"The Way We Were. . . "

Sobobo Gallery is going back to "the way we were. . ." Change is abound at Sobobo Gallery! New or it should be said Old . . . . only you can tell the difference. If you are new to visiting Sobobo then the changes are new; if you have visited when we were located at 17 Broadway then they are old - it does makes sense.

Changes to take place with the new exhibit installation for July! Perhaps a preview before the 3rd Thursday Art Stroll?

See you soon . . . .

If you count today, it is 4 DAYS away!

If you count today, it is 4 DAYS away! Wondering what it is? It is the 3^rd Thursday! 3^rd Thursday means only one thing . . . . Walnut Beach Art Stroll is happening!

Come early and enjoy the culinary arts of:  Lazy Lobster, New Town Market, Alfas, Aldarios and Costa Azzurra.

Afterwards walk down the Avenue and check out each venue; One can get a glimpse of the evening’s affair, Firehouse Gallery “Flowering” exhibit has one wanting to stare;

Sobobo Gallery’s prelude to the night’s events will have you gazing at Ivan Tirado working on a sculpture that will form to make sense; Enjoy the sounds of saxophonist Addison and bass player Morris; The constant flow brings one from a still coolness to an emotional soulness; Heightening the senses to enjoy Andrew Hungaski’s, “A Tangible Vision” that guides you to three doors down with precision.

To enjoy another “tangible” experience at Seaside Wines & Spirits; A wine tasting that will tantalize your taste buds, This experience will have you continue on the stroll seeking out more;

Beach Gallery showing art with found objects; Wearable art by artisans Judy Fryer Thompson, Cathy Nolan and Kim Fleming, for their jewelry is truly worth seeing!

Scoot & Paddle has utilitarian and wearable art as well! When you enter, you surely are under their spell, because whether it be a bicycle, kayak, or scooter you will end up having to schedule a rental;

Continue down Broadway and stop in front of old Ortiz’s spot and check out the store front! You will see the “Tangible Vision” of an historical sense designed by Tyyne Catapano and Elizabeth Wright that you will hear yourself say “A beautiful display! One that makes the area so bright!”

Two doors down to Wild Expressions you should go, where a Tangible Vision titillates your senses! You  find yourself surrounded by music by “The Light Hearts” Brian and Susan; Enveloped with the scents of Floral Art and the hint of the culinary art by The Venetian Vegan who has put a new twist on grandma's Italian recipes! Taste it! Hear it! Smell it! Feel it! The Tangible Vision explodes so much so!

Across the street to Walnut Beach Creamery and Taste & See you should go to bring home with you their hand made gourmet treats! Tangible Vision continues to tease and in the end you find yourself saying “I must have that one, please!”

An end to the evening must take place; so meander over to the corner of Naugatuck and East Broadway where you will find DJ Brian Smith in the Park space playing a medley of Salsa music and Art, will demonstrate the dance!  An evening one would say of extravagance!

Come and join us, enjoy the 3^rd Thursday Walnut Beach Art Stroll filled with art, food & drink, dance and lively discussion!

The Jazz Duo : Addison & Morris

 

Playing at Sobobo : Thursday, June 20th

 



Sobobo Hosts The Piece Movement!

Sobobo truly "where unique meets sublime" has taken its Piece Talks to the next level! Sobobo will now be hosting a Piece Movement!

You will be able to watch the artist's creative movements take form right in front of your eyes!

Artisan, Ivan Tirado will be sculpting a 3-dimensional piece!

JUST AMAZING!

SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH

 

3:00 PM TO 6:00 PM

 

as you stroll by

 

SOBOBO GALLERY

42 NAUGATUCK AVENUE

MILFORD, CT

take a peek in the window and

watch scultpor Ivan Tirado sculpt a human figure!

Stunning! 

 

 

Come in and watch up close as the form takes shape!

Truly a must see!!

Walk the Avenue - that is Naugatuck Avenue - to Broadway

The Walnut Beach Art Stroll will now be happening on a regular schedule – it takes place the 3^rd Thursday of each month and that begins on the Summer Solstice June 20^th. . . A celebration that can’t be missed!
 

