Two concurrent exhibitions, Water Access, guest curated by Fritz Horstman and Sea and Soil, curated by Debbie Hesse, take water as subject to explore our relationship to the environment.

Opening Sunday, May 5 from 2 – 4pm

Water Access
The Ely Center of Contemporary Art is proud to present Fritz Horstman as a guest curator in putting together Water Access. The artists in Water Access deal head-on with the ubiquitous and vital resource of water. Working in photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, and beadwork, they show their sensitivities to the complicated human relationship with water. Some of the work is overtly political in its environmental concern. Others depict its sublime qualities, its mundane aspects, the life it supports, or the ways in which we interact with it.

Curated by Fritz Horstman
Artists: Richard Barlow • Marilyn Crocker • Leila Daw • Daniel Eugene • Alexander Harding • Amy Jean Porter • James Prosek • Scott Schuldt • Gina Siepel • Joseph Smolinski

Sea & Soil
Sea and Soil includes works in diverse media by artists who share a fascination with ocean and earth ecosystems. Roots, soil, sea flora and related ecologies are explored thru paintings, photographs, constructions, living forms, socially engaged collaborations and performative actions to highlight beauty and awe as well as environmental concerns. Organic, often intersecting, rhizomatic projects and activities, inside and outside the building, create an incubator-like atmosphere to investigate lifeforms beneath us that nurture and sustain life. Through material investigation, research and augmented reality, hidden worlds come into focus, touching on ideas about stewardship, food security, global connectivity and spirituality.

Curated by Debbie Hesse
Artists: Laura Barr • Marion Belanger • Lys Guillorn • Allie Hornak • Briah Luckey• Cynthia Beth Rubin

Collaborations by: Ian Leung & Alice Wong • Nadine Nelson & Aly Maderson-Quinlog

Opening Reception: Sunday, January 13, 1 – 3 pm

Winter Hours: Sun 1–4 pm, Mon 10 am-1 pm, and Wed & Thurs 2:30–5:30 pm

ECoCA is excited to announce Ear to the ground! Artists of all backgrounds and working across disciplines submitted their work for consideration in our 2018 – 2019 programming. Special guest curator Julie Torres selected 73 works from these submissions, which will be exhibited in Ear to the ground.

Image: Kathy Cantwell, Walking Line 53, 2018, encaustic on panel, 11 x 14 inches

Exhibiting Artists

Elizabeth Spangler
Fern Apfel
Tyler Carrillo-Waggoner
Tali Margolin
Blake Shirley
Grace Hager
Robert Dancik
Sabrina Marques
Brantner DeAtley
Sascha Mallon
Beth Caspar
Marieken Cochius
Kathy Cantwell
Barbara Marks
Sara Willadsen
Susan Meyer
Annie Sailer
Robert Zurer
Susan Carr
Niki Kriese
Beth Humphrey
Geoffrey Detrani
Julia Coash
JoAnne Lobotsky
Lisa Taliano
Yoon Cho
Jamie Romanet
Andrew Cunningham
Marcy Sperry
Sue Post
Peggy Klineman
Lillian P.H. Kology
McKenzie Chapman
Edith Lopez
Erin Smith
Edie Côté
Sam Kirby
Shauna Merriman
Denise Sfraga
Paul Behnke
Marsha Borden
Denise M. Oehl
Gwenn Mayers
Elisa Soliven
Sarah Schneiderman
Osvaldo Mesa
Scrap Wrenn
Anne Russinof
Pamela Fuller
Annamari Mikkola
Tracey Brockett
Kathy Osborn
Karl Goulet
Donnabelle Casis
Samantha Robinson
Joan Wheeler
Jane Ehrlich
Lawre Stone
Eileen Tavolacci
Lauren G. Levine
Tony Saunders
Sara Osebold
Ginna Triplett
Katherine Carey
Merilee Pritchard
Diane Dwyer
Doug Holst
Julie Shapiro
Linda Lindroth
Berly Brown
Marcy Rosewater
Gordon Fearey
Katie Jurkiewicz

A collaboration with Artspace and Unload Foundation

October 11 – November 11

#Unload: Pick Up the Pieces, an unjuried, inclusive, community-driven exhibition at Ely Center of Contemporary Art, explores issues surrounding gun control laws and the impact of guns on society. The exhibition aims to raise questions regarding violence, safety, gender, equality, and the influence of media on violence and mental health stigmas.

Artists from diverse backgrounds and working across all media will create material-driven and conceptually-charged works either from decommissioned gun parts from a Hartford buy-back program or works inspired by the theme. The gun parts were selected from the Knolling Performance that took place at Artspace, July 12. The artworks can manifest in any medium, including drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, installations, performance, and writing. The requirement is that the artwork reflects our culture’s divided attitudes towards gun control, gun safety, gun reform, the constitutional right to bear arms, as well as recent events relating to gun use, ownership, safety, and violence.

