If You're ___ & You Know It" at The Norwalk Art Space

If You’re ____ & You Know It: Identifying Emotions at The Norwalk Art Space

June 16th - September 7th, 2023

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Curated by Kor
ry Fellow Isabella Montenegro and featuring artists June Ahrens, Melissa Benedek, Casey Correra, Kasimir Comunale, Chelsea Danburg, Erin Dolan, Britt Garth, Brett Masterson, Nadia Martinez, Russell Miyaki, Chris Sainato, Sharon Smalls, Brea Thomas-Young, Kelly Walters 

 

If we don’t tell people how we feel, how will they know? Communication is key. There are five types of communication: verbal, non-verbal, written, listening, and visual. All of which you can experience through this exhibition. As you wander the exhibition, you may question pieces and their meaning. However, take the time to be open-minded and accept that the first thing you see, hear, watch, etc., is an experience that is a more personal feeling or emotion for your own self. Understanding that there is no right or wrong answer in art is powerful, and using this practice to openly and freely communicate complex emotions could create the key to unlocking a more compassionate and open-minded society.

 

If You’re ____ & You Know It: Identifying Emotions is a group exhibition with artwork examining the concepts of feelings and emotion through art; not just through paintings but also through music, creative writing, dance, poetry, etc. The contributing artists were asked to consider the following theme: "Identifying Emotions''. The artist's responses will be presented in The Norwalk Art Space in an effort to show how they have used their practice to communicate their feelings and emotions through art. During the exhibition artists' work will be sold, if they so choose, with thirty percent of the proceeds donated to The Norwalk Art Space in support of its mission.

 

The Norwalk Art Space strives to increase opportunities and equity in the local arts community by offering free art and music education and mentorship to under-served students, sponsoring and promoting local artists through its Resident Artist program and Korry Fellow exhibitions, and providing the public an exciting venue to explore art and music, all free.

Fragmented Memory (The Impact), 2023 and Untitled (Fragmented Memories), 2021

The artist talks with Isabella Montenegro, Korry Fellow and Curator of the exhibition If  You're ___ & You Know It at The Norwalk Art Space.
Isabella will lead a discussion with 8 incredible artists from the exhibition, so don't miss this opportunity to gain insight into their creative processes, inspirations, and the stories behind their thought-provoking artworks. It's a chance to dive deep into the minds of these talented individuals who have contributed their unique perspectives to the exhibition.


Date: August 6th, 2023
Time: 3-4:30 PM
Location: The Norwalk Art Space, 455 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850

Featured artists:
June Ahrens
Kasimir Comunale
Casey Correra
Britt Garth
Nadia Martinez
Sharon Smalls
Brea Thomas-Young

Kelly Walters

In Light Of, three-person exhibition, Crown Gallery

In Light Of 

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Bridgeport, CT — The Crown Gallery, nestled within the historic walls of the Metro Arts Studio, has unveiled an extraordinary exhibition that transcends the ordinary. “In Light Of” invites visitors to explore the interplay between light and dark, textures and materials—a captivating dance that weaves themes of perception, environment, connection, and separation.

As you step into the gallery, the air hums with anticipation. The space itself seems to breathe—a symphony of old and new, where the echoes of the past harmonize with contemporary expression. The Crown Corset factory building, now beautifully renovated, cradles this artistic haven on its ground floor.

The exhibition features sculptures, installations, and prints, each a universe unto itself created by Tamara Dimitri, Nadia Martinez, and Debbie Smith—the trio of participating artists—The serenity of the surface belies the depths beneath. As light dances across these works, it reveals hidden currents—an invitation to plunge into the artist’s psyche. Their shared language transcends mere materials; it speaks of resilience, longing, and the human need for connection.

“In Light Of” is more than an exhibition; it’s an odyssey. As you move through the gallery, allow your senses to merge with the play of light and shadow. Let the whispers of history and the pulse of the present guide you. Perhaps, just perhaps, you’ll find yourself between worlds—where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the darkness holds its own luminescence.

My sculptural installations and prints featured are: "Between the Lines", "Finding Beauty in the Cracks", "Say It Loud but With Love," and "Touched by a Thousand Hands"

These pieces confidently celebrate resilience with boldness and tenderness. The resistors symbolize strength, while the crystals refract light, echoing hope. The imperfections, the cracks, reveal hidden beauty. Just as orange peels bear scars, our own vulnerabilities can be sources of strength, and the 24K gold adds value while highlighting the break. Each resistor represents a touch, a connection. When combined, they form a powerful network, a testament to our shared humanity. The fabric absorbs ink, preserving fleeting thoughts and unspoken stories.

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Exhibition Details:

• Title: In Light Of
• Dates: March 26 to May 6, 2023
• Location: Crown Gallery @ Metro Arts Studio, Bridgeport, CT

Join us in this luminous exploration. The gallery doors await, and within them, a thousand stories unfold.

Crown Gallery 345 Railroad Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06604 Gallery Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 12 to 4 PM (and by appointment)

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