Community Calendar

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome “Vignettes and Portals,” an art exhibition by Greg St. John on view Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 27. 

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The drawings and paintings in this show were inspired by the urgency of the passing of time and the preciousness of life. The work consists of imagery inspired by the natural world as expressed in abstract marks, values, shapes and colors. They are meant to convey the artist’s thoughts and feelings about his life and the world we live in.

Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Spring is in the Air—Gallery 25 in The Historic Train Station presents Art in Bloom!

As the days grow warmer and Spring 2025 approaches, Gallery 25 is excited to invite you to our Annual Spring Show: Art in Bloom. From February 7th through April 27th, the gallery will showcase works from our talented member artists in a variety of mediums, including paintings, glass art, collages, mixed media, photography, woodworking, jewelry, and much more. It’s a vibrant collection you won’t want to miss!

Make it a Weekend Getaway!

New Milford is a wonderful destination to spend the day or weekend! Stroll through our charming town, explore unique shops! It’s the perfect mix of art, culture, and relaxation.

Gallery 25 and Creative Arts Studio

New Milford Commission on the Arts

11 Railroad St., New Milford, CT 06776

860-355-6009 * gallery25ct.com

Open Friday & Saturday 12-6 and Sunday 10-4

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram Gallery 25 and Creative Arts Studio

You are invited to Flashes & Fragments - an art exhibit that is a fusion of mixed media, artistic lettering, video & photography. New works by Debra Lill and Kathleen Borkowski combine the beauty of visual storytelling with the expressiveness of hand lettered art. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this new work, created specifically for the Whiting Mills Gallery!

Opening: Thursday, April 24th, 5-7 pm.

Show dates: April 17-June 27

August 15, 2024 – August 17, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes.

 These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

After decades of photographing everyday life, artist Arthur Nager turned his attention to documenting the Naugatuck Valley. This exhibition compares Nager’s earlier works in black and white with recent color compositions of the region that capture the architecture and landscape of the Greater Waterbury area.

Welcome to Easter Brunch at the Courtyard Waterbury! Join us for a delightful in-person event at the Courtyard by Marriott Waterbury Downtown. Indulge in a festive brunch spread with all your holiday favorites. Cash Bar available. Bring your family and friends for a wonderful Easter celebration. We can't wait to see you there!

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

Join us in welcoming Christina Maschke to our gallery.

Her Stunning Artwork to Be Displayed at Village Center for the Arts This April.

Christina's opening is Saturday, April 5th @ 6:00PM

Exhibition Dates: April 5th – April 30th

Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00AM-6:00PM

Sunday: 12:00-5:00PM

Closed Mondays

Admission is free and all are welcome.

Christina Maschke: Is a renowned artist whose work spans a variety of subjects. Her innovative approach to art has earned her recognition in both local and national art communities. Through her work, Christina explores the complex interplay of visual aesthetics and personal narratives, creating art that speaks to the viewer on a deeply personal level.

To see more of her work

Christina's Website

The Cornwall Library is delighted to present Traces, Places, and Faces, an intriguing exhibition of photography and watercolor painting by Sari Goodfriend and Eddie Watkins. They are life partners, and exhibit their shared passion for people, nature, and art in this joint show.

From an early age, New Yorker Sari Goodfriend happily spent her childhood summers in Cornwall with her sister Jenny and her art dealer parents, Carol and Jim. For a few years after college she lived in East Cornwall, photographing for local newspapers from New Milford to Salisbury. Todd Piker (of Cornwall Bridge Pottery) provided her a first opportunity to exhibit (and sell!) her personal photos in a show he curated at the Silo Gallery in New Milford. 

Moving back to New York, Sari has since worked as a commercial photographer, shooting assignments for corporations, magazines, non-profits, universities, and private individuals. She now does mostly portraits and events, but her youthful Cornwall summers are apparent in the landscape and nature-inspired images she is exhibiting at the library. Her part of the show also features some abstract photographs inspired by what she terms “bleak winter beauty” and “the wild, chaotic, post-tornado woods”. Many of her photographs are in frames that once held old master prints from her parents’ art dealership, C&J Goodfriend, Drawings and Prints.

Eddie Watkins is from Pittsburgh. After four years in the Navy stationed in Cuba and Newfoundland as a proud member of the Seabees (Construction Battalion), he moved to New York City and became a photographer of fine artwork. His clientele includes museums such as The Frick Collection, The Museum of Arts and Design, private art dealers, well known artists, and collectors. He also photographed the permanent collection of The Art Students League.

Eddie has been the drummer for many rock and blues bands, a sideline that provides subjects for personal photography seen in this show. When on the move, from 1980s city streets to rural landscapes, Eddie always carries either a camera or a set of watercolors. His painting style ranges from loose and interpretive to detailed and exacting, inspired by his naval engineering background. This show includes both his photography and watercolors. 

Traces, Places, and Faces runs from April 19 to June 7. The artists’ reception is on Saturday, April 19, from 5 to 7 pm. Registration on the library website is requested for the reception.

HOTCHKISS-FYLER HOUSE MUSEUM

Torrington Historical Society 

192 Main Street, Torrington, CT

2025 hours: Wednesday through Saturdays, April 16 - October 31, 2025

Guided tours at 1, 2 and 3 pm 

Phone: (860) 482-8260   info@torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Admission: Adults $10 per person; children under 8 free

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum (b. 1900) will open for the season Wednesday April 16th. The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum is a Victorian mansion that was home to two generations of Torrington residents. Gertrude F. Hotchkiss, the last family member to occupy the home, bequeathed the house and contents to the Society in 1956.  The interior of this grand house features mahogany paneling, ornate carvings, stenciled walls, murals, parquet floors and ornamental plaster treatments. Original family furnishings collections of fine and decorative arts. Artists represented are: Ammi Phillips, E.I. Couse, Winfield Scott Clime and George Lawrence Nelson.

