Greater Hartford Arts Council Blog

Apr 11

Writing and Imagination

Perusing the mighty universe of the internet one evening, I stumbled across a parody music video of the popular (and amazing) HBO show Game of Thrones. Snared by the catchy tune and the spectacle of a male queen of dragons, I wasn’t prepared for this interesting quote that ended the performance:

“Hollywood Cannot Live Up to the Power of Your Imagination”

At that point, I remembered that, although made nationally popular by television, Game of Thrones originated in the imagination of George R. R. Martin. And then I started thinking more about popular culture nowadays: The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, the highly anticipated The Great Gatsby—all of these cinematic blockbusters share the common ancestor of the written word and, consequently, the minds of authors. In a world where reading seems to have fallen to the wayside, writers and the imaginations they obsess over unveiling to us appear just as relevant and public as ever.

Anita Diamant, beloved author of The Red Tent and keynote speaker at the Twain House’s Writer’s Weekend

As a former English Major in college and an aspiring writer myself, I’ve always held a soft spot in my heart for the novel. As such, I feel privileged to live in Greater Hartford and to enjoy a heritage filled with American literary masters like Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. At the same time, I’m excited that we honor that past by holding so many events and resources for writers to unravel, brainstorm and explore the depths of their ideas with their peers. For example, at the end of April, the Mark Twain House holds its 2^nd Annual Writers’ Weekend. This celebration of authors includes workshops, courses and talks with award-winning writers and playwrights from all over the country. For younger writers, the Twain House also holds the Write to the Point!: Nonfiction Writing studio in our nationally-recognized Neighborhood Studios teen arts apprenticeship program this summer. For a smaller, more engaging writing experience, there’s Syllable, a reading series for aspiring writers organized by theme, and Edgings & Inchings at Real Art Ways, a monthly poetry reading and open mic night.

If you’ve ever wanted to give writing a chance—to wield the difficult power of the pen (well, keyboard I guess, nowadays)—these events may be the kick-start you need to get your prose or verse pumping. Although the consumption of novels has expanded into more vehicles than just printed pages in today’s culture, their heart has remained the same—to bring us to different worlds, to bare human essence and emotion in front of our eyes and to challenge us to think differently about…well, everything really. And, in the end, isn’t that the objective of every form of art?

Mar 18

Catching Up with String Theorie

As a guitarist for more than a decade, I consider music to be one of my major passions, secretly (well, I guess not so much anymore) imagining what it’d be like to make it to the big leagues. Growing up, I frequented local shows around New Haven as often as my allowance would permit. As such, I grew up with a deep appreciation of Connecticut’s music scene, which my time at the Arts Council has only deepened—especially in this year’s United Arts Campaign.

Every year, we commission local musicians to release an exclusive EP or small album of songs for donors who contribute $100 or more to our Campaign. This year, String Theorie, an instrumental World Fusion trio composed of guitarist Joel Weik, bassist Karl Messerschmidt and percussionist Jordan Critchley from central CT, agreed to be our featured band. To learn more about the band’s inspirations, motivations and, well, music, I asked them a few questions. Here’s what they said:

You guys had quite the 2012! Winner of the Best Folk / Traditional Band at Connecticut’s Grand Band Slam, a new CD, Little Elephant, tons of gigs across the region… But let’s start at the beginning. How did String Theorie come about? How did you guys all meet and start making music together?

Well, String Theorie was formed in the summer of 2009 due to a happy accident! Fingerstyle Guitarist Joel Weik was casually invited to attend a friend’s-friend’s-birthday-party, which entailed an evening of open-mic jamming at a dive bar in New Britain. This friend’s-friend turned out to be Karl Messerschmidt, our virtuoso bass player! Joel approached Karl after being dazzled by his bass technique. A jam was arranged… Joel had a concept brewing in his mind for a while to put together a group based on the collaborations of Michael Hedges and Michael Manring, so Joel and Karl started working out some tunes over the summer of 2009 and in late August invited Southington native/DIY Drummer Jordan Critchley Jordan to join them on percussion at an open mic at Hartford’s La Paloma Sabanera. String Theorie played as a trio for the very first time that night and got a standing ovation with an offer to come back for a full show… and we’ve stayed together ever since.

Browsing your website, I noticed you characterize your music as embodying a “sound that can’t really be described in words.” Excuse the irony of my question, but how would you describe your style for people who are unfamiliar with your music?

