Walnut Beach Art Strolls Moved to 3rd Thursdays

Walnut Beach Art Strolls have been changed and will now take place on 3rd Thursdays of each month! So, mark your calendars! Easy dates to remember!

The next Art Stroll is June 20th - 3rd Thursday. Starts 6:00 pm and ends with a Salsa Party from 8 pm to 9:30 pm!

Following with:  July 18th : August 15th : September 19th : October 17th : November 21st

Finally, no more confusion!

Father "Tee" : Open Mind, Open Heart, Open Soul

Father Robert J. Terentieff, known to Walnut Beach area as Father "Tee" was truly a brilliant man. His teachings offered us the ability to have an open mind, open heart and open soul if one had taken the opportunity to do so. This allowed us to learn more, instead of learning being a need it became a want, to absorb more to know to understand the world. The mundane became interesting; the microscopic became larger than life; the hate turned to like and love; seeing made one a believer; dullness became vibrant; the murkiness cleared away all teaching us that what we learned is not happenstance, but a gift. A gift from a higher source that is to be noticed and not taken for granted.

Sometimes unorthodox, even going against some principles created an air about Father "Tee" as a bull in a china shop. But, when he entered a room, it was like a breath of fresh air, you inhaled taking in the depth and breadth of his energy that illuminated the room. You couldn't help but smile as you were enveloped with the love and grace being bestowed on each of us. His deep throaty voice almost echoed as he spoke. His laugh would resonate within that you found yourself beginning to laugh with him, even if you didn't get the punch line.

Father "Tee" a man of principles, and a man who believed that sometimes those principles needed to be shaken up a bit if not broken to make one see the truth. Some felt he didn't care what was left in its wake, but it is a misnomer, for Father "Tee" cared and cared for all of humanity; he loved and understood more than anyone can ever imagine.

Father was a Doctor of Philosophy of Art, graduating with his PhD from Pacific Western University. He received his Masters in Art Education from University of Bridgeport (before the present owners) and a Masters in Theology from St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD. He continued his studies in art, religion, and Spirituality throughout his life. A professor, Chaplain, Art Coordinator for primary and secondary schools, Chair and instructor of an art department and a curator of a gallery had exhibited in over 34 exhibits; nine being one-person exhibits.

"Tee" as his adopted family members called him had different facets when creating his art. His private works were surreal, some modern and contemporary. Each one different, yet very geometrical with a fluidness that envelopes its subject and the viewer at the same time. The shapes representative of so many things, but we only can decide for ourselves what they mean; the universe?, the atomic structure of what cannot be seen?, the three dimensional life we live in?, or is it another dimension that has yet to be discovered?, or even the "God" particle that has just recently been identified which would mean Father had discovered it much earlier!? 

His collages are touchable, with multi-media forms, again creating geometric shapes, some using images of Mother Earth, a form of teaching the Creation from the Bible.

Orbs galore, smashing together to take form.

 

He understanding the “circle”, the one continuous movement, painted with such impeccable patience using pointillism. Each of his paintings, when looking afar at them they seem to be an embellished mosaic; but upon getting closer it takes the form of pointillism. He always being so meticulous in his work having the patience to complete each painting, yet, in life itself, he was always, always in a hurry.

 

 
His multi-media figures look to be a silk screen but when looking closer it is found to have more than one form of medium used - from flat to texture to width and height creating fluidness that we find ourselves moving in-line with each one.

However, there was a traditional, Renaissance facet; the facet that was for public viewing. This facet is seen in his commissioned work of stained glass windows for different institutions.

