Local Artists Featured In Summer Watercolor Exhibition WCSU

DANBURY — Deborah Chabrian of South Kent, Frank Federico of Goshen, Ruth Newquist of Newtown, Michael Patterson of Roxbury, and Dennis Stuart of  Sherman are among the award-winning local artists whose work is featured in  “Watercolors at WestConn,” an exhibition opening Sunday, July 22, at the Ruth A. Haas Library on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University.

The exhibition features watercolors in a wide range of styles and subjects — landscapes, city scenes, portraits, large-scale florals, miniature outdoor scenes, and unique three-dimensional pieces.

Deborah Chabrian, a fine artist educated at Parsons School of Design in New York City, specializes in watercolor painting. Her work has been featured in the annual exhibitions of The National Academy of Design, New York City; National Watercolor Society, Fullerton, Calif.; American Watercolor Society, New York City; The Society of Illustrators, New York City; and the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Annual Exhibition, New York City.

Ms Chabrian is the recipient of the National Galleries Endowment Award, one of the highest honors given by National Watercolor Society, and is a recent award-winner of the National Portrait Galleries Annual Exhibition. Her paintings have been featured in leading fine art magazines including American Artist and Watercolor.

Frank Federico has had exhibitions of his work in The National Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; Gallery Vallhal, Stockholm, Sweden; Salmagundi Club, New York City; New England Watercolor Society, Boston; and National Watercolor Society traveling exhibition. Mr Federico is a signature member of National Watercolor Society and Pastel Society of America. He has won Grumbacher Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, and awards from National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, Pastel Society of America, and Allied Artists. Mr Federico conducts workshops around the country, teaches in Connecticut and conducts a private studio class.

Ruth Newquist is known for her watercolors of New York City scenes and New England landscapes. She is an elected artist member of National Watercolor Society, Salmagundi Art Club, New York City; Hudson Valley Art Association, and Connecticut Watercolor Society.

Mrs Newquist’s paintings have been exhibited throughout New York and New England, and she has won more than 20 awards in national juried art shows. She was featured in American Artist magazine in June 1999, and in Best of Watercolor III, produced by Rockport Publishers in 1999.

Dennis Stuart’s painting career spans 25 years, and his honors are numerous, including recent awards from the Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors and Portsmouth Museums Foundation in Virginia. He is currently exhibiting work in the National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic Exhibition in New York City.

Mr Stuart attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, and the School of Visual Arts in New York. He graduated from Paier School of Art in Hamden, Conn.

Michael Patterson’s work reflects his journeys to Greece, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Ireland, France, and throughout the United States. Mr Patterson’s work is in more than 500 personal collections and in several corporate collections, including PepsiCo and Young Broadcasting.

He has won dozens of awards, including many for “Best Painter” for his watercolors and oils at outdoor shows in the New York area, and at venues such as the Putnam Arts Council, N.Y., Hudson River Museum, N.Y., and Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Conn. He has exhibited his paintings in France and throughout New York and New England since his graduation in 1980 from the State University of New York at Purchase, where he studied in art and music.

Other artists whose work is included in the exhibition are Joyce Dwyer of Maynard, Mass; Marjorie Glick of Allston, Mass.; Nancy Howell of Dedham, Mass.; and Annika Ljundberg of Lexington, Mass.

An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 2 to 5 pm on Sunday, July 22, at the Haas Library. The library is within the university’s midtown campus, at 181 White Street.

In July, the library is open for viewing of the exhibition from 9 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday; Friday, 9 am to 4 pm; and Sunday, 1 to 6 pm. From August 6 through August 31, the library is open from noon to 4 pm Monday through Friday only.

Parking is available in the Student & Visitor Lot adjacent to the library, at the intersection of Hospital Avenue and Osborne Street, with additional parking in the White Street Garage. For more information or for arrangements for persons with special needs, call 837-8628.