Mixed Media & Monsoons on Mattoon

Posted on 11/17/2016 by Terry Rennert

Now say that 3x fast – quite the tongue twister huh? I am a bit tongue-tied myself after winning First Place in the mixed media category at the Mattoon Street Art Festival. It was quite the morning as a rain storm (ok, maybe not a full-on monsoon) blew down the street knocking a few of the tents overs before the festival opened.

Was both surprised and delighted when a member of the Mattoon Street Historic Preservation Society, sponsors of the annual event, popped into my booth with a blue ribbon and a photographer.

It is quite an honor and being my first year at the show, I was humbled and appreciative of the award – look forward to seeing me (and my Shopbots!) again next year.

Here’s hoping the Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a dry weekend in 2017.

Maker-in-Residence: Fostering creativity through collaboration

Posted on 10/02/2016 by Terry Rennert

I am very pleased to announce that I will be the Maker-in-Residence at the Danbury Library for the month of October. The role of the Danbury Library’s Maker-in-Residence is to brighten the light on unique creativity and create with the help of community influence. This influence will come from many different people – library patrons, members of the Connecticut Science Center & Danbury Library Teen Innovation Program, staff and community members. Everyone will be involved through active participation in shaping one or more of my creations through an exchange of ideas – that means you too.

Hope you will come out during one of my workshops on 10/22 or 10/29 both get started at noon. Not only will you get to see some of my latest creations, but you’ll be learning too. Just imagine the educational aspects to take away like: steam fair october

Math – Measuring and layout of parts for cutting, drilling and assembling
Science – Welding of molten metal and bending of heated steel.
Art Literacy – Transforming everyday junk into unique works of art.

See? It’s like a robot university! If you come, I will instruct our future overlords to kill you last 🙂

I will also be in attendance for the fall Steam Fair October 15th from 10am-5pm, a fun-filled day of innovation and imagination.

Rev up your engines

Posted on 09/25/2016 by Terry Rennert

My Shopbots were at the Big E last weekend for The Collector Car Experience. In its second year, the show was held Sept. 18 the with hosts of Velocity channel fame, Mike Brewer, of Wheeler Dealers, and Chris Jacobs, of Overhaulin’.

This one-of-a-kind automotive event featured a first-rate lineup of cars from the 1900s to present – covering a broad range of Brass Era cars to Lamborghinis, Ferraris and many more. Unique, one-of-a-kind, first-rate? Sounds like a perfect fit for us.

An impressive lineup of automobiles, handpicked for their uniqueness and representation of over a century of automotive history. After being paraded across the stage, they were then on display in the arena. The cars, the hosts and I were all together after the event for a meet-and-greet. I got to hold a milk bottle from the Indy 500 courtesy of Jack Arute III and try not to gawk too much at the amazing vehicles while people were gawking at my Shopbots – all and all, quite a fun day.

collector-experience

The Mattoon Arts Festival

Posted on 08/11/2016 by Terry Rennert

An arts festival that is also a walk back in time – attached brick townhouses built in the 1870’s and 1880’s, herringbone brick sidewalks, stately London Plane shade trees, and cast iron ornamental street lights all contribute to the charm of this historic district.

The Mattoon Street Arts Festival is the longest running arts festival in the Pioneer Valley. Join me for the 44th edition of the festival, which will be held Saturday – Sunday, September 10 & 11, 2016

This outdoor arts and crafts show is held on a quaint street of restored brick Victorian rowhouses right in the middle of downtown Springfield, featuring 100 exhibitors, food vendors, and strolling musicians. Hope I’ll see you there next month.

From Scrap to Sculpture

Posted on 07/11/2016 by Terry Rennert

from scrap to sculpture

With an every changing art scene in New England, how do you keep track of what to see right now? By using this site, that’s how. Alright, that might be a bit self-serving but I am so excited about my latest exhibit at The Elusie Gallery that I hope you’ll forgive me.

While making something from metal requires a lot of patience and skills, creating art from recycled metal materials takes even more time and accuracy. This group exhibition brings together a number of artists that work with found, reclaimed, re-purposed metal elements.

The From Scrap to Sculpture exhibition will continue until August 6th. Come see how I bring scrap metal to life.

