Sobobo Closes Its Doors. . . .

 

SOBOBO ART GALLERY

 

WILL BE CLOSING ITS DOORS

 

DECEMBER 30, 2013

 

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS

 

THANK YOU!

Patricia Brundage - Captures that Moment in Time

"The love of nature draws me outdoors.  The thrill of seeing a bird in flight, the beauty of a flower or a deer feeding in my backyard has drawn me to photography as a means of capturing that event or moment in time.  The challenge is to present the subject to its best advantage by carefully selecting the best background and composition available without disturbing the surrounding environment.  A review of my portfolio has shown that my favorite subject is floral, but the challenge of capturing a bird in flight comes in as a close second.  I also enjoy the post processing of the image and showcasing it through the use of PS, NIK or Topaz filters and then choosing the correct paper to print it.  In summary, I enjoy capturing a wide variety of subjects, the company of good friends during the search and the pride in the result.  Being able to share my passion keeps me in the constant pursuit of a new and more unique images."

-- Patricia Brundage

Patricia's photographic techniques brings the subject to another level. By capturing that moment in time, the image is alive. Life becomes still and that one moment is held in one place forever. The clarity, the preciseness, the crispness eludes to the perfection of Mother Nature. The life of each flower, each scene is held in the palm of Patricia's hand, literally.

The camera, an inanimate object, becomes Patricia's canvas with pallet and brush or her paper and pencil as she creates her works. The control of this object is an art in of itself combined with Patricia's eye for seeing and envisioning in a split second of time the masterpiece that was placed right in front of her. As if she has a connection and is one with Mother Nature and her creations allowing each masterpiece to be captured in that moment of time being forever held in safe keeping.

Capturing the brilliance of colors,

the velvety softness of flowers' petals,

the defining of each tree and their leaves,

the mist that hangs like a sheer curtain over a window is a technique, an art that all photographers try to master. Patricia has that uncanny ability to accomplish it and it is shown in each of her works. No one piece is better than the other.

When seeing her work a gasp will come over you. Questions will begin to rise to the surface. . . .and you can get the answers to those questions by joining us for Patricia's Exhibit Reception on Thursday, November 21st beginning at 6:30 pm when you will meet Patricia. Ask her those questions. . . .she will answer them.

Do join us! It is the night of Walnut Beach Art Stroll.

Also, a Food Drive to benefit St. Gabriel's Food Pantry will be taking place as well and we ask that you please make a food donation - - Donations may be dropped off at participating Art Stroll businesses. It will be good to see you - Thank you for joining us!

PEACE

Thursday, November 21st - Walnut Beach Art Stroll : A prelude to the Holiday Season

The Holidays are fasting approaching! And what better way than to enjoy a prelude to the Holidays as they do sneak upon us. . . . Looking for a house warming gift, a gift to give to the host/hostess of an upcoming holiday party, Thanksgiving dinner? Even gifts for your friends, family and co-workers can be found on The Avenue and Broadway in Walnut Beach, Milford, CT!  

Come join us in celebration of the Seasons of Giving and the Seasons of Thanks and walk The Avenue and Broadway – The Walnut Beach Art Stroll on Thursday, November 21^st! 

Starts at 6:00 pm at Firehouse Gallery, 81 Naugatuck Avenue with an opening reception of its final exhibit “Non-Themed” (anything goes) for the 2013 Season. You will see artworks submitted by local artists that will be judged by one of our own local artists, Rick Senft. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second and third place being announced at 6:45 pm. 

Meander on down the Avenue to Sobobo, 42 Naugatuck Avenue and meet November’s Artist, Patricia Brundage, photographer who captures that moment in time. You will also find artwork by local artists, Judy Ruskin, Ed Steinerts, Sheila Pite, Harold Davis, Mariana Furtney, Allan Dudek and more as well as jewelers Carlyne Labrecque, Sam Rawls, William Ahern, Claudio Altesor, Sally Ann Endelman, Laise and Anilese.  All artwork is available for purchase.  

