Community Calendar

Adam Liptak, the distinguished New

York Times Supreme Court reporter, will discuss “20 Years of the Chief Justice

John Roberts Court” at The David M. Hunt Library on Thursday, September 25th at

7 pm. Mr. Liptak will be interviewed by constitutional scholar David

Rudenstine of the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School, a Falls Village resident

and the author of books and articles on the constitution. The interview

will be conducted on Zoom.

The Roberts Court is one of the most consequential and controversial courts of the last century having ruled that the constitution does not protect a women's right to an abortion, that a president's official acts are presumptively immune from criminal prosecution, that higher education affirmative action programs are unconstitutional, that gun owners have new constitutional rights, and that the heart of the 1965 voting rights act was unconstitutional. The term ahead proves to be equally consequential. 

Only three Chief Justices have served longer than John Roberts, and the last Chief Justice to do that died in office over a century ago. Since John Roberts is now only 70 years of age, the expectation is that he will continue to serve as the Chief Justice for many more years. Liptak and Rudenstine will analyze the Court and its members and compare its actions to the words of John Roberts at his congressional hearing when he famously said he would “call balls and strikes”.

A Comedy of Tenors

By Ken Ludwig

Directed by Diana Canova • Produced by Keli Solomon

September 25 – October 18

One hotel suite. Four tenors. A double dose of chaos.

From the master of farce Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor) comes a high-flying comedy packed with mistaken identities, outrageous misunderstandings, and operatic mayhem.

Join us for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romp that hits all the high notes!

EXHIBIT TO FEATURE THREE LOCAL ARTISTS

(New Preston, Connecticut) – The Smithy Café & Market is pleased to announce an art exhibit to be displayed September 1 to October 31, 2025, titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont.

Join us for a collaboration of three women and their varying forms of artwork, style, and perspectives.

The three artists have painted together for several years using a variety of mediums.They have formed friendships and enjoy working together while sharing ideas and support.

Becky Butler founded the not-for-profit, Arts Escape in Southbury in 2012. Arts Escape’s mission was to focus on arts education for adults. After witnessing firsthand how art created camaraderie and joy with those who participated, it was time for Becky to do the same. She retired in 2022 to follow her own art journey. She has been taking painting classes in Abstract, Pastel and Acrylics for the past two years and is excited to keep learning and exploring new mediums. Her pastel, Tethered Beauty, was accepted into a National Pastel show and she also won Best in Show for mixed media in Roxbury’s Art at the Meeting House show in 2024 for Somewhere Out There. Becky lives in Woodbury, Connecticut with her husband Paul.

“I love working in pastels – the colors are limitless and immediate. My pastel paintings are primarily painted realistically. Breaking the barriers of painting realistically has been a challenge. My love for color has recently launched my exploration in creating abstract work. Using color and mark making intuitively is exciting and challenging as well as inspiring. During my exploration I found the medium of oil and cold wax. While having no expectations as to the outcome of my work, my eyes have opened to a whole new world of creativity. I love the freedom of experimentation and the joy of playing. I want my work to reflect my emotional insight into today’s world while uncovering the beauty that still exists,”  explains Becky.

Sandra Daignault, a Woodbury resident, was the Fine Arts Director at Arts Escape, Inc in Southbury, CT and teaches classes in acrylic painting. Her artwork has been shown in galleries and organizations across CT (Stamford, Litchfield, Washington, New Milford, Brookfield, Bantam, Ridgefield, West Hartford, Southbury, Rowayton, Newtown), as well as having a permanent piece at the US Headquarters of Jägermeister in Westchester County. In addition, she has published two books of poetry with illustrations and has recently published a climate change fiction novel. Visit her website at sdaignaultfineart.com.

“My painting process is all about creating an open mind and letting go. While I often do not have a predetermined subject I am always influenced by my fascination with our place in the universe. Letting go of preconceived forms allows for the mystery and essence that makes up everything around us. While my influences are abstract artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, contemporary Peter Wileman as well as English romantic artist (JW Turner) I strive to create from the words of favorite poets (Pablo Neruda, Wislawa Szymborska, Mary Oliver). It will please me if viewers respond with wonder and wanting( not knowing what),” states Sandra.

Woodbury resident, Lucy C. Pierpont has worked in the marketing/graphic design field ever since graduating from Hartwick College as an art major. She has created art her whole life and has had her photographs and paintings displayed in exhibits at the Mattatuck Museum, Majors Inn, Hartwick College, Oneonta Art Association, Kent Art Association, Washington Art Association, Burnham Library, Kent Memorial Library Art at the Meetinghouse, Ridgefield Art Walk, Flanders Nature Center and now, The Smithy. She currently works part-time with the Kent Memorial Library and the Washington Depot Office of Klemm Real Estate doing graphic design & public relations. Her artwork can be viewed at lucypierpont.carrd.co. Her graphic designs for the Kent Memorial Library have been the recipient of eight Connecticut Library Association Publicity Awards in recognition of design, marketing, and publicity created to promote a Library service or event.

“From my earliest recollections, art has always been in the forefront. I chose the graphic design route and spent my career in it. Now art embodies my life- through friends, work, play, and travel!” claims Lucy.

Please join us for a reception on Saturday, October 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Smithy at (860) 868-9003 or go to their website at thesmithymarket.com.

10 Main Street New Preston CT 06777

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caption: Heat by Lucy C. Pierpont, Parade by Sandra Daignault, and Opening Night by Becky Butler are a few of many paintings in an exhibit titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont. The show will be on display from September 1 to October 31, 2025.

The Gunn Memorial Library is pleased to present the captivating floral photography of Nina McKitty, on view in the Stairwell Gallery from August 9th to October 4th.

Drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and the artistic traditions of both East and West, Nina McKitty brings a joyful and thoughtful lens to her digital photography. Her work explores the delicate beauty of flowers—each image carefully composed, captured, and refined in her studio to evoke both surprise and delight in the viewer.

Originally gifted a digital camera by her husband, McKitty transformed a curiosity into a profound creative journey. Over the past 15 years, she has immersed herself in the art and craft of digital photography, studying under acclaimed artists and continuously evolving her techniques. Her photographs are printed and framed by hand using archival materials, merging technical precision with artistic expression.

A former nurse practitioner and consultant, McKitty turned to photography in retirement, channeling her lifelong passions for nature and visual storytelling into a rich new chapter as a digital artist. Since 2019, her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Employee Gallery, Kent Art Association, and Washington Art Association.

Online exhibition curated by Lani Ming Holloway with artwork by Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn

exhibition dates:  August 1 – September 30, 2025, on www.kbfa.com

Stories told in light and silence

Poetry will make me violent

Violets outside our yard…

Why does the world have to be so hard?

Encompassing the hidden truths

 Of things unseen in what we view.

-       LMH

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to present the online exhibition Stories told in light and silence curated by Lani Ming Holloway featuring Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean is a Wabanaki artist raised on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. Excerpted from her artist statement: “Through the lens of Wabanaki history and culture, my photographs intertwine forgotten truths within the landscape of what is now called Maine. My work explores the deep, complex relationships between the land, its people, and the lasting impact of colonization. The energy embedded in the landscape reverberates through my creations and reveals the scars left on both the earth and our bodies. My work invites contemplation on occupation and ownership, prompting reflection on who exploits the land and how systems of oppression have disrupted its balance.”

Maya’s work expresses the dichotomy the artist exists within, marrying mediums and different cultural techniques. “Does the Land Remember?” is an ongoing series photographing landscapes that hold the history of devastating events of colonization. The power of that residuum is felt in the images in a supernatural way, as the dualism of her lived experience is pronounced in the contrast of light and dark. Sunlight shimmers through the leaves as bright stars overhead look down upon the land, a fire burns. Maya’s work calls us to remember that nature feels the spirits.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean lives and works in Portland, Maine or Machigonne. She earned a BFA in Photography from Maine College of Art & Design, Portland. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME and the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME.

Laura Barr’s work explores impermanence through oil paintings and oil pastel drawings on paper capturing passing moments in color, reflection on water, and light. Simplifying forms and illuminating the scale of special glimmers, her work considers the preservation of water and the protection of our environment. In Laura’s paintings in the exhibition, fireflies gleam in a starlit field and remind us that fireflies may not continue to glow on our planet, while a surfer catches the last evening wave the ocean offers, an Aurora Borealis dances in the night sky.

Laura Barr lives by the Thimble Islands in Branford, Connecticut. She earned her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA and a BA in Fine Arts from Tufts University in Medford, MA and has studied at Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy.

From Ithaca, NY, Jordann McKenna paints and photographs the quiet beauty in everyday life in work that contemplates mundanity and the softly fleeting feeling within light and shadows around her. In lushly applied oil paint, flames flicker and shadows play across the scene. Jordann’s work in this exhibition reflects the peaceful, ephemeral moods of interiors and intimate still lifes, either staged or spontaneous. Jordann McKenna works from photographs and from memory to create images that serve to process rather than recreate, expressing not only what is seen but what is felt, and celebrating the beauty in the ordinary.

Jordann McKenna earned a BS in Visual Arts from State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, and an MFA from Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME. She lives and works in Portland, ME.

Born in Strasbourg, France, and trained as an architect, Benoît Trimborn describes his work as “contemporary impressionism”. Viewing the world as an architect, Benoît’s large-scale oil paintings evoke what his artist statement calls the “morphology of the landscapes… like an architect, I see in it a breath, a light, a rhythm, which alone can constitute a principle of beauty. The elements represented compose atmospheres of which I try to faithfully convey the impression, as the musician faithfully follows the score. In this process, the contemplative attitude prevails, much more than the adventurous attitude. No message, no story should disturb the projection of the viewer...”

In Benoît’s meticulously painted large-scale landscapes, the absence of the figure instills a quietude in the story while light is the present form in all its magic. Reflections play like a musical score on the surface of the water and golden glimmers illuminate the forest and emanate from a sunset sky.

Benoît Trimborn’s work is in the permanent collection of Galerie Ariel Sibony in Paris, France, Absolute Art Gallery in Bruges, Belgium, and Galerie Bertrand Gillig in Strasbourg, France. He lives and works in Strasbourg, France.

Please contact Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquiries.

Shipping is available worldwide throughout the exhibition.  

