Dec
3
to Jan 7
exhibition

Sam’s Christmas Vinyl Lounge

  • Ely Center of Contemporary Art, 51 Trumbull Street New Haven, CT 06510 (map)
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A special lounge of holiday music—complete with framed vintage Christmas albums, an old school record player playing Christmas music, and comfortable lounge seats to help you  relax and listen to your favorite melodies. 

Some of the popular artists featured are Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, the Carpenters, as well as music from around the world like Jamaica, Italy, New Haven, and children’s music such as Alvin and the Chipmunks, Mickey Mouse, and Captain Kangaroo.

This is a special project of Sam Goldenberg who put this wonderful exhibit together!

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New Haven Paint & Clay Club Members Juried Show
Nov
30
to Jan 7

New Haven Paint & Clay Club Members Juried Show

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In 1961, the New Haven Paint & Clay Club found a home for its exhibitions at the John Slade Ely House Galleries, where it now sponsors two exhibitions yearly.

In 1900 a group of Connecticut artists met and formed NHPCC, now one of New England’s oldest, and still active, arts organizations. New Haven was chosen primarily because of the Yale School of the Fine Arts, where many of the artists had studied. Many of the important American artists of the 1900s were represented in the Club’s early exhibitions.

Public Reception:  Sunday, December 3, 1 – 3 pm

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ECOCA A.I.R.
Oct
17
to Nov 17

ECOCA A.I.R.

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Fall Edition

ECOCA is proud to introduce its first A.I.R. workspace program which reinforces our mission to reaffirm 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.

Artists and collectives each occupy a room in the John Slade Ely House Galleries, a 1905 English Elizabethan style house, to produce work that includes film, painting, illustration, video and social practice. Special programming will be announced throughout the month—studio visits, workshops, panels, conversations, screenings, and other pubic events—all driven by the artists-in-residence.

Featured artists: Taylor Chamberlain, Ryan Doyle, Nasty Women Film Festival, Courtney Lytle, Shilo Ratner, Anna Robinson-Sweet, Jean Scott, Marcela Staudenmaier

Open studios in conjunction with Artspace CWOS takes place Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22 from 12–6 pm. Come meet the artists!

Residence Gallery

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Maniac : Manic Episode 5
Sep
6
to Oct 14

Maniac : Manic Episode 5

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Exhibiting Artists

Natalie Abrams, Wahida Azhari, Cat Balco, Steven Baris, Gaston Bertin, Louise Blyton, Arleta Cehic, Marc Cheetham, Seumas r. Coutts, Jeanne Criscola, Andy Cunningham, Kevin Daly, Ellen Hackl Fagan, Kevin Finklea, Andre Geertse, Connie Goldman, Cyndy Goldman, Kathy Goodell, Elizabeth Gourlay, Bob Gregson, Joel Holub, Blinn Jacobs, Erdem Kucuk-Koroglu, Janet Lage, Karleen Loughran, Niki Lederer, Katherine Mojzsis, Munira Naqui, Roland Orepuk, Karen Ostrum, Michael Perbach, Sue Post, Beverly Rautenberg, Cynthia Beth Rubin, George Schade, Karen Schifano, Martin Scholte, Suzan Shutan, Ayad Sinawi, Andrew Small, Taro Suzuki, Aimee Terburg, Jill Vasileff, Jonathan Waters, and Tamar Zinn.

In partnership with Ball & Socket Arts, Cheshire, CT

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Aug
1
to Aug 19

Ben Parker: Paper Constructions

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Origami is a fascinating discipline. To its practitioners, it presents an unparalleled challenge to the mind and body, and the knowledge that can be unlocked by pushing the limits of what is possible with a single sheet of paper never ceases to amaze. The study is ancient, yet modern science is just beginning to reveal its full potential. It involves the manipulation of paper, among the humblest of materials, yet it sheds light on questions that flow through fundamental branches of human study such as mathematics, physics, pedagogy, art, and meditation. It is an art form that in its purest state neither adds nor subtracts material, but alters it in an almost alchemical process. It has international and intergenerational appeal, is accessible to all willing to put effort into its practice, and is represented by organizations that consistently promote the philosophy of communal advancement. These aspects of origami have held my interest for a very long time, and I do not expect that to change.
 
