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Become a City Lights $100 Patron Member to participate in our annual campaign or to renew your membership. Patron Members receive a 10% discount on all purchases of art, jewelry, classes, framing and admission to one special Patron Member event. Donations are tax deductible.

See how your contribution benefits the community

***DRAWING WITH SILVERPOINT CLASS***
This class has been postponed.  A new date will be announced.

Joel Spector Silverpoint

Joel Spector Silverpoint

Artist/illustrator Joel Spector will conduct this workshop, on a date to be determined. Learn to work with this precious drawing tool, favored by Renaissance masters. Read More…


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The Sketch show

“SKETCH” features works from petroglyph to iPad, including silverpoint, pastel, pencil… April 11-May 30, 2013.

The exhibit presents sketches and drawings from raw and rough to refined. Techniques include a broad range of possibilities simple cartoon drawings inscribed into shale stones collected on the Finger Lakes to figure studies, working sketches for murals and sculpture to studies for oil paintings done on an iPad using the ArtRage app. Even a series of traditional drawings in silverpoint have a refined yet rough quality.

Why “Sketch”

The first manifestation of a good idea is usually a quick sketch. The synthesis of thought or observation transposed to paper through immediate marks made with simple tools is a sublime marvel. This exhibit will consider the creative thinking process through drawing, featuring sketches, drawings, renderings and artists’ working sketches.

Contemporary works on view represent some the oldest to the newest methods of drawing and sketching, from petroglyphs of Greg Van Antwerp on shale, to working sketches by Valerie Richardson for oil paintings executed on an iPad. Another historical point of interest will be the working cartoon from a large painting by late mural artists Bernard Riley, whose works include the mural at the Burroughs Saden Library in downtown Bridgeport. (We are planning an exhibit of his work this year.)

See some of the works.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Janice Bielawa, Tom Brenner, Patte Corcoran, Christy Gallagher, Steve Gerber, Bob Gregson, Carol Heft,Suzanne Kachmar,  Inna Linnov, Valerie Richardson, Rebecca Schwartz, Joel Spector, David Teti, Greg Van Antwerp, Charlie Walsh, Mary Witkowski

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First Ladies

Thanks to our community for supporting our First Ladies exhibit!

Read about it here

Archive: See the art

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ART/BPT/2013/DETAILS

A visual scavenger hunt for artists and viewers was Jan. 25-Feb. 22, 2013

Read more, see art

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Thanks to the community for a successful Artful Gifts 2012-13!

Connecticut Post: ‘Artful Gifts’ gives back to the community

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bigheadCall for Artists

City Lights Galley’s third annual gay-themed art show seeks artists with work that reflects the prevailing LGBTQ zeitgeist. With growing support for marriage equality, from the White House on down, the LGBTQ community has much to celebrate, while bracing for countless battles ahead. City Lights Gallery is looking for strong work that communicates the triumph and strength of a year of victory, and the evolution/revolution ahead, and what it means for individual liberty and personal choice. Work that is deeply personal and introspective is just as welcome as imagery that conveys broad themes. Artists need not necessarily be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or in any way queer. But the works should address what the battles, progress and successes since Stonewall have contributed to our society. Progressive adoption laws to a broader acceptance of how we express and define ourselves apart from traditional gender norms are among some of the possible topics, but as always the theme is open to personal interpretation. Submission deadline: May 8, 2013. Exhibit opens June 6, 2013. Artists reception date T.B.A. For more info: www.citylightsgallery.org

(Photo by Michelle Beaulieu)
HOW TO SUBMIT WORK:
SEND SUBMISSIONS IN JPEG FORMAT, 72 DPI, (no more than 8 images)
DUE BY MAY 8, 2013 to: clgallery@gmail.com please use “Submission for submission” in subject title
Art will be reviewed by a curatorial panel: Michelle Beaulieu, Dana Gugliemo, Suzanne Kachmar, Ricky Mestre, Ben Ortiz, Lee Steele
Artists will be notified by May 15. Chosen art should be delivered by May 30-June 1. Gallery Hours are W-F, 11:30-5, Sat. 12-4 p.m.

