Community Calendar

The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it "Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal." It’s The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award®-winning Best Musical.

This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, The Book of Mormon has truly become an international sensation.

Contains explicit language.

The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award®-winning Best Musical. This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, The Book of Mormon has truly become an international sensation. Contains explicit language.

The Sherman Library is pleased to announce the next art show: ”Waters Calming Peace” – Watercolors by Charlene Leichter.   With water as the focal point, Leichter’s paintings capture nature’s colors, moods and beauty. They give a sense of calm, of peace. The opening reception will be Friday March 29, 2024 from 6-8pm. The show will be on display at the Sherman Library from March 29 – May 8, 2024 both at the Library and on their website, [www.ShermanLibrary.org](http://www.shermanlibrary.org). “When I look at a finished painting, I want to feel peace and comfort, then I know it’s ready to provide the same to others.  I want my work to make someone feel warmth, peace and happiness in their heart.” Says Leichter. A native New Yorker, Leichter now resides in Sherman CT. She has a BA in Economics from Stony Brook and a career in Information Technology as a developer and database administrator. Currently she is working part time, being fully retired at the end of the year.  In 2022, post-surgery, needing to find a diversion from the pain and discomfort, she turned to her past love of watercolor painting. Just as she had taught herself database and IT technology, she began to teach herself how to paint. Not having done any drawing or painting since high school, she started watching YouTube videos of drawing, perspective and watercolor tutorials for hours on end.  Luckily, in her house there were art supplies in storage containers that she opened and dusted off.  Followed by practice, practice, practice! Trying and testing different techniques and eventually finding her own style. Through this came a love of landscapes, especially with water as a focal point. No surprise here, as she grew up on Long Island’s great South Bay and was no stranger to the ways of water and how peaceful yet powerful it can be.  What a wonderful way to celebrate her first solo show by paying tribute to water and its calming and peaceful ways. For more information about this show and the Sherman Library, visit: www.[shermanlibrary.org](http://shermanlibrary.org).

Call for Art – “Plant Life” and “Plant Life: NYC - Global”

Celebrate Spring by sharing your flora

image, film, music and poetry.

No Entry Fee. Deadline: April 29th

https://personaland.com/submit/plantlife.php

“Plant Life” art show launches online on Friday, May 3rd.

“Plant Life: NYC – Global” is an exhibition and digital event at Prime Produce, 424 West 54th St, New York City, May 17-19 featuring selections from the online show!

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

“Homage”

With Respect to Someone or Something

Enjoy the images, films, music and poetry from global artist.

“Homage” art show launches online on Friday, April 5th

https://personaland.com/hut/exhibitions/

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

Enroll now for an unforgettable summer filled with creativity, learning, and fun at American Mural Project. Your child will thrive in AMP’s small-group programs, guided by their dedicated teaching artist, on AMP's indoor/outdoor campus in Winsted, CT. Scholarships are available!

Programs for Kids 7–11:

STEAM July 8–12

Grow July 15–19

Dabble in Art July 29–August 2

Programs for Teens (12+):

Outdoor Design & Build Full

Theater July 8–11 and 15–19

Teen Art Studio July 22–26

Music July 29–August 2

Registration and Information:

americanmuralproject.org/summer

This year’s Climate Challenge will run from Earth Day (April 22) through May 31st, and it is part of the State’s effort to meet its emission targets to help prevent further worsening of adverse climate impacts. 2024 Climate Challenge - CTrides

You are invited to visit....

A Showing of Liz Rosiello's Floral Watercolor Paintings

Roxbury Senior Center - 7 South St. Roxbury CT

April 1 - May 31

Artist Reception: Saturday May 4th - 2pm to 5pm

**Registration will be available on Monday, March 25th at 8AM. Please be sure you are able to access your account prior to registration**

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.  

Requirements: A water bottle, ballet shoes are encouraged.

