Wilton Library Features Work by Local Area Artists

WILTON, CT – The Wilton Library will be presenting an exhibition by local artists' conclave NEST Arts Factory throughout June. The run will open with a reception on Friday, June 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The featured artists are Kristen Ambrosi (Fairfield), Patrice Barrett (Easton), Carlos Davila (Bridgeport), Jane Davila (Bridgeport), Gwen Hendrix (Oxford), Phyllis Lee (Westport), Kristin Merrill (Easton), Meighan Morrison (Bridgeport), Jill Morton (Wilton), Susan Taylor Murray (Monroe), Denise Susalka (Redding), and Janice Sweetwater (Redding). The artists work in a wide array of media including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, graphics, mixed media, sculpture and framed jewelry. Their styles and choices of subject matter are as diverse as the artists’ backgrounds, using portraits, still life, abstracts, botanicals, landscapes and more as the basis of their works.

Ed MacEwen, the library’s art chairman, said, “I was fortunate last year to catch an exhibition by this talented cadre of artists and felt that their diversity in style and form would be perfect for the library’s walls.”

The NEST Arts Factory is a community of artists inspired by their surroundings in a re-imagined factory building in Bridgeport. According to the group’s website, its mission is “to showcase and nurture artists, musicians, and the creative process. To provide a unique and inspiring environment to explore and discover art and music while enabling artists and musicians to experiment and collaborate across disciplines and media.”

The NEST began as an outgrowth of the Cricket Hosiery Co., the first company to combine computers with knitting machines to create graphically-designed socks. A number of graphic artists were employed to design the socks, thereby establishing an early relationship with the local arts community. As excess factory
space became available, artists began to move into the space. With the decline of business, artist easels and drawing tables replaced knitting machines as the space gave over entirely to the new NEST Arts Factory.

The reception is free and open to the public. Most of the seventy works will be available to purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library.

Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center.