Opening reception planned for FHS art show, Barry Ross exhibit

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Art Association plans to unveil two new exhibits during a reception Friday, April 1.

From 6-8 p.m. at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, residents are invited to peruse two art galleries, one dedicated to the area’s young artists and another to a seasoned illustrator.

The young artists are being featured as part of the Fairfield High School’s Annual Art Exhibit, which will be on display in the main gallery of the FACC. More than 100 pieces of art from a variety of classes under instructor David Kraemer will be featured. There will be a wide range of mediums to view, including; charcoal, acrylic, watercolor, oil, clay, pewter, and ink. This event is free and open to the public.

"Please come and see the outstanding works created by our FHS art students,” Kraemer said. “The show will remain up through the month of April.”

The FACC’s hallway gallery will feature the exhibit of FAA member Barry Ross, focusing on his aviation art. It will remain on display through the end of May.

Born and raised in New York City, Ross attended the prestigious High School of Music and Art, followed by Pratt Institute where he graduated with a BFA in Graphic Art and Illustration.

As a freelance illustrator, his work initially embraced sports subjects for Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, Outdoor Life and Ski Magazine. It then expanded to include dynamic visual interpretations of technology for Corporate brochures of fortune 500 companies.

Ross has loved airplanes and aviation from an early age, and earned his pilot’s license when he was 20 years old. Because of his knowledge of flying and his drawing ability, he received a contract from Flying Magazine for a monthly illustration as their contributing illustrator. For over 40 years, he has illustrated for Flying Magazine and more recently for Plane and Pilot Magazine.

These experiences served as a springboard for many other sports and aviation related commissions throughout his career, including books, magazine work, corporate and private commissions. He has had a one-man show at several air and space museums, and there is a permanent Gallery of Barry’s Flying illustrations in the Air Venture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.