By Patricia Villers, Register Staff
pvillers@newhavenregister.com

DERBY — Change is in the air at the Valley Arts Council’s gallery downtown.

Council President Rich DiCarlo said the Gallery is being “totally renovated” by council members. The work is expected to be completed by the middle of next week.



“We have a new look, a bold color statement,” DiCarlo said Friday. The walls of the storefront at 37 Elizabeth St. have been painted “a rich barn red,” he said, with a cream trim. New interior lighting has been installed, and there is a new sign outside.

He said artists who belong to the organization “are from all walks of life.” Several artists have moved into the area and joined the Valley Arts Council, DiCarlo said. One has had his work exhibited at the United Nations and the White House, and another member, who wishes to remain anonymous, creates jewelry for the pope, DiCarlo said.

The organization will hold its annual Halloween “Night Gallery” reception starting at 4 p.m. Friday. The free event will include refreshments, DiCarlo said, and he hopes the public stops in to view an “eclectic” collection of artwork and see the updated gallery.

“The arts are very much alive and well in Derby, and in the Valley,” DiCarlo said.

DiCarlo said the organization’s membership continues to grow, despite the sagging economy. The membership has more than doubled since 2008, and is at about 165 artists.

A Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism grant of $6,800 enabled the renovation to go forward.

DiCarlo said the state commission has recognized that the council “is doing so much in a bad economy.” The Valley Community Foundation provided a $2,900 grant. Continued...

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DiCarlo said if there is art exhibited, “people will come and look at it.” He also said it is important to keep it “affordable.”

The council is reaching out to the community with classes and programs at libraries and schools, he said.

Meanwhile the council’s free poetry readings, The Cobblestone Poetry Series, continues at 1 p.m. Sunday. It references the historic cobblestones found at the lower end of Caroline Street. The reading will be at The Valley Center for the Arts, 119 Caroline St.

The event will feature: Jim Norton of Shelton. who has won first or second prize in the Connecticut Artists and Publishers writing contest for five years; Judith Nacca, whose poems have appeared in The Connecticut Review, The Massachusetts Review, and Verse; and Pamela St. Clair, whose book, “On Receiving Word,” was published by Finishing Line Press in 2008.

Refreshments will be served. Books by these poets will be available for sale.

For information on the poetry reading, contact Mary Ruth Shields at 203-922-0552, go to needleartsmrsr@yahoo.com<mailto:needleartsmrsr@yahoo.com> or visit www.valleyartscouncil.org<http://www.valleyartscouncil.org>.

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