Coordinator: Lindsey Rourke Burk 

Residents $70.00, Non-residents $90.00

Classes:

9 to 9:30 AM - ages 2y 6m to 2y 11m

9:30 to 10:15 AM - ages 3y

Lola Baltzell grew up in rural northwest Iowa, and when she was very young, her mother would invite her to explore the woods behind their farmhouse. She called it the “friendly forest”. Love of the woods has been an enduring aspect of Ms. Baltzell’s life. These days she is fortunate to share a house in Bethlehem that abuts hundreds of acres of forests, woods and streams and enjoys with her dogs and anyone else who cares to go for a hike. Ms. Baltzell works in different mediums, but the work shown in the Library’s Gallery Space is encaustic. Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is a form of painting that involves a heated wax medium to which colored pigments have been added. The molten mix is applied to a firm surface, usually prepared wood. Encaustic medium is a mixture of beeswax and damar resin. The color comes from dried powdered pigments or oil paints. Once the surface has cooled, you can carve, add collage and continue to add opaque or transparent layers. It is an extremely responsive and creative medium. Ms. Baltzell is a self-taught artist. She is a member of several galleries including Galatea Fine Art in Boston, Atlantic Gallery in New York City. She is a member of Cambridge Arts Association, New England Wax as well as a contributing artist to the Corporate Program at Decordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA.

“Atmospheric Abstractions”

Presented by: Edward Muszala

Edward Muszala will be sharing his extraordinary collection of oil paintings. His work will be on display from Saturday, March 23rd -  Saturday, May 18th 2024. 

 

Pilot and artist, Edward Muszala, finds inspiration in the sky. “As a pilot I was aware of the constantly changing play of air and light in the atmosphere, the warmth of the sun, the speed of the wind, the water in the clouds” he says. Through the lens of a seasoned aviator, he captures the ever-shifting tapestry of light, color, and temperature in the atmosphere, translating this awe-inspiring spectacle onto canvas with his mastery of oil and encaustic techniques bringing these atmospheric scenes to life, evoking feelings of calm and awe in every brushstroke.

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/stairwell-gallery/

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.

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 ,

Coordinator:

Michele Gasiewski

Times:

Ages 3 - 4, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Ages 4 -5, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Residents $100.00, Non-Residents $120.00

Jeanine Chayka is the owner of Inspired Vibrations. She is a certified Practitioner of Sound and Vibrational Therapies, certified Practitioner in Reiki Energy 1 and 2 and Meditation guide. She offers individual and group sessions of Sound and Vibrational Healing and Meditation and Sound classes to heal the mind, body and spirit.

Some of her sessions and classes include the accompaniment of her Crystal and Himalayan bowls, chimes, drums, ocean drum, a rain stick and a variety of sound vibration instruments to heal. Her Guided Meditations and Sound Healing Meditations assist in activating the relaxation response to calm your mind, relax your body and balance your nervous system. It helps release stress, emotions and nourishes the soul.

Jeanine’s Meditative Sounds promotes healing. It relaxes the body and mind, as well as slowing down the breathing and brain waves to create a state of relaxation allowing the entire nervous system to relax and heal.

Meditation- Relax and Unwind

Jeanine will offer a guided meditation each week with a different focus to bring peace and harmony to your life. Each class will talk about the energy centers, intentions, and ways to relax and unwind at home between classes. The class will include soft music to allow you to relax throughout the guided meditation and beyond.

Leaving you with a feeling of a deep sleep and a release of any stress and worry that you came with.

Instructor: Jeanine Chayka

Residents $105.00, Non-Residents $125.00

Two sessions to choose from:

• Session 1: 10 AM - 11 AM
• Session 2: 6 PM - 7 PM

"Tangled in Color": an exhibition of works in oil and acrylic by Kathleen L'Hommedieu.

Kathleen L'Hommedieu, born and raised in Connecticut, finds inspiration through light and color in the landscape and sky. Many years of traveling for business and rowing competitions through Europe are also a major influence.

"We are immersed in light, color and energy from all that surrounds us no matter where we find ourselves."

Layering is nothing new for Kathleen. It is a technique that comes naturally as she builds a canvas and is guided through its evolution. Using a series of tools - from brush to palette knife - she lets the layers deepen, a process that can take years while perfecting a canvas. "The background tells me where to go," is how she explains the method, "and I add color or texture." Recently, the layers have led to new revelations of shadow and light as the colors intermingle and intertwine, creating interrelationships within a work of art informed by past canvases. Her abstracts are often memories of moments she has experienced - inspired by a foggy window after a storm by the sea, the turbulence of winter by the ocean, a still-life in its vivid interplay of color and form, or a grove of young saplings lit by the sun.

