You’re invited to the Black History Month Celebration of the Arts at Housatonic Community College! Join us for tours highlighting African American artists, art and poetry by Shanna Tanika Melton, music by Pastor Denny, poetry and dance by Connect Us, and a performance by Rising Starz Dance Studio. The event is free and open to the public; RSVP requested through Eventbrite.
You’re invited to join us for programs related to the exhibitions, The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut and The Bridgeport Portrait Project, on view from Tuesday, January 17 through Friday, February 24, 2023. All in-person events are in the Burt Chernow Galleries; free & open to the public.
Student Docent Tours | Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30pm starting on Tuesday, January 24
Guest Lecture | Thursday, February 9 from 12:30-1:30pm
Slums in the Sky: How Photography Killed Mass Social Housing
In 1972, a failing public housing complex in St. Louis called the Pruitt-Igoe was dynamited, marking the beginning of the end of the utopian project of living better together. Yet the kinds of photography that helped indict projects like the Pruitt-Igoe pictured consequences, not causes of failure, thus discrediting public housing before it could be more fairly evaluated.
This lecture will consider the ways in which photography has shaped discourses of home and community in the postwar world, imagining also the ways in which images might revive affordable housing projects in future.
Sarah Churchill, PhD Candidate at Drew University and Adjunct Instructor of Art History at Housatonic Community College
Workshop | Wednesday, February 15 from 5-7pm
The Intersections of Food Sovereignty & Social Justice
Join us for a Social Justice Workshop focusing on community food security in Bridgeport. Find out how you can get involved locally, learn about the history of Black leaders in the food justice movement and get creative with an interactive zine making session!
Dune Bryant (they/them) & Buggz Majewski (they/them), Green Village Initiative
Virtual Program | Thursday, February 16 from 7-8pm
Exhibition Discussion, The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut
Presented in partnership with Public Humanities at Yale and the Regional Plan Association
Join us for a conversation with Elihu Rubin and Melissa Kaplan-Macey on the current exhibition, The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut. This site-specific immersion examines how justice, equality and power appear in our built environment – our cities and neighborhoods, the places we call home. Register here: http://bit.ly/3XvnVsa
Melissa Kaplan-Macey, Vice President, State Programs & Connecticut Director at the Regional Plan Association
Elihu Rubin, Associate Professor of Urbanism at the Yale School of Architecture with a secondary appointment in American Studies
The Housatonic Museum of Art presents HBO’s three-part documentary, OBAMA: IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION.
The documentary, produced by Kunhardt Films, chronicles the personal and political journey of President Barack Obama, as the country grapples with its racial history. Weaving together conversations with colleagues, friends, and critics, and interspersed with his own speeches and news interviews, the series begins with Obama’s childhood and takes us through his perspective as the son of a white mother from Kansas and an African father, his spiritual formation by a generation of Black leaders, and his hopes for a more inclusive America. Through the story of one man irrevocably bound to the history of a country, OBAMA: IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION reflects on the country’s past and present national identity.
The documentary screenings are available at:
- PART I: 7:00pm, Friday, February 18
- PART II 7:00pm, Friday, February 25
- PART III: 7:00pm, Friday, March 4
Additional Resources
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Building Communication and Connection
Housatonic Museum of Art Invite You To Attend
Drip-Drop, Tick-Tock, Here + Now
Sculpture and Paintings by Joseph Fucigna
Closing Reception
Wednesday, December 8 from 5:30 until 7pm
Housatonic Museum of Art Invite You To Attend
Big Bash 2021
With a Spectacular Turn of Events
Lost Man Blues: Jon Schueler/Art and War
Jongil Ma: Be There When You Return
Of Woman Born: Group Show
Eric Chiang: Are We Born Connected?
With live music featuring
The Joe Mennonna Trio
Featuring music from the 1930’s thru 1950’s.
Thursday, September 2 from 5:30 until 7pm
The American Baroque Orchestra Presents
Little Liberia!
Music from their Front Porch
Streaming on social media started Saturday, November 7th!
Video Recording at the Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA), Bridgeport, Connecticut
In collaboration with the HMA's Little Liberia exhibit
Mark Bailey, artistic director, Kevin Sherwin, assoc. artistic director, Edson Scheid, concertmaster
The American Baroque Orchestra performs "Little Liberia: Music from their Front Porch," a program that brings together the history of Bridgeport's Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses with music of the 17th through 19th centuries, highlighting overlooked composers of African descent. The program is in partnership with the Housantonic Museum of Art, and their Little Liberia exhibit.
Little Liberia was a neighborhood in Bridgeport, Connecticut, settled in the early 19th century, comprising freed blacks, runaway enslaved persons from southern states, and individuals from Native American tribes in Connecticut. On the front porch of the houses that made up Little Liberia, community members discussed local politics, religion, and the latest developments in the town. The town became renowned in its time as a safe haven, projecting a global vision of equality in the 19th century and onward.
This program of online performances imagines the intersection between the free black community that built Bridgeport's Little Liberia in the early 19th century, and composers of African descent from America and abroad. The concert will include music and melodies from the historic Little Liberia community, as well as composers including Joseph Bologne (1745-1799), José Mauricio Nunes Garcia (1767-1830), Rafael Antonio Castellanos (1725-1791) and Ignatius Sancho (1729-1780), who was also the first person of African heritage to vote in a British election.
The Biggest Little Farm
FREE screening will take place online on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd - 24th
Celebrate Earth Day this year with an award-winning film: The Biggest Little Farm. With breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, the film provides a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet. Presented by Housatonic Museum of Art, the FREE screening will take place online on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd - 24th.
The Biggest Little Farm chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chesters unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.
“This poignant nature documentary follows the Chesters’ journey to return to the land and run an organic, biodynamic farm. As viewers, we get a front row seat to the ups and downs of agricultural life and a new appreciation for the ecosystems that farms establish,” said Robbin Zella, Director, Housatonic Museum of Art.
The film is part of a virtual Earth Day Celebration presented by Housatonic Community College. A special thanks to Connecticut Film Festival for organizing this screening, and to Pitney Bowes, Avangrid, and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company for their support of Housatonic Community College’s STEAM programs and Earth Day presentation.
STEAMfest Movies
Lost & Found - Short Film Animation
Lost & Found is a stop motion short film that tugs at the heartstrings. A clumsy crochet dinosaur must unravel itself to save the love of its life.
7mins / Australia / 2018
The dialogue-free film, which follows a knitted dinosaur who must unravel himself to save the love of his life, was written by Slabe and produced by Lucy J. Hayes.
The film has screened at a number of festivals around the world including Berlinale, where it made its premiere, as well as locally at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and CinefestOz.
In Australia, Lost & Found has already won a number of significant awards, including the AACTA Award for Best Animated Short; Short Film Production of the Year at the Screen Producers Australia Awards; and Best Animation and the Major Award at the AWGIE Awards. Internationally, the film is also currently in contention for the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject.
