The art will be rolling in and so are we!

New London Main Street in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Tourism District is pleased to present live blogging from the Hygienic from 8am to 6pm! For more information about Hygienic Art, the Salon and coordinating events, visit www.hygienic.org.



Thank you for tuning in to the play-by-play.

6:58 a.m. -- Our live-blogging from the Hygienic Art is supposed to start at 8 a.m. today... but there are people already in line! Meet Freddie "Spoon" first in line for the Salon. His piece
"Preacher Man" is painted with old tattoo ink. (He's been here since 6am).


8:00 a.m. -- And let the madness begin the doors have been opened!


8:03 a.m. -- The artists are coming in by droves. Everyone is lining up by at the Hygienic "Restaurant" counter to get their wire. Artists if you're coming down, you better get here soon. Space is already going fast!


8:06 a.m. -- The legendary toilet is here. I repeat the toilet is here and has found its space.


8:08 a.m. -- Artists please note, you must check in upon arrival to get the appropriate hanging apparatus. NO HOLES IN THE WALLS, please.


8:10 a.m. -- 100 people already!


8:36 a.m. -- We're half an hour in (approx. 150 people) and this blogger has already had to resort to desperate measures. Sorry artists. I'm just the blogger; I haven't a clue where you can put your artwork or how you use that wire... Sorries!


8:40 a.m. -- I spy the editor of the New London Patch, and he has a piece to enter!


8:47 a.m. -- Trying to get pictures uploaded, but things are going fast and furious over here folks. The ladders are starting to bring brought out! Time to decorate the tops of the walls.


8:58 a.m. -- We're creeping in on the one hour mark and the wall space is slowly disappearing. Going to go try to sneak into the main gallery without getting 1. trampled 2. hit with a ladder 3. hit with a piece of HUGE artwork.


Created with flickr slideshow.


9:22 a.m. -- We've got our slideshow up and running. More photos coming shortly. (A bit hard to maneuver around here.)


9:37 a.m. -- The number: 209. Things are starting to slow, but the artists are still flocking in.


10:03 a.m. -- It's the two-hour mark. Ten hours until tonight's Opening Reception. BTW If you're looking for something to do before the show. Check out our calendar. Want a list of all of today's coordinating Hygienic XXXIII events? Click here.


10:12 a.m. -- This blogger is just realizing that she didn't eat breakfast... hungry... and the "Super Size Me" piece of artwork isn't edible. Must refrain from grabbing a Tootsie Roll from the toilet bowl piece. (See above slide show to see that entry.)


10:30 a.m. -- Just a reminder to artists coming down to drop off artwork. (And parents that may be coming down for this evening's Opening Reception.) There are only a couple of rules here at the Salon des Indépendants: one piece per artist, no judge, no jury, no fees and no censorship! Emphasis on NO CENSORSHIP. While the majority of the artwork is family-safe, there are a couple of pieces that have *gasp* nudity (and the occasional curse word). So be warned.

10:46 a.m. -- For those who don't know. The Hygienic is more than just an art gallery. It also hosts six artists-in-residence. And we were able to track down one of them. Say hello to Ms. Ania. She's currently trying to find a spot for her art piece.

10:50 p.m. -- The Scavenger Hunt for the Hygienic Photo-gienic at Expressiones is full. Many apologies for those
still looking to participate.


10:52 a.m. -- Just got word that they're still looking for volunteers for The Screening Room. If you're interested, meet at The Exchange at noon.


10:54 a.m. -- An artist just walked in with a very large piece of artwork (5'x3') and is having a bit of a problem finding a location for it. The wall space is getting pretty tight. If you have a larger piece of artwork, we recommend getting here asap.

11:02 a.m. -- Hygienic Eye-Spy: New downtown restaurant owner Aimee from The Commoner. (Food there is delicious.) She wanted to stop in and wish everyone well!


11:40 a.m. -- Only 20 minutes until the opening of the junior Salon, the Hygienic XXXIII: Young Artists exhibit, at the Garde Gallery. (305 State Street, New London)


11:44 a.m. -- Almost four hours in and we've crossed the 300 mark. People are having to be really creative with their hanging strategy. It's getting to be like a puzzle!


