WASHINGTON, CT - The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

Bloom was initially inspired by the art books of old masters shared with him by his grandmother. He embarked on an artistic journey that led him from a high school art scholarship to the Art Institute of Philadelphia. As a painter and illustrator, he honed his craft in Brooklyn before finding his muse in the artistic landscapes of Northwest Connecticut where he now resides.

“Inspiration finds me on bike rides through the rolling hills and winding paths where the beauty of nature seeps into my consciousness and translates into art,” he remarked. “I strive to capture the ephemeral beauty of atmosphere and movement—each stroke on the paper is a lyrical expression, a flow of colors that transcends the tangible, inviting viewers into a world where emotions breathe and feelings take shape.

Perlman is a sculptor and fine artist based in Bethlehem, Conn. He studied anthropology at Hampshire College before focusing on sculpture at the Art Students League of New York. After his studies, Perlman moved to Pietrasanta, Italy to study with master sculptors and artisans of marble carving. Upon his return to the U.S., he became an apprentice and master chaser at a bronze foundry where he trained in all facets of fine art bronze casting. Perlman currently teaches sculpture, metal work and bronze casting at the Silvermine Art Center in New Canaan. He is also the co-artistic director of Sova Dance and Puppet Theater, and President of the New England Sculptors Association.

“I have come to understand that each and every material I work with has its own voice of sorts,” Perlman mused. “Sculpture is always about finding balance, and that for me includes the ability to find harmony between the materials, or failing that, celebrating their contradictions.”

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook.