OLD LYME — In commemoration of its re-opening this fall, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts has announced a fundraising reception to coincide with the opening of its inaugural exhibition, Memento Vivere. The fundraiser, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. will serve as a preview of the exhibition, which opens to the public the following day and runs through Dec. 10, 2021.
Tickets to the preview reception are $100 per person with proceeds benefitting student scholarships at the Academy.
Works of art, ranging in price from $350 to $46,000, will be available for purchase during the event, with 40 percent of those proceeds benefiting the Academy.
Curated by Lyme Academy Artistic Directors Amaya Gurpide and Jordan Sokol, the Memento Vivere exhibition features more than 20 works by internationally-acclaimed artists, each of which represents a progressive vision of the figurative tradition and brings continued life to a historical framework. The vigor of these pieces is reminiscent of the optimism with which the Academy is now moving forward.
The exhibition’s Latin title, which translates to ‘Remember to Live,’ also serves not only as a reminder of the resilience of life but also the importance of celebrating it through art.
In a press release announcing the exhibition, Gurpide notes, “The artists in this exhibition were selected from all over the world, ranging from well-established to emerging talent. This exhibition is a celebration of the vitality of figurative art today, bringing together a selection of innovators, who are giving renewed life to a traditional framework.” Gurpide serves as co-artistic director and co-curator of the exhibition, and is also a working artist at Lyme Academy.
International artists featured in the Memento Vivere exhibition include Felipe Alonso, Steven Assael, David Baird, Colleen Barry, Tamie Beldue, Hedi Ben Nun, Nina Cairns, Eudald De Juana, Hollis Dunlap, Paul Fenniak, Ann Gale, Michael Grimaldi, Amaya Gurpide, Grzegorz Gwiazda, Diarmuid Kelley, Edward Kinsella, Paco Lafarga, Kate Lehman, Eduardo Millan, Eloy Morales, Ed Praybe, Edmond Rochat, Travis Schlaht, Bernardo Siciliano, Will St. John, Peter Van Dyck, Eran Webber, Timothy P. Wilson and Yuval Yosifov.
“Lyme Academy is committed to making its Core program affordable so our students don’t head out into the world with a mountain of debt, limiting their career options”, said Michael Thomas Duffy, the Academy’s new board chair. “The funds we raise through the Memento Vivere event will help us to offer scholarship opportunities, keep our tuition accessible and make our programs available to a broad range of students.”
The fundraising reception is presented by Hamilton Point Investments and sponsored by MJP Wealth Advisors along with generous sponsorship donations from community members.
Catering for the event will be provided by Colt Taylor, Executive Chef of The Essex.
Tickets to the Memento Vivere fundraiser can be purchased online by visiting this link.
Consistent with public health guidelines for spaces limited to vaccinated guests, masks will not be mandatory. Masks will, however, be available for guests to use at their discretion. The Academy will adhere to State of Connecticut and local COVID-19 guidelines should any changes to the requirements occur.
The Memento Vivere exhibition, located in the Chauncey Stillman Gallery, will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Oct. 17, through Dec. 10, 2021.
About Lyme Academy of Fine Arts: The mission of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is to teach the foundational skills of drawing, painting, and sculpture in the figurative tradition. By its commitment to training students in these skills and an engagement with contemporary discourse, the Academy will empower a new generation of artists. Through its programs, the Academy is committed to enriching the cultural life of the community. Learn more by visiting www.lymeacademy.edu.
Will there be a catalogue?