Showcase – Page 2 – ASHFORD AREA ARTS COUNCIL

Joe Burger

After retiring from a Mechanical Engineering career in 2009, I began my art journey with drawing and painting classes with a number of local instructors. I dabbled in pastel, oil, and colored pencil, but my preferred medium is watercolor, and my works are usually in the traditional realistic style. I belong to a number of art groups and am grateful for the many friends and acquaintances that art has brought my way. Sometimes I do commissions, everything from fighter jets to homesteads to puppy portraits and anything in between. Currently I teach watercolor at the Windsor Locks Senior Center.

“The Vermonter,” traveling northbound over the Warehouse Point railroad bridge.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 20 x 26

“Wave Watchers,” a scene on a Florida beach.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 23 x 19
Price: $250

“Somethin’ Fishy,” a work boat returning with the day’s catch.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 26 x 21
Price: $300

“The Art Show”
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 14 x 18, framed
Price: $270

“Old Dogs,” buddies on Crane Beach in Ipswich MA.
Medium: Colored Pencil & Watercolor
Size: 14 x 17
Price: $500

“The Ocean Calls,”
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 16 x 20, framed
Price: $300

“Glory Days,” a Lockheed Super Constellation in Lufthansa markings.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 39 x 14
Price: $400

To purchase originals or prints, please contact Joe directly.
Click on a pic above to see slideshow.

Sold Works by Joe Burger:

Kathy Weigold, Weaver

Kathy Weigold

Kathy is working on her 300 year old loom making rugs to sell at the Holiday Artists Market on November 16 and 17 at Knowlton Hall in Ashford, CT. Kathy also will also have her all-time favorites including towels, scarves and mini capes. New this year are firewood carriers made with old clothing. Sturdy nylon straps make carrying easy; they hold at least 40 lbs of wood.

Kathy Weigold has made a career of production weaving. Subcontracting work from designers of handwoven fabrics, she makes their designs become a reality. Spanning 40 years plus, many miles of fabrics have been produced.
Kathy learned production weaving skills at The Marshfield School of Weaving in VT. A lifetime of honing those skills, both in operating the loom and seeing how colors interact. Kathy also developed her own line of woven goods. First with rugs, having a practical bent and using things on hand. What better use for old worn out clothes, sheets, blankets and the like then to make them into something usable again. Dish towels that are 100% cotton and really work.
Scarves that have their own personality; no two alike. Wooly ponchos, soft, light and warm.
Color interactions that simply amaze. These are some of the things that comprise her work and life.

Fiber Artist Joan Blade Johnson

Fiber Artist Joan Blade Johnson of JBJ is a Hampton, CT-based fiber artist who exhibits nationally and internationally.

Joan’s journey took her from a traditional quilter to a contemporary fiber artist who employs several surface designs in her art quilting. She enjoys the creative process involved in composing fiber art pieces using non-traditional methods and materials to achieve her artistic vision, most often inspired by nature and her original nature photography.

The surface design materials that she regularly works with on fabric include paint, foraged natural plant dye, rust, fiber reactive dye, and photos printed onto fabric.

Becoming

I wrote this poem about the arrival of Spring at my home in Westford upon being named Ashford’s Poet Laureate in March 2021 – Anthony Paticchio

Becoming

Sometime in March or April,
The Mount Hope, near its headwaters
down below the house, turns river again;

grows loud each day; spills its winter stream
in a full-on cold clear silver river rush;

threads a new watercourse run
across a thick-grown marsh that once was a beaver pond;

pours out through a rock channel carved
in the ruin of an old button mill dam;
and finds its way.

2021 Art and Garden Tour of Northeastern Connecticut

This free self-guided tour features 11 artists’ gardens displaying the works of 17 area artists. Enjoy paintings, sculpture, ceramics, woodwork, photography and other works of art in gardens in Ashford, Coventry, Mansfield and Willington. The gardens, which vary in style, include a handmade greenhouse, a hydroponic greenhouse, ponds and pools, a stone arch, paths, terraces and an abundance of flowers, shrubs, vegetables, trees and herbs. Artwork will be available for purchase. All current Covid-19 protocols will be followed, including masks.

More information can be found on their Facebook Page or go to their website for a virtual tour.

Christine Acebo: Receives Two Awards

Christine Acebo received a Certificate of Merit for her photograph “Golden Years,” exhibitedat the Salmagundi Club’s Figuratively Speaking Juried Exhibition in New York City (Feb 2 – Feb. 19, 2021).

She received the Council’s Award for her coffee-toned cyanotype print “Last Tram Out of Alfama” exhibited at the Connecticut Women Artists Members’ Juried Show (April 17 – May 14, 2021).

