Community Calendar

ASAP!’s 20th Annual Celebration of Young Writers empowers students to share their love of writing with the world. Public, private and homeschooled students from across Connecticut are invited to submit for a chance to be recognized for their outstanding work, and read their piece in front of a live audience. The Celebration of Young Writers stage is a place where student voices are amplified, and their passion for writing can be shared with the world. 2024 top selected works will be presented to the public and shared through ASAP!’s website. Submissions to the Celebration of Young Writers are free.

Celebration of Young Writers was inspired by ASAP!’s objective to foster children’s creativity and imagination in the literary arts. It was established with the help of Ellen and Frank McCourt, Ann and Denis Leary, and Susanna Salk.

SUBMISSIONS

February 1 – April 1, 2025

Strangers become friends through art making

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

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

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

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

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

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

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

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

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

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

See the visual and videos online

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

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

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Sifted showcases Sarah Short’s masterful use of vintage materials in mixed-media collage. With a deep appreciation for the aged beauty of old book covers, forgotten ephemera, and letterpress typography, Short repurposes discarded materials into captivating compositions. Her work invites viewers to look closer, engaging with the layered textures and fragmented narratives that emerge from the remnants of the past.

“I want what was once beautiful to be beautiful again,” says Short. “My works urge you to lean in, see the small details, and remember your past.”

About the Artist

Sarah Z. Short is a mixed-media collage artist from the woods of Rhode Island. With a background as an English teacher, she has a deep connection to books—not just as literature, but as a tactile and visual medium. She prints with vintage wooden type on pages salvaged from discarded books, then transforms these prints into abstract collages, emphasizing shape, white space, and layered textures.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries, licensed as prints, and featured in both print and digital publications. In addition to her studio practice, Short teaches workshops online and in person, sharing her passion for collage and letterpress printing with others.

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

Requirements:

Guardians must be present

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Session options - Tuesdays & Wednesdays

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

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

The 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!

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

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

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

Registration appreciated, drop-ins welcome!

NEW: Baby Story Time

Tuesdays in April at 10:30 AM

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

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

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

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

Community members are invited to stop by the library between 11 am and noon each Tuesday for a cup of coffee and a chat with their neighbors.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

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

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

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

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

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

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

Gallery Show, COLOR & FORM, held at the Five Points Annex. View Elizabeth Wolff's work in her adventures through a variety of media (watercolors, linocut printing, fabric, and olive oil tins) alongside her father, Guy Wolff (a horticultural potter and ceramicist) and the rare opportunity to see the work of her grandfather, Robert Jay Wolff who was an American Bauhaus Abstract Expressionist and Head of the Arts at Brooklyn College. Gallery open to all, with a possible opportunity to see the Artist at work. Gallery open 12-5:00pm Tuesday - Sunday, or by appointment.

Every other Tuesday

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: The Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street)

FREE

Registration not required

Join us for a bi-weekly knitting social meetup at the Litchfield Historical Society, where you can meet other knitters, get your questions answered about tricky patterns, and expand your knowledge. No experience is necessary, just a desire to learn to knit! Bring a project to work on and enjoy the company of your fellow crafters. It's a great place to roundtable your ideas and workshop any hiccups you might be encountering in your project.

Hosted by Alexandra Herst, a local knitting & crafting enthusiast, is a deep believer in the capability of anyone to master the complexities of knitting, she takes the approach of empowering beginners through education to further their skills and encourage their creativity!  

It’s cold outside, come stay cozy at the library with books while listening to stories about snow, winter animals, and spring flowers!    

Space is limited, please register on our website at

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/kindergarten-first-grade-story-craft-4/

Join the Tuesday Afternoon Book Group to discuss Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter. 

“Easily the funniest, weirdest, most perversely provocative gardening book I've ever read. I couldn't put it down . . . The writing soars.” —The New York Times Book Review

In-person at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon. Copies available at the Library. 

Join local historical costuming enthusiast Abigail Yanaway to...

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

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

Requirements:

Clothes that you don't mind getting paint on!

