Ridgefield CT (October 2005): Street artist Michael De Feo, also known as the Flower Guy, will adorn The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists with his work, Two Atmospheres. Hammerhead sharks will swim on The Aldrich’s right flank, with a scuba diver gracing the front of the building. The Guild will also enjoy a De Feo scuba diver. With all the rain, the installation couldn’t be more appropriate.

It should also remind passers-by of the exhibition Radius: Emerging Artists from Connecticut and Southeastern New York, which will open on November 5 at the Ridgefield Guild with a reception from 4 to 7 pm. The exhibition will be on view at the RGA gallery at 34 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield, through November 20, 2005. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm. There will be a professional panel with Radius artists at The Aldrich from 2 to 3:30 pm. All events are free and open to the public.

The installation of De Feo’s work embodies the mission of Radius, which is to identify talented, emerging regional artists, and to give guidance on strengthening their work and portfolio. The artists receive a one-on-one portfolio review with a Museum or Guild curator or director, with the idea of De Feo’s Museum installation being born during his review with Aldrich director Harry Philbrick. The artists also participate in a panel at The Aldrich and the exhibition at the Guild.

In discussing his medium, De Feo says, “street art can offer its viewers pure magic in unsuspecting places.” He uses wheat-pasting techniques to create an underwater scene on the exterior wall. Then he cuts out acrylic paintings on blueprint paper and glues them on the façade of the buildings. The placement of the sharks and the scuba diver foretells an ominous meeting.

Michael De Feo lives in Mamaroneck, NY, and has a BFA in Graphic Design from the School of Visual Arts and an MAT in Art Education from Manhattanville College. He currently teaches art at a high school in Connecticut. His art has appeared on the streets of New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Munich, and his works have been seen in art exhibitions around the world. He is the author of the children’s book Alphabet City—Out on the Streets, published by Gingko Press.

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, located at 258 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, is renowned as a national leader for its presentation of outstanding new art, cultivation of emerging artists, and innovation in museum education. Regular Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm. For more information, please call 203.438.4519 or visit www.aldrichart.org.

Media Contact: Alison Pratt

apratt@aldrichart.org/203/438-4519