NECESSARY INFO TO INCLUDE WITH SUBMISSION:
Brief artists statement and itemized list of work submitted: title, size, medium, price of work submitted. Also include artist’s contact info: name, email, phone (evening and daytime numbers), mailing address and website if available.

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“CARS AND CANNOLI!” What a great tme we had at the 4th Annual Classic and Custom Auto Show on McLevy Green in Downtown Bridgeport, Sat., Oct. 20, 2012.

Classic and custom autos complemented by the classic and custom architecture that surrounds McLevy Green. Luigi’s Cannoli … Bocce Ball … the WPKN 89.5 fm  Car Bob Guys … Trophies, Cash Prizes, Live Music … $5 admission for autos.
We also had a great day for The 3rd Annual Classic & Custom Car Show! The rain held off to bring out some great cars, crafts, jewelry and live surf music. See some highlights.

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News

Learn how City Lights is dedicated to serving the community. Thank you Connecticut Post for this great article!
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Best Gallery

City Lights was recently voted “Best Gallery in Fairfield County” by the 2012 Fairfield Weekly’s Readers’ Poll! This is the fifth time we were voted best! Thank you everyone!

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CITY LIGHTS PROGRAMS: bringing cultural arts enrichment to the community.

View highlights from the visit of Nigerian artist Tunde Odunlade to City Lights and the community and find out why we want to celebrate! Partnering with Roosevelt School, grant recipient from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities
Read more…

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Converging Paths “Converging Paths” featured the work of men from Algeria, Nigeria, New York and New Haven. Read more.

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WPKN City Lights interview

Listen to Suzanne Kachmar discuss “Converging Paths” on WPKN’s “State of the Arts.” 

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THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS, MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND EXHIBITING ARTISTS. The City Lights calendar of ongoing events is sponsored in part by the Fairfield County Community Foundation, People’s United Bank, the Connecticut Office of the Arts and UIL Holdings Corporation (UI, Southern Connecticut Gas Co., CNG, Berkshire Gas) SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS OF THE CITY LIGHTS ART ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: Elizabeth Pfriem, Pitney Bowes, Ben Ortiz and Victor Torchia, ING.

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Bringing art to Roosevelt School

Suzanne Kachmar, our program director, is in Bridgeport’s Roosevelt School once a week where City Lights’ dedicated gallery/studio space brings art and creativity to area students. Our intention is to engage students during school and after school. It takes several days to create and mount a new exhibit. The learning panels are designed so all  teachers, especially the art teacher across the hall from the gallery space, can use or visit the gallery space any time. The content presented is designed to promote art appreciation, transferable skills and increase vocabulary. We also will schedule classroom visits with visiting artists who are exhibiting in the Roosevelt school gallery space.  As we receive more funding, we can even spend more time at Roosevelt School.

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Thank you Bridgeport for an incredible Art Trail 2011

There were 30 city-wide arts venues and performances on Veteran’s Day Weekend, Nov. 10-13, 2011. Working art studios and galleries worked together to be available to the public, free of charge. More…

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We had a great day for The 3rd Annual Classic & Custom Car Show! The rain held off to bring out some great cars, crafts, jewelry and live surf music. See some highlights.

Thank you to our partner the Downtown Special Services District for sponsoring the 3rd Annual Classic and Car Show on Sept. 24 at McLevy Green in Bridgeport.

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THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS, MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND EXHIBITING ARTISTS.

The City Lights calendar of ongoing events is sponsored in part by the Fairfield County Community Foundation, People’s United Bank,the Connecticut Office of the Arts and UIL Holdings Corporation (United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas Co., CNG, Berkshire Gas), The Mayor’s Arts and Heritage Grants Award, The Bridgeport Arts and Cultural Council, The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS OF THE CITY LIGHTS ART ENRICHMENT PROGRAM:
ELIZABETH PFRIEM, PITNEY BOWES, BEN ORTIZ AND VICTOR TORCHIA, ING.