Directors: Bradley Slabe, Andrew Goldsmith
Screenplay: Bradley Slabe
Producer: Lucy Hayes
Awards: AACTA Award for Best Short Animation, Screen Producers Australia Awards for Short Film Production of the Year
Cast: Maria Angelico, Marc Gallagher
Two Balloons
Two adventurous lemurs navigate their dirigibles halfway around the world to a place where happenstance and fate threaten to disrupt their reunion.
Director: Mark C. Smith is a filmmaker from Portland, Oregon. He has produced the films North, Denmark and A House, A Home. As a cinematographer Mark spent many years filming winter expeditions in North America and South America. He is the co-author of two photography books, Osterlandet and The Powder Road. Two Balloons is Mark’s first animated film.
How to Make Stop Motion Videos
Credit: Science Filmmaking Tips
Stop Motion Animator
Credit: Academy Originals
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Daniel Alderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls), takes viewers behind the scenes to show what he does as a stop motion animator.
Head of Puppetry
Credit: Academy Originals
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Georgina Hayns (Coraline, ParaNorman), takes viewers behind the scenes to show what she does as the head of puppetry.
Top 10 Stop-Motion Animation Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Exceptional Art-Inspired Friday Film Series Opens September 4, Presented by Housatonic Museum of Art, Curated by Connecticut Film Festival
Looking for a good movie? Each Friday, beginning September 4, you can enjoy an exceptional online, art-inspired film series presented by the Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) and curated by Connecticut Film Festival.
From the comfort of your own couch, you can enjoy “Friday Night Flicks,” feature-length films, or a group of short-form films, plus post-film discussion or Q&A with the filmmakers or subjects of the film. All films go online at 7pm from September 4th through November 6th. Visit www.HousatonicMuseum.org for film links. Housatonic Museum of Art presents the Connecticut Film Festival’s series schedule:
September 4: “The Cardboard Bernini,” followed by Q&A with Jimmy Grashow. The film examines the work and life of artist James Grashow as he builds a giant cardboard fountain inspired by the work of the famous baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The film documents the construction of Grashow’s monumental fountain built entirely in cardboard and intended to be placed outside to have the rain and elements wash it away. Produced and directed by Olympia Stone.
September 11: 
“The Collector,” followed by a question and answer session with director Olympia Stone. The Collector explores the 46-year career of Allan Stone, the famed New York City gallery owner and art collector. Producer and director Olympia Stone reveals her father’s compulsive collecting genius while telling the parallel story of his lifelong journey through the art world from the 1950s to 2006.
Meeting number (access code): 120 668 7566
Meeting password: Film091120
September 18: 
Click here to read further.
September 25: 
“Actually Iconic: Richard Estes,” followed by Q&A with director Olympia Stone. Richard Estes is an icon of the photorealist movement yet he has humbly avoided media attention over his long career. “Actually, Iconic: Richard Estes" invites viewers into Estes’ world with unprecedented access to the artist and his masterpieces. Through intimate discussions of his technique and inspirations, and interviews with leading curators and critics this delicate portrait explores Estes’ pioneering genius.
Caption For Photo Left: Photorealist movement artist Richard Estes at work in his studio, a shot from the film “Actually, Iconic: Richard Estes" by director: Olympia Stone.
October 2: 
"Double Take: The Art of Elizabeth King” followed by Q&A with director: Olympia Stone. Enter the world of sculptor and stop-action filmmaker Elizabeth King, who embarks on each new project by posing a single question to herself: “Can this be physically done?” This documentary explores King’s passion about the mind/body riddle, the science of emotion, the human/machine interface, and those things a robot will never be able to do. From studio to exhibition, and in conversations with fellow artists, curators and critics, the film asks what looking at and seeing one another means in an increasingly mediated world.
October 9: “Nothing Changes: Art For Hank’s Sake.” How far would you go to pursue your passion? At 87 years old, Hank Virgona commutes to his Union Square studio six days a week and makes art. Despite poor health, cancer, lack of revenue and obscurity as an artist, Hank is unrelenting in his quest to understand how life and art are the same.
October 23: 
“Curious Worlds: The Art & Imagination of David Beck.” This film pulls back the curtain on artist David Beck: a master sculptor, carver, and miniature architect who works in a fantastical genre all his own, creating intricate worlds that are alive with magical and brilliant observations. His pieces have been shown at the MET, the Guggenheim, and some of the world’s most prominent galleries. His work, "MVSEVM" was commissioned by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where it is on permanent display. To the larger public, though, he is virtually unknown.
Caption For Photo Right: Myopic Sheet Music, a work presented in miniature by master sculptor artist David Beck in the film, “Curious Worlds: The Art & Imagination of David Beck.”
October 30: 
“The Original” followed by Q&A with director and artist, Richard McMahan, and “Little Fiel,” followed by Q&A with director Irina Patkanian. Outsider artist Richard McMahan is on a quest to painstakingly re-create thousands of famous and not-so-famous paintings and artifacts in miniature. From well-loved Picasso and Frida Kahlo paintings to the more obscure, McMahan has mastered dozens of genres over 30 years. “Little Fiel” is a stop motion animation/documentary loosely based on the life story of Mozambican artist Fiel dos Santos who grew up during the 16-year civil war. Fiel created eight figures representing his family from dismantled civil war guns. Three New York artists turned them into puppets and created immersive stop-motion animation, inspired by Fiel’s memories.
November 6: ‘With Dad” followed by Q&A with director & photographer Stephen DiRado and the film, “Summer Spent.” The short nonfiction film “With Dad” documents the work of photographer Stephen DiRado, specifically during the period of his father’s mental decline and eventual death from Alzheimer’s Disease in 2009. The film includes interview footage of DiRado, high-resolution digital scans of DiRado's work and contemporaneous digital video footage. “Summer Spent” is a 40-minute documentary depicting DiRado's obsessive, work discipline and life connected to people on Martha's Vineyard for over 25 years.
“We are pleased to provide online access to these exceptional films that spotlight art and artists,” said Robbin Zella, Director of Housatonic Museum of Art. “Some post-film discussion will be live, offering the audience an opportunity to engage with the creators, and films by Olympia Stone have a special connection to HMA, as we have many remarkable works in our collection that were donated by the Allan Stone Gallery.”
The Connecticut Film Festival’s (CFF) mission is to excite, encourage, and teach, but most of all to connect audiences in ways that truly ignite creativity and imagination. CFF provides screenings statewide to tens of thousands of Connecticut’s citizens and tourists. Hosting films in multiple markets throughout the state creates an opportunity for a greater number of viewers to attend while also providing an excellent opportunity for the independent and international film industry to showcase to a large and diverse audience. CFF and its weekly event, FilmFest52, exhibits entertaining and thought-provoking visual stories with an independent point of view to inspire audiences to create change locally, globally, or in their personal lives./p>
Lachell Workman - The History of Bridgeport Public Housing
March 5, 2020 530 PM
Please join us for a Conversation with Artist Rachel Owens
February 29, 2020 @ 2:00 PM
This event is FREE and Open to the Public
Please join us for an evening of musical improvisation with musician Laura Ortman
February 20, 2020 @ 5:30 PM
Location: the Burt Chernow Galleries.
This event is free and all are welcome!