I practice a branch of this discipline known as geometric origami, and primarily design tessellations, which are studies of how paper can be shaped to create complex patterns capable of an infinite number of repeated iterations. While studying in Aix-en-Provence in 2007, I vacationed in Rome. At the time I was engrossed in one of the most holistic origami design books on the market, Robert Lang’s Origami Design Secrets. In it, Lang describes how to create an origami base, the skeleton of a representational design, and how to add details to create incredibly realistic designs. The designs are mathematical at their core yet result in a natural look that make many believe they are looking at a scale model of the object. Around the same time, I (re)discovered a photo-sharing website called flickr and a group called Origami Tessellations. The members of this group produce and share elaborate abstract paper designs.

Walking through the Roman historical centers, these two strong inspirational forces combined to make me think, “I wonder if…” It is almost 9 years later, and I still have not folded a detailed model of the Vatican out of a single uncut sheet of paper, but I have several decades left before I die. I have started on the architectural path by folding several skyscrapers out of paper, including the John Hancock Building in Chicago and the Terminal Tower in Cleveland, but there is more to learn. In the interim, I will be content exploring the vastness of geometric origami design. Origami tessellation studies have given rise to compositional studies such as the Breaking the Pattern series, an exploration into how to use abstract forms to draw a provocative picture with the paper. An open mind and fortune has granted me access to invaluable collaborations such as the series I share with darkroom photographer Christine Dalenta, which we call Shadow Tessellations.

My work is just beginning. I have used this art to become a proficient educator, writer, curator, mathematician, photographer, organizer, and entrepreneur. While none of these were my intended vocation, I have had to adapt to be successful at my craft. It has shaped who I am, my direction in life, and my relationships. I cannot imagine my life without origami.

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Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Jun
29
to Aug 13
exhibition

Broad Stripes and Bright Stars

Exhibiting Artists

Alteronce Gumby, Annie C. Thornton, Artcodex, Aude Jomini, Azzah Sultan, Bean Gilsdorf, Brian Edlefson, Buildface, Carol Diehl, Caitlin Cherry, Chico Aragao, Cey Adams, Chen Reichert, Chris Crawford, Christine Tinsley, Consuelo J. Underwood, Sr. Corita Kent, Daniel Eugene, Danna Singer, Daze, Destiny Palmer, Dooley-o, Eli Wright, Erika Ranee, Esperanza Mayobre, Gabriella Svenningsen, Helen Zughaib, Icebucket, Insook Hwang, James Esber, Jane Fine, Jay Critchley, Jeff Mueller/Dexterity Press, Jesse Albrecht, Jim Martin, John T Hill, Jody Williams, Karin Schaefer, Laura Genes, Laura Marsh, Laurel Porcari, Leslie Carmin, Lex Brown, Lisa Kereszi, Marion Belanger, Marc Morrel, Mark Olshansky, Mark Williams, Martha Lewis, Mauricio Cortes Ortega, Merritt Johnson, Michael Nÿkamp, Michael St John, Moussa Gueye, Natalie Ball, Natalie Baxter, New Haven Museum, Noe Jimenez, Paolo Arao, Phil Lique, Philip Knoll, Price Harrison, Rashmi, Robert D’alessandro, Robert Longo, Ruben Marroquin, Sket One, Stanley Forman, Stanwyck Cromwell, Sue Muskat, Susan Clinard, Stephen Shore, Sven Martson, Terrance Weinzierl, Tizzie Mills, Tom Strong, Vic De La Rosa, Walker Evans, Wayne Koestenbaum, Zeph Farmby and Zim-one.

On-site Happenings

From haute couture to picnicware, the American Flag  one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous branding symbols world wide. In the spirit of artist's  multiples "shops" like Barbara Kulicki and Marian Goodman's "Betsy Ross Flag and Banner Company" 1961 and Dread Scott and Kyle Goen's United We Stand Stand, "Flag Swag" will include an array of affordable limited edition multiples by artists: stickers, flair, zines to flags and fashion accessories, t-shirts  and much more.

A companion concept project to BROAD STRIPES and BRIGHT STARS, FLAG SWAG invites artists and designers to offer special edition multiples for sale at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in a pop-up store on site and online.

Press Release

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Mar
31
6:30 PM18:30

Fruits of Labor

Fruits of Labor | Pop-up Performance during In Grace We Trust  |  March 2017

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Mar
1
to Mar 31

Onnie Chan

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Jan
1
to Jan 31

ECA Student Media

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ECA Student Media  | January 2017

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