Coordinator:

Roberta Baker

Join this club to learn the ukulele and to improve your skills. Playing the ukulele with others is loads of fun! A collaboration between NMPL and NM Senior Center. If you are over 60 and need a ride to the library, please call 860-355-6075.

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

Strangers become friends through art making

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

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See the visual and videos online

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

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

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

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

Requirements:

Guardians must be present

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Session options - Tuesdays & Wednesdays

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

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

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Registration appreciated, drop-ins welcome!

Rhyme Time & Playgroup

Wednesdays in April at 10:30 AM

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

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

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

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

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

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

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

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

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

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

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

Gallery Show, COLOR & FORM, held at the Five Points Annex. View Elizabeth Wolff's work in her adventures through a variety of media (watercolors, linocut printing, fabric, and olive oil tins) alongside her father, Guy Wolff (a horticultural potter and ceramicist) and the rare opportunity to see the work of her grandfather, Robert Jay Wolff who was an American Bauhaus Abstract Expressionist and Head of the Arts at Brooklyn College. Gallery open to all, with a possible opportunity to see the Artist at work. Gallery open 12-5:00pm Tuesday - Sunday, or by appointment.

Join us for a delightful afternoon of good food and engaging conversations about local art and history!

Order ahead from Sweet Bella @ The MATT or bring your own lunch to enjoy. First Wednesday of Every Month | 12–1 PM

Join local historian George Hughes as he tells of a local man with a larger than life presence and impact- Father Philip Cascia. Hear about Cascia’s international work with communist governments, his dedication to sports as a form of diplomacy, and how he brought St. Vincent DePaul to Waterbury.

COST

$10.00 per Adult

$5.00 per Member

Pre-registration is suggested due to limited spots.

Interested in discounts, free admission, and more? Become a member today!

Sponsored by Christine and Eugene Shugrue

Topic: Printmaking

Each week, homeschoolers will focus on a different art practice, including photography and Surrealism, by taking a tour of the galleries and then creating original artwork. Students of all ages will enjoy being artistic, social, and learning new skills!

Cost: $15 per participant

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

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

MORE INFO HERE

Wednesdays (weekly):

2 - 4 PM

Jan 8 - May 28

Saturdays:

2 -4 PM

January 11 & 25

February 8 &22

March 8 & 22

April 12 & 26

May 10

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

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

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

Register Here

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

Culturally Curious Art Lecture Series: Devil with a Brush: Caravaggio’s Dramatic Masterpieces

April 2: Devil with a Brush: Caravaggio’s Dramatic Masterpieces

Caravaggio's turbulent life story reads like a crime thriller, making him one of art history's most captivating and controversial figures. He was a revolutionary Italian painter of the Baroque era, as famous for his violent temper and criminal behavior as he was for his groundbreaking artistic techniques. Caravaggio’s paintings reflect his tumultuous life with dramatic lighting and intense realism. The program provides an overview of the artist’s life and body of work.

FREE / Donations Welcome

* Pre-registration is advised

Presenter Jane O’Neail will present 5 separate lectures:

February 5: Rhythm and Hues: The Harlem Renaissance and Its Legacy

This is a great program for celebrating Black History Month!

The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural explosion in the 1920s, saw African American artists challenge stereotypes and celebrate their heritage. From the poetic simplicity of Jacob Lawrence to the cosmopolitan portrait photographs of James Van Der Zee, this era produced works that continue to resonate today. Discover the visionaries who gave voice to the African American experience and forever changed the landscape of American culture.

March 5: Fierce Females: Women in Art (Part III)

Schedule all three Fierce Female programs as series for Women’s History Month! The art world has long overlooked the groundbreaking contributions of countless talented women. This program shines a spotlight on fierce female artists who defied societal norms and pushed the boundaries of creativity, yet remain underappreciated in the annals of art history. The program features a diverse array of artists and media, from the bold expressionist prints of Kathe Kollwitz to ebullient Impressionist

paintings by Berthe Morisot. In celebrating these visionary women we help to redefine artistic greatness for future generations.

May 7: Perennial Muses: Flowers in Art

This is a wonderful program for Garden Clubs!

