'Where ART Thou?' Lower 黑料吃瓜网 River Valley

At 410 miles long, the 黑料吃瓜网 River is the longest river in the New England region. Ray heads to its southern tip to Old Lyme, an area known for in the early 20th century. de Gerenday's Fine Art Materials and Curiosities is a one-of-a-kind shop on the campus of the . Among the finest art materials hand-selected by the Academy鈥檚 faculty, Ray catches up with Eric Dilner, the CEO of the to talk about the thriving arts community in this part of the state.

Eric Dillner, CEO of the Shoreline Arts Alliance, talks with host Ray Hardman at de Gerenday's Fine Art Materials and Curiosities in Old Lyme during filming for CT Public鈥檚 original series 鈥淲here ART Thou?鈥� on April 16, 2024. Far right is visuals journalist Dave Wurtzel and story producer Meg Fitzgerald.

While on campus, Ray heads to one of the sculpture studios to meet with . Trained in the classic tradition, Chad is an accomplished sculptor who specializes in bronze. He co-owns a foundry in Pennsylvania and is currently the at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. He has created more than 25 public sculptures and his years of intense training and passion for traditional, figurative sculpture portraiture can be seen in the details of for the Chicago Bears Football Club, Philadelphia 76ers, the NFL Hall of Fame, and more.

1 of 6 — Where ART Thou? Season 3 - Lower 黑料吃瓜网 River Valley Episode 4

Sculptor Chad Fisher brushes an acid based wax pigment to a bronze scultpture as part of the patina process during filming for CT Public鈥檚 original series 鈥淲here ART Thou?鈥� in Old Lyme on April 16, 2024.

Dave Wurtzel / 黑料吃瓜网 Video Still

2 of 6 — Where ART Thou? Season 3 - Lower 黑料吃瓜网 River Valley Episode 4

Sculptor Chad Fisher is interviewed by host Ray Hardman in a Lyme Academy of Fine Arts studio about his love of working with clay and his purpose in creating public monuments.

Julianne Varacchi / 黑料吃瓜网

3 of 6 — Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley poses for photographs with a sculpture created by Chad Fisher honoring him at the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball training facility in 2019.

Matt Rourke / AP

4 of 6 — Where ART Thou? Season 3 - Lower 黑料吃瓜网 River Valley Episode 4

Sculptor Chad Fisher demonstrates creating form with clay to host Ray Hardman as visuals journalist Ayannah Brown (left) films.

Julianne Varacchi / 黑料吃瓜网

5 of 6 — Chad_Fisher_claystill.jpg

Fisher's hands shape clay into a sculpted form during filming for "Where ART Thou?" at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts.

Dave Wurtzel / 黑料吃瓜网 Video Still

Sculptor Chad Fisher works in his studio as CT Public's crew films. L-R is Glenn Goettler, Dave Wurtzel and Ayannah Brown.

6 of 6 — Where ART Thou? Season 3 - Lower 黑料吃瓜网 River Valley Episode 4

Sculptor Chad Fisher works in a Lyme Academy of Fine Arts studio as CT Public's crew films. L-R is Glenn Goettler, Dave Wurtzel and Ayannah Brown.

Julianne Varacchi / 黑料吃瓜网

While you have likely heard of the historic perched on the bank of the river in East Haddam, you may not know that Goodspeed Musicals is home to a costume collection of over 250,000 items. It鈥檚 all housed in their just up the road from the theater. Ray gets a full warehouse tour with costume coordinator Stephanie Turner featuring costumes from Tony-winning Broadway designers such as William Ivey Long, Gregg Barnes, Catherine Zuber, Willa Kim, and more!

The costume rental warehouse of Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam on March 21, 2024. — The rental warehouse of Goodspeed Musicals that houses 500,000 costumes in East Haddam on March 21, 2024.

Crossing the river into Chester, Ray meets award-winning basket weaver at the , which is also her home. For over four decades, Sosse has been weaving baskets and teaching others the craft. In 2022, she was recognized with a from the . More than 35 years ago, she and her late husband Jack opened the Chester Gallery in the front room of their 1860s farmhouse in an effort to help local artists show their work. Sosse and the gallery have been fixtures in downtown Chester ever since.

Sosse Baker makes a Shaker cheese basket with a hexagonal weave during filming for CT Public鈥檚 original series 鈥淲here ART Thou?鈥� in Chester on March 21, 2024.

Season 3 Sponsors