VII, 2018. Oil on canvas. 

Inside Out Project: Hartford

Untitled, 2018. 12 by 12 inches, oil on canvas. 

Untitled, 2018. 12 by 12 inches, oil on canvas. 

AIDS Connecticut (ACT) is pleased to invite you to the 9th Annual Art for AIDS fundraiser. Proceeds benefit ACT with a portion going to The Richard B. Fried Fund for ACT, a permanent endowment administered by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The event will be held on Saturday, June 9, 7pm at ArtSpace, 555 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT.

The evening will include an art show/sale and an exciting art grab emceed by Colin McEnroe and Carolyn Paine. Each guest will take home an original 12"x12" piece of art created by a local artist on a canvas donated by Jerry's Artarama. Prices are $60 for General Admission, $100 for VIP, $200 for Exclusive VIP, $300 for Winner's Circle-3rd Choice, $400 for Winner's Circle-2nd Choice, and $500 for Winner's Circle-1st Choice. All guests will enjoy musical entertainment by Axcénted DJ, delicious appetizers and desserts by local restaurants, and complimentary beverages by Harvest Wine & Spirits.

For more information about the event visit aids-ct.org.

I will have a painting on auction at the New Britain Museum of American Art during their 17th annual Spring Gala, Art Party of the Year event taking place on Saturday, May 6. Go to www.artpartyoftheyear.org to preview, pre-bid, or set your maximum bid via BidPal mobile bidding. More information about the event can be found here: http://www.nbmaa.org/event/the-art-party-of-the-year.

Queen Kitty Glitch, 2018. Oil on canvas.

Images from my recent solo show at the Canterbury School in New Milford, CT. This show was the first time I have shown my paintings, collages, and works on paper at the same time. It was also the first time I have shown my recent oil paintings. It was interesting to see the relationships that developed between such a broad cross section of my work of the last three years. 

Cool + Collected was the first show at Melanie Carr Gallery in Essex, CT from October 21 - December 31, 2017. 

The gallery described the show as:

Cool + Collected features the artwork of 14 Connecticut based contemporary artists. All artists included in this inaugural exhibition are artists whose work I collect and have lived with in my home over the past several years. This exhibition includes a curated selection of each artist’s work. 

We all collect/acquire items and objects - some of us more than others. The thing about acquiring/living with original works of art, is this - as time passes, the meaning of the work may shift or change; become deeper, more challenging, more meaningful, or, more relevant. Not unlike relationships, the dialog and stimulation of looking critically at artwork over time is like having a conversation with someone that leaves a lasting impression, one that probes, inspires, and asks questions instead of answering them.  

All artists exhibiting in Cool + Collected are a group of dynamic artists, fully engaged in their practice, and in their creative lives. Enjoy the exhibition, and remember, looking is not seeing. 

-Melanie Carr

 It was an honor to be part of the first show in this exciting new gallery. Several of my collages, including the two below are still available from the gallery's flatfiles.