A SHARED RETROSPECTIVE of Art and Collaboration at City Gallery

At 90-something years-old, the word “retrospective” has a certain rich patina to it — just ask City Gallery founding member Jane Harris. Together with long-time friend and collaborator Sheila Kaczmarek, she’ll present A SHARED RETROSPECTIVE from Thursday, February 6 - Sunday, March 1. Meet both artists at the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 9 from 3-5PM. (Snow Date: February 16)

Harris received a B.A. degree from Brown University in Art History, studied at The Art Students League of New York, apprenticed with designer Lester Beall, and worked on the staff of Apparel Arts (Esquire) and Harper’s Bazaar. She’s been featured in solo and collaborative installations from at Silvermine Guild Art Center (New Canaan, CT), New Britain Museum of American Art, and the John Slade Ely House, among others.

She worked in New York as a graphic artist before moving to Connecticut in the 70s. In the 80s, she joined a group of nine artists who met every week in Caroline Chandler’s studio to discuss and work on shared art work. Each member would start a painting and then pass it on to a colleague to work on for a week. Some paintings would be finished after a month, others would be passed around and worked on for a year. Several exhibitions resulted from this collaborative, five-year experiment.

Caroline, Harris and Sheila Kaczmarek continued to collaborate, and together became the founding members of City Gallery in 2003.

Harris’ work has always reflected her original beginnings in graphic design, and the latest work in A SHARED RETROSPECTIVE includes her drawings and ideas presented in small handmade sketchbooks. Complementing Harris’ work will be several of Kaczmarek’s sculptures influenced by her collaborative work with Harris over the years.

A SHARED RETROSPECTIVE is free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Thursday - Sunday, 12 noon - 4pm or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.