The Artists Collective of Westport will explore the power of words through the visual arts with two summer exhibits staged at The Westport Library. The two-part exhibition will encompass all three of the Library’s galleries: Word: Visual vs Verbal will span the Sheffer Gallery and South Gallery, and Piece by Piece will be displayed in the Jesup Gallery.
Word: Visual vs Verbal will open Thursday, June 20, and run until Monday September 2. Piece by Piece will be revealed during a special reception, also on June 20, from 6:30 to 8 pm.
Piece by Piece is a 6-foot by 8-foot art installation composed of the work of 48 Artists Collective members. Each artist received a 12-inch by 12-inch blank panel along with a 6-inch square section randomly selected from a contemporary painting. The artists created their individual piece, replicating a part of the larger painting in their own style, without knowing what the final exhibit will look like until it is revealed at the opening reception.
“The end result,” said Artists Collective member and longtime Library supporter Miggs Burroughs, “is an entertaining exercise in community, creativity, and collaboration.”
In addition to Burroughs, those contributing to Piece by Piece include Katherine Ross, Michael Brennecke, Nina Bentley, Susan Fehlinger, Dale Najarian, and Jay Petrow.
For Word, each of the Artists Collective members were invited to display a work in the medium of their choice — all inspired by a single word.
Each 12-inch by 12-inch “piece” of Piece by Piece will be available for purchase starting the night of the reception. Each square will be $100, with 50% of the proceeds supporting the Library’s art programs and 50% going to the artist. The artworks on display in the Sheffer and South Galleries will also be available for purchase, with a percentage of the proceeds going to benefit the Library’s art programming. Additional exhibit support is provided by The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center.
To further support the exhibits, the Library will welcome an Art for Lunch event open go the community on Friday, July 19, in the Sheffer Gallery, and Westport Poet Laureat Jessie McEntee will host a lunchtime writing workshop on Tuesday, August 20, with Word: Visual vs Verbal serving as the inspiration and writing prompt.
The Artists Collective of Westport is a nonprofit organization comprised of 150 local artists who have joined forces to discuss, create, and develop dynamic experiences for the Fairfield County community. The collective is open to all active artists in pursuit of expanding their careers and in developing a strong, diverse arts community.
