The Residents

By Ryan Vaughan

Materials: Assorted reclaimed metal

Adalaide finds herself often playing on the grounds of the abandoned factory where her father used to stoke the fires of the steam engine. Together with her companion Deryn they collect the forgotten, left behind pieces. Whatever they might find gets taken home. Some are put back into use, others repurposed, but whatever the outcome, the two find joy in bringing life back to these otherwise discarded parts.

She now stands in the open facing the building that used to house that coal fired boiler. So if you’re in the area stop by and say hello.

Ryan Vaughan is an artist based in Connecticut who skillfully blends traditional and modern techniques to animate metal. Through forging and fabrication, Vaughan crafts works that invite viewers to contemplate the emotions expressed in a fleeting moment of a character’s existence. His portfolio encompasses figurative sculpture as well as wall pieces, with sizes ranging from life-sized figures to small creations just a few inches tall. Learn more about the artist here.

By William Potvin

Materials: Assorted reclaimed metal and wood

Arnold Electric was designed and created by the Ball and Socket Manufacturing Company in 1941 due to an increased button demand for the uniforms of World War ll soldiers. When the government discovered that Ball and Socket had created Arnold Electric, they enlisted him in the army to expedite the production of building fighter planes. He quickly rose to the rank of General. General Electric retired at the end of World War ll in 1945. He is proud of his military service and still wears his name plate to this day.

Arnold returned to Cheshire, Connecticut to continue his previous occupation of manufacturing buttons. In 1994, when Ball and Socket Manufacturing closed, the owners turned Arnold off with the lever on his chest. In 2014, when Ball and Socket Arts was established, they found Arnold, flipped the lever, and turned him back on.

William Potvin is a southeastern Connecticut based artist who creates site specific installations, environments, sculpture and wall art. His work acts as a catalyst to raise awareness around environmental issues concerning our world today. He believes in employing reclaimed and natural materials to educate on the benefits of reusability and the potential effects of consumerism. Learn more about the artist here.

By Margaret Roleke

Materials: fabricated steel, vinyl coated cable, hose clamps, button parts and other miscellaneous parts found in the buildings

Pieced together from sentient bits of old fasteners, Button is always on sentry duty. If you listen closely, you’ll hear it’s song when the wind is strong.

Margaret Roleke is a contemporary mixed media artist based in Brooklyn and Connecticut. She received an MFA from Long Island University, CW Post. Roleke’s work has been exhibited widely in the tri-state area and beyond. Her work has been exhibited at the Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield, Connecticut, Pen + Brush Gallery, New York, NY, Whitebox Gallery, New York, NY, and many other venues. In 2021 and 2022 she had a residency on Governors Island in NYC through 4 Heads Portal. In 2020 she was awarded a Connecticut Commission on the Arts grant. Learn more about the artist here.

By Donald Longley

Materials: Assorted reclaimed metal

Donatello has crawled up from the remains of the Farmington Canal to sun himself on our lawn!

Donald Longley, a military veteran and a passionate metal artist, has cultivated a lifelong love for building and creating. His journey began with childhood fascination, constructing intricate structures from Legos, steadily progressing to larger and more complex designs. It wasn't until he discovered the art of welding that Donald found his true calling, reveling in the transformative process of turning raw materials into stunning pieces of art. A proud veteran, Donald's disciplined background and attention to detail from his military service have seamlessly translated into his artistic endeavors. His artistic journey is a testament to the joy he finds in taking the intangible and giving it physical form, a journey that has evolved with every weld. Learn more about the artist here.

By Ryan Vaughan

Materials: Assorted reclaimed metal

Ida and her younger sister, Adalaide, have deep roots in the factory and grounds. There is comfort smells and textures of the abandoned factory, reminders of their dad. Ida loves the garden and collects plentiful harvests of tomatoes, carrots and other vegetables, continuing the tradition of community and feeding family from the earth. The grounds provide artistic beauty offering Ida with peace and tranquility. She stands with a view of all that civilization and nature have to offer, please stop by and visit.

This sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Anna Pettinicchi, to honor her life filled with the love of family and friends. A scientific mind with a heart dedicated to family, art, nature, and humanity; above all, always kind. Anna was a rare gift to the world. ♥

Ryan Vaughan is an artist based in Connecticut who skillfully blends traditional and modern techniques to animate metal. Through forging and fabrication, Vaughan crafts works that invite viewers to contemplate the emotions expressed in a fleeting moment of a character’s existence. His portfolio encompasses figurative sculpture as well as wall pieces, with sizes ranging from life-sized figures to small creations just a few inches tall. Vaughan is also the creator of Deryn & Adalaide seen near Ida. Learn more about the artist here.

By Linda Mickens

Materials: Assorted reclaimed metal

This sculpture gathers objects once made for work and gives them a new role as carriers of memory. A central figure holds a bouquet composed of fasteners and bells, materials drawn from the history of the Ball & Socket company. The fasteners reference precision and strength, while the bells recall sound, communication, and the way work once marked time and presence within the community.

Suspended within the frame is a wind chime of bells that responds to air and movement. As sound enters the space, the sculpture becomes active, reinforcing the idea that history is not static.

It continues through memory, shared stories, and the people connected to the work.

Linda Mickens is a sculptor and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores memory, resilience, and collective healing. A primarily self-taught artist, she began concentrating on her art practice after retiring from a 30-year career as a neonatal intensive care nurse. That experience—grounded in care, precision, and reverence for life—continues to shape the way she handles materials and the stories they carry. Working with reclaimed wood, paper, metal, washboards, and other found materials, Mickens creates layered sculptures that give form to overlooked histories and everyday acts of strength. Her pieces serve as vessels for reflection—honoring the past, confronting the present, and offering space for connection and quiet recognition. Since devoting herself to her art, Mickens’ work has been exhibited nationally at City Gallery in New Haven, Open Studios Hamden, Martha’s Vineyard, the Southhampton African American Museum, Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance, Norwalk Artists Studios, and the Black Girl Art Show in Brooklyn. Her sculptures are also held in the permanent collection of the River Road African American Museum in Louisiana. Recognized for creating “deeply moving” and “community-rooted” work, Mickens is a 2024 Bitsie Clark Fund and Mellon Foundation grantee and a 2025 MOCA Fellowship recipient. She lives and works in Connecticut, where her studio practice continues to honor the power of art to hold memory, give voice, and inspire presence.