Art At The Airport
The Art At The Airport program is a partnership of the Cultural Coalition and the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA), which manages and operates Groton – New London Airport.
The program’s purpose is to showcase the region’s uniqueness, history, industry, culture and geography through visual arts in the airport’s main terminal located at 155 Tower Avenue in Groton.
The terminal building at Groton – New London Airport is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm, and as needed to accommodate business operations.
For more information on how to submit a proposal for an exhibit, click HERE.
Currently on View: April 18 through June 30, 2024
‘The Color of Sound’ presented by Artreach, Inc.
90s Hip Hop by Melanie Nagode is part of the ‘Color of Sound’ exhibit presented by Artreach
The Cultural Coalition is pleased to announce the Art at the Airport program’s Spring exhibit, ‘The Color of Sound’ presented by Artreach, Inc. on view at the Groton – New London Airport in the airport’s main terminal located at 155 Tower Avenue in Groton. The terminal is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for public viewing of the exhibit. Parking is easily accessible and free.
Artreach’s exhibit, ‘The Color of Sound,’ features original artwork of different media created by its program members. The artists, adults living with psychiatric diagnoses, are led by master teaching artist Faith Satterfield. The artwork is curated, matted, framed and hung by Faith, who is also a muralist.
‘Creating to the sound of music can add a subconscious tone to art produced. Collectively listening to a wide variety of sounds, our artists have leaned into their interpretations according to personal styles and skill sets. The resulting art shows us the effects of the sounds on the creator. We, as the audience, see and feel more than just a picture, but color and form felt with the soul.’
‘The Color of Sound’ boasts a dozen Artreach member artists in this show. Through the program, Artreach members continue to develop their skill and become proficient visual artists. They have exhibited previously at a variety of venues, including the Cultural Coalition’s Arts in Health group show (2019), Chelsea Groton Bank’s Westside Branch, Reliance Health Gallery, Norwich Arts Center, and at the Groton, New London and Otis public libraries. Artreach also previously exhibited at Art at the Airport with its show, ‘Peace in Nature’ in 2021.
An opening reception and artist talk will be held Wednesday, April 24th from 4-6 p.m. featuring the Artreach Jazz Band. `
Previously on View: October 2023 through mid-April 2024
‘Eclipse’ presented by artist Adam Campos
Eclipse-Ascend
The winter exhibit ‘Eclipse’ was presented by artist Adam Campos. Adam Campos is a New London based artist whose work encompasses abstract and surrealist photography, landscape and space scenery acrylic paintings, and Celestial Hands Healing Arts. He feels that visual art has healing properties when created and/or experienced.
“Unifying my creation media and healing arts practice is ethereal and celestial imagery and energy,” Campos says.
Eclipse, Campos says, is inspired by our sun and moon appearing as nearly congruent discs in the sky revealing a masterpiece upon their union. The 2017 total eclipse also facilitated a reunion with Campos’ best friend in Tennessee, whom he later married during the height of the pandemic in October 2020 under the October 31st Blue Moon.
“Naturally, eclipses and cosmic phenomena have and will always hold a special place in my heart and have an influence on my work,” he states
Cultural Coalition Outreach and Impact Coordinator, Kia A Baird notes, “We are thrilled to keep this program going! Having local artists showcase in the airport continues our work of bringing art and culture to the community and helps our local artists to create and feel valued locally.”
Previously on View: October 1 – December 31, 2022
‘A Day At The Airport: A Photography Exhibition by students of The Williams School‘
Students from The Williams School in Ms. Jessy Griswold’s Photography I and Photography II classes in grades 10, 11, and 12 visited the Groton – New London Airport in Spring 2022. Equipped with digital and manual film cameras, students explored and captured images of life at the airport; this included the water training center and the military aircraft repair area. Students returned to campus with their footage and created the final images you see in the exhibition. In the darkroom, students used traditional techniques to edit and develop their photos, while students in the digital studio used Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for their editing process.
The Williams School photography students were happy to celebrate National Aviation Day (Aug. 19) in this way through their art, honoring the less seen aspects of all things aircraft.
“Exposed Engine” by Dylan Polidori
Previously on View: July 11 – September 1, 2022
Coming Out for Art presented by OutCT
by Candace John
The summer exhibit was “Coming Out for Art” presented by OutCT.
Cultural Coalition Executive Director, Wendy Bury notes, “We are thrilled to continue bringing exhibits to the airport and the region that represent and lift up our community, residents, and voices, especially as we continue to recover and heal from the past few years.”