The exhibition will be a highlight of Artspace’s 20th annual City-Wide Open Studios festival. Thanks to our generous sponsors, there is no cost to be a part of the exhibition, and artists and collectives of all ages are encouraged to apply.

The exhibition will run from October 11 to November 11 complemented by artist talks, panel discussions, presentations by political candidates and other community notables and a voters registration table leading up to the November 6 mid-term elections. For a more detailed list of our events, please go to: www.elycenter.org/events-calendar/.

Two receptions will take place that are free and open to the public. The opening reception is Thursday, October 11 from 5–8 pm and the closing reception is Sunday, November 11, 1–3 pm.

The Art and Life of K. Levni Sinanoğlu
through the lens of friends, colleagues, students, mentors and collectors

The Ely Center of Contemporary Art is honored to showcase the artwork of Levni Sinanoğlu (Yale MFA 96) alongside works by his friends, colleagues, students and mentors. The exhibition includes numerous works by the artist presented in dialogue with paintings, drawings and video works by William Bailey, Gideon Bok, Turner Brooks, Paul Clabby, Denzil Hurley, Clint Jukkala, Joshua Marsh, David Pease, Katy Schneider, Gina Ruggeri, Joel Werring and Pawel Wojtasik.

The exhibition, curated by Debbie Hesse, Clint Jukkala and Pawel Wojtasik, runs from April 15–May 24 with a reception on Saturday, April 21 from 4–7 pm.

An unjuried exhibition in collaboration with Nasty Women Connecticut

This year, Ely Center of Contemporary Art is collaborating with Nasty Women Connecticut for the group exhibition Silence Breakers. We invite artists working across disciplines, to create artwork that addresses issues of abuse, consent, and identity as well as themes of domesticity and home. The show will look at the often-blurred line between security and insecurity in the home, providing room to explore ideas around gender, equity, sexuality, individuality and domestic life.

Each year during Women’s History Month, the Ely Center of Contemporary Art (ECOCA) showcases In Grace We Trust, an annual exhibition that commemorates the philanthropic work of Grace Taylor Ely.  During her lifetime, Grace transformed her home at 51 Trumbull Street into a space for local watercolorists and ceramicists to gather and show their work.  Since her passing, the Ely Estate and Friends of John Slade Ely House of Contemporary Art have carried on this tradition, stewarding the building as a nurturing pillar of New Haven’s artist communities. In Grace We Trust addresses ideas of tradition and change — a nod to the past as we confront current societal challenges, and rise together to create our future narratives.

Throughout the month of March, the Ely Center will host a series of programs related to this year’s theme, including a panel discussion moderated by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, performances, film screenings, nights, workshops, and artists talks. 

About In Grace We Trust

The John Slade Ely House is an English Elizabethan style house built in 1905 by S. G. Taylor. It was home to John Slade Ely (1860–1906) and Grace Taylor Ely, who came to New Haven in 1897. From 1897 up until his tragic death in 1906, he held the Theory and Practice of Medicine chair at Yale School of Medicine. Grace, an active community member and supporter of the arts, left the house in Trust as a public art center after her death in 1960. The first exhibition opened in April 1961 with works from New Haven Paint & Clay Club.

Founded in 1961, the John Slade Ely House is New Haven's first major arts center curating and hosting many regional arts organizations.

Gallery Hours
Wednesday and Thursday, 5 – 8 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 1 – 4 pm

Public Reception: Thursday, March 8, 5 – 8 pm
Public Closing Reception: Thursday, April 5, 5 – 8 pm

EXTENDED TO MARCH 5

NIGHTLY UNTIL FEB 25

Lili Chin's night time video diptych will be most luminous once night falls and will continue until daybreak. Her commissioned video project is a partnership between Ely Center and Yale-China Association in celebration of Lunarfest18.  

Laelaps is inspired by the Greek mythological dog that was placed amongst the stars as the constellation Canis Major. The video will be screening nightly until February 25, 2018.

21 Paintings in 21 Days

Renowned New Haven artist and ECA alumni Katro Storm will present 21 Paintings in 21 Days, an evolving painting installation that will allow viewers to experience his unique painting style in process. Storm will be working with ACES Aspire middle school students to create a mural that will correspond to his paintings.

Opening Reception
Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 2–4 pm

Artist talks and a panel discussion
Sunday, February 18 from 1–4 pm

Transfigured Elements

Material elements shift, repeat and transform in this exhibition by New York based artist Lili Chin. The works in this show venture into transitional states to reveal layered and textured surfaces through drawing, video and abstraction. Glacial erratics and the ocean allude to time and metamorphosis, blending permanence with temporality to express nature in a constant flux of stasis and change. 

