Puppet Making Workshop

Resident artist and Puppet Maker Jon Bristol of The Elmwood Puppets will be holding a three day workshop in July at Paris In Plantsville!

Learn how to make a Muppet/Henson style moving mouth puppet like Steve the Vampire!

All the materials and tools are included in the registration fee, and space is limited, so it's first come first serve.

At the end of the workshop you'll have a completed puppet, and you get to keep the pattern and tools and leftover material for future use!

The dates are July 11, 18, and 25 2011 (all Mondays) from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

The total cost is $150.00, a $50.00 deposit* holds your spot in the workshop and the rest is due the first day.

To sign up or for more information contact the instructor, Jon, at jon@elmwoodproductions.com or stop by Paris In Plantsville

* The deposit is non-refundable, but if you have to cancel we'll put it toward a future workshop if you sign up for one!

Paris In Plantsville

15 West Main Street

Plantsville CT 06479

And don't forget about our other classes!  Check them out here:

http://parisinplantsville.com/pdfs/Paris%20In%20Plantsville%20Art%20Gallery%20and%20Studio%20Classes.pdf

I Need That Record! Trailer

I Need That Record! Monthly Film Screening

Guerilla filmmaker Brendan Toller unleashes “I NEED THAT RECORD! THE DEATH (OR POSSIBLE SURVIVAL) OF THE INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE,” a documentary feature examining why over 3000 independent record stores have closed across the U.S. in the past decade.

Greedy record labels, media consolidation, homogenized radio, big box stores, Ecommerce, shoddy "stars" pushed by big money, and the digital revolution all pose threats on the very ...well being of our favorite record stores and the music industry at large. Will these stores die? Will they survive?

Featuring- THURSTON MOORE of Sonic Youth, IAN MACKAYE of Dischord Records Fugazi/Minor Threat, activist/author NOAM CHOMSKY, MIKE WATT of the Minutemen, LENNY KAYE guitarist of the Patti Smith Group, CHRIS FRANTZ of the Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club, guitar composer GLENN BRANCA, PATTERSON HOOD of Drive-By Truckers, PAT CARNEY of the Black Keys, punk author LEGS MCNEIL, rock photographer BOB GRUEN, BP HELIUM guitarist from Of Montreal, and many indie record stores across the U.S. of A!

With amazing animations by MATT NEWMAN!

The film starts right here in Connecticut with the final downfall of Record Express then soon we discover it's not just CT loosing these shops...

The movie starts at 8PM. As always it's free to get in, but anyone who makes a donation of $5.00 or more will be entered into a raffle to win original art from a Paris In Plantsville Resident Artist and some music related goodies!

http://www.ineedthatrecord.com/

Fresh Outta The Gutter!

Here's the plan...

We have bowling pins... You make art...
Let's put the two together and have a show!

To participate pick up a bowling pin at Paris In Plantsville from June 7-11 2011 for ten bucks, take it home, to your studio, wherever and turn it into art...
Then bring it back with your price on it (if you want it for sale, of course) from August 9-11, and we have an opening reception for a show called "Outta The Gutter" on August 13th!

More info here

Open Call! Ladies Nite!

Now it's the women's turn to show us what you've got!

We did the All Male Revue in April, which featured art from men... Now it's time to show those guys up!

Ladies, girls, women it's your time to take over Paris In Plantsville with your art!

LADIES NITE!

This is an open call to any and all female artists!

The show runs June 18 - July 7th

And drop offs for submissions is from June 12-14th

There is a $ 10.00 submission fee for each piece, $5.00 for members of Paris In Plantsville (a membership costs $35.00, so why not!?)

The opening reception will be on June 18th from 7:00PM to 11:00 PM

We look forward to seeing the great work!

*20% of ALL profits made will be donated to Breast Cancer Research*

This Smells Funny - Opening Sunday!

"This Smells Funny" a found object arts show opens at the gallery Sunday 5/22 from 2-6 PM.

Please come and see some of the wild work!

The show runs through June 6th so if you can't make the opening stop by any time during normal gallery hours or call for an appointment!

Wanna See a Movie?

Bring your lawn chair and we'll bring the popcorn!