Walk the Avenue, that is Naugatuck Avenue to Broadway! What a wonderful way to welcome Summer! Join us on a walk that will give you food for thought, to see and to eat, drink and be merry listening to and begin swaying to the music!
Beginning at 6:00 pm one can join in the food fare of the area restaurants – pizza, burgers, etc. at Alfa’s; deli sandwiches at New Town Market; Italian cuisine at Aldario’s and Costa Azzura…at Costa Azzura you get the view of the water how relaxing!

And last but not least,

The Lazy Lobster, 6 Broadway

 whose customers are served on the beach!

And to help your meal settle, begin walking the talk of the town.

Firehouse Gallery, 81 Naugatuck Avenue

 

will be open from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm this evening for you to see their new exhibit Flowers; meander down the avenue to

Sobobo Art Gallery, 42 Naugatuck Avenue

 

from 6:30 to 8:30 and meet Andrew Hungaski who shows us “A Tangible Vision”.  Saxophonist Addison Thompson will be serenading us as lively discussions begin, food and drink flow. See the art work of over 70 artists. 

You can head three doors down from Sobobo to

Seaside Wines & Spirits, 36 Naugatuck Avenue

 

for a wine tasting. An art by wineries that titillate your taste buds! Perhaps you will find a flavor of schnapps, or brandy to drizzle over your dessert that you decide you have to have at the end of the walk!

You must continue down Naugatuck to go to

Scoot & Paddle, 26 Naugatuck Avenue,

 

Yes, Scoot & Paddle has utilitarian art – totes! The company, Sea Bags offers retired sailboat sails another life by turning them into handmade one-of-a-kind nautical-inspired pieces in their shop right on the docks in Portland Maine.  The exquisite handmade, durable sail bags embody the previous life of the sail while promoting chic recycling and reuse.  AND they also have wearable art – sneakers!  The sneakers are handmade in Peru by skilled, artisans being paid above average salaries and in exceptional working environments using only authentic South American textiles from artisans that have been producing these beautiful textiles for generations.  Inkkas, a socially conscious company that donates 10% to protecting the Amazon rain forest and its inhabitants, promotes fair trade and opportunities for disadvantaged producers.   Both styles works of art that can be used! While you are there you might want to look at their other offerings  - perhaps you would want to plan to  rent the bicycle built for two, or a kayak for an afternoon.

As you head back to Broadway  –

Enter Beach Gallery on Naugatuck Avenue side, next door to Scoot & Paddle

 

and “Sea” the beauty of the area through the eyes of local artists and historical pieces by owner/artist Elizabeth Wright. Featured artisans Kim Fleming and Cathy Nolan exhibiting their SEA GLASS jewelry creations PLUS the spiritual found object jewelry of Judy Fryer Thompson who was recently featured in Jewelry Magazine. Other gems of found objects cherished and recreated by the artistic eye will adorn the gallery with few surprises as well!

Afterwards head down to

16 Broadway to Wild Expressions

 

where brother and sister musicians Suzanne and Brian, who call themselves The Light Hearts will be enlivening the evening with music from 7:00 to 8:30. There are surprises there too, art by local artists – the floral art by owner Tyyne Catapano envelopes you with the scents (sense)of nature – and Yes, the artwork on the floor is truly a find!

Now that you had walked off your dinner, it is time for dessert! And what better spots than

Walnut Beach Creamery, 19 Broadway
 

 

and Taste & See, 17 Broadway

 

where you can create your own dessert - perhaps Cupcake Ala mode!  You might think about getting schnapps, or brandy at Seaside Wines & Spirits to drizzle over your own culinary creation! A perfect way to cleanse the palette!

Before you head home you must stop off at the park on the corner of Naugatuck and East Broadway! A wonderful way to end the evening with a Salsa party! DJ Brian Smith will be on hand twirling the vinyls as music fills the air and dancing heats up the street!

Come enjoy food and drink, art, music, and dance! It truly is an amazing way to welcome Summer!

