The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘Art of Work’ gala welcomes public Sept. 26
WINSTED — The American Mural Project (AMP) will host its third annual Art of Work Gala on Saturday, Sept. 29, in its newly renovated mill building in Winsted. The evening includes cocktails, a string quartet, dinner, “art in motion” video projections and dancing, as well as a hands-on art project.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with appetizers, music, and cocktails in AMP’s mill building, offering an opportunity to view the space that will house the mural.
“Continuing in AMP’s tradition of engaging guests with hands-on art, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in creating a piece of art that will be installed on the property,” organizers said in a statement.
Dinner for the event is provided by Spice Catering Group of Derby. The evening concludes with dessert, a paddle raise fundraiser, a “multimedia experience,” and dancing.
The string quartet features players from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
Joe Wheaton, known in the Berkshires and beyond for his metal sculptures and energetic “art in motion” video projections, brings his multimedia experience to AMP for the first time.
Corporate support for AMP’s Gala has been provided by Newman’s Own Foundation and Scope Construction Company, Inc.
Tickets are $225 per person; tables of ten may be purchased for $2,000. For tickets or more information call 860-379-3006 or visit http://americanmuralproject.org/events.php.
Launched in 2002 by artist Ellen Griesedieck, the American Mural Project (AMP) is creating the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world — a mural 120 feet long, 48 feet high, and up to 10 feet deep. “The mural is a tribute to American workers and highlights what has defined the country over the last century. It seeks to inspire, to educate, to invite collaboration, and to reveal to people of all ages the many contributions they can make to American culture. Nothing like it exists in the world,” event organizers said.
More than 15,000 children and adults have helped create pieces of the mural, which will be housed in two former mill buildings on Whiting Street. Scope Construction began renovations on the mural building in March 2017 and are expected to finish this fall. The lengthy process of assembling and installing the mural will follow, with the public opening projected for 2019.
Support for the American Mural Project has been provided by the Newman’s Own Foundation, Institute of International Education/ Ford Foundation, the Maximillian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Arconic (formerly Alcoa), Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, Northwest Community Bank, the Aetna Foundation, Stanley Black & Decker, the Draper Fund, the Diebold Foundation, and the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, among others.