Fairfield Artist Works in Bits and Pieces

All of the works of art Susan Newbold created for her latest show are incomplete. They’re all finished, hanging neatly in Fairfield’s ArtPlace Gallery. But even Susan will admit that none recognizably form an entire object. Yet that’s exactly what Susan means to do with her work.

“In none of the pieces is there one image completed,” Susan says. “I’m interested more in the parts.”

Susan says she likes the abstracting effect that occurs when you focus in on a small segment of an object. So her current show, titled “Fragments,” presents just that. Adorning ArtPlace’s gallery walls are bits and pieces of gorgeous landscapes — the cells and stems of a leaf under a microscope, or just the parapets of mosques she saw on a recent trip to Turkey.

“It was extremely inspiring to see all of the decorative elements in the architecture,” Susan says.

Though the subject matter of her work is her specialty, Susan decided to step out of her comfort zone and explore different media for her latest show. Her works in the small co-op gallery combine not just her usual painting and printing, but also charcoal, etchings and more mixed media.

Yet the architect and interior designer-turned-painter is so focused on bits and pieces that she saves all of her art journals, containing the rough sketches and ideas in handcrafted books. A few of these journals will also be on display, so art fans can take a look at fragments of her work.

“That’s a big part of my art practice,” Susan says. “Showing the influences that I had for these paintings, the different elements.”

“Fragments” is on display at the ArtPlace Gallery, 11 Unquowa Road, until March 27, alongside “Deer Crossing” by Norwalk’s Megan Collins and the jewelry of Penny Weinstein. Susan and Megan will be in the gallery for an opening reception Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m., and March 12 at noon for an “Eat, Walk and Talk.” ArtPlace is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Have you seen any of Susan’s work? Tell us what you think about it in the comments below.

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