Walnut Beach Creamery will be having samples of their gourmet ice cream for you to decide which one would be best for your Holiday Party, and dinners! Pick up an order form to place your order of your favorite flavor!

Stop at Seaside Wine and Spirits, 38 Naugatuck Avenue, taste the “spirits” of the Holidays. You can order your favorite too!

Continue on to Beach Gallery, 2 Broadway, where you will find a young newcomer, photographer, Christopher Haley whose surreal works reminds you of Dali. Enjoy listening to Christopher’s sounds as he plays acoustic guitar. Should you find that one interesting image of his to purchase you will receive a cd of accompanied music! Visit, listen and enjoy! 

Scoot and Paddle, 28 Naugatuck Avenue, will be open where you can make an off-season reservation to kayak, ride a bike and more. Gift certificates are on sale for that active person you may know!

Head down Broadway to Wild Expressions, 16 Broadway, to find Jennifer Harkey owner Creativimpulse. She melts glass from recycled wine, gin and vodka bottles shaping and transforming the melted glass into jewelry and decorative art pieces - Truly Amazing! A must see!  And there is more - you will hear Tom Ferrara – The Captain Rocks! play his tunes as you warm your belly on this cold night sampling the Chili Contest entries! If you decide to enter, your famous recipe should be brought in a crock-pot with a cord of course.  For more information on how to enter your chili recipe contact Wild Expressions 203-882-WILD. 

Taste & See what gourmet cupcakes to take home with you….Stop in at Taste & See, 17 Broadway, to discuss over coffee which cakes to include in your Holiday order!

Remember, as we look towards this festive time there are many who are in need.  A food drive will also be part of this month’s art stroll and it is asked that donations be made. Donations can be dropped off at businesses partaking in the Art Stroll. 

It will be a pleasure to see you!

Join Us - Thursday, October 17th

"Abased" - sculpture - by Ivan Tirado

 

Listen to Soul's song on Thursday, October 17th. Hear "Wind", "Abased", "Born Again" and others harmonize together creating an evening of rhapsody resonating within you!

Meet Master Sculptor Ivan Tirado and Author Bradly Williams at Sobobo on Thursday, October 17th beginning at 6:30 pm! Join us!

Come this September. . . .

What you will see at Sobobo come this September. . . .

Richard Stephen: "Color and form translate that which makes nature bold and quiet, stormy and serene, majestic and playful."

Simply AMAZING!
"Bridge" by Richard Stephen

Join Us Tomorrow Night - Thursday, August 15th

The days are bright and sunny -

Fall is in the air, it can be felt when a breeze stirs up.

The evenings are PERFECT for a stroll.

Let the moonlight guide you as you stroll

 

"Nocturnal Path" - oils - by Karen Macker

 

 

down The Avenue (Naugatuck) and

around the corner onto Broadway

at Walnut Beach on Thursday, tomorrow!

 

That's right just ONE MORE DAY! and

this joint (Walnut Beach) will be jumpin'!

The Walnut Beach Art Stroll begins at 6:30...

come for an evening of Art, Food, Dance and Music!

 

See you tomorrow night!

3rd Thursday Art Stroll - August 15th

3rd Thursday is approaching fast! Come join an evening walk from Firehouse Gallery down Naugatuck and around the corner onto Broadway.

Before you begin the evening walk enjoy the cuisines of the area restaurants, Lazy Lobster, pizza at Alfa's, Costa Azzurra, Aldario's.  A perfect time to go over your gift list as the Seasons of Giving have begun. Walnut Beach Merchants has those unique and yet sublime gifts for your friends, co-workers, family members ranging from original works of art, jewelry, gift certificates, art and music lessons and more!

And then begin a journey that will bring to you a world of art, music, dance and more food and drink.
Firehouse Gallery, 81 Naugatuck Avenue,

81 Naugatuck Avenue

while not having an opening reception they still might be open for a bit so check it out; head down to

42 Naugatuck Avenue

Sobobo to meet and greet friends and August's Artist - Stephen DiRienzo. Continue to Seaside Wines and Spirits to pick up that bottle of your favorite wine;

2 Broadway

head to Beach Gallery where you will find your way! Beach Gallery featuring old maps of Myrtle-Walnut Beaches showing what we were like before, Scoot & Paddle with utilitarian art.

