The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is pleased to present the first museum survey of the work of the trailblazing artist, feminist and lesbian scholar, curator, activist, and author Harmony Hammond. Spanning almost fifty years, 1971 to 2018, the exhibition will bring together her earliest painted sculptures and sculpted paintings, mixed-media and monumental “installational” paintings of the 1980’s and 1990’s, and recent thickly painted “near monochromes,” as well as works on paper, ephemera, and publications. Harmony Hammond: Material Witness, Five Decades of Art will be on view at The Aldrich from March 3 to September 15, 2019.

For five decades, Hammond has created an inimitable approach that unites Minimalist and Postminimalist concerns—the grid, repetition, an engagement with materials, process, and site-activation—with feminist art strategies. In doing so, she recovers marginalized craft traditions that combine abstraction with a wide cast of materials: those that are scavenged and imbued with redolent stories like fabric, burlap, rope, straw, leaves, roots, pine needles, dirt, hair, blood, bone, linoleum, metal roofing, burnt wood, and grommets; and those that are traditional such as oil and acrylic paint, graphite, watercolor, latex rubber, and bronze. Through her use of primarily additive and connective processes, Hammond has created a network of meaning that “presences the body.” Her surfaces are expressive, skins endowed with fleshly textures, marks, and appendages. They exude a toughness, an imperative energy, predicated on performative muscular procedures of production such as ripping, tying, wrapping, binding, braiding, puncturing, strapping, and patching, resulting in surfaces and forms infused with social implications.

Harmony Hammond (b. 1944) was a prominent figure in the development of the feminist art movement in New York in the early 1970s. Besides her being a co-founder of A.I.R. and the journal HERESIES: A Feminist Publication of Art & Politics(1976), she is the author of Wrappings: Essays on Feminism, Art, and the Martial Arts(TSL Press, 1984), considered to be a seminal publication of 1970s feminist art; her groundbreaking book Lesbian Art in America: A Contemporary History (Rizzoli, 2000) received a Lambda Literary Award. Hammond attended the University of Minnesota from 1963 to 1967, and moved to New York City in 1969. Since 1984, she has lived and worked in New Mexico, teaching at the University of Arizona, Tucson, from 1989 to 2006. In 2013, Hammond was honored with the College Art Association’s Distinguished Feminist Award. Her work has been exhibited at institutions nationally and internationally.

A full-color scholarly publication, with an essay by Amy Smith-Stewart, will be available during the exhibition. This book will be the first hardcover monograph of Hammond’s work.

In a presentation titled “Supporting Israel on American College Campuses,” the head of the Columbia University chapter of the nation-wide organization “Students Supporting Israel” will speak locally this coming Sunday about the group’s ongoing efforts to push back against the spread of antisemitism on campus.

Dalia Zahger, who co-founded the chapter at Columbia, is scheduled to be at Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.

A $10 donation at the door is requested. Middle Eastern and Israeli small bites will be served. To reserve a seat, contact AdultProgramming@OurShirShalom.org.

The stated mission of “Students Supporting Israel” is to “promote a better understanding of Israel throughout America, with a right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state, within secure borders. We are changing the anti-Israel climate many students encounter on campus.”

Dalia Zahger is a senior at Columbia University who is majoring in political science and studying to practice international law.

As a child growing up in Israel, she says that “I learned how to live under missiles.” At 18, she joined the Israeli Defense Forces, rising to the rank of commander in field intelligence. At 21, she traveled to Central America, and “learned even there I need to stand up for my country.”

Using just the human voice, Naturally 7 summon up soul, rap, rock and folk in one harmonious balance. After appearing on CBS’ “World’s Best” this season, they return to The Playhouse with their 20th anniversary tour!

