Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Duracell-Hunter-Murphy-artists

Full Text:

Art Through The Eyes Of Seven Connecticut Artists

(with cuts)

BY SHANNON HICKS

BETHEL -- Seven artists have been selected by the Brookfield Arts Commission

for inclusion in a special show, "Art Through The Eyes Of The Connecticut

Artist."

The show will be presented at the gallery at Duracell Corporate Headquarters

in Bethel from October 5 through December 29. Admission is open to the public

free of charge, but by pre-arranged private tours only.

Work in a variety of media is included in the show. The artists being

represented are Suzanne Lang of Newtown; James Higginbotham, Mark Malley,

Linda Rachwalsky-Casey and George Sottung of Brookfield; Susan Moran of

Danbury; and Phillip Levine of Stratford. In all, over 30 pieces of art will

be on view.

"It's a wonderful cross-section of the work being created by artists in our

state," says Joanne Hunter, chairman of the Brookfield Arts Commission. "Art

Through The Eyes of The Connecticut Artist" includes several different mediums

-- watercolors, acrylics, etc, and even some sculpture.

"There is everything from pencil drawings of animals to paintings with

religious themes," Ms Hunter continued. "There's really a broad variety of

work here.

"It's a diverse group of artists, and their passion for their work shows

clearly in their artwork."

Last January, Susan Murphy of Duracell contacted the Brookfield Arts

Commission with the idea of creating a show that focused on work by

Connecticut artists, to be put on view in the "Main Street" gallery at the

corporation's headquarters.

Mrs Murphy, a contributions administrator for Duracell, is also on the

corporations Duracell's arts task force. The committee comprises "about half a

dozen people," says Mrs Murphy, and is responsible for the jurying process of

any proposals that go into Duracell for its shows. Duracell has been hanging

art shows, which change every three months, since its new corporate

headquarters building opened in November 1995.

According to Ms Hunter, chairman of the Brookfield Arts Commission, the next

step was to approach possible candidates for the show.

"We wanted to limit the show to Connecticut artists," Ms Hunter said this

week, "because we are a Connecticut arts commission."

The commission culled a list of artists from the greater Danbury area who

might be interested in participating in the show. Some of the artists the

commission contacted were not only interested in participating themselves, but

were also helpful in suggesting additional artists around the state whose work

might fit into the show's criterion.

"It's nice to participate in a show like this. The art community has a

wonderful network," Ms Hunter said. "They are always referring other artists

to you. They're very supportive of each other."

Artists were invited to submit their entry to the Brookfield Arts Commission,

who then had to determine which artists would be included in the show.

Once the commission had made its decision concerning who would be in the show,

Mrs Hunter and a few members of the commission visited Susan Murphy again at

Duracell to present samples of the selected artists' work. Mrs Murphy said

this week she had not yet seen the complete show that was to be hung on

October 1, but she felt confident it would be a good representation of work by

Connecticut artists.

"We look at artists' samples first, and make decisions on whether the work is

`corporate friendly,' so to speak," she explained. "The commission will be in

here [October 1] to hang the entire show, and we'll make final arrangements

then if necessary."

While "Art Through The Eyes of The Connecticut Artist" will be hanging at

Duracell's "Main Street" through December 29 and is intended largely for

viewing by Duracell employees, the public is also welcome to visit the show.

To visit the gallery, interested viewers must call Joanne Hunter (740-2801) in

order to make arrangements for a guided viewing. For Duracell security

reasons, admission to the gallery is not allowed without prior arrangement.