"Following the Sun Over Charles Island" : Hedi Minow-Pike, December's Artist

"I am instinctively drawn to nature. Nature fascinates me as it never stands still. There is something new to see every day. The ever changing colors of the trees, sky, sun and water have been the inspiration for my photography.  Ten years ago, my husband and I bought a condo on Walnut Beach and a new adventure began.  I noticed how beautiful the sunrises over Charles Island were and could not resist the urge to get up early in the morning to photograph them.  I am not an early riser and in June it was getting up around five o’clock! 

To quote the Greek Philosopher Heraclitus “The sun is new each day”; it has a profound affect how we see our surroundings.   In this exhibit, I present a sequence of photographs for each month of the year depicting sunrises over Charles Island as well as dawn and dusk.   The area photographed is the same, but what we see changes from day to day.  The position of the sun is different as we travel in time, the sky colors are never the same, and there is the low tide and high tide, stormy and calm waters and much more.   Some days are more beautiful than others, but there always is something so very fascinating about each brand new day even in our own backyard."

-- Hedi Minow-Pike

"February's Sunrise" - photograph - by Hedi Minow-Pike

Hedi's beautiful perception on how Earth shows herself to us is very poignant during this time as we climb up and out of the rubble left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. She captures what resonates within each of us that a slight gasp can be heard. Not manipulating her images, she holds that true one moment in time of beauty that can be lost in the blink of an eye as Earth rotates, revolving around Sun.

So who truly is the center of the universe? In retrospect, it is hoped that we see Earth as the center of our universe; for she gives of herself every second of every minute of every hour of every day. She bears fruits and vegetables for us to eat; she grows trees to help us breathe which is a fascinating way of giving and receiving because trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe and we dispel carbon dioxide which trees and plants need to breathe. Of trees, we also receive wood to build structures to protect ourselves. Earth also houses animals who give us food to sustain our lives....we must think again when we become a bit narcissist and think we are the center of the universe when in actuality we are not.

Hedi's photography brings us back to reality with a "Hey, take the
time to stop and smell the roses; or the coffee" because it does depend where you are but the meaning is the same.

"August Sun" - photograph - by Hedi Minow-Pike

"...ever changing..." the key words that are synonymous to our lives. Sometimes we need to be shaken up a bit to make us move; to create something; to see that it is time to change; or it is time to help, or it is time to ask for help because our pride gets in the way. So, Earth will do this for us if we don't pay attention. The wake-up calls to our life's situations.

We are awakened each morning to the sounds of an alarm; music; talk shows; the sounds of the garbage truck. Some of us prefer to hear the sounds of birds, dogs barking, the whinnying of horses and their hooves hitting the pavement as they are brought to pasture each morning. Or, perhaps wind, rain and the uncanny silence when it is snowing. We all have our vices that shake us with a wake-up call each morning; however, Hedi's ability to capture it helps us to see something we might have missed.

Earth's recent destruction left in the "wake" from "Sandy" is a "wake"-up call for us; it is time for us to unite to help heal those affected by her, to rebuild communities, and to perhaps take a moment to see why it happened and what causes created it. We will find it is time to heal Earth before the sickness that has enveloped her gets worse. 

Hedi Minow-Pike's poignant photographs remind us that as we seek aid in every aspect of our lives to heal and rebuild, let us seek aid for Earth because if we don't Hedi's photographs will be all that is left of Earth to remember her by. 

Hedi's Opening Reception will be on Thursday, December 13th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Join us! Take a break from the craziness and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year as we will celebrate with food, music, and dancing!

"Color Dawn" - photograph by Hedi Minow-Pike

"“The sun is new each day” - Heraclitus, Greek philosopher"

 

Dawn is the precursor to a new day, a new beginning...
Peace...

HOLIDAY HOURS...