Laura Ortman (White Mountain Apache) is a Brooklyn, NY composer, musician and artist. She produces solo albums, live performances and film/art soundtracks and frequently collaborates with artists in film, music, art, dance, multi-media, activistism and poetry, such as Tony Conrad, Jock Soto, Raven Chacon, Nanobah Becker, Okkyung Lee, Martin Bisi, Caroline Monnet, Michelle Latimer, Raphaele Shirley and Martha Colburn. Ortman’s notable performances include venues at the The National Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Modern Art, The Kitchen, MoMA P.S. 1, Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal, SF MoMA, CBGB’s, St. Marks Church, Dia Art Foundation, amongst countless other established and DIY venues in the US, Canada and Western Europe. In 2008 she founded the Coast Orchestra, an all-Native American orchestral ensemble, and in 2019 she participated in the Whiney Biennial.
December 4th Artist Talk With Joseph Saccio at HMA
Over the course of thirty years, this artist has created large-scale sculptures that draw on classical mythology and religious narrative to create primal, emotional and fantastical works of art that explore loss, grief, and resilience.
Using wood, natural materials and found objects, the ambitious career survey exhibition features to reflect this New Haven-based artist’s feelings about loss and rebirth. While the artwork is frequently dark and pensive, the mood is often lightened by humor through the placement of brightly colored materials.
“Saccio’s work reminds of the natural cycle of life tempered with humor and surprise; utilizing the power of myth and religious narrative he brings us through the dark and into the light,” said Robbin Zella, Director of the Housatonic Museum of Art. “Time spent in the galleries with him will allow you to contemplate your own experiences with sorrow and resilience.”
Saccio’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibits throughout Connecticut, including Mercy Gallery, Silvermine Art Center, Parachute Factory, Erector Square Gallery, Choate Mellon Art Center, Jon Slade Ely House, Bruce S. Kershner Gallery, and Gallery of the Institute Library.
The Housatonic Museum of Art is located in Lafayette Hall on the Housatonic Community College campus, located at 900 Lafayette Blvd in Bridgeport, CT. The exhibition will be on view through Saturday, December 14, 2019.
The Housatonic Museum of Art would like to thank sponsors The Werth Family Foundation and Elizabeth Fray with additional support from The Housatonic Community College Foundation and Housatonic Community College.
This exhibition has been organized by the Housatonic Museum of Art and includes an exhibition catalog with a critical essay by Barbara O'Brien, Independent Curator and Critic.
The Housatonic Museum of Art is home to one of the premier college art collections in the United States. The museum’s collection offers the opportunity to view works that span the history of art from the ancient to the contemporary, and is on continuous display throughout the 300,000 square foot facility. Visit www.HousatonicMuseum.org to learn more.
Mock Public Art Project
Call for Artists
Deadline: December 16, 2019
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Winning design receives $500.00
This project will exist as a model or blueprint ONLY and will be on display in the Museum Atrium in conjunction with the exhibit by sculptor Rachel Owens.
Project Details:
Rachel Owens is inviting area artists to design a new work of art for Bridgeport’s Seaside Park to commemorate the history of Little Liberia, a historic community located in the South end of Bridgeport. This neighborhood was settled by free people of color and was called “home” by its most famous residents, Mary and Eliza Freeman. Artists and Designers are invited to submit their proposals which can address topics such as gender or racial inequities, the environment or the inclusion of new monuments or memorials that address erasure from the historical record or conversely, long-overdue recognition for the “anonymous.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_and_Eliza_Freeman_Houses
Due: Monday, December 16 by 11:59 pm
Proposal should be delivered as a PDF no larger than 25 MB to
Please include:
- Contact Information: Name, email, website, phone number
- Artist’s Statement, no more than 500 words -this should describe your past practice and how it relates to this project
- Project Description, no more than 500 words
- Up to 3 images describing proposed project and site -include: size, materials, any other pertinent information
- 10 images of previous work
- How will you utilize the case: Model/ video/ drawings etc.
Winner will be informed by January 10 of the panelists decision and will have until February 2 to complete the contents of their Chernow Gallery Case (Case size is: 36” WIDE x 36” DEEP x 14” HIGH)
The Prospect: A Public Art Proposal
Click to enlarge
In conjunction with Rachel Owens’ upcoming exhibition at the Housatonic Museum of Art, will be hosting a mock competition for a prospective new artwork in Bridgeport’s Seaside Park. Owens’ exhibition weaves together the story of the Mary and Eliza Freeman houses, the natural landscape of the coastal area, and PT Barnum’s legendary exhibits.
In accordance with Owens’ exhibition themes which address the natural, architectural, cultural, historical, social/political and environmental context of the site, the proposal may focus on women’s rights, the history of Little Liberia, sea level rise and resiliency as well as other social and political issues that affect this diverse community.
A one-day workshop will be held on Thursday, October 3 from 7-9 PM in Room 109, Lafayette Hall. In the workshop, we will discuss a brief history of Public Art, the monuments that are currently located in Bridgeport, and how to develop a proposal. All Bridgeport area artists and designers are invited to apply.
The winner of the competition will receive $500 to further develop the proposal, build a small model of the proposed sculpture and have the prospective artwork featured in a case near the Burt Chernow Galleries during the run of Owens’ exhibition. Female identifying and artists of color are encouraged to apply.
Art Activist and Founder of The Spoon Movement to Speak at Housatonic Community College
By Laura Roberts
On Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., global game-changer Fernando Luis Alvarez, and founder of The Spoon Movement, will present, “Demanding Accountability Through Art Activism, Passion and Fearlessness,” in Housatonic Community College’s Beacon Hall, Room BH-214. The free lecture is open to HCC and Gateway Community College students, the public and the media.
Alvarez, who is the producer of the widely-acclaimed Opioid: Express Yourself! art show and director of Alvarez Gallery, will share his risk-taking art activism strategy behind the guerrilla installations that continue igniting global awareness of the opioid epidemic while demanding accountability by the architects of this crisis.
“I am honored and excited to share my art activism, specifically, The Spoon Movement with attendees. The hundreds of thousands of victims of the opioid epidemic and their families deserve to be heard and those involved in creating and exacerbating this crisis brought to justice beyond civil suits,” says Alvarez.
Those interested in attending the free lecture can RSVP on The Spoon Movement’s Facebook event page. To learn more about The Spoon Movement, please log on to thespoonmovement.com.
A Westport Historical Society & Freeman Center fundraiser for The Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community (A 501 c 3 nonprofit)
A generous donor will match all donations!
A Night of Theatre at the Bijou
A Benefit for the Historic Mary & Eliza Freeman Houses and Center
Thursday, May 30th, 7:30 pm
A JOURNEY
Musical One-Woman Show Written & Performed by Kimberly Wilson
Bridgeport’s Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community and the Westport Historical Society partner once again to present a benefit presentation of “A JOURNEY: Musical One-Woman Show” – to support the Freeman Center’s restoration of the historically significant Mary & Eliza houses and its programs. All proceeds will be matched by a generous donor, so please come and bring your friends.
Theatre seating is $20. Table seating (for 2,3, and 4) is $30 per person. Patron Tickets are $65.00 per person, and include a pre-theatre reception catered by Trattoria ‘A Vuccella (cash bar) from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Donors may select theatre seats or table seating.
