Gallery Hours

Monday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Woodcarving Class with David Holzman

Thursday, July 22  4-6 pm

Try your hand at the ancient art of woodcarving. Using hand tools and safe methods, you can create a decorative plaque in low relief.  Simple block lettering or complex floral designs are within your reach after basic carving instructions. Develop a sketch, transfer it to basswood and then enjoy the thrill of carving. All tools and materials are provided. Ages 10 to adult. $35 per person. Call the gallery to sign up 860.693.4454 or piasjolin@gmail.com

David Holzman is an artist and educator with 30 years of teaching experience.  He shows his woodcarvings, paintings and prints regularly at Canton Gallery on the Green as well as other regional venues. He received an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and is on the art faculty of Simsbury Public Schools and Central Connecticut State University. David’s studio is in Avon.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Encaustic Painting Class with Gay Schempp

July 21, 1:30-4:30 pm 

Encaustic painting is considered one of the most ancient media in the world. Encaustic paint is made of beeswax, damar resin and pigment, and is applied in a molten state. Afterward each layer is reheated to fuse it to the layer beneath. Beeswax is both a sealant and a preservative, so various materials such as paper can be collaged into the work. Layers of color, images, quotes or any porous material can be incorporated into a piece.  

This hands-on workshop will introduce you to working with encaustic on board. We will be painting, collaging, and using transfer methods with the wax. All supplies are included, and you can bring your own images or papers if you want to further personalize your pieces. 

July 21,  1:30 - 4:30 pm   $150.   limited enrollment   includes materials  award winning teacher, Gay Schempp www.gayschempp.com

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Faux Finish and Mural Demonstrations by Pia

During the month of July, Pia Sjölin will be displaying her hand-painted faux finishes and murals in the Spotlight Gallery, call the gallery if you would like to see Pia in action!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Swedish Midsummer Party!

Saturday, June 26, starting 6 pm

Midsummer Dance begins at 6:30 pm

Come join us for a lovely evening of dancing around a midsummer pole with traditional Swedish music performed by fiddler Arlene DeMaris and guitarist Sean McDonald! Små Grodorna at Pia Sjölin Design 2009

Stop by with your children for the Midsummer dance and refreshments, and join us in the evening to celebrate with dancing, an excellent Swedish smörgås board, dessert, wine and snaps (Swedish vodka), traditional Swedish drinking songs, and music by DJ Jon Eastman.


Saturday, June 26 events:

Family Midsummer Celebration 
               - Midsummer Dance - 6:30-7:30
               - Swedish smörgås board
               - desserts & drinks

Evening Midsummer Celebrate
               - Music and dancing (DJ Jon Eastman) - starting at 8 pm
               - Swedish food & dessert
               - Snaps (Swedish vodka) and drinks
                  - Traditional Swedish drinking songs


Midsummer Exhibit of Swedish Art

Exhibit June 26 - July 5 


Pia has invited eleven other Swedish artists who live in Sweden and the United States, to share their work in the gallery in a celebration of the Swedish spirit of summer.


Christer Bergander, prints, Alingsås, Sweden christerbergander.se
Lars-Göran Blom, graphic prints, Alingsås, Sweden larsgoranblom.se
Miriam Eriksson, acrylic painting, Avon, Conn
Patrik Gunnar Helin, photography, Alingsås, Sweden ketchup.se
Helena Hötzl, painting, Alingsås, Sweden helenahotzl.com
Carina Melander, glass jewelry, Alingsås, Sweden studioglöd.se
Marie Olsson, glass jewelry, Alingsås, Sweden
Agneta Persson, hats, New York, NY
Mats Petersson, photography, Växjö, Sweden rififi.nu/mats
Monica Rosenberg, drawing, Winsted, Conn
Ekaterina Sisfontes, jewelry, Stockholm, Sweden sis-ka.com
Pia Sjölin, painting, Canton, Conn pia-us.com

 Birth, by Helena Hötzl













Scent, by Lars-Göran Blom

Sunday, June 6, 2010

CONCERT

Dana Pomfret with
Stefani Langol,
Jerry Martinez &
Jon Peckman
 
 
Sunday, June 13, 5-7:30 pm


Please join us for a special Sunday concert featuring: Dana Pomfret, Stefani Langol, Jerry Martinez and Jon Peckman.

