Accessible Art in Danbury and Bethel features local artists and venues

By Antonia Schachter | January 3, 2019

Accessible Art in Danbury and Bethel

Surrealism, expressionism, realism and interpretations of nature are reflected in the latest “Accessible Art” series that will run from Dec. 10 to Feb. 15 at businesses and other sites in Danbury and Bethel by local artists.

The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut coordinates the project, which promotes different artists throughout the year.

The venues, which art lovers can visit any time during normal work hours, include Danbury City Hall, CityCenter Danbury offices, ESCAPE to the Arts, Hodge Insurance, Mothership Bakery, Filosa Convalescent/Hancock Hall, Pour Me Coffee and Wine Cafe, and Bethel Public Library.

The artists featured in this round of shows are Betsy Davidson of Bethel, Helga Ruopp of Bethel, Mary Jane Magoon of Sherman, Annette Womack of Danbury, Elisabeth Levy of Bethel, Marion Lynott of Bethel, Honorah O’Neil of Bethel, and Gary Stanford of Danbury.

Betsy Davidson

Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Ave., (203) 797-4511

“I work in an explorative process, often using many different mediums in one piece,” Davidson says. “The use of collage and paint together provides the means to express a rich vocabulary of shape-shifting in space. As I work, I value the role of chance. I welcome serendipitous moments and appreciate when they occur. I strive to be present in the making, and then to choose carefully what ultimately remains. The work can be viewed as an outward expression of an internal dialogue with form.”

Helga Ruopp

Continues at CityCenter Danbury, 268 Main St., (203) 792-1711

Ruopp says: “In my artwork I seek to capture ‘innocence’ and ‘beauty’ in everyday sightings using the colors of nature.”

Mary Jane Magoon

Continues at ESCAPE to the Arts, 293 Main St., Danbury (203) 794-1413

“Having a background and education in interior design, I have always had a passion for art, especially watercolor,” Magoon says. “Owning an art gallery deepened this infatuation. I am especially fascinated by the effect of light and the shadows that are created. Reflected glass and windows are some of my favorite subjects to paint. The transparency and luminosity of watercolor affords reflections to be even more luscious.”

Annette Womack

Hodge Insurance, 283 Main St., Danbury (203) 792-2323

“I’ve always been drawn to surrealist concepts,” Womack says. “The human psyche, the power struggle between man and nature, interpersonal communication, and connectivity have been reoccurring themes in my work. My current series, “hybrids” encompasses all these concepts and helps me to process varying views on life and death. My personal artistic style borders between realistic and expressionistic.”

Marion Lynott

Filosa Convalescent/Hancock Hall – Opens December 17th 13 Hakim St., Danbury (203) 794-9466

“My goal is to have my framed artwork viewed around the world,” Lynott says. “Anywhere landscapes and the small intricacies of nature are appreciated, and where viewing it can bring a little extra happiness to people who see it”

Elisabeth Levy

Mothership Bakery, 331 Main St., Danbury – Opens December 23rd (203) 417-6914

“When I was a child, I was given the nickname ‘Elisa-Fish’ because of how I came alive in the waters of Candlewood Lake,” Levy says. “Most of my current work is about a deep spiritual urge to get as close as possible to the water — essentially to merge. My work is an attempt to become one with all the aspects of this part of nature that my senses can perceive; the play of light on the water’s surface, the sight of the waves and small ripples moving across it and the sound of the wind creating them, and a fascinated sense of reverence for water’s ability to reflect — sometimes to mirror, other times to alter the ‘positive’ element(s) into an abstraction of itself in its echo.”

Gary Stanford

Pour Me Coffee and Wine Cafe, 274 Main St., Danbury (203) 743 6246

“I am a photographer,” Stanford says. “The very essence of photography is the ability to create an historical record of an event at a precise moment in time. Events may involve people, places and things and be literal or figurative. My purpose as a photographer is to depict the world around me and to offer my interpretation of that event.”

Honorah O’Neill

Continues at Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave. (203) 794-8756

“I give flesh to monsters,” O’Neill says in explaining her work.

The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut is the heart of the region’s creativity to help communities connect and thrive.  We are a 501C-3 and regional service organization serving 10-towns in the Greater Danbury area. Our aspiration is to improve access and growth of arts and culture to improve quality of life and the economy. The Connecticut Office of the Arts provides major support.