Hygienic Art’s 34th ‘Salon des Indépendants’ Comes To New London January 25, 26

In two weeks New London’s Hygienic Art Gallery will hold one of their biggest events of the year- the 34th ‘Salon des Indépendants’ – a no-rules art festival with dozens of musicians, photography exhibitions, film screenings, plus hundreds of regional artists.

Okay, there are some rules: one piece per artist, no judge, no jury, no fees, and no censorship.

Hygienic’s Rich Martin says those rules have been in place since the exhibition’s founding. At that time the Hygienic gallery was a diner that had turned into a haven for people who could be considered ‘unsavory.’ Regulars decided to hold one-day art exhibits, set up that day, and removed that night.

Though the Salon has gained much more mainstream attraction (there is far less in the way of shock value and far fewer images of genitals, says Martin), the sentiment is the same. Admission is completely free.

In more recent years music has become as much a part of the event as the art.

Friday night’s “Pre-Fix” event is at the Oasis Pub, with Quiet Life, Daphne Lee Martin, and M.T. Bearington performing at 10 p.m.

Saturday night has two main rock events. The first is “The Rock Fix,” at the Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union Street.. Starting at 7 p.m. are sets from Incognito Sofa Love, Street People, Fake Babies, Bedroom Rehab Corporation, Brazen Hussy, Anne Castellano & The Smoke, and Slander.

“The Hootenanny” also starts at 7 p.m., with the Crew, Paddle Faster, Charlie Reyburn, Hugh & Jim, Nancy Parent, Dirt Road Radio, Kevin Kane, and 28 Strings.

Meanwhile at the ‘Cabaret Extraordinaire’ burlesque and puppet show at 33 Golden Street on Saturday night has live accompaniment from New London’s Weird Beards.