East Side Dreams

For various reasons, I have been spending a lot of time on the East Side.  The East Side, from the Congress Street “bridge” to Boston Ave  has some of the more stellar architecture anywhere in Bridgeport. Washington Park is surrounded by grand ladies of the Victorian era, many lovingly restored, some with a more…shall we say, faded glory.  lots of residential homes of several eras line the surrounding streets.

Character and history are words that come to mind when speaking of the East Side.  Another word that comes to mind is potential.  Seeing one building restored, one can imagine if the whole neighborhood was so lucky. It would be a breathtaking place to see.

The other part of the east side I cant help but see potential in is the waterfront,  Knowlton Street area. The deserted manufacturing  buildings nearly scream out to become art space.  The  buildings were built at a time when even factories and corporate space were built with an eye for the aesthetics.

A garage with personality

The empty space, and personality filled buildings give the area a drama that would work well with arts venues.

Knowlton Street at Congress st. "Bridge"

The East Side or The Old West?

Lots of room for sculpture, installations, video,film, events etc. in there!

Others have already caught on tho the idea.

John and Mark Derosa

The Derosa Brothers offered up their space to house Keith Rodgerson and Greg Iwaskiewicz’s Avant Garden. Both invest time in the East Side John with his development company restoring distressed properties. Mark teaching art at Bridgeport Academy.  Their space, formerly a boxing gym, is ideal for an art space, Plenty of wall space, perfectly distressed wood floors, high ceilings.  It took a fair amount of work getting it in shape.

The wall sculpture.

raw space.

It cleaned up nice.

Mark is also an artist who has a really unique and modern style.

Mark Derosa

The 305 Knowlton street Artist Studios are pioneering art use for the buildings.

305 Knowlton Street, Artist Studios

Th Knowlton Street studios have incredible light and are very affordable for artists who are struggling.

Dana Scinto works out of Knowlton st.

Dana is doing some very cool things with polymers. This is her egg series.

Nice big windows bring light.

Allen Wittert works there too.  some of his colorful work below.

Wittert in his studio

Some Chick by Allen Wittert I LOVE it!

My dream is to see this stuff multiply by 5 before 2011. Can we do it?

Is this YOUR gallery spot?

Avant Garden/Camelot Development

The opening of Avant Garden had at least seventy people at it. People will come if there is something to come to.

To see this dream come true is going to take some old fashioned elbow grease and some suspension of disbelief, but its already starting.  What it needs is Brains, hard work, and a little money. do you have any of these things?

Some pics of the art and good times on the East Side this weekend:

Karen, Israel,Liz,Sean at Avant Garden

Stunning photo of the Congress street "bridge" by Rachael Haymann

Greg Iwaskiewicz, Lighted shadow box.

My photo of Greg’s work is not really doing it justice it is one of the best works in the show.

Brilliant re purposing of a treadmill

Karen Sokalow and friend.

Dana Scinto Polymer Work

Frank Post, Hand Puppet installation

Iyaba Mandingo, Man of many talents.

Iyaba Sculpture with east Side Backdrop

A taste of what can be?   Maybe this can be your inspiration to do something  great.

Mistakes were made!

I have been fussing and carrying on the past few weeks about needing to get at this blog. What should I say about the galleries first anniversary? I am aware it is a much bigger deal to me than anyone else, on the other hand this is my blog and what the hell else am I going to talk about. Then the wise words that I often turn to in times of question came to me. “More pictures = Less writing.”
I ask you were wiser words ever spoken?

A year ago I was hard at work painting and Spackling.

Ok, so I had help.

I got a sign put up, A window sign was all I could afford at the time. The Gallery was legit.

I Started getting the first show ready:

We measured every inch of that show every piece was hung in exact distance from the floor ceiling and any other measure point. This was the birth of a nice little obsessive behavior for me.

Jason Hayes Fabulosity Coach.

I needed some help making the place sparkle. In came the New York theatre possee.

The Gallery was ready for its close up!

The opening night was perfect. Lots of friends and family, and new friends.

