New Gallery in Putnam, Connecticut: The Silver Circle Studio

There is a new option for your Christmas shopping in Putnam, Connecticut. Tonight is the grand opening of the Silver Circle Studio at 75 Main Street, near Chickering Café. The space is filled with all kinds of artists and art lovers talking and sampling hors d' oeuvres prepared by the restaurant next door at 85 Main. Here, local artists are showing their talent, and offering their wares at fair prices.

As I entered the gallery, and made my way through the crowd, I felt at once a renewed sense of pride in my community. There is such a variety of talent here, with paper, ink and dye by Cynthia Swanson right next to gilded framed portraits by Charlie Brooks. I fell in love immediately with Eric Spencer's River People, which use materials such as driftwood, brass and beads. Stephen Brownell uses bold colors to put local buildings to canvas. Bob Rizzo's mixed media pieces, with names like "The Silencing of Pantheos", stir the collective unconscious. Junko Pinkowski's zen-like prints echo another time and place, and yet belong completely within this "community collective".

Mark Szantyr, who teaches at Quinebaug Community College, has displayed some canvases here tonight, and I recognize the work of some of his former students. The college has become very art-friendly, especially since the new wing was completed with gallery space. Jess Dudek-Viens formerly had a show at QVCC's Spirol Gallery, and tonight she displays a piece that is made of her former show's announcement cards and her own expressive stitching. Desiree Kramer is also a former QVCC student, now a graduate of Maine College of Art. Some of her teapot sets have been displayed at Spirol, and her pottery will be available at Silver Circle's gift shop year-round.

The Silver Circle Studio is committed to art education and the promotion of community art. They are open for acceptance of quality local art consignments and will be offering classes for the community. Keep updated by stopping by or contacting Carly at 1.860.928.2900.

I am very excited about this new art space, and apparently so are a lot of other people. The gallery will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays 11-6, Fridays and Saturdays 11-8, and Sundays 12-5. Their shop offers beautiful glass windchimes and blown glass vases; wood block designs by Karen Miller; drawings and prints by Ellen Gaube; hand-thrown pottery; other functional art by Stone Soup Pottery; knit scarves and hats; purses; t-shirts; jewelry; etc-- and all by local artisans!

Think local this holiday season. Support your community and give a gift that is original, beautiful, and priceless.