Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/arts-entertainment)
Art receptions, author appearances, performing arts and some film events
Online submissions are now being accepted in an open call to artists for the juried “Photography and Sculpture” show at the Rowayton Arts Center (RAC) from Aug. 9 to Sept. 6, 2020. — an announcement from the Rowayton Arts Center
The show is open to all artists interested in exhibiting their photographs and/or sculptures. Submit pieces for consideration here, on the RAC website.
One Darien High School classmate, Doug Allen, is performing an online concert this Friday to benefit the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, founded by another DHS classmate, Scarlett Lewis, and they both hope you’ll watch and listen. — an announcement from Corbin Cares
This special concert with Doug Allen, sponsored by Corbin Cares, runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, April 24 on Zoom. Allen, born in Darien and a member of DHS’s first lacrosse team, is a Nashville based singer-songwriter who is quickly becoming known for his high energy, acoustic shows and rich voice. Often compared to a cross between Zac Brown & John Denver he’s an artist whose songs, killer stage presence and voice make you take notice. Along with having two successful albums and several singles available online, Doug has had songs featured in Universal Pictures and Lions Gate Films. He keeps busy playing over 200 shows a year in theaters and corporate events between LA, Chicago, Nashville, and New York.
This past Saturday’s bell-ringing event in Darien is being repeated, the First Selectman’s Office just announced, for the next five Saturdays, through May 16. “Ring Your Bells, Loud and Proud,” the announcement says, during the repeats of Saturday’s five-minute event, where people around town were encouraged to ring a bell, bang a pot or otherwise make a noise for several minutes to give a loud “Thank you!” to healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. As with the event last Saturday, the noise-making is scheduled for five minutes, starting at 7 p.m. The ringing, gonging, honking and yelling takes place rain or shine, right from your own window, door or, as the announcement suggests, “your front lawn or front steps.” “From 7 to 7:05, come stand on your front lawn or front steps and ring cowbells, shake holiday bells, bang a pot and pan or simply clap hands,” the announcement says.
A new show at the Rowayton Arts Center (RAC), “Spring Juried Show,” is now online at racgallery.carbonmade.com. — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center
This all media exhibition features artwork by over one hundred artists chosen from almost 350 submissions. Winners were announced on April 8:
Best in Show, Melissa Orme of Ridgefield for “Celebration,” (Acrylic on Linen; see image below), 1st Place, Nancy Woodward of Wilton for “Sisters,” (Digital Photography), 2nd Place, Katharine Draper of Norwalk for “Environmental Spiral” (Ink on Paper), 3rd Place, Gregg Welz of Norwalk for “Spiral Vortex” (Paper Cuts) and Honorable Mention, Joanie Landau, “Roses for Sara Diptych” (Prints on Plexiglass). The chair for the exhibition is Joanna Bridges and the co-chair is Pamela Davis. The judge, Lisa Cooper, grew up surrounded by artists including her mother, a painter and jewelry designer, and father a successful businessman with a passion for creating Nevelson-like wood sculptures.
Avon Theatre, a nonprofit film center in downtown Stamford, is now offering first-run, independent films online in partnership with Magnolia Pictures. The new service not only lets you watch while stay safe at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but supports the Avon for the same price most people would spend on a ticket. Avon is calling the new service AVON ONLINE. Tickets are $12, No Discounts
You can see descriptions of the five current offerings below, along with trailers and links to purchase $12 tickets. The Avon “is grateful that every film rental helps support the Avon through these challenging times,” the organization said on its website.
Barrett Bookstore invites you to watch and listen to William McKeever, author of “Emperors of the Deep” (and producer of a documentary of the same name) about sharks, in an online discussion. The event takes place this Thursday, April 2, starting at 5 p.m. on Zoom, an app which you’ll need to download before the event. From the Barrett Bookstore announcement:
We’re starting to get into the rhythm of this new normal and while it’s not perfect, we’re getting along. We miss you. To that end, we’re working on coming together for some virtual events, the first of which will take place THIS Thursday, April 2 at 5 p.m. with William McKeever.
Piece together a shark, jellyfish, seal or other marine animal to add to an enormous ocean scene March 7 and 8 during “Lego Weekend” at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Editor’s note: This is a prudential question for individual parents to answer: Do you mind if your kid goes to an event now or in the very near future where your kid might pick up COVID-19? Or is it better to get your child to some events now, before we find out that COVID-19 is already nearby and it may be much less safe for a while? Now is safer than later, when the pandemic inevitably comes here, but is it safe enough? On the other hand, will you be keeping them at home (when they’re not in school) for months, perhaps well over a year, until a vaccine is created?
