Be a part of art ~ volunteer at our gallery in Derby

Studio spaces available in downtown Derby

Technology, Simpsons, Sesame Street 'invade' Seurat painting

There are many parodies of 19th-century French artist Georges Seurat's pointillism painting, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," but these three caught my eye.


Below is the masterpiece Seurat spent more than two years painting between 1884-1886.

What do you think of the parodies? Please leave a note in the comments.

'Delicious II' planned in Derby

Council prez teaches sculpting at Derby Public Library

DERBY - From ballerinas to unicorns, children in Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo's sculpture class this month at the library have been using their imaginations as they learn to work with clay.

DiCarlo said he let his nine students, ages 10-13, choose what they wanted to create.

DiCarlo works with Seymour resident Jonathan Phillips, 11, on a cat sculpture. 

Ansonia resident Alexys Ryan, 13, plays ice hockey, and she said that's why she chose a hockey player to create. Her sister, Aryanna Ryan, 10, below, is making a giraffe.

Now all the giraffe needs are horns, ears, and a tail.

Ansonia resident Anaisa Burgo, 12, carefully sculpts a ballerina figure.

 
There is one class remaining. DiCarlo said he will help the children finish the pieces at that time, and if they wish they can paint them at home.

'Delicious II' on the menu at Derby restaurant

Food for thought: Second annual art exhibit is on tap at Marco Pizzeria, 656 New Haven Ave., Derby. 

Stay tuned for more information. 

Einstein: Imagination is the key

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

~ Albert Einstein (1879–1955)

 

Visit the gallery and face the music ~

The exhibit is at the Gallery@37, 37 Elizabeth St., Derby.

Thanks go out to Derby restaurant for sponsoring exhibit

 

 

A note from Council President Rich DiCarlo:

"Archie Moore's Steps Up and becomes Our Face The Music Sponsor!
Don't Miss This Wonderful Exhibition!
2 Night Opening Reception Friday & Saturday, May 23 & 24th at 7pm
37 Elizabeth Street , Derby!

'Face the Music' with us at the gallery this week

Council president shares teaching experience

Student and teacher both find inspiration.

Council prez paints portrait at Valley Celebration of the Arts

Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo of Derby demonstrates portrait painting Thursday in the Ansonia High School atrium.


ANSONIA -The first-ever Valley Celebration of the Arts showcasing the work of students from six area high schools was a great success!
Kudos to all the students and teachers involved in coordinating the event. 

I'm looking forward to next year's celebration. 

Art is everywhere ~ please support us during The Great Give

Reminder: Support arts council through 'The Great Give'

 Valley non-profit organizations – the agencies that shore up the cracks in community services – are appealing to potential donors for support during The Great Give^® annual fundraising campaign.

The Great Give^® 2014 is a 36-hour online giving event today and Wednesday on giveGreater.org®, with presenting sponsors the Valley Community Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Non-profits can increase the funds they receive during the drive through matching grants and prizes the foundations have coordinated.

The Great Give^® will begin at 8 a.m. May 6 and end at 8 p.m. May 7. Donations must be made online at www.thegreatgive.org with MasterCard, Visa or American Express credit cards to count toward matching grants.

“Last year, Valley residents gave more than $60,000 to non-profits in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton,” said Sharon Closius, VCF President and CEO. “That was triple the amount donated in 2012 – a wonderful response that allowed non-profits to continue providing much-needed services.”

With the Valley still struggling economically, Closius said, the services non-profits provide make a crucial difference to the quality of life for our residents.  “Whether the non-profit helps people feed their families, find jobs, and recover from abuse or addiction, or supports education, health and culture, all are essential elements of any thriving community,” she said.

This year’s giving campaign coincides with a national day of giving, Give Local America, established to celebrate the centennial anniversary of community foundations. Give Local America has engaged communities across the country that are urging their residents to support local non-profits. “When you support a local non-profit, you know your gift is directly benefiting your community,” Closius said. 

For more information about The Great Give 2014, visit givegreater@cfgnh.org or call 203-777-2386.

This video was created by John Corraro, a college student who has interned with Center Stage in Shelton and the Valley Community Foundation.

Center Stage is one of nearly 40 non-profits in the Valley participating in the online giving event.


This is a press release from the Valley Community Foundation.

Offensive or fanciful?

Happened to see this online. What do you think?

I wasn't offended, instead I liked the creativity.

