Ripple Effect: An Expanding Collaborative Project

It’s been only a few days since we opened the call for artwork for CLEARANCE SALE. TODAY ONLY., and already we have received some fantastic artwork.  Here’s a glimpse, and remember, the one day event of CLEARANCE SALE. TODAY ONLY. is on February 26 at 756 Chapel St.  Be sure to come out between 3-8 pm to buy some great artwork, great clothing, and help an amazing cause.  And artists… keep submitting that great work!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Calling all artists and art lovers! CLEARANCE SALE. TODAY ONLY.  is an artshow and sale embedded in the racks of the Men’s clothing store at 756 Chapel St., New Haven.  This one day event will be held February 26 between 3-8 pm.  A percentage of proceeds raised from the evening will go the Men’s overflow homeless shelters around New Haven.

We are looking for artists to donate their artwork for this great event and great cause.  Here are the requirements for the artwork:

• 6 X 9 IN BAG WILL BE $10 (selling price)
• 9 X 12 BAG WILL BE $25.
• 12 X 16 BAGS WILL BE $50.

All mediums are welcome and all artwork should be signed by the artist.  You may submit more than one piece of artwork.  You can indicate whether you want to DONATE HALF of the proceeds or DONATE ALL of the proceeds.  Artwork may be dropped off February 6-21 at the following locations:

• The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon Street, New Haven. You may mail artwork to this address too. Attention: Winter. Re: Clearance Sale
• Studio 765. 756 Chapel Street. New Haven. Contact:  Marcus. Hours: Wed-Fridays, 4-7pm, Sat & Sunday 12-5

For more information and official submission form, Download: Call For Artwork for CLEARANCE SALE.TODAY ONLY.

One of the many amazingly artistic elements to the Ripple Effect exhibition housed at 756 Chapel Street is the history of the building.  Not only has the rich history of what has been housed between the walls 0f 756 been inspiring, informative, and even incited feelings of nostalgia,  but so too has the history found underneath the floorboards been just as intriguing.  Recently, during some renovations of the building, carpet was ripped up to reveal even more history and artistic expression of the building.  Take a look!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Daniel Eugene in front of his Ripple Effect wall drawing

Daniel Eugene is an artist that likes to work spontaneously, without pre-meditation, and is greatly impacted by the physical atmosphere he is working in.  It is no wonder, then, that being a part of Ripple Effect has had such an impact for Daniel.  “Working in 756[Chapel St.] presented new and unique influences upon my creative process,” said Daniel.  “It was a delight to have activities and workshops going on around me as I was drawing along with folks coming up and down the stairs – always a short conversation, a new face, some comments on my work.  My installation at 756 is certainly the most social work I have done.”   Daniel, a native of Bethany, CT and current resident of New Haven, believes that the impact of Ripple Effect on New Haven is not just one of artistic enhancement, but an experience that has brought “overlapping artistic and social diversity in New Haven and, more specifically, in the 9th Square neighborhood.”

Aicha Woods' Sumptuary Flurry

Ripple Artist Aicha Woods delights to work with everyday matter and detritus. Her fragile, temporary installations tend to waver between emergence and entropy.  With her installation in Ripple Effect entitled Sumptuary Flurry, Woods utilizes a scattering of gold and silver buttons to not only pay homage to the once retail enterprise housed at 756 State Street, but also epitomize the title of the work itself as it is indeed a flurry of artistic expression influenced by Sumptuary laws.

But, what are Sumptuary laws?

Sumptuary laws (from Latin sumptuariae leges) are laws that attempt to regulate habits of consumption. Black’s Law Dictionary defines them as if “Laws made for the purpose of restraining luxury or extravagance, particularly against inordinate expenditures in the matter of apparel, food, furniture, etc. Traditionally, they were laws that regulated and reinforced social hierarchies and morals through restrictions on clothing. food, and luxury expenditures. In most times and places, they were ineffectual. (Courtesy of Wikipedia) 

Happy Holidays from Ripple Effect!

