Silvermine Arts Center welcomes 24 new members into its historic Guild of Artists with an exhibition presenting innovation across a variety of artistic disciplines. The new Guild members represent established and emerging artists. Each one brings an original eye and a skilled hand to material and subject matter. The exhibition opened on Jan. 10 and will run through Feb. 6.
Layered landscapes, dynamic weavings, bold color studies, and stunning assemblages explore a capacity for joy or a nuanced vision of the world. Westbrook artist Rosemary Cotnoir’s hypnotic paintings evoke rivers seen from above and currents moving beneath the surface. Evelyn Harvey of New Canaan merges inner and outer worlds in works that include painting and photo transfer. Donna Scarpa of Ridgefield describes her painting titled Chakras as “energetic, blazing cycles of marigold loop de loops.” Barbara Scioscia-Reed of Trumbull adds delicate coiled handles and Sumi brushstrokes to the classical vase form. Salvaged or reclaimed materials find new life in the saturated colors of North Carolina artist Cheryl Prisco’s intricate, framed wood sculptures and in the bright geometric patterns of Berlin, CT, artist Eddie Hall’s paintings on reclaimed windows.
Textile pieces and works referencing poetry are strong presences in the exhibit. Brooklyn artist Fannie Lee’s split, woven tapestries are an interpretation of Chinese landscapes depicting vastness. Adrienne Sloane of Watertown, MA, printed fabric texts of the founding documents of the U.S. that are stretched and twisted until almost unrecognizable. Literary texts served as inspiration both for Cheryl Prisco in her piece that channels Theodore Roethke’s poem, “The Far Field,” and for Rick Shaefer’s large-scale drawings in charcoal on sheets of synthetic vellum, which refer to Chaucer’s “The Parson’s Tale.” Viewers can guess which plants and animals represent the seven deadly sins.
Since its inception, Guild membership has been a selective peer jurying process, and the Guild holds its membership to high standards. Many members have work represented in permanent collections of some of the world’s most prestigious museums, as well as prominent private and corporate collections. This exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to engage with the newest members of this dynamic community of professional artists and learn about their works.