Charlie Walsh , Mary Witkowski, Sharon Daveys

Truth be told when the gallery idea was first conceived I did not plan on it being a very serious endeavor. I just wanted to have a few shows and give some artists a cool place to hang their work.  It was when I started to reach out to the local artists looking for the next show that the avalanche of beauty came upon me. I had put out a few feelers as well as an ad on craigslist and my mail box was overflowed with  incredible and worthy work. I could not show all the work in ten years that fell out of the sky on me. Instantly I knew I was going to have  to rethink my attitude toward the gallery and what it needed to be.

The Lady of the Gallery

Lots of people helped along the way. The gallery would not exist without all those who were there to lend help and support.

Frank Post, Liz Squillace, me, Paul Arroyo

Annika Klein, intern

Liz, Dustin DeMilio, and Peter Konsterlie all showed at the gallery this year.

Karl Heine, KHyal, and Jim Hett at the Artist Brunch

One thing unexpected were the friends made along the way.

What?

Thanks Lennie Grimaldi! He helped me get the word out about the gallery.

Kyle McCarthy Bartender, auto, home, life-call for a quote.

Some friends were lost.

Moby best pal RIP

Dust Magnet

Art, Friends, and events!

Designer Show home, Weston CT.

Carolina and Paul.

Off the Grid

Linda Street representing for Newark!

Keith, Kevin, Marile

Cindy and Peter

A new sign!

Melissa and Joan

Kevin Robinson, Photographer, Artist, Good Guy

Ruth and Dot, contemplate Dante's Inferno

New floor and furniture helped a lot.

The first year of the gallery has been an eventful, interesting, and wild year. What will the future hold? I can think of a few good things. I hope the gallery has brought more to you than my heinous spelling errors and I am so looking forward to another wonderful year in Bridgeport sharing art and friendship with you.

THANKS to all who have helped and supported along the way.

See you December 3rd for Charlie Walsh 2.0 6-9 pm

Holiday gifts Galore starting Dec 4th

Hello Darkness

Last week through my own carelessness I was separated from one of my more beloved material possessions. Having done a lot of moving and changing in life, I have learned not to become too attached to material things. My camera however, had become a constant companion.  It was a tough little guy, nothing fancy but It took a lot of abuse and kept on taking pretty good pictures.
It had documented so much of life in the past 2 1/2 years.  It saw my twin nephews go from preemie newborns with a tenuous grasp at life to two of the most energetic and life forces that I have ever encountered. It helped sell my house, and helped me save some memories of it.
It helped me start my business and documented that as it grew and changed.  It helped to document artists work and helped share that work with others. It was an invaluable asset to me and more than paid for itself.
Lately, it really made itself useful in the writing of this blog.  A friend and unwilling blogger gave me some advice when I was deciding if I was going to start blogging. He said more photos = less writing. This seemed like a good plan to me. As I started documenting arts and events I found that the little guy was a fun magnet.  People love having their picture taken and he opened conversations with people I never would have had without him. I was able to walk up to seeming stangers and ask them questions about their lives and share the fun stuff they were doing with others.
I hope my little guy is happy with his new owners and I hope they can appreciate the doors he has opened for me.
Today I am going to buy a new Camera, no doubt with more megapixels, a better optical zoom and better aesthetics all around. Im sure it will become a big part of my life but It will not be the same as before.  It is definately not good to become attached to material possessions but  sometimes it is hard to avoid when something is a personal as say a cell phone or a camera. I am going to leave this blog entry  dark and without photos as a small remembrance of a freind that served me well.

RIP little guy.

How I learned to stop worrying and love the Bombin.

Since opening my little Gallery, The Gallery at Black Rock I have learned to be somewhat methodical about putting together shows. Press releases done on a certain date, invites on another, postcards made 5 weeks prior. These are things that make the shows gears run smooth so I can save the energy for the work that matters.
I have always admired graffiti both for its beauty and for its pureness.
So when It was suggested that I do a show on street art i jumped on it.  I had one artist ready and willing but the subject needs a group to make sense. In keeping with my method I started the work getting it together.
I did research:

I asked for help:

Keith Rodgerson helped me find the art and the artists, I don’t think if I would have gained their trust without him.

