left to right: Union Savings Bank President and CEO John C. Kline, CityCenter Danbury Director Andrea Gartner, the artist Austé and Ted Killmer, consulting producer, First Night Danbury, in front of Austé’s thematic mural which will be on display at the Main Street Galleria
In keeping with the second full moon of December (an infrequent occurrence called a “Blue Moon”) which will occur on New Year’s Eve, this year’s First Night Danbury theme will be Once in a Blue Moon. To be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at more than a dozen indoor and additional street locations throughout central Danbury, First Night Danbury 2009 will surpass all previous years’ festivities, with over 25 solo artists and groups who will entertain hundreds of families and children on New Year’s Eve.
From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., inside Union Savings Bank’s Galleria office building located at 225 Main Street, Austé, a well known Manhattan artist, will echo the theme Once in a Blue Moon with a rare exhibition of one of her large scale murals, originally painted in 1987 for a Barney’s New York department store window. When her work was first shown in the mid-1970’s, Austé’s large scale drawings were on the cutting edge of the burgeoning New Wave aesthetic.
Austé’s artwork will serve as the centerpiece for an experiential installation which will include local band, Mecca Bodega, who will perform in the Galleria from 4 to 6 p.m. Playing such world instruments as African drums, Brazilian percussion, hammered dulcimer, and found objects, Mecca Bodega has been featured often on National Public Radio’s “New Sounds” and has appeared with Garrison Keillor on “Prairie Home Companion.” Traditional Portuguese games will also be performed during this time.
From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Galleria will be transformed into Austé’s dream installation, which will coincide with First Night Danbury’s Closing Procession that will march by The Galleria on the way to the fireworks spectacular. The installation will include Burnkit2600, Danbury's own electro-techno heroes, who will celebrate the blue moon with a performance as rare as the astronomical phenomenon itself. Known for rocking clubs and art spaces with an unusual array of modified toys and video games, the trio will abandon their dance beats for a set of spacey sounds as crisp as the air the blue moon hangs in.
“In 1869, the Great Danbury State Fair was established. In 1926, Danbury’s Palace Theater opened. On December 31, 1988, Danbury hosted its very first First Night celebration,” said CityCenter Danbury Director Andrea Gartner. “Popular arts and culture have always been a part of our Danbury scene, and we thank Union Savings Bank for supporting our efforts throughout the years. With their help and other individuals and businesses, we’re ensuring that there’s always something going on downtown.”
Purchase $5 Buttons at CityCenter Danbury to be admitted to all events. For more information, visit http://www.firstnightdanbury.org or call 203.792.1711. To volunteer, email firstnightvolunteer@yahoo.com
About First Night Danbury
First Night Danbury seeks to foster the public’s appreciation of visual and performing arts through an innovative, diverse and high quality New Year’s Eve program, which provides a shared cultural experience, accessible and affordable to all. First Night Danbury is only possible with the help and support of volunteers who work throughout the year to solicit sponsors, do publicity, schedule performers, communicate with our venues, work with our button sales sites, arrange for parking and transportation, and of course to serve as hosts on First Night. Host volunteers receive a complimentary button and t-shirt as thanks for their service. If you are interested in being a First Night Danbury volunteer in any capacity, please visit http://www.firstnightdanbury.org or contact Jim Whitney at the Northwest CT Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-888-588-7880 or by email at firstnightvolunteer@yahoo.com
About Union Savings Bank
Established in 1866 and headquartered in Danbury, Conn., Union Savings Bank is a $1.9 billion mutual bank dedicated to providing excellent customer service to its customers and communities. As a full-service financial institution, Union Savings Bank provides banking, mortgage, investment and insurance products throughout western Connecticut with 18 offices in Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, Newtown, New Milford, Ridgefield, Sharon and Southbury. For more information, visit unionsavings.com.