7 guys. Multiple ways of making music using only their voices. What they do is far more than a-cappella. They are a band without a band. Having met in school and gospel choir they quickly discovered that they were doing more than just singing songs, they all discovered perfect hypervocal capabilities. That’s why Naturally 7 call their music “vocal play.”  They have famous fans such as Michael Bublé (whom they joined on 3 world tours), Coldplay (“Fix You” is one of the finest adaptions of music you can imagine), Quincy Jones (who called them “best a-cappella band worldwide”), Herbie Hancock (listen to their H. Hancock medley) and many others. Their repertoire is a mix of their own compositions and cover versions.

Naturally 7 are: “Ricky” Lee Ricardo Cort, Rod Eldridge , Kelvin “Kelz“ Mitchell, Sean Simmonds , Dwight Stewart , Roger Thomas and Warren Thomas

Opening Act: The Rolling Tones (from John Jay High School)

Sponsors:
Pepsi

Xfinity

American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry has scored Billboard and American Music Awards, as well as Grammy Award nominations for hits including “Home,” “It’s Not Over,” and “No Surprise.” Don’t miss his return to The Playhouse stage with an intimate, acoustic set! Daughtry (fronted by American Idol Season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry) has released six studio albums, scored four No. 1 hits and garnered 4 Grammy Award nominations. Additionally, the band has sold over 8 million albums and 16 million singles, as well as selling out concerts around the globe. Radio hits include the mulit-format hit No. 1 song “It’s Not Over,” “Home,” and “No Surprise.” Daughtry’s self-titled album was the fastest-selling rock debut in Soundscan history, and its follow up, Leave This Town, marked the quintet’s second consecutive No. 1 album. The band’s third album, Break The Spell, was certified GOLD within four weeks of its release; their fourth effort, Baptized, produced the certified GOLD single, “Waiting For Superman;” and last year’s Cage to Rattle hit the Billboard Top 10.

Sponsors:
Pepsi
Xfinity

Welcome to the 2019 Ridgefield Writers Conference!

Due to the success of the 2018 Ridgefield Writers Conference and the growing interest in its breakout session format, we have scheduled this year’s event for Friday, September 20, from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Ridgefield Library, with the same general format. For more information about the presenters visit the Word for Words web page. 

Keynote and Panelist: Charles Rafferty-Poet and Author

Panelists: Jim Childs-Editor and Publisher
Gina Maccoby-Literary Agent

Conference Schedule:
Main Program Room-Lower Level

6:15 PM: Arrival and check-in
6:30 PM: Introduction by the Ridgefield Library
6:40 PM: Keynote address and reading
7:15 PM: Wine and cheese reception and networking
7:30 PM: Q&A panel with agent, editor/publisher, and keynote
8:00 PM: Breakout session forums

Registration and Fee: This year’s event is on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration is through the Event’s page of the Ridgefield Library. The registration fee is $25 and includes the evening’s keynote, reading, panel Q&A, reception, one breakout forum, and networking.

To register and pay, please click here. 

Opening Reception:

Saturday, September 21st,  4-6pm

Juror: Fred Giampietro of The Fred Giampietro Gallery in New Haven, CT

Email director.rgoa@gmail.com for questions.

Visit The Aldrich for FREE the third Saturday of each month! See the latest in contemporary art, explore our Sculpture Garden, and join us for a tour and art-making workshop.

Gallery Tour
12 noon

Participate in a tour highlighting key pieces throughout the Museum and Sculpture Garden and engage in conversation around the work of Sara Cwynar, Radcliffe Bailey, Tom Friedman, Nari Ward, and Tony Tasset, led by Aldrich staff member Michelle Friedman.

Art-Making Workshop: Playful Painting with Erika Rohde
10 am to 12 noon and 1 to 3 pm
All ages

A day all about experimental painting! Teaching artist and educator Erika Rohde will be leading workshops all day using unexpected tools and techniques for painting including salad spinners, string and jewelry chains, bubbles, and tape. Create an assortment of colorful and funky masterpieces to bring home or display them in The Studio!

Third Saturdays are generously sponsored by Fairfield County Bank.

