About Us
Hygienic Art, Inc. was created as an incorporated structure in the fall of 1979, when artists employed by a federal Comprehensive Education and Training Act (CETA) grant decided, as a final project, to hold an outsiders' art festival. The show was modeled after the "Salon Des Independants," a late 19th century art movement in Paris in which artists had protested the aristocracy by exhibiting their works in cafes located in the 'seamy' areas of the city. The artists in those exhibitions gave rise to the great French Impressionist movement.
The exhibition was presented at the Hygienic Restaurant, New London's only 24 hour eatery, which had been open since 1919. The rules were simple; no judge, no jury, no fees, no censorship, one piece per artist and all were welcome. The show was an immediate success and the Hygienic Art Exhibition became an annual creative arts festival, attracting over 450 artists and an audience of thousands.
The Hygienic Restaurant closed in 1985 and the show continued in other historic venues in the city. Hygienic Art was formally incorporated in 1987 to save the exhibition from speculators who wanted to use the Hygienic name to promote other festivals in the city.
In 1996 the building that housed the Hygienic Restaurant was slated for demolition to become a parking lot for a bank. Originally built as a whaling company's provisioning store and crews' quarters, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Hygienic Art, Inc. led a statewide grassroots effort to save the building. Enlisting the support of the State's Attorney Generals Office, the Connecticut Historic Commission, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, City of New London, the Governor, State Legislators, the Connecticut Historic Commission, the Chester Kitchings Foundation, Community Foundation of S.E. Conn., Palmer/ Bodenwein Fund and thousands of private donors and volunteers, Hygienic Art bought and historically renovated this landmark building into a residential artists co-op and public art galleries. The building opened in January of 2000 for the 21st annual Hygienic Art Exhibition and stands as a testimony to community activism. Hygienic Art exists today as one of New London's premier community development projects and fine arts venue.
|
OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
RESIDENT ARTISTS GALLERY PROGRAMMING ART PARK PROGRAMMING ART PARK SUPPORT |
SUBMISSIONS: Submissions should be received in the form of computer disc with 15 to 20 images - jpgs at 300 dpi or higher. Include artist statement, artist biography and a list of works with title, medium, size and price (Hygienic commission is 30%). This form facilitates press and printing purposes for scheduled shows. Slides, photographs and color copies are acceptable and should be sent with hard copy of required documents. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope that will accommodate your materials if you wish to have them returned. Portfolios may be kept on file for future programming possibilities. Please update your materials and contact information as needed. |
For general gallery or show information:
Hygienic Art, Inc.
79 Bank Street
P.O. Box 417
New London, CT 06320
860 • 443 • 8001 (phone and fax #)
gallery@hygienic.org
Latest Activity
Ted Genard is attending Hygienic Art's event
TERRANCE SIMIEN and the ZYDECO EXPERIENCE at Hygienic Art Park
Hygienic Art posted eventsPICTURE MY WORLD
June 6, 2012 from 4pm to 7pmMIXED SIGNALS
June 1, 2012 at 7pm to June 29, 2012 at 6pm
Hygienic Art's event was featured
MIXED SIGNALS at Hygienic Art Galleries
© 2012 Created by Thomas Mitchell.
