Join Artspace For The Opening Of Five New Exhibitions

what?     Free Public Reception

when?    Thursday, July 10, 6-8PM

   where?    50 Orange Street, New Haven, CT

Exhibitions On View June 10-July 17, 2010

Gallery 1-Patrick Chamberlain’s exhibition, On Your Mark, represents the artist’s first solo show and is on view through June 26th.

Gallery 3- Pigeon, by Christina Gundersen, is a site-specific installation of photographic shadows that fill the gallery with an ethereal presence and inquisitive arrangement.

Gallery 4- In Never We Trust, by Mister Never, comments on the practices of financial institutions to produce negative capital, which is also a solid metaphor for an artist’s own struggle to achieve artistic merit.

The Long Wall- Bodies of Trees, by Michelle Levante, is a series of photographic diptych images exploring mans’ perverse relationship to nature, beauty, and juxtaposition. The exhibition represents the first showing of this new series of work.

Gallery 5- Lucky Strike: World War II Army Air Corps Veterans, by Will Holub, is a series of paintings that recount the World War II era from a familial perspective and functions as testaments to the changing face of war and the global economy.

Gallery 7- Artifacts of Affluence, by Eileen Doktorski, is a series of castings from landfill terrain, bringing the subject of waste into the light for the viewer’s closer reflection.

For additional information, please contact Laura Marsh, Communications and Program Director at lauralmarsh@artspacenh.org.

Artist Forum a Success

If you missed the Artists Forum last night, you missed a lot! Several artists from the area got together with members of the West Haven Council on the Arts and discussed ideas on how to fund the future Arts Center, how to earn public interest in the WHCA, and what types of programs artists would like to see (and participate in) at the Arts Center. The WHCA was also able to dispel the myth that we are a performance-based organization when, in fact, we are eager to meet visual artists from all disciplines – painters, photographers, sculptors, writers, and anything we have not thought of yet. It was a very enlightening evening to say the least! In fact, so many ideas were discussed that we plan on having more of these Artist Forums in the future, just to stay in touch with the community.


President Kevin Davignon’s main focus will be to draw up comprehensive business, marketing and development plans to take us into the future. His goal is to fill up a yearly calendar with programs and activities, so meeting with the artists of our community was a great way to figure out what some of these events should be to create a sustainable Arts Center for West Haven and the surrounding communities.

Some of the ideas discussed:

• Connecting with New Haven’s City-Wide Open Studios, though this may have to wait until next year due to application deadlines.
• Space for artists to work after hours.
• The various types of studios we would like to see at the Center.
• Arts camp
• Juried exhibitions
• Artist fairs
• A production combining all different disciplines – artists make the sets, performers perform, musicians play, etc.

These are only some of the ideas knocked around last night. By getting the community together during these informational and brainstorming sessions, we hope to create an Arts Center that will rival none. We invite anyone interested, as always, by joining us at our first Thursday meetings, 7pm in basement room A of West Haven City Hall. We hope to see you there on Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm.

West Haven Council on the Arts Artists' Forum

Are you an artist or are you interested in becoming one? Do you feel you have something to contribute to the Arts in West Haven? If so, we want to hear your ideas at the West Haven Council on the Arts
Artists’ Forum to be held May 25th, 7pm – 9pm at West Haven City Hall, Basement Room B.

Painters…Sculptors…Actors…Musicians…Writers…Graphic Artists…Photographers

The dream of West Haven Council on the Arts is becoming a reality. We want to establish an all-encompassing cultural arts center and we need your help. We are bringing together artists from all media for a brainstorming session to discuss the state of the arts in West Haven. What’s wrong and what’s right? What can WHCA do to address those issues? We would also like to hear your ideas about how we should use the NEW West Haven Cultural Arts Center to foster the arts in West Haven. What classes and events would you like to see once the doors open?

Come out and tell us what you want.

Artists’ Forum

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

West Haven City Hall, Meeting Room - B

Join us and help craft the future of the West Haven Cultural Arts Center.