Stefani Langol is the wizard of keys and harmonies, Jerry Martinez is a wonderful vocalist and guitarist from the Boston area and the mighty Jon Peckman rounds out the quartet on drums and percussion. In addition to songs from previous albums (and a few surgically-altered covers) we'll be performing tunes from the NEW CD, "Float," which you can pre-order at the gig!

We'll supply plentiful tunes and tasty pizza from Flatbread. Please bring whatever you would like to drink (there are some chairs, but pop a back jack in the trunk if you want to be sure of a seat).

For info on Dana Pomfret visit danapomfret.com

Monday, May 24, 2010

Make your own Hat! with Agneta Persson

Saturday, June 12, 10-4 pm

During this one-day course in millinery, you will learn the foundations of traditional hat making and create your own, beautiful, personally designed hat, from start to finish. You will learn how to block straws, mix materials, use millinery stitches, ways to pinch, pleat and otherwise manipulate the straw into exiting shapes that will fit your personal style and liking.
We will use the finest parisisal straw capelines, panama and paper straws. You will finish your hat by using feathers, flowers, beads, pearls and ribbons for decoration. Agneta Persson Hauser has had her millinery company in New York City, since 1998.

Her hats and accessories have been featured at Bergdorf Goodman and other upscale boutiques in USA and Europe. The use of unusual shapes and sense of whimsy distinguish her designs.

Students should bring a notebook, pencil, hand towel, hair dryer and any objects of desire to embellish their design, for this class. Fee: $120 + material costs ($5-$15)

Payment due by June 10. Call the gallery to sign up: 860.693.4454 or email piasjolin@gmail.com

Paintings by Joan Coderre

Artists' Reception Friday, June 4, 6-9 pm

Join us for the opening of Joan Coderre's paintings. Refreshments will be served. The evening will also feature music by DJ Jon Eastman. This event is free and open to the public.
Exhibition dates: June 4 to July 5

Joan Coderre is well known for her exuberant and near panoramic views of city life. Coderre's bright gouache and watercolor paintings are most often informed by her childhood in Hartford. She invites the viewer to take a second look at familiar scenes in and around the city. With an eye for detail, high color, and a strong sense of place, Coderre transforms the commonplace and draws the viewer into her lively and familiar view of city life.



Thursday, May 20, 2010

By the Beautiful Sea



scenes of the Rhode Island shore
by 9 Litchfield County artists


Opening Reception: Sunday, May 23, 4-6 pm


Visitors to the Pia Sjölin Design gallery can take a quick trip to the beach by way of landscapes and seascapes painted of scenes in Little Compton, Rhode Island, on exhibit from May 23 to July 5. The exhibit opens with a free reception for the artists, Sunday, May 23, 4-6 pm, a chance to enjoy the work in a festive event that brings together the artists and the community. Join us to celebrate the exhibit and have a little taste of summer to whet your appetite for the coming season. Bring your friends, and maybe a sand pail and beach towel.



The Connecticut artists of By the Beautiful Sea
Ira Barkoff, Cornwall
Souby Boski, New Milford
Joanne Conant, Newtown
Claire Fish, Avon
Charlotte Honda, New Fairfield
Kathy L’Hommedieu, New Milford
Elizabeth MacDonald, Bridgewater
Kathleen Mooney, Cornwall Bridge
Karen Simmons, Woodbury

Little Compton Rocks
by Ira Barkoff


Marsh, Little Compton, Rhode Island
by Charlotte Honda

A little background about the exhibit


Thanks to a floating artists' colony sponsored by the Washington Art Association on a farm in Little Compton, nine seasoned artists have rendered compelling visions of shore, marsh, fields, and woods around the Rhode Island village.
Each year the artist's group, based in Washington Depot in Litchfield County, offers a one-week sojourn at summer's end to a handful of its members, for the purpose of renewing their vision with fresh landscape and of experimenting with technique. The custom recalls the tradition of New England shoreline artists' colonies that dates back to the 19th century.

