Blog Archives
Artist Joseph Farris to Speak on “A Soldier’s Sketchbook” at Bethel Senior Center
Local Artist Michael Seri Launches “Pop Up Art” Exhibit
Local Artist Michael Seri Launches “Pop Up Art” Exhibit
Photos by Wendy Mitchell
In case you were wondering what the copper sculpture was doing by the side of the road across from Bethel Cinema, watching people as they drive by, it is part of the new Pop Up Art Bethel exhibit. The sculpture was created by Jim Felice and is called “Myths & Masks.” Felice, along with 24 other local artists, are showing and selling their work at Pop Up Art Bethel, a month-long fine arts exhibit.
Pop Up Art Bethel is the brainchild of local artist, Michael Seri, who was inspired to create the exhibit after a trip to Las Vegas. In Vegas, Seri said, artists get together on Friday evenings to show their work, socialize and network. “I went to a pop up art show in Vegas and the seed was planted,” Seri said. “It brings artists together and is a great way for artists to showcase their work.”
The concept is “to move from town to town to bring new life to empty storefronts,” Seri said. “With the economy the way it is there are so many vacant storefronts that are desolate because of the recession. This is a way to bring it new life, bring people together and revitalize communities. And if it is successful it can turn into a full-time gallery.”
The artists’ works are an eclectic array of mixed media in a range of styles and genres including sculpture, charcoal drawings, paintings, photography and pottery. Two graffiti artists, Kenny Hess and Justin Buto, have their work on display, in the form of a large mural on one of the walls of the gallery. Pop Up Art Bethel is the first of many temporary art exhibits Seri said. The temporary gallery space is located at 262 Greenwood Ave., in the former location of Kara Signs.
Frank Kara, owner of Kara signs, is also an artist and will be exhibiting his pottery. The month-long show in Bethel runs from Saturday June 30th through July 30th. The opening reception on Saturday June 30th features Frank Kara’s three-piece jazz band, Tonal Eclipse. Wine and food will be served at the reception, courtesy of Stone River Grille in Sandy Hook, Seri’s brother’s new restaurant.. The reception on Saturday is from 2-5:00 p.m. Gallery hours for the month of July are as follows: Thursday-Sunday, June 30-July 30, 2-9:30 p.m.
The list of artists are as follows:
Joseph Farris
Erin Nazzaro
Frank Post
Tarol Samuelson
Katie Bassett
Eric Camiel
Leslie Pelino
Bibiana Matheis
Nicole Cudzilo
Juan Andreu
Michael Morris
Joseph Farris
Tara Burgess
Ival Stratford-Kovner
Judith Wyer
Suzanne Ross
Tanya Kukucka
Kathleen Benton
Keith Dube
Frank Kara
Chris Durante
Kenny Hess
Justin Buto
F. Henry-Meehan
Jim Felice
Michael Seri
For more information, contact Michael Seri, Pop Up Art Productions (PUAP), 203-512-9129.
Photos by Wendy Mitchell
Local Author Joseph Farris Recounts Tales of War at Tonight’s Author Talk & Book Signing
Local Author Joseph Farris Recounts Tales of War at Tonight’s Author Talk & Book Signing
“Dash to Ft. Freudenberg, Maginot Line, Dec. 1944” by Joseph Farris
Tonight at the Bethel Public Library at 6:30 p.m., Bethel resident and author Joseph Farris will share cartoons, excerpts and stories from his recently published book, A Soldier’s Sketchbook, an illustrated memoir about his experience as a soldier during World War II. The book was released by National Geographic and contains letters, sketches, snapshots, and mementos by Farris, who, as a teen, left his home in Danbury to go to war.
Farris, a contract cartoonist with The New Yorker since 1971, served on the U.S.S. General Gordon in October 1944 with Company M, 398th Infantry. While in France and Germany, Farris wrote more than 800 letters home from October 1944 through January 1946. The book tells the story in words and pictures of Christmas in the trenches, remembers lost friends and leaders, recounts his changing beliefs about human nature, God, and the “Jerries” (as he calls the Germans).
Farris has had two syndicated features, FARRISWHEEL for the Chicago Tribune Syndicate and PHIPPS for United Features Syndicate. His cartoons and paintings are in the private collections of President Jimmy Carter, Paul Newman, Colleen Dewhirst, William Safire, Paul Mellon and many others. A large selection of Farris’s cartoons from The New Yorker is in the permanent collection of the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. His cartoons are in the permanent collection of The Bruce Museum in Greenwich CT and the US Army Women’s Museum in FT Lee, VA.
Tonight Joseph Farris will hold an author talk & book signing at 6:30 p.m. at the library to talk about his book, “A Soldier’s Sketchbook,” which will be available for purchase. Registration is required by calling (203) 794-8756 ext. 4.
