Murals, bomba, fantasy realms: Office of the Arts names 2022 CT Arts Heroes
An ambassador of bomba music. A promoter of Latin American artists. The creator of an online fantasy world. Someone who leaves beautiful murals everywhere he goes.
The Connecticut Office of the Arts recently announced its 2022 class of Connecticut Arts Heroes, an annual honor offered to people statewide who contribute to the arts in ways that affect their communities in the present and into the future.
The nine honorees are known for their years-long, steadfast commitment to increasing arts awareness, visibility, participation and mentorship, establishing them as beloved institutions in their towns and regions. Each was nominated by a member, or members, of the community they serve.
Honorees will be given their awards in a ceremony on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. at Infinity Hall, 32 Front St. in Hartford. Admission is free and open to all, but registration is required. To register to attend, visit ctartsheroawards.splashthat.com.
Here is the list of honorees:
Matt Conway of East Granby is a public art and placemaking innovator who founded The RiseUp Group. That group funded and created more than 75 murals and place-making projects around the state, giving paid work to many state muralists and, accompanied by local youths, an opportunity to create art that will beautify communities. Many more murals are planned, some highlighting racial justice heroes (a 39-mural project in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.) and others focusing on the town the mural is in. Conway also created a summer leadership youth mentoring program. theriseupgroup.org.
Cristin Rivera of Niantic is a founding member of The Annex art gallery at 314 Flat Rock Place in Westbrook. She created The Annex with her friends to support local artists and sell their work, which includes wearable art, bags, jewelry, health products and home decor. Rivera designs much of the fiber art in the shop, pieces that focus on body inclusivity and positivity, under her brand C**kin. Rivera also curates all the other items in the store, as well as curating local art exhibits and installations. theannexnl.com.
Richard White of Coventry is an artist, photographer and teacher who is president of the Coventry Arts Guild. White has curated outdoor public art displays in that town, as well as organizing the Arts on Main event, an annual festivity most recently celebrated on Sept. 17, 2022. He acts as a mentor for young artists in the region. coventryartsguild.org.
Stewart Wilson of New Hartford created Personaland, a website depicting a fantastical world where “Personas” live in harmony with nature but with supernatural capabilities. Wilson based the site on his own Personas, 31,000 humanoid sculptures he created, which he calls “wrapped representatives from another dimension.” The website also features artworks from about 500 artists from 52 countries in 52 artist galleries. Many of those artists Wilson knows from his time as the gallerist at Artwell in Torrington from 1995 to 2011. personaland.com.
Maricarmen Godoy of Norwalk is a journalist in print (La Voz Hispana de Connecticut) and radio (“En Vivo con Maricarmen” on 103.5 FM) who focuses her coverage on Latinx artists. Godoy founded En Vivo con Maricarmen, Inc., a non-profit focused on boosting immigrant artists. In that capacity, she donated more than $30,000 to support dozens of Latin-American artists. Godoy, a fifth-generation Ecuadorean musician, works with the Ecuadorian Civic Center in Danbury and Stamford’s Ecuadorian Civic Committee. lavozhispanact.com/author/maricarmen/ (in Spanish).
Bill Geddes of Woodbury is a retired music educator who founded Woodbury-Bethlehem Community Music Foundation, which, since 2005, has raised more than $170,000 to support music education and programming. He is also the founding director of the Arts Alliance of Woodbury, in which capacity he created the Woodbury Arts Festival, Arts Meet & Greets and Arts Walks. He is fondly remembered in the community for putting on a kilt and playing his bagpipes at sunset at the end of his driveway every day for two months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. facebook.com/wbcmusicfoundation.
Kevin Diaz of New Haven is a promoter of bomba, the Afro-Puerto Rican music genre. In his community, he also promotes other aspects of Puerto Rican arts and culture. Diaz is the founder and director of Movimiento Cultural Afro-Continental and was the event coordinator of FLECHAS, which organized a music and cultural festival in New Haven. In his former capacity as artistic director for a folkloric ensemble called Folclorico Bohio Dance Troupe, a Bomba dance and music group, Diaz traveled with students of all ages who performed throughout the tri-state area. movimientoculturalct.org.
Jim Felice of Ridgefield is a sculptor and musician who acts as an arts booster in his community, mentoring and supporting visual and performing artists of all genres. His Trailer Box Project, an adjunct to his Jim Felice Studio, is described by Felice as “an alternative to the formal white walls of traditional galleries, both in aesthetic and execution. The project approaches the art gallery as a conceptual work of art as well as a dynamic social hub, where ideas are exchanged and curator and artist work together to create immersive exhibits.” jimfelice.com.
Sosse Baker of Chester co-founded Chester Gallery, which mentored and exhibited local artists. Recently, Baker spearheaded the 13th Art Challenge, at which 40 local artists created work and donated them to the historical society. Baker, a basketweaver, taught at Wesleyan Potters, Guilford Handicrafts Center, Farmington Valley Arts Center and in schools. She also organizes an annual postcard art show. facebook.com/sosse.taylorbaker
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