Being known for his stained glass work one can enjoy each piece everyday just by passing by certain institutions or visiting them: St. Anthony Claret Church in Lakewood NJ is adorned with 54 windows; Academy of Our Lady of Mercy a/k/a Lauralton Hall in Milford, CT is adorned with six windows honoring their legacy and their 100th Anniversary of the school's establishment; St. Gabriel Church in Milford, CT has three circular windows; The Stratford Library is home to five windows four of which are dedicated to the memory of Board Member Ed Fennell and the fifth is in honor of the library's 100th Anniversary. His works appear in Live Oaks School, Milford, CT which is adorned with one window entitled "The Cheryl Window"; Mary Taylor Church, Milford, CT is blessed with four pairs of windows and 18 hangings four of which are 25 feet long with images of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; Mt. St. Mary's University is blessed with seven windows; Emmitsburg Osteopathic Primary Care Center in Maryland, one window; Georgian Court University in New Jersey, six windows; The Alzheimer's Resource Center in Connecticut, four windows; the three Hewitt Nursing facilities in Shelton, CT is adorned with a total of six windows and five hangings; St Andrew Roman Catholic Church in Bridgeport, CT, five windows; and St. Clement Roman Catholic Church in West Warwick, RI one window. AMAZING! Just AMAZING!

His sense and understanding of the connection between art and soul was always treated as a gift from God, he never took it; he knew by receiving this gift he was to give back so he knew he was to create. And create he did. His brilliance in design, his words was "guidance from above", his styles and techniques combined with his love of God all flowed together creating astounding works.

His unorthodoxy at times may just have been what was needed for all of us to question, and seek more than what was handed to us. He wanted each of us to find truth, peace within our souls, love for Mother Earth and love of our fellow man/woman. Fr. Robert Joseph Terentieff has made his mark, he has left a legacy.

We will miss him, however, he will always live in each art piece he created, teaching us still that we should always seek more.

Join us on Saturday, May 4th at Sobobo Gallery from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm as we celebrate Father Tee's life as an artist and relish in what he continues to tell us. Visiting us on May 4th you will have the opportunity to find out more of Father's life and his life's works and meet his adopted family, the Yurgas.

It will be pure joy to greet you!

Karen Macker, April's Artist, Brings Balance & Harmony

"I have always enjoyed creating things, whether painting or crafting. I find inspiration mainly from nature itself.  A beautiful sunset…Autumn leaves turning their vibrant colors ..or the snow softly caressing the earth. I see it, I hear it, I smell it and I feel it. I am grateful that I can find it every where every day and is the reason why I paint many landscapes and still-life's.

You may even recognize or see similarities with some of my paintings and local areas. I am often out with my husband looking around local parks, beaches and lake areas. I even use his iPhone to take some of  the pictures I use as inspiration.

 

Being able to sit and paint what I experience, brings me much joy. I am so fortunate that at this time in my life, I am able to focus on my passion. I am self taught, but have been influenced by many artists I have observed over the years.

If you asked me to describe my work, I would have to say my paintings are a mixture of primitive, realism and impressionism. I paint only when I feel like painting. If I force myself to paint, it just doesn’t work…I find that my paintings will catch whatever I am feeling.

My father was a photographer, but also sketched and painted. I think I definitely inherited my artistic eye from him. While growing up he sometimes let me use his oil paints to beautify rocks or even an old canvas board.  I am grateful he encouraged my artistic side."

-- Karen Macker

Karen Macker's works are traditional capturing what the eyes see. Even though some may feel her work is primitive in some respects, it is not bad that it is. Primitive adds its own ambiance to the paintings. Yet there is a sense of a harmonious balance, almost tranquil as you view each piece. Your breath is not taken away, but you definitely find yourself breathing deeply and out of nowhere comes a sigh, a sigh of calmness; you become relaxed and the edginess of the day's stresses just disappear. A quality that is captured in her technique that cannot be taught, it is from within.

"Nocturnal Path" has you walking into this world of harmonious balance.

"Nocturnal Path" - acrylic - by Karen Ehret Macker

"Stream" continues to takes us deeper within as the calmness imbues combined with the serene sound of the water "babbling" over the rock bed. A sound soothing our frayed nerves from the stresses of the day.

"Stream" - acrylic - by Karen Ehret macker

When you finish your travels throughout and within, you find yourself approaching "Cabin in the Woods", home where your soul lies waiting for you, calling out to you to enter and sit.  By all means do enter, don't hesitate, pour yourself a glass of wine, a cup of tea or coffee, or iced tea or iced coffee and ponder over what you had seen, what you had felt.