“In Praise of Cities”, by Merrill French,

“Ongoing”, by Patricia Weise

& “ For Real”, featuring Peter Christ, Kathy Hodge, Brian McClear

Five Points Gallery presents three new exhibitions. In the Torrington Savings Bank Gallery, Merrill French paints intricate cityscapes from around the world. The Torrington Downtown Partners Gallery features gouache paintings by Patricia Weise that depict domesticity and daily life. For Real, a group exhibition in the West Gallery features three artists (Peter Christ, Kathy Hodge & Brian McClear) each of whom portray elements from the man-made world.

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome “Vignettes and Portals,” an art exhibition by Greg St. John on view Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 27. 

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The drawings and paintings in this show were inspired by the urgency of the passing of time and the preciousness of life. The work consists of imagery inspired by the natural world as expressed in abstract marks, values, shapes and colors. They are meant to convey the artist’s thoughts and feelings about his life and the world we live in.

Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

The Gunn Memorial Library Stairwell Gallery is pleased to present Restoration: Landscapes & Botanical Abstracts in Gouache, an exhibition of beautiful landscapes and botanicals by artist Susan Newbury, on view from April 5 through May 31.

Susan’s work is a celebration of nature’s depth and detail, drawing inspiration from the stunning landscapes, waterscapes, and gardens of her rural New York State roots and her home in Litchfield County. With a background in graphic and fashion design, her artistic practice has evolved into a dynamic exploration of color, pattern, and movement. She works primarily in gouache, acrylic, and mixed media on paper, canvas, and wood panel, using a bright, rich palette to create layered compositions that blend natural elements with abstract forms.

“Nature not only provides the subject matter but the solitude, joy, and purpose for my paintings, creating a place of quiet introspection and restoration,” she says. Her work reflects this philosophy, infusing familiar landscapes with energy and emotion while maintaining a sense of tranquility and balance. Inspired by both the botanical world and interior design elements such as fabric, wallpaper, and tilework, her paintings feature repeating shapes and striking color contrasts for an unexpected visual experience.

Her instinctive approach to painting allows her to let go of the rules, creating compositions that are both structured and free-flowing. She paints in her Litchfield County studio and accepts commission work.

Gunn Memorial Library is located at 5 Wykeham Road at the juncture of Route 47 opposite the Green in Washington, CT. Library hours may be found at gunnlibrary.org.

For more information call (860)868-7586 or email, adoerwald@gunnlibrary.org.

Something GIANT is coming to the Gunn Memorial Library! The Junior Library invites all members of our community to join us for Story Mode, a creative storytelling adventure leading up to the start of Summer Reading in June!

In collaboration with the GIANT Room, a New York City-based innovation hub for kids, the Junior Library will provide four Remix activities Stations. These stations will allow you, your friends, and your family to draw and invent unique characters, settings, and plot twists and see them transformed into published trading cards, games, and comic strips.

Every Remix Station is a self-directed activity, so you can complete it on your own time with or without the help of a librarian. The Junior Library also offers “Creation Hours” every week, during which you can use supplies from the Makerspace to bring your vision to life. Be sure to check the library’s website for the complete schedule!

Each month focuses on a different part of your story:

– April 5-26, build your own city and create a place for the story to happen. Engineer a building and decide its materials and unique features. The GIANT Room will remix this creation into another printed trading card featuring their building sketch, an AI-generated 3D render of it and its features.

– May 3-24, create challenges for your character. Help create a deck of “Would You Rather” questions by submitting a question that help you reflect on your emotions, make you smile with a rhyme, spark a debate, or give you the giggles! The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card.

– June 7-28, tell a story about your character. Write and illustrate a comic strip using a pre-made template, and the GIANT Room will remix it into a printed poster.

– Saturday, June 21, from 10-12 pm kick off summer reading and level up your character’s story as you visit several activity stations at this community event with the GIANT Room.

This is a great opportunity to express your creativity, collaborate with your community, and see your ideas come to life!

This program was made possible by the Connecticut State Library.

You are invited to Flashes & Fragments - an art exhibit that is a fusion of mixed media, artistic lettering, video & photography. New works by Debra Lill and Kathleen Borkowski combine the beauty of visual storytelling with the expressiveness of hand lettered art. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this new work, created specifically for the Whiting Mills Gallery!

Opening: Thursday, April 24th, 5-7 pm.

Show dates: April 17-June 27

August 15, 2024 – August 17, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes. The first pairing, Flowers and Landscapes, showcases artists who tackled similar subject matter to O’Keeffe and participated in emerging art movements, yet also occupied marginalized spaces in society. These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

"Then & Now/Now & Then": an exhibit of drawings and paintings, focuses on the long careers of artists Nancy Lasar and Caroll Macdonald. It features works in painting, drawing and print from various periods of their practices comparing and contrasting recurring themes and subject matter as it has evolved over time and in different media.

Nancy Lasar is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a BFA in Painting and graduated as a RISD Scholar, receiving the Pell Medal for Excellence in Art History. She attended the Yale Graduate School for Painting and studied the history of film at Columbia. Lasar has been widely exhibited in the Northeast, Midwest and internationally in China, Sweden and Japan. She has had numerous solo exhibitions at the Mattatuck Museum, Amy Simon Fine Art, New Arts Gallery, Five Points Gallery, A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn and Site: Brooklyn The Yard, NY., The Washington Art Association and the Silvermine Gallery.

Invitational and Group Exhibitions include The International Print Center N.Y., The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Art of the Northeast at the Silvermine Gallery, The Judy Black Park and Gardens (2020), Avon Old Farms Hotel, Minor Memorial Library, The Bruce Museum, The Lyman Allen Museum, the DeCordova Museum and The New Britain Museum of American Art.

Lasar’s work is included in numerous Collections such as Aetna Life and Casualty, the General Mills Corp., Pfizer Corp., The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, The Karsdale Collection and C.&J. Goodfriend Drawings and Prints, as well as numerous private collections nation wide.

Nancy Lasar is represented by VanDeb Editions, Amy Simon Fine Art, A.I.R. Gallery as Alumnae, The Silvermine Gallery. She has received two Individual Artist Fellowships from the State of Connecticut and a grant from the Vermont Studio Center.