OutCT is a 501c3 non-profit organization established in 2013 by a diverse group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queers and their allies in Southeastern Connecticut to plan a New London Pride Festival. In addition to a pride festival, OutCT has hosted art exhibits, film series, educational forums, drag shows, and a youth program. OutCT is committed to creating a network of people, programs and experiences that celebrate our growing understanding of sexual and gender identities in Southeastern Connecticut.
By dedicating a show to queer artists, we have the opportunity to highlight the diverse lives of people in the LGBTQ+ community and all their intersecting identities The works are aspirational, sometimes dark, celebratory, and often express real life. This group show is comprised of many different mediums: paintings, graffiti, much more. Artists represented include Candace Marsh John, JackStar Rivera, Fred Verillo and Amy Hannum.
Previously on Exhibit: You Are Everything! – Artwork from incarcerated & formerly incarcerated women
You Are Everything by Nina Robinson 2019
The spring exhibit was You Are Everything! – Artwork from incarcerated & formerly incarcerated women. Organized by the Community Partners in Action (CPA) Prison Arts Program, this exhibition features a selection of new and old artwork from women whose artistic careers began at York Correctional Institution (CI) in Niantic, Connecticut.
(Full Exhibit Description from Prison Arts can be read HERE)
Over the years, Prison Arts has turned various spots at York CI into a vibrant arts workshop, a place for collective endeavors, encouragement, critiques, and a moment in the prison that is not the prison. Artists have created murals for the visiting room, gifts for their loved ones, and personal, evolving bodies of artwork for themselves.
Community Partners in Action (CPA) is a non-profit agency created in 1875 as the Prisoners’ Friend Corporation. CPA focuses on behavioral change and advocates for criminal justice reform. The Prison Arts Program started in 1978 and works inside Connecticut prisons to change the lives of the incarcerated and the prison environment by encouraging unique, personal and evolving artistic pursuits.
Working with the Connecticut Department of Correction, the CPA Prison Arts Program promotes self-examination and self-esteem in Connecticut inmates through participation in visual arts classes, exhibitions and publications, and brings the talent and creativity of the prison population to the community at large. For more information about the CPA Prison Arts Program, including a list and photos of previous exhibitions, visit https://cpa-ct.org/prison-arts/
Previously on Exhibit: White Light by Faith Satterfield 
The winter 2022 exhibit WHITE LIGHT, was presented by Faith Satterfield, a locally and internationally trained illustrator and visual artist. The inaugural showing of this exhibit featured paintings that are a mixture of latex, acrylic and spray paint on canvas.
Faith Satterfield explains her title and vision for the show are that “WHITE LIGHT is an accumulation of passion for color in a world that seems so black and white” and that “the science of light and the humanity of the heart meet as we ingest a visual journey of hope.”
Satterfield is a teaching artist, originally from Griswold, Connecticut. She teaches art classes for non-profit organizations in southeastern CT at libraries, schools, studios, and local community events for families. Faith says her approach is based on a theory that “creativity exists in all of us – on different levels and in infinite ways; that no effort is ever a mistake – it is a moment before the next one and always to be celebrated.” In 2013, Faith founded By Faith, an artistic production company which now includes Murals By Faith and Paint Parties By Faith. The company has produced private murals, large scale outdoor public murals, and illustrations for design agencies.
Previously on Exhibit: Peace in Nature presented by Artreach, Inc. 
The 2021 fall exhibit, was “Peace in Nature,” a mixed media gallery exhibit of artwork created by Artreach, Inc.’s program members.
Artreach heals through creativity. During the pandemic, all programs moved to virtual platforms. During the summer, Artreach began holding in-person visual arts workshops outdoors with sessions focused on the theme ‘peace in nature.’ Master teaching artist Faith Satterfield guided the artists in exploring the natural elements, focusing on earth, sky, and water. Each week the workshop traveled to a different outdoor location to work en plain air using watercolor, pencil or medium of the artists’ choice.
Faith Satterfield is an internationally-trained illustrator and visual artist, the owner and founder of By Faith, under which she does Murals By Faith, Paint Parties By Faith, art classes, curates art shows and takes commissions. She is a teaching artist who facilitates large murals, art projects involving from one to over three hundred people, and classes. Faith has been teaching with Artreach since 2016.