From a LOT of people!

I found the artists.  Lost the artists.  I found them again. The phone numbers changed, the addresses changed. I had no jpegs and not sure who was going to produce work for the show. My type A personality was in a real state.  Something had to give!  I started thinking about the nature of the subject I was working on.  These artists already have a pretty good platform established to show the work.  They don’t need a gallery to do what they love. In fact the gallery as a system was one of the things they are working against. When I met with the guys they were excited to show, but when your life’s work pays nothing, and even more costs money, you have to be adaptable and willing to roll with the punches to get by and keep doing what you do. Here I had found a kinship with them.

What had to give was my expectations and ideas of how this was going to work. Once I rearranged my brain on this, It all started to fall into place. I asked the guys (yes, its all guys, I never was able to find a female although they very much exist.) to check in from where they were at, so phone numbers were updated. Surprise, they did, more so they kept me up to date on the progress and seemed understanding about my worrying.

I asked for more help:

Edward (Where's my bottle service?!) Powell came in from the city to help hang.

Liz Squillace gave 2 full weekend days to see that the show was hung right.

I am what I am.

Finishing touch.

Most of my self imposed rules were broken. It was all for the best.

Unfinished wall

After hanging the show Ed (wheres my Bottle service?!) Powell and I were able to spend the rest of the afternoon with 2 of the artists and it was like we were old friends. We talked Scooby Doo,  Artistic Philosophy,  and restaurants we like.  We talked about our dreams for the future, all remarkably similar. We talked about how the city of Bridgeport NEEDS free walls.  How easy it seems for people to accept being bombarded by advertising everywhere they look, but how many get upset by seeing artwork on the same walls and places.

Lessons learned: Be wiley and flexible in you pursuit of your goals.  Don’t let self imposed obstacles get in your way. Stop Worrying and learn to go with the flow.

If you are interested in seeing the show it opens on October 16th 2009 at The Gallery at Black Rock, www.thegalleryatblackrock.com

Boys gone wild!

I grew up surrounded by girls. It was 4 against one in our house. How our father survived is beyond me but is a testament to the after work cocktail that did seem curiously ever present.
I had no exposure to extreme sports or much of any sports for that matter. In fact one of my greatest high school achievements was being let out of the gym requirement after repeatedly wearing 6 inch heels on Gym days.
Large groups of boys and their accompanying testosterone fueled fun are an unknown universe to me. I never knew what I was missing! I was exposed to a huge swirling vortex of it last night on Baldwin plaza. Oh, and fire breathing hula hoopers as well.
It was a bit of a free for all when I showed up, with a healthy dose of punk rock and speed metal to keep things going. There was a certain energy in the air that was contagious. Between skateboarders and BMXers The death defying feats were plentiful. Watching these guys seemingly unafraid of the possibility of grievous injury, the adrenalin does get pumping.

The event, another of the DCC Thursdays on Baldwin plaza was a collaboration with Day One Skate Shop’s Jeff Walsh and Keith Rodgerson.

Ring leaders

When Jeff offered a new deck to who ever won a race around the circle they went nuts.

It was a little cold but the barbeque fire was helping, as was the beer.

Peter Konsterlie acted as Sommelier

Starting Young.

Cute Skater boys who helped clean up.

Lessons learned, Go to the unknown you may find something new and exciting, and Testosterone can be fun, albeit dangerous.

Bridgeport Scavenger Hunt!

This Is a virtual scavenger hunt.

I am posting pictures of places and things around the city of Bridgeport. Pretty much all of the neighborhoods are represented. E Mail the location of each picture in order that they appear here.
Who ever gets the most correct will win an original piece of art from the Off the Grid show (chosen by the gallery)
In the event of a tie the 1st correct responder will win.
Hint–Nothing is far off the beaten path.
Submit entries to:
thegalleryatblackrock@gmail.com
Please give street locations and if its a major thoroughfare give intersections.
See how many you know!

