Welcome

The Danbury Multimedia Arts Gallery is meant to showcase the talents of those in the Greater Connecticut Area. Our goal is to give a platform for artists of all skill levels and provide exposure for local artists.

This year’s gallery theme is Nostalgia. Now and then subtle moments in our present take us back to the delightful times of our past. We can connect with and appreciate the people we’ve enjoyed these memories within these feelings of remembrance. Memories are what make life precious. Nostalgia has the power to make a rainy day feel warm again. Art is an incredible way to capture and preserve special memories. This year, we are so proud and excited to feature many young and experienced artists of a variety of mediums. Come meet the artists and take a look at their beautiful art. Reminisce on the sweet nostalgia.

Natalia Valente

Born and raised in Danbury for 21 years, Natalia’s first art medium of photography manifested at 11 years old. She has explored various mediums since then such as painting, filmmaking, and poetry. Her work is inspired by community, nature, and travel. Natalia is graduating from Western Connecticut State University in May 2022 with a Bachelors degree in Business Marketing.

“These pieces capture the fleeting moments that evoke feelings of nostalgia. Whether it’s a warm sunny day at the beach, a venture into the woods, a specific wave crash, or a soft butterfly landing, there’s beauty in evanescence. There is remembrance through the snapshots of time; documenting expression can guide us to who we truly are.” - Natalia Valente

Lauren DeFranco

Lauren DeFranco is a TV News Journalist and Artist who grew up in Danbury Connecticut. She worked as a field reporter for WABC TV eyewitness news for 14 years. Prior to that Lauren worked in Hartford at the CBS and NBC affiliates. She has done several art shows in New York and Long Island and has donated her works to such causes as domestic violence and sexual abuse. Lauren now resides on Long Island with her two daughters Ava and Ella.

“Speak No Evil was created to depict the power of words, particularly the spoken word. The divisive nature of speech in our society reached a fever pitch in the last several years. We need to come together in peace and love and pray that love will prevail.” - Lauren DeFranco

Jack Tom

Jack is a graphic designer who grew up in San Francisco and presently lives and works in Connecticut. He has worked for many companies, including CBS and MediaWest, creating illustrations and designs for them. He was the past president of the Connecticut Art Directors Club and has won many awards for his art. Such awards include Print Best Logos & Symbols 2 in 1990 and PIE Business Stationery Graphics Annual Vol. 2. Jack is and has also been a professor for numerous universities in the greater Connecticut area, teaching graphic design and illustration.

Daniel H. Nichols

Dan is an acclaimed painter who attended Rhode Island School of Design and Paier School of Art. He has done many one-man shows in the greater Danbury area. Dan has traveled internationally partaking in workshops, and he has won numerous awards for his art. Such awards include the Connecticut Plein Air Society Award in 2011 and the Best Landscape Award from the Essex Art Association in 2017. Dan’s paintings are for purchase.

Aliyah Seng

Aliyah is a sophomore at Western Connecticut State University. She is a professional writing major with a focus on creative writing. She uses her writing to experience life abstractly, reshaping lines and adding color to her experiences. Aliyah is passionate about learning from all types of people and the nature around her. She hopes her writing brings light to others reading it.

Moon

If only I could hold those moments in my hands. When it was just us. My father used to pick me up and throw me into the air. I could fly for about three seconds, just before I felt my weight crash back down into his palms. I saw constellations in my mother’s eyes, full of wisdom and knowledge. Her hair was always freely flowing. Gliding down her back and just long enough so that I could reach up and pull at it. I wish I could now. Her hair was gone when she left, and the glimmer in her eyes faded. My father’s hands had grown weak and wrinkled. Those hands held me upright when I was learning how to walk. Now I am holding them and feeling them grow softer and softer.

But when I look at them I don’t see what has since passed. In my mind, I am still five years old and making a mess. I am still making them mud pies in my kitchen made of sticks and leaves. And I am still flying. A bird gliding with the wind. In those three seconds, forever is real. Everything I could ever want was right in front of me. My family, my house, and me. One day, we’ll all fly to the moon. For now, I’ll enjoy this earthly wait until I find my wings.

“This piece is about a memory of a young girl. She is reflecting on a day in her childhood that made her feel absolutely infinite. But that day, like all others, ended. She is thinking about what being thrown into the air felt like and how it is still familiar to her. This story is not a grieving one, rather a reminder that everything exists within us. Everything is kept alive.” - Aliyah Seng

Fall

I see towers of brick around me

Holding me in between them

The bench I am sitting on is the same color

The color of red with an orange touch

The ground is scattered with wet spots

Spots that pooled with water just a few hours ago

They are awaiting their time to dry, to blend in again

To become familiar

There is a light breeze

It ripples through the loose fabric of my shirt

It sends flickers of light to my left

Where tokens are hanging from the moving branches of a small tree

Shades of green, yellow, and orange wave around me

Fall is coming

Seemingly out of place, a monarch butterfly moves swiftly through the air

Over the noise of carts rolling on cobblestone

Over the men with yellow hats

I know I will not see her again

Nor her sisters 

We know this part

Fall is coming

They will all lay to rest soon

This is their last time to fly before saying a long “goodnight”

“This piece is a simple observation of a transition that we all have seen before. A moment that we often miss in our daily lives. The earth is changing constantly. Seasons remind us of that. This was an observational moment and a realization that it is time to say goodbye to the things we so often ignore.” - Aliyah Seng

Sarah Moffett

Sarah is a Junior at Western Connecticut University pursuing a degree in Illustration. She is 22 years-old with a passion for anything creative and artistic.