SOBOBO will be CLOSED

 

THANKSGIVING DAY

Thursday, November 22nd

 

Will OPEN REGULAR HOURS

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Noon to 6:00 PM

 

HOLIDAY HOURS

THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS

NOON TO 6:00 PM

 

Don't Forget to

CELEBRATE SHOP SMALL

Saturday, November 24th

 

SHOP SMALL BUSINESS

SUPPORT your local small businesses

 

Make sure to stop in SoBoBo, too!

 

Watercolor Prints by Betty Geller - 20% OFF

Jewelry by Sally Ann Endleman - 30% OFF

Watercolor Prints by Paige Miglio - $75 each

 

Check out the prices of original artwork!

 

Original Art by Various Artists!

Some Artists have lowered prices by 10% to 30%

Other Artists have made room for negotiation!

 

There is something for everyone!

Thank you...

In Flander’s Fields

by

Lt. Col. John McCrae

 In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Today is Veteran's Day. A day of honor for our men and women who not only fought in wars fighting for Democracy but to honor ALL military personnel within the five branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy, and we mustn't forget our National Guard who on a daily basis, 24/7 help with the operations of the force that protects us and the world from harm. If it weren't for them we can only imagine what our lives would be like.

In the years immediately following World War I and only up until recently, governments and the whole of society, had not accepted the responsibility for those incapacitated and bereft as a result of war. This day marks the realization of what they, retired or disabled veterans have done and even those who are active duty continuing to do for us. It seems we forget our troops are there, the past and what they did for us but it is not true. It is not out of disrespect or selfishness or taking them for granted it is because they are our resolve just knowing and understanding they are there at all times that we can go about our daily lives.

In November 1918, Moina Michael, saw how the men and women were forgotten and the difficulties they endured when coming home. She read the poem "In Flander's Field" by Lt. Col. John McCrae. She being so moved by it had responded to him:

We Shall Keep the Faith

 

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

Today, many have heard the story and it is legend now that the battle field at Flander was so soaked in blood from the soldiers who died there, not just U.S. but allied soldiers as well; Earth absorbed their blood and the following year red poppies had grown in the field.

Although the poem "In Flander's Field" never stated the color of the poppy, Moina Michael designed the red poppy representing the blood lost and the task at hand helping veterans return to society. Creating fund raisers and selling the poppies that were hand- made she gathered the proceeds to be used to help the veterans and their families. She felt it was the least she could do. Promoting to anyone who would listen. They should not be forgotten!

So one can see the importance for us to reflect on their courage, their strength, their ability to stay united defending us so we may go about our daily lives.

Let us take this time to thank each veteran for their service, including our active duty military. Thank them for being our silent strength, our resolve giving us the unequivocal feelings of safety, security, and the sense of knowing we and our rights as individuals are protected.

As we rally around those in need during and after a disaster do not forget the National Guard and Coast Guard and local first responders who were "deployed" to serve us during the recent storms; we need to rally around our veterans as well, welcoming them back and accepting them into our society.

Thank You!

Nor'easter has guided Walnut Beach Witch back to Walnut Beach Creamery

Hurricane Sandy's winds had taken
Walnut Beach Witch off course

so he or she wasn't able to show
on October 31st, Halloween night...

But the Nor'easter has guided
Walnut Beach Witch back to

Walnut Beach Creamery, flying in on its tail winds...

Walnut Beach Witch will be arriving at

Walnut Beach Creamery TODAY!  FINALLY!!

He or She will be arriving at 6:00 pm sharp!

Come and help chase away the ghouls and gobblins!

Meet up at 5:00 pm at

Walnut Beach Creamery

19 Broadway, Walnut Beach

Enjoy ice cream and laughter as you wait for

Walnut Beach Witch to arrive promptly at 6:00 pm!

Opening Reception for Lisa Salerno Postponed...

Due to the snow storm the Opening Reception for Lisa Salerno scheduled for this evening has been postponed until Saturday, November 10th. Please join us at 6:00 pm. Meet with Lisa and enjoy an evening of lively discussion!