Nancy Lasar has lived and worked in Washington Depot, CT for close to 50 years.

Carroll Macdonald is a well-known and respected landscape and abstract painter. Her career spans over five decades and started with drawing lessons as a child and continued at Choate/Rosemary Hall where she studied with Julius Delbos. After receiving a fine arts degree from Bennett College in Millbrook, NY, she moved to New York City where she studied at the National Academy of Design and then for several years at the Art Students League with such masters as Edwin Dickenson, Robert Beverley Hale and Frank Mason. She has taught art at the Grace Church School in Manhattan and during the summer continued her studies with Mason, an internationally acclaimed painter, at his summer programs in Vermont and coastal Maine.

Carroll has extensively exhibited her work in one-person and group shows with Jacques Kaplan at his Gallery in Kent, CT; at the Morrison Gallery, alson in Kent; the Washington Art Association in Washington, CT; the Daphne Deeds Gallery in Bantam, CT; the New Arts Gallery in Litchfield, CT; the Southport Harbor Gallery in Southport, CT; the Paul Melllon Arts Center in Wallingford, CT; the New Britain Museum in New Britain, CT; the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, and in New York City at the Union League Club, the National Arts Club and recently the Century Club.

Carroll’s paintings are held by numerous private collectors and she is represented in the permanent collections of the William Benton Museum in Storrs, CT, the Art Students League and the Century Club. As stated by Kaplan: “when I come upon the landscapes of Carroll, I knew at once I had arrived in the places that we all dream about” that “make her equal to the masters of the past”.

Carroll currently works in her studio in Bridgewater, CT, and en plain air in the lovely Connecticut countryside.

HOTCHKISS-FYLER HOUSE MUSEUM

Torrington Historical Society 

192 Main Street, Torrington, CT

2025 hours: Wednesday through Saturdays, April 16 - October 31, 2025

Guided tours at 1, 2 and 3 pm 

Phone: (860) 482-8260   info@torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Admission: Adults $10 per person; children under 8 free

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum (b. 1900) will open for the season Wednesday April 16th. The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum is a Victorian mansion that was home to two generations of Torrington residents. Gertrude F. Hotchkiss, the last family member to occupy the home, bequeathed the house and contents to the Society in 1956.  The interior of this grand house features mahogany paneling, ornate carvings, stenciled walls, murals, parquet floors and ornamental plaster treatments. Original family furnishings collections of fine and decorative arts. Artists represented are: Ammi Phillips, E.I. Couse, Winfield Scott Clime and George Lawrence Nelson.

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome “Vignettes and Portals,” an art exhibition by Greg St. John on view Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 27. 

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The drawings and paintings in this show were inspired by the urgency of the passing of time and the preciousness of life. The work consists of imagery inspired by the natural world as expressed in abstract marks, values, shapes and colors. They are meant to convey the artist’s thoughts and feelings about his life and the world we live in.

Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

The Rotary Club of New Milford CT is pleased to invite high school seniors in good academic standing, who are residents of New Milford or Sherman, to apply for our 2025 scholarships.

As a service organization we look for students who have participated in volunteer activities as well as academic achievement and involvement in extracurricular activities.

Applications are available through the New Milford High School Guidance office and at www.nmrotary.org. Completed applications should be mailed to scholarships@nmrotary.org.

Questions? Email : kafrancis@wildacres.net

Children and parents learn to play, sing, create and laugh together while romping to music, exploring our indoor play land, and meeting new friends. This program helps children develop sensory awareness and build motor skills. If needed, siblings are welcome to attend, but for safety reasons, they are not permitted on any of the equipment.

Requirements:

Guardians must be present

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Session options - Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Ages 1y-2y 9:15-10:00 AM

Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15-11:00 AM

The Gunn Memorial Library Stairwell Gallery is pleased to present Restoration: Landscapes & Botanical Abstracts in Gouache, an exhibition of beautiful landscapes and botanicals by artist Susan Newbury, on view from April 5 through May 31.

Susan’s work is a celebration of nature’s depth and detail, drawing inspiration from the stunning landscapes, waterscapes, and gardens of her rural New York State roots and her home in Litchfield County. With a background in graphic and fashion design, her artistic practice has evolved into a dynamic exploration of color, pattern, and movement. She works primarily in gouache, acrylic, and mixed media on paper, canvas, and wood panel, using a bright, rich palette to create layered compositions that blend natural elements with abstract forms.

“Nature not only provides the subject matter but the solitude, joy, and purpose for my paintings, creating a place of quiet introspection and restoration,” she says. Her work reflects this philosophy, infusing familiar landscapes with energy and emotion while maintaining a sense of tranquility and balance. Inspired by both the botanical world and interior design elements such as fabric, wallpaper, and tilework, her paintings feature repeating shapes and striking color contrasts for an unexpected visual experience.

Her instinctive approach to painting allows her to let go of the rules, creating compositions that are both structured and free-flowing. She paints in her Litchfield County studio and accepts commission work.

Gunn Memorial Library is located at 5 Wykeham Road at the juncture of Route 47 opposite the Green in Washington, CT. Library hours may be found at gunnlibrary.org.

For more information call (860)868-7586 or email, adoerwald@gunnlibrary.org.

Something GIANT is coming to the Gunn Memorial Library! The Junior Library invites all members of our community to join us for Story Mode, a creative storytelling adventure leading up to the start of Summer Reading in June!

In collaboration with the GIANT Room, a New York City-based innovation hub for kids, the Junior Library will provide four Remix activities Stations. These stations will allow you, your friends, and your family to draw and invent unique characters, settings, and plot twists and see them transformed into published trading cards, games, and comic strips.

Every Remix Station is a self-directed activity, so you can complete it on your own time with or without the help of a librarian. The Junior Library also offers “Creation Hours” every week, during which you can use supplies from the Makerspace to bring your vision to life. Be sure to check the library’s website for the complete schedule!

Each month focuses on a different part of your story:

– April 5-26, build your own city and create a place for the story to happen. Engineer a building and decide its materials and unique features. The GIANT Room will remix this creation into another printed trading card featuring their building sketch, an AI-generated 3D render of it and its features.