The Contest ends October  17th I will post the answers on that day.

Seaside Park Near Bathhouse.
Under I95 exit 27
Connecticut ave. at East Main street
Beardsley park Zoo
Captains Cove
Little Liberia, South Main Street
Greek Orthodax Church Upper Park ave.
Mattys Corner, Fairfield Ave.
Al Bennet fishin pier Seaside Park
Main Street, Downtown
East Main Street, East side.
University of Bridgeport
Fairfield Ave Black Rock
Harborview Market
St Marys by the Sea
Old Black Rock Art Center, Fairfield ave.
Main Street Downtown
Seasview ave at Newfield.
Bagel King Main Street North End

Howe statue Seaside ParkPolice horse barn Seaside ParkHelados Vasquez Fairfield ave Black RockEllsworth Street, Black RockPark ave Near University of BridgeportPleasure Beach BridgeHouse on St Marys by the SeaStraford AvePowerbox Main street North ave. Art by SketchMens Clothing store, Main Street DowntownOld town and Madison North endModel of previous House same location

Tom Thumb's Grave Mountain Grove Cemetery

Mechanics and Farmers Bank Building, Main Street DowntownOldest House in Bridgeport, Brewster Street, Black RockDolfins Cove, Seaview Ave.Main Street at East Washinton ave, North EndCity Trust Bank Building, Main Street Down Town

Tis the season!

The First weekend in October is shaping up to be packed with cool stuff going on in the city and out in the nether regions.
Black Rock Resident Wendy Nylen who runs the Nylen Gallery and Picture this framing in Westport was opening Her new Casey Laird exhibit at the gallery. Casey works in a few different styles and the work was smartly placed in the gallery to highlight the commonality of the work which is a strong jewel tone color pallet.
Casey’s work is strongest when she is riffing on old master paintings. Her interpretations range from intricate renderings to very abstracted studies of the original forms

From left, Casey Laird, her Painting, Wendy Nylen

The Gallery looked so inviting. Click on this to get a better view.

Back to Home turf Liz Squillace Had an Exhibit of her paintings called Roadwork at Day One Skate Shop in Black Rock. She had a great turnout for the show.  Liz paints in a bright easygoing style that mixes a comic element with clean ,bright, brushwork. I really like a view of the desert from the road. I could imagine that road trip.  I felt I was seeing the desert through Squillace’s eyes.

This image from Paradox Ink website.

There was a mix of paintings and Boards that were done by Liz at the show.  I think the space complemented the mix very well.

Paintings and Boards by Liz Squillace

About Day one, I have seen some really excellent stuff there since I have been going to the openings. Jeff Walsh and his partner often give opportunities to younger and edgier artists and It really pays off. One show I really liked this year was a show of painted illustrations on travel by Daniel Yagmin Here is a link to his site.

http://www.danielyagminjr.com/DanielYagminJr/HOME.html

Jeff Walsh, Day One Skate Shop owner

Jeff is a great guy and the shop is one of Bridgeport’s more interesting Art spaces as well as having a really cool selection of skate stuff, sneakers, and clothes.

I Bumped into Frank Post at the show. Frank is an  artist who showed at my Gallery this year. He was doing a set with his band The Watusi Kings at the acoustic cafe that eve so I went over. I rarely go to the acoustic but I need to make a point of getting there more. Its a friendly place and they have running art shows. That night there were a few paintings by Looketha. I have admired Looketha’s work for a while. She has a very unique personal style that becomes quickly recognizable.  I was waiting for Frank to start and looked around. Its not the best lighting as one would imagine being a nightclub and all. I Think this may be a collection of some older work of the artists because it differs from some recent work I have seen but I was taken by a creature and I had to bring him home with me.

My new acquisition. A creature who is now greeting me at my front door.

Thanks to Looketha my place has a gargoyle keeping watch!

The band was in good form they play funk covers and had a new sax player. A very good addition to the sound. If you like funk, try and catch Watusi Kings.

Dark Photo of Watusi Kings but what do you want I have a cheap camera and its a night club!

