The Chappaqua Library Gallery and Exhibits
The Gallery
The Chappaqua Library Gallery is the site of between 6 and 9 art exhibits annually. It features the work of local and regional artists in all types of media. Sculpture is often on display in the library's courtyard as well. The gallery and courtyard are open Monday - Thursday from 9am to 8pm, Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 1 - 5pm (during the school year).
For information about being considered for an exhibit, contact Gallery Curator Larry D'Amico at 914 734-1292.
May 2 - 31, 2008 | Middle School Art Show |
June 27 - July, 2008 Reception June 27, 2008 | Senior Citizens Art Show |
Exhibit
New Castle Historical Society Exhibit on 19th and 20 Century Christening Dresses
"Babies Are Born Without Clothers"
This is a situation that most parents and caregivers find unacceptable and set about to correct. In the distant past, babies were swaddled; they spent their early months with their bodies securely wrapped in clothes or blankets. However, at the beginning of the 18th century, swaddling dropped out of favor, and by the end of the 18th century and into the 19th, babies were dressed in loose clothing which permitted them to move their arms and legs freely. Their heads were covered by light caps, indoors and out, until they grew a full head of hair. Both sexes wore long, loose robes over shirts and diapers until they were 8 or 9 months old. At that point, their dresses were shortened to ankle length as they progressed toward learning to walk.
Most baby clothes were recycled to younger siblings or other children, and consequently few have survived. However, special occasion dresses, such as christening gowns, were frequently preserved for sentimental reasons. The New Castle Historical Society is proud to have a small collection of baby long clothes and caps donated over the years by Chappaqua residents. Some of them are on display here.
The caps and dresses in our collection date from the late 19th century, with one example from the 20th. The lace, embroidery, fancy stitches, and ruffles on these gowns indicate how special they were to the mothers who dress their tiny treasures in their best. The dresses are combinations of hand and machine sewing. Some were worn several times, to judge by the carefully mended tears. One of the dresses came from a Quaker family, and, consistent with the Quaker preference for plain dress, lacks the elaborate embroidery and intricate needlework of the others. But even this gown has a bit of lace and ruffles at the neck. All the caps and dresses are cotton, with the exception of one silk cap. This cap is larger than the others and most likely was worn by an older baby who wasn't quite so messy.
The very small brown print baby cap was probably made for a doll. Its fabric is an 18th century roller print, and was probably an old dress that someone cut up for doll clothes in the 19th century.
It is hard to imagine the problems involved in keeping babies clean and dry in the days before disposable diapers and washing machines. But then, as now, mothers took care to see that their little angels were dressed as angels, too.
ART AT THE LIBRARY
Thanks to Susan Manspeizer for the long term loan of a wall sculpture, "Fragile Moments," on long-term loan for the theater lobby. Susan Manspeizer has exhibited extensively in the United States and abroad including at local galleries such as Katonah and SUNY Purchase. She works in wood and says about her work: “As a sculptor, I create wood assemblage constructions, continually striving to bring the two-dimensional painted stroke out into our three dimensional space. Through layering of my material, volume is created that allows the viewer to participate in the emotional content of my work. …Wood by nature is a hard and heavy material, and …I work with thin plywood that I bend and manipulate and then throw out into space, giving one the feeling of the painted stroke in space.”
"Westchester" a painting by Robert Goodnough, local resident and artist, is now hanging in the theater lobby.
“Chester West” by Robert Goodnough…
Hans and Judith Noe have generously given the library a second piece of art by Robert Goodnough. Goodnough, well known as a painter and sculptor and recipient of numerous awards, has exhibited extensively. His work hangs in virtually every major museum, including MoMA, the Whitney and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He joins Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning as an accomplished member of the Second Generation of the New York School – abstract expressionism. Edward Albee hung one of Goodnough’s paintings in the living room of the set of the movie “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”. The library is proud and grateful to be the recipient of this gift.
“Tiger” by Robert Spinazzola on long term loan
Robert Spinazzola works in welded steel and found materials. He writes, “My sculptures are three dimensional steel drawings. When I began to make sculpture in 1975, I created the first works from discarded and salvaged steel. I find that used steel acquires a patina that makes it very interesting…Out of reverence for my personal connection to nature, much of my work describes animal forms… my objective is to create an emotional attachment between the viewer and these steel objects through the suggestion of motion. If I can project some of nature’s qualities and cause the viewer to suspend the fact that they are seeing steel objects welded together, then I have succeeded in my work.” Robert Spinazzola has exhibited widely including the following:
Selected One Man Exhibitions:
Knicker Bocker Lofts, New Rochelle, NY 2007, O'Brien Architectural
Offices, Bedford Hills, NY.2002, Chappaqua Library Sculpture Garden
1999, Sound Shore Gallery, Cross River, NY.1997,1991,1989, Gallery Joe,
Philadelphia, PA. 1994, Helio Galleries, NYC., NY. 1991, 1990.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
"Pencil. Paint. Steel." Secrets Gallery, Hastings on Hudson, NY March
2008, "Japanese Arts", Gallery Yellow, Crossriver, NY August 2006, "The
Boys of Summer II," Ironwood Gallery, Ridgefield, CT July-August 2005,
"The World Series of Historical Baseball," The Henry Ford Museum,
Dearborn, MI. August 2004- "Appalachian State University," (Honorarium
winner), 2001-March 2002- "Creatures," Elaine Benson Gallery,
Bridgehampton, NY 1998, 1995, 1989, 1984 - "The Horse in Fine Art,"
Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL. (National Tour), 1997-1998 -
"Angels," Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY
1993 - "Art of the Northeast," (Award winner, Best Sculpture)
Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan , CT 1992 - "Kentucky Derby Museum,"
Louisville. KY 1987
