Art

Greenwich Connecticut, known for its affluence, is a place that embodies the “posh lifestyle,” housing a plethora of designer stores and high-end restaurants. However, contrary to the stereotypes, one will find that Greenwich has a motley of people and cultures. This diversity helps to produce an abundance of art and creativity. 

One of the most notable art establishments in this town is The Bruce Museum, located off Greenwich Avenue in a small, tranquil nook amidst the bustling central roads. Having recently undergone significant reconstruction and upgrading, The Bruce boasts a modern architectural structure with a clean, sleek, and aesthetically-pleasing design. Peyton Gray, a member of The Bruce’s marketing and communications team, shares that the renovations have “[tripled] the gallery space” which “greatly expands the variety of exhibitions” the Bruce can display.  However, it's not only the building that deserves recognition, but the diverse culture of art found in the museum that instills a strong sense of hometown pride within Greenwich residents. 

Despite The Bruce being an incredible haven for artists and art-enthusiasts, even one who is new  to art can admire the beauty and creativity of the works in this museum. Upon entrance, visitors are enchanted by the “Gabriel Dawe: Plexus no. 43,” a breathtakingly intricate installation that is intended to replicate the color spectrum. Gray remarks that one of the popular pieces in science is Penguins: Past and Present, which details the “fascinating history of this remarkable bird.” According to Gray, when The Bruce reopened in April 2023, the exhibition featuring Lois Dodd: Natural Order, got the attention of the press, and articles were written complimenting The Bruce’s efforts to “finally [shine] a light on her extraordinary body of work.” 

Ms. Gray also shares that The Bruce caters to a multitude of people through numerous adult and youth education programs which annually attract about 60,000 people from the broader Fairfield County Area. The museum also comes equipped with a Bruce Mobile that helps to transport the magic of the museum to other locations within the community. One program highlighted on The Bruce website is the “Lifetime of Looking” program, which aids adults with memory loss in examining and interpreting art. 

Although The Bruce is a remarkable landmark in our town, in the greater highschool community, there is minimal conversation about the benefits the museum offers in terms of intellectual development  and visual stimulation. Gray mentions that in a technological age, many teens find themselves often “glued to [their] phones and computers,” and although technology can offer an abundance of resources such as widespread accessibility to art and music, “there's nothing like seeing works of art up close, seeing how really big or small they are, noticing the three dimensional brush strokes on the paper and experiencing the artists vision live and in person.”. The Bruce provides numerous teen-centered programs including youth intern positions and the Junior Docent Team, which aims to gather a “group of dynamic teen peers” in order to “regularly engage with art and science, interact with field experts, and plan events for teens” as Gray says. Museums can be an interactive way to spark creativity for artists and seeing as our town offers this amazing resource, (discounted for students), why put it to waste? Gray shares that another significant student opportunity is the iCreate regional juried high school expedition, where student artists have the ability to submit their artwork. This exhibition “serves as an outlet for emerging artists” and “celebrat[es] the young minds of artists in our community”. One especially notable thing about the iCreate exhibition, is that it is run and organized with the high-school senior interns at the Bruce, who coordinate with schools across the tri-state area, drawing in hundreds of talented and commendable work that is further judged and then selected to be displayed at the Bruce in the new Works on Paper Gallery. 

Overall, being a part of a community of artists and immersing yourself within creativity is something that is not only soul-soothing, but it's also a way to discover a hidden world within a place that may exteriorly elude artistic diversity.

An ordinary parking lot became a vibrant art gallery as GHS Juniors Owen Benison, Will Maasbach, and Nicholas Lira set up shop at 'Art in the Park..ing Lot Show.' The trio’s photography stand was nothing short of a success; at the end of the day, the group made more than 200 dollars. The event on October 1st aimed to foster a “nurturing environment for artists, as well as recognize the “significance of art as a medium of expression and enrichment.” The show’s organizer, Marcos Torno, is the owner of "Images of OG," a company that makes custom prints and frames. Owen describes how he got the opportunity to be a part of the event: “After seeing  some of my shots, he informed me about the upcoming show, asking if I was interested. I immediately reached out to Nick and Will, who share my passion for photography to see if they would want to join me.” Owen has been honing his photography skills since he was just a freshman: “In my first year, my sister, taking AP photos at that point, convinced me to try the ‘Intro to Photography’ class at the high school. Until then, I had enjoyed photography but only put a little effort into it.” Throughout the class, while working in black and white photography, he “fell in love with the art form.” Now, he has been expanding his passion, exploring a multitude of techniques and genres: “My greatest passion is underwater photography. However, I also do extensive work with drones and traditional photography.”If you missed the opportunity to experience the event, Owen has big plans to pursue his art in the future: “I hope to participate in several similar events throughout Greenwich. I'm currently working with the organizer of this event and art staff from GHS to set up a similar event exclusively for the students of Greenwich.” Keep an eye out for more innovative exhibitions and collaborations in the future, as these young talents work to bring art closer to the heart of Greenwich.