The By the Beautiful Sea exhibit presents the work of nine artists who have each interpreted the landscape according to their personal response to place, weather conditions, light, and the medium. Most of them painted their works in oil on canvas, although an acrylic work or two is in the mix, and Elizabeth MacDonald painted one striking image on fired clay, her customary surface for many years.

Painter, instructor, and gallery owner Ira Barkoff, who has led the band of artists for the past three years, says "When we go to Little Compton it's a big change from the landscape of Litchfield County, and people are really inspired by that." The result, he says, is some exciting paintings. Why Little Compton, of all the shoreline options in New England? It was, Barkoff says, a fortuitous choice: "At the time we started the program, we had an education chairman who had grown up in Little Compton on a farm that had been there since the 1600s. That first year was so rewarding that we've been using the farm as our September base ever since."

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

CONCERT


Dana Pomfret

Stefani Langol

Jerry Martinez




Sunday, May 16, 4-7 pm

Please join us for a Sunday afternoon Music Fest on May 16, from 4-7 pm to listen to the talented musicians, Dana Pomfret, Stefani Langol and Jerry Martinez. Jerry is an awesome vocalist and guitarist from the Boston area. Those of you who got to enjoy his wonderful playing at the last gig will be happy to see him performing with us again! Stefani Langol is the wizard of keys and harmonies.


Please bring what you'd like to drink, and a folding chair. We'll keep the ticket price low and fill the air with tunes! ($10 suggested donation).



For info on Dana Pomfret
visit: http://www.danapomfret.com

Spotlight Gallery: Deborah Velasquez



Exhibit April 30 to May 30

Art designer, Deborah Velasquez, will be showing her new collection of bold colored, graphic designs. The show will include notebooks, prints, cards, hand-painted ceramics, pillows, and other household items, which bring light, color, and happiness, into the home. Showing currently until May 30.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Concert: Dana Pomfret with Stefani Langol & Tim McDonald

Saturday, April 17, 7-10 pm

Singer-songwriter Dana Pomfret returns to the showroom to cook up some hot music for a spring evening with Stefani Langol and Tim McDonald.

If you enjoyed the September performance by Dana Pomfret and friends, you'll want to return for what Dana's calling a Spring Music Fest: a two set session of original tunes and what Dana calls her group's "unrecognizable covers." Dana Pomfret made her mark on the music scene in New York with club dates and a series of recordings. Now based in Connecticut, she continues to perform and record to critical acclaim. In a review of Dana's third album, Jeff Gemmill
wrote of her vocal mastery: "she could sing the telephone directory and I'd be thrilled."

This evening catch some new tunes from the CD, Float, that's now in the works and due for release this summer.
$10 suggested donation, at the door. Bring your own chair and beverage of choice.

Spotlight Gallery: Peter Greenwood & Christine Chaise Greenwood

Artists Reception: Friday, April 9, 6pm-9pm

Devany Chaise Greenwood (daughter of Peter & Christine), will be performing original acoustic guitar music, in her own interpretation of indie tunes.

The spotlight Gallery is showing Peter Greenwood's glassworks, along side of
Christine Chaise Greenwood's paintings and photography from April 9 to April 25.

Peter Greenwood, a well-known glass artist with nationwide critical acclaim, blends traditional methods of glasswork with his own creative imagination to produce unique sculptures, lamps, and furniture. Christine Chaise Greenwood explores art created with paint program software to develop bright, playful, abstract images.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Artists Inspired by the Farmington River

Join us on the evening of Friday, April 2, for the opening 6-9 pm.

