Category: Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum

The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum are looking for a pilot with experience with flying early aircraft and how that experience is influenced by the weather who would be willing to speak about his/her experiences at the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, CT this summer.  The museum is highlighting Eric Sloane’s work in explaining meteorological and atmospheric phenomenon to pilots in via his publications for the Army Air Corps (c. 1942-1945), as well as Eric’s work related to painting military and civilian aircraft and “cloudscapes”, which was the term Eric Sloane used to describe his renditions of clouds and the atmosphere.  If you know of a c. WWII pilot, or someone who flew in the late 1940s-late 1950s, the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum would really appreciate hearing from you.  Thank you!

The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum are interested in speaking with any pilots who flew military and/or commercial aircraft in the 1940s and 1950s.  We have spoken with several individuals who flew in these capacities during this era who recall using some of Eric Sloane’s early works for the Army Air Corps and some early books on meteorology written and illustrated by Eric Sloane.  We would really like to have a pilot join us for one of our events in 2014 on the grounds of the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, Connecticut.  This year, the Eric Sloane Museum will explore Eric Sloane and his work with the sky and clouds.  The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum will continue to update posts on our Facebook page and on this blog.

 

This past Saturday the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum met at the Kent Town Hall in Kent, CT.  Among the items discussed was the theme for 2014, which was established by Barbara Russ of the museum in consultation with representatives from the state of Connecticut.  The theme will focus on Eric Sloane’s exploration of the sky, clouds, and meteorology.  We will be posting updates on our Facebook page – Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum – as they become available.

The Autumn, 2013 issue of Legacy, the newsletter of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum, has just been published.  If you are a member of the friends group, your copy should be arriving to your door shortly via USPS 1st class mail.  Enjoy!

This past summer I was invited to take part in the filming of a segment on the Eric Sloane Museum for the Connecticut Public Television series entitled Connecticut Treasures.  The producer did an excellent job highlighting the museum, the collection, and the life of Eric Sloane.  To view the video, please click on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sVYrkImFQY&feature=youtu.be

      

 

 

Pictured, Left:  Some of the younger artists of the 2013 Trash Art! Exhibit and Sale.  Pictured, Right:  Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum board member Bob Coppola was busy in the Friend’s Hospitality Tent helping to build toys with our youngest visitors.

          The quality of the art was nearly unbelievable!  What a fabulous event – the Opening Reception for the artists of the 2013 Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-Imagine, Re-purpose:  Trash Art! Exhibit and sale which runs through July 27^th at the Eric Sloane Museum.  Twenty seven artists participated in the show, displaying nearly 75 pieces of art.  The level of imagination and skill on display is incredible.

   Many visitors came to the artist’s reception and to view the works of art on display

          I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with several artists including Frank Self, Liz Tobin, Arista Baltronis, Patrick Purcell, Aiden Cherniske, Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum member Clayton Preston, Andrew Richards, Joe Buda, Molly Burke, and Heaven L. Darling.  Everyone was super excited to be a part of this event and the repose was so positive that the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum are discussing having a 2014 Trash Art event that would explore next year’s theme of clouds and the sky.  More to come on this topic, I promise.

Always nice to visit with members of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum

            The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum, along with the staff of the Eric Sloane Museum, extend our thanks to our artists, who did a marvelous job pitting their own interpretations, imaginations, and certainly skills to work to make the 2013 Trash Art! Exhibit and sale a success:

Marylyn Hendricks

Laurence Hendricks

Liz Tobin

G.R. Boggs

Barbara Egenes                                                 

Cyd Gorman

Arista Baltronis

Frank Self

Julia Spagnolo

Diane Mesagno

Patrick Purcell

Aiden Cherniske

Clayton Preston

Andrew Richards

Nicollette, Penelope, Julianna, Evan, Marco & Sebastian

Dayna Wenzel

Joe Buda

Lyn Priestman

Molly Burke

Heaven Darling

James Mauch

Edith Mauch

When Chinese firecrackers entered the scene, Independence Day bell-ringing vanished.  But the thought of church bells and farm bells and school bells and fire bells all clanging through the countryside seems best to catch the spirit of that first American day.  It would be fitting, it seems, to revive the bells of Independence Day.

                                                 -Eric Sloane, The Seasons of America Past A nice crowd joined us for Ringing of the Bells ceremony at the Eric Sloane Museum 

We recently returned from a wonderful trip to the Eric Sloane Museum to celebrate The Ringing of the Bells Ceremony on the museum grounds.  What a special event.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of attending, it is a quiet affair – until the bells commence ringing at 2 p.m.!  We added an additional ring to the cacophony by bringing along a 300+ lb. brass Civil War-era locomotive bell to accompany the steel one which Eric had installed above the museum.

Kima and Brianna take their turn at ringing the Eric Sloane bell    

I hope that it [The Sound of Bells] might not only enrich the lore of Americana, but also, and perhaps more important, that it might enrich the lives of many young Americans.

                                                – Eric Sloane, The Sound of Bells

The Civil War-era locomotive bell with the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum Hospitality Tent in the background.  Thanks to everyone who came to share the day!

