15th Bridgeport Art Trail
November 9-12, 2023
Weekend Events Highlights
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BRIDGEPORT ART TRAIL
2 Weeks Away!
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, November 9 - Sunday, November 12
City-wide Open Studio Arts Celebration Weekend
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BRIDGEPORT ART TRAIL WEEKEND
A DIVERSE VARIETY OF ART, MUSIC, SPOKEN WORD, DEMOS ...
See full program book and artists directory.
The 15th annual Bridgeport Art Trail features an array of visual art, a variety of music options, spoken word, demos. Visitors can attend receptions, dozens of studio visits and sales, 2 public art walks and join the 10th annual BAT urban bike tour. Check for listings throughout the month as we update the website. See the new website at BridgeportArtTrail.org
Always bigger and better the Bridgeport arts community has collaborated on an astonishing calendar of rich programs and intriguing exhibits and installations.
SOMETHING NEW, 211 STATE ST ALTERNATIVE POP UP ART SPACE
A new feature is the alternative Pop Up space at 211 State St. Over 20 artists and collectives will activate a currently empty 3rd floor office space.
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211 STATE ST BAT ALTERNATIVE
POP UP ART SPACE, 3rd floor full of art!
Attendees will explore halls and office spaces energized with mini-exhibits, live music, spoken word, film screening and installations. Established, emerging and new artists exhibit and present together. Enjoy the unique opportunity to experience a full spectrum of artistic expression, a hallmark of the BAT weekend celebration.
See full listing for the 211 State St
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Bridgeport Art Trail Kick-Off, Thurs Nov 9. 2023
Mingle and Meander at the Downtown Art Party
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Mingle and Meander at several downtown venues, City Lights Gallery, Housatonic Museum of Art, Read's ArtSpace, Arcade Mall, 211 State St.
See full Thursday night schedule here.
| BAT EXHIBITS + INSTALLATIONS | |
City Lights Gallery: Woe and Whimsy
265 Golden Hill St, Downtown Bridgeport CT
Gallery Hours W-F 12-5, Sat 12-4
Opening Reception Thurs Nov 9, 4:30-7:30pm
Artists: Carlos Biernnay, Elisha Brockenberry, Suan Clinard, Guido Garaycochea, Dave Gesualdi, Anna Kronick, Looketha, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Dan Makara, Ellie Mesa, Janice Mauro, George Perham, Amanda Walker, Joan Wheeler
Art below by Amanda Walker See website at BridgeportArtTrail.org
| Woe and Whimsy is a mind stretching exhibit that straddles mood and meaning. Artists combine figurative, naturalistic imagery with fantasy, process and invention. They interpret the theme by manipulating the figure, portrait, landscape, still life, assemblage to invent an alternative to 'reality', depicting memories, mood, thoughts and telling stories. Diverse media include marble and wood sculptures, painting, fiber art, mixed media assemblage and collage. | GROUND LEVEL AT METRO ART STUDIO | |
345 Railroad Ave Bridgeport
November 11-January 6
See full BAT weekend schedule
Ground Level exhibit features work by four artists, Gin Rimmington Jones, Megan Mueller, Carrie Pollack, and Matthew Shelley, opens in Metro’s Crown Gallery on Saturday, November 11, from 12-3 PM during the Bridgeport Art Trail. The artwork in this exhibition is linked together by a common interest in land and environment, with a tendency to focus on detail, rather than larger vistas.
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CHOICES, THE EXHIBIT
at 211 State St
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Meet Mario Productions a multi-media project of visual art and video, featuring “CHOICES: The Art Show” exhibit and SMACK/TV shining a light on people impacted by addiction and raising awareness of the fentanyl and opioid crisis. Exhibiting artists include Greg Aime, Victoria Hyde, KAYLONNARTT, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Jose Mendoza, Aber Tatts and please be the change, paint live.
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Join curator Jennifer Reynolds-Kaye for a walk and talk on Thursday, November 9, at 5 pm, registration required.
Exhibit runs to February 2, 2024
900 Lafayette Blvd
Open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
More info
This exhibition brings out the greatest hits from the Housatonic Museum of Art collection, including works by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Romare Bearden, Ansel Adams, Yoko Ono and more.
Currently visit the installations on abstraction, Op Art, and Native American art. We have curated displays of artwork made by Alice Baber and John Taylor Arms.
Open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 7:00 pm (closed weekends and all Housatonic Community College holidays)
Free parking for Housatonic Museum of Art in the HCC Parking Lot at 870 Lafayette Blvd
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Closing at City Lights, Nov 1 | |
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"CHAOS" by Carlos Biernnay
NEST Arts Factory
Come to the NEST Arts Factory to be immersed in the CHAOS of Carlos Biernnay! He has installed an entire gallery room full of art on the walls and the ceiling. His work will also be on view at Read's ArtSpace, City Lights Gallery and 211 State St. Read about NEST program for the BAT.