"Cabin in the Woods" - acrylic - by Karen Ehret Macker

"Irises and Fruit" sitting on the table next to you have you inhaling their scents. Enjoy the taste of the fruit. Enjoy what you have experienced, Enjoy the serene feeling that has enveloped you. ENJOY LIFE!

"Irises and Fruit" - acrylic - by Karen Ehret Macker

Come and visit Sobobo Art Gallery during the month of April to experience Karen Macker's work. Do join us on Thursday, April 25th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for a reception. Meet Karen, and enjoy your experience! Take time for yourself and ENJOY LIFE!

Matthew Hester connects us to what was left behind . . .

"I am often asked why I shoot so many pictures of abandoned structures. Some call them morbid, same say the pictures I take are in a way dealing with my own abandonment issues. To those I say that it is neither.

I find out our past history is a doorway to a forgotten world. Far to often we always look ahead, and tend to leave are past behind as if it had no significance at all. That is why I shoot places like Remington Arms, once a beacon of the community that supported families for generations.

Remington Arms is a company that helped build Connecticut to new heights. Along with Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Winchester, they were the main suppliers of guns and ammunition through out most of the countries major wars.

In 1986 Remington Arms closed its doors forever in Bridgeport, one of the many gaping holes that would go on to plague this once great city. Like many abandoned structures, it then fell prey to homeless occupants, vandals, and drug addicts. Add on the the abuse it has endured over a century of many cold harsh winters brought on by New England weather and without any upkeep, we have a shell of a once great establishment.

While shooting Remington I could feel a sense of history just walking around the place. Seeing the furniture and old offices made me think of the thousands of people who worked at this place. It was like stepping into the past and catching a glimpse of what was.

I hope you enjoy my virtual tour of this once proud facility, and my hopes are that these images will make you think about our past accomplishments. If anything we can learn from are success and failures in life."

- - Matthew Hester

Abandonment: walking away, leaving something or someone behind, sometimes looking back, sometimes not. However, Matt Hester forces a connection to what was left behind whether it is wanted or not; to look back, to learn, to know what created the future for us. The connection, the string that tethers us to our past cannot be severed because emotionally there is always a tugging of, "if only". Intellectually, it is known to walk away is a much needed change to go forward to the future. Both truly, are needed to be able to live in the future.

Remington Arms was a thriving manufacturing business that had paved the future for many, many people walking through their doors; doors of opportunity. Over a century of lives!

Looking at "Remington disArmed" you can hear the sounds of the machines, the voices yelling over the noise trying to hear each other. The workers working together, a camaraderie that produced so much more than ammunition and armaments. The thread, the connection each had thrives and lives on and will never die even though the buildings are crumbling adding to the rubble of loss of jobs, loss of community, loss of spirit left behind by a great institution.

 

"Remington disArmed" by Matthew Hester

 

As years passed and the "threads" increased the need for the company to be "more cost effective to make more profits" the doors closed in Bridgeport, CT in 1986 moving to Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland area. Today, Remington is still a thriving company but in New York and other areas of the country as they had purchased other smaller companies making the same or similar products. Part of DuPont they now have the responsibility of "cleaning the land of toxins and environmental hazards" which is now stopped because of the new owners of the land "RemGrit" a real estate firm. Many different legal aspects have evolved. But as you stand looking, the connections that the area, the former employees, the community, its neighbors have to this site is remarkable. One actually grieves with the thoughts of what was. . .

Seeing "the paycheck" of just one employee from 43 years ago shows the difference in the livelihoods from then and now; it shows the hard working middle class thriving making a path for the future for their children, for us.

 

"Remington disArmed" by Matthew Hester

On the shoulders of the blue collar worker, the company thrived making millions, perhaps billions over a century's time. "The memo" is one from a supervisor requesting authorization to go forward with a new part, an added piece to the manufacturing mogul.

