Silvermine Art Center Art Shows Jan. 12 - Feb. 16

The Silvermine Arts Center located on 1037 Silvermine Road in New Canaan Connecticut is hosting the the highly anticipated annual New Guild Members show, plus the work of Lifetime Guild Artist member, Jens Risom, and the Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection.

Silvermine Arts Center is honored to showcase the works of Jens Risom (b. 1916), an icon of Danish American furniture design, and a Silvermine Guild Member since the 1950’s.  The upcoming exhibit “The Answer is Risom,” will feature several of Mr. Risom’s signature furniture designs along with original drawings and other historical items from an influential career that has spanned over 70 years. Although he learned the trade in Denmark (he trained at the Copenhagen School of Industrial Arts and Design), he is often counted among the American designers who were shaping postwar design, and indeed his most important contributions to the modern style were made after his emigration here in 1939.  Mr. Risom’s commitment to design also extended to his advertising. One of the more notable examples, a series of ads he did in the 1960’s with famed fashion photographer, Richard Avedon will be included in the exhibition.   Throughout the decades, Risom's work has continued to reflect our human need for warmth, beauty, and simplicity. 

Twice a year, each spring and fall, artists are selected, through a jurying process to become new members of the Silvermine Guild of Artists.   The Silvermine Guild of Artists is a distinguished group of professional artists comprised of over 300 members who work in a wide array of media and are represented in prestigious museums, and private and corporate collections.  Selection into the guild is based on several criteria including creativity; uniqueness or timeliness;, excellence of technique; compelling notion or idea; cultural or social relevance; professional presentation of work; clarity and continuity of style;, and professional accomplishment.  The New Members Exhibition will showcase the works of nine new Guild Artist members inducted in the spring and fall of 2013. Representing a variety of media, the new members include:  Naya Bricher from South Kent, CT – Painting; Nina Buxenbaum from Bethel, CT – Painting; Amanda Duchen from Woodbridge, CT – Ceramics; Charles Geiger, from Poughkeepsie, NY – Painting; Jana Ireijo from Westport, CT – Painting; Cynthia MacCollum from New Canaan CT – Printmaking; Joe Madrigal from Decorah, IA – Mixed Media Sculpture; Mitchell Visoky from White Plains, NY – Mixed Media/Encaustic; and Karen Vogel from Darien, CT – Printmaking. 

In 2012, Silvermine Galleries located on 1037 Silvermine Rd. in New Canaan officially named its print collection The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection, in honor of Silvermine’s print collection founder, Gabor Peterdi. There will be an opening reception on January 12 from 2 pm – 4 pm and all are welcome. The print collection will be on view from January 12 – February 16.  For more information www.silvermineart.org. For information on Fairfield County www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Having started the printmaking department at Yale University, Peterdi established the National Print Biennial competition at Silvermine in 1956.  The juried exhibitions, the Arts Center established the foundation of a permanent print collection through the acquisition of juror purchase awards.  In subsequent years, additional prints were added to the collection via donations and bequests.  The recent efforts have enabled the Galleries to conserve the collection, while actively growing its holdings.

The past year, The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection received, several significant donations to the collection; including works by such renowned artists as Josef Albers, purchased with funds honoring the late Guild Member, Tina Rohrer; a Robert Cottingham screened print; and a Gabor Peterdi Print donated by the Gabor Peterdi Estate.   This year’s exhibition will feature recent acquisitions of prints by Fritz Brosius, Alexander Calder, James Flora, Charles Hinman, Liliana Porter, and a print attributed to Salvador Dali; and  a selection of other highlights from the collection.

For more information on upcoming exhibits and events, visit our website at www.silvermineart.org or call 203-966-9700, ext. 20. For information on Fairfield County Connecticut www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

About Silvermine Arts Center

Silvermine Arts Center located in New Canaan, Connecticut is one of the oldest artist communities in the United States.  Located on a four acre campus, the center consists of a nationally renowned artist guild, award winning school of art offering multi-disciplinary art classes for all ages, an art and fine crafts shop and galleries, offering over twenty contemporary and historic exhibitions annually.  The center also provides innovative free and subsidized arts education in Norwalk and Stamford schools through its outreach program, Art Partners; and hosts a lecture series, performances, and special programs throughout the year.  Silvermine Arts Center is a nonprofit organization.