This show is a series of explorations in interwoven color to share the journey of an artist's growing perception, but expressing a universal message. Kathleen's quest leads the viewer to experience a deepening vision of fleeting color play and brilliant moments in our surroundings. "Art teaches you to see," she says, "and I strive to capture that energy."

Based on a true story, this heartfelt, underdog comedy follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), hoping he will turn the world's worst soccer team into winners.

PG 13 - 1 hr 44

Register at https://www.gunnlibrary.org/programs/

We invite you to sign up for the next New Milford CERT basic training class staring April 29. During this FREE 20-hour course you will learn:

•CERT organization

•Disaster preparedness

•Fire safety

•Basic first aid

•Light search and rescue 

•Hazards and their impact

•Care for self, family, friends, community

Contact us for more information: info.newmilfordCERT@gmail.com

The Sherman Library is pleased to announce the next art show: ”Waters Calming Peace” – Watercolors by Charlene Leichter.   With water as the focal point, Leichter’s paintings capture nature’s colors, moods and beauty. They give a sense of calm, of peace. The opening reception will be Friday March 29, 2024 from 6-8pm. The show will be on display at the Sherman Library from March 29 – May 8, 2024 both at the Library and on their website, [www.ShermanLibrary.org](http://www.shermanlibrary.org). “When I look at a finished painting, I want to feel peace and comfort, then I know it’s ready to provide the same to others.  I want my work to make someone feel warmth, peace and happiness in their heart.” Says Leichter. A native New Yorker, Leichter now resides in Sherman CT. She has a BA in Economics from Stony Brook and a career in Information Technology as a developer and database administrator. Currently she is working part time, being fully retired at the end of the year.  In 2022, post-surgery, needing to find a diversion from the pain and discomfort, she turned to her past love of watercolor painting. Just as she had taught herself database and IT technology, she began to teach herself how to paint. Not having done any drawing or painting since high school, she started watching YouTube videos of drawing, perspective and watercolor tutorials for hours on end.  Luckily, in her house there were art supplies in storage containers that she opened and dusted off.  Followed by practice, practice, practice! Trying and testing different techniques and eventually finding her own style. Through this came a love of landscapes, especially with water as a focal point. No surprise here, as she grew up on Long Island’s great South Bay and was no stranger to the ways of water and how peaceful yet powerful it can be.  What a wonderful way to celebrate her first solo show by paying tribute to water and its calming and peaceful ways. For more information about this show and the Sherman Library, visit: www.[shermanlibrary.org](http://shermanlibrary.org).

Call for Art – “Plant Life” and “Plant Life: NYC - Global”

Celebrate Spring by sharing your flora

image, film, music and poetry.

No Entry Fee. Deadline: April 29th

https://personaland.com/submit/plantlife.php

“Plant Life” art show launches online on Friday, May 3rd.

“Plant Life: NYC – Global” is an exhibition and digital event at Prime Produce, 424 West 54th St, New York City, May 17-19 featuring selections from the online show!

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

“Homage”

With Respect to Someone or Something

Enjoy the images, films, music and poetry from global artist.

“Homage” art show launches online on Friday, April 5th

https://personaland.com/hut/exhibitions/

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

Enroll now for an unforgettable summer filled with creativity, learning, and fun at American Mural Project. Your child will thrive in AMP’s small-group programs, guided by their dedicated teaching artist, on AMP's indoor/outdoor campus in Winsted, CT. Scholarships are available!

Programs for Kids 7–11:

STEAM July 8–12

Grow July 15–19

Dabble in Art July 29–August 2

Programs for Teens (12+):

Outdoor Design & Build Full

Theater July 8–11 and 15–19

Teen Art Studio July 22–26

Music July 29–August 2

Registration and Information:

americanmuralproject.org/summer

This year’s Climate Challenge will run from Earth Day (April 22) through May 31st, and it is part of the State’s effort to meet its emission targets to help prevent further worsening of adverse climate impacts. 2024 Climate Challenge - CTrides

You are invited to visit....