– May 3-24, create challenges for your character. Help create a deck of “Would You Rather” questions by submitting a question that help you reflect on your emotions, make you smile with a rhyme, spark a debate, or give you the giggles! The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card.

– June 7-28, tell a story about your character. Write and illustrate a comic strip using a pre-made template, and the GIANT Room will remix it into a printed poster.

– Saturday, June 21, from 10-12 pm kick off summer reading and level up your character’s story as you visit several activity stations at this community event with the GIANT Room.

This is a great opportunity to express your creativity, collaborate with your community, and see your ideas come to life!

This program was made possible by the Connecticut State Library.

The Morris Public Library offers Story and Music Time for participants ages 9 mo. - 5 y.o every Tuesday at 10 am.

Please call to ask if a spot is available: 860-567-7440.

Sing songs, read a story, do a craft!

In April, David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will host “Playing with Art,” a group art exhibition of vibrant, colorful artworks to spark the imagination and wonder of children of all ages. Highlights of the exhibition include two eye-catching brightly colored quilts by the Hunt Library Quilters alongside new work by prominent local artists such as Danielle Mailer and Ken Musselman. In addition, the library will screen vintage 1970s film animation based on a book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Eric Carle. The film-to-digital transfer was made possible by a gift of the films from producer CB Wismar and through a grant from Northwest CT Community Foundation. One of the films, The Fisherman and His Wife, features noted voice actors June Foray and Hans Conried and was an Academy Award finalist for best animated short in 1979.

The Cornwall Library is delighted to present Traces, Places, and Faces, an intriguing exhibition of photography and watercolor painting by Sari Goodfriend and Eddie Watkins. They are life partners, and exhibit their shared passion for people, nature, and art in this joint show.

From an early age, New Yorker Sari Goodfriend happily spent her childhood summers in Cornwall with her sister Jenny and her art dealer parents, Carol and Jim. For a few years after college she lived in East Cornwall, photographing for local newspapers from New Milford to Salisbury. Todd Piker (of Cornwall Bridge Pottery) provided her a first opportunity to exhibit (and sell!) her personal photos in a show he curated at the Silo Gallery in New Milford. 

Moving back to New York, Sari has since worked as a commercial photographer, shooting assignments for corporations, magazines, non-profits, universities, and private individuals. She now does mostly portraits and events, but her youthful Cornwall summers are apparent in the landscape and nature-inspired images she is exhibiting at the library. Her part of the show also features some abstract photographs inspired by what she terms “bleak winter beauty” and “the wild, chaotic, post-tornado woods”. Many of her photographs are in frames that once held old master prints from her parents’ art dealership, C&J Goodfriend, Drawings and Prints.

Eddie Watkins is from Pittsburgh. After four years in the Navy stationed in Cuba and Newfoundland as a proud member of the Seabees (Construction Battalion), he moved to New York City and became a photographer of fine artwork. His clientele includes museums such as The Frick Collection, The Museum of Arts and Design, private art dealers, well known artists, and collectors. He also photographed the permanent collection of The Art Students League.

Eddie has been the drummer for many rock and blues bands, a sideline that provides subjects for personal photography seen in this show. When on the move, from 1980s city streets to rural landscapes, Eddie always carries either a camera or a set of watercolors. His painting style ranges from loose and interpretive to detailed and exacting, inspired by his naval engineering background. This show includes both his photography and watercolors. 

Traces, Places, and Faces runs from April 19 to June 7. The artists’ reception is on Saturday, April 19, from 5 to 7 pm. Registration on the library website is requested for the reception.

You are invited to Flashes & Fragments - an art exhibit that is a fusion of mixed media, artistic lettering, video & photography. New works by Debra Lill and Kathleen Borkowski combine the beauty of visual storytelling with the expressiveness of hand lettered art. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this new work, created specifically for the Whiting Mills Gallery!

Opening: Thursday, April 24th, 5-7 pm.

Show dates: April 17-June 27

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

NEW: Baby Story Time

Tuesdays in April at 10:30 AM

Perfect for 0 - 12 months, but fun for everyone!

Meet us in the Children’s Room for Baby Time! This calm, cozy program is designed for pre-walkers who aren't quite ready for the high energy of Rhyme Time. We will focus on nursery rhymes, lullabies, and bonding with your baby.

Music and Rhyme for Children from Birth to 3s! A program for babies and their caretakers that incorporates music, rhythm, stories, and nursery rhymes to spur language development, body awareness, pre-reading skills, self-confidence, and cooperation. Gathering at 10:15, the program begins at 10:30.

Registration appreciated, drop-ins welcome!

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

After decades of photographing everyday life, artist Arthur Nager turned his attention to documenting the Naugatuck Valley. This exhibition compares Nager’s earlier works in black and white with recent color compositions of the region that capture the architecture and landscape of the Greater Waterbury area.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes.

 These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Join us in welcoming Christina Maschke to our gallery.

Her Stunning Artwork to Be Displayed at Village Center for the Arts This April.

Christina's opening is Saturday, April 5th @ 6:00PM

Exhibition Dates: April 5th – April 30th

Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00AM-6:00PM

Sunday: 12:00-5:00PM

Closed Mondays

Admission is free and all are welcome.

Christina Maschke: Is a renowned artist whose work spans a variety of subjects. Her innovative approach to art has earned her recognition in both local and national art communities. Through her work, Christina explores the complex interplay of visual aesthetics and personal narratives, creating art that speaks to the viewer on a deeply personal level.

To see more of her work

Christina's Website

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

Join us on Earth Day for DIY Can Bird Feeder or House!

Create your own can bird feeder or house from 12:00 - 5:00pm.

Just bring your creativity & we will supply the rest.

* Registration encouraged

Learn about the journey of The 7 Pillars of wisdom and how this insight can benefit you in your daily life. Explore Hindu Vedic Hymns, Chinese Ethics and Mysticism, and Noble Truth, Hebrew Tanakh, Christian Prophecy, Koranic , Astrophysicism.

