The Circus is coming!
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Toni-Lee Sangastiano: "Bally" Jeb Wallace-Brodeur/The Times Argus |
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Published: June 19, 2009
Three large, raised rings in the middle of the Studio Place Arts' gallery are filled with circus acts in paper mache, clay, cloth and porcelain figures. There are elephants, trapeze artists, an audience of dogs by Beanie-the-dog artist David Klein, and a ringmaster by dollmaker Beth Robinson, who is currently exhibiting her work at Galerie Madame des Vosges in Paris. One ring is populated by clay whistle circus figures made by Delia Robinson, who sold one of her whistles several years ago to Bill Clinton for Hillary Clinton's 50th birthday.
SPA invites the community to visit CIRCUS!, an art show scheduled June 16 - July 25, with an opening reception today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
"The circus is a spectacle with many faces – from the ethereal and breathtaking high wire and aerialist acts to the underside of the freak show. I wanted to mount an exhibit of art that showed this entire circus experience," show curator Janet Van Fleet said.
Adjacent parts of the gallery are devoted to images of aerialists in paintings and sculpture, clowns and a sideshow — including strange things in bottles. One of the country's foremost painters of sideshow banners, Toni-Lee Sangastiano, is showing both a 6-foot sideshow banner and three circus paintings.
The galleries at SPA are open Tuesdays - Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.
Also on exhibit through July 25 are "12x12," fun art on perfect squares (Second Floor Gallery), and work by Briony Morrow-Cribbs and Helen O'Donnell (Third Floor Gallery). Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Studio Place Arts is located at 201 N. Main St. in Barre. For more information, call SPA at 479-7069, or visit www.studioplacearts.com
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