Council members and prospective members take note

DERBY - The next meeting of the Valley Arts Council will be held on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 PM at the Valley Center for the Arts, 119 Caroline St., President Rich DiCarlo announced today.

New members are always welcome ~

And a reminder:

Sharing a message from arts council prez

Visit us Saturday at the Ansonia Nature Center

A reminder from arts council president Rich DiCarlo: 

Stop by the Earth Day celebration at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, this Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Event is rain or shine. (It's nature!)

Artists take note: Face the Music is approaching

Council prez to teach charcoal technique

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to a four-session Drawing in Charcoal Series, from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15, and 22 at the library, 313 Elizabeth St.

Valley Arts Council President Richard DiCarlo will guide participants in developing their inner artist.  

Registration is requested. 

For information stop by the Library,call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

Rich DiCarlo teaches use of watercolors during a recent class at Derby Public Library. 

 
         

Sharing a thought from Van Gogh

Lively colors, movement jump off canvas

"There is no must in art because art is free."  

~ Wassily Kandinsky

 Blue Mountain, 1908-09 ~ Oil on canvas

Russian-born painter Kandinsky (1866-1944) has been called the father of modern art.

I was fortunate enough to see this painting of his on a high school field trip to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York decades ago. 

I never forgot how it spoke to me.
I love the sense of movement and of course the vibrant colors. 

What does Kandinsky's artwork mean to you?

Artistic thought for the day

Agree? 

We certainly do.

The Valley Arts Council is a vibrant part of the community. If you're not yet a member, consider joining us!

Come in and introduce yourself at the Gallery@37 at 37 Elizabeth St., Derby, and see lots of great artwork created by local artists. 

You won't be disappointed.

Mark your calendar to support our artists through The Great Give

Teaching the art of water color painting

Aspiring artist Alicia Tillotson, 12, of Ansonia, is getting some pointers in painting with water colors from Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo of Derby. 
DiCarlo is teaching a four-session workshop on painting at Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., Derby. The class meets at 4 p.m. Thursdays. 

Call for entries for our spring exhibit

Sharing a thought from an American realist

From Wikipedia: Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While he was most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching.

Ah, Degas

From Wikipedia: Edgar Degas was born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas; (19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917).
He was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He is especially identified with the subject of dance; more than half of his works depict dancers. 
He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist.


Question: Who is your favorite Impressionist? Please leave your answer in the comments!

Arts council prez to teach at library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to a four-session Freestyle Painting Workshop from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays in March.

 
Valley Arts Council President Richard DiCarlo guides participants in nurturing their inner artist.
Registration is requested.

For more information, stop by the Library at
313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

Announcing changes at our gallery

'Owl' be looking for this at the Gallery@37 ~ coming soon

This is Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo's acrylic on wood panel snow owl painting, "Night Wing."

It is sporting an out of the ordinary, multi-level frame, and will be arriving soon at the Gallery@37, 37 Elizabeth St, Derby, Ct. 

Price is $135.

Call to artists, photographers to 'face the music'

Stay tuned!

A note about buying original artwork

Sharing this from FIND Art Magazine:

Help us keep the arts alive

This week Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo registered our organization with gofundme.

This is part of what he posted on Facebook:


"The Valley Arts Council was formed for the purpose of creating and promoting a connecting thread between those among us who are artists and those who have an interest in experiencing the arts. Sometimes the only difference between a life full of art, and a life void of art, is the simple accessibility of the arts.

"Our mission is to ensure that the contribution that the arts can make to one's life is recognized, valued, promoted and realized in the lives of all Valley residents. Unfortunately we represent a region often ignored by the state...because they would rather give it to those areas that don't need it. 

"We've been in operation for about 14 years and we have touched so many lives and yet we have many more communities to help. We operate our children's art programs at little or no cost to the children.

"We often have to decide between teaching in the dark, using a room with little or no heat before we would tell a child they cannot have art."

Rich DiCarlo works with Alexys Ryan, 12, of Ansonia in December at Derby Public Library.



Please click here to see how you can help keep the arts alive in the Valley and beyond!

Thanks in advance for your support.

Join us, get involved in 2014

Wishing all a Happy and Healthy 2014

DERBY - It's going to be a great new year for us at the Valley Arts Council and the Gallery@37 at 37 Elizabeth St.

Stop by soon and check out the interesting array of one-of-a-kind artwork! 

You won't be disappointed.