8 PM 5/14 at Paris In Plantsville!

Being Creative May 7- 14

‘BEING CREATIVE’ Student Photography Exhibit - 

Opening reception: Saturday May 7th 4:00 - 7:00 p.m, or later!

Photography exhibit containing the work of three high school students, each from different area towns will be held May 7 - 14 at Paris in Plantsville Gallery.

The students share a common interest in photography. The topic, ‘Being Creative’ was assigned to each student for the purpose of using the medium to explore personal interests.

Alice Selipanov of Dodd Middle School; Sarah Jackie of Southington High School and Mina Echevarria of William Hall High School worked independently using photography to augment interests each is involved in.

• Alice Selipanov works in painting, drawing, sewing, writing, acting and editing video for The Dave Leonard Show, a variety program of Comcast Public Access station in Middletown.

• Sarah Jackie writes original compositions, sings and plays guitar and viola. Sarah judges and directs talent for ‘Coffee House,’ a live performance venue held at Southington High School.

• Mina Echevarria works in drawing and story telling, and earned a 2010 summer apprentice with ‘Eye of Video’ at Real Art Ways where she worked on production techniques for film shorts and stop frame animation.

The group show, curated by Southington photographer Margaret Waage, is a culmination of discovery and perspective, where viewing the collection as a whole can also be a creative process. What similarities, if any, can be seen in the images? What do the images portray about the artists?

Please come on down for the opening!

More info here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193850293992994

This Smells Funny! - Submit Art!

Let's go green as the summer starts!

THIS SMELLS FUNNY - Found Object Art

What is Found Object Art?

Recycled, stepped on, tripped on, found on the side of the road or in a neighbors trash , you name it, hang it, place it, do what you must with it. Its a found object, and you've created it into art.

This is an open call to anyone who wants to show off their work, drop off dates are May 15-18th at the gallery, a $10.00 submission fee. Let's see your wild work!

Sunday May 22nd we will be having an opening reception from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and all are invited!

The show will run May 22 though June 3

All Male Revue!

Running now!

And this Saturday night, come to the closing gala!

More info - HERE! 

Come See A Movie!

The first film in our monthly series of films will be running Friday and Saturday night!

The Elmwood Productions Film

"Josh and Todd: The Story of A Man and His Puppet"!

Come out and see a great comedy!

4/22 and 4/23

Doors open at 7 PM, movie starts at 8PM!

For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197501986945431

ALL MALE REVUE!

Join us April 30th for 'The All Male Revue!'

Although all the artists involved will be keep their shirts on we do hope you come and join us for the show!

'The All Male Revue' is a show featuring the resident artists at Paris In Plantsville along with some of the close friends of the gallery, and since we all happen to be male we came up with this catchy title to make you think we were up to no good!

But we're not! Sorry to disappoint!

What we are up to is featuring art by Sean Michanczyk, Jordan Deschene, Jon Bristol, Christian Ayala, Joshua L. Blumenthal, Eric Stegmaier,  Steve Rand, Andre Rochester, Andrew Morrow, Alex Vidaud, and Gabe Finkenstein!

The show starts on April 20th and runs through 4/30, which is also going to be a closing gala! 

The party starts at 7:00 PM on 4/30!

There is a $5.00 suggested donation for this event!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197118960322732&ref=ts

Temporal Artistry Opening

 Here are some pictures from the 4/2/11 opening reception and gallery talk of "Temporal Artistry"

 For more pictures CLICK HERE 

 And if you didn't make the opening, no need to worry!  The show is up through 4/14!

Welcome New Residents!

 Christian Ayala

 Eric Stegmaier

Josh Blumenthal

And be sure to come out to the first show at Paris In Plantsville featuring these three gentlemen, along with the current Residents, and a few Alumni!

THE ALL MALE REVUE!

Running from 4/20 to 4/30 with a closing event on 4/30!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197118960322732&ref=ts

Josh and Todd Return!

Elmwood Productions and Paris In Plantsville had a huge success with February's premiere screening of "Josh and Todd: The Story of A Man and His Puppet" , and we thank you! It was a packed sold out crowd! We keep getting asked if we'll be showing it again!

And we are!

April 22, and April 23. The doors open at 7:00 PM and the film starts at 8:00PM

$5.00 donation to the gallery is requested to get in (where else can you go to see a movie for five bucks!), and Paris In Plantsville Members get in free!