“A JOURNEY: Musical One-Woman Show” is an intricate look at the Black experience told through the eyes of the Black woman and performed by one woman, professional actress and singer Kimberly Wilson. Westport resident, Ms. Wilson skillfully tells of the struggles and influence of Black womanhood with strength, dignity and pride and in perfect lockstep with the history of the United States. The Show brings to life 8 historical African-American women, including Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, African Queen, a Slave girl and introducing - Bridgeport’s own Mary Freeman (1815-1883), whose historic 1848 home still bears witness to the storied, free, Black and Paugussett settlement - Little Liberia (circa 1822).
For Tickets & Information: Call the Mary & Eliza Freeman Center (203) 612-7769 or visit our website www.freemancenterbpt.com
Housatonic Museum of Art will host a project launch and brainstorming session for sculptor Rachel Owens project, Life on the Other Side of the Cracked Glass Ceiling-Bridgeport |
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR A BRAINSTORMING SESSION
Housatonic Museum of Art will host a project launch and brainstorming session for sculptor Rachel Owens project, Life on the Other Side of the Cracked Glass Ceiling-Bridgeport Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 11am to 1pm Students and the Community will gather to brainstorm the ways in which this project can work to engage Bridgeport in meaningful conversation in order to create a public program together. Centering on the Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses, a series of sculptures incorporating glass casts of the front porch of Mary's house will be activated through public discussions and performances developed by, and pertinent to, Bridgeport's diverse neighborhoods. The Freeman Houses are the oldest standing structures owned and built by people of color in Connecticut, and even more importantly, by unmarried women at a time when women were not allowed to own property. These buildings are all that remain of the radical, multi-ethnic community, Little Liberia, a place that was founded as a model of equity. This project seeks to revive that model. |
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Night At The Museum: Bringing Art To Life |
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THE collection at Housatonic Museum of Art will set the scene for a sophisticated and challenging scavenger hunt in the stunning and newly designed Housatonic Community College. Using your wits and keen tracking skills, pit yourself against other players for a unique and professionally crafted scavenger hunt. WHILE hunting, enjoy decadent desserts and smart cocktails at our Sips and Sweets Faire with fun activities, live music and a fabulous silent auction. Join in the excitement as the Housatonic Museum of Art brings the ART to LIFE in this thrilling scavenger hunt and fundraising event. October 25, 2018 from 7PM to 10PM. |
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Jon Schueler, Lost Man Blues |
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November 1st, 2018 |
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June Ahrens, How Many Tears Are Enough |
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January 31st, 2019 |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi on March 23, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. This event is free and the public is welcome to attend. |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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Human Rights Panel Discussion: OUT of the SHADOWS |
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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (January 18, 2018) On Thursday, February 8th the Housatonic Museum of Art will present the program, Human Rights Panel Discussion: Out of the Shadows, offering a powerhouse collection of experts on urgent human rights issues. Moderated by Fatima Sabri, a young Afghan leader for women’s equality, the panel includes experts and advocates for social justice, LGBTQ equality, breaking the cycle of domestic violence and the rights of women and children. These noted panelists have dedicated themselves to bringing global awareness to the suffering and the injustice of sex trafficking, the practice of female genital mutilation, and children forced to serve as soldiers. The panel includes Brian K. Sibley, S. Bear Bergman, Hans Neleman, Debra A. Greenwood, Ann Weiner and Congressman Jim Himes. The discussion takes place at 2pm in the Events Center in Beacon Hall at the Housatonic Community College, located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport. For additional details visit: www.HoustatonicMuseum.org or contact executive director Robbin Zella at (203) 332-5052. |
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PIRATES: Fact & Fiction |
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John R. Wright, historian and illustrator, will discuss how literature and film have framed our image of pirates in popular culture. The talk will explore the facts, myths and Golden Age romance of pirates.
Thursday, November 16 @ 6:30 pm in the Burt Chernow Galleries
Mr. Wright is a graduate of Parsons School of Design/The New School. After working for several years as an illustrator and art editor for various publications, he turned his attention towards history. He was Director of the Miller House in White Plains, New York and Education Coordinator at Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx. He is currently the Director at the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum in New Rochelle, New York. |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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Who hasn’t dreamed of unearthing buried treasure? Lost gold mines of the Old West might be far-removed and sunken ships difficult to reach… but according to legend and the historical record, vast riches might be secreted in Connecticut’s own Gold Coast: Fairfield County. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, author Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport’s mysterious lost caches. Tuesday, Oct 3 at 7PM in Beacon Hall Room 145 Michael J. Bielawa is an award winning author and poet. For years Mike has been fascinated with New England legends and folklore. He has journeyed throughout the Northeast researching the subject. During his travels Michael has visited New England ghost towns, uncovered secret rooms, searched for pirate treasure and, not too long ago, reported a UFO over Woodbury, Connecticut. Bielawa’s supernatural work has appeared in FATE Magazine, The Dead of Night, Hermes’ Crossing, and in London’s Fortean Times. His book, Wicked Bridgeport (published by The History Press) won the first annual New England Paranormal Literary Award in 2012. Another of Bielawa’s examinations concerning weird coastal Connecticut, entitled Wicked New Haven, documents the Elm City’s paranormal heritage, and has received excellent reviews. Bielawa celebrated New Haven's famous 17th century "Phantom Ship” when he produced and directed the 4-story-tall illuminated art installation, “The Persistence of Legend.” You may have seen him on WTNH, Channel 8’s, Connecticut Style and Good Morning Connecticut or heard him on any number of radio programs, including NPR, WABC-AM, WPLR, and WICC. In addition, Mike has served as special consultant to The Fairfield Museum and History Center and as guest curator for The Barnum Museum. He has lectured about American hero Jackie Robinson for the NEA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moderated discussions throughout Connecticut for the Connecticut Humanities Council. One of his favorite presentations honors Kate Hepburn’s summers in Stratford. He is honored to appear throughout Connecticut in order to share and preserve New England legends and folklore. |
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Join us for a murder-mystery cocktail party and fundraiser. |
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Check out the photos from the show! We would like to thank our sponsors:
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport with author Michael Bielawa
On Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm, Bielawa will deliver a fascinating lecture entitled, “Pirates, Buccaneers and Mooncussers of the Connecticut Coast.” While the Connecticut shore might seem far removed from the palm trees and turquoise bays associated with buccaneers, in reality, Long Island Sound was a hive of 17th and 18th century pirate villainy. Join author Michael Bielawa for a fascinating examination of some of history's most infamous freebooters who visited and may have buried treasure right here in Connecticut. In his lecture “True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport” Bielawa will astonish the audience with tales of the shocking criminal underbelly of Connecticut’s largest city. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport's mysterious lost caches! The lecture will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7pm. Both lectures will take place in BEACON HALL, RM 145, located on the campus of Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT.
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Award-winning author and historian Michael Bielawa, an authority on New England legends and folklore, will deliver two lectures at the Housatonic Museum of Art in connection with its newest pirate-inspired exhibition, Scrolls.