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"THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS"
Installation by Martha Willette Lewis
and Margaret Roleke
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Thoughts & Prayers is a collaborative installation by artists Margaret Roleke and Martha Willette Lewis, addressing gun violence in America. Making its debut in the fall of 2022 on Governor’s Island, NYC the goal is to have Thoughts & Prayers tour the country, installed in various civic spaces, to help incite better conversations about our collective relationship to weapons and violence in the United States.
Read more
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VIEW FROM THE CANOE
Installation by Scott Schuldt at 211 State St
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Artists Scott Schuldt never disappoints, presenting his stunning works inspired by his passion for canoeing, and his concern and study of environmental conditions and fascinating choices of materials. From hand hewned paddles to schematic renderings about the condition of marine life and waterways, his canoe themed installation demonstrates how he thinks, creates and sees the world, as an artist, engineer and lover of nature. Read more | |
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NEST POP UP SHOP
Nephophilia
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The photography and motion images of South African-born Isa Aldyn. Experience the sights and sounds of clouds and sky in a fully interactive setting. Nephophilia is the love of clouds. Curated by Will Corprew of 80 By Design at Nest Art Factory | |
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CONSAPEVOLEZZA:
The Resume Series
at the Nest Arts Factory
| The vision of Filipino-American, Sylvester Salcedo, retired lawyer and US Naval officer, is realized through 4’ x 6’ nude portraits, where he has offered himself as the model and inspiration for the content, chronicling his life and exposing an Asian option to the canon of nude figurative art. Throughout history, few monumental works of Asian nudes have been done. He is dedicated to raising the awareness of the people and history of the Philippines and the representation of Asian figures by commissioning 10 artists to interpret a pose based on the figure sculpture by Philippine National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, who studied at the Florence Academy. | |
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GALLERY 9104
Open Studio and Poetry
Friday November 10, 2023 6:30-9:00 pm
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Visit with the artist Iyaba Ibo Mandingo and view his extensive body of work as he debuts his latest pieces and books of his poetry and short stories.
Iyaba presents his poetry and art in the place where it is created.
Also open on Saturday and Sunday, during the BAT, read more.
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The BAT arts community invites you to tour studio buildings Saturday and Sunday November 11 + 12. Meet the artists, enjoy receptions, participate in hands-on demos, live music lite bites and drinks, film screening, storytelling and spoken word. Experience how art and creativity revitalize industrial and commercial spaces.
Check out all the participating venues.
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TWO DOWNTOWN PUBLIC ART WALKS | |
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BAT trekkers have 2 opportunities to learn about the new public art in downtown Bridgeport, on Thursday and Friday evenings 11/9+11/10/2023.
Registration required for Thursday night, meet up at Housatonic Museum of Art, 900 Lafayette Blvd.
Register here: http://bit.ly/BAT-UrbanArt-2023
Friday Happy Hour Public Art Crawl begins at the office of the Downtown Special Services District, 938 Broad St, Bridgeport
Read about Friday night Public Art Crawl
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HANDS-ON DEMOS, FAMILY FUN ON THE TRAIL | |
Try your hand at mural painting, puppet making, Tai chi and A.I. drawing at the NEST, letter press art at American Fabrics. | |
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KINDRED THOUGHTS BOOKSTORE
READING THE CLASSICS
Saturday, November 11 | 6pm - 8:00pm
Register Here!
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MUSIC, STORYTELLING, FILM SCREENING | |
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LIVE MUSIC AT READ'S ARTSPACE, 211 STATE ST,
NEST ARTS FACTORY, METRO ART STUDIOS
ART + MUSIC AT URSA GALLERY
SAT 11/11 8PM
$10 Admission
GREATER BRIDGEPORT SYMPHONY
MINGLING WITH MOZART
SAT 11/11/23
Purchase tix here.
PARK CITY MUSIC HALL
LIVE MUSIC ALL WEEKEND
Purchase tix here
DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE
SAT 11/11, 3:30 PM & 7:00 PM
Absolute Queen Tribute Band
Tickets $61
DREAMERS + GAMBLERS
Documentary Short Films by by Larry Locke
Sunday, 11/12 at 211 State St
Read more
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PECHAKUCHA STORYTELLING
CLOSES THE BAT WEEKEND
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A BAT tradition is to end the weekend arts celebration by gathering to socialize, and to tell and listen to stories. It starts with a delicious and nourishing meal for purchase by Chef Rachel. This storytelling style has been succinctly described as “the Moth with pictures”. Storytelling runs 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
Learn more about 211 State St.
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Comedy Workshop: Standup, Storytelling & More with Legend Lisa Lampanelli
"only 7 remaining"!
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Comedy Workshop: Standup, Storytelling & More With Comedy Legend Lisa Lampanelli
Saturday, November 4 & November 18 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Early-Bird Fee: $125 [Register by Tues. 10/31]
General Registration Fee: $150
Calling ALL storytellers!! Join us for an unforgettable comedy workshop led by the one and only Comedy Legend, Lisa Lampanelli! This in-person event will be held at The NEST Arts Factory. Get ready to laugh your socks off and join comedy's former Lovable Queen of Mean Lisa Lampanelli (2-time Grammy nominee, and regular on the Howard Stern show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the Comedy Central roasts) as she shares her invaluable expertise and secrets of the trade.
