Mystic Country, Connecticut

Hygienic XXXIII is just around the corner and once again boasts an impressive slate of arts and performance related events to whet your artistic palette. The annual Salon returns with its cornucopia of high brow, low brow and everything between artistic offerings and, given that we are in a presidential election cycle, politically charged expressionism. Young artists are encouraged to get involved with their own Salon at the Garde Gallery. Musical events include The Hootenanny (the pre-party held on Friday night) and The Rock Fix featuring some of the region’s hottest acts including a reunion performance by The Can Kickers and sets by Suicide Dolls and Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent both with new records out recently. A new event this year, The Rock Lobster Band-O-Matic is sure to have everyone buzzing pulling together musicians at random to create five new bands that will have two weeks to pull together their act for the closing party of Hygienic XXXIII. And of course, we’ll have new installments of our other popular events including the Mayfly Playhouse 24, Fashion in the Ballroom, Hygienic Photo-gienic , The Screening Room, and the Cabaret.

Salon des Indépendants (Hygienic Art Galleries, 79 Bank Street)
January 28 – February 11
Art drop-off, Sat. Jan. 28 8am-6pm; Show opens 8pm
Pick-up Sun. Feb. 12 Noon to 6pm
Visual artists are invited to submit work to the 33rd Salon des Indépendants to be held at the Hygienic Art Galleries. The rules are simple: one piece per artist, no judge, no jury, no fees,and no censorship!

The Hootenanny (Muddy Waters, 42 Bank Street)
Friday, January 27, 6-9:30pm
This year’s theme: For Grown-Ups Only. Featuring performances by Max Ebb, Nancy Parent & Hugh Birdsall, Rivergods, Paul Brockett, Wilson Kane, Kevin Kane, Maggie's Guitar, and the Crew

The Rock Fix (Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union Street)
Saturday, January 28, 7pm-Midnight
Featuring sets by New London groups The Reducers, Suicide Dolls, Recur Occurrence, and Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent, performing with Providence’s The ‘Mericans, and Mystic’s Herff Jones and a very special return engagement by The Can Kickers!

Young Artists (The Garde Gallery, 305 State Street)
January 28 - February 11, opening celebration Sat, Jan 28 from Noon to 4pm
Art drop-off, Thurs, Jan 26 & Fri, Jan 27 4-7pm;
Pick-up Sun. Feb. 12 Noon to 4pm
Young artists are encouraged to submit work to the junior salon hosted at the Garde Gallery space on State Street. There will be many arts related activities and performances throughout the day on January 28 celebrating the opening.

Cabaret Extraordinaire (33 Golden Street)
Saturday, January 28, 7pm-Midnight
A performance art free-for-all featuring puppets, poets, song, dance and more.

The Screening Room (The Exchange, 74 Bank Street)
Saturday, January 28, 4-9pm
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.

Children of the Wall (Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union Street)
Wednesday, February 1, 8pm
A documentary film about Berlin’s rise as a creative capital after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. With a post-screening discussion with the filmmakers.

Hygienic Photo-gienic (Expressiones, 84 Bank Street, New London)
Opening reception February 3, 6-8pm
The Visual Scavenger Hunt! Sign-up at the Hygienic Art Galleries during the art hang on January 28. Photographers and poets will be given a list of words that they will translate to images and poems which will be shown at an exhibit opening the following weekend at Expressiones.

Fashion in the Ballroom 2012 (Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union Street)
Friday, February 3, 8pm
Featuring designers Anna Lucas, Susan Hickman, Cristin Gallagher (IMA), Jessie English (RAW CULTURE) with special guests and musical performances

Mayfly Playhouse 24 (Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union Street)
Saturday, February 4, 8pm
At the Mayfly Playhouse, 24/7 has a different meaning. In 24 hours, 7 new one-act plays are conceived, written and rehearsed, culminating in one night of world premiere performances. Now in its 4th Season, the Playhouse attracts actors from the four corners of the state and beyond. One night only. No Encores. No Revivals. Miss it and you’ll blink. It's over, even if the fat lady doesn't sing. Contact: David Foulkes at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hygienic Poets (Hygienic Art Galleries, 79 Bank Street)
Saturday, February 11, 7pm
Hosted by Rhonda Ward. Open mic reading followed by a poetry slam with cash prizes.

Rock Lobster Band-O-Matic (Oasis Pub, 16 Bank Street)
Saturday, February 11, 10pm
A new addition to proceedings this year, musicians sing-up for one of five categories: Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums, or Other. On January 28, we’ll draw one name from each category and create up to five new bands. The groups will have two weeks to get together and work up one cover and one original (and name their acts and work out wardrobes) before performing at the closing party for Hygienic XXXIII at the Oasis Pub on February 11.