Andrew Hungaski Shows Us "A Tangible Vision"

"I look upon a photograph as a souvenir. A visual record of an actual moment pulled out of time, recorded on film, or digitally, and printed on paper, a tangible vision.

As a youth I was always, and still am, thrilled to capture an image, take it home and add it to my collection of memories.

Pictures that were once primitive observations evolve. Now, hopefully more often than not, reflecting a refined sense of vision, wherein the essence of the image is contained and properly composed, evoking feelings of emotion, atmosphere, or lyricism. I don’t necessarily feel that a photograph has to be a “work of art,” to be successful.  Beauty is in the mind of the beholder.

Once the image of these primitive observations is printed, ideas evolve swirling in my mind as to what can be done to them. Some have been turned into silk screens, and vice versa a sculpture made of found objects becomes a photograph; drift wood and manufactured wood combined become a sculpture; watercolors and gauche are used as I without thought, without idea paint; an image evolves and it is named, title is given to the piece. 

Whether you’re a good photographer or artist or not, even a beginner is capable of producing a work of art, sooner or later, given the law of averages. It is most important to have fun and enjoy the journey." 

- - Andrew Hungaski  

 

Andrew’s works have a sense that you were there once before, perhaps another life time, or even a visit to the place. His black and white photographs have a foggy, smoky aura not a definitive which is the essence of making it a dream like happenstance. His antiqued or sepia photographs have an essence of old photography, a time of when the camera was first used. Both styles bring you into two different worlds, two different dimensions that welcome you with open arms.

Andrew Hungaski’s photography and art shows us how the mundane and human nature can be extolled into a work of art just by being respectful and using common decency without arrogance and without ego tripping us up.


"Headless Woman" by Andrew Hungaski

The subjects lend to curiosity whether human or objects, coercing without forcing one to be so curious.

Just by looking into an open space in hedges creates the passers-by to curiously stick their head in to see what it is, what is happening. Some call it nosey, others may say “Mind your own business” or “Don’t get involved” and walk straight away from it and those who have that curious streak will always find a moment that will call out to them, taking risks; the old saying “Curiosity killed the cat” however, “Satisfaction brought him back”.

"Ship" by Andrew Hungaski





 

 

 

The oddity of mundane objects becomes center stage. Each telling us something; and it is up to you to know and understand what it is they have to say; each of us walking away with a different meaning. Driftwood, baubles, lobster tail, oh my. . .Still life objects become alive making more of a statement then images of people in a park, at a picnic, a boat sailing down a river or run aground. What say you “Three Monkeys”? “See no evil?”; “speak no evil?”; “hear no evil?” bringing us back to the silence of the people staring into the lens a familial sense, a respect for everyday life and the means for which help us live our lives without arrogance without ego.

Andrew Hungaski’s works will be on display at Sobobo Gallery during the month of June.

Do join us on Thursday, June 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm for Andrew's exhibit reception. Meet Andrew Hungaski and learn about his techniques. An addition to the venue is Addison Thompson, saxophonist, who will be on hand enlivening the evening with his music.
 

Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day is truly a somber day to honor all of our fallen heroes fighting for our freedom, our rights represented by The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence - All of which are our guardians, our guides to how we made the United States of America a great country, a great power is what is protected by those who gave their lives defending it all.

 Our fallen heroes, our military forces have fought for those in the other countries as well who are oppressed and facing genocide but it seems those countries who asked for help don't seem to care we are there, taking for granted our presence and taking what was given them to use against us.

WWII military personnel, including women, makes one realize the sacrifices our American Armed Forces made during that time. Fighting in Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii (was not part of the United States then), Germany, Northern Africa, Europe, basically the world trying to stop a one world power, Adolf Hitler. The United States were fighting, at that point, for our lives as well as the lives of the people in the rest of the world.

 

"Social Balance" by Claudio Altesor

 

Since WWII our Armed Forces had responded to South Korea's plight in the 1950's known as the Korean War, losing lives. And then the United States was called on by France in 1959 to help in Vietnam. Once our Armed Forces had entered the fight, France left, leaving it to us. For 12-years we lost many men and women to what seemed to be a never-ending battle. Our men and women were considered and treated less than heroes when they came home in their coffins because of the tone made by those who opposed us being there. It was the first time the private world news media were involved in reporting...it was the beginning of the end of our Armed Forces.