Stop by and see paintings and works on paper by 18 outstanding artists who have all been inspired by the Farmington River and the majestic landscape that drains into the river and its tributary brooks. Running April 2 to May 16.

Artists in this show:
Annette Baser
Joanne Vallee Brunelle
Julie Caprera
Carole Day
Laura J. Eden
Terry Donsen Feder
Claire E. Fish
John Ford
Walter Hampton
Tom Kutz
Victor Leger
Sally Sargent Markey
William Simpson
Pia Sjölin
Kathy Wadsworth
Sarah Wadsworth

William Simpson


Annette Baser

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Fabulous Fish for the Farmington


Check out the first 134 fish! More will be swimming their way onto the blog on March 31st! Bidding starts April 1st, so get ready!

http://fabulousfishforthefarmington.blogspot.com


Register for a bidder number with the Farmington River Watershed Association by emailing your Name, Address, and Phone # to river@frwa.org or stop by at the gallery to register.

Bidding starts April 1st thru April 16th (closing at 8pm on the 16th).

Happy Fishing!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Family-Friendly Felting Workshop, March 27-28th, 1 pm



Family-friendly felting workshops, during the weekend of March 27 and 28
Fiber artist Elena Gibson shows how to make a simple yet attractive felting projects that you can complete in one brief session. In the kid-friendly workshops, suitable for both beginners and people who have some felting experience, participants learn how to work with the supplied materials to produce a small completed work: felted eggs on Saturday morning or afternoon and flowered pins on Sunday afternoon. The artist supplies all materials necessary to complete the project. Both workshops work well for children of 8 years and older, but you don't need to bring a child with you to join the fun.

Saturday, March 27 Making Felted Eggs workshop
two sessions: 10 am to 11:30 am and 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Learn how to shape wool around an egg-shaped form, mix colors, and apply a design using a felting needle.
Fee (includes materials): Adult $25 / Adult & child $35

Sunday, March 28, 1 pm to 3 pm Making Felted Flower Pins workshop
Learn how to use a wet felting method to create floral shapes and find out how to add
embellishments with a felting needle.
Fee (includes materials): Adult $30 / Adult & child $45

Gong Bath Healing: March 25th, 7 pm

by Marcey and Brian Hickey $10 donation

Thursday 7pm, bring mat, pillow and blanket to experience the Tibetan Singing bowls harmonic attunement for your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Class: Photo Alteration, March 13th from 10-1 pm

Saturday March 13 from 10-1pm.
Photo Alteration
with Lori Barker.

This class introduces students to altering photographs through experimentation. Instruction focuses on exploring techniques using household products, crayons, inks, and tools. Workshop time is spent discovering ways to 'destroy' photos and then bring them back to life through the student's imagination.

After stamping, rubbing and coloring the images, students create completed artwork (time permitting).

Fee: $50

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Young Artists 2010: Friday, February 26, 6:00 pm


Work by more than two dozen young artists appears in Young Artists 2010

Come join the fun at the exhibit's opening reception,
Friday, February 26, 6-9 pm at Pia Sjölin Design

A festive reception on Friday, February 26, from 6 to 9 pm celebrates 29 young artists whose work appears in the juried exhibit titled Young Artists 2010, at Pia Sjölin Design, in the Shoppes at Farmington Valley, on route 44 in Canton, Connecticut. The exhibit continues through Sunday, March 28, seven days a week.

See the entire list of participating artists below.

Work in the show include paintings; drawings, photography and other works on paper; blown glass; jewelry; and installations. The works range from polished works in glass and technically meticulous photographs and drawings to loosely worked acrylics and paintings that refer to graffiti and comic-book imagery. One installation artist makes playful use of text combined with everyday objects, such as ordinary office supplies. Look for images of some works to appear on Pia's blog in the coming weeks.

All artists showing work in the exhibit are 25 or younger. Most are in their 20s, many in their teens, and a couple still of grade-school age. Student artists attend classes at Simsbury and Canton high schools, the University of Hartford art school, and Tunxis Community College, among other schools. Other artists graduated from Franklin Pierce University, Boston University, and Sarah Lawrence College.