 

"Remington disArmed" by Matthew Hester

Earth has begun to regain its strength as the "thread of ivy" connects the brick and mortar back to its "roots" giving society the land back as it was before building the company. The connection humanity has to its source of life. The connection society has to humanity. The connection capitalism/company has to society. The connection the blue collar worker/the middle class has to capitalism/company. The connection the families of the blue collar worker/the middle class has to Earth. A cycle, an unending circle that made up of give and take creates our world. So do we truly abandon and walk away leaving behind what was? In essence it seems we do, but the "thread" never is cut, it tethers us hoping we will never forget from whence we came; for there will always be that connection to what was left behind . . .

Connect with what was left behind, and join us for an opening reception on Thursday, March 14th. Starts at 7:00 pm and is part of the Walnut Beach Art Stroll.  Matthew Hester will be exhibiting "Remington disArmed" for the month of March.

Happy ST. Valentine's Day!

The Kiss? The Embrace? Who knows? Does it really matter?

FEBRUARY : 2013

Illuminaire Michael Voytek : Folklore in Images

“At the age of 19 the art world was changing. Abstract, modernism and contemporary art was the trend. I doing an experiment submitted two paintings with very different styles and techniques into an art exhibit - one signed with my name and the other I signed my uncle's name. The piece accepted was created on a whim and an abstract, non-thinking, no substance and was the one I signed my uncle's name to. It show cased for the exhibit! At that moment I stopped painting being very discouraged to the point of almost disgust because to me art was to relay what was seen. Being abstract is not what I am.

I am a traditionalist, somewhat a realist as my paintings portend an Americana feel, a craftsman style when it comes to painting. I began painting again in retirement. The relaxation and enjoyment of putting my thoughts and visions on canvas are most rewarding and having someone appreciate my efforts even more so.”

--Michael Voytek

Mr. Voytek is more than just a craftsman style artist. He truly is an illuminaire who presents Americana art telling folklore in images. His work having that threaded connection back to early Appalachia when folklore in America was beginning. He brings us back through two centuries to a time when America was at its height of being grandiose.

His colors vibrant, his style similar to that of the limner artist, although he doesn't make is own paint. When looking at Mr. Voytek's work you can feel the passion and emotion of the time back then being presented in our time. Almost the past being lived in the present leading to our future. A time warp being illuminated proving all three are living at the same time, simultaneously.

When you are drawn into each painting you find yourself listening to a story being told, a story that is created by the painting. You are taken back to a time being lived in the present, almost as if you are visiting an historical site of yesteryear that is thriving in the 21st century! You are enamored by the flavor of the time.

Looking at "Low Tide" you feel the warmth of the sun on you as walk onto the beach between the homes,

 

"Low Tide" - oils -  by Michael Voytek

"Broadway" is an abstract of sorts for those of us who know the area that the Firehouse is on Naugatuck and the homes on Broadway are quite a few hundred yards away but you find yourself "right there".

"Broadway" - oils - by Michael Voytek

Each of these paintings have an aura illuminating the places and times. You can feel the energy eminate from each which leads you to where Mr. Voytek "wants" you to be. The folklore emits, the images telling the story that you can hear when looking.

Imagine yourself on the prairie in the middle of a field. The skies get darker, and darker as the sun disappears. You can hear a roar approaching, the winds pick up and you find yourself screaming "A Storm is Coming"! You can feel the wind, you can feel the rumble beneath your feet you want to take cover. . .

 

"A Storm is A Com'n" - oils - by Michael Voytek

. . .Mr. Voytek has illuminated those feelings, he brings those emotions onto canvas. . an illuminaire of American art telling folklore with images. A MUST SEE! Mr. Voytek will be exhibiting his work during the month of February. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, February 7th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Make sure to continue on strolling down The Avenue taking in the Walnut Beach Art Stroll. Firehouse Gallery's new exhibit "Red" will be having an opening reception starting at 6:00 pm, try pizza at Alfa's, get hot chocolate or coffee at New Town Market, pick up possible a nice bottle of wine or champagne at Seaside Wines and Spirits to celebrate Valentine's Day with your parnter and then around the corner to Wild Expressions and meet up with Laura Webb, singer and guitar player who will be bringing illumination through music! Go across to Taste & See and enjoy their specialty of the day! A great way to relax after the holiday rush, and look forward to Valentine's Day and Spring arriving soon!

Can't wait to see you!!