Gallery on the Green presents “Word Art Show” and Solo Shows by Simsbury Open Studios and Gay Schempp

Canton, CT – Friday, April 23rd through Saturday, May 22nd Cost: Free – open to the public

The “Word Art Show” is a biennial Gallery tradition since 2003. Writers and artists collaborate to explore the synergy between the visual and written arts. Visual artists create a work of art that is inspired by prose or poetry, while writers create new work in response to visual art. Written text appears next to the art when installed at the gallery, or is directly incorporated as words or letters into the prints, paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture. As part of the show (please check for updates on Gallery website), we hope to have a virtual evening of readings and performances.
One of the two solo shows is “Simsbury Open Studios – Here in Canton.” This group show is comprised of artists who share the goal to inspire, educate and allow the public to see art and learn about the creative process. It replaces their pre-pandemic open studio event and allows you to see in one place the stunningly diverse talents of a lampworker, a ceramicist, painters and printmakers. Artists include Rita Bond, Lori Racicot-Burrous, Amy Conover, Catherine M. Elliott, Deborah Leonard, Julie Parker Post, Claudia Ludovici, Richard Schlicher, Karyn de Punte’- Sweezy, Ruth Jacobson, Grace Epstein, Linda Madin, Linda Pearson and Renée S. Hughes. (For additional information visit SimsburyArtists.org, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.)

The second solo show, “A Murder of Crows” by Gay Schempp, consists of encaustic paintings and pen and ink sketches. Schempp has been captivated by crows’ intelligence and quirky gestures and has long sought to capture their personalities in work that combines drawing, painting, and composing visual stories. “The encaustic wax medium,” Schempp explains, “allows me to work in layers, trapping fragments of color, memory and message in time. Working with the molten wax on birch panels is engaging a mix of alchemy and jazz. Colors are worked like chords until the metamorphosis of substance and meaning cools to a finished statement.” Her book, 2020 Through a Crow’s Eye, was created during the lockdown period of last spring through last summer. It illustrates her response to what happened daily through this pandemic time through the eyes of a crow persona. It is a visual document of their shared experiences of last year with commentary on what prompted the sketch that day.
The Gallery on the Green will be following the State of Connecticut’s COVID-19 reopening guidelines. All visitors inside the gallery are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing protocol. Given the circumstances, the above protocol may change in accordance with CT State guidelines. There will be no opening reception.

The Gallery on the Green, established in 1960, is the longest continuously operating artists’ guild in Connecticut. It is housed in a schoolhouse (circa 1872). There are three spacious galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden.

The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible. Tel. 860-693-4102 / www.galleryonthegreen.org / e- mail:[email protected].