This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

BACA’s Back with Art Walk Window Gallery on Main Street

With the warm weather of spring calling the community outside, Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance (BACA) continues to light up Main Street with a second installation of art on display in the three large storefront windows at the former Denali, with its Art Walk Window Gallery.

Set up for sidewalk viewing, the window gallery at 1004 Main Street shows works in many mediums created by shoreline artists. The gallery currently features more than 30 different original works of art, all of which are numbered to correspond with artist’s information posted nearby. All of the sculptures, photos, paintings, textiles, jewelry, and more are also available for purchase.

BACA Co-founder Frank Carrano said BACA is filling the windows of the gallery with permission and support from the Vigliotti family. The Vigliotti family also allowed BACA to stage its Doors of Branford Main Street art installation from the location in fall 2020, followed by BACA and Branford Garden Club teaming up in the winter to create three holiday vignettes in the windows for passerby to enjoy throughout the holiday season.

“So we’re very grateful to the Vigliottis, and we’re also delighted by the quality of work we’re receiving to put on display,” said Carrano.

Established in 2014, all-volunteer non-profit BACA’s mission is to support all arts in Branford and on the shoreline through art-focused events, while also providing local artists to present their work to the public in various venues across Branford.

BACA’s creative use of the Main Street storefront windows is also helping to support downtown’s small businesses, by offering an exciting destination to visit which can draw more foot traffic to the area.

BACA artist Gerry Casanova, who contributed a bevy of brightly feathered birds on skates for the holiday window program, has been back in his native hometown of Branford for the past nine months, after more than 40 years in New York City. During the past months, Casanova said he’s found “the green has almost been reborn because of COVID, and there is something very human going on there, with people gathering and being with each other. And the art is really an extension of that. It’s human expression.”

BACA will be rotating other shoreline artists’ pieces into the gallery as the calendar moves into summer, Carrano said. Many of the current pieces, such as BACA member Jeanette Mobeck’s painting of colorful kayaks on an Indian Neck beach, reflect Branford.

“We’ve got to let people know this gallery is here,” said Mobeck. “Come into town and see it! It’s so beautiful.”