Date: Fri 18-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Caribbean

Full Text:

Caribbean Connection

w/1cut

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. -- The Simpson Galleries of The Discovery Museum will

vibrate with the colors of the Caribbean in the exhibit "Caribbean

Connections/Conexiones Caribenas: Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico,"

on view through January 3, 1999. The museum is at 4450 Park Avenue in north

Bridgeport.

The exhibit features the paintings, sculpture, drawings, and mixed media works

of 32 contemporary artists living and working in either the United States or

the Caribbean.

The works, which explore the human figure in styles that range from

representational to abstract, deal with personal, spiritual, political,

social, and environmental issues. Many are expressions of the artists'

struggles to maintain their cultural identity while living as exiles from Cuba

or immigrants from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

"The Caribbean has an incredibly rich and diverse arts heritage, in music,

literature, and the visual arts," notes museum curator Ben Ortiz. "We are

particularly fortunate to have such a large Caribbean immigrant population in

the tri-state region. They bring an added dimension to our own arts community

and to local celebrations."

In fact, more than one third of the artists are from New York, New Jersey, and

Connecticut, including Inna Arroyo of Willimantic. Others live as far away as

Texas, Florida, and the Dominican Republic.

The exhibit will include a number of special events during its run, featuring

music, dance, poetry, and storytelling, and audience participation.

Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 pm Sunday.

Admission is $7. For information, 203/372-3521.