The Gallery on the Green hosts the Members’ Themed Exhibit: “Cabin Fever” from February 10th through March 12th. Featured are fine art in photography, painting, drawing, prints and sculpture by the membership of over 100 juried artisans from one of Connecticut’s longest running artists guilds. In addition, upstairs galleries host solo exhibitions from John Hsu and Pat Reese.

In the Upstairs Gallery, John Hsu presents “Images in Water”, an exhibition of water reflection photographs. Hsu says that “unlike most water reflection photographs which contain about 50% real object and 50% of its water reflection, my photographs are almost all water reflection images (at least 90%) and the images are turned upside down like the position of a real object. By doing it this way, the photographs of these images are more like paintings and this is my objective of taking pictures.”

Hsu, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Taiwan, worked 32 years for Nestle Co. as a food technologist and possesses 24 patents. He received a B.S. degree in agricultural chemistry from National Taiwan University and an M.S. degree in food science from the University of Wisconsin.

Hsu has been taking pictures for 60 years and has published 3 photo books in Taiwan (2 of them are on water reflection photos). His water reflection “Labyrinth – Goodspeed Opera House” won the best photography award in the 2011 New Britain Museum of American Art’s annual juried show.

In the Spotlight 2nd floor gallery, Pat Reese presents a found art sculpture display titled, “Rediscovered”. She notes, “I am constantly searching and looking for potential in items in the environment either from nature or man. Many times these are parts, which most people might toss as unwanted or too old or broken to be useful. To me they are “yummy” and have possible purpose. The intriguing part of the process is to combine them to create pleasing forms, which can be interactive in nature.” Please note that the Pat Reese opening is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th from 4 – 8PM.

Reese taught Kindergarten for 18 years and Junior Kindergarten for 8 years while simultaneously teaching French and Spanish. She comments that 4 and 5 year old children are incredibly creative while working on 2 or 3 dimensional open ended projects. She feels that her teaching has influenced her artwork and notes, “anything is possible and I facilitate the child’s vision. This has transferred to my work as a playful and participatory element that has been threaded throughout my work. Please enjoy your journey through my art and please feel free to play with the interactive sculptures.” Reese has been teaching at Renbrook School since 1979 and currently teaches Art in Spanish.

These exhibitions presents an excellent display of the creativity and talent of diverse local juried artists in an intimate exhibition space. In addition, the exhibit opening events are a wonderful opportunity to view the art and meet many of the artists in person. Please join us for the gala opening reception for the “Cabin Fever” and John Hsu exhibits on Saturday, February 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm. Gallery receptions include refreshments, are free and the public is warmly invited.