Have you ever wondered about the hidden messages blooming within famous

paintings? Throughout the history of art, flowers have been more than just beautiful decorations - they've served as powerful symbols, carrying secret meanings known to artists and their patrons. From the purity of lilies in Renaissance Madonnas to the fleeting nature of life represented by wilting bouquets in Dutch still lifes, each petal and stem tells a story. This fascinating exploration of flora in art will unveil the language of

flowers, revealing how these delicate blooms have shaped our visual culture and continue to inspire artists - and flower lovers! - to this day.

June 4: From Graffiti to Museum Galleries: The Art & Advocacy of Keith

Haring

This is a great Pride Month program! Keith Haring's vibrant and iconic art captured the spirit of 1980s New York City, blending pop art, graffiti, and social activism. What made his bold, energetic figures and symbols so universally appealing? Haring's work, characterized by its simplicity

and accessibility, addressed pressing issues including AIDS awareness. From

subway stations to museums, Haring's art continues to inspire and provoke thought decades after his untimely death.

About the presenter:

Jane Oneail curates and delivers art appreciation programs to audiences throughout New England. Jane holds a master’s in art history from Boston University and a master’s in education from Harvard University. A New Hampshire native, she has worked at some of the state's most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University.

For more information visit: iamculturallycurious.com

Donations welcome at door

Every Wednesday from 6PM-7PM we host a FREE, casual, supportive, Poetry Group.

We will mostly be running short timed prompts (no homework) with a peer review component. Get ready to write!

Join the Stitch 'n Bitch group once a month at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon. The aim of our stitching group is for members to meet regularly to share skills and ideas, and get to know each other while doing some stitching. 

CALLING ALL SINGERS AND SONGWRITERS! 

Saddle up and come to town with your original music to share with lovers and listeners. 

Acoustic acts are encouraged, but all instruments and genres are welcome. 

If you have any questions about gear, reach out to John ( 860-560-3688 ) 

Kick back and feel welcome to bring or order in grub from around town.

Support small business while supporting small artists in “nobody’s cafe!”

No cover - free event. 

No drugs or drinking please. Thank ya!

Strangers become friends through art making

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

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

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

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

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

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

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

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

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

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

See the visual and videos online

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

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

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

Ages 2 1/2 - 5 years old

This very popular preschool arts and crafts program uses every imaginable medium to stir the creative impulse in your child. Parents and children will have fun finger painting, gluing and creating together! Each week your child will bring home several themed-based projects. Children should wear an old shirt or art smock. 

Parents, please bring a bag or box to transport projects home. 

Instructor: Michele Gasiewski

Session 1 9:30am-10:15am

Session 2 10:30am-11:15am

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

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

In the News: Conversations. Hungry for intelligent discussion on the events of the day? Then this open discourse program is for you. We meet the first and third Thursdays of each month in the Reading Room at Kent Memorial Library. The group sets the agenda. Moderated by Rick Levy. Free and Open to the Public. Please email to register.

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

Preschool Storytime

Thursdays in April at 10:30 AM

Perfect for 3 - 5 year olds, but fun for everyone!

Join Mrs. Tricia for a classic library storytime - books, songs, bubbles, and more! Come for early literary skills, social connections, and fun! We will focus on one special picture book author each week.

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

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

Director’s Choice is a celebration of the talented artists who the gallery represents some who have been with me since the very beginning others for twenty or more years.

Thirty years ago, I never could have imagined that what began as a small idea would become a life’s work. I am proud to say that the gallery supports many artists in a multitude of ways allowing them to continue their important contributions and work. The rewards, the complexities and the sheer tenacity that being in this business for three decades requires are many; countless studio visits, writing hundreds of press releases and letters of recommendation, juggling finances in a fluctuating marketplace, managing personalities of artists, collectors and art advisors (OY!), marketing, sales, parties, dinners, long installation days, endless loading and unloading my SUV, gallons of white paint only eclipsed by the gallons of white wine and so much more. It has been a journey worth celebrating.

