City Light Gallery, #23
265 Golden Hill Street
Bridgeport, CT
Mailing address:
130 Elm St, Bridgeport CT 06604
203-334-7748
Regular Gallery Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 12 – 5 pm
Saturday, 12 pm – 4pm
E-Mail: clgallerybpt@gmail.com
FB: /CityLightsbpt
IG: @citylightsgallery
In operation for 21 years as a downtown arts venue, City Lights Gallery is the headquarters for the Bridgeport Art Trail. Exhibits and programs represent relevant content and the richly diverse people, arts and culture of greater Bridgeport. Admission is free and open to the public.
BAT Hours:
Thursday, Nov 6, 12pm - 7:30pm
(Opening reception 5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Friday, Nov 7, 12pm - 5pm
Saturday, Nov 8, 12pm - 5pm (Bike Tour meet up at 8:30 am)
Sunday, Nov 9, 12pm - 5pm
Regular Gallery/Frameshop Hours:
Wednesday - Friday, 12pm to 5pm
Saturday, 12pm to 4pm
Bridgeport Art Trail 2025 Schedule
Thursday, November 6
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM | “Becoming Plastic” Exhibit Opening Reception
View bold innovative art. Meet the artists, who as environmental advocates, present art to raise awareness of the ubiquitous and urgent crisis of plastic trash. “Becoming Plastic” manifests the current health hazard that affects everyone. We all are consuming, ingesting, breathing plastic, through the air, water, earth, and manufactured goods. It is in our foods, drinks, clothing, lotions, containers, etc. Every artist in the exhibit has found a unique way to express their vision and concerns, from constructions made from harvested plastic trash to the production of home cooked ‘bioplastic’.
Artists include Janine Brown, Debbie Gilbert, Deb Jennings , kHyal, Daniel Lanzilotta, Gerald Moore, Riva Nayaju, Kelsie Oreta, Alison Pasquini, Sarah Schneiderman, Ashley Smith, Ellen Tresselt, Joan Wheeler, Helen Zajkowski.
Featured Bridgeport Artists
Daniel Lanzilotta sees the constant hazard of plastic everywhere. He believes changes in human behavior can help minimize the threat to the planet and ourselves. He constructs his sculptural pieces with individually honed beads, made from melted plastic trash that he has collected from the streets. He articulates and strings the beads together with plastic broom bristles.
kHyal is an environmental activist and digital art pioneer who has been working with recycled materials since the early 1980s. Her sculptures are a wake-up call to action, primarily crafted from reclaimed plastic including abandoned toys, such as colorful plastic horses and baby dolls.
Portrait of Daniel Lanzilotta
Janine Brown uses natural biodegradable products to cook up her bioplastic ‘puddings’, making thin gelatinous slabs by spreading the mixture out like cookie dough. She lets the material set up and dry into large rubbery swatches. This is the ‘fabric’ she uses to create her art. To achieve a variety of patterns and colors she adds flowers and vegetables such as rose petals, tomatoes, or carrots. She also mixes in a surprising selection of papers including her shredded monthly bills, and US currency taken out of circulation to underscore our pernicious tendency for overconsumption.
Gerald Moore constructs sculptures with found transparent plexiglass slabs and shapes, contrasted by opaque forms to spike a stunning tension, visually, emotionally and intellectually.
Art by kHyal
About Plastic
Since WWII plastic has been a cheap, malleable convenience, replacing metal, rubber, and glass; it has grown in production and use. We all contend with plastic debris. Some studies show that we consume a credit card size amount of microplastic per month, through air, water and food. The research as to how much actually remains lodged in our bodies and how it affects us is unknown. It is found in soil, plants, animals, the air, even in remote pristine parts of the Arctic and our National Parks. Although there is ongoing research, currently there is no simple way to break down plastic. The amount to be processed is overwhelming, impacting the planet, marine life, soil, water, air, and humans.
