An Old Greenwich gallery is in the final stretch of a charity art exhibition that funds free workshops for students across Greenwich.
"A Common Thread," the third annual charity show at ART06870, remains on view through Nov. 17 at 260R Sound Beach Ave. in Old Greenwich. More than 100 local, national and international artists contributed work to the show, which the Greenwich Sentinel reported opened Oct. 17.
The exhibition marks ART06870's first charity show since the gallery became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit, according to the Sentinel. Proceeds go toward free art workshops, internships and educational programs for young people in the Greenwich area.
Inside the installation
Individual artworks hang from the ceiling at varying heights, creating a colorful arrangement of paintings, photographs and mixed-media pieces. Visitors walk among the suspended works. Smaller original pieces are priced at $300 each, and larger works by featured artists are also on display.
Educators behind the effort
Artists and educators Michael Manning and Ben Quesnel have helped guide ART06870's educational programming, introducing students to disciplines including sculpture, photography, weaving and animation. On its website, the gallery described the exhibition as central to its mission of creating opportunities for artists while giving back to the community.
ART06870 has helped support more than a dozen workshops at Greenwich Public Schools (GPS), the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich and other community locations, according to the Sentinel. Recent projects have included collaborative sculpture, large-scale painting and mask-making, allowing students to experiment with different materials and participate in shared creative experiences.
The gallery says it is also involved in a districtwide collaborative art project incorporating contributions from more than 8,000 students, according to the Sentinel.
Developing Artist Program
Much of that programming runs through the Developing Artist Program, coordinated with the Greenwich Alliance for Education (GAE). The initiative began at Eastern Middle School in 2016 through a GAE grant and later expanded to Central and Western Middle Schools, connecting students with professional artists through workshops, classroom visits and studio tours. Additional summer programming has been offered through the Greenwich Arts Council.
How to visit
"A Common Thread" is on view through Nov. 17 at ART06870, 260R Sound Beach Ave. in Old Greenwich, behind Chase Bank. Parking is available along Sound Beach Avenue, and more information is at art06870.com.