A Showing of Liz Rosiello's Floral Watercolor Paintings

Roxbury Senior Center - 7 South St. Roxbury CT

April 1 - May 31

Artist Reception: Saturday May 4th - 2pm to 5pm

Lola Baltzell grew up in rural northwest Iowa, and when she was very young, her mother would invite her to explore the woods behind their farmhouse. She called it the “friendly forest”. Love of the woods has been an enduring aspect of Ms. Baltzell’s life. These days she is fortunate to share a house in Bethlehem that abuts hundreds of acres of forests, woods and streams and enjoys with her dogs and anyone else who cares to go for a hike. Ms. Baltzell works in different mediums, but the work shown in the Library’s Gallery Space is encaustic. Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is a form of painting that involves a heated wax medium to which colored pigments have been added. The molten mix is applied to a firm surface, usually prepared wood. Encaustic medium is a mixture of beeswax and damar resin. The color comes from dried powdered pigments or oil paints. Once the surface has cooled, you can carve, add collage and continue to add opaque or transparent layers. It is an extremely responsive and creative medium. Ms. Baltzell is a self-taught artist. She is a member of several galleries including Galatea Fine Art in Boston, Atlantic Gallery in New York City. She is a member of Cambridge Arts Association, New England Wax as well as a contributing artist to the Corporate Program at Decordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA.

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

Tuesdays, April 30 to June 11

Session 1: Ages 1y-2y 9:15am-10:00am

Session 2: Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15am-11:00am

Session 3: Ages 2y-3y4m 11:15am-12:00pm - ONLY SESSION WITH AVAILABLE SPOTS

Wednesdays, May 1 to June 12

Session 1: Ages 1y-2y 9:15am-10:00am

Session 2: Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15am-11:00am

Residents $70.00, Non-residents $90.00

“Atmospheric Abstractions”

Presented by: Edward Muszala

Edward Muszala will be sharing his extraordinary collection of oil paintings. His work will be on display from Saturday, March 23rd -  Saturday, May 18th 2024. 

 

Pilot and artist, Edward Muszala, finds inspiration in the sky. “As a pilot I was aware of the constantly changing play of air and light in the atmosphere, the warmth of the sun, the speed of the wind, the water in the clouds” he says. Through the lens of a seasoned aviator, he captures the ever-shifting tapestry of light, color, and temperature in the atmosphere, translating this awe-inspiring spectacle onto canvas with his mastery of oil and encaustic techniques bringing these atmospheric scenes to life, evoking feelings of calm and awe in every brushstroke.

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/stairwell-gallery/

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

Registration: 860-567-7440.

Sing songs, read a story, do a craft! 

Visit the Morris Public Library during the month of April as we participate in the Connecticut Library Association Passport to Connecticut Libraries Program. Patrons can obtain their Library Passport here at the Morris Library and begin their journey to multiple participating CT Libraries. Each Library will stamp their visitors’ passports and give each visitor a small gift!

There will be winners in two categories, and four $200 gift cards, one for adults and one for children in each category.

Category One: Each participant who visits at least five participating public libraries and has the corresponding stamps (and returns their passport to a participating library by the deadline) will earn an entry into that library's drawing. There will be a final "all libraries" drawing among the contestants who have visited at least five libraries. 

Category Two: Each library will select the adult and the child who have visited the most participating public libraries. There will be a final "all libraries" drawing among the contestants who have visited the most libraries.

Details: 860-567-7440 or https://morrispubliclibrary.net

The Tremaine Art Gallery at The Hotchkiss School at 11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville CT is pleased to present Dialogue: Art in Conversation, featuring works by Valerie Hammond and Nathaniel (Tate) Klacsmann, from April 2 through June 2, 2024, with an opening reception on Saturday, April 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. This exhibition explores the creative processes of two artists whose work reverberates around questions of social inequity, magic, myth, and the environment. Together, their pieces begin a conversation filled with reflective echoes, offering opportunity for intersection around creativity and process. Curated by Joan Baldwin and Terri Moore, Dialogue also includes video and photography by Colleen Macmillan, Ann Villano, and Hotchkiss film students. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Location: Library Children’s Room (2nd floor) Enjoy stories, lullabies, nursery rhymes, and finger plays. Works best with one child per caregiver. For ages 24 months and younger.