I ran over to two Boots for the after party of  the Roadwork show where the Bordloards were playing. Two boots is the place in Downtown Bridgeport consistently brings interesting music to us. The covers are always under $10 and you often get 3 bands. We need music downtown for it to keep plugging along as a good nightspot and Two Boots is raising to task on this. They have a wide array of music from Latin night, to burlesque shows, to surf night(my fave). They need a Brazilian night but that’s another story.

Dustin DeMilio was doing the sound that night. Why? "because Liz wanted it that way."

Dustin was to provide one of his mind bending Video projections to open studio’s in New Haven Saturday night I was so sorry to have to miss it. I was told It was great and made good use of the space it was in.

Liz Squillace, Always Photogenic.

Bob D'Aprile and Brad keeping the music going downtown.

If this Friday is an indication the “season” is kicking in. I better take some more vitamins.

Rims and shiny things

Camaro 1970 I think.

Recently I was told that weak eyes like shiny things. If this is true I must be nearly blind. I have always loved shiny, sparkly, colorful things. I love shiny cars, most especially with big sparkling rims. One would never guess that from the state of my own vehicle, on which nothing sparkles.
In the pursuit of that aesthetic I went to the Sweetport car/bike show Saturday. There was a nice grouping of artists showing on markle court. And then a beautiful group of antique and older cars all in splendid shininess!

Sue Kachmar's Fave!

I don’t know what t is about rims. I think I may be descended from birds  I get completely mesmerized by them. The older cars have more subdued versions of the modern ones but there were some notables.

Old School Rims

Another:

What was the most sparkelicious part of the show was the engines. I cant imagine how these owners keep these up but They are works of art that have been very well cared for.

Silver snakes and a carburetor

There Were also some modified bicycles in the show here are a few:

Nice seat!

Best of all the Bikes was Hanna’s Glow in the Dark bike she modified herself. I would love to have that to ride around seaside park!

Hannah and her glow in the dark bicycle.

Now I am on the lookout for more things that sparkle to fix my weak eyes. More to come.

DJs and shrimpy skateboarders, Epernay

Baldwin Plaza was feeling an autumn chill last night but the dj’s Feat. DJ Cuban B + Humble Dinosaur. Were spinning as were the bikes and skateboards.

Jayden The miniboarder

Jayden, flew past me doing tricks and generally showing his impressive chops for a 5 year old skater who looks like he is 4 years old! His Grandfather Angel was beaming with pride. You can find video of him on Loopd.com under twowheelj
There was chalk art going on and really great music that gave most of down town a nice crawling base. We really need a club for these guys to play in.

Humble Dinosaur en Masque

Humble Dinosaur and DJ Cuban.

The best thing and most amazing thing about Thursdays on the plaza is its completely free. All the performers and fire-breathers, and skateboarders, tricky bikers all do it free. Its a testament to what can be done when people get together and just do something. Is it always 100 percent successful? No not always but always interesting. It is also giving artists a forum to take risks.

from right, Mellisa Bernstien and myself on her Birthday week.

Next I went over to Epernay Bistro with my foodie friend Karen. She is a dear girl, but she really puts a bartender through the paces but Jamie was great, and knowledgeable about wine.  He gladly let us try 5 types before settling on a Argentinian Malbek.

Jamie, Bartender and paitent guy

We shared a duck and white bean Cassolet that was the perfect fall evening bite. Perfectly cooked by Peter the chef.

Peter chef and Owner? at Epernay

sitting at the bar always makes for a cozy and enlightening time, if the place has a good staff.
2 artists are working in the restaurant. First is Mike the Table assistant. Here is a shot of him with his work. They are getting the money’s worth out of him!

Mike and his art.

then there was Jessica, who prefers to be referred to as a bar wench, She had some really interested photos to show on her I phone, I gotta get me one of those. Hope to see more from Jessica.

Bar wench/artist, Jessica

Finished of with a drink and some music at Two boots. Thursday is the best night to be in Bport. It makes Friday mornings a bit slow but still what is life for? Living I say.

Holla at ya from BPT!