In addition, Chin will project a night time 2-channel video work titled Laelaps, inspired by the Greek mythological dog that was placed amongst the stars as the constellation Canis Major. The video diptych will be most luminous once night falls and will continue until daybreak. Her commissioned video project is a partnership between Ely Center and Yale-China Association in celebration of Lunarfest18 on February 17.  Join the artist for hot tea and rice wine February 17, 4:30 – 5:30 pm for its premiere. The video will be screening until February 25.

An Anthropogenic World ll

An Anthropogenic World ll, featuring works by Meg Bloom, Robert Datum, Susan McCaslin and Joseph Saccio, will explore human interaction with the environment. This show, originally created by Art Space Management students at Albertus Magnus College, has been expanded and reconfigured for this exhibition. The show, curated by recent Albertus College Arts Management graduate, Emily Whalen, was inspired by her paintings of the Dakota Access Pipeline and its impact on pollution.

A special lounge of holiday music—complete with framed vintage Christmas albums, an old school record player playing Christmas music, and comfortable lounge seats to help you  relax and listen to your favorite melodies. 

Some of the popular artists featured are Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, the Carpenters, as well as music from around the world like Jamaica, Italy, New Haven, and children’s music such as Alvin and the Chipmunks, Mickey Mouse, and Captain Kangaroo.

This is a special project of Sam Goldenberg who put this wonderful exhibit together!

Exhibiting Artists

Natalie Abrams, Wahida Azhari, Cat Balco, Steven Baris, Gaston Bertin, Louise Blyton, Arleta Cehic, Marc Cheetham, Seumas r. Coutts, Jeanne Criscola, Andy Cunningham, Kevin Daly, Ellen Hackl Fagan, Kevin Finklea, Andre Geertse, Connie Goldman, Cyndy Goldman, Kathy Goodell, Elizabeth Gourlay, Bob Gregson, Joel Holub, Blinn Jacobs, Erdem Kucuk-Koroglu, Janet Lage, Karleen Loughran, Niki Lederer, Katherine Mojzsis, Munira Naqui, Roland Orepuk, Karen Ostrum, Michael Perbach, Sue Post, Beverly Rautenberg, Cynthia Beth Rubin, George Schade, Karen Schifano, Martin Scholte, Suzan Shutan, Ayad Sinawi, Andrew Small, Taro Suzuki, Aimee Terburg, Jill Vasileff, Jonathan Waters, and Tamar Zinn.

Exhibiting Artists

Alteronce Gumby, Annie C. Thornton, Artcodex, Aude Jomini, Azzah Sultan, Bean Gilsdorf, Brian Edlefson, Buildface, Carol Diehl, Caitlin Cherry, Chico Aragao, Cey Adams, Chen Reichert, Chris Crawford, Christine Tinsley, Consuelo J. Underwood, Sr. Corita Kent, Daniel Eugene, Danna Singer, Daze, Destiny Palmer, Dooley-o, Eli Wright, Erika Ranee, Esperanza Mayobre, Gabriella Svenningsen, Helen Zughaib, Icebucket, Insook Hwang, James Esber, Jane Fine, Jay Critchley, Jeff Mueller/Dexterity Press, Jesse Albrecht, Jim Martin, John T Hill, Jody Williams, Karin Schaefer, Laura Genes, Laura Marsh, Laurel Porcari, Leslie Carmin, Lex Brown, Lisa Kereszi, Marion Belanger, Marc Morrel, Mark Olshansky, Mark Williams, Martha Lewis, Mauricio Cortes Ortega, Merritt Johnson, Michael Nÿkamp, Michael St John, Moussa Gueye, Natalie Ball, Natalie Baxter, New Haven Museum, Noe Jimenez, Paolo Arao, Phil Lique, Philip Knoll, Price Harrison, Rashmi, Robert D’alessandro, Robert Longo, Ruben Marroquin, Sket One, Stanley Forman, Stanwyck Cromwell, Sue Muskat, Susan Clinard, Stephen Shore, Sven Martson, Terrance Weinzierl, Tizzie Mills, Tom Strong, Vic De La Rosa, Walker Evans, Wayne Koestenbaum, Zeph Farmby and Zim-one.

On-site Happenings

From haute couture to picnicware, the American Flag  one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous branding symbols world wide. In the spirit of artist's  multiples "shops" like Barbara Kulicki and Marian Goodman's "Betsy Ross Flag and Banner Company" 1961 and Dread Scott and Kyle Goen's United We Stand Stand, "Flag Swag" will include an array of affordable limited edition multiples by artists: stickers, flair, zines to flags and fashion accessories, t-shirts  and much more.

A companion concept project to BROAD STRIPES and BRIGHT STARS, FLAG SWAG invites artists and designers to offer special edition multiples for sale at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in a pop-up store on site and online.

To participate in FLAG SWAG, a special call for artists’ multiples for sale during the exhibition, fill out the form link here.

To submit your $10 entry fee donation click here.

Press Release