This two-day workshop is open to all; whether you're a seasoned comedian, new to standup, a screenwriter looking to punch up your jokes, or an actor wanting to work on a monologue. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to sharpen their comedic skills. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best in the business! Just bring a willingness to learn and a way to take notes and write, and you just might catch comedy fever and learn a few fundamental ways to go deep and open up onstage!
**Please note that The Nest Arts Factory does not have a handicap accessible entrance on weekends. There is a one-story walkup to access the location. We apologize for any inconvenience.**
SAVE AN EXTRA $25 BY USING CODE: 2023BFF
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Artist Worklab
345 Railroad Avenue, Bridgeport CT
Wednesday, November 1st | 5:30pm
FREE Reserve your spot
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Save your First Wednesdays of every month, starting May 3, 2023, for this fun and enlivening series to learn from experts and your fellow artists.
Nov. 1: Curating an exhibit that galleries will want
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The Barnum Museum
820 Main Street
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Wicked Walking Tour of Historic Bridgeport
Friday, October 27 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Tickets
$7 Museum Members, $17 Non-members
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THURSDAYS through October 26th
10:30 AM- 2:00 PM McLevy Green
More Info Here
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The Downtown Market at McLevy Green is open every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. until October 26th. The market will feature live music each week, periodic cooking demonstrations, in addition to a range of fresh veggies and delectable lunch options. | |
The East Side Farmers Market was launched by the Bridgeport Health Department to increase access to healthy foods in the East Side. For more than 13 years, this market has provided fresh fruits and vegetables to Bridgeport and East Side residents. Every Wednesday during the summer, residents can come to the market to shop for fresh local produce. | |
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CT Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Ave
Glow Wild!
Thurs September 14 - December 2
Thursday-Sundays | 5:30 - 9:30pm
Tickets $22 | Children under 2 Free
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GLOW WILD returns to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo! Journey through a wonderland of illuminated larger-than-life lanterns inspired by our wild world. Join us every Thursday - Sunday from September 14- December 2 from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM. There are more than 35 large-scale illuminated displays, with hundreds of beautiful individual and interactive lanterns. | |
More at the Beardsley Zoo
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Boo at the Zoo!
Sunday, October 29 | 12:00pm - 3:00pm
More info
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COOL BLUE Bridgeport
Free Saturdays at the Zoo for Bridgeport Residents!
Saturdays through June 2024 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission Free with Driver's License or Park City ID
Learn more
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What else is happening in the Bridgeport Art Scene?
Go to BAT calendar.
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WORKSHOPS + OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ARTISTS
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Halloween Storytime & Pumpkin Decorating
Saturday, October 28
2:00pm -3:30 pm
Location: Beardsley Branch Library
Wear a costume and join us for a special Halloween Storytime. We’ll read stories, sing songs, learn new spooky rhymes and will decorate pumpkins to take home! Sweet treats will be shared too! Ages: 3-10. No registration required!
This program takes place at the Beardsley Branch Library located at 2536 East Main Street, Bridgeport, CT. For more information call us at 203-332-0025
More info here!
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Figure Drawing
November 7th & 14th, 2023, | 6:30-9:30pm
$15 model fee
RSVP to clgallerybpt@gmail.com
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On the 1st and 2nd Tuesday of the month. $15 model fee.
Easels, tables and chairs available, please bring drawing and painting materials. The Nest Arts Factory invites artists and students to join their working artists community to draw and paint from life in the rustic community room. This workshop is sponsored by City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail.
Please RSVP to clgallerybpt@gmail.com
This is an open sketch studio workshop moderated by Ellie Mesa, sponsored by City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail.
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Advanced Art Quilt Techniques with Carlos Biernnay
Sept 23- Oct 28 at the NEST Arts Factory
Register here.
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The Writers' Group
with Shanna Melton,
FREE
Meets online, the first 2 Saturdays of the month, 2 - 4 PM
The Writer's Group is a space for people who love words to gather and create new work.
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The mission is to use prompts and other creative tools to motivate the creative process. It also creates a space for us to share and get a reaction from other writers who can advise one another on how to enhance the poems and or stories we create. This is not an open mic or performance space. It is a place to create.
Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74384388746...
Meeting ID: 743 8438 8746 Password: SHANNA
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"The BAT"
The Bridgeport Art Trail Storytelling Exchange
Thursday, Nov 2 | 7 PM - 9 PM
on Zoom | Free|Registration Link
The BAT monthly storytelling exchange is a night of immersing into the art of oral storytelling. It’s a place to try out a story idea, present a draft story or rehearse a story - true or fictional. If the teller wishes, the group provides constructive feedback.
Any experience level of storyteller is welcome as are those who just want to enjoy a night of stories. The Zoom registration page here. Meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month at 7PM - 9 PM..
Hosted by Nina Lesiga. Sponsored by City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail
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