For more than 60 years, Leonardo has been a teacher in Secondary Schools, Colleges, in Adult Faith and Adult Learner Communities. He has been teaching Literature, Latin, Italian, History, Music, Theology, Drama/

Theater, Philosophy.

* Pre-registration required.

Tuesdays April 15 - April 29, 2025

HOTCHKISS-FYLER HOUSE MUSEUM

Torrington Historical Society 

192 Main Street, Torrington, CT

2025 hours: Wednesday through Saturdays, April 16 - October 31, 2025

Guided tours at 1, 2 and 3 pm 

Phone: (860) 482-8260   info@torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Admission: Adults $10 per person; children under 8 free

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum (b. 1900) will open for the season Wednesday April 16th. The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum is a Victorian mansion that was home to two generations of Torrington residents. Gertrude F. Hotchkiss, the last family member to occupy the home, bequeathed the house and contents to the Society in 1956.  The interior of this grand house features mahogany paneling, ornate carvings, stenciled walls, murals, parquet floors and ornamental plaster treatments. Original family furnishings collections of fine and decorative arts. Artists represented are: Ammi Phillips, E.I. Couse, Winfield Scott Clime and George Lawrence Nelson.

“In Praise of Cities”, by Merrill French,

“Ongoing”, by Patricia Weise

& “ For Real”, featuring Peter Christ, Kathy Hodge, Brian McClear

Five Points Gallery presents three new exhibitions. In the Torrington Savings Bank Gallery, Merrill French paints intricate cityscapes from around the world. The Torrington Downtown Partners Gallery features gouache paintings by Patricia Weise that depict domesticity and daily life. For Real, a group exhibition in the West Gallery features three artists (Peter Christ, Kathy Hodge & Brian McClear) each of whom portray elements from the man-made world.

Join local historical costuming enthusiast Abigail Yanaway to...

• Ask questions about 18th century sewing Access resources related to 18th century sewing
• Get help with your own 18th century projects
• Meet other people interested in historical sewing
• Join other historical sewing enthusiasts to work on projects together

Children will explore with paint, oil pastels, clay and other medium to create their own masterpieces. They will complete and take home a different art project each week!

Requirements:

Clothes that you don't mind getting paint on!

Coordinator:

Roberta Baker

This class will give students the fun of playing the guitar, and with Musical Associates’ methods, a beginner learns how to play a tune in the very first lesson! Students will have the opportunity to perform for each other and for their parents in a recital at the end of the year.

All genres of music will be included as part of the program so that students get a well-rounded artistic experience. The music club will pick up where school music programs leave off, a chance for students to get that extra attention and increased opportunity to perform. 

Instruments: K-2 children will need a half sized (30”-34”), nylon-strung acoustic guitar for the program, such as this: 

ADM 30” Classical or a 

Music Alley 34" one or

one of these by Best Choice Products 

Older children may need a three-quarter sized (36”-39”) nylon-strung acoustic guitar for the program such as this one: Pyle Beginner Acoustic Guitar 

Please retain your receipts in the unfortunate case that the class does not meet our 4 student minimum.

Join us at John Pettibone Community Center for our Earth Day event!

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Time: 5PM - 8PM

Location: John Pettibone Community Center, 2 Pickett District Rd

Schedule: 

5PM - 6PM: Check out tables and resources in the Cafe!

   - Planting

   - Crafts

   - Chalk Drawing

   - Games

6PM - 8PM: Join us in the gymnasium for Wall-E on the big screen! Wall-E is sponsored by Dawn Hough with Coldwell Banker.

Practice your figure drawing skills in this monthly uninstructed workshop. Each session will begin with warm up gesture drawings and will include a variety of longer poses. Artists bring their own preferred materials. All skill levels are welcome!

Register by individual session.

Monthly Open Figure Drawing

Uninstructed (moderated)

Tuesdays, April 22, May 20 & June 17, 2025

6:00 - 8:30 PM

Members: $13.50 / $16.20 drop-in (per session)

Non-Members: $15 / $18 drop-in (per session)

MORE INFO & REGISTER

The Popular Book Club will meet at the Morris Public Library on Tuesday, April 22, at 6:30 PM to discuss "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?

E-book is available via Libby app.

New registrations and book requests: 860-567-7440 or https://morrispubliclibrary.net/library-calendar-event.../

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome “Vignettes and Portals,” an art exhibition by Greg St. John on view Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 27. 

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The drawings and paintings in this show were inspired by the urgency of the passing of time and the preciousness of life. The work consists of imagery inspired by the natural world as expressed in abstract marks, values, shapes and colors. They are meant to convey the artist’s thoughts and feelings about his life and the world we live in.

Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Children and parents learn to play, sing, create and laugh together while romping to music, exploring our indoor play land, and meeting new friends. This program helps children develop sensory awareness and build motor skills. If needed, siblings are welcome to attend, but for safety reasons, they are not permitted on any of the equipment.

Requirements:

Guardians must be present

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Session options - Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Ages 1y-2y 9:15-10:00 AM

Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15-11:00 AM

Presented by Susan Lovallo

Join us for a day of Tops Tens for getting and staying organized. We will cover the Top 10 Best Organizing Products, Top 10 Best Tips for Letting Go, the Top 10 Time Management Ideas plus tips for tackling the biggest organizing projects. Presented by Susan Lovallo, Certified Professional Organizer, with 25 years in the organizing profession. 

Lunch is in included.

"Then & Now/Now & Then": an exhibit of drawings and paintings, focuses on the long careers of artists Nancy Lasar and Caroll Macdonald. It features works in painting, drawing and print from various periods of their practices comparing and contrasting recurring themes and subject matter as it has evolved over time and in different media.

Nancy Lasar is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a BFA in Painting and graduated as a RISD Scholar, receiving the Pell Medal for Excellence in Art History. She attended the Yale Graduate School for Painting and studied the history of film at Columbia. Lasar has been widely exhibited in the Northeast, Midwest and internationally in China, Sweden and Japan. She has had numerous solo exhibitions at the Mattatuck Museum, Amy Simon Fine Art, New Arts Gallery, Five Points Gallery, A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn and Site: Brooklyn The Yard, NY., The Washington Art Association and the Silvermine Gallery.

