Sorelle Gallery announces Good Day Exhibition & Artist talk featuring Russell Miyaki to benefit local dog rescue organizations
Good Day Exhibition
Sorelle Gallery • 19 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880
February 10 – March 2, 2024
Sorelle Gallery is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition, A Good Day, featuring local artist Russell Miyaki to benefit rescue organizations Dog Star Rescue and Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA). Cohosted by Samantha Yanks, Founder of The Connecticut Edit and Editor-in-Chief of Westport, Weston & Wilton Magazine, and Sadie Yanks (Staples ’25), Co-Founder of The Connecticut Edit, the exhibition will open on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at Sorelle Gallery in downtown Westport, CT with a reception from 2:00 – 5:00pm and an Artist Talk at 2:30pm.
Russell Miyaki’s artwork depicts portraits of dogs of all breeds in vibrant, lively color palettes, and his repertoire includes custom, commissioned paintings of dogs. During the Artist Talk, Miyaki will discuss his creative process, and guests will have the opportunity to learn more about him and place orders for commissioned works. For the duration of the nearly month-long exhibition, 10% of sales of paintings and commissions by Miyaki will be donated to Dog Star Rescue and WASA. Both organizations will be present during the opening reception with dogs who are in need of homes and available for adoption.
Guests are encouraged to bring their dogs along for the event, with local, family-owned pet specialty retailer Pet Pantry providing a “Bone Bar” with a variety of treats for visiting dogs. Westport Earth Animal will also have doggie gift bags available for the first fifty guests to take home, along with a gift basket raffle. Light refreshments will be available for human guests.
“When Sorelle moved to our current location in Westport nearly four years ago, one of the first things our team noticed was how friendly and loving the entire community was toward dogs,” says Sorelle Gallery Owner, Sandy Pelletier. “This event is a wonderful opportunity for community members to discover new artwork, support local dog rescue organizations, meet dogs in need of homes, and treat their own pups to a day out. We are thrilled to showcase Russell’s work, which captures the lively, joyful personalities of every dog he paints, in partnership with local organizations that each individually have incredible missions.”
“My goal at Westport, Weston & Wilton Magazine and at The Connecticut Edit has always been to fuse together partnerships that tap into our community’s passions while simultaneously having a philanthropic mission,” stated Samantha Yanks. “To support not one, but two nonprofit organizations, Westport Animal Shelter and Dog Star Rescue, through local artist Russell Miyaki’s vivid dog paintings at Sorelle Gallery will help so many animals in need. The opportunity to partner with philanthropically minded Earth Animal and Pet Pantry is incredible. Our yellow lab, Wonton, and I stand ready to serve!”
A Good Day will be on view at Sorelle Gallery’s Westport, CT location at 19 Church Lane through March 2, 2024. The show and associated opening reception are free and open to the public. Street parking is available. Guests are encouraged to bring crowd- and dog-friendly dogs to the event.
Russell Miyaki
Russell Miyaki is a contemporary artist and creative director in New York City. He works from his studio at Metro Art Studios in Bridgeport, CT, a renovated historic 1800s corset factory. A third-generation Japanese American born and raised in New Mexico, Russell attended school in Colorado, graduating with honors and majoring in advertising design and illustration. Throughout his career he has worked for design studios and advertising agencies, winning industry awards and recognition, from the One Show Interactive to multiple Webbys.
“As an artist, I use my canvas as a portal, bridging my inner feelings and thoughts to the reality of life outside,” Miyaki says. “Simultaneously, my canvas serves as a mirror, reflecting my deep empathy for the lives and emotions of others. It’s this connection between self and society, the introspective and the universal, that gives my art its essential vitality and purpose.
“My work embodies the simplest, yet most powerful expressions of positive energy, happiness, and fun. It represents an escape from the anger and unhappiness that seems all too prevalent in today’s world. My hope is that through my art, viewers are transported, if only momentarily, to a place of joy and serenity. In creating these visual affirmations, I am not just reconciling my emotions with the world; I’m offering an invitation to others to join me on this journey of hope and happiness.”