Lisa Salerno "Paperdolls" Unfolds...

"The "paperdolls" series unfolded quite by accident, or perhaps it was by luck? I discovered a dissonant joy and longing in the repeating nameless-faceless forms of the vaguely female shapes I cut while playing with my daughter. While my initial intent was to entertain my little girl with these fun and innocent cutouts, I found myself imagining a story and character for each strand of figures. The repetitive patterns that unfolded reminded me of the ways in which our society so often ascribes stereotypes for each woman, ones that we impose upon ourselves, and ones that are imposed upon us.

As the ambiguity of each doll shape faded away when paper, paint, canvas, and pen combined, the narratives of each painting emerged, so too did their titles. One-worded but with double meaning, each painting is named in a manner reflective of the way in which each work investigates the female experience, sometimes playfully, sometimes flippantly, sometimes defiantly. Some of the smaller studies I have created so far include paper dolls in a snowflake pattern titled "flake", a piece crafted from a cut-up old artist statement titled "making a statement", a painting with a gold paper doll in the center titled "golddigger", and a piece titled "hotmess".

The short, unpunctuated titles are reflective of our modern, interconnected, high-speed culture, yet the imagery seeks to pay homage to traditional women's handicrafts, with folk art inspired quilt-like patterns. The various colors, iconography, symmetry, and interplay between negative and positive space, combine in an attempt to explore the contradictions and complexity of the modern female experience."

--Lisa Salerno

Lisa's "paperdolls" bring you back to childhood cutting paper, forming the connected figures; and the flat "cardboard" dolls that came in a book with her clothes ready to cut out so you can dress her in any style you wanted not even realizing the stereo-typing that we as young girls, adolescents were being indoctrinated into; a world, society that women were seen and not heard. Lisa's "Silenced" puts this into perspective quite perfectly, because even today, it still does take place.

mixed media by Lisa Salerno

Trying to change the way women are perceived to be is very difficult especially the climate of politics where women's rights are slowly being chipped away. Lisa's "Mary-Go-Round" is the epitome of what one anti-woman commentator portrays her to be.

by Lisa Salerno

And we mustn't forget the woman who seeks to be wealthy, who seeks companionship of the same quality in a man...for she is called "Golddigger" for her desires. But for a man to do the same it is allowed.

by Lisa Salerno

Lisa states it quite eloquently when she says "The short, unpunctuated titles are reflective of our modern, interconnected, high-speed culture...yet the imagery seeks to pay homage to the traditional women's handicrafts....an attempt to explore the contradictions and complexity of the modern female experience."

She has "pinned" the iconic paperdoll quite appropriately with what woman's culture is about and the struggles she endures on a daily basis not just here in the United States but around the world. In her description of the "traditional woman" it can be seen as a cynical but very poignant statement because it does put into perspective of how woman is perceived as a piece of furniture, to be used and abused and when done throw it away.

"Paperdolls" an innocent art project for anyone to create, but once you visit SoBoBo and see "Paperdolls" series you may walk away with a very different point of view. And each time you start cutting out "paperdolls" you will be reminded of the indoctrination young girls, adolescents and teenagers are experiencing even today in some parts of the world.

Lisa Salerno will be exhibiting "Paperdolls" from November 1st to November 30th at SoBoBo, 42 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford, CT. We hope you do visit us on Thursday, November 8th. Lisa's opening reception begins at 7:00 pm.

We ask that you stop at Firehouse Gallery too, for their opening reception on November 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visit Wild Expressions who will be having singer/songwriter Kayte Devlin! Stop in Seaside Wines & Spirits for that holiday wine you were thinking about for Thanksgiving!

Please do join us at Firehouse Gallery, SoBoBo, and Wild Expressions for an evening of warmth, well wishes and enjoy a moment of peace after what has happened. Sometimes taking that moment away from the madness can help put a clearer picture on what should be done next - all of you are in our thoughts...