Invitational and Group Exhibitions include The International Print Center N.Y., The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Art of the Northeast at the Silvermine Gallery, The Judy Black Park and Gardens (2020), Avon Old Farms Hotel, Minor Memorial Library, The Bruce Museum, The Lyman Allen Museum, the DeCordova Museum and The New Britain Museum of American Art.

Lasar’s work is included in numerous Collections such as Aetna Life and Casualty, the General Mills Corp., Pfizer Corp., The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, The Karsdale Collection and C.&J. Goodfriend Drawings and Prints, as well as numerous private collections nation wide.

Nancy Lasar is represented by VanDeb Editions, Amy Simon Fine Art, A.I.R. Gallery as Alumnae, The Silvermine Gallery. She has received two Individual Artist Fellowships from the State of Connecticut and a grant from the Vermont Studio Center.

Nancy Lasar has lived and worked in Washington Depot, CT for close to 50 years.

Carroll Macdonald is a well-known and respected landscape and abstract painter. Her career spans over five decades and started with drawing lessons as a child and continued at Choate/Rosemary Hall where she studied with Julius Delbos. After receiving a fine arts degree from Bennett College in Millbrook, NY, she moved to New York City where she studied at the National Academy of Design and then for several years at the Art Students League with such masters as Edwin Dickenson, Robert Beverley Hale and Frank Mason. She has taught art at the Grace Church School in Manhattan and during the summer continued her studies with Mason, an internationally acclaimed painter, at his summer programs in Vermont and coastal Maine.

Carroll has extensively exhibited her work in one-person and group shows with Jacques Kaplan at his Gallery in Kent, CT; at the Morrison Gallery, alson in Kent; the Washington Art Association in Washington, CT; the Daphne Deeds Gallery in Bantam, CT; the New Arts Gallery in Litchfield, CT; the Southport Harbor Gallery in Southport, CT; the Paul Melllon Arts Center in Wallingford, CT; the New Britain Museum in New Britain, CT; the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, and in New York City at the Union League Club, the National Arts Club and recently the Century Club.

Carroll’s paintings are held by numerous private collectors and she is represented in the permanent collections of the William Benton Museum in Storrs, CT, the Art Students League and the Century Club. As stated by Kaplan: “when I come upon the landscapes of Carroll, I knew at once I had arrived in the places that we all dream about” that “make her equal to the masters of the past”.

Carroll currently works in her studio in Bridgewater, CT, and en plain air in the lovely Connecticut countryside.

You are invited to Flashes & Fragments - an art exhibit that is a fusion of mixed media, artistic lettering, video & photography. New works by Debra Lill and Kathleen Borkowski combine the beauty of visual storytelling with the expressiveness of hand lettered art. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this new work, created specifically for the Whiting Mills Gallery!

Opening: Thursday, April 24th, 5-7 pm.

Show dates: April 17-June 27

Rhyme Time & Playgroup

Wednesdays in April at 10:30 AM

Perfect for 18 - 36 months, but fun for everyone!

Lots of rhymes, a sprinkling of songs, and one or two shared board books round out this library program that is perfect for little ones who need to get those wiggles out. Stay to PLAY! After the rhymes, stay for some unstructured play time with other kiddos.

Music and Rhyme for Children from Birth to 3s! A program for babies and their caretakers that incorporates music, rhythm, stories, and nursery rhymes to spur language development, body awareness, pre-reading skills, self-confidence, and cooperation. Gathering at 10:15, the program begins at 10:30.

Registration appreciated, drop-ins welcome!

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

After decades of photographing everyday life, artist Arthur Nager turned his attention to documenting the Naugatuck Valley. This exhibition compares Nager’s earlier works in black and white with recent color compositions of the region that capture the architecture and landscape of the Greater Waterbury area.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

Celebrating the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, this exhibition unites the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes.

 These unique spotlight exhibitions celebrate the year-long loan of three Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and will unite the Mattatuck Museum’s collection with O’Keeffe’s life and work through common themes, creating a unique dialogue between her work and other celebrated artists. Each unique pairing will be curated and narrated by a different member of the Museum’s curatorial department and offer a distinctive perspective on the Mattatuck Collection in relation to the works and story of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Join us in welcoming Christina Maschke to our gallery.

Her Stunning Artwork to Be Displayed at Village Center for the Arts This April.

Christina's opening is Saturday, April 5th @ 6:00PM

Exhibition Dates: April 5th – April 30th

Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00AM-6:00PM

Sunday: 12:00-5:00PM

Closed Mondays

Admission is free and all are welcome.

Christina Maschke: Is a renowned artist whose work spans a variety of subjects. Her innovative approach to art has earned her recognition in both local and national art communities. Through her work, Christina explores the complex interplay of visual aesthetics and personal narratives, creating art that speaks to the viewer on a deeply personal level.

To see more of her work

Christina's Website

Boppa Chua!

A History of the 1950’s and 60’s through Popular Song

Marc Black, NY Blues Hall of Fame inductee, will be your guide for a trip through those memorable and colorful decades, joyfully woven together in song. This two-person show is a multi-media and multi-dimensional presentation in song, storytelling and plenty of laughter. From bobby socks, through the space race, and on to civil rights and classic rock, audiences have found this show to be entertaining, inspirational and even a bit educational. Songs as diverse as Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini and Blowin’ in the Wind lead to spontaneous singing springing up all around the theater.

$5.00 Donation Welcome

* Pre-registration required for lunch

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

The New Milford Historical Society & Museum will host its temporary exhibit titled “The Jewish Experience in New Milford” through April 25.

This exhibit is part of an ongoing series to explore the historical experience of various ethnic groups in New Milford, which already features exhibits on Black Americans and indigenous peoples.

For an appointment or for more information, or for those with research needs, call the museum at 860-354-3069 or email nmhistorical@gmail.com.

