Vibrant Old Greenwich Art Show Celebrates 65th Year

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Art Show Artist
Member of the Art Society of Old Greenwich, Artist Ben Bonart, stands with his vivid paintings at Saturday’s Art Show and Sale.

 

By Chéye Roberson
Sentinel Correspondent

 

Fitting in with the quaint atmosphere of Old Greenwich was the tranquil celebration of art as residents and families strolled along Sound Beach Avenue last weekend, stopping to get a better look at a striking image or spattering of color during the Art Society of Old Greenwich’s 65th Annual Sidewalk Show and Sale.

One of the eye-grabbing displays was the waltzes of vivid color found in the paintings of artist Ben Bonart, who has been painting for 15 years.

“Call it ‘feel good art,’” said Bonart.

Bonart, who came from working in “the creative side of marketing,” enjoyed taking part in the art show and sale because of the reaction his art inspired.

“It’s a lot of fun to do, and people seem to really smile when they see it. There are vibrant colors, and little girls really love it in particular,” said Bonart. “And we can use a little more of that—bringing smiles into the world.”

Each piece of art, including sculptures, had a tag on it with the artist’s name, the name of the piece, and the asking price. Members of the Art Society of Old Greenwich were asked to submit up to five pieces of artwork. Artists got the chance to interact with patrons and potential patrons; many artists made sales over the course of the show. When an artist made a sale but was not in attendance, volunteer members of art society stationed at an information table were in charge of carrying out the sale and notifying the artist.

“We’re looking for a seascape painting of Tod’s Point. We bought one a couple of years ago, and we’re searching for another,” said Jackie Dowling, who scanned the art displays with her husband, Dave, and two sons, four-year-old Shane and three-year-old Ryan.

Dowling said that her family has an appreciation for artists at the local level, especially since her mother is an artist with the Art Society of Old Greenwich who won a blue ribbon a few years ago (she did not enter this year).

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Dowling family enjoys the works of art at the Art Society of Old Greenwich’s Old Greenwich Art Show and Sale.

This year, however, the art show did not give out awards. The judges used to judge the show by category. Artists were asked to follow certain groupings when they hung their work for display. But the artists would end up hanging their work randomly.

“The judge would come by and judge the work that was put on the rack. It’s difficult for judges to judge by category if the artwork is hung out everywhere,” said Carol Zahn, a board member of the Art Society of Old Greenwich.

This issue, among others, has caused the art society to rethink how shows are judged and organized, especially as it copes with change.

One of the stores on Sound Beach Avenue that used to house the works of art overnight between Saturday and Sunday has new owners. Some artwork was kept at Saint Catherine’s, and one year it was housed at the Eastern Civic Center—but these locations are no longer available for storage. This year the art society had the artists take down their work and set it back up the next day.

Many changes have to do the departure of certain members, who have left gaps to fill.

“Some of our members either retired or passed away. The treasurer retired and moved to Wisconsin. She was terrific,” said an Art Society of Old Greenwich member and volunteer, Ann Hutchason.

But the Art Society of Old Greenwich is looking forward to reshaping and rejuvenating itself in the months to come.

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