Friday, November 7
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | On display: “Becoming Plastic” Exhibit
Bold, innovative eco art raises awareness of the hazard of the inundation of plastic, impacting all living things and the planet. Every artist in the exhibit has found a unique way to express their vision and concerns, from constructions made from harvested plastic trash to the production of home cooked ‘bioplastic’.
Saturday, November 8
8:30 AM- 9:15 AM | Bridgeport Art Trail Bike Tour Meet Up
See BAT Urban Bike Tour #23a for full details. Meet at 8:30 AM at City Lights Gallery (265 Golden Hill St) for free registration, art, coffee, a snack, and a pose for the annual group photo. Nearby parking available. Depart as a group at 9:15 AM. There will be an afternoon stop for lunch. Please bring money for lunch, art purchases, and suggested gallery donations.
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | On display: “Becoming Plastic” Exhibit
Bold, innovative eco art raises awareness of the hazard of the inundation of plastic, impacting all living things and the planet. Every artist in the exhibit has found a unique way to express their vision and concerns, from constructions made from harvested plastic trash to the production of home cooked ‘bioplastic’.
Sunday, November 9
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | On display: “Becoming Plastic” Exhibit
Bold, innovative eco art raises awareness of the hazard of the inundation of plastic, impacting all living things and the planet. Every artist in the exhibit has found a unique way to express their vision and concerns, from constructions made from harvested plastic trash to the production of home cooked ‘bioplastic’.
Workshops/Programs Sponsored by City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail
Figure Drawing at the NEST
1720 Fairfield Ave in the Community Room
First two Tuesdays of the month, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
The Nest Arts Factory #32 invites artists and students to join their working artists community to draw and paint from life in the rustic community room. Open Sketch: Please bring art materials, some easels and tables available. RSVP/prepay here.
The Writers’ Group with Shanna Melton
Online - Free
First two Saturdays of the month, 2pm - 4pm
The Writers’ Group is an online space led by poet Shanna Melton for people who love words to gather and create new work. The mission is to use prompts and other creative tools to motivate the creative process. It also creates a space for us to share and get a reaction from other writers who can advise one another on how to enhance the poems and or stories we create. This is not an open mic or performance space. It is a place to create. Also join The Writer’s Group ~ Bridgeport Facebook page for updates and inspiration between groups. It is also a great way to stay connected with other members. More info/log in here.
The Bridgeport Art Trail Storytelling Exchange
Online - Free
First Thursday of the month, 7pm - 9pm
Taking a break for the Bridgeport Art Trail festivities, join us in December! The ‘BAT’ is a free online workshop for adult storytellers and story listeners, on the first Thursday of every month. Popular storyteller Nina Lesiga maintains a welcoming and supporting atmosphere for participants of all levels, telling and listening to stories, pitching new story ideas, refining works in progress, and practicing presentation. Share any genre of story for 8 minutes and receive up to 7 minutes of feedback, if you wish. Not all participants are expected to present. RSVP/Log in here .
Spring Bridgeport Art Hop 2025 Events
Saturday, March 29
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | “Women Speak” Exhibit Opening Reception
In this exhibit ‘women speak’ as teachers, warriors, life sustainers, the intuitive ones, exposing the absurdity of the concept of the ‘weaker sex’. A full spectrum of powerful art expresses relevant ideas through a variety of materials used in unexpected ways to spur the mind and open the heart. Light refreshments served.
Saturday, May 17
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM | City Lights 21st Anniversary Party
City Lights Gallery/Bridgeport Art Trail celebrate the gallery's 21st anniversary as a downtown art hub. Join Us for the party! View art, enjoy food, lite bites and drink on the patio.
TIME TBA | Downtown Art Walk
Visitors are invited to City Lights Gallery’s 21st Anniversary celebration, the ribbon-cutting for URSA Coffee Roasters (245 Fairfield Ave), the opening of a new exhibit at WPKN Radio Station, and an exclusive art mixer at the Bridgeport Pride Center.