Kristin Merrill has been surrounded by art all of her life. Her father is a potter and sculptor and her mother was an avid, if not obsessive gardener. Both have been important creative influences and have taught her about the passion of expression in one's art, work, and family. Kristin spent the early years of her career selling jewelry to galleries across the United States. After taking some time off to start a family, she now creates jewelry and sculpture in limited quantities. Her work is more fluid, natural and organic. She uses materials like clear quartz, said to provide creativity, heal energy, promote clarity and attune one to a higher self. Kristin and her family live on the Farm River in East Haven.

Owen Sea Luckey is a passionate knitter and fabric junky. She expresses herself through one of a kind small collections of wearbles. After graduating from RISD, Ms. Luckey spent many years working in the Textile Industry creating fabric. She has spent the last 10 years focusing on family, hand knitting and sewn accessories. Owen continues to push the boundaries of her work thru recycled fabrics and sumptuous knitting yarns creating the now intentional, random, sometimes functional, signature holes in her pieces. A Branford native, she shares her passion for the arts with her two daughters and her husband who is a carpenter.

VIVIKA HANSEN

Vivika Hansen DeNegre lives in Guilford with her husband and four school aged children where she hikes the trails of New England in search of a beautiful view, a flower or bird to capture on film and translate to her quilts. She uses many different types of cloth to create her quilts and then "draws" on the piece using thread. The work is then further embellished and framed. Vivika's quilts have been featured in several magazines and books, and her work is in many private collections. BAC will be showing a series of native Connecticut songbirds and plants.