Around Town

‘They’re Excited, They’re Proud’: Social Justice Youth Art Showcase Opens at Carriage Barn

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Dozens of Students, families and art appreciators from New Canaan and throughout Fairfield County visited the Carriage Barn Arts Center on Saturday for the opening reception of an exhibition focused on social justice. Presented by Stand Together Against Racism or “STAR,” in partnership with The Glass House, Carriage Barn and NewCanaanite.com, the Third Annual Fairfield County Social Justice Youth Art Showcase, titled “Through Your Looking Glass,” will run through Nov. 24 at the popular gallery in Waveny Park. The number of students participating in the exhibition has tripled since its first year, according to Susan Borst, co-chair of the Showcase together with Blessings Misomali. “It has grown, especially by age,” Borst told NewCanaanite.com as artists mingled with friends, family and art-lovers, taking in a wide range of media including paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, mixed media and poetry.

Around Town

2nd Annual Waveny Park Arts Festival Set for Oct. 6 [Q&A]

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The second annual Waveny Park Arts Festival is less than two weeks away. Presented Oct. 6 in partnership with the New Canaan Parks & Recreation Department, and with support from the Waveny Park Conservancy, the Carriage Barn Arts Center’s festival features a juried collection from fine artists and artisans across a wide range of media. The Carriage Barn is looking to build on a very successful inaugural event, with live music, family activities, refreshments and food trucks and more—including a new “Young Entrepreneurs Marketplace.”

We put some questions to the organization’s executive director, Hilary Wittmann, ahead of the Oct. 6 festival.

Around Town

Q&A: NCHS Art Exhibition ‘Through Our Eyes XII’ Opens This Week at Carriage Barn

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The annual New Canaan High School art exhibition opens with a reception to be held 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the Carriage Art Barn Center. The exhibition, “Through Our Eyes XII,” runs March 15 to 30, featuring dozens of paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media and other work from 120-plus NCHS students. Sponsors include Williams Raveis, Anderson Kenny Architecture, HTG Advisors and NewCanaanite.com. 

We put some questions about the exhibition to Carriage Barn Executive Director Hilary Wittmann ahead of the opening. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: Tell us about this year’s annual NCHS exhibition.

Around Town

Town Approves Arts Festival Planned for Oct. 1 in Waveny

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The Board of Selectmen this week approved use of Waveny Park for an arts festival operated by one of New Canaan’s best-established nonprofit organizations. The Carraige Barn Arts Center has proposed use of the area immediately outside its own building and the nearby Powerhouse Theatre for a one-time event to be held on Sunday, Oct. 1. Hilary Wittmann, the Carriage Barn’s executive director, said the festival will be free and open to the public and will coincide with her organization’s 45 Annual Member Show, featuring “artists, demonstrations, performances and workshops and in addition to the sale of painting, sculpture, jewelry and ceramics.”

“Approximately 35 artists would exhibit in 10-by-10 display spaces or tents in the park,” Wittmann told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held Tuesday in Town Hall and via videoconference. “In the parking area and courtyard area of the Carriage Barn and Powerhouse Theatre, that sort of section of the park.”

First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and Selectmen Kathleen Corbet and Nick Williams voted 3-0 in favor of the use of Waveny.

Around Town

Q&A: ‘Art in the Windows’ Kicks Off Friday

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A partnership that brings together the New Canaan arts and business communities is set to kick off a popular annual exhibition this week. “Art in the Windows” is a storefront exhibition organized by the Carriage Barn Arts Center in partnership with the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. They’re hosting an Art Stroll Kickoff event at Elm Street and South Avenue from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 2. 

We put some questions to Carriage Barn Executive Director Hilary Wittmann ahead of the launch. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: What is ‘Art in the Windows’ and what is its history in New Canaan?