This solo exhibition marks Brewster’s return to public exhibition after a significant studio hiatus, shaped by the pandemic and the arrival of his two young children.

Spanning two to six feet in width, Brewster’s latest works are immersive and meditative, exploring vast, perhaps virtual, landscapes. These meticulously layered oil paintings hint at human presence through subtle traces—a balanced stone, a resting stick—evoking a haunting stillness. In his signature style, Brewster uses old-master techniques and translucent glazes to explore the tension between presence and absence, clarity and ambiguity. “Some of these paintings verge on the apocalyptic while others suggest eerie calm or quiet hope,” Brewster notes. “They balance loneliness and community, action and avoidance. They are tightly tied to the physicality and geometry of the canvas itself.”

Brewster studied at Yale University and received his MFA from the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has held solo exhibitions in New York City, North Carolina, and Newfoundland, and has participated in numerous curated group shows including Icons of the 21st Century in New York and Academy 2003 at Conner Contemporary in Washington, D.C. His work has been featured in New American Paintings and reviewed in publications such as ForbesLife and The National Post.

Pastels allow for beautiful expressions in color. Participants will learn to apply various layering techniques to create drawings with nuances of light and shadow. The instructor will offer one-on-one feedback and encourage participants to share their individual approaches with others in the class.

Instructor: Leslie Landau

Thursday & Friday, September 25 & 26, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Members: $81 / Non-Members: $90

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Designed for 2-year-olds and their caregivers, this program features stories, music, rhymes, and crafts that encourage imagination and help build essential early learning skills.

Enjoy the works of

Photographer Sarah Blodgett & Basket Weaver Tina Puckett

About the Artists 

Sarah Blodgett

Sarah Blodgett is a photographer from the Hudson Valley in New York. Born in New York City, daughter of a professional advertising photographer, she bought her first camera at the age of ten and has been shooting ever since. A commercial & portrait photographer professionally since 1993, her passion now lies with creating images of wildlife and natural areas. Her primary focus is on birds as well as landscapes, seascapes, still lives and florals. She also offers speaking programs to accompany her work with a focus on ecology and preservation of the natural world around us.

 https://westernconnecticut.blogspot.com/2025/07/art-lovers-covered-bridge-woven-hand_30.html

Tina Puckett

American Master Weaver Tina Puckett is a self-taught Artist. who has been weaving since 1981. For over 40 years the woven arts have been evolving and each one is indescribably dynamic and colorful. The character of each piece is an expression of Tina's imagination and her sense of color that she applies to the weaving and structural form. Throughout Tina’s career she has exhibited her woven arts at museums, art galleries, libraries and art shows. Also, has been featured in magazines, books, newspapers, TV and on different platforms on the web.

Artist Statement

My woven pieces from baskets to wall sculptures, ceiling hangers, to furniture has evolved and is the way I define myself as an artist, and as a woman. I am fulfilling my dreams that started out with my imagination as a set designer. My creative path took a turn. It was not set design—but the woven arts with its many forms and functions where I found the passion for my life’s work.

The natural beauty of Bittersweet always sparks my imagination and is at the heart of the many pieces I weave. My imagination guides all that I do and it has become very attuned to the harmony of shapes, forms, and colors of the vines and reeds. I am also influenced by the beauty of our natural world and wonder how to weave it.

My palette for color is very much influenced by this experience of growing up in South America. I mix my own dyes and enjoy building a palette for the reeds that will shape textures and forms with color into a

​ one of a kind woven art!

🎨 Art Show @ White Silo Winery in Sherman, CT

🗓 On view: September 5–28

🥂 Opening Reception: Sunday, September 7 | 2–4 PM

Get ready for a burst of bold color and creative energy in “Pouring with a Purpose”—a showcase of abstract acrylic art and photography by Christy Bonaiuto.

Christy’s work is all about movement, mood, and vibrant spontaneity, using poured acrylics, resin, and layered textures to create immersive, one-of-a-kind pieces that flow with emotion. Her abstract photography adds another dynamic layer to the show—capturing moments that feel both fleeting and timeless.

Stop by White Silo Winery, enjoy a glass of wine, and explore a diverse art show featuring local artist, Christy Bonaiuto. Come for the view—and leave with something beautiful.

✨ Free & open to the public

🛍️ Artwork available for purchase

Come for the pour. Stay for the art.

White Silo Winery

32 Rt. 37 East

Sherman, CT 06784

860.355.0271

Friday 11-6 PM | Saturday 11-6 PM | Sunday 11-6 PM

A compelling dual exhibition showcasing the artistic explorations of two distinguished contemporary artists. The show will run from Saturday September 20 through Friday October 17, with a public reception for the artists on Saturday September 20 from 5 to 7 PM. An art talk featuring both artists in conversation will be held on Thursday October 16 at 5:30 PM, offering deeper insights into their creative processes and the thematic undercurrents of their work.

Geared toward 3- and 4-year-olds, these sessions include stories, fingerplays, flannel board activities, music, and crafts that spark creativity and promote a love of learning.

These programs feature seasonal themes and offer relaxed and friendly social time for moms, as well as preschoolers. Bring a friend or make some new ones!

Fridays from end of May through mid-October. 3:00 TO 6:00 PM Rain* or Shine!

Held at the KENT LAND TRUST FIELD, 37 South Main Street (Route 7 just south of the traffic light) and across the road from Kent Greenhouse & Gardens

Fresh produce, baked goods, homemade preserves, fresh poultry, gourmet mushrooms, herbal teas & products, honey, maple syrup, salsa, guacamole & chips, and more!!

*In case of heavy rains or storms we will be located at CT Antique Machinery Association, 31 Kent Cornwall Rd (Route 7 North) - advance notice will be given.

Presented by Ed Stevens, BFA, M.Ed., MS, LPC

My retreats are themed around the questions; “Where am I? - in relation to God, to myself and to the world”  

We will address unmanageability and faith, violence within ourselves and how it manifests in the world, Intimacy and emotional sobriety, and forgiveness as a path towards bringing loving kindness into the world through Step 12. 

Throughout the Retreat, I weave my personal experience in recovery through the 12 Steps of AA, while referencing teachers such as Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating and Bill Wilson.

All meals are included: Dinner on Friday through Lunch on Sunday

Friday, September 26-Sunday, September 28

Intimate piano performances in a relaxed setting

Ease into your weekend with live piano music in a one-of-a-kind art space. Held each month on the fourth Friday, this piano concert series extends AMP’s exhibit hours—inviting you to experience the mural in a whole new light.

Each week features a different style of piano—jazz, blues, pop, classical, and more—in an art-filled space that’s anything but ordinary. Explore the three-level mural gallery with a drink, take it all in from a comfy couch on the upper levels, or sit close up to the keys. 

Curated by AMP’s Program Director Michelle Begley, the concert series features accomplished pianists from across the tri-state area. It’s become a well-loved Friday night tradition and a standout for Winsted live music.

Reserve your $8 tickets in advance or purchase at the door.

The cash/credit bar offers a selection of wine, craft and domestic beer, cider, and various beverages. Your tickets support AMP, a nonprofit arts organization.

The Happy Hour Piano Series is supported in part by the Greenberg family.

Fall 2025 Lineup

AMP’s Friday exhibit hours are extended for the Happy Hour Piano Series. Live music begins at 5:30pm.

Michael Carabello

Friday, September 26

Pianist Michael Carabello has performed on some of the most prestigious stages, including The White House—where he performed for First Lady Michelle Obama, New York Jazz Piano Festival at Kalvierhaus, Jazz at Lincoln Center Live in Times Square, The Side Door Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz Club, and The Django in NYC, The Hartford Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazz Festival, and the Newport Jazz Festival.

Mary DiPaola

Friday, October 24

Pianist Mary DiPaola has performed at the Litchfield Jazz Festival and the Hartford Jazz Festival. She is on faculty at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. Her recordings include Cat’s Cradle and Seventh Sign.

Zoe Bates

Friday, November 28

Pianist Zoe Bates takes the spotlight in this month’s Happy Hour Piano Series, showcasing the talent and promise of an emerging local artist.

Dan Ringuette

Friday, December 26

Winter Holidays Sing-a-Long

Pianist Dan Ringuette is a frequent Music Director and pit musician for the Warner Theater, the Goshen Players, and the Landmark Community Theater, bringing to life such plays as 9 to 5, All Is Calm, The SpongeBob Musical, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Dogfight. Dan has also arranged music for shows at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. When he is not working in the theater, Dan teaches piano, voice, and woodwinds and is the keyboardist/cantor for St. Louis de Montfort parish in Litchfield, CT.

Friday, September 26th, at 7:00 PM, 2nd Home will have Brian DuFord and 2nd Home's own Sean P. McGlynn. Brian will be playing a great renaissance and classical music set from 7:00 - 8:00, and then Sean will join him from 8:00 - 10:00 for two hours of 60's - 90's classic rock.

For reservations call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

Google Street View

https://goo.gl/maps/eC7A4ZDEjenNqzpb6

https://goo.gl/maps/NWGK4NRyk6MNfmWZ6

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

A Comedy of Tenors

By Ken Ludwig

Directed by Diana Canova • Produced by Keli Solomon

September 25 – October 18

One hotel suite. Four tenors. A double dose of chaos.

From the master of farce Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor) comes a high-flying comedy packed with mistaken identities, outrageous misunderstandings, and operatic mayhem.

Join us for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romp that hits all the high notes!

The Sherman Players present Faith Healer by Brian Friel, directed by Kyle Minor.

Join us at 7:00 for a pre-show Irish music session in the Green Room. Refreshments available.

Presented by Ed Stevens, BFA, M.Ed., MS, LPC

My retreats are themed around the questions; “Where am I? - in relation to God, to myself and to the world”  

We will address unmanageability and faith, violence within ourselves and how it manifests in the world, Intimacy and emotional sobriety, and forgiveness as a path towards bringing loving kindness into the world through Step 12. 

Throughout the Retreat, I weave my personal experience in recovery through the 12 Steps of AA, while referencing teachers such as Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating and Bill Wilson.

All meals are included: Dinner on Friday through Lunch on Sunday

Friday, September 26-Sunday, September 28

Come join us for a Saturday on the Arethusa Farm. Enjoy the animals, be creative with a farm related craft/game, and story time with author & illustrator Ms. Parmelee! 