The Director’s Choice exhibition is installed in both beautiful buildings in Kent, CT and includes almost every artist in the program. Artists who have forthcoming exhibitions or were recently featured in exhibitions are not included in Director's Choice but are valued members of the team and we thank them. It has been my honor to exhibit their work and support their careers.

A special thanks goes out to the many employees and interns who have contributed to the gallery. My sincere and deep gratitude goes to Associate Director Lani Holloway who celebrated her 10-year anniversary at the gallery in 2024.

Artists: Daniel Anselmi, Jackie Battenfield, Gabe Brown, Cecile Chong, David Collins, Susan English, Gregory Hennen, Mary Judge, Andrea Kantrowitz, David Konigsberg, Margaret Lanzetta, Joanne Mattera, Laura Moriarty, Margaret Neill, Melanie Parke, Donna Sharrett, Eve Stockton, Josette Urso, Eleanor White, Tricia Wright

Please contact Lani Ming Holloway, Associate Director, Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquires or to arrange a preview of the exhibition.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

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

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

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

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

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

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

Gallery Show, COLOR & FORM, held at the Five Points Annex. View Elizabeth Wolff's work in her adventures through a variety of media (watercolors, linocut printing, fabric, and olive oil tins) alongside her father, Guy Wolff (a horticultural potter and ceramicist) and the rare opportunity to see the work of her grandfather, Robert Jay Wolff who was an American Bauhaus Abstract Expressionist and Head of the Arts at Brooklyn College. Gallery open to all, with a possible opportunity to see the Artist at work. Gallery open 12-5:00pm Tuesday - Sunday, or by appointment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The GOSHEN GARDEN CLUB will have their monthly meeting on April 3, 2025 at Camp Cochipianee on Beach Street in Goshen. The guest speaker will now be

Dr. Richard Benfield. He is an internationally recognized scholar on Garden Tourism.

Dr. Benfield's presentation will be titled "Tulipmania"

The program will begin at 1:00pm and Non-members are welcome at

$10/ per person.

Calling all local arts and culture organizations! Arts prescriptions are coming to Connecticut, and the time to get involved is now.

Sign-up to be part of Art Pharmacy’s network of arts and culture partners, and be first in line to receive new, paying members at your public events.

Join us on Thursday, April 3, for a special webinar to learn more about this program!

Register to attend!

This program will be hosted by guests from the community who will share their interests and love of books with children.

Space is limited, please register on our website at https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/second-third-grade-story-craft/

On Thursday, April 3rd, at 6:30 PM, 2nd Home welcomes the blues duo of Rick Badowski and Michael St. George for their first time here. Michael is a 2nd Home veteran, performing here as Slim & St. George and Carm & St. George. This time he is teaming up with an amazing harmonica player in Rich Badowski for a night of great blues. Come down and make them feel welcome. Great music, food, drinks, and fun!

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

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

Our Google Street View is online, and it looks amazing:

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/

Live, In-Person:

Join us as Litchfield resident and author Rod Oneglia shares his latest novel, A Quiet Grief. This historical novel begins in 1938 when a young, idealistic propaganda minister in Benito Mussolini’s fascist government (Gianni Orlandini) meets a Venetian girl of patrician family (Gabriella De Luca), also a nurse in the Italian Red Cross. Enraptured, they fall in love and plan to marry - all as Adolf Hitler places his first Nazi SS operatives in Rome to secure his “Pact of Steel” with Mussolini prior to the start of World War II.

Rod Oneglia loves Italy. All of it. For its unbelievable history, its art, its architecture, its food and especially for the diversity of its regions settled by peoples from all corners of the globe who traversed its boundaries over the centuries introducing their own cultures into the mix. His education includes a BA from Middlebury College, study abroad in Florence, a JD from the University of Connecticut, and a year at the Wharton School. Rod is a multifaceted writer, having authored three plays, a musical, a humor book, a collection of Vietnam War poems, and a series of short stories. Additionally, he sculpts bronze works which are part of private collections and a museum.

Filmmaker Diego Ongaro will present a selection of three contemporary films by prominent European directors, each exploring the power of innocence and unyielding hope in the face of adversity.

