Whether from backgrounds of business careers or art school educated, the 12 artists from NEST Arts Factory will put on a dazzling display of their talents when Wilton Library welcomes them in an opening reception on Friday, June 1, from 6-7:30 p.m..
Jill Morton of Wilton is one of the artists featured in the exhibition. Also taking part in the show are Kristen Ambrosi of Fairfield; Patrice Barrett and Kristin Merrill of Easton; Carlos Davila, Jane Davila, Meighan Morrison of Bridgeport; Gwen Hendrix of Oxford; Phyllis Lee of Westport; Susan Taylor Murray of Monroe; and Denise Susalka and Janice Sweetwater of Redding.
The artists work in a wide array of media including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, graphics, mixed media, sculpture and framed jewelry. Their styles and choices of subject matter are as diverse as their varied backgrounds, using portraits, still life, abstracts, botanicals, landscapes and more as the basis of their works.
What has united them, however, is the NEST Arts Factory, a community of artists inspired by their surroundings in a reimagined factory building in Bridgeport. According to the group’s website, its mission is “to showcase and nurture artists, musicians, and the creative process. To provide a unique and inspiring environment to explore and discover art and music while enabling artists and musicians to experiment and collaborate across disciplines and media.”
The NEST began as an outgrowth of the Cricket Hosiery Co., the first company to combine computers with knitting machines to create graphically-designed socks. A number of graphic artists were employed to design the socks, a move that helped the hosiery manufacturer to establish an early relationship with the local arts community. As excess factory space became available, artists began to move into the space. With the decline of business, artist easels and drawing tables replaced knitting machines as the space gave over entirely to the new NEST Arts Factory.
Wilton Library connected with the NEST Artists when Ed MacEwen, the library’s art chairman, learned about the cooperative.
“I was fortunate last year to catch an exhibition by this talented cadre of artists and felt that their diversity in style and form would be perfect for the library’s walls,” he recalls.
Friday’s reception is free and open to the public. Most of the 70 works will be available to purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library. The exhibition runs through June 28. The media sponsor for the exhibition is The Wilton Bulletin.
Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Rd..