April 23rd is also The 13th Annual National Day of Puppetry, so what better time to watch a puppet flick!

Plot Overview:

What would you do if you woke up one morning to find a monster has moved in with you? Well, this is what happens to Josh. And not only does the monster Todd move in, but he also causes complete havoc on Josh's boring life. Josh's girlfriend can't take it and leaves, his friends think he's going nuts, and all Todd want's him to do is loosen up for the first time since childhood and have some fun.

The film is not rated, be advised - this is not for kids. The film does have all sorts of things to ruin a kids mind, like coarse language, modern psychology, adult subject matter and puppet nudity. Yes, puppet nudity.

Following the screening the filmmakers (Jon Bristol, Jim Williams, and Russ Bird) along with members of the cast will be doing a question and answer session on micro-budget film making, working with monsters, and other things that went along with making this film for those interested. Those not are free to hang out and enjoy the gallery also.

("Josh and Todd" star Amanda Regan, with her drinking buddy, Todd!)

See the Facebook Event Page for more info  and we hope to see you there!

Opening this Saturday: Works by Archaeological Illustrator Eric Stegmaier

Temporal Artistry: 

Works by Archaeological Illustrator Eric Stegmaier

Opening April 2, 2011 at 5:00 PM

Gallery talk by the artist at 7:00 PM, discussing Archaeological Illustration and his adventures in the East.

As an archaeological illustrator for the last 9 years, Eric Stegmaier has completed hundreds of field illustrations that span several archaeological facets including artifact rendering, stratigraphic diagramming, vessel profiling, tomb mapping, and architectural floor plan illustration. He has worked at several sites throughout
Israel including Qumran, Bethsaida, and the Roman Fort at Yotvata, and his illustrations appear in several publications including magazines, reports, and textbooks.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration from the Hartford Art School, and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies with a focus in death and burial practices from Sacred Heart University. Currently employed as a conservation assistant in the Paintings Conservation department at the Yale Center for British
Art, Eric has recently begun a working relationship with the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Yale and is performing freelance work for the Department of Egyptology. His other clientele includes the University of Hartford, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Florida International University.

If you can't make it to the April 2 opening, the show will be running during normal gallery hours from 4/2 to 4/14.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193549040673878 

Upcoming Events!

Click on the title of each event for more information!

April 2 - April 14

Temporal Artistry: Works by Archaeological Illustrator Eric Stegmaier   

Opening April 2, at 5:00 PM with a gallery talk by Eric at 7:00 PM

April 16-30

The All Male Revue! 

Featuring art from the Resident Artists and friends!

Closing Gala April 30 at 7:00 PM

April 22 and 23

Encore! "Josh and Todd" Screenings! National Day Of Puppetry! 

Come see the movie "Josh and Todd: The Story of a Man and His Puppet" both nights, and enjoy puppety stuff all day on 4/23

We Want Movies!

Films Wanted!

Are you a film maker?

Made a flick?

Want it screened at Paris In Plantsville?

You do? Good! We want to show it!

Resident artists Jon Bristol and Steve Rand are currently putting together a schedule of films to be screened at the gallery starting in May, and a film festival weekend is being planned for the summer of 2011.

Short films, feature films, comedy, drama, experimental, action, documentary, any kind!

Contact Jon via email at jon@elmwoodproductions.com with "Film Submission" in the title. Or stop by the gallery and drop off a DVD.

No submission guidelines! You made a movie, we wanna see it!

March is Member Appreciation Month!

As a huge "Thank You!" for our first amazing year we want to give back to our members! Starting March 4th any member can come to the gallery and hang art free of charge!

Not a member yet and want to be in on the show? Come by and join the gallery! A membership is $35.00 and you're in!
Membership also gets you into member shows, 1/2 off the entry fee in other juried and open call shows, discounts on classes, and more. It pays for itself quickly! And if you drop off your work 3/4-3/6 the membership fee is only $25.00! Yowza!

Look for other great events for the members in March to be announced soon.

This is going to be a fun show and a great way to end this winter! Thanks again for the amazing first year!

For more check out this link!

Artist Profile - Jon Bristol