Date: Fri 26-Jan-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON HICKS

SCAN-Color-January-Lexington

(SCAN's 1996 "Color in January" Show at Lexington Gardens, 1/26/96)

SCAN Puts A Splash of Color Into January

(with photos)

By Shannon Hicks

You know an art show is off to a good start when works included in the show sell before the show even opens.

When members of the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc., were setting up for their third annual "Color in January" show at Lexington Gardens last Friday afternoon, nearly $775 worth of paintings were sold, said SCAN program chair Ruth Newquist during the show's opening reception Saturday afternoon, January 20. The show is being exhibited in the large display area beyond the silk flower shop of Lexington Gardens. It continues through Sunday, January 28.

This year's "Color in January" includes 237 works of art in oils, watercolors, acrylics, line drawing and others, representing a total of 66 artists. Works included are all new to the show; works are not allowed to be shown more than once at "Color in January."

"The show grows every year," Mrs Newquist continued. "We never thought we'd get them all up! Some are hung low, but we did hang everything."

Visitors to the show can enter the exhibit area through the store's dried flower area or from the main hallway of the store, where they will be greeted by the soft lights of the nursery and the bright colors of the art works which give the annual show its name. Walking into the exhibit is a breath of fresh air, a welcome return of colors after living through the longest, greyest days of winter.

It is the perfect show to present one month after the passing of the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, when daylight hours are beginning to noticeably extend but the days are still overcast and the landscape generally bleak.

"Color in January" opened Saturday afternoon with an artists' reception for all participating SCAN artists. Open to the public, the party was catered by the Newtown High School Culinary Arts Group. The students provided a buffet table with a beautiful arrangement of finger foods: platters of vegetables and a spinach dip, crackers and other spreads, a sparkling fruit punch, and cookies were offered for guests to choose from.

The students' work so impressed SCAN members, said Mrs Newquist, the Society is already considering hiring them again for future shows.

Also, Pat Barkman created a lovely flower arrangement as the centerpiece for the buffet table. The arrangement was designed with a miniature artist's palette, a handful of small painting brushes and a number of tubes of oil paints in and around the container housing the beautiful flowers.

The whimsical design was a lovely accent to the students' attractively presented hors d'oeuvres. A member of SCAN, Mrs Barkman regularly creates floral arrangement for the group's meetings.

Saturday and Sunday also saw the first two of four demonstrations in oil and watercolor painting. On Saturday afternoon, Larry Newquist — the founder and director of SCAN — kicked off the show with an oil painting demonstration.

Vice president Janice Amidon Papayani offered her views on painting in the same medium Sunday afternoon.

Lexington Gardens owner Tom Johnson approached the artistic society a few years ago with the idea of a January show.

"We have the space in January, and I always thought it would be a great [show] to have," the nursery's owner said this week. Mr Johnson allows SCAN to use the exhibit area at no charge. "I appreciate the art, and I appreciate the amount of talent we have around here, too."

With the show in its third year of operation, Mr Johnson feels it has become something people can look forward to.

"Traffic isn't strong during the week," he said, "but I think people are coming in to see the show specifically. I think it has become something people look for."

More of an appreciator of art than a practicing artist himself, Mr Johnson admits he enjoys looking forward to the show.

"There are a couple of people [whose work] I recognize every year," he said. "I always look forward to see what paintings they've brought in."

"Color in January" continues at Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Road in Newtown, through Sunday, January 28. Watercolor painting demonstrations will be presented on Saturday, at 1 pm, by Ruth Newquist, and on Sunday, at the same time, by Dick Ochs.