Five Points shows feature paintings, sculpture

TORRINGTON — Five Points Gallery, presents three new exhibitions: “Ukraine Flower Series: The Power of Defiance” by Sandra Filippucci & Copper Tritscheller; “A Murder of Crows” by Gay Schempp; and “In the Zone” by Joseph Fucigna & Sam Posey.

The exhibitions open with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 3, followed by an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 with Matthew J. Best.

The exhibition in the West Gallery features work by Sandra Filippucci and Copper Tritscheller. Filippucci’s powerful mixed media work reflects the trauma of the war in Ukraine, and Tritscheller’s sculpture captures the rawness of endurance and survival.

The TDP Gallery showcases encaustic work by Gay Schempp, based on the mysterious properties of crows.

The East Gallery features a twoman show, by sculptor Joseph Fucigna and painter Sam Posey that balance two parallels, play, and instinct, according to at statement from Five Points.

Five Points West Gallery: Ukraine Flower Series — The Power of Defiance.

Filippucci’s multimedia flower paintings express the anger and

sadness of the war in Ukraine. She recently recalled her reactions to the televised war and reflected on her family’s experience of the British World War II bombings in London, and how her mother coped with the trauma of war by incorporating flowers into her life. The paintings are, “generally as savage as the war itself and often appear to be exploding; the stamens of a normal flower transformed into dangerous projectiles,

delicate petals suggesting bandages or punctured flesh,” according to arts writer Ann Landi.

Showing alongside Filippucci is Copper Tritscheller, whose abstract bronze horse sculptures depict an emotional response to the animals’ developmental histories, plights, endurance, and survival.

Gay Schempp’s “A Murder of Crows” encaustic work observes crows, highlighting their intelligence and gestures and composing

visual stories — drawing similarities to humankind. Using the innate qualities of an encaustic medium, Gay is able to layer and trap color, memory, and messages in time. In her book, Quarantine 2020, Through a Crow’s Eyes, she documents the early stages of the pandemic through the persona of a crow.

“In the Zone”, the exhibit in the East Gallery, visually pairs abstract sculptures by Joseph Fucigna

and abstract paintings by Sam Posey.

Fucigna’s multi-media work is rooted in process, experimentation, and innate qualities of the materials – often industrial plastic fencing– that he uses. His ultimate goal is to create work “that is a perfect balance between suggestive content and the formal qualities of the materials that allow both to be active participants,” according to a statement.

A former racer, Posey draws parallels between painting and his career driving cars. These similarities start with what Sam calls “power without effort”. In the same manner as speeding in a car, creating brush strokes on a canvas can produce a painting that unleashes emotional forces that can resonate through generations. Posey creates his paintings through conscious thought, play, and intuition that are based on the region around him, according to a statement.

Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday or by appointment; the gallery is closed on Mondays. The Feb. 3 opening reception and the Feb. 24 artist talk are free and open to the public. For information, call 860-618-7222 or go to www.fivepointsarts.org

Five Points Gallery / Contributed photos Five Points Gallery, Torrington, is opening three shows Feb. 3, with Sandra Fillipucci and Copper Tritscheller; Gay Schempp; and Joseph Fucigna and Sam Posey. Left is a painting by Sandra Fillipucci, center is a sculpture by Copper Tritscheller and right is a painting by Sandra Fillipucci.