To celebrate the holiday season, we’ve decided to share a few photos from our recent holiday reception at 756 Chapel St. Like what you see? Then come check out all of the amazing art being created as the Ripple Effect continues to grow into the new year!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To celebrate the amazing work being produced with Ripple Effect, and to celebrate the holiday season, we’re having a party!  Everyone is invited to attend the  Ripple Effect Holiday Party at 756 Chapel St. on Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.   Come down and enjoy a music performance from artist Sam Gibbons, as well as a slide show from artist Ernst Weber, whose photographs will take us back to the era of the 70′s and 80′s around New Haven.  Refreshments will be served, generously donated by the newest member of the block and New Haven community supporter, the Elm City Market.

Insook putting the finishing touches on Hi Love Kiss!

Insook Hwang, one of the amazingly talented artists from the Second Ripple, has been hard at work with her contribution to Ripple Effect entitled Hi Love Kiss!  Insook is known for creating installations that resemble a living organism by
combining small, repeating images that assemble into a larger more intriguing form, and her most recent creation at 756 Chapel St. is no exception.  Her’s what she had to say about her newest work:

The net like structure symbolize the accumulated memories and experiences the unconsciousness of human beings that lasts forever, shifting their forms and evolving themselves in the space. The bright colors (magenta, yellow, cyan) symbolize the memories contained in the structure as positive and invigorating such as good will and wisdom. Four portraits of myself are combined to make abstract crosses that take the form of stars, in stickers as well as part of the animation, that are spread out, moving humorously suggest that I am free and luminous being, like a star that can travel anywhere, shining in the darkness. Hanging pillows and stickers of different sizes are used to create the illusion of depth in the wall space. To give the appearance of volume to the net structure, I’ve drawn it out with lines of tape that run directly from the walls and onto the floor with the support of transparent vinyl. In the lenticulars, the word “love” is written in different languages (including Korean, English, French and German) that overlap each other in patterns like hidden codes.

Techniques of lenticuar prints, stencil, airbrushing, digital cut (for the stickers), sticker making, photography, animation, painting, drawing, sewing and collage were applied. Materials used are mylar, vinyl, leticular film, glitter film, sign film, printed paper, digital photo frame, acrylics and ink.

Recently, artist Colin Caplan took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to detail the fascinating history of 756 Chapel St., home of Project Storefronts and the Ripple Effect.  Colin, known around town for his amazing Taste of New Haven Food & Drink Tours, is the founder of Magrisso Forte LLC., a historical building preservation and design firm.  Here’s what he had to share:

P & Q Clothes and James Carroll Dental Center, 1925.

The bearing brick building was built around 1877 in the Italianate Victorian style for Paul Weil, a German Jewish immigrant who ran a tobacco shop and saloon there. He was born in Germany in 1830 and was heavily involved in New Haven’s Jewish community. His sons joined him in his business, and in 1883, he expanded his business to include a restaurant. Weil bottled soda on site and specialized in cigars, Milwaukee lager beers and wine. The upper floors of the building housed over various periods of time barbers, a scene painter, an architect and dentists. By World War I saloon converted over to clothing stores, which occupied the building up to the early 1960s. In 1966, Salvatore Libero and William Goldfarb started the Goldie Libro Music Center which was enjoyed by many a New Haveners for almost 40 years, until they closed in 2003.

An advertisement from the 1877 New Haven City Directory featuring Paul Weil’s business.

Ripple from Steven Olsen

It’s the beginning of December, which can mean only two things: Lots of holiday celebrations and lots of Ripples!  Which is why we’ve decided to combine the two and hold a ton of events to celebrate the great work being done down at 756 Chapel St. at the Ripple Effect!  Be sure to come down and celebrate with us, and Project Storefronts, on the following dates:

Friday, Dec. 2, 4-8pm:  The Good Life and Ripple Second reception

Saturday, Dec. 10, 12-5pm:  Make and Mingle Crafting and Ripple Third reception

Sunday, Dec. 11 , 8-11pm: Intercambio Performance

Sunday, Dec. 18, 2-4pm:  Ripple Holiday Celebration

Ripple from Joan Fitzsimmons

Ripple from Paul Thierault