Haha, what a tricky question! We find that words fall short because, no matter what, we can’t possible express with words the visual, audible and palpable effect of our music – especially during live shows, which is why we are particularly excited about our upcoming CD Release Party at Arch Street Tavern on Friday, April 12^th. We held a live recording concert at La Paloma back in December of 2012, which is the first time we’ve created a live recording; this soon to be released album definitely provides the closest thing to a genuine “String Theorie experience.” By the way, the exclusive GHAC download card features a song from that live recording session, “April Showers,” which will only be available to eligible Arts Council donors – Let’s GO Arts!

String Theorie at Lost Acres Vineyard in North Granby, CT

Tell us a little about the exclusive String Theorie EP you guys have created for those who donate $100 or more to our United Arts Campaign. What were your thoughts behind the EP’s songs, themes, etc. Let us into your musical minds!

We’ve picked out some of our favorite songs from our self-titled EP and from our album Little Elephant that are mostly staples of our live shows. ”The Middle” has become our new go-to opening tune; it helps us get warmed up quickly. ”Inchworm” is the first song we ever learned together and it may have been played at every String Theorie show thereafter, although we’re not really sure. ”E Minor” was the first song Joel ever wrote and it became the subject of a music video filmed and edited by Stone Gate Studios in 2011. “Lily Lake” and “Woe” both make regular appearances in our live sets. ”While You Were Upstairs” is a different story entirely; it’s a piece that Karl wrote that features Karl on electric guitar and Jordan on cello. We’ve performed it live a few times but the recording, as you’ll hear, is kind of impossible for us to ever pull off on stage without more musicians. Finally, the live version of “April Showers” is an outtake from our upcoming album “Live at La Paloma.” We held it back as an exclusive track JUST for this compilation – United Arts donors are the only ones who will have it!

Does each band member have a favorite song from the EP? If so, which ones and why?

Karl: You mean besides the one that I wrote? I would say “Inchworm,” which is kind of tragic in that it implies our music hasn’t gotten any better since our very first song, but that’s not the case of course. I just think the whole thing is very well put together. The bass line is inspired by a Block Party tune and I feel like it kind of serves as the lead at the same time, at least that’s how I hear it. We’ve made some changes to the piece over time, so it’s kind of grown along with us as a band, which is why we decided to re-record it as part of our Live at La Paloma album, to show how far the song and the band have come since it was the first track on our debut EP.

Joel: For me it’s a toss-up between Lily Lake and April Showers… I think they both have a similar vibe, and I guess it’s a vibe I particularly enjoy! I think this mix of songs on String Theorie’s Let’s GO Arts! download gives us a chance to share a broad spectrum of sounds and styles.

Besides the EP, how will String Theorie be a part of our 2013 United Arts Campaign? Are you guys excited to take pART?

Totally excited! We are already booking gigs at workplace campaigns, and we are looking forward to the Arts Council’s Annual Meeting in July. We hope that the 2013 United Arts Campaign brings us many opportunities to bring our music to new listeners!

String Theorie setting up for the Little Elephant CD Release Party at The Studio @ Billings Forge

Performing at The Mark Twain House & Museum, The Studio at Billings Forge and other cultural institutions in Greater Hartford, String Theorie seems very much tapped into our local arts scene. How has our local arts and heritage community helped to shape String Theorie into the band it is today?

You can’t separate us from Hartford like you can’t separate Nirvana from Seattle or the Chili Peppers from LA. It’s our home in every sense and we’re proud to be a part of its sound track. It was really Hartford’s cultural institutions that supported us most and gave us the opportunity to succeed, which is why it makes so much sense for us to partner up with the Arts Council. I mean, we do play bars and are a part of the regular music scene here in Hartford, but we’re kind of a novelty. We don’t get asked to headline anything because we’re unorthodox and we don’t have vocals. And we don’t get asked to play any of the big clubs near Union Place because we don’t have a loud radio sound. But the cultural centers like the Wadsworth, the Mark Twain House, etc. have always come looking for us, and that’s kind of what we’ve developed our sound for; places where you can really pay attention hear the music for everything it is. We work a lot of little musical Easter Eggs into our tunes that you can find if you’re paying attention in good listening environment.

Now to the future! What can we expect out of String Theorie in 2013?