Saturday's starting 7/19

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Ages 5 & under

$35 per family

For questions, email: erikae@arethusafarmfoundation.org

To register and pay, please visit: www.arethasatarmcoamdation.org

Morris Senior Center's 7th Annual Flea Market! One of the most highly anticipated events of the year!

Time to do your Summer / Fall cleaning and part with your unwanted items—clear the clutter! Dig out the closets & cabinets! Rent a banquet table to sell your unwanted wares.

Flea Market!

Saturday, September 27

9:00 am—2:00 pm

NO early birds!

Rain or Shine!

Morris Senior Center / 109-21 East Street

Standard table space still available to rent! 

Standard table space - $20

Set up time available on Friday, September 26 / 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Please call / email us to reserve your table!

860-567-7437 / Activities@morrisct.gov 

EXHIBIT TO FEATURE THREE LOCAL ARTISTS

(New Preston, Connecticut) – The Smithy Café & Market is pleased to announce an art exhibit to be displayed September 1 to October 31, 2025, titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont.

Join us for a collaboration of three women and their varying forms of artwork, style, and perspectives.

The three artists have painted together for several years using a variety of mediums.They have formed friendships and enjoy working together while sharing ideas and support.

Becky Butler founded the not-for-profit, Arts Escape in Southbury in 2012. Arts Escape’s mission was to focus on arts education for adults. After witnessing firsthand how art created camaraderie and joy with those who participated, it was time for Becky to do the same. She retired in 2022 to follow her own art journey. She has been taking painting classes in Abstract, Pastel and Acrylics for the past two years and is excited to keep learning and exploring new mediums. Her pastel, Tethered Beauty, was accepted into a National Pastel show and she also won Best in Show for mixed media in Roxbury’s Art at the Meeting House show in 2024 for Somewhere Out There. Becky lives in Woodbury, Connecticut with her husband Paul.

“I love working in pastels – the colors are limitless and immediate. My pastel paintings are primarily painted realistically. Breaking the barriers of painting realistically has been a challenge. My love for color has recently launched my exploration in creating abstract work. Using color and mark making intuitively is exciting and challenging as well as inspiring. During my exploration I found the medium of oil and cold wax. While having no expectations as to the outcome of my work, my eyes have opened to a whole new world of creativity. I love the freedom of experimentation and the joy of playing. I want my work to reflect my emotional insight into today’s world while uncovering the beauty that still exists,”  explains Becky.

Sandra Daignault, a Woodbury resident, was the Fine Arts Director at Arts Escape, Inc in Southbury, CT and teaches classes in acrylic painting. Her artwork has been shown in galleries and organizations across CT (Stamford, Litchfield, Washington, New Milford, Brookfield, Bantam, Ridgefield, West Hartford, Southbury, Rowayton, Newtown), as well as having a permanent piece at the US Headquarters of Jägermeister in Westchester County. In addition, she has published two books of poetry with illustrations and has recently published a climate change fiction novel. Visit her website at sdaignaultfineart.com.

“My painting process is all about creating an open mind and letting go. While I often do not have a predetermined subject I am always influenced by my fascination with our place in the universe. Letting go of preconceived forms allows for the mystery and essence that makes up everything around us. While my influences are abstract artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, contemporary Peter Wileman as well as English romantic artist (JW Turner) I strive to create from the words of favorite poets (Pablo Neruda, Wislawa Szymborska, Mary Oliver). It will please me if viewers respond with wonder and wanting( not knowing what),” states Sandra.

Woodbury resident, Lucy C. Pierpont has worked in the marketing/graphic design field ever since graduating from Hartwick College as an art major. She has created art her whole life and has had her photographs and paintings displayed in exhibits at the Mattatuck Museum, Majors Inn, Hartwick College, Oneonta Art Association, Kent Art Association, Washington Art Association, Burnham Library, Kent Memorial Library Art at the Meetinghouse, Ridgefield Art Walk, Flanders Nature Center and now, The Smithy. She currently works part-time with the Kent Memorial Library and the Washington Depot Office of Klemm Real Estate doing graphic design & public relations. Her artwork can be viewed at lucypierpont.carrd.co. Her graphic designs for the Kent Memorial Library have been the recipient of eight Connecticut Library Association Publicity Awards in recognition of design, marketing, and publicity created to promote a Library service or event.

“From my earliest recollections, art has always been in the forefront. I chose the graphic design route and spent my career in it. Now art embodies my life- through friends, work, play, and travel!” claims Lucy.

Please join us for a reception on Saturday, October 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Smithy at (860) 868-9003 or go to their website at thesmithymarket.com.

10 Main Street New Preston CT 06777

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caption: Heat by Lucy C. Pierpont, Parade by Sandra Daignault, and Opening Night by Becky Butler are a few of many paintings in an exhibit titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont. The show will be on display from September 1 to October 31, 2025.

September 20th - Jan11th, 2026

The delicious adventures of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of fun new songs, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR, is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone's sweet tooth. 4 performances weekend of January 9, 10, and 11.

Join us each Saturday and Sunday for UPicks in the flower fields! Walk through 50+ rows of colorful blooms and cut your own bouquet. Enjoy the scenic views and peaceful sounds of nature while you're here and discover your new favorite place to be.

The Gunn Memorial Library is pleased to present the captivating floral photography of Nina McKitty, on view in the Stairwell Gallery from August 9th to October 4th.

Drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and the artistic traditions of both East and West, Nina McKitty brings a joyful and thoughtful lens to her digital photography. Her work explores the delicate beauty of flowers—each image carefully composed, captured, and refined in her studio to evoke both surprise and delight in the viewer.

Originally gifted a digital camera by her husband, McKitty transformed a curiosity into a profound creative journey. Over the past 15 years, she has immersed herself in the art and craft of digital photography, studying under acclaimed artists and continuously evolving her techniques. Her photographs are printed and framed by hand using archival materials, merging technical precision with artistic expression.

A former nurse practitioner and consultant, McKitty turned to photography in retirement, channeling her lifelong passions for nature and visual storytelling into a rich new chapter as a digital artist. Since 2019, her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Employee Gallery, Kent Art Association, and Washington Art Association.

The Litchfield Farmers Market is one of the few year-round markets in the Connecticut. The weekly Saturday market offers fresh seasonal produce, fruit, berries, herbs, sustainably sourced fish; artisanal cheeses, breads and baked goods, local honey, maple syrup and gifts - all raised, grown or crafted by 15+ local vendors. 

The market occasionally hosts live music and supports non-profits from throughout the Litchfield area.

INDOOR MARKET - November through mid-June (intermittent Saturdays through the winter months -- check the website for dates.) Open Saturdays 10am - 1pm at the Litchfield Community Center located at 421 Litchfield Road, Litchfield, CT.

OUTDOOR MARKET - mid- June through October located at Center School, Litchfield.

The 25th Annual Friends of Main Street Fall Foliage Festival & Car Show will take place on Main Street on Saturday, September 27th, from 10 AM to 3 PM, weather permitting. Join us for a day filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of this beloved celebration. For over two decades, visitors from all around have come to downtown Winsted to enjoy the beauty of autumn, explore the work of local crafters, artisans, and attend a large car show. There will also be vendors offering delicious treats from local restaurants and food trucks, while enjoying music and entertainment. It’s a fantastic day of good old-fashioned family fun for all ages! ned family fun for all ages!

Get ready for fall foliage season. The study of seasonal change is called phenology. Autumn is a great time to learn about how light, temperature, soil moisture, and species impact the timing and intensity of autumn tree colors. Deer Pond Farm Naturalist Lori Lichtenauer will also review the many variables of bird feather molting over the seasons. After a short classroom session, we’ll head outside for a bird and nature walk to observe how environmental conditions are influencing this year’s leaf color display. This program meets at 57 Wakeman Hill Rd., Sherman, CT 06784 

September 23, 10 a.m. to Noon 

$5 members, 10$ non-members

To register for the Foliage & Feathers Class & Walk, visit Deer Pond Farm Programs & Events - Connecticut Audubon Society

Online exhibition curated by Lani Ming Holloway with artwork by Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn

exhibition dates:  August 1 – September 30, 2025, on www.kbfa.com

Stories told in light and silence

Poetry will make me violent

Violets outside our yard…

Why does the world have to be so hard?

Encompassing the hidden truths

 Of things unseen in what we view.

-       LMH

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to present the online exhibition Stories told in light and silence curated by Lani Ming Holloway featuring Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean is a Wabanaki artist raised on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. Excerpted from her artist statement: “Through the lens of Wabanaki history and culture, my photographs intertwine forgotten truths within the landscape of what is now called Maine. My work explores the deep, complex relationships between the land, its people, and the lasting impact of colonization. The energy embedded in the landscape reverberates through my creations and reveals the scars left on both the earth and our bodies. My work invites contemplation on occupation and ownership, prompting reflection on who exploits the land and how systems of oppression have disrupted its balance.”

Maya’s work expresses the dichotomy the artist exists within, marrying mediums and different cultural techniques. “Does the Land Remember?” is an ongoing series photographing landscapes that hold the history of devastating events of colonization. The power of that residuum is felt in the images in a supernatural way, as the dualism of her lived experience is pronounced in the contrast of light and dark. Sunlight shimmers through the leaves as bright stars overhead look down upon the land, a fire burns. Maya’s work calls us to remember that nature feels the spirits.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean lives and works in Portland, Maine or Machigonne. She earned a BFA in Photography from Maine College of Art & Design, Portland. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME and the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME.

Laura Barr’s work explores impermanence through oil paintings and oil pastel drawings on paper capturing passing moments in color, reflection on water, and light. Simplifying forms and illuminating the scale of special glimmers, her work considers the preservation of water and the protection of our environment. In Laura’s paintings in the exhibition, fireflies gleam in a starlit field and remind us that fireflies may not continue to glow on our planet, while a surfer catches the last evening wave the ocean offers, an Aurora Borealis dances in the night sky.

Laura Barr lives by the Thimble Islands in Branford, Connecticut. She earned her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA and a BA in Fine Arts from Tufts University in Medford, MA and has studied at Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy.