The Cornwall Library is delighted to present Traces, Places, and Faces, an intriguing exhibition of photography and watercolor painting by Sari Goodfriend and Eddie Watkins. They are life partners, and exhibit their shared passion for people, nature, and art in this joint show.

From an early age, New Yorker Sari Goodfriend happily spent her childhood summers in Cornwall with her sister Jenny and her art dealer parents, Carol and Jim. For a few years after college she lived in East Cornwall, photographing for local newspapers from New Milford to Salisbury. Todd Piker (of Cornwall Bridge Pottery) provided her a first opportunity to exhibit (and sell!) her personal photos in a show he curated at the Silo Gallery in New Milford. 

Moving back to New York, Sari has since worked as a commercial photographer, shooting assignments for corporations, magazines, non-profits, universities, and private individuals. She now does mostly portraits and events, but her youthful Cornwall summers are apparent in the landscape and nature-inspired images she is exhibiting at the library. Her part of the show also features some abstract photographs inspired by what she terms “bleak winter beauty” and “the wild, chaotic, post-tornado woods”. Many of her photographs are in frames that once held old master prints from her parents’ art dealership, C&J Goodfriend, Drawings and Prints.

Eddie Watkins is from Pittsburgh. After four years in the Navy stationed in Cuba and Newfoundland as a proud member of the Seabees (Construction Battalion), he moved to New York City and became a photographer of fine artwork. His clientele includes museums such as The Frick Collection, The Museum of Arts and Design, private art dealers, well known artists, and collectors. He also photographed the permanent collection of The Art Students League.

Eddie has been the drummer for many rock and blues bands, a sideline that provides subjects for personal photography seen in this show. When on the move, from 1980s city streets to rural landscapes, Eddie always carries either a camera or a set of watercolors. His painting style ranges from loose and interpretive to detailed and exacting, inspired by his naval engineering background. This show includes both his photography and watercolors. 

Traces, Places, and Faces runs from April 19 to June 7. The artists’ reception is on Saturday, April 19, from 5 to 7 pm. Registration on the library website is requested for the reception.

In April, David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will host “Playing with Art,” a group art exhibition of vibrant, colorful artworks to spark the imagination and wonder of children of all ages. Highlights of the exhibition include two eye-catching brightly colored quilts by the Hunt Library Quilters alongside new work by prominent local artists such as Danielle Mailer and Ken Musselman. In addition, the library will screen vintage 1970s film animation based on a book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Eric Carle. The film-to-digital transfer was made possible by a gift of the films from producer CB Wismar and through a grant from Northwest CT Community Foundation. One of the films, The Fisherman and His Wife, features noted voice actors June Foray and Hans Conried and was an Academy Award finalist for best animated short in 1979.

HOTCHKISS-FYLER HOUSE MUSEUM

Torrington Historical Society 

192 Main Street, Torrington, CT

2025 hours: Wednesday through Saturdays, April 16 - October 31, 2025

Guided tours at 1, 2 and 3 pm 

Phone: (860) 482-8260   info@torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Admission: Adults $10 per person; children under 8 free

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum (b. 1900) will open for the season Wednesday April 16th. The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum is a Victorian mansion that was home to two generations of Torrington residents. Gertrude F. Hotchkiss, the last family member to occupy the home, bequeathed the house and contents to the Society in 1956.  The interior of this grand house features mahogany paneling, ornate carvings, stenciled walls, murals, parquet floors and ornamental plaster treatments. Original family furnishings collections of fine and decorative arts. Artists represented are: Ammi Phillips, E.I. Couse, Winfield Scott Clime and George Lawrence Nelson.

“In Praise of Cities”, by Merrill French,

“Ongoing”, by Patricia Weise

& “ For Real”, featuring Peter Christ, Kathy Hodge, Brian McClear

Five Points Gallery presents three new exhibitions. In the Torrington Savings Bank Gallery, Merrill French paints intricate cityscapes from around the world. The Torrington Downtown Partners Gallery features gouache paintings by Patricia Weise that depict domesticity and daily life. For Real, a group exhibition in the West Gallery features three artists (Peter Christ, Kathy Hodge & Brian McClear) each of whom portray elements from the man-made world.

Yarn Bomb Drop-in Sessions are taking place at Five Points Arts Center throughout the winter and spring - free and open to the public of all ages, skills and techniques welcome!

MORE INFO HERE

Wednesdays (weekly):

2 - 4 PM

Jan 8 - May 28

Saturdays:

2 -4 PM

January 11 & 25

February 8 &22

March 8 & 22

April 12 & 26

May 10

$5 Per Person, Waterbury public school, magnet school, and charter school students get in FREE, Kids Adventure Passholders get in FREE.

Hang out with friends, try a relaxing craft, get creative with graphic design, or chill on a beanbag! All teens grades 6-12, ages 12+ are welcome, with supplies and snacks provided.

To pre-register please call (203) 753-0381, extension 130

Register Here

 Support provided by United Way of Greater Waterbury and Elisha Leavenworth Foundation. .

Join us every Friday night from 5-8 in the NHAG studio, at 37 Greenwoods Road, New Hartford CT - Floor 2 #9A for life model drawing. Participants must be 18+ to attend.

registar at nhagct.art or newhartfordartisansguild.com

Craft paper ornaments out of cupcake liners for your windows, lockers, or bulletin boards!

Ages 11+. Please register @ harwintonlibrary.org/events

Celebrate the annual ceremony of Prince William’s prestigious environmental award: The Earthshot Prize. The star-studded event honors this year’s five winners and their innovative solutions to help repair our planet within the next ten years.

“The Bear Reality” with Felicia A. E. Ortner, Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist, Morris Public Library, Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 PM

Felicia Ortner, CT Master Wildlife Conservationalist and a bear enthusiast, will educate us on the facts about bears and help dispel myths and common misunderstandings.

Bears, like so many animals, have become victims of misunderstandings that have been fueled by media, literature and word of mouth. On one hand, we think of them as vicious predators. On the other hand, we see them as cuddly teddy bears. Both these images can mean trouble for bears.

