Inside The Aldrich Decennial: Four Artists in Conversation in Ridgefield

The Aldrich in Ridgefield, Connecticut stages conversations that bring contemporary art into direct, civic view. On the evening of The Aldrich Decennial event, four artists—Jen Bervin, Lula Mae Blocton, Anoka Faruqee, and David Driscoll—will share the questions that drive their work. Moderated by Karis Medina of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, the ninety-minute program moves from a social prelude in the Museum’s Atrium to a focused, audience Q&A. Arrive between 5:30 and 6 pm for a cash bar and a chance to browse the exhibition catalogue before the conversation begins at 6 pm. Presented in conjunction with The Aldrich Decennial: I am what is around me, this inaugural ten-year exhibition collects work by forty artists who live and work in Connecticut, making the talk a regional snapshot of contemporary practice. Listeners should expect close-looking across media—visual art, poetry, writing, material experimentation, and collaborative processes—rather than a single-format lecture. The artists will reflect on influences, studio choices, and the collaborations that shape finished work, offering practical insight for other creators and accessible framing for curious museumgoers. Whether you attend in person or via Zoom, plan ahead: in-person seating can fill quickly and virtual attendees should confirm their link and internet connection before the program begins. The Aldrich’s Atrium functions as a public threshold where catalog sales, short conversations, and the cash bar create a social zone that loosens the formal boundary between gallery and audience. For visitors from Ridgefield and beyond, the program is a direct way to meet artists whose work contributes to Connecticut’s cultural map and to hear how local questions translate into national conversations. Practical tips: buy your in-person or virtual ticket in advance, arrive early to secure seating and to browse the Decennial catalogue, and bring a pen or recorder if you want to capture specific remarks. The conversation is geared to a wide audience—artists, students, writers, longtime museum patrons, and first-time visitors—and it offers actionable insights into process, motivation, and the decisions behind visible work. If you want to deepen the visit, return to the galleries after the talk and look at the works that were discussed; standing with an object after hearing an artist speak changes perception and often reveals previously hidden choices. Tickets, including virtual options, and event details are available through the booking link; the structured program runs approximately ninety minutes with a moderated conversation followed by audience questions. This Aldrich conversation is less spectacle and more concentrated exchange: a rare public occasion to hear artists discuss the small, deliberate choices that make work legible and vital, and to leave the museum with new entry points for reading contemporary art in Connecticut and beyond. Bring curiosity and an open pen today.