From Ithaca, NY, Jordann McKenna paints and photographs the quiet beauty in everyday life in work that contemplates mundanity and the softly fleeting feeling within light and shadows around her. In lushly applied oil paint, flames flicker and shadows play across the scene. Jordann’s work in this exhibition reflects the peaceful, ephemeral moods of interiors and intimate still lifes, either staged or spontaneous. Jordann McKenna works from photographs and from memory to create images that serve to process rather than recreate, expressing not only what is seen but what is felt, and celebrating the beauty in the ordinary.

Jordann McKenna earned a BS in Visual Arts from State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, and an MFA from Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME. She lives and works in Portland, ME.

Born in Strasbourg, France, and trained as an architect, Benoît Trimborn describes his work as “contemporary impressionism”. Viewing the world as an architect, Benoît’s large-scale oil paintings evoke what his artist statement calls the “morphology of the landscapes… like an architect, I see in it a breath, a light, a rhythm, which alone can constitute a principle of beauty. The elements represented compose atmospheres of which I try to faithfully convey the impression, as the musician faithfully follows the score. In this process, the contemplative attitude prevails, much more than the adventurous attitude. No message, no story should disturb the projection of the viewer...”

In Benoît’s meticulously painted large-scale landscapes, the absence of the figure instills a quietude in the story while light is the present form in all its magic. Reflections play like a musical score on the surface of the water and golden glimmers illuminate the forest and emanate from a sunset sky.

Benoît Trimborn’s work is in the permanent collection of Galerie Ariel Sibony in Paris, France, Absolute Art Gallery in Bruges, Belgium, and Galerie Bertrand Gillig in Strasbourg, France. He lives and works in Strasbourg, France.

Please contact Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquiries.

Shipping is available worldwide throughout the exhibition.  

This solo exhibition marks Brewster’s return to public exhibition after a significant studio hiatus, shaped by the pandemic and the arrival of his two young children.

Spanning two to six feet in width, Brewster’s latest works are immersive and meditative, exploring vast, perhaps virtual, landscapes. These meticulously layered oil paintings hint at human presence through subtle traces—a balanced stone, a resting stick—evoking a haunting stillness. In his signature style, Brewster uses old-master techniques and translucent glazes to explore the tension between presence and absence, clarity and ambiguity. “Some of these paintings verge on the apocalyptic while others suggest eerie calm or quiet hope,” Brewster notes. “They balance loneliness and community, action and avoidance. They are tightly tied to the physicality and geometry of the canvas itself.”

Brewster studied at Yale University and received his MFA from the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has held solo exhibitions in New York City, North Carolina, and Newfoundland, and has participated in numerous curated group shows including Icons of the 21st Century in New York and Academy 2003 at Conner Contemporary in Washington, D.C. His work has been featured in New American Paintings and reviewed in publications such as ForbesLife and The National Post.

A compelling dual exhibition showcasing the artistic explorations of two distinguished contemporary artists. The show will run from Saturday September 20 through Friday October 17, with a public reception for the artists on Saturday September 20 from 5 to 7 PM. An art talk featuring both artists in conversation will be held on Thursday October 16 at 5:30 PM, offering deeper insights into their creative processes and the thematic undercurrents of their work.

Ever wonder how you could turn strips of wood into a beautiful frame for your artwork? Beginning with 5/4” x 4” poplar wood, participants will learn how to create a finished floating frame. Come experience the new David Marks Woodworking Lab at FPAC and start making your own frames!

Instructor: Victor Leger

Saturday, September 27, 2025

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Members: $108 / Non-Members: $120

MORE INFO & REGISTER

In this workshop, you will be approaching these plates in a whole new way. The prints will be white line, full color and mimic reduction plate linoleum prints. You'll experiment with background colors and an array of object colors. This process is easily replicated at home.

Instructor: Virginia Zimmerman

Saturday, September 27, 2025

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Members: $90 / Non-Members: $100

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Saturday mornings 10-1 in West Cornwall

Locally grown , foraged , produced artisanal products , French and other baked goods , Lindera Farm Native Plants , Mother Tree Remedies, Jams and Preserves , Knife sharpening by Nick the Knife , Goat milk products by Cabra Farm , Produce by Church Farm , Coffee - Tea -Etc. Coffee and more

www.cornwallfarmmarket.org

Saturdays at 10:30 AM - Beginning September 6

Storytime & Stay to Play

All ages welcome!

Come to OWL for an all ages storytime in the children's room every Saturday at 10:30 then stay to play. In addition to our puppet theater, wooden blocks, and train set, we now have a dollhouse! We also have our ongoing Bluey BINGO with a fidget prize for winners. During September our craft table is home to model magic clay, as well as coloring sheets for younger children. And most importantly come in to browse our collection of print books, Nutmeg nominees, and Wonderbooks!

The 43rd Annual Family Nature Day!

Our annual celebration of Mother Nature is a must for folks of all ages. This edition is chock full of the greatest presenters! Riverside Reptiles’ introduces you to some of Nature’s most underappreciated creatures. Come visit the many friends they’ll be bringing along. Learn all about North America’s only marsupial with Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue and their Opossum Ambassadors! Meet a wide variety of birds of prey with Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center! Masters of the Sky visits us for the first time with free-flying birds of prey! Music will be provided by Rye Bred and Jennifer Vanderlyn. The day is filled with live animals, guided nature walks, information booths, tractor rides, goats, a POTION TABLE, and yummy food! The PIE SALE is extremely popular! Shop until you drop at the artisan market! Lots of nature crafts for the kiddies too! Who will be the winner of a trip for two to The Galapagos Islands (donated by Redfern Natural History) with Stewart McPherson and Gerri Griswold in April 2026 or use a $2000 gift card to AirBNB that can be used anywhere in the world! Paddle your favorite pond, lake, or river in a vintage 14’ Huron Canoe as our third prize winner! One lucky winner gets a $500 gift card to L.L. Bean as fourth prize! These treasures are up for grabs in our annual raffle! So much to see and do! It’s the greatest annual celebration of Nature! 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M., Admission: $6.00, Center Members and children under 12 are FREE!

Enjoy the works of

Photographer Sarah Blodgett & Basket Weaver Tina Puckett

About the Artists 

Sarah Blodgett

Sarah Blodgett is a photographer from the Hudson Valley in New York. Born in New York City, daughter of a professional advertising photographer, she bought her first camera at the age of ten and has been shooting ever since. A commercial & portrait photographer professionally since 1993, her passion now lies with creating images of wildlife and natural areas. Her primary focus is on birds as well as landscapes, seascapes, still lives and florals. She also offers speaking programs to accompany her work with a focus on ecology and preservation of the natural world around us.

 https://westernconnecticut.blogspot.com/2025/07/art-lovers-covered-bridge-woven-hand_30.html

Tina Puckett

American Master Weaver Tina Puckett is a self-taught Artist. who has been weaving since 1981. For over 40 years the woven arts have been evolving and each one is indescribably dynamic and colorful. The character of each piece is an expression of Tina's imagination and her sense of color that she applies to the weaving and structural form. Throughout Tina’s career she has exhibited her woven arts at museums, art galleries, libraries and art shows. Also, has been featured in magazines, books, newspapers, TV and on different platforms on the web.

Artist Statement

My woven pieces from baskets to wall sculptures, ceiling hangers, to furniture has evolved and is the way I define myself as an artist, and as a woman. I am fulfilling my dreams that started out with my imagination as a set designer. My creative path took a turn. It was not set design—but the woven arts with its many forms and functions where I found the passion for my life’s work.

The natural beauty of Bittersweet always sparks my imagination and is at the heart of the many pieces I weave. My imagination guides all that I do and it has become very attuned to the harmony of shapes, forms, and colors of the vines and reeds. I am also influenced by the beauty of our natural world and wonder how to weave it.

My palette for color is very much influenced by this experience of growing up in South America. I mix my own dyes and enjoy building a palette for the reeds that will shape textures and forms with color into a

​ one of a kind woven art!

Join us for an hour of story time hosted in our Children's Section at Honeybee Books & Tea!

Our story selection is thoughtfully curated including Caldecott Honor books and Newberry Medal winners. Our staff brings excitement to reading through their storytelling, and all books that are read are available for purchase for you to bring the magic home. The readings can be curated by age group, offering an assortment of reading-level material.

For more information, visit our website or speak to an associate in-store.

🎨 Art Show @ White Silo Winery in Sherman, CT

🗓 On view: September 5–28

🥂 Opening Reception: Sunday, September 7 | 2–4 PM

Get ready for a burst of bold color and creative energy in “Pouring with a Purpose”—a showcase of abstract acrylic art and photography by Christy Bonaiuto.

Christy’s work is all about movement, mood, and vibrant spontaneity, using poured acrylics, resin, and layered textures to create immersive, one-of-a-kind pieces that flow with emotion. Her abstract photography adds another dynamic layer to the show—capturing moments that feel both fleeting and timeless.

Stop by White Silo Winery, enjoy a glass of wine, and explore a diverse art show featuring local artist, Christy Bonaiuto. Come for the view—and leave with something beautiful.

✨ Free & open to the public

🛍️ Artwork available for purchase

Come for the pour. Stay for the art.

White Silo Winery

32 Rt. 37 East

Sherman, CT 06784

860.355.0271

Friday 11-6 PM | Saturday 11-6 PM | Sunday 11-6 PM

Serving up the most delicious hand made pizzas with fresh high quality ingredients, they will please all of your friends and family!

Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

Just in time for the colder months, the Gunn Memorial Library and the Hickory Stick Bookshop are partnering to host authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough for a talk on their latest book, Cold Canning: The Easy Way to Preserve the Seasons Without Hot Water Processing." They will do a live demonstration, on the stress-free way to preserve peak-season produce—without the hassle of traditional canning. 

Bestselling authors and trusted culinary voices Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough present 425 inventive recipes to help you preserve the world—from strawberry jam and peach-ginger preserves to Sri Lankan lime pickles and homemade sambal oelek. With Cold Canning, capturing the flavors of the season has never been easier—or more delicious.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the end of the program

Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough are the authors of the bestselling Instant Pot Bible series of cookbooks, among more than thirty-five others. They are the owners of MediaEats, a culinary production company, were nominees for 2011 and 2015 James Beard Awards, won a 2015 IACP Award, and were the longest-serving columnists on WeightWatchers.com, as well as regular contributors to the Washington Post, Eating Well, Fine Cooking, and Cooking Light. They host a weekly podcast and a TikTok channel called “Cooking with Bruce & Mark.” They live in rural Connecticut.