The population of black bears has been increasing in Connecticut over the last four decades and will continue to grow. Historically, bears had been extirpated from the state by the mid-1800s. With bears reestablishing residency, it is important to educate the public with knowledge and insight and improve our understanding and tolerance. It will help reduce conflicts with our wild bear neighbors.

The Bear Reality is a comprehensive program created to share information and some wisdom of bears. The program will focus on the American black bears, our only resident species in the wild and provide a review of data from results of the bear research conducted by wildlife biologists in the state.

The speaker hopes that a better understanding about the life and behavior of bears will lead to a higher tolerance and coexistence of humans and bears, which will become a Bear Reality.

Please register: 860-567-7440 or https://morrispubliclibrary.net/library-calendar-event-registration/

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

Residents of New Milford and students in New Milford schools are encouraged to tap into their creative side in the coming weeks. The second annual New Milford Poetry Contest has returned, with submissions being accepted now through April 25. The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are co-sponsors of the New Milford Poetry Contest. The contest is open to New Milford residents in four age categories: youth 8-12; young adult 13-18; adult 19-55; and senior 56+.

The literary arts offering, which celebrates National Poetry Month in April, will conclude with a public poetry reading and awards ceremony.

For more information, visit the NewMilfordNow.org story about the contest.

Two stranger become friends by collaborating on a work of art.

See the visual and videos online

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is pleased to welcome “Vignettes and Portals,” an art exhibition by Greg St. John on view Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 27. 

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The drawings and paintings in this show were inspired by the urgency of the passing of time and the preciousness of life. The work consists of imagery inspired by the natural world as expressed in abstract marks, values, shapes and colors. They are meant to convey the artist’s thoughts and feelings about his life and the world we live in.

Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

The Gunn Memorial Library Stairwell Gallery is pleased to present Restoration: Landscapes & Botanical Abstracts in Gouache, an exhibition of beautiful landscapes and botanicals by artist Susan Newbury, on view from April 5 through May 31.

Susan’s work is a celebration of nature’s depth and detail, drawing inspiration from the stunning landscapes, waterscapes, and gardens of her rural New York State roots and her home in Litchfield County. With a background in graphic and fashion design, her artistic practice has evolved into a dynamic exploration of color, pattern, and movement. She works primarily in gouache, acrylic, and mixed media on paper, canvas, and wood panel, using a bright, rich palette to create layered compositions that blend natural elements with abstract forms.

“Nature not only provides the subject matter but the solitude, joy, and purpose for my paintings, creating a place of quiet introspection and restoration,” she says. Her work reflects this philosophy, infusing familiar landscapes with energy and emotion while maintaining a sense of tranquility and balance. Inspired by both the botanical world and interior design elements such as fabric, wallpaper, and tilework, her paintings feature repeating shapes and striking color contrasts for an unexpected visual experience.

Her instinctive approach to painting allows her to let go of the rules, creating compositions that are both structured and free-flowing. She paints in her Litchfield County studio and accepts commission work.

Gunn Memorial Library is located at 5 Wykeham Road at the juncture of Route 47 opposite the Green in Washington, CT. Library hours may be found at gunnlibrary.org.

For more information call (860)868-7586 or email, adoerwald@gunnlibrary.org.

Something GIANT is coming to the Gunn Memorial Library! The Junior Library invites all members of our community to join us for Story Mode, a creative storytelling adventure leading up to the start of Summer Reading in June!

In collaboration with the GIANT Room, a New York City-based innovation hub for kids, the Junior Library will provide four Remix activities Stations. These stations will allow you, your friends, and your family to draw and invent unique characters, settings, and plot twists and see them transformed into published trading cards, games, and comic strips.

Every Remix Station is a self-directed activity, so you can complete it on your own time with or without the help of a librarian. The Junior Library also offers “Creation Hours” every week, during which you can use supplies from the Makerspace to bring your vision to life. Be sure to check the library’s website for the complete schedule!

Each month focuses on a different part of your story:

– April 5-26, build your own city and create a place for the story to happen. Engineer a building and decide its materials and unique features. The GIANT Room will remix this creation into another printed trading card featuring their building sketch, an AI-generated 3D render of it and its features.

– May 3-24, create challenges for your character. Help create a deck of “Would You Rather” questions by submitting a question that help you reflect on your emotions, make you smile with a rhyme, spark a debate, or give you the giggles! The GIANT Room will remix your creation into a printed trading card.

– June 7-28, tell a story about your character. Write and illustrate a comic strip using a pre-made template, and the GIANT Room will remix it into a printed poster.

– Saturday, June 21, from 10-12 pm kick off summer reading and level up your character’s story as you visit several activity stations at this community event with the GIANT Room.

This is a great opportunity to express your creativity, collaborate with your community, and see your ideas come to life!

This program was made possible by the Connecticut State Library.

In April, David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will host “Playing with Art,” a group art exhibition of vibrant, colorful artworks to spark the imagination and wonder of children of all ages. Highlights of the exhibition include two eye-catching brightly colored quilts by the Hunt Library Quilters alongside new work by prominent local artists such as Danielle Mailer and Ken Musselman. In addition, the library will screen vintage 1970s film animation based on a book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Eric Carle. The film-to-digital transfer was made possible by a gift of the films from producer CB Wismar and through a grant from Northwest CT Community Foundation. One of the films, The Fisherman and His Wife, features noted voice actors June Foray and Hans Conried and was an Academy Award finalist for best animated short in 1979.

Prepare for the upcoming Yarn Bomb at Five Points Arts Center! Family fun activities for all ages include finger knitting, pom pom making, and rock weaving. All activities will run through the duration of the event.

Instructor: Noel Croce

Thursday April 24, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

All Ages

FREE and open to the public

MORE INFO & RSVP

You are invited to Flashes & Fragments - an art exhibit that is a fusion of mixed media, artistic lettering, video & photography. New works by Debra Lill and Kathleen Borkowski combine the beauty of visual storytelling with the expressiveness of hand lettered art. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this new work, created specifically for the Whiting Mills Gallery!

Opening: Thursday, April 24th, 5-7 pm.

Show dates: April 17-June 27

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!