The Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven is buzzing with color and wit as the Paint and Clay Club presents its 2026 Active Members Exhibit. The show, open through Sept. 25, highlights the work of 89 local artists who have been members of the club since its founding in 1900.
Eye‑catching Highlights
One of the most talked‑about pieces is Nancy Bass’s painting that places a cow with an almost accusatory grin in front of a Monet‑style poppy field. The cow seems to ask, “What is a human doing in a field?” The playful reversal invites viewers to consider the relationship between art, nature and the museum space.
Richard Stephen’s Florentine Remembrance offers an Italian cityscape rendered in vivid blues and oranges, while Erik Sundgaard’s Beach Scene with Umbrellas captures a sun‑splashed shoreline dotted with festive umbrellas. Both works demonstrate the show’s commitment to bright, energetic palettes.
Portraiture also shines. Karen Israel’s depiction of a construction crew spotlights the workers’ fluorescent orange shirts and bright helmets, reminding viewers that these laborers are people with stories of their own.
Abstraction and Movement
Abstract artists push the color envelope further. Kelly Taylor’s Purple Mountain Majesties refracts light into geometric mountain shapes, while Nan Tussing’s First Alert portrays a dog fleeing a house in intense blues and reds, evoking a vivid dreamscape.
Helen Cantrell’s Darien Metro‑North Station, Snow captures the rush of suburban travel, suggesting a painting executed on a moving train. The sense of speed and fleeting glances at everyday life is palpable.
Sculpture with a Sense of Play
Three‑dimensional works match the paintings’ humor. Thomas Stavovy’s Seated Figure Looking Down and Right conveys both the subject and the sculptor’s hand movements that shaped the clay. Rosemary McClain’s Flowering Saguaro hovers between botanical realism and a classical column, while Charlotte Hedlund’s Shadow Guide uses fantastical form to explore the emotional experience of reading beloved books.
Bold Use of Red and Blue
Robert Jacoby’s Red swirls with reds, oranges and yellows, punctuated by specks of blue that heighten the volcanic intensity. John Harper’s Polymorphisms blends cartoonish shapes with psychedelic color, constantly shifting between recognisable forms and abstract melt‑away.
Wendy Kohl’s Into the Blue may appear more muted, but she extracts electricity from traditionally calming blues, setting them “on fire” to reveal a deeper emotional current.
Community Impact
The exhibit not only celebrates artistic talent but also reinforces New Haven’s long‑standing commitment to supporting working artists. By offering a platform for humor, vivid color and thoughtful abstraction, the Paint and Clay Club continues to enrich the cultural fabric of the city and invites residents of all ages to engage with local creativity.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery near the entryway of the Creative Arts Workshop, where Bass’s cow‑filled Monet homage serves as a welcoming introduction to a show that reflects the diverse imaginations of New Haven’s artistic community.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