Registration is required:

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/book-talk-with-bruce-weinstein-mark-scarbrough-on-cold-canning-the-easy-way-to-preserve-the-seasons-without-hot-water-processing/

Drawing is foundational to all forms of art. This interactive workshop will teach how perspective adds a sense of realism to different subject matter including buildings, still lifes and the human form. Participants will learn the basic concepts of one and two point perspective and sharpen their observational skills.

Instructor: Mike Berlinski

Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28, 2025

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Members: $54 / Non-Members: $60

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Join Pilobolus for our annual community celebration in our hometown of Washington, CT!  Everyone is invited to this all-ages event to revel in the joy of dance, movement, creativity, and collaboration. 

Ticket info: Adult tickets: $15 // Free for kids! (Under 18) 

Schedule of Events - Rain or shine!

• Lawn Games and Sweet Treats - 1:30 - 2:30 PM
• Doors Open - 2:30 PM 
• Pilobolus Performance of Flight School - 2:45 - 3:45 PM
• Pilobolus Workshops* - 4:00 - 5:00 PM

*Select from one of three workshop options:

Connecting with Balance - Rooted in 50 years of creative movement expertise, Connecting with Balance® draws on Pilobolus’s unique approach to help older adults move better, feel steadier, and live more fully—no dance experience needed!

Alphabet Workshop - Kids ages 6-12 and their parents/guardians are invited to dive into movement and storytelling in our interactive workshop designed to explore the magic of letters, shapes, and bodies in motion. (Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Pilobolus Dance Workshop - Participants aged 13 to 113 are invited to expand their movement vocabulary together through improvisation and collaborative trust-building. This inclusive intergenerational workshop is designed to break barriers and build community.

Proceeds support bringing Pilobolus’s movement education programs to CT schools. Want to help us reach even more students? Make a donation with your ticket!

I will be working directly with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in preparation for a walk around the Town Green for those affected by suicide, and those who support them, to raise awareness and much-needed funds, strongly sending the message that suicide can be prevented, and that no one is alone. I am hopeful the Town will grant me permission SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 to have access to the Town Green in an effort to conduct our Out of the Darkness Community Walk to convey awareness, save lives and bring hope.

Annual Julia Q. Keggi Lecture: Pre-Raphaelite Women Artists and the Intersection of Painting, Needlework and Amateur Science

September 27 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Hear from Isabella Galdone, a PhD candidate at Yale University, specializing in 19th-century British painting and material culture. This lecture will dive into part of her dissertation project, titled Pre-Raphaelite Women Artists and the Intersection of Painting, Needlework and Amateur Science, which situates the work of artists Rosa Brett, Elizabeth Siddall and Joanna Mary Boyce within a landscape of connections between artistic representation, craft practice and popular engagement with natural science. Light refreshments will be provided.

Member: $15

Non-Member: $20

Sponsored by the Keggi Family & the Keggi Endowment Fund. 

Enjoy the sounds of rock and blues with local band, Timeless Groove! This quartet will take you on a musical journey from the 50’s to today, with songs to get you on your feet and dancing.

Member: $15

Non-Member: $20

Sponsored by George and Grace Long Foundation and the Linford and Mildred White Charitable Fund

Please join us for a Local Author event with Valorie Fisher on Saturday September 27. , 3-4:30 pm at the Wish House in West Cornwall CT

Highlights

• In this third title in the popular Look and Cook series, these easy-to-follow and engaging visual recipes will have kids ages 4 to 8 making their favorite desserts and sweet treats for the whole family to enjoy!
• 4-8 Years
• 11.3" x 10.0" Hardcover
• 56 Pages
• Juvenile Nonfiction, Cooking & Food
• Series Name: Look and Cook

Description

In this third title in the popular Look and Cook series, these easy-to-follow and engaging visual recipes will have kids ages 4 to 8 making their favorite desserts and sweet treats for the whole family to enjoy!

Designed for children who can't yet read, Look and Cook Sweet: A First Book of Recipes in Pictures is a must-have introduction to cooking for kids ages 4 to 8. Following the same easy-to-read visual layout of Look and Cook Snacks (a New York Times Holiday Gift Guide selection) and Look and Cook Breakfast (A Good Housekeeping Best Book) this cookbook features delicious and wholesome sweet treats and desserts for the whole family to enjoy--chocolate chip cookies, apple cake, and more! Key features for kids include:

• Step-by-step visual instructions Let kids who can't yet read and visual learners guide their own cooking journey.
• A guide to kitchen basics Learn skills like mixing and measuring, and proper handling of safe-to-use kitchen equipment.
• Family-friendly recipes Delicious, easy, and nutritious sweet dishes for the entire family to enjoy making and eating together!

About the Author

Valorie Fisher is the author of numerous books for kids, which have earned multiple starred reviews and have been named best books of the year by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Parenting, and Child, among others.

Saturday, September 27th, at 7:00 PM, Mike Parrott returns to 2nd Home for day two of our four year anniversary celebration. This is another tradition for our anniversary celebrations with Mike at the mic. Come celebrate with us, and enjoy great music, food, drinks, and fun!

For reservations (encouraged but not required) call 860-238-4500 or email us at momanddad@2ndhomelounge.com

See our complete event list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/events/

2nd Home Lounge

524 Main Street, Winsted

2ndhomelounge.com

Join our mailing list - https://2ndhomelounge.com/email-sign-up/

Join us for Gunn Memorial Library & Museum's annual fall fundraiser, BOOKED! Step into the dazzling world of The Bonfire of the Vanities! An unforgettable night of live music, dancing, food, drinks, and surprise entertainment awaits. Dress to impress for a chance at fabulous prizes—or come as you are! Get ready to bid big—exclusive getaways, unforgettable experiences, and luxury finds are yours for the taking.

MIKE LATINI developed his musical style in New York City and Boston, performing in rock bands and singer song-writer venues throughout the Northeast for years. His immediately accessible music, engaging performance style, and unique lyrical perspective help him ride the rails from the sublime to the ridiculous, and make all the stops in between. Mike has recently been playing in clubs and on concert stages in the New York, New Jersey, New England area, with occasional forays into the heartland. His five studio albums are available on most internet platforms, and a sixth -"In The Aftermath"- is currently in production.

"THE MYSTERIES" - (Dan Bonis, Tom Durante, Jim Nowak and Dave Wonsey) are an excellent ad hoc association of fine musical friends and the perfect support for Mike's eclectic musical offerings.

Welcome to the world of iLuminate, named “Best New Act in America” by America’s Got Talent in 2011. A fantastic fusion of cutting edge technology and dance that has been wowing the world ever since appearing on America’s Got Talent over a decade ago…to performing one of Las Vegas’ top shows to this day. iLuminate features a brilliant cast of the country’s top dancers performing to energetic music – including top Pop and Rock hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, a little jazz, a little Latin, a little hip hop and more.

From the moment the lights fade to darkness, you are transported into another world…another dimension, where the music moves you and the visuals are unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

The dancers are outfitted with customized LED suits synced to iLuminate’s proprietary software to create extraordinary lighting effects with each of the phenomenally choreographed dance moves. This mind-blowing, multi-sensory experience is completely unique and incomparable to any other stage spectacular as the dancers perform dynamic routines and illusions on a darkened stage. This brand new touring show features new stories, new music, new dances and new suits! As the show progresses, each scene creates a new “room” inside “Club iLuminate” where an exhilarating blend of music, dance, illusion, technology and comedy comes to life.

An experience that’s sure to be the most fun you’ll ever have in the dark.

A Comedy of Tenors

By Ken Ludwig

Directed by Diana Canova • Produced by Keli Solomon

September 25 – October 18

One hotel suite. Four tenors. A double dose of chaos.

From the master of farce Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor) comes a high-flying comedy packed with mistaken identities, outrageous misunderstandings, and operatic mayhem.

Join us for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romp that hits all the high notes!

The Sherman Players present Faith Healer by Brian Friel, directed by Kyle Minor.

Join us at 7:00 for a pre-show Irish music session in the Green Room. Refreshments available.

Presented by Ed Stevens, BFA, M.Ed., MS, LPC

My retreats are themed around the questions; “Where am I? - in relation to God, to myself and to the world”  

We will address unmanageability and faith, violence within ourselves and how it manifests in the world, Intimacy and emotional sobriety, and forgiveness as a path towards bringing loving kindness into the world through Step 12. 

Throughout the Retreat, I weave my personal experience in recovery through the 12 Steps of AA, while referencing teachers such as Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating and Bill Wilson.

All meals are included: Dinner on Friday through Lunch on Sunday

Friday, September 26-Sunday, September 28

EXHIBIT TO FEATURE THREE LOCAL ARTISTS

(New Preston, Connecticut) – The Smithy Café & Market is pleased to announce an art exhibit to be displayed September 1 to October 31, 2025, titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont.

Join us for a collaboration of three women and their varying forms of artwork, style, and perspectives.

The three artists have painted together for several years using a variety of mediums.They have formed friendships and enjoy working together while sharing ideas and support.

Becky Butler founded the not-for-profit, Arts Escape in Southbury in 2012. Arts Escape’s mission was to focus on arts education for adults. After witnessing firsthand how art created camaraderie and joy with those who participated, it was time for Becky to do the same. She retired in 2022 to follow her own art journey. She has been taking painting classes in Abstract, Pastel and Acrylics for the past two years and is excited to keep learning and exploring new mediums. Her pastel, Tethered Beauty, was accepted into a National Pastel show and she also won Best in Show for mixed media in Roxbury’s Art at the Meeting House show in 2024 for Somewhere Out There. Becky lives in Woodbury, Connecticut with her husband Paul.

“I love working in pastels – the colors are limitless and immediate. My pastel paintings are primarily painted realistically. Breaking the barriers of painting realistically has been a challenge. My love for color has recently launched my exploration in creating abstract work. Using color and mark making intuitively is exciting and challenging as well as inspiring. During my exploration I found the medium of oil and cold wax. While having no expectations as to the outcome of my work, my eyes have opened to a whole new world of creativity. I love the freedom of experimentation and the joy of playing. I want my work to reflect my emotional insight into today’s world while uncovering the beauty that still exists,”  explains Becky.