Housatonic Museum of Art Gallery Talk with Curator of Body & Soul Exhibition |
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The public is invited to a gallery talk with Ben Ortiz, curator of the Housatonic Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, Body & Soul
Attendees will engage directly with the works of art and Ortiz will discuss his passion for collecting art and tell stories behind each work. The talk takes place at the museum located at HCC, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, on Thursday, October 20 at 5:00 pm. There is no charge for attendance.
The Body & Soul exhibition is a collection of prints, paintings, photographs and sculpture with an emphasis on works by Latin American art. Local, regional and national artists are also represented in this compilation of 50 works of figurative art representing diverse art periods, art movements, mediums and techniques. The collection was donated to the museum by Mr. Ortiz and Victor P. Torchia in honor of Mr. Ortiz’s brother, John Eloy Ortiz (1966-2008), who would have celebrated his 50th birthday this year. The exhibition remains open through October 23, 2016.
Mr. Ortiz attended Housatonic Community College, and previously held the position as Curator at the Housatonic Museum of Art. During his tenure he recognized the rapid growth of the Hispanic population in Bridgeport and celebrated their contributions to the arts. His lifelong passion for collecting art began at age 12, when he was drawn to purchase an etching on paper at a Bridgeport tag sale for 50 cents. The work turned out to be created by Edith Nankivell (1896-1962), an American etcher and painter who exhibited in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Boston during the 1930s and 1940s, and the piece will be included in the exhibition. |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi on March 23, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. This event is free and the public is welcome to attend. |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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PIRATES: Fact & Fiction |
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John R. Wright, historian and illustrator, will discuss how literature and film have framed our image of pirates in popular culture. The talk will explore the facts, myths and Golden Age romance of pirates.
Thursday, November 16 @ 6:30 pm in the Burt Chernow Galleries
Mr. Wright is a graduate of Parsons School of Design/The New School. After working for several years as an illustrator and art editor for various publications, he turned his attention towards history. He was Director of the Miller House in White Plains, New York and Education Coordinator at Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx. He is currently the Director at the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum in New Rochelle, New York. |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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Who hasn’t dreamed of unearthing buried treasure? Lost gold mines of the Old West might be far-removed and sunken ships difficult to reach… but according to legend and the historical record, vast riches might be secreted in Connecticut’s own Gold Coast: Fairfield County. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, author Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport’s mysterious lost caches. Tuesday, Oct 3 at 7PM in Beacon Hall Room 145 Michael J. Bielawa is an award winning author and poet. For years Mike has been fascinated with New England legends and folklore. He has journeyed throughout the Northeast researching the subject. During his travels Michael has visited New England ghost towns, uncovered secret rooms, searched for pirate treasure and, not too long ago, reported a UFO over Woodbury, Connecticut. Bielawa’s supernatural work has appeared in FATE Magazine, The Dead of Night, Hermes’ Crossing, and in London’s Fortean Times. His book, Wicked Bridgeport (published by The History Press) won the first annual New England Paranormal Literary Award in 2012. Another of Bielawa’s examinations concerning weird coastal Connecticut, entitled Wicked New Haven, documents the Elm City’s paranormal heritage, and has received excellent reviews. Bielawa celebrated New Haven's famous 17th century "Phantom Ship” when he produced and directed the 4-story-tall illuminated art installation, “The Persistence of Legend.” You may have seen him on WTNH, Channel 8’s, Connecticut Style and Good Morning Connecticut or heard him on any number of radio programs, including NPR, WABC-AM, WPLR, and WICC. In addition, Mike has served as special consultant to The Fairfield Museum and History Center and as guest curator for The Barnum Museum. He has lectured about American hero Jackie Robinson for the NEA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moderated discussions throughout Connecticut for the Connecticut Humanities Council. One of his favorite presentations honors Kate Hepburn’s summers in Stratford. He is honored to appear throughout Connecticut in order to share and preserve New England legends and folklore. |
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| Join us for a murder-mystery cocktail party and fundraiser. | |
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Check out the photos from the show! We would like to thank our sponsors:
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| True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport | |
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On Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm, Bielawa will deliver a fascinating lecture entitled, “Pirates, Buccaneers and Mooncussers of the Connecticut Coast.” While the Connecticut shore might seem far removed from the palm trees and turquoise bays associated with buccaneers, in reality, Long Island Sound was a hive of 17th and 18th century pirate villainy. Join author Michael Bielawa for a fascinating examination of some of history's most infamous freebooters who visited and may have buried treasure right here in Connecticut. In his lecture “True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport” Bielawa will astonish the audience with tales of the shocking criminal underbelly of Connecticut’s largest city. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport's mysterious lost caches! The lecture will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7pm. Both lectures will take place in BEACON HALL, RM 145, located on the campus of Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT. |
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| In His Words | |
In His Words |
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Women Discuss Successful Careers at Housatonic Community College |
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Three successful women will discuss their career journeys and commitment to the community on Thursday, April 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the HCC Burt Chernow Gallery at LaFayette Hall.
The Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard is Pastor of the Bethel AME Church and is a social activist.
Mary-Jane Foster, J.D., is provost of University Relations at the University of Bridgeport and was former Mayoral Candidate for the City of Bridgeport, and the former owner of the Bridgeport Blue Fish baseball team.
Dr. Estela Lopez is the interim Provost for the Connecticut State University and Community College system. Dr. Lopez is a recognized leader in higher education.
The panel is presented by the HCC Women’s Center. Dr. Linda Wolfson, Director of the Women’s Center says, “We want to keep inspiring our students to follow their dreams and ambitions. There is no better way than to see and hear from strong women who have achieved their goals.” The public is invited at no charge. Photo from left to right: Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard, Dr. Estela Lopez and Mary-Jane Foster. |
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| In His Words | |
In His Words |
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Housatonic Museum of Art presents Harry Moritz: Medium Cool |
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Harry Moritz will offer a talk about his work to be held in the Events Center in Beacon Hall on the campus of Housatonic Community College on Wednesday, March 16th at 5:30pm. This event is free and the public is cordially invited to attend |
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| In His Words | |
In His Words |
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Finding Brass Valley: A Place in Time that Almost Vanished |
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This is the story of the people and communities that built the Brass Valley
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The Housatonic Museum of Art’s PEER DOCENTS |
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PEER DOCENTSFall 2015 Tour Dates and Times: Monday, November 30, Tours, at 9, 10, and 12 Friday, December 4, Tours, at 9, 10 and 12
Please come to learn about the Program and about Bridgeport architecture!!!
