The library is at 137 Old Ridgefield Road. For information, www.wiltonlibrary.org or 203-762-3950.