One of my favorite towns is Old Lyme, Connecticut. It's full of charm, history, and art. I spent a lot of time there a few decades ago, and I always enjoy going back for a visit. The scenic drive is always calming as Old Lyme borders both the Long Island Sound, and the Connecticut River.
My first stop last weekend was the Lyme Art Association. The current exhibit, An Exhibition in Four Acts, runs through April 28th, 2017. The four acts refer to the art themes displayed in each of the four main rooms: Industrious America, Contemporary Look, Holding Still, and Lyme Art Association Faculty. As always, I enjoyed it all, but was especially interested in the Contemporary Look. Back when I was an artist member, anything that wasn't an Old Lyme landscape was discouraged. So it was refreshing to see a more diverse display of the artist's talents. Another exhibit begins in May.
I also enjoyed the 2017 Art Supply Expo that was being held the day I was there. As I signed in, I was immediately handed a bag of freebies - some watercolors and oil pastels! I'm feeling inspired to try them out. I was very happy to find, and buy, some non-toxic oil mediums to go with the non-toxic paints I recently purchased. My old tubes of paint are ready for the hazardous waste collection this summer!
My next stop was the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. So much has changed since I was a student there. Many of the buildings were still in the planning stage by the time I graduated. The original studios and hallways still felt familiar, and the historic Sill House holds so many memories of time spent manning the front desk, hanging paintings, and attending exhibition openings.
The current exhibit is the 2017 Senior Studio Exhibition. The styles have changed dramatically since the days of a focus on classical figurative art. Although this is still taught, students are free to explore illustration, printmaking, and abstract art as well. Senior students develop their own styles and interests, each creating works unique to their personality and medium. I especially enjoyed Daniel Willig's figurative sculptures. Much more than the traditional academic nudes often seen in sculpture exhibits, Willig's figures represent a time and place, allowing the viewer to invent a story for the introspective character. I also enjoyed Kerryanne Celona's abstracts. Bright and colorful, there is no story line here, just exploration and joy in color.
On the way home, I drove north on RT 156 toward Lyme, sneaking peaks through the trees at the marsh and river along the way. One of Connecticut's most scenic drives! There is so much more in Old Lyme, but that is for another day, another post!
Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides.
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