Samantha Yanks
Samantha Yanks is the Editor-in-Chief of Westport, Weston & Wilton Magazine, Founder of content and branding firm, Samantha Yanks Creative and Co-Founder of The Connecticut Edit, a digital platform for discovering Connecticut’s best restaurants, newest openings, upcoming events, noteworthy creators, favorite shops and TCE’s philanthropic partnerships.
Yanks was formerly the longtime Editor-in-Chief of Modern Luxury’s Hamptons and Gothammagazines. Yanks is the Founder of Samantha Yanks Creative, an agency that works with clients on content creation, strategic marketing initiatives and brand strategy. She is also Co-Founder of The Connecticut Edit; a digital platform that focuses on discovering what is new and next and who to know in Connecticut, which she created with her daughter Sadie Yanks. Prior to her Editor-in-Chief positions, Yanks was fashion and accessories director for Niche Media where she scoured the country for fashion, filling the pages of Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Avenue, and Philadelphia Style with the most current trends. Prior to her positions at Niche Media, Yanks was senior accessories editor at O, The Oprah Magazine, where she collaborated closely with Oprah Winfrey. Before that, Yanks honed her skills at Vogue in the fashion and accessories department where her position rapidly elevated from associate accessories editor to accessories editor. Yanks is also a prominent on-air personality on numerous television segments discussing fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She has appeared on NBC’s “The Today Show” and “Nightly News,” Bloomberg, New York Live, Fox’s “Good Day New York,” E!, CBS’ “The Couch,” HDNet, and the Martha Stewart and Howard Stern shows on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Yanks has also contributed for NBC’s “Weekend Today” show with her own branded segment “The Scoop with Samantha” and was part of New York Fashion Week’s American Express Skybox Series.
A graduate of Tulane University, Yanks lives in Westport with her husband, daughter, and yellow lab Wonton.
Share your Sorelle Gallery experience with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram
Click here to learn more about Sorelle Gallery
Click here for the latest news at Sorelle Gallery
Click here for the upcoming events at Sorelle Gallery
Click here for the latest news in Westport
Click here for the upcoming events in Westport
Click here for the latest news in Fairfield County
Click here for the upcoming events in Fairfield County
••••• Message center •••••••
Connecticut business owners:
Connecticut with us! Are you a local business owner in Connecticut looking to boost your visibility and reach more customers? Look no further! Our platform provides a unique opportunity to showcase your business to an engaged audience of people who love and live in Connecticut. By partnering with us, you can reach potential customers who are actively seeking things to do, places to dine, and local merchants and service providers to support. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow your business and connect with the local community!
Connecticut with us!
Get our news straight into your inbox daily
Stay connected with us on social media
Facebook • Instagram • Threads • Tiktok
Join our Reddit community
Share your Connecticut experiences with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram
Click here to return to Finding Connecticut’s home page
Looking for the latest news by region, topic and events
Latest news by region
Fairfield County • Hartford County • Litchfield County • Middlesex County • New Haven County • New London County• Tolland County • Windham County
Latest sports news by team
Hartford Wolf Pack • Hartford Yard Goats • Connecticut Sun • Norwich Sea Unicorns •
2024 schedules
Hartford Wolf Pack • Hartford Yard Goats • Connecticut Sun • Norwich Sea Unicorns
Events my region
Fairfield County • Hartford County • Litchfield County • New Haven County • New London County • Middlesex County •Tolland County • Windham County
Events by interest
Art • Sports • Family Friendly • History • Concerts • Farmers’ Markets
Events by the month
January 2024 • February 2024 • March 2024 • April 2024 • May 2024 • June 2024 • July 2024 • August 2024 • September 2024 • October 2024 • November 2024 • December 2024
Events by venue
College Street Music Hall • Space Ballroom • Westville Music Bowl • Wall Street Theater • Hartford Stage • The Bushnell • Goodspeed Opera House • Mohegan Sun