Our members at the Cultural Alliance make us who we are. They create a vibrant community of artists and culturally minded people. This is the best of Western Connecticut, and we’re honored to have them as our allies who inspire and enhance their communities. Follow this blog monthly as we shine a spotlight on our members and learn more about who they are and what they offer.
June Member Spotlights
Adelka Polak, Brookfield Craft Center, Diana Gubbay, Ridgefield Arts Council
Adelka Polak
Adelka is the founder and Director of Sova Theater, and advocates for responsibility to humanity and the environment through arts and education. Sova Theater’s work is accessible to audiences around the globe combining art, puppetry, dance, mask & music for live performances. “Sova” means “owl” in Slovak and is an asteroid belt named by a Czech astronomer.
View Adelka’s Profile
Brookfield Craft Center
The Brookfield Craft Center was founded in 1952 by Nancy DuBois Hagmayer, a New York City teacher who wanted to provide an inspiring fresh-air environment for a small group of urban craft artists. Today, the Craft Center is recognized as one of the core craft schools in America. The organization is dedicated to teaching traditional and contemporary craft skills and fostering the appreciation of the craft world. Classes and workshops are taught by nationally acclaimed, local, and visiting artists. Students learn and grow with an artistic community of talented faculty, inspired students, and generous volunteers and supporters. Eight studios include Forge, Clay, Fiber, Digital, Glass, Jewelry, Woodturning, and Painting & Drawing. The campus also features the Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery and Shop, selling glass, ceramic, wood, jewelry, metal, paintings and photography works of over 125 artists and fine craftspeople. The Gallery hosts numerous exhibits each year ranging from local student exhibitions, solo artist exhibits, to our annual faculty show. Brookfield Craft Center is proud to be celebrating our 70th anniversary in 2022!
View Brookfield Craft Center’s Profile
Diana Gubbay
Diana grew up in Montreal where she absorbed the bilingual culture of a city rich in history, architecture, and art. Eager to pursue a career as an artist, she moved to New York City in the late 1970’s at a time when the city’s streets, lofts and galleries were burgeoning with experimentation and innovation. Diana received a Master of Fine Arts from Hunter College where she studied with Lynda Bengliss, Robert Morris and Alice Aycock. From her loft in Dumbo she created installations, drawings and sculptures that were shown across North America. A long hiatus ensued while raising two children and establishing a practice in holistic family health. Diana looked deeply into concepts of health and disease and came to love the privilege of accompanying people on a journey to manifest gifts and talents in the fullest possible state of health. Reestablishing creative pursuit in the last several years, she found a changed art world and learned entirely new techniques that include digital media. Currently, IPad art is a major pillar of her explorations. Recent work has been included in juried exhibits throughout the Northeast by curators from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art and The Danforth Museum of Art among others.
View Diana’s Profile
Ridgefield Arts Council
Founded in 1997, the mission of the Ridgefield Arts Council is to inform, entertain and inspire those who appreciate and create art in all its genres. The RAC generates attention for and collaboration between members of Ridgefield’s vibrant arts community and hosts a variety of exciting initiatives for the community.
View Ridgefield Arts Council Profile
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