'Avant Colony': Celebrating the history of avant-garde art-making in Connecticut

This hour, we preview several historical exhibits spotlighting local artists, many of whom were touched by the Pop Art Movement percolating just over the border in New York. This includes prolific artist couple Leo Jensen and Dalia Ramanauskas. We'll explore what it means to be an artist in community — in Connecticut or New York — and how Pop Art changed that.

1 of 6The exhibit "Avant Colony: Unearthing the Westbrook Gallery" is currently running through March 31 at Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New HavenEric Litke / Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven2 of 6Saturday Night: New London, ca 1935, is on view in "Beatrice Cuming: Connecticut Precisionist," through May 26 at Lyman Allyn Art Museum.Provided / Tanya Pohrt / Lyman Allyn Art Museum3 of 6Bell Buoys on the Dock, ca. 1937, is on view in "Beatrice Cuming: Connecticut Precisionist," through May 26 at Lyman Allyn Art Museum.Provided / Tanya Pohrt / Lyman Allyn Art Museum4 of 6Leo Jensen (1926–2019), Baseball Machine, 1963. Painted wood, mixed media kinetic sculpture, 90 x 76 x 23 in. Collection of the Artist.Provided / Florence Griswold Museum5 of 6Leo Jensen (1926–2019), The Lure of the Turf, 1963. Wood, steel, 90 x 63 x 22 1/2 in. Collection of the Artist.Provided / Florence Griswold Museum6 of 6Leo Jensen (1926–2019), Secrets of a Home Run Hitter, 1964. Polychromed wood and mixed media assemblage (electric), 39 x 40 x 8 in. Collection of the Artist.Provided / Florence Griswold Museum

February 4 – March 31: Avant Colony: Unearthing the Westbrook Gallery at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven

February 10 – April 14: Art in Play: Leo Jensen at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London

February 20 – May 19: Fun & Games? Leo Jensen's Pop Art at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme

"Dalia Ramanauskas: As We Embark" just wrapped up at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, and an exhibit dedicated to William Kent is in the works at the New Haven Museum.

GUESTS:

Eric Litke: Museum Assistant, Yale University Art Gallery

Amy Kurtz Lansing: Curator, Florence Griswold Museum

Tanya Pohrt: Curator, Lyman Allyn Art Museum

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.