Crossing the Street Art Show

What began as a Middletown community art show in October has now taken on a life of its own and is heading to Hartford in early January. Abby Carter’s Crossing the Street: Portraits of People in the Community expressive pencil portraits and her larger oil interpretations of St. Vincent de Paul Middletown’s Soup Kitchen guest “regulars” will be on display in the Legislative Office Building’s concourse and cafeteria from January 3rd through the 13th.

In the fall, St. Vincent de Paul Middletown (SVDM) in collaboration with the MAC650 gallery (Middletown Art Collective), the North End Action Team (NEAT) and Middletown North End Gallery Walk sponsored the opening of Carter’s work at two spaces. People saw over 230 of her sketches of folks on Soup Kitchen wall and two-dozen oil paintings of them by literally “Crossing the Street” to MAC650, the gallery at 650 Main Street.

Carter of Hadlyme is a renowned children’s book illustrator for publishers Hyperion, Holiday House, and Walter Foster Jr. She’s been Artist-in-Residence at the soup kitchen since 2012, encouraging guests to draw anything they like using her large sketchpads and art supplies. Many wanted to have Carter sketch them, instead.

Alicia Woodsby, Executive Director of the Partnership for Stronger Communities (PSC) was so moved by the show in Middletown that she offered the exhibit space reserved by PSC to highlight displays of art that promote supportive and affordable housing in the concourse area of Legislative Office Building.

The display is free of charge, and is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, see https://www.cga.ct.gov/capitol...

To obtain a 35 page copy of Carter’s catalog of her show, make a donation of $20 or more to St. Vincent de Paul Middletown, or go to www.svdmiddletown.org/carter.

Article From Tanja Moriarty