We are very excited about our Live at La Paloma release party, which is taking place at Arch Street Tavern on April 12^th. We’ll be joined by two other local bands, Post-Modern Panic and a SECRET BAND…!

Many thanks to String Theorie for taking the time to answer my questions. To learn even more about String Theorie, check out http://www.stringtheorie.com, or http://www.facebook.com/stringtheorie.

Mar 15

Put Nonprofit Dollars to Work

I thought we’d take a break today from talking about the arts—or our United Arts Campaign—to talk a bit about nonprofits in general. I encourage anyone who’s ever worked for a nonprofit, volunteered for a nonprofit, or donated to a nonprofit to watch the TED talks video below featuring Dan Pallotta:

He discusses some interesting ideas and raises a few interesting points. Where should nonprofits be investing their donor dollars? Those who contribute to a nonprofit organization or a charity, myself included, expect the lion’s share to go directly to services; at the Arts Council, that would be our grant programs, which provide financial support to more than 150 local arts, heritage and cultural organizations.

But what if more money was invested in revenue-generating activities instead of services and grants? More money to build capacity in fundraising activities, or even in earned income (ticket sales, memberships, subscriptions, etc.) that have the potential to multiply that donation hundreds of times over. It’s the classic battle between a short-term, immediate need and finding a long-term solution; yes, your donation can help feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, give a child an arts education experience right now, but shouldn’t some of your generosity go towards ensuring that there continue to be and services for hundreds of thousands of hungry people, homeless people, children, for years to come?

I was having this same conversation with a nonprofit executive director the other day and she gave a great analogy: picture a problem—let’s say, for example, people drowning in a river. You’ve got two options. You can either hire as many ‘hands’ as possible to pull people out of the river downstream. Or, you can invest in a couple of smart people to scout ahead and find out why people are falling in the river in the first place. Which is best?

I agree with Dan Pallotta that “overhead” is an ugly term, and doesn’t give our donors an adequate definition of how their money is being invested. The truth is, fundraising costs money–and any nonprofit that claims they don’t spend money on fundraising is just lying. But, I think there needs to be some standard, some measure, of how to judge the effectiveness of fundraising and earned income strategies. In a corporate environment, marketing and advertising dollars come matched with analytics and formulas to judge their effectiveness; how are we, as nonprofit professionals, judging the effectiveness of our fundraising initiatives? What Dan doesn’t mention is that donors—our “shareholders”—need to have some way to make sure the organization is investing in the right revenue-generating strategies, and not spending donor dollars in wasted efforts.

This video reminds me that as a nonprofit professional I need to do a better job of educating our donors and investors in how we’re using their contributed funds. There is a real case to be made in investing in fundraising, and the Arts Council has always been honest with our donors that a portion of their contribution goes toward identifying new supporters for the arts. If nonprofits can help “shareholders” learn all the ways their donation is useful—direct services, programs, re-granting, and infrastructure investment—maybe our organizations can start making an impact on both short-term and long-term problems.

Mar 7

DYOP: Drip Your Own Paint

Since UTC agreed to chair our 2013 campaign, it only made sense to ask them to jump-start our workplace giving program and kick-off a company wide initiative starting March 1st. UTC took that idea and really ran with it.

View of Hartford from the Gold Building cafeteria.

For the entire month of March, UTC will host workplace giving campaigns in each of their business units: Otis, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, United Technologies Aerospace System, United Technologies Research Center, UTC Climate, Controls & Security and corporate headquarters in the Gold Building. Coordinators from each of the business units, working with Sandy Broadus (Assistant General Counsel, Litigation) under the leadership of co-chairs Matthew Bromberg (VP of Coporate Strategy & Development) and Charles Gill (General Counsel), are planning dozens of interactive and hands-on arts events to get employees engaged with our tremendous arts community. What an undertaking!

My colleague Laura McLelland, the Arts Council’s director of workplace partnerships, is coordinating each company’s giving campaign and helping Sandy and her team come up with fun, creative ideas to motivate employee support. Together, they agreed that the campaign should kick-off on March 1st at corporate HQ with a fun, easy way for people to create a one-of-a-kind piece of community art; Laura had the perfect solution: a Jackson Pollock-style drip and splat painting activity.

Oh the Drip & Splat (I’m trying to change the name to DYOP, hence the title of this article). It’s been a longtime staple of our workplace giving program—probably because it’s so popular. And fun. And easy.