All ages are welcome to the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village on Tuesdays at 10:30 am for story time. We'll read a variety of fun, engaging books, share a snack and make a craft.

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!

Whittemore Gallery

January 21, 2024 – May 19, 2024

(Re)Work It! Women Artists on Women’s Labor explores the many types of labor that women are often expected to manage – from caring for one’s family to participating in the labor force, from negotiating beauty standards to handling emotional labor, and more. A reprisal of a smaller exhibition from 2022, this new show delves more deeply into the topic by incorporating a wider range of voices and perspectives. Including artwork from approximately 30 contemporary female-identifying artists, (Re)Work It! broadens our definition and understanding of women's labor in 21st century America.

Free with Admission

On View: March 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024

With large-scale and mysterious photographs, screenwriter and film producer Carolyn Marks Blackwood invites the viewer to participate in the creation of meaning. By associating brief caption lines with images of deserted streets, isolated forests, and houses lit from within, visitors are encouraged to supply their own narrative inspired by their unique experiences. Both haunting and profound, The Story Series provides an opportunity for creative engagement and deep reflection.

Beginning in March the David M. Hunt Library will host "Coffee & Conversation" on Tuesdays at 11 am. Everyone is invited to stop by the library to catch up with their neighbors and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. This program is free and open to the public. 

From April 13 through May 18, The Cornwall Library is presenting Live It Up!, a selection of bold, vivid landscape and abstract works by artist Joelle Sander (1942–2023) that fully justify the name of the show. The opening reception on April 13 from 5 to 7 pm, with registration requested at https://cornwalllibrary.org/events/.

Sander was already an award-winning author in her late 40s when she began painting seriously. She pursued painting with characteristic zeal, putting it on equal footing with writing, and attending studio classes in New York until the week before her passing. Early on, she took to heart a comment by artist Wolf Kahn, who noticed in one of her pastels an unusual color choice. "Ah ha," he said, "You see, you are a colorist!"

Steve Ninteman, a fellow artist and friend, says “Color is what Joelle celebrated the most in all her work. She also pursued themes of movement, fire, scale, trees and light. What is inspiring is that she took whatever idea she was interested in and brought it directly to a large canvas. Joelle did lovely personal drawings around her Connecticut home, in museums and Central Park, but she didn't do many preparatory sketches for paintings. Instead she would make a few simple outlines with her brush and dive in. Her color choices appeared quickly in assured passages…Looking at her surroundings with love and attention, Joelle transformed them with her personal form making, then gave them a life of their own with color choices that only she could imagine. ”

Sander was inspired by painters as diverse as turn-of-the-20th-century Canadian landscapist Tom Thomson and American abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell.

She lived in New York City and West Cornwall, Connecticut. Live it Up! will offer oil paintings for sale, with proceeds benefiting art and poetry programs at The Cornwall Library.

This is a 2 - part workshop. Participants are expected to attend both sessions.

Working on an artistic endeavor, event, or production and not sure where to start? Get an introduction into the basic building blocks of planning, executing, and monitoring a project, no matter the size. Ana Tinajero is an award-winning Afro-Latin dance artist, entrepreneur, and performing arts curator who loves engineering spaces for community connection through the arts. In this workshop, she will cover the fundamentals of crafting a blueprint for success.

PART 1: BUILDING THE PLAN 

Define goals and scope with finite and clear deliverables. Draft a timeline and budget to help allocate resources and identify those needed. Choose a framework of guiding principles for executing a plan that resonates with your artistic practice and creative needs.

Suitable to artists of all disciplines. 30 participants max.

Open to artists in Rhode Island and rural Connecticut.

This workshop will be recorded! If you're unable to attend the live session, you can still register via Zoom and, if approved, we’ll send you a link to access the recording after the workshop.

We invite all Veterans to join us on the Last Tuesday of Every month for the Veterans Luncheon. Please allow us to express our gratitude for all of your dedication and sacrifices for our country.