Sandra Daignault, a Woodbury resident, was the Fine Arts Director at Arts Escape, Inc in Southbury, CT and teaches classes in acrylic painting. Her artwork has been shown in galleries and organizations across CT (Stamford, Litchfield, Washington, New Milford, Brookfield, Bantam, Ridgefield, West Hartford, Southbury, Rowayton, Newtown), as well as having a permanent piece at the US Headquarters of Jägermeister in Westchester County. In addition, she has published two books of poetry with illustrations and has recently published a climate change fiction novel. Visit her website at sdaignaultfineart.com.

“My painting process is all about creating an open mind and letting go. While I often do not have a predetermined subject I am always influenced by my fascination with our place in the universe. Letting go of preconceived forms allows for the mystery and essence that makes up everything around us. While my influences are abstract artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, contemporary Peter Wileman as well as English romantic artist (JW Turner) I strive to create from the words of favorite poets (Pablo Neruda, Wislawa Szymborska, Mary Oliver). It will please me if viewers respond with wonder and wanting( not knowing what),” states Sandra.

Woodbury resident, Lucy C. Pierpont has worked in the marketing/graphic design field ever since graduating from Hartwick College as an art major. She has created art her whole life and has had her photographs and paintings displayed in exhibits at the Mattatuck Museum, Majors Inn, Hartwick College, Oneonta Art Association, Kent Art Association, Washington Art Association, Burnham Library, Kent Memorial Library Art at the Meetinghouse, Ridgefield Art Walk, Flanders Nature Center and now, The Smithy. She currently works part-time with the Kent Memorial Library and the Washington Depot Office of Klemm Real Estate doing graphic design & public relations. Her artwork can be viewed at lucypierpont.carrd.co. Her graphic designs for the Kent Memorial Library have been the recipient of eight Connecticut Library Association Publicity Awards in recognition of design, marketing, and publicity created to promote a Library service or event.

“From my earliest recollections, art has always been in the forefront. I chose the graphic design route and spent my career in it. Now art embodies my life- through friends, work, play, and travel!” claims Lucy.

Please join us for a reception on Saturday, October 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Smithy at (860) 868-9003 or go to their website at thesmithymarket.com.

10 Main Street New Preston CT 06777

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caption: Heat by Lucy C. Pierpont, Parade by Sandra Daignault, and Opening Night by Becky Butler are a few of many paintings in an exhibit titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont. The show will be on display from September 1 to October 31, 2025.

Join us each Saturday and Sunday for UPicks in the flower fields! Walk through 50+ rows of colorful blooms and cut your own bouquet. Enjoy the scenic views and peaceful sounds of nature while you're here and discover your new favorite place to be.

Online exhibition curated by Lani Ming Holloway with artwork by Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn

exhibition dates:  August 1 – September 30, 2025, on www.kbfa.com

Stories told in light and silence

Poetry will make me violent

Violets outside our yard…

Why does the world have to be so hard?

Encompassing the hidden truths

 Of things unseen in what we view.

-       LMH

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to present the online exhibition Stories told in light and silence curated by Lani Ming Holloway featuring Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean is a Wabanaki artist raised on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. Excerpted from her artist statement: “Through the lens of Wabanaki history and culture, my photographs intertwine forgotten truths within the landscape of what is now called Maine. My work explores the deep, complex relationships between the land, its people, and the lasting impact of colonization. The energy embedded in the landscape reverberates through my creations and reveals the scars left on both the earth and our bodies. My work invites contemplation on occupation and ownership, prompting reflection on who exploits the land and how systems of oppression have disrupted its balance.”

Maya’s work expresses the dichotomy the artist exists within, marrying mediums and different cultural techniques. “Does the Land Remember?” is an ongoing series photographing landscapes that hold the history of devastating events of colonization. The power of that residuum is felt in the images in a supernatural way, as the dualism of her lived experience is pronounced in the contrast of light and dark. Sunlight shimmers through the leaves as bright stars overhead look down upon the land, a fire burns. Maya’s work calls us to remember that nature feels the spirits.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean lives and works in Portland, Maine or Machigonne. She earned a BFA in Photography from Maine College of Art & Design, Portland. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME and the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME.

Laura Barr’s work explores impermanence through oil paintings and oil pastel drawings on paper capturing passing moments in color, reflection on water, and light. Simplifying forms and illuminating the scale of special glimmers, her work considers the preservation of water and the protection of our environment. In Laura’s paintings in the exhibition, fireflies gleam in a starlit field and remind us that fireflies may not continue to glow on our planet, while a surfer catches the last evening wave the ocean offers, an Aurora Borealis dances in the night sky.

Laura Barr lives by the Thimble Islands in Branford, Connecticut. She earned her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA and a BA in Fine Arts from Tufts University in Medford, MA and has studied at Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy.

From Ithaca, NY, Jordann McKenna paints and photographs the quiet beauty in everyday life in work that contemplates mundanity and the softly fleeting feeling within light and shadows around her. In lushly applied oil paint, flames flicker and shadows play across the scene. Jordann’s work in this exhibition reflects the peaceful, ephemeral moods of interiors and intimate still lifes, either staged or spontaneous. Jordann McKenna works from photographs and from memory to create images that serve to process rather than recreate, expressing not only what is seen but what is felt, and celebrating the beauty in the ordinary.

Jordann McKenna earned a BS in Visual Arts from State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, and an MFA from Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME. She lives and works in Portland, ME.

Born in Strasbourg, France, and trained as an architect, Benoît Trimborn describes his work as “contemporary impressionism”. Viewing the world as an architect, Benoît’s large-scale oil paintings evoke what his artist statement calls the “morphology of the landscapes… like an architect, I see in it a breath, a light, a rhythm, which alone can constitute a principle of beauty. The elements represented compose atmospheres of which I try to faithfully convey the impression, as the musician faithfully follows the score. In this process, the contemplative attitude prevails, much more than the adventurous attitude. No message, no story should disturb the projection of the viewer...”

In Benoît’s meticulously painted large-scale landscapes, the absence of the figure instills a quietude in the story while light is the present form in all its magic. Reflections play like a musical score on the surface of the water and golden glimmers illuminate the forest and emanate from a sunset sky.

Benoît Trimborn’s work is in the permanent collection of Galerie Ariel Sibony in Paris, France, Absolute Art Gallery in Bruges, Belgium, and Galerie Bertrand Gillig in Strasbourg, France. He lives and works in Strasbourg, France.

Please contact Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquiries.

Shipping is available worldwide throughout the exhibition.  

Enjoy the works of

Photographer Sarah Blodgett & Basket Weaver Tina Puckett

About the Artists 

Sarah Blodgett

Sarah Blodgett is a photographer from the Hudson Valley in New York. Born in New York City, daughter of a professional advertising photographer, she bought her first camera at the age of ten and has been shooting ever since. A commercial & portrait photographer professionally since 1993, her passion now lies with creating images of wildlife and natural areas. Her primary focus is on birds as well as landscapes, seascapes, still lives and florals. She also offers speaking programs to accompany her work with a focus on ecology and preservation of the natural world around us.

 https://westernconnecticut.blogspot.com/2025/07/art-lovers-covered-bridge-woven-hand_30.html

Tina Puckett

American Master Weaver Tina Puckett is a self-taught Artist. who has been weaving since 1981. For over 40 years the woven arts have been evolving and each one is indescribably dynamic and colorful. The character of each piece is an expression of Tina's imagination and her sense of color that she applies to the weaving and structural form. Throughout Tina’s career she has exhibited her woven arts at museums, art galleries, libraries and art shows. Also, has been featured in magazines, books, newspapers, TV and on different platforms on the web.

Artist Statement

My woven pieces from baskets to wall sculptures, ceiling hangers, to furniture has evolved and is the way I define myself as an artist, and as a woman. I am fulfilling my dreams that started out with my imagination as a set designer. My creative path took a turn. It was not set design—but the woven arts with its many forms and functions where I found the passion for my life’s work.

The natural beauty of Bittersweet always sparks my imagination and is at the heart of the many pieces I weave. My imagination guides all that I do and it has become very attuned to the harmony of shapes, forms, and colors of the vines and reeds. I am also influenced by the beauty of our natural world and wonder how to weave it.

My palette for color is very much influenced by this experience of growing up in South America. I mix my own dyes and enjoy building a palette for the reeds that will shape textures and forms with color into a

​ one of a kind woven art!

🎨 Art Show @ White Silo Winery in Sherman, CT

🗓 On view: September 5–28

🥂 Opening Reception: Sunday, September 7 | 2–4 PM

Get ready for a burst of bold color and creative energy in “Pouring with a Purpose”—a showcase of abstract acrylic art and photography by Christy Bonaiuto.

Christy’s work is all about movement, mood, and vibrant spontaneity, using poured acrylics, resin, and layered textures to create immersive, one-of-a-kind pieces that flow with emotion. Her abstract photography adds another dynamic layer to the show—capturing moments that feel both fleeting and timeless.

Stop by White Silo Winery, enjoy a glass of wine, and explore a diverse art show featuring local artist, Christy Bonaiuto. Come for the view—and leave with something beautiful.

✨ Free & open to the public

🛍️ Artwork available for purchase

Come for the pour. Stay for the art.

White Silo Winery

32 Rt. 37 East

Sherman, CT 06784

860.355.0271

Friday 11-6 PM | Saturday 11-6 PM | Sunday 11-6 PM

Pizza and wine, one of our favorite pairings! Serving authentic Napoleon style pizza you can enjoy a slice with a glass of wine!

Michael Ford's compositional and improvisational style draws on many influences, but it is rooted in a classical music aesthetic that stems from a life dedicated to the piano.

Ford describe his music as having hints of impressionism, progressive rock, jazz and Americana. He loves a good melody and enjoys rhythmic explorations. His music ranges from sadness to jubilant.

Drawing is foundational to all forms of art. This interactive workshop will teach how perspective adds a sense of realism to different subject matter including buildings, still lifes and the human form. Participants will learn the basic concepts of one and two point perspective and sharpen their observational skills.