The idea is simple. We provide blank canvases and colorful, washable tempera paint. Employees can stop by and drip, splat and literally throw the paint at the canvas, leaving their mark on the finished piece. As time goes by, and as employees line up to participate, the artwork becomes layered with different colors and paints until the canvas disappears and the company is left with an amazing piece of abstract art created by its employees. The office proudly hangs the art for all to see, and I love hearing people point to a specific drip or certain splat and say, “I made that. That’s my mark.”

Laura leads the Drip & Splat activity.

Last Friday, I went over to the Gold Building with Laura and Meaghan Wooldridge, our Workplace Giving Associate, to run a Drip & Splat (DYOP) with the folks at corporate HQ. The activity was a resounding success—after the first few employees, including the cafeteria staff, left their marks, employees were lining up to try their hand at abstract art and claim their very own ‘I take pART’ sticker. Sandy proved to be amazingly adept at recruiting volunteers, and by the end of the activity more than 100 UTC employees had taken pART.

Yesterday, Arts Council staff were down at Pratt & Whitney’s location in Middletown running a similar DYOP activity; as I write this article, Laura and Meaghan are journeying down to the southern part of the state to Sikorsky to create two more pieces of DYOP art. And this is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more updates and other UTC workplace events as March unfolds.

Check out our Facebook album of photos from the Corporate HQ DYOP

Interested in running a DYOP activity at your workplace? Talk to Laura.

Mar 4

UTC to Lead 2013 United Arts Campaign

Some exciting news from the Arts Council today! We are proud to announce that United Technologies Corporation will chair our 2013 United Arts Campaign, playing a lead role in ensuring the success of our community-wide fundraising drive to support the arts.

UTC’s iconic “Gold Building” headquarters in downtown Hartford.

“The arts programs and activities supported by the annual United Arts Campaign contribute significantly to the quality of life in our community, helping make this region a great place to live and work,” said United Technologies Corp. Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Louis R. Chênevert. “We are proud to serve as chair of this year’s campaign to ensure the Greater Hartford Arts Council has the resources it needs to support the arts throughout the region.”

UTC has long been a supporter of the Arts Council–it was one of the first companies to run a workplace giving campaign in 1995–and the company has an exemplary history of employee engagement and investment in the local cultural community. Working with Arts Council leadership, Chênevert has assembled a Campaign Cabinet of community and corporate leaders to ensure the success of the 2013 campaign. Joining as campaign leaders from UTC are Charles D. Gill, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and Matthew Bromberg, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development.

For the entire month of March, UTC is hosting a company-wide workplace giving campaign in each business unit: Otis, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, UTC Aerospace Systems, UTC Climate, Controls & Security, UTC Corporate Headquarters and the UTC Research Center. Last Friday, we officially kicked-off the workplace campaign with a hands-on, Jackson Pollock-inspired “Drip & Splat” paint activity at HQ. We’ll be posting photos, videos and stories from the UTC giving campaign throughout the month of March as employees take pART in our amazing arts, heritage and cultural community.

“We are so grateful to the entire United Technologies team for agreeing to chair our campaign, and we are excited to celebrate our long partnership with UTC, one of Greater Hartford’s finest examples of strong corporate citizenship,” says Cathy Malloy, Chief Executive Officer of the Arts Council. “With UTC leading the charge, we look forward to a tremendous fundraising campaign this year.”

Thank you to UTC for leading our 2013 United Arts Campaign!

Jan 22

100 Pearl Street Gallery: Q&A with Artist Daniel Bohman

From stunning snapshots of the universe and our world to iPhone photos of grumpy or cute cats, voyaging around the internet almost always includes sifting through a barrage of random, hilarious, or just plain weird images. Rather than just scroll past these pictures, local artist Daniel Bohman interrogates them through large oil paintings in “Collect & Transform,” the Arts Council’s newest exhibit in its 100 Pearl Street Gallery. Before the exhibit’s opening reception this Thursday, January 24 from 5-7pm, we asked Bohman to give us some insights into his artistic process, motivations and ambitions:

What’s your process for choosing images from Google? Do you have an image in mind when you start searching, or do you leave it up to chance?

My process usually starts with some sort of baseline idea. It could be as simple as two images that interact in an interesting way or speak to a theme I want to investigate. The chance usually occurs as the painting progresses and new ideas and paths emerge. It’s not uncommon for a painting to look nothing like I imagined it would.