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Tea Talk |
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Shiva: God of Many Faces |
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Tea Talk - Thinkers • Educators • Artists
Shiva: God of Many Faces|
Live from the POEMobile: Bridgeport Arts Fest! (more info) |
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| Draw ON! At Housatonic Community College | |
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The Art Department of Housatonic Community College in collaboration with the Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) is participating in Draw On! a five day art event March 23 - 27, 2015 |
| The Women Gather ~A Celebration of Women Poets | |
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| Paula Scher@HMA (more info...) | |
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Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 11:00amPaula Scher began her design career as a record cover art director at Atlantic Records and CBS Records in the 1970's and 1980's. |
| In His Words (more info...) | |
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Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 8:00pmFeaturing Chief, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Face, Kayo, Abiodun Oyewole of The Legendary Last Poets |
| POEMobile (more info...) | |
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Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 8:30pmBridgeport’s best and brightest poets will perform along with their verses written large on the façade on the McLevy Building at State and Broad Streets. |
| The Women Gather (more info...) | |
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Thursday, March 27th, 2014
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| Transcending Continents (more info...) | |
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February 27th, 2014 from
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| In His Words (more info...) | |
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December 5th, 2013 from
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DANCE for Every BODY (more info...) |
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013>A movement jam/dance workshop led by
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| POEMobile (more info...) | |
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Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:30pmLed by poetry ambassador Shanna T. Melton, Bridgeport’s best and brightest poets will perform along with their verses written large on the façade on the McLevy Building at State and Broad Streets. |
| Aeolian Ride 2009 (more info...) | |
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AEOLIAN RIDE Bridgeport, CT:
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You’re invited to the Black History Month Celebration of the Arts at Housatonic Community College! Join us for tours highlighting African American artists, art and poetry by Shanna Tanika Melton, music by Pastor Denny, poetry and dance by Connect Us, and a performance by Rising Starz Dance Studio. The event is free and open to the public; RSVP requested through Eventbrite.
You’re invited to join us for programs related to the exhibitions, The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut and The Bridgeport Portrait Project, on view from Tuesday, January 17 through Friday, February 24, 2023. All in-person events are in the Burt Chernow Galleries; free & open to the public.
Student Docent Tours | Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30pm starting on Tuesday, January 24
Guest Lecture | Thursday, February 9 from 12:30-1:30pm
Slums in the Sky: How Photography Killed Mass Social Housing
In 1972, a failing public housing complex in St. Louis called the Pruitt-Igoe was dynamited, marking the beginning of the end of the utopian project of living better together. Yet the kinds of photography that helped indict projects like the Pruitt-Igoe pictured consequences, not causes of failure, thus discrediting public housing before it could be more fairly evaluated.
This lecture will consider the ways in which photography has shaped discourses of home and community in the postwar world, imagining also the ways in which images might revive affordable housing projects in future.
Sarah Churchill, PhD Candidate at Drew University and Adjunct Instructor of Art History at Housatonic Community College
Workshop | Wednesday, February 15 from 5-7pm
The Intersections of Food Sovereignty & Social Justice
Join us for a Social Justice Workshop focusing on community food security in Bridgeport. Find out how you can get involved locally, learn about the history of Black leaders in the food justice movement and get creative with an interactive zine making session!
Dune Bryant (they/them) & Buggz Majewski (they/them), Green Village Initiative
Virtual Program | Thursday, February 16 from 7-8pm
Exhibition Discussion, The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut
Presented in partnership with Public Humanities at Yale and the Regional Plan Association
Join us for a conversation with Elihu Rubin and Melissa Kaplan-Macey on the current exhibition, The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut. This site-specific immersion examines how justice, equality and power appear in our built environment – our cities and neighborhoods, the places we call home. Register here: http://bit.ly/3XvnVsa
Melissa Kaplan-Macey, Vice President, State Programs & Connecticut Director at the Regional Plan Association
Elihu Rubin, Associate Professor of Urbanism at the Yale School of Architecture with a secondary appointment in American Studies
The Housatonic Museum of Art presents HBO’s three-part documentary, OBAMA: IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION.
The documentary, produced by Kunhardt Films, chronicles the personal and political journey of President Barack Obama, as the country grapples with its racial history. Weaving together conversations with colleagues, friends, and critics, and interspersed with his own speeches and news interviews, the series begins with Obama’s childhood and takes us through his perspective as the son of a white mother from Kansas and an African father, his spiritual formation by a generation of Black leaders, and his hopes for a more inclusive America. Through the story of one man irrevocably bound to the history of a country, OBAMA: IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION reflects on the country’s past and present national identity.
The documentary screenings are available at:
- PART I: 7:00pm, Friday, February 18
- PART II 7:00pm, Friday, February 25
- PART III: 7:00pm, Friday, March 4
Additional Resources
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Building Communication and Connection
Housatonic Museum of Art Invite You To Attend
Drip-Drop, Tick-Tock, Here + Now
Sculpture and Paintings by Joseph Fucigna
Closing Reception
Wednesday, December 8 from 5:30 until 7pm
Art Activist and Founder of The Spoon Movement to Speak at Housatonic Community College
By Laura Roberts
On Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., global game-changer Fernando Luis Alvarez, and founder of The Spoon Movement, will present, “Demanding Accountability Through Art Activism, Passion and Fearlessness,” in Housatonic Community College’s Beacon Hall, Room BH-214. The free lecture is open to HCC and Gateway Community College students, the public and the media.
Alvarez, who is the producer of the widely-acclaimed Opioid: Express Yourself! art show and director of Alvarez Gallery, will share his risk-taking art activism strategy behind the guerrilla installations that continue igniting global awareness of the opioid epidemic while demanding accountability by the architects of this crisis.
“I am honored and excited to share my art activism, specifically, The Spoon Movement with attendees. The hundreds of thousands of victims of the opioid epidemic and their families deserve to be heard and those involved in creating and exacerbating this crisis brought to justice beyond civil suits,” says Alvarez.
Those interested in attending the free lecture can RSVP on The Spoon Movement’s Facebook event page. To learn more about The Spoon Movement, please log on to thespoonmovement.com.
A Westport Historical Society & Freeman Center fundraiser for The Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community (A 501 c 3 nonprofit)
A generous donor will match all donations!
A Night of Theatre at the Bijou
A Benefit for the Historic Mary & Eliza Freeman Houses and Center
Thursday, May 30th, 7:30 pm
A JOURNEY
Musical One-Woman Show Written & Performed by Kimberly Wilson
Bridgeport’s Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community and the Westport Historical Society partner once again to present a benefit presentation of “A JOURNEY: Musical One-Woman Show” – to support the Freeman Center’s restoration of the historically significant Mary & Eliza houses and its programs. All proceeds will be matched by a generous donor, so please come and bring your friends.
Theatre seating is $20. Table seating (for 2,3, and 4) is $30 per person. Patron Tickets are $65.00 per person, and include a pre-theatre reception catered by Trattoria ‘A Vuccella (cash bar) from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Donors may select theatre seats or table seating.
“A JOURNEY: Musical One-Woman Show” is an intricate look at the Black experience told through the eyes of the Black woman and performed by one woman, professional actress and singer Kimberly Wilson. Westport resident, Ms. Wilson skillfully tells of the struggles and influence of Black womanhood with strength, dignity and pride and in perfect lockstep with the history of the United States. The Show brings to life 8 historical African-American women, including Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, African Queen, a Slave girl and introducing - Bridgeport’s own Mary Freeman (1815-1883), whose historic 1848 home still bears witness to the storied, free, Black and Paugussett settlement - Little Liberia (circa 1822).