Those men and women who fought in the Vietnam War are heroes and should never be forgotten. They had to endure more than one can ever imagine - from watching in disbelief infants, babies, toddlers children being used as live bombs, to learning a new technique in warfare - jungle warfare; from having to do an 18 month tour to doing more than one consecutive tour (not the 4-6 months done now); from going to Vietnam believing what our government was trying to do after being left in the dust by France and other countries to coming home to be buried in a country whose people hated them.

That alone is the worst, the epitome of feeling like a failure when your own country shuns your son or daughter who gave their life to save the lives of those who were being forced to live a life of oppression. Please know - NOT EVERYONE HATED YOU!

Now fast forward to today. Our Armed Forces who are trying to keep order in Iraq, protect and build in Afghanistan have sacrificed their lives for those people being oppressed, killed in genocide killings, being pounced and trampled on by the greed and power of one individual's beliefs, forcing these people to bow to what he/she wants. We have lost many, our hearts and prayers go out to those families who have lost a loved one in these battles. And again it is happening with protests at the funerals of these fallen heroes. Just remember, NOT EVERYONE HATES YOU!

But what brought us to this day and who actually were the first responders to these horrific acts that perpetrated on our soil? We all remember and will never forget the day that will go down in infamy. The infamous day of September 11, 2001.

September 11, 2001 - First Responders, as they are called, arrived to a pile of melting, twisted steel and iron, glass shatters, papers flying, inhaling deadly, toxic dust from so many different forms of building materials and seeing people jump to their death; the members of the police and fire departments. One must remember our military forces could not and cannot respond because it is against the law for them to do so on our soil. That is why each state has the National Guard, and the Coast Guard.

Seeing the "The Day the World Cried" by Matt Roe is heart wrenching. It brings back the memories of our schools being locked down, our local and federal buildings being in lock down, a hushed silence falling from the sky as you traveled down the roads to get home, an instinct to gather all family members. 

 

From the beginning, the members of the police and fire departments are the defenders of our soil. Our own terrorist attack by Timothy McVay on the federal building in Ohio, the Waco Texas siege, the bombing of the parking garage at the World Trade Center in 1992, the Fort Hood attack, the attempted, and thankfully failed bombing in Time Square, the arrest of the terrorist. The arrests of those who have tried to blow up planes, area targets of bridges and most recently and forever imbedded in our minds Sandy Hook and other shootings at schools, public events, malls, movie theaters and the Boston Marathon.

Why aren't the First Responders - men and women - who lost their lives included in this day of remembrance? After all, they have given their lives while trying to save the fallen citizens of our country, trying to thwart grievous attacks against us on our soil - they should be remembered on Memorial Day! They have given and sacrificed as our Armed Forces have. It truly is sad to learn that many of those first responders are dying now because of the residual effects of that infamous day of 9/11.

The constant vigilant efforts of our Armed Forces, whether they be policemen, firemen, military personnel is a somber realization they should be remembered always, not just on Memorial Day.

And to think after all of this, someone actually said "Happy Memorial Day!" Remember the Memorial Day parades of yesteryear when they were silent and all you heard was the footsteps of the veterans and active personnel of the armed forces marching, the clicking of the color guards rifles hitting the ground as they did their routine, perhaps you would hear a trumpet in the distance playing taps and then twenty one volleys of fire. A somber day.

 

 "Happy Memorial Day!" You know, though, maybe there is something to this. Perhaps we should re-think it perhaps we should remember our fallen heroes but yet learn that it is okay to go on and enjoy living, celebrating our freedom, our rights; because they fought for us so that we can enjoy life, that we can celebrate life, our freedoms, our rights.

Just a thought...

Tears will flow, however bittersweet, for our loss and yet at the same time thanking the brave men and women for the most precious gift they had to give us – their own lives for ours and others.

Be at Peace! Enjoy Life! and please don't ever forget why you are able to enjoy life here in the United States...