BY LESLEE ASCHE
Silvermine Arts Center was incorporated in 1924 as a nonprofit organization. It is one of the oldest artist communities in the U.S. and its 5-acre campus in New Canaan consists of a nationally renowned artist guild, an award-winning school of art offering classes for all ages and abilities, five galleries offering more than 20 contemporary and historic exhibitions annually, an arts and fine crafts shop, an educational outreach program, Art Partners, serving the Norwalk and Stamford schools, plus lectures, performances, film screenings and special events.
In 2011, we launched the first annual ArtsFest to introduce our newly established Sculpture Walk, designed to make the Silvermine campus a fun year-round destination. Last year, the third annual ArtsFest drew more than 500 people from Brooklyn to Hartford.
This year we will host Silvermine”™s fourth annual ArtsFest Saturday, Sept. 20, 2 to 4 p.m., featuring Ruckus: A Cirque Spectacular, an astonishing display of circus arts featuring trapezists, jugglers, contortionists and more. Ruckus features an award-winning cast whose resumes include Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize and the Big Apple Circus. The circus will be performed at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., alternating with two puppet shows. The puppet shows will be performed simultaneously in different locations, so it will be possible to see the circus and both puppet shows.
Fairgoers can tour the three newly opened exhibitions of work by Jim Flora, Kristina Küster-Witt and Leslie Giuliani. Irwin Chusid, biographer and co-curator of the Jim Flora exhibition, will give a free lecture at 2 p.m.
Throughout the event, there will be hands-on art activities and demonstrations by members of Silvermine”™s distinguished faculty. These will include sculpting with clay, painting, drawing and a portrait demonstration, which allows participants of any age to draw alongside the instructor.
In addition, the Silvermine Gallery Shop will be brought outdoors with new items including handmade jewelry, glass, and ceramics. Food trucks will be on hand for visitors to buy lunch or snacks.
Families and art lovers of all ages are invited to this day of fun ”” a celebration of art and community. For more information and other events, please visit silvermineart.org.
Leslee Asche is executive director of the Silvermine Arts Center, a member of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