28 Naugatuck Avenue

16 Broadway

Head down to Wild Expressions and see Liza Sivek from B. Enchanted Crafts who will be demonstrating her amazing art of paper crafting and of course wine and hors d'oerves will be served as well.

19 Broadway

Head across the street to Walnut Beach Creamery and Taste & See Confections and see what you can get to satisfy those sweet cravings.

17 Broadway

To end this evening a Salsa Party will be taking place at the park on the corner of Naugatuck and East Broadway....a wonderful way to end a perfect evening! Join Brian Smith, DJ, as he spins the vinyls for us!

All of this begins at 6:30 pm with the Salsa Party beginning at 8:00 pm. It will be a pleasure to see you!

Stephen DiRienzo : "Free-Flowing Form" Creating Realism with Precision

"I have been drawing and painting for the better part of my entire existence. What began purely as an interest very early on, quickly developed into a passion and eventually a career—art became my life’s pursuit!
 

Twenty-four years after landing myself in my chosen field, I have touched nearly every facet of the art industry, honing my skills both as an illustrator and an oil painter, I have always focused on a range of diverse subjects in my work, covering everything from landscapes, to portraits, to still-life compositions, exploring form, color and contrast, resulting in vibrant, visually striking works of art.
 

My process begins with an idea or an inspiration triggered by an interesting visual, a conversation or an idea plucked from my own imagination. My ever-expanding list of subject matter is endless and in some cases certain ones simply have to make it onto the canvas, while others never do. It is a selection process which tends to play out on it’s own.
 

As for the actual mechanics of my work, my training as an illustrator has instilled in me a degree of precision and realism that is never completely attainable but always improving. With this in mind I paint and sketch in a relatively free-flowing form until the desired results are achieved.
 

As a teacher, I have discovered a new sense of accomplishment in sharing some of my techniques and disciplines with students of all ages through various Workshops and Art Enrichment Programs.
 

In the end, it’s always been first and foremost about the art for me. Going forward, my goal is to further explore the world through my paintings and my illustrations. I hope to convey moods, feelings, and expressions that people can connect with, relate to, and ultimately appreciate."
 

--Stephen DiRienzo

 

Stephen DiRienzo, a realist, enlivens one's senses with his works. Each stroke of paint caressing, forming, shaping the subject of each piece created. The energies of the human senses are entwined.
 

Sight begins the mind to imagine the flavors, the smells, the feelings, and listening.
 

Sense of Touch the first as you view each piece. One needs to touch, to try to pick-up the piece of bread and dip it Au jus to enliven one's sense of taste.

 

"Bread & Potatoes" - oils - by Stephen DiRienzo

Sense of Taste brings flavor, swirling around titillating one's taste buds creating the sumptuous, delectable tastings as it gravitates to one's sense of smell.

 

Sense of Smell enhances one's sense of taste by adding that aroma creating a heady feeling. Feeling it on your tongue, in your mouth the aroma permeates up through your nasal passages, all connected, all becomes a union making one's salivary glands to want more.
 

Sense of Hearing: Following the union of the senses of touch, taste and smell hearing the popping of the cork of a bottle of wine, listening as the wine is poured into a chilled glass,

 

 "One Good Pour Deserves Another" - oils - by Stephen DiRienzo

 

you are connected again wanting to drink to experience all of the senses again satisfying one's thirst and a palate cleansing for the next delectable, sumptuous bite.

 

Stephen's "free-flowing form" is an oxymoron in a sense as he creates realism with precision whether with oils on canvas or graphite on paper. Perhaps he is correct in what he states for every thing does begin in free-flowing form, whether it be fruits growing for wines and desserts or the making of bread with all ingredients free-flowing and when combined making a precise, real creation : a freshly baked loaf of bread coming hot out of the oven, the aroma of baked bread, the aroma of a freshly opened bottle of wine, the senses swirl creating a euphoria. . . .Heaven!
 