2nd Annual Family Arts Night to be held at Westwoods Ballroom

West Haven Council on the Arts Sponsors Fundraiser

West Haven, CT – April 9, 2010 – Westwoods Ballroom will be hopping during West Haven Council on the Arts’ Family Arts Night to be held on May 14th, 2010, from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. Affectionately dubbed “FAN” by the members of the WHCA, this event is not only a fundraiser, but a way to reach the community with a night of music, family fun, and information about the West Haven Council on the Arts and its efforts to aid the city in creating the future Cultural Arts Center in downtown West Haven.

Hosted by Paul Scanlon, local teacher and Board Member, FAN will include a number of family-friendly activities including kids’ activities, giveaways and a raffle. The raffle was a big hit last year with baskets containing all sorts of donated goodies from a variety of local merchants. Last year’s basket themes ranged from beach parties to spa days, so there was something for every age and every interest.

The evening includes music from one of our featured bands, FUNK THAT, which is a generous gift provided by various merchants in West Haven. And for the second year in a row, WHCA’s own Rob Granoth's band, INFINITY PROJECT, will play Modern and Classic Rock hits to get everyone dancing. Attendees are invited to bring their own snacks and a cash bar is being provided by Westwoods Ballroom. Tickets are $15 with free admission for children under 10.

For more information about this event, or to make a donation, please contact the West Haven Council on the Arts at artswh@aol.com, through our blog at http://whcac.blogspot.com or by calling Event Coordinator Cathy Granoth at 931-0232.

New Officers Elected!

On Thursday, January 7th, the West Haven Council on the Arts held elections at their monthly meeting. The new officers and Board Members are as follows:

President, Kevin Davignon
Vice President, Barth McNeil
Secretary, Cathy Granoth
Treasurer, Charles Williams

Board Members: Elaine Carroll, Paul Scanlon, Rosemary O’Brien

A little about our officers:

West Haven resident and newly-elected President of the WHCA, Kevin Davignon, is the Principal Architect at EDA Architecture located in Stamford, CT. He serves on the West Haven Energy Commission, the West Haven Arts Center Building Committee, and is one of the driving forces of the future Arts Center building.

Barth McNeil, Vice President, is a theatre veteran with over 20 years experience, both on stage and as a technician. Before being elected to VP, he served as the WHCA’s first Treasurer. According to McNeil, one of his greatest experience with WHCA to date was as Production Coordinator and Stage Manager for West Haven Summer Youth Theater’s production of Godspell Jr. this past summer.

“I’m sure there are more good things to come and can’t wait to get going again with the kids next summer,” says McNeil.

Cathy Granoth will remain in the position of Secretary for this second round of executive officers. As a union representative in Connecticut, Granoth is experienced in working with municipalities and brings excellent organization skills to the office. She involves her whole family in her work with the Council. Her son, Rob Granoth, is a member of the band, Infinity Project, and frequently plays at WHCA events. Cathy’s favorite experience with the Council was acting with Barth McNeil as one of the main organizers of WHCA’s first Family Arts Night in 2009.

Charles Williams takes on the role of Treasurer for the organization. As a filmmaker, Williams brings a visual perspective to the office, having documented the WHCA’s involvement in the community using video and photography. In 1999, he self-published a book titled, “The Chief,” a historical novel based on the life and times of the late FDNY battalion chief, Wesley Williams.

New Board Member, Elaine Carroll, General Manager of the Stamford Symphony, is an experienced performing arts administrator with a Masters Degree in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. Her undergraduate degree is in flute performance and she plays and sings with a local Irish band.

“I love when the arts and Downtown work together to make West Haven a magical place,” says Carroll who lives very close to the Center. “This past summer I put my 2-year old in her little red wagon and we walked over to the Green on a mid-summer’s night. She fell asleep listening to her neighbors perform Shakespeare.”

All of the officers and Board members, new and old, along with the membership, look forward to helping the West Haven Council on the Arts achieve their goals in the coming years. One of these goals is to help West Haven in their efforts at transforming the former Masonic Temple on Center Street into the West Haven Cultural Arts Center.