Join us for the first of the three films in this series, Happy as Lazzaro (2018). Lyrical, haunting, and profoundly moving, Happy as Lazzaro unfolds in an isolated Italian village where a saintly young man’s innocence bridges the realms of the earthly and the mystical. A spellbinding fable from Alice Rohrwacher, it blends neorealist grit with ethereal wonder, evoking a timeless parable of human kindness and exploitation.

The film is 128 minutes long. Please register here.

Strangers become friends through art making

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

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

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

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

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

Mail us your Postcard Art

A throwback to the 20th Century Mail Art movement, we're inviting artists from around the world to send us your art on a postcard.

One side: Your art, the other side, we need your name, email address, title of work, any artist statement addressed to:

Personaland PO Box 219 Harwinton, CT 06791

Just the cost of postage. Deadline for cards - May 5

We plan to exhibit the postcards at global art locations

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

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

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

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

See the visual and videos online

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

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

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens is thrilled to begin its 2025 season of art exhibits with a dual showcase by painter Doug Bloom and sculptor Justin Perlman. Their show, “Contrast,” will be on view beginning Friday, March 14.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

This exhibition is a dynamic interplay of artistic perspectives—Bloom’s ethereal abstract watercolor landscapes meet Perlman’s sculptural narratives. Together, their works create a visual symphony of fluidity and form, inviting visitors into a space where nature, memory, and imagination collide.

The exhibit will be on view through Sunday, April 6. Check our social media for weekly open hours: @judyblackpark on Instagram and Facebook. 

An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown’s larger than life human figures are instantly recognizable. And while her bronze sculptures grace public spaces from Beijing to New York City, each piece begins as a clay figure fired at her home studio in Kent, CT.

An opening reception for The Art of Joy Brown takes place Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Tremaine Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays.

You're invited to the 8th annual Spring Arts & Fine Craft Show at the Historic Merwinsville Hotel, featuring over 80 local artists. The show is open Friday, April 4th - Sunday, April 6th and Friday, April 11th - Sunday, April 13th from 10am - 5pm all days. Both weekends will include live artist demonstrations where you'll be able to interact with a number of artists and ask questions about their artwork.

www.merwinsvillehotel.org

1 Browns Forge Road, Gaylordsville, CT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For 2-year-olds and their caregivers. A cheery program of stories, music, rhymes, and crafts designed for busy toddlers.

Space is limited, please register on our website at https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/morning-toddler/

Live, In-Person & on Zoom:

Mark Scarbrough returns to OWL this Spring; leading us through 8 weeks of some of his favorite Flannery O’Connor works.

Flannery O'Connor is considered one of America's greatest fiction writers and her writing often reflects her Catholic faith, and frequently examined questions of morality and ethics. When she died in August of 1964, The New York Times called her “one of the nation’s most promising writers.” 

O’Connor is now as canonical as Faulkner and Welty. More than a great writer, she’s a cultural figure: a funny lady in a straw hat, puttering among peacocks, on crutches she likened to “flying buttresses.”

Discussion Schedule:

March 14: A Good Man is Hard to Find; A Circle of Fire; and Good Country People

March 21: The Artificial N----r and The Displaced Person

March 28: Wise Blood: chapters 1 - 7

April 4: Wise Blood: chapters 8 - 14

April 18: The Violent Bear It Away: chapters 1 - 5

April 25: The Violent Bear It Away: chapters 6 - 12

May 2: Greenleaf; The Enduring Chill; and The Comforts of Home

May 9: Everything That Rises Must Converge; The Lame Shall Enter First; and Revelation

MARK SCARBROUGH is a former English Professor and author who teaches seminars on Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner and Toni Morrison. He also hosts three literary podcasts.

The library will have copies of Flannery O'Connor's works to borrow and titles are also available to download as e-books or e-audios to OWL library card holders.

Registration required for in-person attendance.

Arthur Nager: Building Stories

Opening Celebration February 23

February 17, 2025 – June 1, 2025

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

Director’s Choice is a celebration of the talented artists who the gallery represents some who have been with me since the very beginning others for twenty or more years.

