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Spectrum Gallery Welcomes New Season with Art, Laughter

Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook’s newest exhibit, LOL—Laugh Out Loud, opens Friday, March 29 with a reception from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook.

The goal of the exhibit is to get people to laugh by focusing on the humorous aspects of life.

“Let’s welcome the change of season with a few laughs and not take ourselves too seriously,” says Barbara Nair, director of Spectrum Gallery. “Humor can get us through almost any situation so we decided to show our respect and devote an entire show to it, so come and enjoy.”

Running through Sunday, May 19, the seven-week show includes artists working in a wide range of mediums.

Artists include Arlyne Berzak, who combines collage, paint, and 3-D elements in her work; Claudia van Ness, who works in oil, acrylic, and mixed media; Margaret von Kleist Emond, who presents new and playful abstract mixed-media works; fine artist Mark Rich, who will show a vibrantly colored work in oil and wax pastel on canvas; and Pam Erickson, returning to Spectrum with several one-of-a-kind mixed media assemblages.

Also participating is Cyd Gorman, an artist who works in multiple mediums including oil and acrylic painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media (including several new ones which she presents in LOL). Painter and illustrator Jeff Leedy—his first time at Spectrum—shows several bright, spirited works in acrylic and oil pastels.

Also new to the gallery is artist Jim Malloy, whose work in acrylic is known for its raw style, vibrant colors, and bold, abstract style. Painter Rachel Peterson, in her first show at Spectrum, uses bright colors and the grain of wooden discs to evolve the faces of her pieces in the show. Maryland-based artist Karen Congdon brings to Spectrum her work in watercolor and oil, specializing in en plein air painting and landscapes, figures, and portraits. Austin, Texas painter Robert Page, also new to Spectrum, presents pieces with an artistic style that is moody, often incorporating humor and bits of surrealism.

Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The non-profit Arts Center Killingworth organizes classes, workshops, and summer art and fashion camps for children and teens. For more information, call Spectrum at 860-767-0742 or visit spectrumartgallery.org or call the Arts Center Killingworth at 860-663-5593 or visit artscenterkillingworth.org.