Hygienic Art

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
A. Vincent Scarano, President
Scott DeLaura, Vice President
Daphne Lee Martin, Treasurer
Victoria Mueller, Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scott Damask
Terry Davis
Amy Hannum
Susan Hendricks
Fred Levesque
Bernard Skrupsky
James A. Stidfole


MANAGING DIRECTOR
Rich Martin

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Joseph Celli

RESIDENT ARTISTS
Kim Abraham
Travis Gibbs
Susan Hickman
Patti Murphy
Casey Spec
Troy Zaushny


GALLERY PROGRAMMING
Susan Hickman
Kat Murphy
Rich Martin
A. Vincent Scarano 

ART PARK PROGRAMMING
Rich Martin

ART PARK SUPPORT
Andrew Bell
Andrew Proctor
Kathy Salvio
Sherry Stidfole
James Stidfole
Daphne Lee Martin
Vinnie Scarano

SUBMISSIONS:
The Hygienic Art Galleries are committed to representing a diverse arts community by offering space for new, emerging and established artists to show the work they are developing. Our programming committee would like to invite you to submit your portfolio in consideration for upcoming shows.


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, though discouraged, 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 #)
hygienicart@gmail.com

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Latest Activity

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TRADITIONS: A Celebration of American Folk Music at Hygienic Art Park

June 22, 2013 from 2pm to 11pm
The schedule: 2pm Pesky J. Nixon 3pm Paper Hill Casket Company 4pm Oh Cassius 5pm Goodnight Blue…See More
Tuesday
Profile IconChuck Gemmell, Christine Downing and Dot Murtha joined Hygienic Art
Saturday
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May 15
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May 15
Don Orcutt posted a photo
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Terri Tuazon posted a photo
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May 8
Terri Tuazon posted a photo

Happiness By Color

I am happiest when I find an image within an image that expresses my emotions. This one fills my…
May 8
Terri Tuazon posted photos
May 6
Don Orcutt posted photos
May 5
Don Orcutt's 2 photos were featured
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