Just 30 minutes south of Ridgefield, The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a breathtaking Civil War era country house built by renowned financier and railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood. The Mansion is a “technological marvel” of its time with indoor plumbing, gas lighting, and a central heating system. Join us for a 90-minute tour led by trained docents of this outstanding National Historic Landmark. The guides lead you through the ornate and beautifully restored ground level and then, in a surprise move, take you upstairs for a behind-the-scenes view of the dilapidated and unrestored second floor.

In addition to the house tour, the Museum is presenting the exhibition From Corsets to Suffrage: Victorian Women Trailblazers, curated by Kathleen Motes Bennewitz, in celebration of the centennial of the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution. The exhibition shows local, regional, and national efforts for women to gain the vote through the lens of women’s fashion, from restrictive period garments to the generally loose-fitting and more revealing flapper dresses.

This tour is the first presentation of Votes for Women, a year-long celebration of the 100^thanniversary of the 19^th Amendment that the Historical Society is embarking on in collaboration with the Ridgefield Library, the League of Women Voters, and the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center.

Enjoy a glass of wine and join us in exploring the basics of drawing the figure with artist and Aldrich staff member Noah Fox. Draw inspiration from a live nude model and experiment with a variety of materials such as charcoal, oil pastel, and graphite sticks. Feel free to bring your own materials; no prior drawing experience necessary!

Registration required at shop.aldrichart.org.

Lead guitarist for Widespread Panic and founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit and Jazz Is Dead, Jimmy has played with The Allman Brothers Band, Project Z, Derek Trucks Band, Phil Lesh & Friends and The Dead.

Jimmy’s new band, The 5 of 7, places his uniquely probing, responsive fretwork in the context of a vocalist-fronted, song-driven ensemble. At once accessible and provocative, The 5 of 7 finds Herring joined by bassist Kevin Scott, drummer Darren Stanley, longtime collaborator Matt Slocum on keyboards (Hammond B3, clavinet), and vocalist and guitarist Rick Lollar.

From fatback, roadhouse R&B to more expansive, jazz-inflected explorations, The 5 of 7 demonstrates Herring’s chops not just as a musician, but as a bandleader and catalyst. The novel vocal element is just one more texture at his disposal. “With instrumental music,” he reflects, “people expect to hear your solos, but they’ve just heard you play the melody! You can overexpose your voice. With Rick, I can play behind him, then step out with a solo, and give a fresh feeling to the song — take it to another place.

Sponsors:
Pepsi
Xfinity

Step back in time into the 18th-century Peter Parley Schoolhouse! Get a guided tour and find out more about Peter Parley, its most famous “scholar”. Play with antique toys, write with quill pens, and wear a three-corner hat. Find out which of Ridgefield’s twelve little red schoolhouses was closest to your house. Read the strict teacher’s rules and imagine having to stoke the pot-bellied stove yourself!

The schoolhouse is open from 1 pm to 4 pm the last Sunday of each month, from May through October. Click here for directions. Each month will feature a new special program, and an ice cream truck will be available on site.

Join Executive Director Cybele Maylone for an exclusive members-only behind-the-scenes look at The Aldrich’s upcoming Eva LeWitt exhibition before it opens to the public. Chat with Cybele to learn more about the exciting new exhibitions and programs coming up at The Aldrich this year!

RSVP to Kris Honeycutt, Head of Membership and Annual Giving, at khoneycutt@aldrichart.org, or 203.438.4519, extension 125, by Friday, September 27.

Image: Eva LeWitt, Untitled (Los Angeles) (detail), 2018. Courtesy of JOAN, Los Angeles. Photo by Paul Salveson.

Be the first to preview The Aldrich’s latest exhibitions before they open to the public! Hear from Senior Curator Amy Smith-Stewart and artist Eva LeWitt about the work in LeWitt’s first solo museum presentation. Explore how artists depict weather phenomena in the visual arts in the group exhibition Weather Report and hear from Exhibitions Director Richard Klein and artists Mats Bigert, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Ellen Harvey. Enjoy a glass of wine and light bites, tour the galleries, and enjoy 20% off in The Shop.