“Peace in Nature” also featured original artwork that was published in the zine formatted volume “Creativity Heals: Art & Poetry by Artreach.” It was the inaugural showing of this 2020 project following the pandemic postponement last year.
Previously on Exhibit: Take Flight inspired by moments in aviation history 
The spring & summer 2021 exhibit, Take Flight, featured aviation-inspired, colorful mosaic tiles hand-crafted in clay by local artists, Paul and Esther Halferty of Lilywork Artisan Tile in Stonington. Each mosaic depicted a specific moment in aviation history. From hot air balloon to glider, and from passenger plane to space shuttle, each unique mosaic was created individually by hand. The Halfertys use traditional techniques to craft their tile – starting with a hand-carved mold, and a block of clay.
Spotlight on the International Ice Patrol – Event Recording HERE
Previously on Exhibit: U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol
The Art At the Airport program’s winter exhibit featured reproductions of oil paintings and graphic illustrations depicting the mission of the United States Coast Guard International Ice Patrol, which has its Operations Center in New London. The exhibit was on view January through March, 2021 at the Groton – New London Airport.
The United States Coast Guard International Ice Patrol’s mission is to monitor the iceberg danger in the North Atlantic Ocean and provide relevant iceberg warnings to the maritime community. The Ice Patrol was established as a direct result of the tragic sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912 after striking an iceberg. Except for the years of the World Wars, the Ice Patrol has been active each ice season since 1913.
The International Ice Patrol Operations Center (OPCEN) is the hub for information processing and dissemination. OPCEN is staffed by dedicated watch standers that receive iceberg reports from a variety of sources, process the information, and create daily iceberg warning products that are distributed to mariners. Fixed wing Coast Guard aircraft conduct the primary reconnaissance work for the Ice Patrol and depart from the Groton-New London Airport.
Previously on Exhibit: On loan from the Submarine Force Museum & Library, history of the submarine base
sample panels
Previously on Exhibit: New London, New Colors
an exhibit from Expressiones Cultural Center featuring artists Adrian Meyer, Ivan Huerto and Maria Colombo. The artists are part of Expressiones’ Artist-in-Residence program, which develops art projects collaboratively with New London Public School students.
The Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition is pleased to announce the Art At the Airport program’s fall exhibit, “Open Spaces” featuring the paintings from four local artists, that opens on October 2 and will be on view through December 16 at the Groton – New London Airport.
Renowned artists Susan MacKay, Liz McGee, Mark Patnode, and Susan Stafford present a celebration of Southeastern Connecticut’s coastal vistas. “The inspiration for the exhibit comes from the beautiful landscapes we see all around us,” artist Liz McGee notes, “these are the places we go to renew our souls, connect with nature, and just ‘get outdoors.’ What better way to capture and share these ‘Open Spaces’ than through a painting!”
Susan MacKay is a portrait and landscape painter who strives to convey the beauty and wonder of the world through color and light. Her work can be commissioned and viewed at: susanmackay.com
Liz McGee is an award winning artist and popular watercolor teacher. She finds that the best quality about watercolor paint is its ability to surprise and invites viewers to enjoy the subtleties and transparent qualities. Her work can be found in many local galleries and online via her website: www.lizmcgee.com
Mark Patnode describes the goal of all his artwork as “powerful visual simplicity.” He paints a variety of subjects, but finds great satisfaction working with landscapes to bring out the light from the sky. Find out more on his website: marktheartist.com
Susan Stafford moved to Mystic after graduating from Pratt Institute and has worked as a freelance artist since then. In addition to teaching, she accepted commissioned work for paintings as well as doing murals in homes and businesses in the area, including the U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London. You may visit her site: www.susanbstafford.com
Previously on Exhibit: Graphic Designer Rita Rivera
Rita Rivera, owner of Love & Pop Designs, is a graphic artist, writer and illustrator who has created artwork, logos and posters for many of the region’s cities, towns and major events. She has received numerous awards for her designs and is a tourism marketing and communications consultant for the Eastern Tourism District.
Rivera has created designs for the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, Connecticut Food and Farm Magazine, Niantic Main Street, Garde Arts Center, and the Children’s Museum of Southeastern CT. Rivera is a Best of Readers Choice awardee for graphic design and a recipient of the Southeastern CT 40 Under 40 award. The Art at the Airport exhibit features posters, logos and artwork highlighting events, cities and towns including Mystic, New London and Niantic.
