In Living Color
Fire Spirit: Change, Warren Bryant
Artist and curator Jean Benoit created the 203 Art Space in the Stamford Town Center, transforming a former Claire’s store into an art gallery. The current exhibit In Living Color on view through mid-August, embraces the theme of color, in a group show featuring a diverse and talented roster of artists and their artwork.
At the opening reception, I had the pleasure of speaking with Warren Bryant as he discussed his inspiration behind Fire Spirit: Change (top)
He created the painting originally for the Bridgeport Art Trail in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and he was on a tight deadline. He varnished the fiery orange background, and skipped varnishing the pieces of metal and stone. I am glad he made this decision because the jagged texture of the stone and metal against the shiny background is impactful. Over time, the metal will slightly change color due to oxidation. However, the difference will not be as intense as patinad copper or bronze.
Siobhan Kiernan, Chasing the Bright
Jewelry designer and multi-disciplinary artist Siobhan Kiernan‘s Chasing the Bright (above) resembles her triptych Celtic Graffiti which is on exhibit in the Stamford Art Association Urban Landscapes Show at the Ferguson Library. The artwork contains neon Celtic knots, geometric shapes and symbols, a fusion of two different styles, Celtic and urban graffiti art.
Vicki Skolmal Wilchinsky, The Masque
The Masque (above) by Vicki Skomal Wilchinsky represents the multiple “masks” we wear every day as we move about life. What I noticed when I first viewed this painting: one side of the mask resembles a pineapple, dark and “earthy,” and the other side looks like an autumn leaf or bright feathers. She uses a warm color scheme in contrast to Wave Dancer (below) which is rendered in a more painterly, fantasy style using mostly blues and cooler hues. Here is an interesting fact about Vicki: she has created visual aids/illustrations used in over 900 legal cases and in medical journals for over 40 years.
The 203 Art Space is open Tuesday-Sunday 12-5pm, located on the 5th floor of the Stamford Town Center near Foot Locker. Art Critic in 1 Minute reviews of the 203 Art Space and In Living Color are now on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
If you visit In Living Color, let me know which artworks are your favorites! The gallery also hosts paint and sip events, open mic nights, artist talks and workshops.
Wave Dancer, Vicki Skomal Wilchinsky
