Five Points Gallery presents three new exhibitions. In the West Gallery, Harriet Caldwell explores provocative contemporary issues such as religious persecution and mental health through her multifaceted work. The TDP Gallery features delicate and minimalist mixed media works by New York artist, Liz Sweibel (Sweibel was the winner of best-in-show, in the 2023 Five Points Arts Small Works Juried Exhibition). In the Torrington Savings Bank Gallery, Jakob Fioole’s paintings give new context and meaning to themes pulled from the world today.

West Gallery – Harriet Caldwell: “With Deep Thought”

Caldwell’s exhibition compiles work from various series throughout her career. While reflecting on her heritage as a Jewish woman, Harriet’s multimedia series focuses on the Holocaust and addresses issues of race and religious persecution – issues that are relevant still in today’s society. Caldwell’s work was described by late art critic Patricia Rosoff, “Like a medieval sculptor, Caldwell’s strategy is to give physical form to demons in order to contain them. Interestingly, however, increasingly she does this as a housewife might – drawing on domestics, rather than formal artistic tradition.” Caldwell’s interests also align with aspects of the human condition, specifically the vulnerability of the human body, the complexities of the brain, and how experience is translated into memory.

TDP Gallery – Liz Sweibel: “Past Forward”

Past Forward combines two bodies of work, focused on line and liminal space.  The vellum series was inspired by the devastation from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The simplified geometry of the thread represents the chaos of displaced and destroyed shipping containers, boats, and houses. Within her more recent work, which began during COVID-19, Sweibel reflects on her daily walks. Shifting her focus to photography and sculpture, she captures abstract images from the minutiae of our everyday world. This work documents the meeting places of shape, line, texture, edges, and color while incorporating sculptural elements of old work to give it a new dimension.

Torrington Savings Bank Gallery – Jakob Fioole: “So Long”

The conceptualized scenes depicted in Fioole’s paintings reflect amalgamations of his daily life. His influences range from personal, historical, natural, and artificial surroundings, and more. The immersive and ghost-like nature of his paintings is built up in a limited palette of pastel colors layered in contrast with darker sharp lines that carve out symbols, figures, and architecture – imbuing post-apocalyptic or dreamlike overtones. Fioole states, “My paintings don’t tell a definitive story, they are attempts to visualize an experience. What is going on?”

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m., and by appointment (860-618-7222). 

Five Points exhibitions and educational events are free and open to the public. There is no admission charge to the Gallery. All artwork is for sale.

These exhibitions are kindly sponsored by Brooks, Todd & McNeil Insurance Co.