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Local Artist Launches "Pop Up Art" Exhibit in Bethel

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Local Artist Launches “Pop Up Art” Exhibit in Bethel
Hang around Molten Java in downtown Bethel for long enough and you are sure to encounter Michael Seri; an artistic-looking fellow with paint splattered pants, a scruffy beard and a very interesting story to tell. Housepainter by day, sculptor and poet by night, Seri has lived a lifetime of hard knocks. A former drug addict, an Army veteran and self-taught artist, Seri said when he first began writing poetry while in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Seri was accused of exposing himself in front of a 15-year-old Girl Scout in the Newtown Public Library, a Class C felony. He went on the Connecticut Sexual Offenders list and was barred form being around even his family members’ children. His conviction was overturned only because of the help of his uncle, a retired FBI-agent whose investigation exposed flaws in the police case, according to Seri. Seri said when he was under investigation; the girl described the culprit as having a very different physical description than himself. The girl also failed to pick Seri out of a police lineup and his fingerprints did not match prints lifted from two books found at the crime scene. After one day of testimony a jury convicted Seri of risk of injury to a minor, a felony, and two misdemeanors.  He spent the next six months at a maximum security prison, locked down most of the day.

He began writing poetry to pass the time and read books. Seri was released from prison in 2002 and soon after found that the real criminal for the crime was arrested for committing the same crime. The man, who had a history of arrests for public indecency at libraries in Fairfield, New Milford, Brookfield and Newtown, was prosecuted and Seri’s name was cleared.“I didn’t realize there was an artist in me [until it all came flowing out],” he said.


On June 30th Seri, along with 24 other local artists, is displaying some of his works at his newest exhibit, Pop Up Art Bethel.Pop Up Art Bethel is the brainchild of Seri, who was inspired to create the exhibit after a trip to Las Vegas. In Vegas, Seri said, artists get together on Friday evenings to show their work, socialize and network. “I went to a pop up art show in Vegas and the seed was planted,” Seri said. “It brings artists together and is a great way for artists to showcase their work.”

The concept is “to move from town to town to bring new life to empty storefronts,” Seri said. “With the economy the way it is there are so many vacant storefronts that are desolate because of the recession. This is a way to bring it new life, bring people together and revitalize communities. And if it is successful it can turn into a full-time gallery.”

The artists’ works are an eclectic array of mixed media in a range of styles and genres including sculpture, charcoal drawings, paintings, photography and pottery.  Two graffiti artists, Kenny Hess and Justin Buto, have their work on display, in the form of a large mural on one of the walls of the gallery.  Pop Up Art Bethel is the first of many temporary art exhibits Seri said. The temporary gallery space is located at 262 Greenwood Ave., in the former location of Kara Signs.

Frank Kara, owner of Kara signs, is also an artist and will be exhibiting his pottery. The month-long show in Bethel runs from Saturday June 30th through July 30th. The opening reception on Saturday June 30th features Frank Kara’s three-piece jazz band, Tonal Eclipse. Wine and food will be served at the reception, courtesy of Stone River Grille in Sandy Hook, Seri’s brother’s new restaurant.. The reception on Saturday is from 2-5:00 p.m. Gallery hours for the month of July are as follows: Thursday-Sunday, June 30-July 30, 2-9:30 p.m.

The list of artists are as follows:

Joseph Farris

Erin Nazzaro

Frank Post

Tarol Samuelson

Katie Bassett

Eric Camiel

Leslie Pelino

Bibiana Matheis

Nicole Cudzilo

Juan Andreu

Michael Morris

Joseph Farris

Tara Burgess

Ival Stratford-Kovner

Judith Wyer

Suzanne Ross

Tanya Kukucka

Kathleen Benton

Keith Dube

Frank Kara

Chris Durante

Kenny Hess

Justin Buto

F. Henry-Meehan

Jim Felice

Michael Seri

Seri describes his artwork as “contemporary, avante garde and sophisticated.” His company, Detritus Art & Design, sells unique creations from found objects. When Seri first became interested in creating artwork he was noticing how many people were into still lifes and boring realistic artwork.

“I said to myself, ‘there has to be more to art than still life,’” he said.

His first piece was a coffee table he made out of an old barn door.

“It was taken from a hundred year old barn so I left the paint peeling, poured epoxy over it and kept the door knob on there- it sold a week later,” Seri said.

“Art starts in one place and I never know where it is going to end up.”

His current exhibit, Pop Up Art Bethel, will be on display at 262 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel from June 30-July 30, 2012.

For more information, contact Michael Seri, Pop Up Art Productions (PUAP), 203-512-9129.


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