Instructor Delores Coan offers a comprehensive, hands-on approach to learning the skills and techniques for exploration and self-expression through clay. Class participants will develop a working knowledge of handbuilding and throwing on the potter’s wheel, as well as finishing methods of glazing 

and firing in a kiln.

https://fivepointsarts.org/workshops/

Whether you're a novice or experienced artist, this workshop with pastel artist Leslie Landau will provide you with tools and techniques to capture the subtleties that pastel drawings are able to achieve. Participants will learn and experiment with a variety of layering techniques to create dynamic drawings that showcase the interplay of light and shadow.

https://fivepointsarts.org/workshops/

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

Residents $80.00, Non-Residents $100.00

We are hosting an open house to showcase our preschool & transitional kindergarten program for families looking for a program for students who do not meet the new state requirement to enter kindergarten.

We are accepting enrollments now for the 2024-2025 year!

Connecticut has no shortage of cryptid tales. Chances are good that you’ve heard about the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills in Meriden or the Winsted Wildman of Winchester and Barkhamsted. But these are only a few of the mythical creatures that call Connecticut home.

Join Kent Memorial Library and House of Books for an author talk with Connecticut Cryptids artist Valerie Ruby-Omen and author Patrick Scalisi.

All ages are welcome!

Registration is required - Register here for April 30 session

Join us for this all new book club created for caregivers and their children to participate in together! Over the course of each month read a new-ish book with a classic feel, then–if you have the time and inclination–read the classic book that influenced and/or inspired it. We will meet to discuss the books at the end of the month while enjoying tea and cookies. Books are available for pickup at the beginning of each month.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser  

It’s five days before Christmas and the Vanderbeeker children — Isa, Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, and Laney — should be dreaming about sugar plums and presents. But when Mr. Beiderman, their seriously unpleasant landlord and third floor neighbor, says they need to leave their brownstone apartment by New Year’s, there are suddenly more pressing worries. And the Vanderbeekers aren’t the kind of kids who will sit by sucking candy canes while some grouchy old man kicks them out of the home and Harlem neighborhood they love.

 

All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

Meet the All-of-a-Kind Family -- Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie -- who live with their parents in New York City at the turn of the century.

Together they share adventures that find them searching for hidden buttons while dusting Mama's front parlor and visiting with the peddlers in Papa's shop on rainy days. The girls enjoy doing everything together, especially when it involves holidays and surprises. But no one could have prepared them for the biggest surprise of all!

Every other Tuesday

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: The Tapping Reeve Meadow (82 South Street)

FREE

Registration not required

Join us for a bi-weekly knitting & crafting 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!

The Sherman Library is pleased to announce the next art show: ”Waters Calming Peace” – Watercolors by Charlene Leichter.   With water as the focal point, Leichter’s paintings capture nature’s colors, moods and beauty. They give a sense of calm, of peace. The opening reception will be Friday March 29, 2024 from 6-8pm. The show will be on display at the Sherman Library from March 29 – May 8, 2024 both at the Library and on their website, [www.ShermanLibrary.org](http://www.shermanlibrary.org). “When I look at a finished painting, I want to feel peace and comfort, then I know it’s ready to provide the same to others.  I want my work to make someone feel warmth, peace and happiness in their heart.” Says Leichter. A native New Yorker, Leichter now resides in Sherman CT. She has a BA in Economics from Stony Brook and a career in Information Technology as a developer and database administrator. Currently she is working part time, being fully retired at the end of the year.  In 2022, post-surgery, needing to find a diversion from the pain and discomfort, she turned to her past love of watercolor painting. Just as she had taught herself database and IT technology, she began to teach herself how to paint. Not having done any drawing or painting since high school, she started watching YouTube videos of drawing, perspective and watercolor tutorials for hours on end.  Luckily, in her house there were art supplies in storage containers that she opened and dusted off.  Followed by practice, practice, practice! Trying and testing different techniques and eventually finding her own style. Through this came a love of landscapes, especially with water as a focal point. No surprise here, as she grew up on Long Island’s great South Bay and was no stranger to the ways of water and how peaceful yet powerful it can be.  What a wonderful way to celebrate her first solo show by paying tribute to water and its calming and peaceful ways. For more information about this show and the Sherman Library, visit: www.[shermanlibrary.org](http://shermanlibrary.org).

“Homage”

With Respect to Someone or Something

Enjoy the images, films, music and poetry from global artist.