11:57 a.m. -- Because everyone needs something to remember this day with. T-Shirts and Posters are available at the gallery for sale all day. $15 for Hygienic 33 T-Shirts; $15 Art Park Tees; $5 Previous Year Annual Tees and $5 for Posters.


12:05 p.m. -- Hygienic Eye-Spy: Yoga instructor Tricia McAvoy of Blissworks Yoga & Healing Arts.


12:13 p.m. -- Four hours down, six to go. The eye of the storm seems to be over, leaving a bit of a calm. Hygienic Manager Rich Martin even had time to grab a slice from Captain's Pizza. :)


12:37 p.m. -- So much for the calm. A patron has passed out in front of the Gallery. :( The paramedics are here.


1:12 p.m. -- Over 350 art pieces so far!


1:22 p.m. -- Who DOESN'T "Lobster" New London. Great button, Hygienic Art.


1:49 p.m. -- Wonderful video from The Day covering this morning's artwork load-in. While we'll be covering the rest of today's artwork drop-off, theday.com will be live streaming from Rock Fix at the Crocker House beginning at 7 p.m.




2:30 p.m. -- Slowing down. Space still available, but not much. Total count so far 372.


2:42 p.m. -- A sample of the space that's left. Anyone out there have anything that may fit?


2:58 p.m. -- Artwork total: 377 pieces. So far there has been at least one run to go get additional wire for hanging. (The wire has seen better days. Looks like a disassembled Slinky. See right.)


3:05 p.m. -- One hour until the Hygienic XXXIII: Screening Room starts! It's the coordinating Indie film and video fest. The rules are the same as the main art show: no judge, no jury, no fees and no censorship! Everything gets a
screening.


3:15 p.m. -- More video. This time courtesy of Patch. Patch editor Dirk Langeveld made an appearance earlier and found a prime space for his submission. His piece is #82.




3:50 p.m. -- Great googly moogly! With only about two hours left of art drop-off time, it's slim pickings for finding enough space for larger pieces. The artwork hanging here is getting a bit dangerous. (The piece to the right almost got dropped twice...)


4:04 p.m. -- This blogger is good for something! Helped one of the artists spell shillelagh. (Didn't ask why he needed to know the spelling...)


4:23 p.m. -- Another clam in the artwork storm. Perfect time for some Hygienic History: The Hygienic was built in 1844 by Captain Harris, a member of one of New London's prominent whaling families, as a ship's provision store and crew's quarters. Known then as the Harris building. It was constructed in the Greek Revival style that was the prevailing architectural influence in New London at the time.

The city was burned to the ground by British forces under the command of Benedict Arnold in 1786, and was slow to rebuild until the lucrative profits of the whaling trade financed the reconstruction of the waterfront, in the early nineteenth century.

In 1919 the Swanson Brothers started a restaurant in the building. In 1931 the restaurant became the Hygienic Restaurant and Delicatessen after the Sigros family, who were partners with the Swanson brothers, purchased the business.

The restaurant closed in 1985 and was bought by developers. The building lay vacant until 1996 when it was slated for demolition to make a parking lot for a neighboring bank.That is until the local community banded together and saved it.

Now, the Hygienic Art Galleries is considered one of New London’s finest accomplishments and Salon Night, one of downtown New London’s biggest nights of the year.


4:46 p.m. -- Hello, caryatid. Come here often?
If you're venturing out to the Hygienic for the first time, be sure that you stop and admire the Gallery's signature piece, the mural of caryatids that adorns the entire exterior wall of the building. (And don't forget to look behind the lovely ladies, because those clouds are not exactly what they appear to be.) Caryatid pronunciation>


5:10 p.m. Well, snap my suspenders, there's only an hour left of artwork drop-off before the Hygienic closes at 6:00 p.m. in order to prepare for tonight's 8:00 p.m. Opening Celebration. Just broke 400!


5:33 p.m. We're stopping our Flickr slideshow at 33 photos in honor of the Salon's 33rd year. Happy 33 Hygienic.


5:51 p.m. Only nine minutes left of art drop-off and there's still artists coming in to make deadline.


5:55 p.m. Mayor Finizio just arrived to get a preview of tonight's show.


6:00 p.m. Aaaaaaaaaand we're out. Final count: 429! Good night everybody and thank you for following! Lobster send-out.