Shubert Celebrates Centennial With Public Art

Sometimes it takes a village. In the case of artist Tony Falcone and his commissioned pastel illustration honoring the 100th anniversary of the Shubert Theater, it took a team of ​“insiders.”

Falcone was one of several artists attending an unveiling and celebration at the Shubert Theater Tuesday night that also starred elaborate paper sculptures by Paier College of Art students, and a Shubert centennial commemorative calendar that features Falcone’s light radiating image and a graphic history of the theater. The calendar received support from the accounting firm of Bailey, Murphy and Scarano.

The artist said he called upon a team of Shubert staff and his wife Judi to give input into a commissioned work. The assignment called for ​“capturing the excitement and anticipation just before the curtain rises.” Capturing a ​“feeling,” and not a specific object, was no small feat for the Connecticut muralist, who usually creates complex representational paintings and historic scenes. His team and the ​“magic of theater” clearly did their job, as the artist delivered a beautifully impressionistic work that has taken a place of honor at the Shubert’s ​“Birthplace of the Nation’s Greatest Hits Gallery” (Gallery 100), a corridor featuring an illustrated timeline of Shubert history.

This was the second consecutive year that Paier College of Art has teamed up with the Shops at Yale and the Town Green Special Services District to enliven shop windows and help draw customers during the holiday shopping season. The window marketing strategy has been a boon to high end New York retailers who have made a tradition of creating legendary displays with the power to draw tens of thousands each year.

Retailer Jessica French of Wave Gallery on Chapel Street said that the decorated windows, which celebrate various theatrical shows, ​“are festive and people have come in just because of the windows.”

In the Shubert’s vestibule is a 7 foot by 14 foot paper sculpture; Paier College of Art professor Vladimir Shpitalnik said it had to be given the white glove treatment during transport with a large U‑Haul truck. The mural-sized installation contains visual references to all of the new pieces gracing the Shops at Yale along the Chapel Street corridor.

Shops displaying the paper sculptures have in most cases integrated the pieces with store merchandise for tasteful presentations that still have the power to delight with their easily recognized show themes and characters. Some of the participating shops include: Connecticut Running Company…

… Claire’s Corner Copia, which also provided tasty treats at the celebration…

…Basta Trattoria …

… idiom with Annie …

… The Green Teahouse, brewed delicious teas for the Shubert reception,

… and Hulls’ Art Supply and Framing, discounted materials for the Paier art students.

Shubert Executive Director John Fisher opened his presentation by drawing attention to strings of holiday, musically-themed ornaments decorating the lobby that were created by New Haven Public School children. Fisher said the ornaments will be distributed to senior citizens ​“as well as recipients of our food and toy drive.” The toy drive, made in partnership with New Haven’s Board of Alders, runs through Jan. 1.

With many more shop windows showing multiple paper sculptures and vignettes, taking in a little art with shopping is probably the best ticket in town.