The clashing patterns and images are the foundations of each piece. How do you strike a balance between your interest in the abstract and the representation of realistic spaces and figures?

I’ve always been drawn to opposites, and I would feel uncomfortable creating a purely realistic or abstract painting. I learned this a while back and have been trying to marry the two ever since. Even the pattern has dual dimensions. It not only creates tension, but has a wonderful ability to tie or weave disparate parts together.

When I look at some the pieces in the show, I immediately started crafting a soundtrack for each piece. For me, there were some hints of Sonic Youth, Arcade Fire, and some Tom Waits. I know Twin Peaks influenced part of one piece. Do you look to other music or film for inspiration? Any unexpected sources?

Well I certainly am influenced by music. I very much admire how music can drift between abstract (musical) and the more literal (lyrics). It’s something I try to accomplish in my paintings. It’s funny you mention it, but Tom Waits is someone I listen to a lot when I’m painting. There’s something about the theatrics and texture of his music that informs me as I work.

How has your experience with local arts schools (UCONN and MCC) informed the development of your work?

I think Connecticut is an interesting place to make art. It obviously suffers from being sandwiched in between Boston and New York but I think there’s a resiliency that keeps it intriguing. UCONN can sometimes feel a little far away, but I think my work has benefited from the lack of distraction.

What direction do you see your work taking this year? Are there any new areas you’re interested in exploring as you wrap up work on your MFA?

I think I’m going to keep pushing what I’ve been doing until I graduate in May. This semester I’ll be working on more printmaking though. Something I’ve always found difficult in the past.

Many thanks to Daniel for answering my questions. Check out “Collect & Transform” at the opening reception on Thursday, January 24 from 5-7pm in the 100 Pearl Street Gallery in Hartford, where you can snack on some apps and sip some wine with the artist himself. If you can’t make it then, the exhibition’s on display until March 23, 2013. Hope to see you this Thursday!

Jan 14

Letterpress 101

This week wraps up our 2013 Pick Your Print contest, and by next Wednesday we’ll have a winning concept ready to be turned into a piece of letterpress art. Letterpress has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last couple of years–from business cards to greeting cards and everything in between–but a few of us are still fuzzy on the details. What exactly is letterpress?

For the answer we went to the experts: the Gale sisters. Read their “Letterpress 101″ below:

WHAT IS LETTERPRESS? By Hartford Prints
Letterpress is a type of relief printing. Traditionally, it employs moveable type which is then inked and applied to paper with enough pressure to create an impression in the paper. A very simplistic version of this would be the rubber stamp.Western letterpress was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-1400′s. At one time, it was the method by which virtually all newspapers, books and other publications were printed. With advances in technology, letterpress has moved out of the commercial world and into the educational and fine craft worlds. Today, many colleges with a printmaking program offer letterpress courses and many of their graduates go on to open small business which offer fine printing on a small scale.

Artwork at the Hartford Prints! studio.

At Hartford Prints! we have a Vandercook 4-T proof press. This model was invented in 1948 specifically to print on acetate to create negatives for offset lithography printing. Our press likely dates from the 1960′s. We create our printed matter in one of three ways: traditional hand-set lead or wood type, hand-carved wood or linoleum blocks, or photopolymer plates created from digital files which we design on our computers.

For the Arts Council, the plan is to create a woodcut print based on whichever of the three design concepts wins the most votes. Once the design is selected, Addy will refine and finalize the drawing and begin planning for the carving stage. In relief printing, however many colors are in the design is how many blocks will be needed. So for a two-color print, Addy will have to carve two separate blocks. The blocks are carved in reverse, or backwards. Whatever is to be printed is left alone and all the negative space, or white of the paper, is carved away. When the blocks are done, they are placed on the bed of the press. The press has rollers to which the ink is applied and the rollers then distribute the ink onto the block. As the press is operated, the paper is carried across the block and pressure is applied to push the paper into the block just enough to take an impression and pick up the ink. This process is repeated until the desired number of prints is achieved and then repeated again for each following color.

Letterpress is a lovely and tactile medium. Soft, thick, 100% cotton papers are often used and the impression creates a wonderful texture that is a delight to touch. Hartford Prints! is so excited to have the opportunity to produce a unique letterpress print for the Arts Council and we are sure that everyone who receives a copy of the print will be thrilled with the final result.