Previous President and Vice Pr esident, Paul Scanlon and Rosemary O'Brien, are to remain on the Board of Directors.

“I am excited to see what the future holds for the West Haven Council on the Arts,” said Rosemary O’Brien. “Paul Scanlon wrote up a list of our accomplishments over the past few years and it was extensive. Our challenge now is to keep up the momentum we’ve established so far.”

"We are a vibrant organization," says Scanlon. "I am proud to be a member of such a hard-working organization and look forward to helping the new officers in any way I can."

The West Haven Council on the Arts is a coalition of citizens dedicated to reviving art, cultural events and tourism in our community. Our mission is to strengthen and promote the arts in West Haven by nurturing an appreciation of and participation in artistic endeavors in all media. Through the conversion of The Masonic Temple on Center Street into the West Haven Cultural Arts Center, we intend to provide a forum for local, regional and national artists to display their talents.

Meetings are held in the basement of West Haven City Hall on the first Thursday of each month. The public is invited to attend and new members are always welcome. Membership is $40 for a family and $20 per individual. For more information contact the WHCA at 203-932-2102, or email us at artswh@aol.com.

West Haven Council on the Arts Presents “Westies”

This past Friday night, The West Haven Council on the Arts presented “Westies” to ten patrons of the arts who have been instrumental in moving arts in our community forward. The Westie is and award that WHCA designed to honor outstanding arts support and progression. From rallying support in government to showing up at art events, press conferences and City Council meetings, this first group of recipients honors the arts, the West Haven Council on the Arts and the people of West Haven through the creation of the West Haven Cultural Arts Center. Their support has been invaluable to the process of educating the community and growing the arts.

The event, Arts & All That Jazz, was held on November 6th, 2009, at the Savin Rock Conference Center from 7pm to 9pm.

The recipients were (in no particular order):

Bill Riccio, Editor, West Haven Voice
Thomas Reilly, Housing Specialist
Attorney Win Smith
Eileen Buckheit, Commissioner of Planning & Development
Councilperson Edward O’Brien
Councilperson Tracy Morrissey
Yale University
Governor Jodi Rell
Senator Gayle Slossberg
Mayor John Picard

The evening began with a cocktail hour and heavy hors d’oeuvres accompanied by Jazz music which was followed by a short award ceremony. Paul Scanlon, President of the WHCA, acted as Master of Ceremonies and spoke a little about each recipient’s contribution to the arts in West Haven. With the assistance of Vice-president Rosemary O’Brien, he then presented them or their representative with an engraved statuette. The event was relaxed and casual for everyone who attended. However, all were left in shock and awe when the final recipient of the evening, Mayor John Picard, made a presentation of his own, a check for $25,000. The donation was a gift from Bayer Pharmaceuticals that the mayor was saving as a surprise. And surprise, he did.

The West Haven Council on the Arts would like to thank all of its members who participated in making this evening a success. From our bartenders, Lucy Anne and Jeff Criscuolo, to our photographer, Caitlin Morrissey, to Barth McNeil, who designed the music selections - each member of the WHCA Events Committee that participated helped to make the evening a great time for everyone.

Photos will be posted to this blog as soon as possible. We simply wanted to take the time to thank everyone in a timely manner and to congratulate them on being presented with our first Westie Awards.

Arts and All That Jazz on November 6th

On November 6th, 2009, the West Haven Council on the Arts will award the first "Westies" to ten recipients who have been an integral part in supporting the arts in West Haven. Honorees are:

Governor Jodi Rell

Mayor John Picard

Senator Gayle Slossberg

Councilperson Tracy Morrissey

Councilperson Edward O'Brien

Eileen Buckheit

Thomas Reilly

Bill Riccio

Win Smith

Yale University

The event will be held at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock Street, West Haven, CT. Tickets are $20 per person with cocktails and hors d'oevres to be served. For more information email the WHCA at artswh@aol.com or call 932-2102.

We hope you will join us for an evening of thanks and recognition.