RSVP to Kris Honeycutt, Head of Membership and Annual Giving, at khoneycutt@aldrichart.org, or 203.438.4519, extension 125, by Monday, September 30.

Image: Nancy Graves, Untitled (Heat Density Measurement of a Cyclone), 1974. Photo: © Nancy Graves Foundation, Inc., New York / Courtesy of VAGA at ARS, New York and Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York.

Celebrate the opening of two exhibitions, Weather Report and Eva LeWitt.

Weather Report reveals the sky as a site where the aesthetic, the romantic, the political, the social, and the scientific co-exist and inform one another as explored by twenty-one artists, organized by Exhibitions Director Richard Klein. The depiction of weather phenomena in the visual arts is traditionally linked with either landscape painting or photography, but in the last two decades artists have increasingly turned to other media to explore weather and, by extension, the larger subject of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The first solo museum exhibition of artist Eva LeWitt (b. 1985) will debut a significant, new site-specific installation commissioned by The Aldrich, the artist’s largest to date, organized by Senior Curator Amy Smith-Stewart. LeWitt’s sculptural practice explores the visual interconnection of color, matter, shape, light, and gravity.

Participate in a hands-on all ages art-making workshop harnessing the power of the wind to create one-of-a-kind paintings in The Studio throughout the afternoon.

Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or beer on the front patio and purchase lunch from one of Fairfield County’s favorite food trucks while eating on the steps of the Museum’s outdoor amphitheater.

A roundtrip shuttle from Manhattan to the Museum is available. For more information and to purchase tickets visit shop.aldrichart.org.

Image: Eva LeWitt at VI, VII. Courtesy of VI, VII, Oslo.

This unique show features one dazzling circus feat after another in a high-energy family-friendly flurry of fun!  Indulge your curiosity and celebrate your senses as the troupe of acrobats, aerialists, and circus specialty artists bend, twist, flip, and fly into your hearts and minds!

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is the master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition. His latest book is a New York Times best-selling collection of his essays entitled Calypso. This show will consist of a reading followed by 20-30 minutes of audience questions. There will be a book signing in the lobby before and following the event.
Sponsors:
Hearst

The festival is still being planned. Check back soon for more information! 

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Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, takes you on an illustrated tour of the sky. He shows you how to recognize many of the varied and beautiful cloud formations, from the fair-weather cotton tufts of cumulus to the UFO shapes of lenticularis clouds and the surreal undulations of fluctus clouds. He explains why clouds look the way they do and how they reveal the invisible movements of our atmosphere. In this enlightening and entertaining talk, you will understand why clouds are the most evocative and poetic aspect of nature, you will learn how cloudspotting is the perfect antidote to the pressures of the digital world, and you’ll discover that spending a few moments each day with your head in the clouds will help you keep your feet on the ground. Looking up will never be the same again!

Co-sponsored with the Ridgefield Library.

Registration required at shop.aldrichart.org.

Thinking about applying for art school but don’t know how to start a portfolio? Have questions for folks who also decided to pursue art? Join us at The Aldrich in The Studio for an interactive workshop and panel discussion with practicing artists from different backgrounds led by Shannon Carey, an artist and college admissions representative.

Free for high school students, educators, and parents.
Registration required at shop.aldrichart.org.

Drop-in throughout the day to design your own innovative artworks using provided art-making materials in our Studio! The Aldrich acknowledges October 14 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and will have information available at the Front Desk about the lands on which the Museum operates.

Free for visitors of all ages.

Visit The Aldrich for FREE the third Saturday of each month! See the latest in contemporary art, explore our Sculpture Garden, and join us for a tour and art-making workshop.

Gallery Tour
12 noon

Participate in a tour highlighting key pieces throughout the Museum and Sculpture Garden and engage in conversation around Weather Reportand the work of Eva LeWitt, Sara Cwynar, Radcliffe Bailey, Tom Friedman, Nari Ward, and Tony Tasset, led by practicing artist and Aldrich staff member Noah Fox.

