Date: Fri 16-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-7

Quick Words:

Beaux-arts-Cavanaugh-Coleman

Full Text:

(feature on Beaux Art's "Coming of Age" shows, 8/16/96)

Beaux Arts Gallery: Helping Young Artists Come of Age

(with photos)

By Shannon Hicks

SOUTHBURY - For six summers, Beaux Arts Gallery has presented an exhibit that

celebrates the creativity and artistic exuberance of area youth. By presenting

"Coming of Age," gallery owners Peter and Shelley Miller and gallery manager

Michael Coleman demonstrate encouragement for children in the arts through

their continued efforts and involvement.

The Millers and Mr Coleman have worked closely with artist and teacher Julie

Webster Cavanaugh, founder of the Young Artist Workshop. It is works by Mrs

Cavanaugh's students that are featured in the annual "Coming of Age" exhibits,

with media ranging from acrylics and pastels to sculpture.

An opening reception for "Coming of Age VI" was held at the Main Street South

gallery on Sunday, August 4. The eleven artists in this year's show - Nicole

DeBarber, Gina Mariano, Krista Rinaldo, Leah Schultz, Sarah Schultz, Bryan

Swann, Allison Valentine, Drew Van Steenberger, Alex Yan and Eric Young - and

their teacher were honored with an afternoon party hosted by the gallery,

visited by their parents, friends and the art-loving public, on August 4. The

exhibit remained on view until August 10.

"People have been coming by, dropping in all week to see this show," said

Michael Coleman late last week. Beaux Arts' gallery manager for the past three

years, Mr Coleman's curatorial skills were not challenged with this show; the

students chose which works would be included in "Coming of Age VI."

"Many [of the visitors] seem to have reacted very much to the sculpture," he

continued. This was the first year the medium was included in a YAW show. Mr

Coleman called the sculpture featured "great stuff."

Eye-catching not only for its size but also the obvious talent that went into

creating it is was large (sight estimate 18 by 24 inches), untitled, vibrant

pastel marine scene by Gina Mariano. Situated on the wall opposite the

entrance of the room the show is set up in, the work is a depiction of a calm

underwater world using soft colors that seem to meld into one another. The

work attracted a lot of attention Sunday afternoon, and Miss Mariano received

a number of positive, encouraging comments for her effort.

At age 16, Gina will be entering her junior year of high school in the fall.

She says she hopes to build a career in the art field. With three pieces in

the show this year - in addition to the dolphin and seal marine scene, there

was a pencil interior and a dark silhouette painting of a tree Mr Coleman

described as "real stark" - Gina has a fine addition to her portfolio, with

varied styles represented.

Instructor Julie Webster Cavanaugh was busy throughout the party, seen and

heard speaking with artists and their guests. The show this year included

students who have had works exhibited in past shows - "I have a core group who

have been working on their college portfolios," she said - along with works by

new students. The ages of Mrs Cavanaugh's students run from seven to 18 years

old.

Mrs Cavanaugh inaugurated the Young Artist Workshop in 1991. A former

professional framer for Beaux Arts co-owner Peter Miller (wife Shelley is also

his gallery-owning partner), Mrs Cavanaugh left her full-time job with the

gallery to take a job at Danbury's Wooster School. She taught within Wooster's

middle school art program for three years, during which time she also opened a

studio on her Southbury property: the Youth Artist Workshop.

"[Julie] has always had great energy, and a great rapport with kids," Mr

Miller says of the Workshop's creator. "

When she told her former employer about her part-time project, he was, she

recalled, "very supportive." He encouraged her to pursue her dream, and

allowed her to distribute brochures concerning the workshop through the

Southbury gallery.

Beaux Arts has always seen the importance of encouraging art appreciation from

a young age. The gallery has opened its doors to local schools' art

departments, inviting classes to view exhibits and critique the different

works, done so that youngsters become more familiar and comfortable with an

artistic environment.

"Peter's been wonderful about supporting my students, and showing their work,"

Mrs Cavanaugh says. A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University in New

Haven, where she also received her teaching certificate, Mrs Webster uses the

mixed medias of watercolor and pastels to create her landscapes.

The workshop and the Main Street gallery have continued the encouraging

relationship - for each other's benefit and for the young, burgeoning art

students - for six years. Enrollment continues on a steady basis for the

eight-week YAW sessions during the school year, as well as the half-day summer

sessions. Undoubtedly, next summer will bring on "Coming of Age VII."

"This is a nice way to give something back to the community," said Mr Miller.

"One of the greatest ways to support young artists is to put them into the

limelight... let the public see their work and let [the artists] see their

work in a professional gallery."