Jim Brunelle And Mike Dennan Feature Functional And Wearable Art At Farmington Valley Arts Center Candlelight Event, Friday November, 16th, 2012

Jim Brunelle And Mike Dennan Open Studio 11 A For The Holidays At The Farmington Valley Arts Center

I'm jealous of the creative types who invite you into their art studio and you immediately feel a sense of calm and peace. Whatever may be going on around them, they somehow have been able to create a Zen like atmosphere  in their precious  artspace. Jim Brunelle is an artist at The Farmington Valley Arts Center who radiates both energy and inner calm.

 Pottery Art Created By Jim Brunelle

Jim Brunelle who you will see buzzing around The Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT is the  tall slender soft spoken presence at the Center responsible for exhibits, classes, events and more.

Although at times Jim  appears to be consumed with the frenetic activity of a busy and exciting art center and school, when you enter Jim's studio (11A) you immediately feel a sense of quiet and appreciation for clay art made from the earth.

Meet Jim Brunelle And Mike Dennan

Sharing his studio with his partner Mike Dennan who concentrates on wearable art and textiles, Jim and Mike are very gracious hosts. During open studios, it is common to find Jim serving hot tea to guests in handmade ceramic vessels  that Jim has made. When you try on one of Mike's Faux-a scarves made from re-cycled silk or other re-purposed fabrics, you can look at yourself in many of the unique and exquisite ceramic framed mirrors that Jim has created.

Decorate Your Home For The Holidays With Handmade Pottery, Mirrors, Ceramic Dishes

As I write about Jim's mirrors and re-read my words, I  realize  I am understating just how unique and beautiful these fragmented ceramic and stone mirrors are. Jim Brunelle's work is varied.  While Jim is primarily a potter, sculptor and ceramic artist producing a variety of handcrafted useable and wearable art  (gorgeous clay and stone jewelry), Jim also is a printmaker and painter who likes to capture the quirky side of cats and dogs.

Farmington Valley Arts Center  Studio Artists Open For The Holidays: Starts November 16th, 2012

With the holiday season approaching, there is plenty of opportunity to visit Jim Brunelle and Mike Dennan in  studio  11 A on the first floor fo the Farmington Valley Arts Center.

This Friday night, November 16th, 21012 is the kick off of  the Candlelight season event when all of the artist studios are open to the public from 6:00-9 p.m. There is a real festival atmosphere as complimentary refreshments are served in all studios and the two galleries are open with holiday gifts  and artwork from local and regional artists.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Hip Chicks Wear "Faux-a" Scarves: Featured At Better Giving By Kipling, Avon, CT.

What are hip chicks wearing around their neck ? ...it's called "Faux-a"?

What is this feathered neck couture? Well let me give you a little hint.... it is a scarf made from re-cycled 70's fabric and clothes. The fabric is cut into strips and assembled with a feathered look.

Thrifty housewives have always found practical uses for tired or tattered clothing, especially during hard times such as World War II. Women were encouraged to mend and save. Well today, up-cycling is back in style and a Connecticut artisan is adding a new twist to the phrase "rags to riches" with the introduction of "Faux-a" scarves made from old fabric and re-cycled apparel.

Retro Cool Chicks Wear "Faux-a" Scarves.

If you are a Retro cool chick and you like to look
m a r v e l o u s ...than you must and I mean must accessorize with a "Faux - a".

"Faux-a" Rhymes With Boa

Now close your eyes and listen to the word "Faux-a" ....what does that sound like....yes a feathered boa. Remember back in the day when women wore boas made from Ostrich, Turkey and Marabou feathers? Well now, a local designer, Mike Dennan is making whimsical scarves made from "feathered" up-cycled material.

Better Giving By  

Fun, Fabulous, Fashionable, Functional

Kipling is wearing a black and white "Faux-a "...doesn't she look like a glam gal? These scarves are quite popular because they are "fun, fabulous, fashionable and functional"!

Mike Dennan's Fauxas also available from his studio showroom/ Farmington Valley Arts Center, 11A. By contacting Mike at dennan2cr8 (at) aol (dot) com. New spring colors for brightening your transitional season's needs!



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists