The following press release was sent in by Lisa Scails of the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance.

Three local artists, two from Brookfield, have been selected to display their creative talents in one of four venues as part of the 2012 Accessible Art Project sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance (HVCA). Deanne Komlo and Aparna Phadnis, both Brookfield residents, each bring their talents to the forefront in a collection of photography and art that can be viewed at “The Gallery” on the third floor of Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Ave. 

The exhibit is on view during normal business hours from January 9 through February 16. A reception will be held on Wednesday, January 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to the general public. Light refreshments will be served. 

Deanne Komlo, a local photographer, has been taking pictures since she was a young girl. 

“I remember my first ‘real’ camera,” she said. “My initial inspirations came when I took that camera and traveled throughout Europe, taking pictures. To this day, my camera is a constant companion on any trip that I take, whether it is a walk in the park or a longer journey.” 

Komlo’s interests include travel, history and nature, elements she seeks to combine in her photography. 

“A photograph is a drawing or inscription of light that allows me to tell a story, from the mundane to the majestic,” Komlo said. “Sometimes the stories revealed in the images are evident; often they emerge only through the interplay of light upon the image… As a historian and an artist, I enjoy the adventure of expressing that which cannot be put into words and portraying the hidden world that is not always evident.”

Komlo, whose background includes two Master’s degrees, one in Theology and the other in Holocaust studies, has also shown her work at a photography show at Plain Jane’s Restaurant in Bethel. The show was a collaboration of photographers and artists under the directorship of Dana Fradon, a cartoonist for New Yorker magazine. 

Aparna Phadnis, a licensed professional engineer, was introduced early to art by her mother, who would set her off outdoors to behold nature accompanied by her sketchpad and pencils. Aparna has woven her love for nature with her passion for art as is evident from her exhibited artwork. 

“Every change of season brings to my heart a poignant awareness of how ephemeral are the colors of the sunset in the sky or how short-lived are the autumn leaves,” Phadnis said. “My art is born from my desire to capture, to preserve this transient beauty and to prolong and share their memory.”

“When I moved to Connecticut, my yard provided the perfect stage on which to witness the enthralling and captivating annual spectacle of the Northeast’s four seasons. It also provided me with a wonderful opportunity to study, observe and learn something new about nature every day, an antidote to daily stress.”

Aparna chose the creative field of engineering and technology for a career, but has maintained a lifetime connection with art. She immigrated to U.S. with her husband and two children and lives in Brookfield. Aparna is an avid gardener and an active supporter of environmental awareness. She has a private gallery at her residence, where she hosts exhibits for other artists, friends and family.

The show also includes 20-year-old Kateleen Foy, of Newtown, who has been taking pictures since she was in the 4^th grade. 

“As an artist, I have always been drawn towards the things people leave behind,” Foy said. “The remains of old broken down building, bits and pieces of castles and mysterious places are just a few examples of places where I love to shoot.” 

Kateleen attends Hofstra University and is duel majoring in Photography and Psychology. She has also done internships with local photographers Cynthia McIntyre and Laurie Klein. 

The artists were jury selected by a panel of representatives from the local community to display their work at City Hall.  HVCA has partnered with Danbury City Hall, City Center Danbury, Danbury Museum & Historical Society and FrameWorks in Newtown as part of the initiative. The project provides an opportunity for local artists to show their work in a variety of spaces that are accessible to the general public and to celebrate culture and art within the community.