L to R: The Pinwheel Galaxy from The Westport Astronomical Society, from Lucy Krupenye's exhibit in the South Gallery, and from Awakenings by Terry Tannen
The Westport Astronomical Society, Lucy Krupenye, and Terry Tannen are the first featured artists of 2024 at The Westport Library, with new exhibits being installed in January and running through mid-March.
How Beautiful, the Universe: Astrophotography by members of The Westport Astronomical Society debuts January 11 in the Sheffer Gallery, with an artist reception and lecture scheduled for January 17. That is followed by an exhibit from local sculptor Lucy Krupenye, whose Zen Meditations will be featured in the South Gallery on January 12 (artist reception and talk on January 31); and Awakenings, a series of photographs from Terry Tannen, which will also be installed on January 12 (artist reception on February 12).
“Our three new exhibits encourage the viewer to reflect on and explore the beauty and the mystery of the universe around us — and are a fitting way to kick off the new year,” said Carole Erger-Fass, The Westport Library’s exhibits curator.
How Beautiful, the Universe features more than 25 captivating works by members of the Westport Astronomical Society, who invite fellow community members to “embark on a cosmic journey from the comfort of Westport and witness the breathtaking beauty of our universe through the lens of dedicated astrophotographers.”
The Westport Astronomical Society, a not-for-profit scientific campus built within a former Cold War radar station, is home to the Westport Observatory and the KWAS Ham Radio Club. As part of its commitment to education, the Society offers a free monthly lecture series through webinars and live, in-person talks. Additionally, the campus features a National Geologic Survey seismography station, reflecting the Society's diverse scientific pursuits.
Krupenye is an award-winning sculptor who creates hanging assemblages out of found objects such as stone, wood, metal, and bone. Her sculptures are organic and Zen in feeling, inspired by nature, music, and the world around her. She uses a lot of “recycled” material in her work, creating treasures of what many consider flotsam, jetsam, or garbage.
In her career, Krupenye has exhibited extensively in in New York City and around the Northeast, including solo exhibitions at The Hammond Museum, The Stamford Museum, The Silvermine Arts Center, The Carriage Barn Arts Center, The Simon Gallery in Martha’s Vineyard, The Ridgefield Playhouse, and others. She has been the featured artist on Channel 12 News, at the Katonah Museum of Art, in Westport Magazine, in Fairfield County Lifestyle, and in many newspapers, books, magazines. In addition, her sculptures have graced the covers of jazz and rock CDs and albums, and she has curated several major museum and gallery exhibitions.
“My artwork is something that I see, not from the outside, but from within,” said Krupenye. “It is something that I feel. I rarely draw a piece before I make it. As I work with the elements the piece is just born — in essence, it creates itself. It is, in part, a reflection of my inner being and thus is extremely personal. If one looks closely into my artwork, one might see a part of my soul.”
Tannen was born and raised in Connecticut. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, she pursued a career in corporate design and branding working for iconic graphic designer Herb Lubalin, NBC TV, and co-founding her own firm G&K Design Group.
Capturing the beauty and natural design of nature has always been what inspires her creative work — whether it be through design, photography, painting, or sculpture.
“This collection of sunrise photos is from a series taken over Mill Pond Beach in Westport,” said Tannen, whose work has been exhibited in New York City, Westport, and Southampton, N.Y. “It is a tribute to the last year of my beloved husband Charles Tannen's life. Chuck was an avid lover of nature, photography, and adventure. As his fight with Parkinson's progressed, our goal became finding the beauty in what was in our present moment, in gratitude. Thus, Awakenings.”
For more on the Library’s exhibits, visit the Art at the Library page.
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Pictured above (clockwise from top left): Lucy Krupenye, The Westport Astronomical Society, and Terry Tannen
