Today, after 100 years, much about Silvermine is still the same. Even more than a century ago, New Canaan was popular. Sculptor Solon Borglum bought a barn in Silvermine and invited all his friends to come on Sundays to socialize and critique, or “knock” their work. Drawn by the environment and the overall tranquility (there were very few people here), they came.
Roger Mudre, the Director, Galleries, says, “Silvermine is mainly about visual art.” He speaks prophetically of the past, because this was not always the case. In 1924, the “Knockers” Club incorporated the Silvermine Guild of Artists to support not only the visual arts, but also musical, literary, and dramatic artists. The Silvermine Sillies began performing musicals in 1925, and the outdoor shows became the primary fundraiser for the Guild into the mid 40s. In 1951, Silvermine saw a new expansion of its school building, with a large auditorium, a painting studio, a dance studio, and a children’s workshop. At the same time, interest was growing in sculpture, and a large new sculpture studio was dedicated in 1956, with a speech by Jacques Lipschitz. In 1961, an exhibit called Architectural Directions included Marcel Breuer, John Johansen, Philip Johnson, and Elliot Noyes, further embellishing Silvermine’s reputation. A few years later, in 1966, the Silvermine Chamber Orchestra was established and performed summer concerts. Dance instruction was a strong point in 1974, when the Alvin Ailey Dancers held four-week master classes.
If you visit, you won’t learn much specifically about the community, but you’ll realize that it’s because of the community that it has been so successful.
The Silvermine Guild celebrated its 75th anniversary, in 1997, with Spectra, a national juried photography exhibition. In 2002, Silvermine hosted an exhibition of the works of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, prompting the signing of a biography by Guild member Burt Chernow. In 2017, the CT Contemporary Art Fair brought together artists from all over the state to give visitors a broader understanding of its place in the overall contemporary landscape. Also during the year, Silvermine held a benefit exhibition in Mahopac, New York to honor Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150-year anniversary.
In 1992, a Community Outreach program provided Teaching Artists to help classroom teachers in Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport schools to develop projects related to curriculum. And in 2019, in partnership with STAR, Inc., Silvermine launched an ArtAcademy program to benefit adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These programs continue still, in keeping with Silvermine’s strong emphasis on education.
In 1949, the Guild introduced the A•ONE, an exhibition that brings attention of critics, dealers, artists, and museum professionals to new and emerging artists in paint and sculpture. Louise Nevelson, Elaine de Kooning, and Milton Avery were among the artists who benefited from the exposure. Known as Art of the Northeast, it continues after nearly 75 years as Silvermine’s signature exhibition. It is open-call, and as the juror changes every year, so does the content and tone of the exhibit. This year’s curator is Madeline Cornell, Gallery Director of Winston Wachter Fine Art in New York. She sought pieces that “showed the indelible mark of the artist, those that conveyed their unique perspective.” The Board Chairs Award, which includes a future solo exhibition at Silvermine Galleries, went to Heidi Follin of Norwalk, CT, for her painting, The Dragon Emerges. Becca Barolli of Bethlehem, CT, received the Carole Eisner Sculpture Award for works in annealed steel wire. Lukas Milanak of Brooklyn, NY, was honored with The Mollie & Albert Jacobson the Sculpture Award. The Patricia Warfield Jinishian Figurative Award went to painter Jodi Steifel of Newtown, CT, whose work navigates both the physical world and what Cornell calls the “intricate landscape of the emotions.”
It’s hard to find a common thread for the entire exhibition, so it’s fortunate that Cornell shared her thoughts in writing. In the work of Becca Barolli, Constance Keller, Blinn Jacobs, and Michael Rohde, Cornell found a strong element of pattern and structure. Preservation in the face of change, was another prominent theme. Lukas Milanak’s work, Cornell writes, “examines the evolution and impact of technology in objects that create fleeting sensations experienced in the natural world, transforming them into future relics imbued with a romanticized nostalgia for an era that is lost.” She also noted the way Heidi Follin’s “energetic brushstrokes and bold use of color blur the line between abstract and organic forms.” Personal journeys, the natural world, and attention to detail are prominent figures in this year’s exhibition.
Silvermine is a unique entity for New Canaan.
The 73rd A•ONE runs from September 14 through November 2, with an opening reception on September 16. Galleries are open Tuesday -Saturday, 10 am-4pm. The address is 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan. For more information, visit SilvermineArt.org.