Poet Laureate

The Ashford Arts Council and the Town of Ashford have proclaimed Anthony Paticchio as our town Poet Laureate. Ashford now joins a group of more than 30 towns in Connecticut to have a Poet Laureate. In celebration we plan to honor Tony’s appointment with a virtual party on Zoom with poetry by Tony, virtual toasts, and then an Open Mic for town well-wishers to read their own poems. March 21st 4:00 – 5:30
Please email Christine Acebo to register for this event and get the Zoom link. Event is FREE to attend.

Sharon Punty

Title: Wave Patterns Description: Paint swirls and interacts as m a big wave emerges. Media: Paint Pour Size 10”x10” Price $14.00
Title: Tropical Getaway Description: Two palm trees on a tropical island with a rainbow. Size: 11×14 Media: Watercolor Price: $15.00
Title :Secrets of the Universe Description: Interstellar Thoughts on the Meaning of the Universe Media: Acrylic paint pour Size. 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” Price $10.00
Title Pet Portraits to Order Description: Surprise family with a portrait of a much loved pet. Media: Acrylic paint on canvas Size: 9”x12” Negotiable Price: $40.00 Negotiable
Title: Fall Splendor Description: A striking pumpkin is the focal point of this impressionist fall painting. Media: Acrylic Paint on watercolor paper Size: 11” x14” Price: $14.00
Title: Fantasy Flowers Description: Painterly fall colored flowers on an impressionistic background Media: Acrylic paint on watercolor paper Size: 10” x 6 3/4” Price: $6.00
Title At the Shore Description This painting depicts an orange sunset reflecting on water. Rocks are washed up in the small waves with some spray. In the foreground is a depiction of rosa rugosa on the upper shore. Media Acrylic Paint on canvas Size: 9” x 12” Price. $40.00
Title: Dynamic Daliah Description: A red dalia with lively brushstrokes is featured on a smooth black background Media: Acrylic on watercolor paper Size: 6” x 6”
Title Proud Description Adult bald eagle and her eaglet sit proudly in a rocky, textural background Media Acrylic paint on canvas with texture gel Size. 9×12 Price $40.00
Title: The Wave Description: Shades of blue mix and swirl in this vigorous, dramatic wave Media: Acrylic Paint Pour Size: 28” x 293/4” Price: $40.00
Title: Magestical Description: Bald eagle with sponged background Media Watercolor and oil pastel Size: 11” x14” Price $25.00
Title: Fantasia Description: Lucid colors swirl and marbelize in this acrylic pour painting Media Paint Pour Size 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” Price $13.00

I started my career at Parish Hill Junior/Senior High School in Chaplin, Connecticut. As an public school art teacher, I taught students appreciation of masters’ artwork and of contemporary art. I encouraged all students to work to their best and to enjoy the process of creating art. After having my first child, I ran a family daycare home. I began teaching art in Manchester in 2000 and retired in 2017. Since then, I have been re-discovering my artistic passions, like as pottery, painting, and mixed media. I still love the art of teaching, most recently through zoom lessons.
Contact Information: sharonpunty@gmail.com

Christine Acebo

I am a recently retired research scientist and lifelong photographer. Both my science and my photography required me to develop and hone my abilities to observe, be it patterns of behavior, patterns of light and darkness, the detail of a caterpillar’s skin, or the stretch of a mountain range below storm clouds. Both have also enabled me to visit that special place where the intensity of focus puts me squarely in the present moment and utterly involved with the object of that focus. I gravitate towards deep, rich, old-world colors and light, and I aim for “painterly” images.

Three of my photos were licensed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for use in an Ad campaign in 2011. I have exhibited in juried shows at the Salmagundi Club in NYC, the Fairfield Museum and History Center, Arts Center East in Vernon, and others.

Although my goals are not primarily commercial, I am willing to consider requests for professionally printed and mounted images.

My photography is showcased on my personal website: https://www.christineacebo.com/

I can be contacted by email: ChristineAcebo@gmail.com

Artisans at Middle River

60 Main Street, Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
Dot Drobney, owner of Artisans at Middle River has awesome craftsman’s work in her Gallery! PrimeChime windchimes creates amazing chimes/mobiles out of upcycled metal and glass parts…real works of art! She also has jewelry made from many different media, paintings, textiles, ceramics and other unique handcrafts.

Dot does all types of photograpy portrait sessions – family, children, pets, senior high school, corporate, fashion – as well as product shoots, nature, travel, landscapes, macros, and small events. Stop by to see the canvas mounted portraits on display to see what Dot does.

Her mini-studio is located within Artisans at Middle River, a new fine art gallery and gift destination at 60 Main Street, in Stafford Springs. Artisans at Middle River offers gift cards, both traditional and e-cards, curb-side pickups, local deliveries or mailing small items when feasible…so people are able to shop. Contact business owner Dot Drobney via email.