Ridgefield High School Interns Create Two 300th Anniversary Audio/MP3 "Walking Tours"
The Ridgefield Historical Society was fortunate this past Spring to have the opportunity work with two Ridgefield High School senior class interns. Tara Minchik and Brittany O’Brien completed a unique project in support of both the history of the c. 1714 Scott House and Ridgefield’s upcoming 300th anniversary celebration. read more..
To Listen to or Download their Historic Main Street audio "Walking Tour" (an MP3 file) .....Click Here
Download the Audio Tour Click Here
Ridgefield Press - January 14, 2008
TRICENTENNIAL HISTORY: Ridgefield artist honors photographer
Artist Suzanne Benton has used the peoples of the world as both sources of her inspiration and the audiences for her creations. Ridgefielders of the early 20th Century are her latest inspiration.—Scott Mullin photo
Celebrating the Hartmann Era is a series of 31 monoprints with Chine collé (collage) by Ridgefield artist Suzanne Benton, a sampling of which was introduced on Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Community Center as part of the opening Ridgefield 300 reception, Meet Your Ancestors.
These works, Ms. Benton’s newest series, highlights images from the repository of 700 Joseph Hartmann’s photo portraits created at the turn of the 19th and early 20th century. The Hartmann Archive from which Benton drew her subjects is now in the trust of the historic Keeler Tavern.
Octavio Carboni, a monoprint collage, by Suzanne Benton.
Trained in Europe, Mr. Hartmann posed his clients as for a classical or contemporary painting of the period. Ms. Benton’s juxtaposing his photo images in her printmaking milieu carries them into the art of modern time. By drawing on this little used archive, and with the artists particular means of focusing on and surrounding Hartmann’s subjects, she said, she is honoring the humanity of history.
“The photographer, himself an active member of the Ridgefield community, documented Ridgefield’s residents from all walks of life, the privileged and powerful, immigrants and the few African Americans,” Ms. Benton said. “He fixed in time those that were beautiful along with the plain and simple, the proud and modest. By photographing people at threshold events throughout their lives, he’s provided us with a vital historical record.”
Ms. Benton said her monoprint series “brings these people to life for viewers of the 21st Century, helping us to identify with those who’ve gone before, and to consider our personal sense of place and identity.”
The Celebrating the Hartman Era monoprints are replete with images of youth, those coming of age, wedding tableaus, family portraits, local and renowned heroes, as well as matriarchs and patriarchs of their time. “How and when in their lives they were photographed, their costumes, expressions and physical stances offer telling evidence of their personalities, humanity and stations in life,” the artist said.
Artist Suzanne Benton has used the peoples of the world as both sources of her inspiration and the audiences for her creations. Her specialty has been sculpting metal masks, which she uses with myths and legends to tell stories.
Ms. Benton has studied in Asia (under a Fulbright), Africa and Europe, has given performances and workshops in 28 countries, and was an artist in residence at Harvard. A skilled metal sculptor, she has written a book, The Art of Welded Sculpture, and many articles on the subject, but is also a printmaker and painter. Her masks have appeared in more than 40 solo shows and are in many museum and private collections.
Ms. Benton joined the League of Women Voters soon after moving here in 1965. "I headed the public accommodations task force and got myself into hot water with many townspeople by advocating the need for low-income housing," she said years later.
An active feminist both locally and nationally, especially in the 70s, she was the moving force behind the creation of the Ridgefield Women’s Political Caucus, and worked to help women win elective office, including Lillian Moorhead, Ridgefield’s first female selectman.
In 1996, the Veteran Feminists of America honored her as a pioneering feminist. Locally, she has given mask, storytelling, and sculpture programs in the schools and at the Aldrich Museum. She has been a member of the town’s Architectural Advisory Committee, which offers advice on major planned construction projects.
Ms. Benton’s Celebrating the Hartmann Era artworks will be exhibited in their entirety at the Keeler Tavern Cass Gilbert Dining Room and Garden House in July, and in the fall at Ridgefield’s Enchanted Garden Music and Art Conservatory.
For further information, call Ms. Benton, 438-4650 or email suzannemasks@sbcglobal.net.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversary Celebration begins
Hear Ye!!. Hear Ye!!. The 300th Anniversary Celebration events are about to begin! Church bells will beckon one and all to the Ridgefield Community Center on Sunday, January 6 as we gather at the Meet Our Ancestors Opening Reception from 1 – 4 p.m. This kick-off is the first of many events throughout the year to honor our terrific town and it is the perfect time and place to see the people, places and things that make up our 300-year history. You will also get a glimpse of what events are upcoming, and you will be able to purchase the incredible commemorative items like tee shirts, under shorts, mugs and sweatshirts, as well as the exquisite plate designed by Susan Scala. Because of the generous support of so many, this 300th event is free! Light refreshments will be served. Who will be there? Why certainly Governor and Mrs. Lounsbury will be greeting us, after all it is their house. Oh, and though he lived many years before the Lounsburys, but because he was involved with the original sale of land to form our town, Chief Catoonah has said he would try to make it. Actually, those folks will be actors (you knew that), aptly portrayed through their connections to the Ridgefield Theater Barn, Discovery Center and Keeler Tavern. Beth Yanity is chair of the Meet Our Ancestors Committee, and she describes this opening kick-off as “A wonderful opportunity to learn some of the history about our fabulous town, as well as a chance to mingle with our neighbors.”
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Leo Plum has the Battle of Ridgefield in miniature, and he is kindly lending it to the festivities. It shows the Redcoats and the Colonists in battle, with the Keeler Tavern prominent (look for the cannonball). Behind the Tavern is a more peaceful setting. A Timeline depicting various phases of Ridgefield life from the 25 early “proprietors” (owners of all Ridgefield land) through the estate owners today will put into perspective the years between our beginnings in 1708 right up to the present. |
| Leo Plum’s Battle of Ridgefield will be one of the features at the Meet Our Ancestors Opening Reception for the 300th Anniversary Celebration. Pam Lowell photo |
Rudy Marconi, vice-chair
Kay Ables
Tom Belote
Maureen Kiernan
Pam Lowell
Kevin Walsh
Nancy McDaniel, administrator
Jason Johnson, Boldfour Design - graphic designer
Jack Alexander, Alexander's Consulting - website development 400 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-431-3001
E-mail us at 300anniversary@ridgefieldct.org