For Tickets & Information: Call the Mary & Eliza Freeman Center (203) 612-7769 or visit our website www.freemancenterbpt.com
Housatonic Museum of Art will host a project launch and brainstorming session for sculptor Rachel Owens project, Life on the Other Side of the Cracked Glass Ceiling-Bridgeport |
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR A BRAINSTORMING SESSION
Housatonic Museum of Art will host a project launch and brainstorming session for sculptor Rachel Owens project, Life on the Other Side of the Cracked Glass Ceiling-Bridgeport Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 11am to 1pm Students and the Community will gather to brainstorm the ways in which this project can work to engage Bridgeport in meaningful conversation in order to create a public program together. Centering on the Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses, a series of sculptures incorporating glass casts of the front porch of Mary's house will be activated through public discussions and performances developed by, and pertinent to, Bridgeport's diverse neighborhoods. The Freeman Houses are the oldest standing structures owned and built by people of color in Connecticut, and even more importantly, by unmarried women at a time when women were not allowed to own property. These buildings are all that remain of the radical, multi-ethnic community, Little Liberia, a place that was founded as a model of equity. This project seeks to revive that model. |
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Night At The Museum: Bringing Art To Life |
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THE collection at Housatonic Museum of Art will set the scene for a sophisticated and challenging scavenger hunt in the stunning and newly designed Housatonic Community College. Using your wits and keen tracking skills, pit yourself against other players for a unique and professionally crafted scavenger hunt. WHILE hunting, enjoy decadent desserts and smart cocktails at our Sips and Sweets Faire with fun activities, live music and a fabulous silent auction. Join in the excitement as the Housatonic Museum of Art brings the ART to LIFE in this thrilling scavenger hunt and fundraising event. October 25, 2018 from 7PM to 10PM. |
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Jon Schueler, Lost Man Blues |
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November 1st, 2018 |
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June Ahrens, How Many Tears Are Enough |
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January 31st, 2019 |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi on March 23, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. This event is free and the public is welcome to attend. |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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Human Rights Panel Discussion: OUT of the SHADOWS |
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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (January 18, 2018) On Thursday, February 8th the Housatonic Museum of Art will present the program, Human Rights Panel Discussion: Out of the Shadows, offering a powerhouse collection of experts on urgent human rights issues. Moderated by Fatima Sabri, a young Afghan leader for women’s equality, the panel includes experts and advocates for social justice, LGBTQ equality, breaking the cycle of domestic violence and the rights of women and children. These noted panelists have dedicated themselves to bringing global awareness to the suffering and the injustice of sex trafficking, the practice of female genital mutilation, and children forced to serve as soldiers. The panel includes Brian K. Sibley, S. Bear Bergman, Hans Neleman, Debra A. Greenwood, Ann Weiner and Congressman Jim Himes. The discussion takes place at 2pm in the Events Center in Beacon Hall at the Housatonic Community College, located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport. For additional details visit: www.HoustatonicMuseum.org or contact executive director Robbin Zella at (203) 332-5052. |
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PIRATES: Fact & Fiction |
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John R. Wright, historian and illustrator, will discuss how literature and film have framed our image of pirates in popular culture. The talk will explore the facts, myths and Golden Age romance of pirates.
Thursday, November 16 @ 6:30 pm in the Burt Chernow Galleries
Mr. Wright is a graduate of Parsons School of Design/The New School. After working for several years as an illustrator and art editor for various publications, he turned his attention towards history. He was Director of the Miller House in White Plains, New York and Education Coordinator at Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx. He is currently the Director at the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum in New Rochelle, New York. |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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Who hasn’t dreamed of unearthing buried treasure? Lost gold mines of the Old West might be far-removed and sunken ships difficult to reach… but according to legend and the historical record, vast riches might be secreted in Connecticut’s own Gold Coast: Fairfield County. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, author Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport’s mysterious lost caches. Tuesday, Oct 3 at 7PM in Beacon Hall Room 145 Michael J. Bielawa is an award winning author and poet. For years Mike has been fascinated with New England legends and folklore. He has journeyed throughout the Northeast researching the subject. During his travels Michael has visited New England ghost towns, uncovered secret rooms, searched for pirate treasure and, not too long ago, reported a UFO over Woodbury, Connecticut. Bielawa’s supernatural work has appeared in FATE Magazine, The Dead of Night, Hermes’ Crossing, and in London’s Fortean Times. His book, Wicked Bridgeport (published by The History Press) won the first annual New England Paranormal Literary Award in 2012. Another of Bielawa’s examinations concerning weird coastal Connecticut, entitled Wicked New Haven, documents the Elm City’s paranormal heritage, and has received excellent reviews. Bielawa celebrated New Haven's famous 17th century "Phantom Ship” when he produced and directed the 4-story-tall illuminated art installation, “The Persistence of Legend.” You may have seen him on WTNH, Channel 8’s, Connecticut Style and Good Morning Connecticut or heard him on any number of radio programs, including NPR, WABC-AM, WPLR, and WICC. In addition, Mike has served as special consultant to The Fairfield Museum and History Center and as guest curator for The Barnum Museum. He has lectured about American hero Jackie Robinson for the NEA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moderated discussions throughout Connecticut for the Connecticut Humanities Council. One of his favorite presentations honors Kate Hepburn’s summers in Stratford. He is honored to appear throughout Connecticut in order to share and preserve New England legends and folklore. |
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Join us for a murder-mystery cocktail party and fundraiser. |
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Check out the photos from the show! We would like to thank our sponsors:
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport with author Michael Bielawa
On Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm, Bielawa will deliver a fascinating lecture entitled, “Pirates, Buccaneers and Mooncussers of the Connecticut Coast.” While the Connecticut shore might seem far removed from the palm trees and turquoise bays associated with buccaneers, in reality, Long Island Sound was a hive of 17th and 18th century pirate villainy. Join author Michael Bielawa for a fascinating examination of some of history's most infamous freebooters who visited and may have buried treasure right here in Connecticut. In his lecture “True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport” Bielawa will astonish the audience with tales of the shocking criminal underbelly of Connecticut’s largest city. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport's mysterious lost caches! The lecture will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7pm. Both lectures will take place in BEACON HALL, RM 145, located on the campus of Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT.
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Housatonic Museum of Art Gallery Talk with Curator of Body & Soul Exhibition |
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The public is invited to a gallery talk with Ben Ortiz, curator of the Housatonic Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, Body & Soul
Attendees will engage directly with the works of art and Ortiz will discuss his passion for collecting art and tell stories behind each work. The talk takes place at the museum located at HCC, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, on Thursday, October 20 at 5:00 pm. There is no charge for attendance.
The Body & Soul exhibition is a collection of prints, paintings, photographs and sculpture with an emphasis on works by Latin American art. Local, regional and national artists are also represented in this compilation of 50 works of figurative art representing diverse art periods, art movements, mediums and techniques. The collection was donated to the museum by Mr. Ortiz and Victor P. Torchia in honor of Mr. Ortiz’s brother, John Eloy Ortiz (1966-2008), who would have celebrated his 50th birthday this year. The exhibition remains open through October 23, 2016.
