News Release
Nov. 10, 2011,
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ROBBIN ZELLA at 203-332-5052
A
is for ...
POP sculptures by Stanley Learner at Housatonic
Community College
Bridgeport - A new exhibit by the late Stanley Learner, designer, graphic
artist and illustrator, opens November 15th and continues through January 7th,
2012. The exhibit is on view in the Community Gallery located on the 3rd floor
of Beacon Hall on the campus of the Housatonic Community College.
The show includes the out-sized letter A, a fish totem, typewriter and whimsical "alpha
boxes" that feature assemblages of objects all beginning with the same
letter in the alphabet. Colorful and humorous, these objects were not made
for sale or show, but for the amusement of the artist himself.
Stan Learner was a prolific artist who took his aesthetic cue from Claes Oldenburg,
taking everyday objects to larger-than-life proportions. He incorporated all
manner of materials into his assemblages, such as braided rope, wood, papier
mache and found objects, then painting the surfaces in bright colors and patterns.
A graduate with honors from the School of Industrial Arts in New York City,
Learner was offered, and refused, a prestigious position at the Walt Disney
Studios preferring instead to work with such corporate giants as Pepsico, Johnson
and Johnson and Philip Morris, among others. Learner was only 43 when he retired
from corporate life to design and build LeMans, a popular Hamptons nightspot,
which featured hundreds of automotive sculptures and art objects. After the
sale of his club, he went on to found Stan Learner Sculpture as a hobby
that soon had him making commissioned pieces for private clients and collectors
only.
Since his death in 2004, Learner's work has found a broader audience
through the efforts of his brother, Dr. Leonard Learner of Stratford, Connecticut.
Exhibitions of Stan Learner's work have been held at the Loggerhead Museum
in Juno, Florida; the Children's Museum of the East End (CMEE) and Guild
Hall, both in the Hamptons, and at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Florida.
Although his work is held in numerous private collections, several pieces have
been acquired by public collections including the Housatonic Museum of Art.
The exhibit is available for view when the college is open. For further information
contact 203-332-5052 or visit www.housatonicmuseum.org.
Housatonic Community College provides an affordable and accessible education
through two-year degrees, transfer preparation, and certificate programs, as
well as a wide variety of continuing education and personal/professional enrichment
seminars and workshops. In addition, HCC offers employee and occupational
training for businesses, municipalities, government agencies, and professional
associations to help develop the educated and skilled workforce required to
meet regional business and industry needs. HCC is nationally recognized
as an "Achieving the Dream"; institution.
HCC is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150
yards off I-95 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from the Webster Bank
Arena at Harbor Yard. Free parking is available in the Housatonic garage.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu