Botany Exhibit Celebrates Spring

An array of art styles and subjects as diverse as spring's bounty has blossomed into a vibrant show at The Firehouse Art Gallery.

The Botany Exhibit, a juried show featuring 38 pieces by area artists, opened with a reception May 19 and runs through June 16. The Firehouse Art Gallery, which puts up nine shows a year, chose to put up a botany exhibit partly as a celebration of spring, and partly to showcase the many styles and forms botanical artwork takes.

When asked his impression of the exhibit, local art lover Jaime Vega said, “I think this is really amazing – all these styles – it’s fantastic.”

Another local art lover, Carla Kern, said, “I love the range of art here tonight. It’s really exceptional.”

Media represented range from delicate pencil drawings, such as Sharon Poole’s “Woody Dentium,” to bold floral paintings, as in Riva Silverfarb’s “Here Comes the Sun,” to a simple woodcut from Marian Doherty, called “Leaf.” Also shown are photography, such as Hedi Minow-Pike’s lovely “Black Eyed Susan," as well sculptures like Lonnie Quarford’s evocative “Forgotten,” and mixed media from Rosemary Celon-Gordon, who represents with her colorful “Wild Flowers.”

Subjects also varied, from Janet Keto’s still life, “Two Pears,” to Beverly Gardner’s stately tree in “Tree Bark Study #7."

Juror Keith Hatcher, a Connecticut artist and Southern Connecticut University faculty member, chose first, second, third and honorable mention winners. And the winners are ...

First Place: Doug Leigh, “Yellow and Orange Lilies”

Second Place: Albert C. Leiper, “Vine Ripened”

Third Place: Christine Goldbach, “Crack In the Sidewalk”

Third (tie): Janet Keto, “In the Spotlight”

Honorable Mentions: Jacquelyn Etling, “Big Red;” Joe Fekieta, “Flirting;" and Lonnie Quarford, “Forgotten”

The Firehouse Art Gallery, 81 Naugatuck Ave., Milford, is open Thursday to Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 203-306-0016.