Art & Culture

Main Gallery

Ten years after its first issue, Better Manchester Magazine is ringing in the New Year with an anniversary celebration.

You are all invited to join us for “Ten Years of a Better Manchester” on Thursday, January 2 at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main Street.

This special exhibit will serve as a documentation and celebration of our community’s progress over the past decade and an expression of gratitude to all those who have contributed to both Better Manchester and a better Manchester. #BetterManchester

This exhibit will be on display until Friday, January 31st, 2020 and may be viewed during our public hours: Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. 

Hartford Public Access Television (HPATV) appreciated our PERSPECTIVES: WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT…WE ARE ALL ONE exhibit so much, they have installed it in their new community gallery. The art opening will be on Wed. 1/29/20 from 5-8pm, with opening remarks by the Mayor around 6pm. 20-28 Sergeant St., Hartford.

The show is expected to be displayed and the public is welcome to come by to tour the studio and enjoy the art.

Click here to hear from some of the PERSPECTIVE artists.

Our in-house curator Christiane O’Brien builds relationships with local artists and displays their work on a rotating basis throughout WORK_SPACE including Gallery 901 which consists of the main staircase and our Collaborative Coworking and Meeting Spaces on the 2nd floor.

Featured Artist: Robert Cooper

Robert Cooper has been a photographer and journalist for 10 years. His photography fluidly encompasses portraits, fashion, concerts, and events. His work has been published along with his writings in the Hartford Advocate, New African Woman magazine, and Black Hair Magazine. His photographic eye has been used by various poets for their book and cd covers, as well as by music artist for their cd covers and promotions. He has had his photos in shows in Springfield, Ma., Hartford, Ct. and Waterford, NY. Currently he is residing in the Capitol District of New York and is a contributing writer for The Alt a new paper in the Capitol district, as well as Boomshots.com a website that focuses on dancehall and reggae music.

Additional Artists on Display

• Arpita Kurdekar

• Ed Hicks

• Katina Roman

• Norman Greenstein

• Sehrish Khan

The Loop Gallery

The Loop Gallery lies within the hallway that connects four unique meeting venues on the first floor of WORK_SPACE. 

Featured Artist: Jill Friedman 

My work takes a view of social and cultural artistry, and brings it to a primitive peek at life. Its complexity is within its simplicity, and it is brought to an honest level. I don’t define myself for several reasons since I was not ‘schooled’ in art, nor was I in the mainstream. My art is gut-real. My thoughts are hopeful and joyful, reflective of depression and hardship; raw, deep-down and organic. This is reflective in the bright colors in work such as ‘Wrap Your Arms Around Me’ and ‘All of Me’ or in the basic black and white series in work such as ‘Havin’ Babies’ and ‘Boundless’.

When I see myself as marginalized and unrestrained, I can be truthful and feel the innate subtleties in my work. The results are auto-biographical reflections of my own venture, taking risks and gambling with life. It is my interpretation of a life fully lived!

Breaking the mold, my life experience takes me through the heavy craziness of the early 70’s, a singer for social change, an anti-war activist, a painter, a photographer, a teacher, a doula and a mother. I have integrated the ‘arts’ in my classrooms for over 30 years.