There’s still a few days left to vote! Visit LetsGoArts.org/PickYourPrint to choose our winning design!

Jan 11

“Supposing is Good, But Finding Out is Better”

ARE YOU #TEAMTWAIN?

There’s only one week left to decide the design of our 2013 United Arts Print for our Pick Your Print campaign, but there’s still plenty of time to make sure your favorite print design gets chosen! This time around, see what the Gale sisters from Hartford Prints! think about one of America’s favorite authors as they turn the spotlight on (or close read for you literary types) the statue of Mark Twain in front of the Hartford Public Library.

Addy – Older Sister
Mark Twain is another Hartford favorite of mine and, like Calder’s Stegosaurus, I have very specific associations with him from when I was a little girl. I always thought that the brick work above the windows on The Mark Twain House made the house look as though it has eyelashes! The man himself is an equally impressive figure, with those eyebrows and that mustache. I love the sculpture of him placed in front of the main branch of the Hartford Public Library, particularly when seen in profile. What really makes the sculpture special and interesting is its location. Mark Twain stands under a spectacular sycamore tree and next to another sculpture which is very, very modern. Together, these three elements create interesting juxtapositions between the natural and the man-made, the representative and the abstract, and the classic and the modern. It would be fascinating to try translating all of this into a woodcut print.

Callie – Middle Sister
Mark Twain’s presence looms over Hartford. We are so lucky that such a prolific author, Samuel Clemens, was writing his most infamous works while living in our city. According to the Mark Twain House, “Clemens…spent his life observing and reporting on his surroundings,” and so he must have taken some inspiration from Hartford, its environment, as well as its people. Encountering Mark Twain outside of the Hartford Public Library on Main Street is fitting, since not only are most of his works found inside, but it also speaks to Twain’s sense of purposeful storytelling. Every one of his books has an underlying theme and moral driven by a deep sense of right and wrong, for as he once said, “Supposing is good, but finding out is better.” This print, to me, illustrates that beautiful harmony between writing, reading, and storytelling, in order to lift up the human spirit and better the world around us.

Rory – Younger Sister
I love the architecture of the Hartford Public Library and think that it’s fitting to have Mark Twain, standing tall, overseeing the books. Mark Twain fits perfectly on Main Street, leaning against his riverboat wheel. I love how his books transport you on outlandish adventures. Like a Twain novel, our adventure began by starting Hartford Prints! and with every turn of the riverboat wheel we encounter new opportunities and obstacles with the bravery of Huckleberry Finn and the gumption of Tom Sawyer. I think that like his books, our art has the ability to transport the viewer, and this print would do just that. We’ll take inspiration from the statue, history and stories of Mark Twain. Let’s jump off the page and take an adventure together.

Think one of America’s favorite authors should grace the pages of our prints? VOTE NOW to help one of America’s favorite authors grace the many pages of our prints this year! Next up: The Art in Hartford Map, which highlights important public art pieces from around the city!

Jan 9

Who Says a Dinosaur Can’t Live in a City?

ARE YOU #TEAMSTEGO?

Our Pick Your Print poll to decide the design for this year’s United Arts print is really heating up! To add some fire to the already difficult decision, the Gale Sisters at Hartford Prints! are going to share their opinions on each of the three designs they crafted. For their first selection, they turn the spotlight on Alexander Calder’s Stegosaurus, one of Hartford’s most defining public art pieces tucked between the Wadsworth and City Hall on Burr Mall.

Addy – Older Sister

Alexander Calder is probably my all-time favorite artist. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been enamored with his mobiles and charmed by Hartford’s own Stegosaurus. It is my single favorite piece of art in our city and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to possibly create a print based on this magnificent sculpture. The view from Main Street makes Stegosaurus seem as though he is standing in his own private forest, perhaps drinking from a stream or just lazying about in the sun. And if one stands at just the right angle, one can see the dome of the Colt Building peeking out from between his legs. These two elements, the grove of trees and the Colt dome, would definitely be included in my woodcut – implying that though Stegosaurus seems to be in the woods, he actually lives in the city. If it helps with the voting – this is my favorite of the three ideas and the one I would most enjoy creating!