Art-Marking Workshop: DIY Costumes and Creatures with Anabel Siegal
10 am to 12 noon and 1 to 3 pm
All ages

We’re transforming into The Aldrich Contemp-BOO-rary all month long! In this exciting workshop, led by teaching artist Anabel Siegal, participants will use a variety of materials such as cardboard, fabric, paper, and paint to create a one-of-a-kind costumes, Halloween decorations, and anything in between! Then feel free to stop by the Museum on October 31 to trick or treat and show off your spooky masterpieces!

Third Saturdays are generously sponsored by Fairfield County Bank.

Please join us for a one-day cross-disciplinary symposium investigating the intersection of art and weather. The symposium features our Exhibitions Director, Richard Klein, and noted WCBS 880 radio meteorologist, Craig Allen, hosting a unique gathering of artists and researchers presenting on weather as it informs their work, reflecting how atmosphere shapes our collective experience. The symposium is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Weather Report, which will be on view at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum October 6, 2019, to March 29, 2020.

RSVP Here

Image: Nick Cave, Tondo (2018). Courtesy Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

Free for high school students, educators, and parents.

Curious about the process of applying to and attending art school? Share your portfolio with admissions representatives from leading art colleges and universities such as the New School, Pratt Institute, and the School at the Art Institute of Chicago. This annual program affords high school students a unique opportunity to personally interact with representatives from leading art programs while deepening their understanding of what programs exist, where to find them, and if they are the right fit. Doors open at 3 pm and close at 7 pm. Parents and teachers are welcome to attend.

If you have any questions, please email Sierra Van Ryck deGroot at svanryckdegroot@aldrichart.org

Are you curious about Contemporary Art? Do you ever look at a work of art and say to yourself, “I just don’t get it”? Led by Danielle Ogden, M.A., Ed.M., this 5-week course provides a roadmap for understanding the works of some of the most influential artists of our time. Through stimulating lectures, lively conversations, and hands-on activities, we will dive deep and explore the central themes and ideas that have influenced artistic practice since the 1960s, including identity politics, the body, spirituality, the environment, and technology. Time will be spent looking closely at works of art in the Museum’s galleries and placing them within the context of Contemporary Art movements. We will also dedicate time to self-reflection, providing opportunities to identify, cultivate, and even debate, your own approaches to analyzing, interpreting, and engaging with Contemporary Art.The fifth class will include a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet exhibiting artist, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, during the installation of her upcoming exhibition, There Must Be Some Way Out of Here.

We’re hosting a spooky, Halloween-themed Drink & Draw. With wine, snacks, and a live model in costume, this is an evening you won’t want to miss! Experiment with a variety of materials such as charcoal, pastel, graphite sticks, and watercolor, or feel free to bring your own materials. No prior drawing experience necessary.

Register at shop.aldrichart.org.

Keeler Tavern Museum… the only place to experience the spirits of Ridgefield’s past. Visit historic rooms and the people who lived in the Keeler Tavern during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Advanced registration required. Tours depart every 10 minutes.

Are you curious about Contemporary Art? Do you ever look at a work of art and say to yourself, “I just don’t get it”? Led by Danielle Ogden, M.A., Ed.M., this 5-week course provides a roadmap for understanding the works of some of the most influential artists of our time. Through stimulating lectures, lively conversations, and hands-on activities, we will dive deep and explore the central themes and ideas that have influenced artistic practice since the 1960s, including identity politics, the body, spirituality, the environment, and technology. Time will be spent looking closely at works of art in the Museum’s galleries and placing them within the context of Contemporary Art movements. We will also dedicate time to self-reflection, providing opportunities to identify, cultivate, and even debate, your own approaches to analyzing, interpreting, and engaging with Contemporary Art.The fifth class will include a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet exhibiting artist, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, during the installation of her upcoming exhibition, There Must Be Some Way Out of Here.