            Wife Beth and daughter Edith helped to run the Friends of the Eric Sloane Hospitality Tent, an initiative launched by the organization earlier this year.  We handed out free soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, snacks – and to keep with the season and the colors of the fourth, fresh strawberries and blueberries.  We had as much fun as the guests!

Edith and Beth Mauch take a turn at ringing the Eric Sloane bell

            Barb Russ gathered everyone to hear James Purdle explain the connection between Eric Sloane and bell ringing on the fourth of July.  Then, one by one, our guests were able to ring both Eric’s bell atop the museum and the locomotive bell, which I am sure brought some attentive and nostalgic ears alive in the town of Kent.  I met Dr. and Mrs. Peters, a lovely couple who joined The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum at the family membership level (thank you!) and I enjoyed re-connecting with Dick Lindsey of the Kent Historical Society and meeting his lovely wife Charlotte, speaking with Davia Fink of the Kent Art Association.  There seems to be great buzz and anticipation for the upcoming exhibit and sale entitled Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-imagine, Re-purpose: Trash Art, which will open with an artist’s reception on July the 20^th and run through to the 27^th.  We have some fantastic artists exhibiting their creations and thank them for their time and amazing abilities.  We hope to see you for the reception and show!

The Friends of The Eric Sloane Musuem is grateful for the support we receive from our members.  Thank you! 

President’s Circle

Jeffrey and Katrina Bischoff

The Cain Family Foundation

James and Rebecca Mauch

James, Elizabeth, and Edith Mauch

 

Sponsor

Bob Coppola

Amy Gillenson

Peter and Carol Kern

Cecilia Mullen

John Pennings

Toby Robinson

Michael Salvino

Harold Stewart

George A. Stickels

 

Family

Lucy Ball

Bryan and Rachel Clothier

Linda and Ed D’Orlando

Ophelia Dahl and Lisa Frantzis

Izaak Davis

Mike and Kathy Kopach

Alice Mandel

Craig Marcin

Maureen O’Farrell

Dr. and Mrs. Peters

 

Individual

Michael H. Bird

Douglas Erwin

Sarah Ann Gallagher

Marieluise Hutchinson

Hattie Mauch

Clayton Preston

Toni Ann Presti

Scott Sheldon

 

Contributor

Steve Lawrence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Barbara Russ

Museum Assistant

Eric Sloane Museum

(860) 927-3849

Eric Sloane Museum Seeking Entries for Trash Art Exhibit

Kent, Connecticut, May 27, 2013—The Eric Sloane Museum is currently seeking entries for the Trash Art: Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-Imagine, and Re-purpose exhibit being held at the Eric Sloane Museum from July 20^th to July 27^th. Local residents of all skill levels are encouraged to create art from re-purposed, recycled, discarded, or used materials. Prizes will be awarded in various categories including an under 18 category, and participants can even choose to have their artwork offered for sale to the general public.

Participants should deliver art to the Eric Sloane Museum between 10am and 4pm July 4-8; July 11-14; and July 18^th-19^th. Participants should expect to fill out a form with a description of materials used, name, and title of the piece. There is a limit of five entries per person. An opening reception will be held on July 20^th from 11am-4pm. During the reception, Bob Coppola of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum will be holding a workshop for children and young adults entitled Making Toys From Discarded and Everyday Objects. The reception and workshop are free. Participants should also plan on picking up their works of art by July 28^th.

The Eric Sloane Museum was built as a collaborative effort between Eric Sloane and Stanley Works of New Britain to commemorate the tool company’s 125^th anniversary. Sloane is known to lovers of Americana as an artist and author who brought to life many forgotten customs and skills of past generations. In all, Sloane authored and illustrated over 38 books.

The Eric Sloane Museum is located in Kent, Connecticut on Route 7 (31 Kent-Cornwall Rd.) just north of the village of Kent and the intersections of Route 7 and 341. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4 pm.

 

The Eric Sloane Museum in Kent is pleased to announce their latest exhibition entitled Trash Art:  Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-Imagine, and Re-purpose to be held at the Eric Sloane Museum from July 20^th to July 27^th.  An opening reception will be held on July 20^th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and during that time Bob Coppola of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum will be holding a workshop for children and young adults entitled Making Toys From Discarded and Everyday Objects.  The reception and the workshop are free.

Trash Art:  Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-Imagine, and Re-purpose is part of a series of events held on the grounds of the museum throughout 2013 that playfully explores the relationship between the Eric Sloane Museum and its environs, which was once the dump for the town of Kent. The Eric Sloane Museum is seeking entries for this exhibit and invites anyone to participate in this unique, thought-provoking artistic experience that celebrates the creative side of re-cycling.  Anyone of any age and artistic ability is welcome to participate and there is no charge to do so.  Participants in the Trash Art exhibit will need to create their artistic works from recycled, discarded, or used materials.  Prizes will be awarded in various categories including an under 18 category, and participants can even choose to have their artwork offered for sale to the general public.

For more information on the Trash Art exhibit, contest, and sale, please contact Barb Russ of the Eric Sloane Museum at 860-927-3849, or visit www.friendsoftheericsloanemuseum.org.