Opening image: A Tiger Maple cupboard by Troy Brook Visions.
Phoebe Katzin has been designing and constructing costumes for acclaimed modern dance companies such as MOMIX and Pilobolus for more than 30 years. The late Austin Purves, Jr. was a mid-20th century artist known for his mosaics and frescoes, director of the Cooper Union School of Art in New York City in the 1930s, and later a professor at Yale and Bennington College.
They share something in common – the Village of East Litchfield, located off Route 118 above the Naugatuck River and Route 8. It’s a pretty, rural part of town that’s also apparently a creative haven.
To highlight and showcase the artists, artisans, and makers who live (or have lived) in the village, the East Litchfield Village Improvement Society (ELVIS) is holding a free open house and exhibit at the 1868 East Litchfield Chapel (62 East Litchfield Road South.)
On June 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., ELVIS will host an exhibit of art, artifacts, and home goods made in East Litchfield. The exhibit will feature Native American artifacts found in East Litchfield, stained glass works and a MOMIX costume by Katzin, pottery by Kristin Gallagher, metal sculpture by Asa Hall, fine furniture by Troy Brook Visions, a fire grate by Grate Wall of Fire, hand-hooked rugs, and paintings by artists including Purves, Jr., Nancy Roman and Rob Nadeau (whose painting RockenMutter is shown here).
To learn more about ELVIS, whose mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the community of East Litchfield, see the website and the Facebook page. Correspondence and questions may be emailed to elvis.1868.inc@gmail.com.
Below, a large six panel cartoon on paper of Austin Purves Jr.’s mosaic soffit design for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. From the Litchfield Historical Society collection.
