WEIRD MUSIC NIGHT, TONIGHT 7pm, Opening Reception Sun Sept 14 1-3pm

TONIGHT

TONIGHT! THE LAST WEIRD MUSIC NIGHT OF 2025 at the Ely!!!

Don’t worry- it comes back in 2026!

7pm, Free and open to all!

FEATURING THE SOUNDS OF:

REALITY ORP is @andrei_jay_video_wizard & @palomakop
NEW HAVEN NOISE MACHINE @videoactive_avocado & Tryx
“BUY IT BURN IT” is the mysterious Jake Soffron
Special Apperance by A.I. Pacino

OPENING THIS SUNDAY

September 14 - November 2, 2025

September 14, 1-3pm, Opening Reception with refreshments provided by Katalina’s Bakery, 2pm Curatorial Walkthrough with Jared Quinton for Conceptual Romance

October 5, 1pm, Derive workshop and walk with artist Monika Lin for Translating From the Edges

The Ely Center of Contemporary Art opens its Fall ‘25 season with two exhibitions: Conceptual Romance and Translating from the Edges.

Conceptual Romance is a group exhibition drawn from more than 600 submissions to ECOCA’s annual open call to artists. This open call exhibition is curated by Jared Quinton, Emily Hall Tremaine Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT. Marking ten years of ECOCA and the seventh consecutive year of the signature Open Call program, the exhibition offers a window into the wide range of work being produced by visual artists at this moment. A wide range of works include textile-based installations, provisional sculptures, photographic paintings, and site-responsive conceptual projects.

The 23 artists featured in Conceptual Romance create propositions that engage our intellects and

emotions at the same time. Working from diverse perspectives across a range of disciplines, these artists share an understanding that art’s real meaning always exceeds articulation. They use materials, images, and formats that look and feel familiar, yet the works retain an air of mystery, seducing viewers into the realm between objects and ideas.

-Jared Quinton

Diana Abouchacra, alejandro t. acierto , Becky Bailey, Miguel Bendaña, Fernando Colón-Gonzalez, Charles Crowell, Renata Daina, Tielin Ding, Adam Farcus, Jackie Furtado, Nahom Ghebredngl, Jamey Hart, Dani Lewis, Maisy Lewis, Maria Yolanda Liebana , Monika Malewska, David Morrison , Gelah Penn, Shauna Steinbach, Jessica Tang, Ezra Thompson, Amy Wang, Can Yağız

Translating From the Edges is an exhibition of artist books curated by artist Maria Markham. The 13 artists are working on, with and from the literal and figurative edges. These books are a focus of visual elements as opposed to traditional text based books. Folding, painting, collaging, memories, sewing, even walks are incorporated into the books on display.

Artists act as translators of complex ideas and emotions that are not easily defined. Because of the complexity and sensitivity of their matter, they often translate from the edges of content, form or material. In “Translating From the Edges” more than 12 artists use the artist book to explore their own process, create daily rituals of practice or delve into themes of memory, ecology, the algorithm, idtenty and pain. These works, in many forms, take the viewer on journeys to places they might normally never visit.

-Maria Markham

Geoffrey Detrani, Lesley Finn, Heide Hatry, Bill Healy, Elena Kalkova, Ben Kue, Sonja Langford, Monika Lin, Mark Mulroney, Hafsa Nouman, Kate Quarfordt, Samantha Simpson and also featuring a community book project by Kristin Eno

Amy Wang, Lure, part of Conceptual Romance

MEET OUR FALL ‘25 KEYHOLE ARTISTS

Help us welcome our Fall 2025 Keyhole Workspace Artists in Residence!
Diana Abouchacra | Lauren Flaaen | Dario Mohr
These three artists have studio space for 4 months with us and have a culminating exhibition at the beginning of 2026!
Their studios will be open to the public Oct. 4 & 5th for New Haven Open Studios 12-5pm

COMING UP

Gutted Inquisitions presents another wonderful show!

Join us for a thrilling and otherworldly night of sound & sight!!
Tuesday, Sept 16 at 6PM
$10 suggested donation

Featuring the sounds of: Buck Gooter, VALISE, 1-800-HOT-DUCK, Katy Mongeau, Revenge Body, Softwalls, THE//MOON

Sept 28 for our Second Annual Photobook Fair!

Join us for a day of artist as these wonderful photographers hold conversations about their books! Line up schedule to be announced soon!

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

Sept 11, 7pm Weird Music Night
Sept 14, 1-3pm Opening Receptions for Conceptual Romance & Translating From the Edges
Sept 14, 2pm Curatorial Walk through with Jared Quinton for Conceptual Romance
Sept 16, 6pm Gutted Inquisitions curated concert
Sept 26, 7pm Chanelle Bergeron concert
Sept 28, 12-5:30pm Photo Book Mini-Fair
Oct 4&5, 12-5pm New Haven Open Studios for Diana Abouchacra, Lauren Flaaen & Dario Mohr our Fall ‘25 Keyhole Artists in Residence
Oct 5, 1pm, Dérive Walk w/ artist Monika Lin for Translating From the Edges
Oct 10, Tie Dye station in partnership with the New Haven Pride Center for the New Haven Night Market

JOIN OUR FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEER FAMILY

SUPPORT ECOCA

M I S S I O N

The Ely Center of Contemporary Art’s mission is to present contemporary art exhibitions and events—challenging, conceptual, and provocative—that are inclusive, diverse and promote dialogue around global and community issues. Our work reaffirms Grace Ely’s testamentary wishes for an art center where artists, arts organizations, and the public assemble, exchange, learn, and engage through exhibitions, performances, and emerging contemporary practice

ECOCA receives support from Avangrid, City of New Haven, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, Connecticut Office of the Arts, Connecticut Humanities, New Alliance Foundation, Wells Fargo, Yale University, and Friends of the John Slade Ely House of Contemporary Art.