“I wanted to create a piece that represents multiple aspects of what I saw, when I was a kid, back in the early 2000's. My 2 major inspirations were Lisa Frank's colorful school supplies and the makeup of the 2000's.” - Sarah Moffett

Penny Lefferts

Penny began her photography career many years ago “shooting babies for a living” as a traveling portrait photographer. From there, she settled down and created her home studio. She spent the next couple of decades photographing portraits, weddings and other special events. Upon meeting her husband, who is an avid Nature photographer, Penny branched out and began her own photo study of Nature. She firmly believes the importance of never leaving home without a camera in hand, because there is always an opportunity to capture a great image. She currently lives in South Norwalk with her husband and cat.

Aenjhielou Marquez

Aenjhielou is a young artist born in the Philippines. She currently resides in Danbury attending Naugatuck Valley Community College. Her art has been showcased at an art show in Norwalk CT in 2021. She produces art through mediums of digital painting and colored pencil.

“Art has been the one outlet that’s given me the chance to love my highs and lows. Creating art is the one time in my day that I get to freely release any and every thought, it eases and clarifies so much chaos throughout my life. I love creating art that has such vibrancy, such contrast and complexity. Art holds many meanings and though a piece may look simple, that piece holds a time capsule of that artists current state” - Aenjhielou Marquez

Alma Faham

Connecticut-based abstract artist Alma was born and raised in Kuwait. Through the different stages of her life, she continued to nurture her passion for art by enrolling in painting, jewelry design, and mosaic art courses while living in Greece, Jordan, and the US. She is enriched with cultural experiences and traveled to many cities around the world. Since 2015, she has participated in different exhibitions, events, and interviews and is currently a member of local cultural alliances in her region. Alma’s paintings are always based on a story, a poem, or an incident that left a mark on her soul.

“My Abstract art is a type of storytelling. I translate my feelings on canvas using oil colors and shapes to duplicate a moment that could be interpreted by each viewer differently. "Anchored in Reality 1 & 2 " from the collection " The Woman is a homeland" is a sentimental piece that illustrates my love for Greece, a place that I no longer live in physically, yet it still resides in my heart and soul. The road down memory lane of my life in this sunny country still inspires me and makes me want to create more beauty in the form of abstract art in the world.” - Alma Faham

Jung Choi

Jung was born in South Korea and has lived in the U.S. since she was 3 years old. She is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in Digital Interactive Media Arts at Western Connecticut State University. She enjoys exploring different ways to express what she feels through her art. She is adventurous with trying different techniques and styles every time. Jung creates art through various mediums such as photography, painting, animation, digital painting, and coding.

“The artworks I chose reflect the times that I have gone through with my dog and my cat, the scenery, and artwork I have done that give me a reminisce of what I have felt during those times.”

- Jung Choi

Thank You to our Featured Artists

Aliyah Seng

Alma Faham

Aenjhielou Marquez

Daniel H. Nichols

Jack Tom

Jung Choi

Lauren DeFranco

Natalia Valente

Penny Lefferts

Sarah Moffett

Thank You to the Judges

Cheryl Hill - is a local resident living in Danbury CT. She has taught elementary, middle, high school, and university-level students. She is presently an adjunct professor at various institutions in the Connecticut and New York areas. Ms. Hill is also certified to teach online. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science Information Systems a Minor in Music from Quinnipiac University and a Master of Arts Degree in English/TESOL from Western Connecticut State University. In addition, she holds certifications in CASAS functional writing assessment, Advisor/Assessor in the National External Diploma Program, and ESL from the State Education Department of Connecticut in Adult Education. Additionally, she teaches English, IT, Sociology, and Music courses on-site and online. She has a passion and appreciation for all genres of art and has visited many well-known art galleries. Ms. Hill is also a classical/operatic soprano soloist/section leader at various churches. The quotes she uses to inspire others include…

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

“Look in your heart and head for a lifetime of experiences!” ~Unknown

Jonathan Wencek - is an artist born and raised here in Danbury. He is a 2021 graduate of Western Connecticut State University with a degree in Digital and Interactive Media Arts. He has a passion for narrative storytelling through several artistic mediums. Along with being a published writer and photographer, he has also won awards for screenwriting and animation. He believes that everyone has a unique story to tell and that everyone should find a creative way to tell it.

Gallery Created by Hali Dinh-Seng, Western Connecticut State University Digital Interactive Media Arts Graduate 2022