The Rowayton Arts Center announces the selection of a new exhibiting member, Rachel Peterson of Darien, who was juried in last January. — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center
To become an exhibiting member, an artist submits works to be reviewed by the Artist Selection Committee, which meets three times a year, in January, May and September. Artists who are selected for three of the six RAC juried exhibits within a two-year period are also eligible for exhibiting member status. There are currently almost 200 exhibiting members. About Rowayton Arts Center
RAC celebrates the study, creation and appreciation of the arts through classes, exhibitions and events open to all in the community.
You’re invited to the U.S. premiere of the documentary Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees on Wednesday, March 4, at the Avon Theatre in Stamford. Come see Dench in an intimate and fascinating BBC production on the secret lives of trees. Dame Judi Dench is one of Britain’s best-loved actresses, but few people know that she holds another great passion, a deep love for trees. Filmed over the course of a year, Dench joins tree scientists and historians to discover how trees feel, communicate, fight off invading armies and manage in extreme weather. The event at the Avon, at 272 Bedford St.
Please join the League of Women Voters of Darien at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 1 as we kick off Women’s History Month with a showing of “One Woman, One Vote” at 2 p.m. at Darien Library. — an announcement from the Darien League of Women Voters
The program is free and open to the public. Thanks to the Darien Library for making this possible. The film, narrated by Susan Sarandon, chronicles the battle for women’s suffrage from the convention at Seneca Falls in 1848 to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. The compelling influence of major players in the suffrage movement, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul is a highlight of the 106 minute video.
A new exhibit with connections to local history is now open at the Housatonic Museum of art. Entitled Artist Rachel Owens’ exhibit, “The Hypogean Tip,” explores both Bridgeport’s and our larger nation’s past. — an announcement from the Housatonic Museum of Art
The show, which runs through March 21, is comprised of sculptures rendered in various materials, including large-scale casts in broken glass from the porch of the home of Mary Freeman (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and works cast in coal and marble dust that invoke P.T. Barnum’s specter as well as his adverse impact. Focusing on the relationship between what was before and what is to come, Owens’ work weaves together, both literally and figuratively, the surface and substrata of the ground to reveal its structure, material, and history. The porch sculptures, part of an ongoing project entitled Life on the Other Side of a Cracked Glass Ceiling, are a platform for visitors to climb and stand on while reimagining the site and the accounts it holds.
In “The Biggest Little Farm,” a 2018 movie, a documentarian and his wife attempt to establish a farm outside LA while facing wildfires, pests and predators. The movie is being presented at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Darien Library, co-sponsored by the library, the Darien Pollinator Pathway, the Darien Land Trust, the Garden Club, the Darien Nature Center and Planet New Canaan. The movie also was shown back in August at the library as a Friday night feature. Here’s the announcement Darienite.com published then:
Starring Molly Chester, John Chester; Rated PG for mild thematic elements; 91 minutes; presented with captions for the hearing impaired. Official website | Metacritic | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb.com | Wikipedia
Learn more about Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California here.
Adults and students in Grades 5-8 can improve their digital photography skills with professional photographer and Darien Arts Center instructor Brien Adams in classes at the arts center. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center
Classes take place at Darien Arts Center at 2 Renshaw Road, behind Town Hall. For Adults
Introduction to Digital Photography for adults takes place from March 4-25, on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. In this month-long class, adults learn the basics of taking beautiful digital photographs using their iphones or digital cameras. Topics covered include point and shoot techniques, photo editing, uploading to a computer, and using Instagram and social media to display photos. Fee for this class is $125; register at .
A new show by exhibiting members at the Rowayton Arts Center (RAC), “Abstraction,” will be on view Feb. 9 through March 7. — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center
The opening reception is free and open to the public on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m.
RAC gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 12 pm to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. The chair for the exhibition is Michael Brennecke and the co-chair is Heidi Follin.
Darien Library and pianist Zachary Saffa will team up to bring you a one-of-a-kind concert experience. Up-and-coming musicians will perform uninterrupted, followed by an open lesson for all to enjoy. — an announcement from Darien Library
During the Studio Showcase, you will see first-hand how music teaching can have a transformative effect on a student’s musicianship, perspective, and character. Zach will be joined by violinist Lindsey Castellano for this performance. This month Zach would like to honor longtime Darien resident Marc Thorne, who unexpectedly passed on the date of our December showcase last year.
The Darien Art Center has included a special new category in its annual smartphone photo contest this year — the Darien Bicentennial category was newly created to honor and embrace the significance of the town’s 200th anniversary in 2020. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center
Additionally, Pic Darien is accepting photo entries from both adults and children in the following categories; Landscapes; Seascapes; People; Pets; Sports; Architecture; Food and Drink; Abstract; and Nature & Flora. “Although we love to receive entries from all over the world in multiple other categories, we were especially excited to include the Darien Bicentennial category this year,” said Pic Darien Chairperson Andrea Jackson. “We know that there are a lot of people taking amazing photographs of our beautiful and historic town, and can’t wait to see the submissions in this category.”
Contestants may submit their smartphone photos for cash prizes at darienarts.org until Feb. 29.