At the reception, participating artist Mike Detelj will read his spoken-word work, "Acts of Love." A combo of young jazz musicians will also perform: Brad Parlimen (drums), Jackson Fitzgerald (guitar), Zack Wiles (bass), and Tom Kelley (sax)

In conjunction with the exhibit, the gallery will host a talk and discussion on Art & Youth on the evening of Wednesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm, including some of the participating artists.

All works in the exhibit are offered for sale, which is not often true of exhibits of student work. Gallery founder Pia Sjölin, a working artist herself, believes that part of supporting young artists is encouraging them to take their first steps toward becoming self-sustaining artists. "I remember that when I was starting out it was so hard to get anything into a show where people could see it and react to it. I want to do for the young artists what I want to do for all artists: just give them a show, and that encourages them to produce more work," she said.

The Young Artists 2010 at Pia Sjölin Design exhibit coincides with other exhibits in the Hartford area that showcase the work of young artists who are still in school:

* Farmington Public Schools K-12 Student Select Art Exhibit, through February 26, in the community room at the Farmington Public Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington.
* Next, the Emerging Talent Show, through March 14, features works by high-school seniors from 11 schools in the region. At Gallery on the Green, Route 44 at Dowd Avenue, Canton.
* There's also a student show coming up in Harwinton, we've heard, but we haven't yet received details about it; stay tuned.


Young Artists 2010 Participating Artists:

Group 1: Ages 16 to 25
Bethany Altschwager
Dan Army
Joe Bun Keo
Ross A. Delano
Mike Detelj
Rob Engvall
Andrés Felix, Jr.
Jordan Ford
Sarah Galpin
Chris J. Giordano
Daniella Henry
Ashley Hunt
Ethan Lavendier
Sam Lavendier
Gavin Louis
Andrew Mailhot
Elissa Maillet
Madelin McPhee
Daren Orr
Laura Perrotta
Julia C. Perrotta
Marisabel Santiago
Taylor Schroeder
Brad Smith
Jeremy J. Starn
Amelia Whitney

Group 2: Under 16 years old

Noah O’Leary
Andy Thibodeau

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mad Agnes: February 20, 7-10 pm

Mad Agnes is not one person, but three, and they're mad in only the most inventive way. Margo Hennebach, Adrienne Jones and Mark Saunders stir up elements of classical and folk, cross singer/songwriter poignancy with street-theatre smarts and infuse it all with courageous harmonies, complex counterpoint and rich storytelling in a powerful live performance. Their lyrics are intelligent, their delivery warm, and insightful. Not surprisingly, each has arrived at the trio from a long list of solo accomplishments.

The music of classically trained Hennebach has been described as “contemporary and timeless” by the Star Gazette, and “captivating” by Sing Out Magazine. A finalist in songwriting competitions, including Kerrville and Napa Valley, Margo has a BM in Piano from Oberlin Conservatory and a masters degree in Music Therapy from the Guildhall School of Music in London, and is Feldenkrais Practitioner. Jones is a self-taught fingerstyle & rhythm guitarist and bassist, a finalist in four national songwriting competitions, a member of Actors Equity Association, and a Reiki Practitioner. Of her CD release, Talking River, Dirty Linen magazine praised her “expressive ability to wrap meaning around a lyric with the simple rise or fall of a note.” Mad Agnes also features Hartford Conservatory graduate Saunders on vocals, acoustic, electric, National steel and bass guitars. His guitar work recalls the inventiveness of Richard Thompson, while providing "understated ballast with his voice and lead guitar--his delicate arpeggio picking...and fiery fills and runs,” says Acoustic Guitar magazine.



Date:
Saturday, February 20, 2010

Time:
7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location:
Pia Sjölin Design 110 Albany Turnpike Canton CT

Suggested Donation:
$10

Links:
Mad Agnes
Dana Pomfret