Callie – Middle Sister

I love this print for several reasons! First, Calder’s Stegosaurus is probably one of the most defining pieces of public art for Hartford, as well as for my childhood. I have fond memories of playing in, under, and around this bright, beautiful, bolted dinosaur and love the way the geometric patterns and heavy materials create something that is industrial, yet totally alive. Second, I love how Addy is incorporating the trees into the print. Hartford has some of the most beautiful green open spaces, from Bushnell Park to Keney Park to our riverfront, which I think are more often overlooked than explored. This print reminds us that we should be urban adventurers in the living parts of our city, since they (like the dinosaurs) were here first! Finally, I think that the aesthetic of this print really reflects what Hartford Prints! is all about. We are working in an old (some might even say “extinct”) medium, striving to illustrate what Hartford, its vibrant cultural scene, and its inspiring people, are all about.

Rory – Younger Sister

There is something so magical about Calder’s Stegosaurus. I remember as a kid playing at the feet of this sculpture and feeling big and small at the same time. Hartford Prints! created a print using the Stegosaurus in 2010 with our student Danny Tobias. This print included the text, “Who says a dinosaur can’t live in a city?” This simple, yet provocative statement challenges the way you look at our city. That’s what we strive to do at Hartford Prints!; unveil Hartford’s beauty and limitless offerings. As an expression of public art, I believe this print will continue to connect idiosyncrasies that we sometimes find living in a city, both big and small.

Have a soft spot for dinosaurs in your heart? VOTE NOW to make sure this jurassic beauty dominates the competition! Next up: Mark Twain in front of the Hartford Public Library!

Jan 7

The Story of Hartford Prints!

If you haven’t heard of Hartford Prints! before, well, you should. On its face, it’s a small paper goods shop and studio on Arbor Street in Hartford run by the quirky Gale sisters—Hartford natives—that specializes in distinctive letterpress artwork and custom paper products for a variety of special occasions. The story of Hartford Prints!, though, illustrates how the Arts Council’s grant programs really can enact powerful cultural and economic change in our community.

GRANT DOLLARS AT WORK

Back in 2009, Addy Gale, the oldest sister of three, embarked on a mission—to find a way to express her passion for printmaking. In this spirit, Addy applied for funding through the Hartford Arts & Heritage Jobs Grant Program, managed by the Arts Council and funded by the City of Hartford. The grant program is designed to create and retain jobs, especially in the cultural sector, within the Capital City. And Addy, who grew up in Hartford’s historic West End, thought it was the perfect opportunity to set up shop and return to her roots.

Grant funding helped support her start-up costs and created the opportunity to offer students from Hartford Public High School part-time jobs learning the craft of letterpress. This apprenticeship program led to the production of art prints, greeting cards and blank books expressing the students’ love of Hartford. Their was then showcased throughout Hartford, including the inaugural exhibit of the Arts Council-managed 100 Pearl Street Gallery, as a way of promoting the local community through the arts.

When grant money was running out in March 2012, Addy joined forces with her two sisters, Callie and Rory, to re-envision Hartford Prints! as a for-profit letterpress studio that’s seen a tremendous amount of success.

From Addy’s original idea to celebrate and safeguard the art of letterpress printmaking emerged a local small business with a mission of arts entrepreneurship and a keen, eclectic vibe with a passion for the Gale sister’s hometown: Hartford. The Gale sisters and their innovative print shop prove the viability of using the arts to generate economic impact and support local jobs. Through arts education and active community engagement, Hartford Prints! is a model of a small business giving back.

Who would have thought—so much good for an entire community from “three sisters and a press.”

PICK YOUR PRINT CONTEST

The Arts Council would be nowhere without the support of those who believe in the power of the arts. Every year, we like to show our appreciation to our generous donors to the United Arts Campaign through thank you gifts, one of which being a Greater Hartford-inspired print for those who contribute $500 or more.

This year, we’re partnering with Hartford Prints! and giving YOU the say in the final piece of art. The Gale sisters prepared three possible concepts for this year’s artwork inspired by some of the most beloved public art pieces in the Capital City. You can vote on your favorite concept in our online poll. The design with the most votes will be commissioned for this year’s thank you gift.

The contest runs from January 7 to January 20 and the winner will be announced on January 23.

If you’d like to learn even more about Hartford Prints!, visit HartfordPrints.com. Also—be on the lookout s for spotlights on each print the next two weeks featuring insights from each sister about the design. Happy picking!