Calendar of Events

Stigmatized by its associations with cannabis, flameworked glass has been almost completely left out of the broader discussion surrounding the contemporary glass art movement. Recent public policy shifts and greater inclusivity within the glass art community are turning the tide, bringing long-overdue recognition to the contributions of flameworkers. Brandy Culp, curator of Fired Up: Glass Today, moderates a discussion between artists David Colton, Kim Thomas, Carmen Lozar, and Curator of Postwar and Contemporary Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass Susie Silbert about the history, artistry, and ever–advancing technology of flameworking to shed light on this historically under-appreciated technique. Listen as some of the major voices in contemporary flameworking reflect on the art form’s journey from scientific laboratories and underground studios to the mainstream art world. Free with required registration. 

In 1965, choreographer and filmmaker Yvonne Rainer premiered Parts of Some Sextets at the Wadsworth Atheneum with a cast of ten performers and twelve mattresses. The work marked a pivotal aesthetic shift in the artist’s approach to movement and helped usher in a radical shift in contemporary dance. Nearly six decades after its presentation here and a subsequent presentation at Judson Dance Theater, the work’s impact continues to be felt through a recent revival and continued scholarship. To celebrate the publication of Remembering a Dance: Parts of Some Sextets, 1965/2019 (Performa / Lenz Press / Wadsworth Atheneum, 2023), Rainer returns to the Wadsworth in conversation with dancer, choreographer, and longtime collaborator Emily Coates. The artists reflect on Rainer’s pioneering career, discuss the process of reconstructing Parts of Some Sextets for the Performa 19 Biennial in New York, and consider the landscape of contemporary dance.

Free with required reservation. A book signing follows the conversation.

Presented in partnership with Performa and sponsored by the Auerbach Library Associates at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Additional support is provided by the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation Fund at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

Image: Yvonne Rainer, Parts of Some Sextets, 1965/2019. Performa 19 Biennial. Photo by Paula Court, 2019. Courtesy Performa

1pm gallery talk with Philippe Halbert
2pm concert

Members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra present an afternoon of chamber music inspired by cities around the world. Kenji Bunch’s dynamic 26.2 is based on the first time the composer and his wife ran the New York City marathon. Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 2 is a rich and enchanting work that reflects on his time in Vienna. Prior to the concert, join Philippe Halbert, interim curator
of American decorative arts, for a gallery talk highlighting Hartford’s storied Charter Oak. $30; $25 for HSO subscribers and Wadsworth members; $10 for students with ID (limited availability). For tickets and information, visit hartfordsymphony.org or call (860) 987-5900. Click here to register for the gallery talk.

The Sunday Serenades Chamber Music Series is made possible in part by The Saunders Foundation Music Endowment at the Wadsworth Atheneum; Nancy D. Grover in honor of Leonid Sigal, concertmaster, Hartford Symphony Orchestra; and Suzanne Hopgood in memory of Frank Lord.

Image: Charles De Wolf Brownell, The Charter Oak (detail), 1857. Oil on canvas. Gift of Mrs. Josephine Marshall Dodge and Marshall Jewell Dodge, in memory of Marshall Jewell, 1898.10

Natural Information Society’s hypnotic sound celebrates rhythm and collective listening through its approach to structured improvisation. Hailed by The New York Times as “patient, layered music that’s always heading somewhere, sometimes spare and sometimes complex and shimmering,” Natural Information Society fuses elements of minimalism and jazz with sounds from across the globe. Led by Joshua Abrams—composer, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of The Roots—the ensemble incorporates free-hanging paintings by artist and band member Lisa Alvarado (MATRIX 192) into its performances, setting the stage for a multisensory journey through the ensemble’s colorful world. $15; $10 members, Wadsworth Welcome, and students with ID. Museum admission not included.

Joshua Abrams – guimbri, Lisa Alvarado – harmonium, Mikel Avery – drums & cymbals, Jason Stein – bass clarinet 

Presented in conjunction with the Lisa Alvarado / MATRIX 192 exhibition and generously supported by the Wadsworth’s Contemporary Coalition. Additional support for the performance is provided by the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation Fund at the Wadsworth Atheneum.  

Image: Photo by Mikel Patrick Avery, Courtesy of Natural Information Society and Front Porch Productions