Instructor: Mike Berlinski

Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28, 2025

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Members: $54 / Non-Members: $60

MORE INFO & REGISTER

The Sherman Players present Faith Healer by Brian Friel, directed by Kyle Minor.

Norfolk’s own Linda Bell and Maura May, both talented musicians, will join forces on the library piano. Four-hand piano playing has a surprising cultural history. In the 19th century as pianos became more affordable, arrangements for four hands brought a large repertoire of music into the middle-class family home. This was before the advent of the phonograph, and the only way to hear new music, short of going to the concert hall, was to play it on the piano. Music publishers arranged symphonies, operas, and chamber music for four hands, and the piano became the centerpiece of domestic life. In addition, composers such as Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms wrote music for four hands.

Please register for this free concert.

EXHIBIT TO FEATURE THREE LOCAL ARTISTS

(New Preston, Connecticut) – The Smithy Café & Market is pleased to announce an art exhibit to be displayed September 1 to October 31, 2025, titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont.

Join us for a collaboration of three women and their varying forms of artwork, style, and perspectives.

The three artists have painted together for several years using a variety of mediums.They have formed friendships and enjoy working together while sharing ideas and support.

Becky Butler founded the not-for-profit, Arts Escape in Southbury in 2012. Arts Escape’s mission was to focus on arts education for adults. After witnessing firsthand how art created camaraderie and joy with those who participated, it was time for Becky to do the same. She retired in 2022 to follow her own art journey. She has been taking painting classes in Abstract, Pastel and Acrylics for the past two years and is excited to keep learning and exploring new mediums. Her pastel, Tethered Beauty, was accepted into a National Pastel show and she also won Best in Show for mixed media in Roxbury’s Art at the Meeting House show in 2024 for Somewhere Out There. Becky lives in Woodbury, Connecticut with her husband Paul.

“I love working in pastels – the colors are limitless and immediate. My pastel paintings are primarily painted realistically. Breaking the barriers of painting realistically has been a challenge. My love for color has recently launched my exploration in creating abstract work. Using color and mark making intuitively is exciting and challenging as well as inspiring. During my exploration I found the medium of oil and cold wax. While having no expectations as to the outcome of my work, my eyes have opened to a whole new world of creativity. I love the freedom of experimentation and the joy of playing. I want my work to reflect my emotional insight into today’s world while uncovering the beauty that still exists,”  explains Becky.

Sandra Daignault, a Woodbury resident, was the Fine Arts Director at Arts Escape, Inc in Southbury, CT and teaches classes in acrylic painting. Her artwork has been shown in galleries and organizations across CT (Stamford, Litchfield, Washington, New Milford, Brookfield, Bantam, Ridgefield, West Hartford, Southbury, Rowayton, Newtown), as well as having a permanent piece at the US Headquarters of Jägermeister in Westchester County. In addition, she has published two books of poetry with illustrations and has recently published a climate change fiction novel. Visit her website at sdaignaultfineart.com.

“My painting process is all about creating an open mind and letting go. While I often do not have a predetermined subject I am always influenced by my fascination with our place in the universe. Letting go of preconceived forms allows for the mystery and essence that makes up everything around us. While my influences are abstract artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, contemporary Peter Wileman as well as English romantic artist (JW Turner) I strive to create from the words of favorite poets (Pablo Neruda, Wislawa Szymborska, Mary Oliver). It will please me if viewers respond with wonder and wanting( not knowing what),” states Sandra.

Woodbury resident, Lucy C. Pierpont has worked in the marketing/graphic design field ever since graduating from Hartwick College as an art major. She has created art her whole life and has had her photographs and paintings displayed in exhibits at the Mattatuck Museum, Majors Inn, Hartwick College, Oneonta Art Association, Kent Art Association, Washington Art Association, Burnham Library, Kent Memorial Library Art at the Meetinghouse, Ridgefield Art Walk, Flanders Nature Center and now, The Smithy. She currently works part-time with the Kent Memorial Library and the Washington Depot Office of Klemm Real Estate doing graphic design & public relations. Her artwork can be viewed at lucypierpont.carrd.co. Her graphic designs for the Kent Memorial Library have been the recipient of eight Connecticut Library Association Publicity Awards in recognition of design, marketing, and publicity created to promote a Library service or event.

“From my earliest recollections, art has always been in the forefront. I chose the graphic design route and spent my career in it. Now art embodies my life- through friends, work, play, and travel!” claims Lucy.

Please join us for a reception on Saturday, October 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Smithy at (860) 868-9003 or go to their website at thesmithymarket.com.

10 Main Street New Preston CT 06777

#         #         #         #

caption: Heat by Lucy C. Pierpont, Parade by Sandra Daignault, and Opening Night by Becky Butler are a few of many paintings in an exhibit titled Perception and Perspective: Three Artists-Becky Butler, Sandra Daignault and Lucy C. Pierpont. The show will be on display from September 1 to October 31, 2025.

Come and dance to the music of fairy tale princesses while learning the fundamentals of basic ballet and ballet terminology. Parents are invited to stay and watch their "princesses" perform! Feel free to dress up in ballet attire and/or your favorite character, or comfy clothes are ok.  

Classes:

Parent & Tot 2-2.5 years: 9:00-9:30 AM

2.5-3 Years: 9:30-10:00 AM

3 Years: 10:00-10:45 AM

4 Years: 10:45-11:30 AM

Requirements:

A water bottle, ballet shoes are encouraged.

For more information or to register, visit newmilfordct.myrec.com

The Gunn Memorial Library is pleased to present the captivating floral photography of Nina McKitty, on view in the Stairwell Gallery from August 9th to October 4th.

Drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and the artistic traditions of both East and West, Nina McKitty brings a joyful and thoughtful lens to her digital photography. Her work explores the delicate beauty of flowers—each image carefully composed, captured, and refined in her studio to evoke both surprise and delight in the viewer.

Originally gifted a digital camera by her husband, McKitty transformed a curiosity into a profound creative journey. Over the past 15 years, she has immersed herself in the art and craft of digital photography, studying under acclaimed artists and continuously evolving her techniques. Her photographs are printed and framed by hand using archival materials, merging technical precision with artistic expression.

A former nurse practitioner and consultant, McKitty turned to photography in retirement, channeling her lifelong passions for nature and visual storytelling into a rich new chapter as a digital artist. Since 2019, her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Employee Gallery, Kent Art Association, and Washington Art Association.

Tikes will have a great time playing with friends in a safe environment designed to promote social, physical, intellectual and creative growth. During this 2 hour class, the children will sing, paint, listen to stories and have gym time, all while learning to respect and share with others, as well as follow directions.

Ages 3-4: 9:30 - 11:30 am

Ages 4-5.5: 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Requirements:

All "Tikes" MUST be potty trained

Please Bring: A peanut free snack and drink

Please Wear: Sneakers and clothes you don't mind getting paint on 

For more information or to register, visit newmilfordct.myrec.com

Online exhibition curated by Lani Ming Holloway with artwork by Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn

exhibition dates:  August 1 – September 30, 2025, on www.kbfa.com

Stories told in light and silence

Poetry will make me violent

Violets outside our yard…

Why does the world have to be so hard?

Encompassing the hidden truths

 Of things unseen in what we view.

-       LMH

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to present the online exhibition Stories told in light and silence curated by Lani Ming Holloway featuring Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean is a Wabanaki artist raised on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. Excerpted from her artist statement: “Through the lens of Wabanaki history and culture, my photographs intertwine forgotten truths within the landscape of what is now called Maine. My work explores the deep, complex relationships between the land, its people, and the lasting impact of colonization. The energy embedded in the landscape reverberates through my creations and reveals the scars left on both the earth and our bodies. My work invites contemplation on occupation and ownership, prompting reflection on who exploits the land and how systems of oppression have disrupted its balance.”

Maya’s work expresses the dichotomy the artist exists within, marrying mediums and different cultural techniques. “Does the Land Remember?” is an ongoing series photographing landscapes that hold the history of devastating events of colonization. The power of that residuum is felt in the images in a supernatural way, as the dualism of her lived experience is pronounced in the contrast of light and dark. Sunlight shimmers through the leaves as bright stars overhead look down upon the land, a fire burns. Maya’s work calls us to remember that nature feels the spirits.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean lives and works in Portland, Maine or Machigonne. She earned a BFA in Photography from Maine College of Art & Design, Portland. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME and the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME.

Laura Barr’s work explores impermanence through oil paintings and oil pastel drawings on paper capturing passing moments in color, reflection on water, and light. Simplifying forms and illuminating the scale of special glimmers, her work considers the preservation of water and the protection of our environment. In Laura’s paintings in the exhibition, fireflies gleam in a starlit field and remind us that fireflies may not continue to glow on our planet, while a surfer catches the last evening wave the ocean offers, an Aurora Borealis dances in the night sky.

Laura Barr lives by the Thimble Islands in Branford, Connecticut. She earned her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA and a BA in Fine Arts from Tufts University in Medford, MA and has studied at Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy.

From Ithaca, NY, Jordann McKenna paints and photographs the quiet beauty in everyday life in work that contemplates mundanity and the softly fleeting feeling within light and shadows around her. In lushly applied oil paint, flames flicker and shadows play across the scene. Jordann’s work in this exhibition reflects the peaceful, ephemeral moods of interiors and intimate still lifes, either staged or spontaneous. Jordann McKenna works from photographs and from memory to create images that serve to process rather than recreate, expressing not only what is seen but what is felt, and celebrating the beauty in the ordinary.

Jordann McKenna earned a BS in Visual Arts from State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, and an MFA from Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME. She lives and works in Portland, ME.

Born in Strasbourg, France, and trained as an architect, Benoît Trimborn describes his work as “contemporary impressionism”. Viewing the world as an architect, Benoît’s large-scale oil paintings evoke what his artist statement calls the “morphology of the landscapes… like an architect, I see in it a breath, a light, a rhythm, which alone can constitute a principle of beauty. The elements represented compose atmospheres of which I try to faithfully convey the impression, as the musician faithfully follows the score. In this process, the contemplative attitude prevails, much more than the adventurous attitude. No message, no story should disturb the projection of the viewer...”