Mr. Ortiz attended Housatonic Community College, and previously held the position as Curator at the Housatonic Museum of Art. During his tenure he recognized the rapid growth of the Hispanic population in Bridgeport and celebrated their contributions to the arts. His lifelong passion for collecting art began at age 12, when he was drawn to purchase an etching on paper at a Bridgeport tag sale for 50 cents. The work turned out to be created by Edith Nankivell (1896-1962), an American etcher and painter who exhibited in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Boston during the 1930s and 1940s, and the piece will be included in the exhibition. |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi |
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Gallery Talk with Curator D. Dominick Lombardi on March 23, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. This event is free and the public is welcome to attend. |
|
True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
|
PIRATES: Fact & Fiction |
|
|
John R. Wright, historian and illustrator, will discuss how literature and film have framed our image of pirates in popular culture. The talk will explore the facts, myths and Golden Age romance of pirates.
Thursday, November 16 @ 6:30 pm in the Burt Chernow Galleries
Mr. Wright is a graduate of Parsons School of Design/The New School. After working for several years as an illustrator and art editor for various publications, he turned his attention towards history. He was Director of the Miller House in White Plains, New York and Education Coordinator at Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx. He is currently the Director at the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum in New Rochelle, New York. |
|
True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport |
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|
Who hasn’t dreamed of unearthing buried treasure? Lost gold mines of the Old West might be far-removed and sunken ships difficult to reach… but according to legend and the historical record, vast riches might be secreted in Connecticut’s own Gold Coast: Fairfield County. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, author Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport’s mysterious lost caches. Tuesday, Oct 3 at 7PM in Beacon Hall Room 145 Michael J. Bielawa is an award winning author and poet. For years Mike has been fascinated with New England legends and folklore. He has journeyed throughout the Northeast researching the subject. During his travels Michael has visited New England ghost towns, uncovered secret rooms, searched for pirate treasure and, not too long ago, reported a UFO over Woodbury, Connecticut. Bielawa’s supernatural work has appeared in FATE Magazine, The Dead of Night, Hermes’ Crossing, and in London’s Fortean Times. His book, Wicked Bridgeport (published by The History Press) won the first annual New England Paranormal Literary Award in 2012. Another of Bielawa’s examinations concerning weird coastal Connecticut, entitled Wicked New Haven, documents the Elm City’s paranormal heritage, and has received excellent reviews. Bielawa celebrated New Haven's famous 17th century "Phantom Ship” when he produced and directed the 4-story-tall illuminated art installation, “The Persistence of Legend.” You may have seen him on WTNH, Channel 8’s, Connecticut Style and Good Morning Connecticut or heard him on any number of radio programs, including NPR, WABC-AM, WPLR, and WICC. In addition, Mike has served as special consultant to The Fairfield Museum and History Center and as guest curator for The Barnum Museum. He has lectured about American hero Jackie Robinson for the NEA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moderated discussions throughout Connecticut for the Connecticut Humanities Council. One of his favorite presentations honors Kate Hepburn’s summers in Stratford. He is honored to appear throughout Connecticut in order to share and preserve New England legends and folklore. |
|
| Join us for a murder-mystery cocktail party and fundraiser. | |
|
Check out the photos from the show! We would like to thank our sponsors:
|
|
| True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport | |
|
On Tuesday, September 19th at 7pm, Bielawa will deliver a fascinating lecture entitled, “Pirates, Buccaneers and Mooncussers of the Connecticut Coast.” While the Connecticut shore might seem far removed from the palm trees and turquoise bays associated with buccaneers, in reality, Long Island Sound was a hive of 17th and 18th century pirate villainy. Join author Michael Bielawa for a fascinating examination of some of history's most infamous freebooters who visited and may have buried treasure right here in Connecticut. In his lecture “True Treasure Tales & Legends of Bridgeport” Bielawa will astonish the audience with tales of the shocking criminal underbelly of Connecticut’s largest city. From pirates to gangsters to a forgotten treasure map, Michael Bielawa will share his original research highlighting some of Bridgeport's mysterious lost caches! The lecture will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7pm. Both lectures will take place in BEACON HALL, RM 145, located on the campus of Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT. |
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| In His Words | |
In His Words |
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Women Discuss Successful Careers at Housatonic Community College |
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Three successful women will discuss their career journeys and commitment to the community on Thursday, April 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the HCC Burt Chernow Gallery at LaFayette Hall.
The Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard is Pastor of the Bethel AME Church and is a social activist.
Mary-Jane Foster, J.D., is provost of University Relations at the University of Bridgeport and was former Mayoral Candidate for the City of Bridgeport, and the former owner of the Bridgeport Blue Fish baseball team.
Dr. Estela Lopez is the interim Provost for the Connecticut State University and Community College system. Dr. Lopez is a recognized leader in higher education.
The panel is presented by the HCC Women’s Center. Dr. Linda Wolfson, Director of the Women’s Center says, “We want to keep inspiring our students to follow their dreams and ambitions. There is no better way than to see and hear from strong women who have achieved their goals.” The public is invited at no charge. Photo from left to right: Rev. Bernadette Hickman-Maynard, Dr. Estela Lopez and Mary-Jane Foster. |
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| In His Words | |
In His Words |
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Housatonic Museum of Art presents Harry Moritz: Medium Cool |
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Harry Moritz will offer a talk about his work to be held in the Events Center in Beacon Hall on the campus of Housatonic Community College on Wednesday, March 16th at 5:30pm. This event is free and the public is cordially invited to attend |
|
| In His Words | |
In His Words |
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Finding Brass Valley: A Place in Time that Almost Vanished |
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This is the story of the people and communities that built the Brass Valley
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The Housatonic Museum of Art’s PEER DOCENTS |
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PEER DOCENTSFall 2015 Tour Dates and Times: Monday, November 30, Tours, at 9, 10, and 12 Friday, December 4, Tours, at 9, 10 and 12
Please come to learn about the Program and about Bridgeport architecture!!!
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Tea Talk |
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Shiva: God of Many Faces |
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Live from the POEMobile: Bridgeport Arts Fest! (more info) |
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| Draw ON! At Housatonic Community College | |
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The Art Department of Housatonic Community College in collaboration with the Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) is participating in Draw On! a five day art event March 23 - 27, 2015 |
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The Women Gather ~A Celebration of Women Poets |
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| Paula Scher@HMA (more info...) | |
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 11:00amPaula Scher began her design career as a record cover art director at Atlantic Records and CBS Records in the 1970's and 1980's. |
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| In His Words (more info...) | |
Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 8:00pmFeaturing Chief, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Face, Kayo, Abiodun Oyewole of The Legendary Last Poets |
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| POEMobile (more info...) | |
Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 8:30pmBridgeport’s best and brightest poets will perform along with their verses written large on the façade on the McLevy Building at State and Broad Streets. |
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| The Women Gather (more info...) | |
Thursday, March 27th, 2014
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| Transcending Continents (more info...) | |
February 27th, 2014 from
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| Transcending Continents (more info...) | |
February 27th, 2014 from
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In His Words (more info...)
December 5th, 2013 from
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DANCE for Every BODY (more info...)Wednesday, September 11, 2013>A movement jam/dance workshop led by
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| POEMobile (more info...) | |
Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:30pmLed by poetry ambassador Shanna T. Melton, Bridgeport’s best and brightest poets will perform along with their verses written large on the façade on the McLevy Building at State and Broad Streets. |
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| Aeolian Ride 2009 (more info...) | |
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