Join Me at the Vintage Motorcar Festival

Posted on 06/16/2016 by Terry Rennert

Have some fun plans this weekend to celebrate father’s day? What…you don’t? Then aren’t you in luck, I have just the thing. Grab your dad (or mom…or cat…or spouse…whoever) and head on over to the Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival in New Britain this Saturday from 9:30am to 3:00pm.

grounds Come out to admire hundreds of antique and classic cars spanning decades of automotive history, all on a picturesque 40-acre hilltop campus in Connecticut. Wayne Carini of Velocity’s Chasing Classic Cars is the Grand Marshal for the 2016 Vintage Motorcar Festival.

concourso car

Stop by to see me on the Concorso of Supercars which features exotic and one-of-a-kind cars – a perfect fit for my one-of-a-kind ShopBots. I am really honored to be a part of this amazing fundraising event which benefits the Klingberg Family Centers.

All proceeds go to this private, nonprofit multi-service agency who provides help to thousands of persons across Connecticut each year through more than 25 programs and services. They extend hope and healing to children and families whose lives have been affected by abuse, trauma, severe family problems and behavioral health issues.

Hope to see you there!

STEM and STEAM and Robots – Oh My

Posted on 04/12/2016 by Terry Rennert

Most people know that STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. But what about STEAM? STEAM is what you get when you add art to the mix. And if you add robots in too? Then you have STEAM Fair Robotics Expo – now that’s right up my alley.

Danbury Library is having a special STEAM fair in their Hackerspace this May to celebrate individuals in the arts and sciences who focus on robots.The event is being held on May 14th – hope to see you there.

The fair is free and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hackerspace in the Danbury Library on Main Street.

Gearing up for Springtime

Posted on 04/05/2016 by Terry Rennert

craft in the park walkway

Spring is upon us and I am gearing up for when the Andover Central Park is in full bloom – transformed from the snow-covered greens of recent weeks. On May 7^th I will be in downtown Andover for Crafts in the Park.

Crafts in the Park is an annual event held in Andover, Massachusetts on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. The long-range weather forecast looks very promising…but we all know what New England Spring weather is like, so rest assured this event is held rain or shine.

Celebrating their 41^st year, this event is hosted by The Christ Church. Proceeds from Crafts in the Park will be used to support their mission and outreach to the local community, including Habitat for Humanity, Esperanza Academy, Bread and Roses, Neighbors in Need, Lazarus House, and the Merrimack Valley Project.

Crafts in the Park is held on May 7^th from 10-4pm – so grab your mom and come out to enjoy a fun afternoon for a good cause!

Eastworks Holiday Pop-up

Posted on 01/22/2016 by Terry Rennert

A few months ago I was introduced to Beth McElhiney, a local artist and Master Silversmith recently relocated from the Cape, she shared with me some of the details about a pop-up shop she envisioned at Eastworks.

For those of you who aren’t familiar Eastworks it is the old Stanley building, a large tool manufacturer, that has been re-purposed into a series of studios and art galleries including a live-in residential area for the vibrant community of artists who live or work there. The artists come together at many different times during the year, one of which is at the Eastworks pop-up shop which opened right after Thanksgiving with a variety of local artisans.

I am thrilled that she asked me to be part of the shop this year. We had a great time setting up the shop and she snapped these wonderful pictures of me along with members of my robot army, including “Stanley” made from old parts made in this building.

Pop Up Shop Collage

Stop by to see Beth and catch some of my newest shop bots, including Decker, they’ll be open only for a few more weeks.

Art is a Gift

Posted on 12/08/2015 by Terry Rennert

art is a gift Had an amazing time last weekend and thanks again to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County for holding this inspiring event. Not only did the event run so smoothly, it afforded me the opportunity to meet some new fellow artists like Jean-Pierre Pasche.

Jean-Pierre, is the owner and CFO (Chief of Framing Operations) of Big Red Frame. He runs the Elusie Gallery in the same fabulous location as his custom framing business, Easthampton’s Old Town Hall. The gallery showcases work by established artists as well as emerging talents, hosting fundraisers and other local cultural events that including Art is a Gift the holiday craft and art fair, which he invited me to join.

There are twenty-two local artists and artisans showing their works, located in the Easthampton’s Old Town Hall. Come out to support local artists and see some of my newest creations including Mr. Mayor – inspired by “Nightmare Before Christmas”

terry michael rennert

found object art

Category Archives: Events