His landscapes bring you there as the paint is formed and shaped creating the bark of the tree to be rough and ragged that you can touch the trees; the caressing of each stroke laying the snow on the ground so invigorating that you can feel the cold of the winter; the precise, deliberate lines creating grass that you can hear the grass bend and "crunch" beneath your feet while his portraits create an air of soft skin to caress, of piercing eyes that follow you as you pass and hearing the music emanate from musical instruments. Realism with precision and yet free-flowing form attracting you, peaking curiosity wanting more.
 

To experience Stephen's ability to entice you, allowing all of your senses to become alive at once join us on Thursday, August 15th (3rd Thursday Art Stroll) for an Exhibit Reception.

Visit Sobobo. Stephen's works will be on exhibit during the month of August until August 31st.

 

 

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!

April's Artist, Beth Pite Takes Us On A Walk To Remember...

"Tulips" - pastel painting - by Beth Pite

"My art is about color, energy and capturing the essence of something rather than an exact likeness. My paintings often suggest a vignette, a human story in intriguing settings like paths through trees, festivals, cityscapes, or boats in the setting sun. Using loose, gestural strokes of vibrant color, I want to show how it felt to be there, instead of just copying what my camera records.

Pastel painting is done with buttery, soft pastel sticks of pure pigment, rather than a brush. The immediacy of applying pastels directly to the surface of the painting helps convey the intensity of my experiences. Multiple layers of color take advantage of the pastel medium's ability to refract light, building rich dark and light areas without using dull black, white or brown. Instead, I play contrasting colors against each other to create vibrant energy.

Inspired by New England scenery or my travels in Europe and Latin America, I use my photographs to soak up a sense of the place. This helps me remember what was exciting about it when I later paint it in vivid, expressionistic color using energetic strokes. By favoring color, form and movement over exact representations of my subjects, I aim for an enhanced reality that lets viewers enjoy a more emotional response."

-- Beth Pite

"Walk In The Park - Madrid" - pastel painting - by Beth Pite

Beth's ability to enhance reality by creating vibrant energy using colors of the spectrum gives the viewer a jolt of electricity. The current connects creating a realm where you become absorbed into a particular time and space. This energy can be felt throughout your inner being down to your fingertips, your nerve endings begin to tingle, becoming alive.

"Parisian Street" - pastel painting - by Beth Pite

Do you realize at times when you look at a tree, or look at others walking, or looking at a building it all becomes brighter in color, the vibrance of each shade and tint seems to permeate through the solidness of the subjects? You can even see waves emit from each subject, similar to the waves of heat you see rising off of a road on a hot summer day, this is energy. You can even feel it as you pass, your body absorbing it. Beth captures that. She captures it, the energy, in each pastel she uses as she paints. She has that uncanny ability to harness the energy to bring each painting to life hoping that each person who views her work will be able to feel it.

The best way to explain it is to envision Beth capturing electricity through a kite, kite string and a key in a jar....Now, put pastels in her hand, a canvas in front of her and watch the electricity, the energy connect between her and her palette, her canvas. Beth is that conduit between what some cannot see and helps all to see the energy "matter" in the world around us.

Each pastel painting depicts her ability. Her subject "matter" is electricity...her subject "matter" is the energy...her subject "matter" is more than scientific matter...her subject "matter" becomes emotional...her subject "matter" becomes the spiritual side of the science of "matter."

To be able to feel that current of electricity, to see the waves of energy emit from each painting, to enjoy the color and beauty of each subject "matter" you must visit SoBoBo. Beth Pite, April's Artist, will be exhibiting her pastel paintings from April 1st to April 30th. Beth's Opening Reception is Thursday, April 12th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

"Walk In The Park, Paris" - pastel painting - by Beth Pite

Yes, it coincides with Walnut Beach Art Stroll that begins at 6:00 pm at Firehouse Gallery. Firehouse Gallery is exhibiting "Wings, Wheels and Rudders" truly an enhanced reality that will take us on a walk to remember!