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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ROBBIN ZELLA AT 203-332-5052.

TO EDITORS: IF YOU USE THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING IT UNDER THE FOLLOWING BYLINE. THE WRITER IS A JOURNALISM STUDENT/INTERN AT HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE. NO COMPENSATION IS EXPECTED.

NORWALK, NAUGATUCK AND FAIRFIELD RESIDENTS MENTIONED

HCC ANNUAL OPEN JURIED ART SHOW OPENS JUNE 10

By MIKE RUSSO

BRIDGEPORT – The Housatonic Museum of Art Annual Open Juried Art Show opens June 10 at the Burt Chernow Galleries.

The exhibit, which runs through July 31, will feature the work of 40 artists, including award winners Rebecca Thompson, of Naugatuck; Matthias Alfen of Norwalk; Lawrence Russ of Southport; Jeffery Rosenthal of Fairfield; Noh Kyoung Park, of Queens, New York, and “MG” of Brooklyn, New York.

The works for the exhibit were selected from over 90 submissions by juror Judy Kim, Curator of Exhibitions for the American Federation of the Arts.

Thompson won first prize in the competition. Thompson, who has been painting professionally for almost twenty years, owns and operates Thompson Studios in Waterbury, Connecticut. “I entered the competition on whim,” she said, “I have done a lot of competitions in Europe and around the world and I wanted to do something close to home,” she continued.

Thompson’s submissions were two charcoal drawings and an oil-on-canvas painting entitled “Bull in Field.” Thompson states that it is her rural upbringings that inspire what she portrays on the canvas. “I am influenced by imagery I am familiar with,” she said, “I use images that are universal, and base a narrative on that.

Award winner Lawrence Russ, an attorney for the State of Connecticut, submitted examples of fine arts photography.

 “I want photographs that draw you inside their world, and then make you feel that there’s a further depth inside of them,” he said.

 Russ feels that being included in the show is advantageous to everyone involved. “It’s gratifying to be included in a show of artists chosen by a distinguished juror like Judy Kim. It helps lift your spirits as well as your credentials,” said Russ.

Award winner Dr. Jeffery S. Rosenthal, M.D., a plastic surgeon and head of plastic surgery at Bridgeport Hospital, submitted photographic works entitled Arches, Ferris Wheel, and Voodoo Lady.  “My profession as a surgeon and an artist go hand in hand. It’s all about analyzing and paying attention to detail.”

Rosenthal began exploring his artistic talents during his college years with pen and ink drawings, and progressed to photography, sculpture, and ceramic art. “It is a release for me,” said Rosenthal, “I love photos and sculpting, it’s another realm of creativity I can work on.”     

Zella said works were selected based on their technical quality and originality. “Entries this year included realistic, surrealistic, and abstract conceptual artwork,” she said.

  Zella also noted that she was impressed with the diversity of artwork in this year’s competition. “There was a potpourri of different styles this year; that’s what makes it fun.”

The contest was open to artists in the New York/New England area and all work had to be completed between 2001 and 2004. The contest raised $2,200 for the Housatonic Museum of Art.  

The opening reception for the Annual Open Juried Art Show will take place on Friday, June 10, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

The Burt Chernow Galleries are open Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information on Museum exhibits, contact Robbin Zella at (203) 332-5052.

With an eight year old campus in the heart of Connecticut’s largest city, Housatonic is one of the country’s fastest growing public community colleges. Since it moved to the new downtown campus in 1997, Housatonic’s enrollment has increased 77 percent. According to the most recent statistics released by the Washington D.C.- based American Association of Community Colleges, Housatonic was the Northeast’s second fastest growing community college and its fastest growing in terms of full time students.

In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 63 since moving to its new campus.

The college is located in downtown Bridgeport one block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Mike Russo of Monroe is a journalism intern at Housatonic Community College.