THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Gallery at Firehouse Square, located at 239 Bank Street in New London, CT, is hosting a special art exhibit throughout the month of October to support breast cancer awareness. The gallery’s “In The Pink” art exhibit features seven celebrated Connecticut artists, showcasing more than 30 works of art that express the cancer experience and the healing process through stunning artwork of female figures and paintings of landscapes and seascapes designed to soothe and inspire, as well as convey strength and support.  Among the collection, guests will fall in love with such cherished masterpieces as “North Cove” by Laura Levine of Old Saybrook, “Monhegan Light” by Jill Nichols of Shelton, “Phyllis” by Jennifer Holmes of Westbrook, “Cupcakes” by Haily Cryan of Deep River, “Sally” by Claudia Van Nes of Chester, “The Apple” by Samuel Albert of Waterford, and “Glory Be” by Lisa Sanders of Lisbon.

“In The Pink” opens Friday, October 4th and runs through Thursday, October 31st at THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE in New London.  Guests will have an opportunity to meet and greet the artists during an opening reception on Thursday, October 10th from 5:30-8:00 p.m.  All the paintings are available for sale through THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE, and 10% of the proceeds with be donated to Community Cancer Center at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. More information on “In The Pink” is available at www.firehousesquare.com.

While THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE holds a salt-water flavor, it is open to any representational art. The gallery is participating in this special “In The Pink” regional event for the second time, and is thrilled to be able to display and sell art that heals the mind and soul.   Artists who have experienced cancer or have loved ones affected by the disease use methods such as creating art or viewing art to soothe or comfort them. Art therapy can be used in many ways with a positive effect on people. One might stand on the shore and paint the sea, or set an easel on a pathway to paint a road that leads to an imaginative destination.

About The Artists

Laura Levine: The paintings of award-winning artist Laura Levine’s have been featured in exhibitions at galleries and cultural centers, including Gallery East in East Hampton, New York; the Mill Gallery in Guilford, Connecticut; the Munson Gallery and the John Slade Ely House in New Haven, Connecticut; the Cooley Gallery in Old Lyme, Connecticut; The Gallery at the Wauregan in Norwich, Connecticut; and The Gallery at Firehouse Square in New London, Connecticut.  In addition, her work was selected by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts for exhibition at the Capital Building and Legislative Office Building in Hartford. In order to observe the intensity and subtleties in nature, Laura paints on location. Initially, she is drawn to the colors of nature – like a melody enjoyed before one hears the words. Mixing and observing colors in nature are my greatest joy.

Jill Harrington Nichols: A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, Jill Harrington Nichols spent countless days at the beach, sailing at Black Rock and walking the bridal trails instilled in her a deep appreciation of the natural beauty and wonder of the area.  Her fine art training includes the Art Student League in New York City, Silvermine Guild in New Canaan, Old Lyme Academy and Gallery 53 in Connecticut. She has been privileged to study under many noted artists that have helped form a firm foundation for her paintings.  Her first oil painting was of the view from her long-awaited sailboat in Black Rock Harbor, which included Fayerweather Lighthouse.  Recently, Jill completed an 18-hole indoor mini-golf attraction, "The Pirates of Fortune and Perils of the Deep," at the Batting Cage in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport . The course features ten murals; two that were inspired by the illustrations of N.C. Wyeth while the other eight are all black light scenes that Jill first conceived and composed in Photoshop.

Jennifer Holmes: As one of the most prolific of New England plein air painters, Jennifer Holmes has won numerous Connecticut awards for her work. After attending Rochester Institute of Technology, Hartford Art School, and completing a BFA in Graphic Design and a Minor in Marketing Management at Central Connecticut State University, Jennifer decided to pursue a career in Painting in the tradition of the plein air painters of Old Lyme and Rockport.  Jennifer paints on location as much as possible, which enables her to capture a bit of the life in a fleeting moment.

Haily Cryan: A recent graduate of the University of Hartford (2011), Haily is a freelance illustrator workingout of New York City.  She is currently looking for work in the children's market as well as educational, advertising or editorial work. She does ongoing commission work of all kinds,including portraits of people, homes, pets and landscapes, and is available to do design work, logos or illustration for businesses of all kinds.

Claudia Van Nes: Living in Chester, Connecticut, Claudia finds inspiration in her garden and paints in a semi representational style. She intended to be an artist as a child but life took a different turn and she became a journalist, mother, wife, gardener and lots of other stuff. When she retired at 59, she decided to fulfill her long-delayed intentions and became an artist fulltime. She finds it exhilarating, frustrating and messy, and loves every minute.