Artwork by Kerstin Kary.

We love getting messages from overseas!  Recently, we were thrilled to hear from Ripple Effect artist Kerstin Kary, who is currently in Germany.  She had this to share about her installation at 756 Chapel St., and about her love for New Haven.

Be sure to check Kerstin’s work, and the rest of Ripple Effect in its last weekend!  Stop by the wrap-up party this Sunday, March 18, from 6-8pm. 

New Haven was our winter escape from Tallinn, Estonia. My partner did a fellowship at the YCBA while I joined him for a transit period of a couple of months. We had noticed the building, or rather its highlighted glass window front on the first floor, before we had actually read about the Ripple Effect project in one of the student newspapers. Shortly after, I visited the space at 756 Chapel St. where I met Debbie Hesse and got myself tagged by the artist Janice Barnish.

I immediately liked the space as well as the idea of transforming the building and the community through creative ripples. The black box on the second floor captured my attention in particular since it provides a contrasting ‘negative’ space directly opposite the cubed glass windows where the natural light is let in. It is also an interesting corner because it’s immediately next to the staircase leading up. It equally hosts the doors to the elevator and a door marked EXIT.

Before seeing the Ripple Effect Exhibit and becoming involved I’ve worked on sketches inspired by a mesh cube headpiece adorned with crystals by Nashir Mazhar for fashion designer Gareth Pugh, which I saw at the Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center in NYC and an antique metal diving helmet. Both pieces seem to be the perfect item to tackle noise pollution where ordinary headphones are simply not enough. People distance themselves from everyday noise by listening to music or talking on the phone. So one needs a personal soundtrack to block out mobile phones, people, talking traffic lights, TV screens, sirens, cars,… One has to create more noise to reach a sort of private space; some kind of personal isolation from the surrounding world. One’s favorite music turns into background music and becomes a wall of protection. The headpiece and the diving helmet, they both completely cover the head and create a private or quiet space. Similarly in my montage, the black cube creates a private space for the figures to hide within and to fall into, leaving all the noise behind. Inside the black box the position next to the EXIT sign turned into an absolute escape.

We are looking for artists to donate their artwork for this great event and great cause.  Here are the requirements for the artwork:

• 6 X 9 IN BAG WILL BE $10 (selling price)
• 9 X 12 BAG WILL BE $25.
• 12 X 16 BAGS WILL BE $50.

All mediums are welcome and all artwork should be signed by the artist.  You may submit more than one piece of artwork.  You can indicate whether you want to DONATE HALF of the proceeds or DONATE ALL of the proceeds.  Artwork may be dropped off February 6-21 at the following locations:

• The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon Street, New Haven. You may mail artwork to this address too. Attention: Winter. Re: Clearance Sale
• Studio 765. 756 Chapel Street. New Haven. Contact:  Marcus. Hours: Wed-Fridays, 4-7pm, Sat & Sunday 12-5

For more information and official submission form, Download: Call For Artwork for CLEARANCE SALE.TODAY ONLY.

Daniel Eugene in front of his Ripple Effect wall drawing

Daniel Eugene is an artist that likes to work spontaneously, without pre-meditation, and is greatly impacted by the physical atmosphere he is working in.  It is no wonder, then, that being a part of Ripple Effect has had such an impact for Daniel.  “Working in 756[Chapel St.] presented new and unique influences upon my creative process,” said Daniel.  “It was a delight to have activities and workshops going on around me as I was drawing along with folks coming up and down the stairs – always a short conversation, a new face, some comments on my work.  My installation at 756 is certainly the most social work I have done.”   Daniel, a native of Bethany, CT and current resident of New Haven, believes that the impact of Ripple Effect on New Haven is not just one of artistic enhancement, but an experience that has brought “overlapping artistic and social diversity in New Haven and, more specifically, in the 9th Square neighborhood.”

Aicha Woods' Sumptuary Flurry

Ripple Artist Aicha Woods delights to work with everyday matter and detritus. Her fragile, temporary installations tend to waver between emergence and entropy.  With her installation in Ripple Effect entitled Sumptuary Flurry, Woods utilizes a scattering of gold and silver buttons to not only pay homage to the once retail enterprise housed at 756 State Street, but also epitomize the title of the work itself as it is indeed a flurry of artistic expression influenced by Sumptuary laws.

But, what are Sumptuary laws?

Sumptuary laws (from Latin sumptuariae leges) are laws that attempt to regulate habits of consumption. Black’s Law Dictionary defines them as if “Laws made for the purpose of restraining luxury or extravagance, particularly against inordinate expenditures in the matter of apparel, food, furniture, etc. Traditionally, they were laws that regulated and reinforced social hierarchies and morals through restrictions on clothing. food, and luxury expenditures. In most times and places, they were ineffectual. (Courtesy of Wikipedia) 

To celebrate the holiday season, we’ve decided to share a few photos from our recent holiday reception at 756 Chapel St. Like what you see? Then come check out all of the amazing art being created as the Ripple Effect continues to grow into the new year!
Click to view slideshow.