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ARTISTS IN HOUSE
WindhamARTS Studio Artists’ Exhibit

The Windham Arts Collaborative presents the second annual WindhamARTS Studio Artists’ Exhibit – Artists In House – an exhibit of works by artists who keep studio space at the WindhamARTS Center in Downtown Willimantic. Participating artists include, Lynne Campagnano Bass, Sara Bodlak, David Bodlak, Joycelyn Calande, Laura Martin, Monica Willding, and Gabrielle Zane. At the WindhamARTS Main Gallery, located at 866 Main Street, Willimantic from February 6 – 26, 2009. The public is invited to an opening reception on Friday, February 6th, 5 – 7 PM.



  The Artists in House exhibit represents a wide variety of mediums, techniques, and perspectives. The WindhamARTS Center maintains six working studio spaces for artists to rent. Besides use of the work space Windham ARTS also provides the studio artists membership to the Collaborative and other benefits associated with it. The Collaborative encourages the artists to become part of the Center’s programming by participating in Open Studios weekend, having their doors open during Third Thursday Street Festivals in Downtown Willimantic, and during other local arts events. Some of the artists have also taught classes and performed at the Center. The Annual Show is a way of showcasing work that has been produced over the past year. While the artists exhibiting have very different work from each other, they agree about the positive aspect of having a studio away from home and in an arts center. At the Collaborative, they can interact with other artists and have an opportunity to focus on their work in a supportive and creative atmosphere.

Joycelyn Calande is a well-traveled artist who has studied with internationally known artists such as Claude Croney, Judi Betts, Mary Whyte, as well as with the Plein Air Painters of America. She says her, “art works are interpretive images inspired by nature and my love of light, color, and patterns. I strive to capture the imagination of the viewer and to encourage them to find beauty in the ordinary.” Says Calande, of the benefits of having a studio at WindhamARTS, “Art is a lonely field. It is good to socialize with other artists.”

Sara Bodlak is an internationally experienced artist whose work has been shown in multiple locations in Spain, Europe, and in the United States since 1981. Her main emphasis is portraiture and figurative work.  Sara says, “I do portraits on commission and find the studio a nice warm atmosphere for clients to come and have their portraits done.” Boldak says, “Having a studio outside my home allows me the space so necessary to continuing my work. Additionally, it gives me the great benefit of a support group, maintaining contact with fellow artists and group members.” She shares her studio space with her husband David Bodlak whose work is in painting and mixed media that deals most often with themes of poetry and/or social commentary. David has his MFA from Claremont Graduate University and has taught in both the United States and Europe. David says, “In addition to my studio work I find the WindhamARTs atmosphere a welcoming and inspiring place for my other creative pursuit with Flamenco guitar.” David and a group of campadres play weekly at the center.

Lynne Campagnano Bass and Monica Willding both jewelry makers share a studio at the center. Willding works mostly in silver and crafts pendants and other pieces using semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls and crystals. Finding solace in the process and end result of making unique pieces of jewelry, Lynne comments, “It’s therapeutic and rewarding to create something on your own terms.”

Gabrielle Zane uses her photography as a basis for her painting in encaustics.  Her work centers around themes of connection and longing and how “attention to the ‘ordinary’ things in life can bring us to larger truths of our existence, assuage our grief, and make us feel less alone.” Says Zane, “The encaustic, which is molten wax, is quite and intense process and often laborious. My studio at WindhamARTS allows me the quiet, open area I need to work in the medium.  It also has provided me with interaction with a wonderful group of artists whom I admire and whose work I find inspiring. We don’t often keep the same hours at our studios, but I like to be able to see what others are doing and share my newest project with them as well.  The artists at WindhamARTS have been very supportive.”