In Benoît’s meticulously painted large-scale landscapes, the absence of the figure instills a quietude in the story while light is the present form in all its magic. Reflections play like a musical score on the surface of the water and golden glimmers illuminate the forest and emanate from a sunset sky.

Benoît Trimborn’s work is in the permanent collection of Galerie Ariel Sibony in Paris, France, Absolute Art Gallery in Bruges, Belgium, and Galerie Bertrand Gillig in Strasbourg, France. He lives and works in Strasbourg, France.

Please contact Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquiries.

Shipping is available worldwide throughout the exhibition.  

This program is open to children up to age 5 and their caregivers and offers an hour of engaging indoor play and creative fun. It is a perfect way to start the week with joy, movement, and social interaction.

This solo exhibition marks Brewster’s return to public exhibition after a significant studio hiatus, shaped by the pandemic and the arrival of his two young children.

Spanning two to six feet in width, Brewster’s latest works are immersive and meditative, exploring vast, perhaps virtual, landscapes. These meticulously layered oil paintings hint at human presence through subtle traces—a balanced stone, a resting stick—evoking a haunting stillness. In his signature style, Brewster uses old-master techniques and translucent glazes to explore the tension between presence and absence, clarity and ambiguity. “Some of these paintings verge on the apocalyptic while others suggest eerie calm or quiet hope,” Brewster notes. “They balance loneliness and community, action and avoidance. They are tightly tied to the physicality and geometry of the canvas itself.”

Brewster studied at Yale University and received his MFA from the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has held solo exhibitions in New York City, North Carolina, and Newfoundland, and has participated in numerous curated group shows including Icons of the 21st Century in New York and Academy 2003 at Conner Contemporary in Washington, D.C. His work has been featured in New American Paintings and reviewed in publications such as ForbesLife and The National Post.

The Gunn Junior Library invites 4th and 5th-grade readers to join Fall Book Explorers, a youth book club held on Mondays from September 22 through November 18.

*There will be no meeting on Monday, October 13.*

Participants will explore a variety of books spanning mystery, fantasy, humor, and adventure. Each session begins with a creative activity inspired by the week’s selection, followed by a group reading through the first chapter and an open discussion. Every week offers a fresh journey into a new story, and the chance to discover books they’ll treasure.

This program is designed to spark curiosity, build discussion skills, and help readers find new favorites in a supportive setting.

Registration required. When you RSVP for one session, you may check a box to automatically register for all remaining sessions this season. 

The Gunn Memorial Library is pleased to present the captivating floral photography of Nina McKitty, on view in the Stairwell Gallery from August 9th to October 4th.

Drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and the artistic traditions of both East and West, Nina McKitty brings a joyful and thoughtful lens to her digital photography. Her work explores the delicate beauty of flowers—each image carefully composed, captured, and refined in her studio to evoke both surprise and delight in the viewer.

Originally gifted a digital camera by her husband, McKitty transformed a curiosity into a profound creative journey. Over the past 15 years, she has immersed herself in the art and craft of digital photography, studying under acclaimed artists and continuously evolving her techniques. Her photographs are printed and framed by hand using archival materials, merging technical precision with artistic expression.

A former nurse practitioner and consultant, McKitty turned to photography in retirement, channeling her lifelong passions for nature and visual storytelling into a rich new chapter as a digital artist. Since 2019, her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Employee Gallery, Kent Art Association, and Washington Art Association.

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!

Online exhibition curated by Lani Ming Holloway with artwork by Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn

exhibition dates:  August 1 – September 30, 2025, on www.kbfa.com

Stories told in light and silence

Poetry will make me violent

Violets outside our yard…

Why does the world have to be so hard?

Encompassing the hidden truths

 Of things unseen in what we view.

-       LMH

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to present the online exhibition Stories told in light and silence curated by Lani Ming Holloway featuring Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Laura Barr, Jordann McKenna, and Benoît Trimborn.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean is a Wabanaki artist raised on the Penobscot Reservation in Maine. Excerpted from her artist statement: “Through the lens of Wabanaki history and culture, my photographs intertwine forgotten truths within the landscape of what is now called Maine. My work explores the deep, complex relationships between the land, its people, and the lasting impact of colonization. The energy embedded in the landscape reverberates through my creations and reveals the scars left on both the earth and our bodies. My work invites contemplation on occupation and ownership, prompting reflection on who exploits the land and how systems of oppression have disrupted its balance.”

Maya’s work expresses the dichotomy the artist exists within, marrying mediums and different cultural techniques. “Does the Land Remember?” is an ongoing series photographing landscapes that hold the history of devastating events of colonization. The power of that residuum is felt in the images in a supernatural way, as the dualism of her lived experience is pronounced in the contrast of light and dark. Sunlight shimmers through the leaves as bright stars overhead look down upon the land, a fire burns. Maya’s work calls us to remember that nature feels the spirits.

Maya Tihtiyas Attean lives and works in Portland, Maine or Machigonne. She earned a BFA in Photography from Maine College of Art & Design, Portland. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME and the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME.

Laura Barr’s work explores impermanence through oil paintings and oil pastel drawings on paper capturing passing moments in color, reflection on water, and light. Simplifying forms and illuminating the scale of special glimmers, her work considers the preservation of water and the protection of our environment. In Laura’s paintings in the exhibition, fireflies gleam in a starlit field and remind us that fireflies may not continue to glow on our planet, while a surfer catches the last evening wave the ocean offers, an Aurora Borealis dances in the night sky.

Laura Barr lives by the Thimble Islands in Branford, Connecticut. She earned her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA and a BA in Fine Arts from Tufts University in Medford, MA and has studied at Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy.

From Ithaca, NY, Jordann McKenna paints and photographs the quiet beauty in everyday life in work that contemplates mundanity and the softly fleeting feeling within light and shadows around her. In lushly applied oil paint, flames flicker and shadows play across the scene. Jordann’s work in this exhibition reflects the peaceful, ephemeral moods of interiors and intimate still lifes, either staged or spontaneous. Jordann McKenna works from photographs and from memory to create images that serve to process rather than recreate, expressing not only what is seen but what is felt, and celebrating the beauty in the ordinary.

Jordann McKenna earned a BS in Visual Arts from State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, and an MFA from Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME. She lives and works in Portland, ME.

Born in Strasbourg, France, and trained as an architect, Benoît Trimborn describes his work as “contemporary impressionism”. Viewing the world as an architect, Benoît’s large-scale oil paintings evoke what his artist statement calls the “morphology of the landscapes… like an architect, I see in it a breath, a light, a rhythm, which alone can constitute a principle of beauty. The elements represented compose atmospheres of which I try to faithfully convey the impression, as the musician faithfully follows the score. In this process, the contemplative attitude prevails, much more than the adventurous attitude. No message, no story should disturb the projection of the viewer...”

In Benoît’s meticulously painted large-scale landscapes, the absence of the figure instills a quietude in the story while light is the present form in all its magic. Reflections play like a musical score on the surface of the water and golden glimmers illuminate the forest and emanate from a sunset sky.

Benoît Trimborn’s work is in the permanent collection of Galerie Ariel Sibony in Paris, France, Absolute Art Gallery in Bruges, Belgium, and Galerie Bertrand Gillig in Strasbourg, France. He lives and works in Strasbourg, France.

Please contact Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquiries.

Shipping is available worldwide throughout the exhibition.  

A compelling dual exhibition showcasing the artistic explorations of two distinguished contemporary artists. The show will run from Saturday September 20 through Friday October 17, with a public reception for the artists on Saturday September 20 from 5 to 7 PM. An art talk featuring both artists in conversation will be held on Thursday October 16 at 5:30 PM, offering deeper insights into their creative processes and the thematic undercurrents of their work.

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

Tuesdays at 10:30 AM - Beginning September 2

Perfect for Birth - 18 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.

On Tuesday, September 30th at 2 pm the David M. Hunt Library will host “The Effects of Light Pollution on Birds, Wildlife and Humans” with Lights Out Connecticut.

Our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, so many birds use our shoreline and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip north. Artificial light emitted by houses, buildings, streetlights, bridges, and other structure can confuse and disorient birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, or circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. Light pollution also impacts other wildlife and the well-being of humans. Learn what can be done to mitigate the damage. Lecture by Craig Repasz, chair and co-founder of Lights Out Connecticut and an accomplished birder.

As the cooler days of September come, stay cozy at the library with books while listening to stories about colorful leaves, apples galore, fall festivities, and ghoulish celebrations!    

This after school program for kindergarteners and first graders features seasonal themes, books, crafts, and games. Snack provided. The Library follows the Region 12 calendar and will not host After School Programs when WPS is closed or has early dismissal. 

Registration Required.

September 20th - Jan11th, 2026

The delicious adventures of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of fun new songs, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR, is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone's sweet tooth. 4 performances weekend of January 9, 10, and 11.

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

Join us at Honeybee Books and Tea for our weekly Open Mic Night!

With a full technical assortment of equipment, we are more than happy to welcome:

• Musicians
• Poets
• Stand-up Comedy
• Reading Excerpts
• Dance
• Puppetry
• Whatever Makes You Buzz

We ask that attendees arrive promptly at 6:00 pm to respect performers. For more information, check out our website or stop by in-store.

In-Person & on Zoom:

Best selling cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough return to OWL.

You won’t want to miss the opportunity to meet these culinary experts as they guide us through the wonders of "Cold Canning." This, their newest title, joins their internationally bestselling cookbook list at #37!

Cold canning is a revolutionary way to preserve the best of each season, without the headache. No vats of boiling water. No unwieldy tools. No long hours at the stove.

Instead, make a few jars in minutes - and save them for months to a year in your fridge or freezer. It’s easier, tastier, and more fun than traditional canning.

• Work less to get fresher flavors

• Save money with smaller batches

• Use less sugar and salt

• Trust that it’s safe

• Anyone can do it - from beginners to pickling pros!

In their team, Bruce (above in white shirt) is the chef and Mark (black shirt), is the writer. Together, they've published over 37 cookbooks, hit international best-seller lists, won national and international awards, and have been interviewed by the best, from Lester Holt to Barbara Walters. 

BRUCE also writes knitting books, designs patterns, and teaches knitting workshops.