Previously on exhibit: Slater Memorial Museum’s Panels from Brought to Light: Ellis Ruley in Norwich
The Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition is pleased to announce the Art At the Airport program’s spring exhibit, panels from Slater Memorial Museum’s “Brought to Light: Ellis Ruley in Norwich,” that opens on May 13 and will be on view through July 30 at the Groton – New London Airport.
The Art At the Airport program’s purpose is to showcase the region’s uniqueness, history, industry, culture and geography through visual arts in the airport’s main terminal located at 155 Tower Avenue in Groton. The Art At the Airport program is a partnership of the Cultural Coalition and the Connecticut Airport Authority.
From the Slater Memorial Museum – “Ellis Walter Ruley was born in Norwich in 1882 into modest circumstances. More unusual circumstances made him financially comfortable during the Great Depression; unusual for anyone, let alone an African American with a passion to paint. He died under suspicious circumstances in 1959 after establishing himself as a local “outsider” artist, and after his death, his work became highly collectible and even more revered. By 1996, a book cataloguing his work was published and a major retrospective exhibition toured the country. But in Norwich his grave was still unmarked, his homestead was derelict and his death remained a mystery. Decades later, the community, the City and local officials have embraced this native son and a celebration of his life is taking place. Under the auspices of the Ellis Walter Ruley Commemoration Committee, his homesite has become a public park with interpretive panels; a play has been written about his life; elementary and college students have been assigned to create their own works, inspired by his magical imagery. The exhibition, Brought to Light: Ellis Ruley in Norwich, was developed by the Slater Museum and presented last fall.”
Previously on Exhibit: New London’s ISAAC Students’ Nationally Acclaimed Photography Exhibit
The Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition is pleased to announce the Art At the Airport program’s winter exhibit “Community Faces,” presented by the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication, opening on February 6. The exhibit will be on view through April 30 at the Groton – New London Airport.
Students from New London’s Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication (ISAAC) created “Community Faces – Humanizing the Immigrant Label” – a project in which students wrote stories, took photos, shot videos and designed websites for a traveling exhibit and a book about sixteen local immigrants who came to the United States. The project was one of eighteen winning Better World Projects selected by a committee of Expeditionary Learning (EL) Education students, teachers, and leaders, from submissions across the country and featured at a national conference. The exhibit at Groton – New London Airport will feature portraits from the project and includes interactive, mobile phone QR component for additional information.
Previously on Exhibit: Bela Lyon Pratt: Sculptor of Monument presented by Slater Memorial Museum of Norwich Free Academy
Bela Lyon Pratt (1867-1917) was born in Norwich, Connecticut to Sarah (Whittlesey) and George Pratt, a Yale-educated lawyer. Together, Pratt’s maternal grandfather and great uncles Orramel, Henry and John Whittlesey, started the first American piano making company in Salem, Connecticut. Orramel also founded, in 1835, the first music school, for women, in the country authorized to confer degrees to teach music, Music Vale Seminary, in Salem, Connecticut.
Bela studied art at Norwich Free Academy, Yale University’s School of Art, and in Paris. He worked in the studio of renowned American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and, in 1892, created two large sculptural groups representing The Genius of Navigation for the World’s Fair in Chicago.
Bela became an influential teacher of sculpting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and received numerous commissions for monumental public work around New England, including the figures representing Art and Science for the Boston Public Library; Literature, Science and Art for the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress; the Andersonville Boy on the grounds of the State Capitol, Hartford, Connecticut; Nathaniel Hawthorne in Salem Massachusetts; Captain Nathan Hale for Yale University and placement at other sites, as well as Governor John Winthrop in New London and Captain James Avery in Groton, Connecticut. The exhibition panels reveal his work and life, including the influence of his wife Helen Lugarda Pray Pratt, also a sculptor.
Previously on exhibit: Life Without Limits from United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Eastern CT, a Waterford-based organization, showcased pieces of art in a variety of mediums including mosaic, sculpture, and paint on canvas. The artists are individuals with disabilities who, along with staff UCP staff members, work together to create one piece of artwork annually to display at the Hygienic Open Art Exhibit.
The exhibit was a collection of work created over the years. All artwork is a collaboration between the people making the piece, from its initial conception to completion. Individuals participate in any way they can, whether making a choice about paint color using eye gaze or physical participation using a hand over hand technique. The art program at UCP enables each person to express his or her unique talents in a manner that makes it accessible to them.
Previously on exhibit: John Meyer of Norwich: An American Original