Are you curious about Contemporary Art? Do you ever look at a work of art and say to yourself, “I just don’t get it”? Led by Danielle Ogden, M.A., Ed.M., this 5-week course provides a roadmap for understanding the works of some of the most influential artists of our time. Through stimulating lectures, lively conversations, and hands-on activities, we will dive deep and explore the central themes and ideas that have influenced artistic practice since the 1960s, including identity politics, the body, spirituality, the environment, and technology. Time will be spent looking closely at works of art in the Museum’s galleries and placing them within the context of Contemporary Art movements. We will also dedicate time to self-reflection, providing opportunities to identify, cultivate, and even debate, your own approaches to analyzing, interpreting, and engaging with Contemporary Art.The fifth class will include a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet exhibiting artist, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, during the installation of her upcoming exhibition, There Must Be Some Way Out of Here.

An Evening with Cowboy Junkies

For more than 30 years, Cowboy Junkies have combined folk, blues and rock with the quiet intensity that is their musical signature on more than two dozen critically acclaimed albums, including their 1988 breakthrough The Trinity Sessions. Their most recent album, All That Reckoning, was released last year.

Formed in Toronto in 1985 with siblings Michael Timmins on guitar, Margo Timmins on vocals, Peter Timmins on drums, and Michael’s lifelong friend Alan Anton on bass, the band has sparkled over the course of 25 albums. With Cowboy Junkies’ latest album, All That Reckoning, the band once again gently shakes the listener to wake up. Whether commenting on the fragile state of the world or on personal relationships, this new collection of songs encourages the listener to take notice. It also may be the most powerful album Cowboy Junkies have yet recorded.

Sponsors:
Doyle and Coffin

Are you curious about Contemporary Art? Do you ever look at a work of art and say to yourself, “I just don’t get it”? Led by Danielle Ogden, M.A., Ed.M., this 5-week course provides a roadmap for understanding the works of some of the most influential artists of our time. Through stimulating lectures, lively conversations, and hands-on activities, we will dive deep and explore the central themes and ideas that have influenced artistic practice since the 1960s, including identity politics, the body, spirituality, the environment, and technology. Time will be spent looking closely at works of art in the Museum’s galleries and placing them within the context of Contemporary Art movements. We will also dedicate time to self-reflection, providing opportunities to identify, cultivate, and even debate, your own approaches to analyzing, interpreting, and engaging with Contemporary Art.The fifth class will include a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet exhibiting artist, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, during the installation of her upcoming exhibition, There Must Be Some Way Out of Here.

Are you curious about Contemporary Art? Do you ever look at a work of art and say to yourself, “I just don’t get it”? Led by Danielle Ogden, M.A., Ed.M., this 5-week course provides a roadmap for understanding the works of some of the most influential artists of our time. Through stimulating lectures, lively conversations, and hands-on activities, we will dive deep and explore the central themes and ideas that have influenced artistic practice since the 1960s, including identity politics, the body, spirituality, the environment, and technology. Time will be spent looking closely at works of art in the Museum’s galleries and placing them within the context of Contemporary Art movements. We will also dedicate time to self-reflection, providing opportunities to identify, cultivate, and even debate, your own approaches to analyzing, interpreting, and engaging with Contemporary Art.The fifth class will include a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet exhibiting artist, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, during the installation of her upcoming exhibition, There Must Be Some Way Out of Here.

Now in its fifteenth year, Festive Home is the Guild’s biggest fundraiser of the year…and the most fun! 

This holiday marketplace and fundraiser brings many, many shoppers to our charming antique building every year. They will find the galleries brimming with creative gifts… unique hand-made and hand-selected gift items such as jewelry, apparel, and original artwork, to decorative and useful objects for holiday home decorating, and much, much more. 

More information will be posted when it becomes available. 

Sign up for our newsletter to stay posted on upcoming events! 

Join us in the lobby at 7:15pm for a free wine tasting & art exhibit by a local artist!

Back after a sold-out show last summer, join famed time-twisting musical collective Postmodern Jukebox for a vintage-style Christmas celebration! Known for reworking popular modern music into different vintage genres, especially early 20th century forms such as swing and jazz, PMJ has amassed over one billion YouTube views and played hundreds of shows to sold-out houses on six continents.