Thirty years ago, I never could have imagined that what began as a small idea would become a life’s work. I am proud to say that the gallery supports many artists in a multitude of ways allowing them to continue their important contributions and work. The rewards, the complexities and the sheer tenacity that being in this business for three decades requires are many; countless studio visits, writing hundreds of press releases and letters of recommendation, juggling finances in a fluctuating marketplace, managing personalities of artists, collectors and art advisors (OY!), marketing, sales, parties, dinners, long installation days, endless loading and unloading my SUV, gallons of white paint only eclipsed by the gallons of white wine and so much more. It has been a journey worth celebrating.

The Director’s Choice exhibition is installed in both beautiful buildings in Kent, CT and includes almost every artist in the program. Artists who have forthcoming exhibitions or were recently featured in exhibitions are not included in Director's Choice but are valued members of the team and we thank them. It has been my honor to exhibit their work and support their careers.

A special thanks goes out to the many employees and interns who have contributed to the gallery. My sincere and deep gratitude goes to Associate Director Lani Holloway who celebrated her 10-year anniversary at the gallery in 2024.

Artists: Daniel Anselmi, Jackie Battenfield, Gabe Brown, Cecile Chong, David Collins, Susan English, Gregory Hennen, Mary Judge, Andrea Kantrowitz, David Konigsberg, Margaret Lanzetta, Joanne Mattera, Laura Moriarty, Margaret Neill, Melanie Parke, Donna Sharrett, Eve Stockton, Josette Urso, Eleanor White, Tricia Wright

Please contact Lani Ming Holloway, Associate Director, Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquires or to arrange a preview of the exhibition.

August 15, 2024 – September 21, 2025

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

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

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

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

Make it a Weekend Getaway!

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

Gallery 25 and Creative Arts Studio

New Milford Commission on the Arts

11 Railroad St., New Milford, CT 06776

860-355-6009 * gallery25ct.com

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

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

Museum still features ‘Jewish Experience’ exhibit

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

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

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

Gallery Show, COLOR & FORM, held at the Five Points Annex. View Elizabeth Wolff's work in her adventures through a variety of media (watercolors, linocut printing, fabric, and olive oil tins) alongside her father, Guy Wolff (a horticultural potter and ceramicist) and the rare opportunity to see the work of her grandfather, Robert Jay Wolff who was an American Bauhaus Abstract Expressionist and Head of the Arts at Brooklyn College. Gallery open to all, with a possible opportunity to see the Artist at work. Gallery open 12-5:00pm Tuesday - Sunday, or by appointment.

Ever wanted to try your hand at the pottery wheel? Now’s your chance! Join Roberta Ahuja for a hands-on pottery experience where you’ll shape your very own small bowl from clay. No experience? No problem! Roberta will guide you through the process, making it fun and easy for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Once you’ve crafted your piece, Roberta will glaze and fire it—then return your finished masterpiece to Gallery 25 for pickup when it’s ready. This is a fantastic opportunity to get creative, feel the magic of the wheel, and take home a one-of-a-kind keepsake!

⚡ Limited spots available—reserve your 20-minute session now!

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

For 3-4-year-olds and their caregivers. This program promotes social skills through stories, fingerplays, flannel board activities, music, and crafts.

Space is limited, please register on our website at https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/afternoon-preschool-storytime/

Come Join the Library Adventure Club, an after-school program specially

designed for 4th and 5th graders. This fun series combines games, science experiments, Makerspace creations, art projects, and more while unraveling an intriguing mystery. We’ll be reading James Ponti’s The Sherlock Society. Each session begins with a quick discussion of the story, followed by a surprise activity inspired by the book. Some chapters will be read together during the meetings, while others will be read at home to keep the suspense alive. Let’s kick off the series with a fun challenge on February 28. Are you ready to crack the case and join the adventure?

* DUE TO REGION 12 HALF DAY WE WILL MEET AT 1PM ON FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH, THERE WILL BE NO BUS.*

Space is limited please register on our website at https://www.gunnlibrary.org/series/library-adventure-club/