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Norwalk Neighbors Notes: Keep Those Peepers Peeled

NORWALK, Conn. ? The Sono art scene is sizzling. A dozen Firing Circuits artists and Norwalk 2.O collaborated to create The Peeps Show at the mARTket, a pop-up gallery on Washington St. (at the former Sweet Rexies). Opening night on Wednesday was dazzling.

Suzy Aubrey of Old Witch Court said of the show, “The best opening I’ve ever seen. It was festive, fun, jubilant, full of life. It was a great event, everyone seemed happy. The food, the space, it all really came together nicely. It was a joy to have all of my favorite artists in one place.”

Maggie Swanson of East Rocks Road agrees. “It was a wonderful show. Great use of space. The food was excellent and it was very well attended,” Swanson said. “The artists all work out of a neat-looking warehouse they share off Route 7.” The Firing Circuit studio is in the old lace factory at One Mueller Avenue.  The space for the pop-up gallery was donated by Tom Rich, managing Partner of T.R. SoNo Partners, an FD Rich Company affiliate.

In addition to the exhibit, two of the Firing Circuit artists, Denise Minnerly, an art teacher at Greens Farms Academy, and Lori Lohstoeter, an art instructor at Norwalk Community College, held clay-molding and drawing workshops.

Some of the most prominent pieces were large bird sculptures by Westchester-based painter-sculptor Mario Cipri. Constructed from 100-year-old overhead cables used by old trolley cars, the graceful creatures stand tall, perched on locally found fossilized rock. 

“I was in the service in 1950, trained for combat in Korea. But they sent me to Pittsburgh to guard the steel mills. In Pittsburgh, like a lot of cities at the time, they still used trolley cars. I left the service in 1952. Flash forward 50 years, and I’m looking for sculpture materials in a New York junk yard. They had reels and reels of this copper cable from the old Pittsburgh trolley. I bought as much as I could–that cable is now over 100 years old,” the sculptor said.

Rick Wetzel, a former Sesame Street art director, thought the art at the show was so good you couldn’t pick a favorite. “I thought, if you had to give a best in show, who would you give it to?” Wetzel said. “Not just one artist stood out. You couldn’t just find one favorite. Jackie Lightfield did an excellent job organizing the event, and it was an excellent show.”

State Sen. Bob Duff said, “Norwalk has a real vibrant art community that needs to be more visible. We don’t realize how fortunate we are. Events like this really showcase the talent we have.

We’re certainly going to keep our peepers peeled for the next pop-up gallery.

To have your social event, announcement or honor included in Norwalk Neighbors Notes, email Jeanne at jeannehard@aol.com.                                                                                   

 

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