“Homage” art show launches online on Friday, April 5th

https://personaland.com/hut/exhibitions/

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

Call for Art – “Plant Life” and “Plant Life: NYC - Global”

Celebrate Spring by sharing your flora

image, film, music and poetry.

No Entry Fee. Deadline: April 29th

https://personaland.com/submit/plantlife.php

“Plant Life” art show launches online on Friday, May 3rd.

“Plant Life: NYC – Global” is an exhibition and digital event at Prime Produce, 424 West 54th St, New York City, May 17-19 featuring selections from the online show!

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

This year’s Climate Challenge will run from Earth Day (April 22) through May 31st, and it is part of the State’s effort to meet its emission targets to help prevent further worsening of adverse climate impacts. 2024 Climate Challenge - CTrides

You are invited to visit....

A Showing of Liz Rosiello's Floral Watercolor Paintings

Roxbury Senior Center - 7 South St. Roxbury CT

April 1 - May 31

Artist Reception: Saturday May 4th - 2pm to 5pm

Mr. Stuart’s painting career spans forty eight years. His work has been widely exhibited including at the Highlands Museum of the Arts (solo show), the National Park Academy of the Arts, Punta Gorda National Art Exhibition Visual Arts Center, Connecticut Academy of Fine Art, Hudson Valley Art Association, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Hammond Museum, American Watercolor Society, National Society of Casein and Acrylic Painting , Adirondack National Watercolor Society, North East Watercolor Society and Connecticut Watercolor Society. His college education include the Ringling School of Art, School of Visual Arts and Paier School of Art and he is a Signature Member North East Watercolor Society. His paintings are in the permanent collections of the Kimberly Clark Corporation, Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center, and the Florence Griswold Museum. Mr. Stuart’s work will be on display during regular library hours.

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

Tuesdays, April 30 to June 11

Session 1: Ages 1y-2y 9:15am-10:00am

Session 2: Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15am-11:00am

Session 3: Ages 2y-3y4m 11:15am-12:00pm -ONLY SESSION WITH AVAILABLE SPOTS

Wednesdays, May 1 to June 12

Session 1: Ages 1y-2y 9:15am-10:00am

Session 2: Ages 2y-3y4m 10:15am-11:00am

Residents $70.00, Non-residents $90.00

“Atmospheric Abstractions”

Presented by: Edward Muszala

Edward Muszala will be sharing his extraordinary collection of oil paintings. His work will be on display from Saturday, March 23rd -  Saturday, May 18th 2024. 

 

Pilot and artist, Edward Muszala, finds inspiration in the sky. “As a pilot I was aware of the constantly changing play of air and light in the atmosphere, the warmth of the sun, the speed of the wind, the water in the clouds” he says. Through the lens of a seasoned aviator, he captures the ever-shifting tapestry of light, color, and temperature in the atmosphere, translating this awe-inspiring spectacle onto canvas with his mastery of oil and encaustic techniques bringing these atmospheric scenes to life, evoking feelings of calm and awe in every brushstroke.

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/stairwell-gallery/

The New York Times columnist David Brooks recently confessed to having two burning questions that come to mind as he reflects upon the current state of affairs in our country and world: “Why are people so sad?” and  “Why are people so mad?”. Those questions have led him to acknowledge the need all people have for something to believe in and something to hope in. We believe that our religious faith offers that resource to us. Join the Three Amigos, Rabbi Eric Polokoff, Father Joe Donnelly and Imam Gazmend Aga as they reflect on the resources for real hope and repair that each of their religious traditions offer. The day will offer participants quiet time to consider what the Three Amigos speak about as well as  the opportunity to ask them questions. 

Presented by Imam Gazmend Aga, Monsignor Joseph Donnelly and Rabbi Eric Polokoff 

Lunch is included.

The Tremaine Art Gallery at The Hotchkiss School at 11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville CT is pleased to present Dialogue: Art in Conversation, featuring works by Valerie Hammond and Nathaniel (Tate) Klacsmann, from April 2 through June 2, 2024, with an opening reception on Saturday, April 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. This exhibition explores the creative processes of two artists whose work reverberates around questions of social inequity, magic, myth, and the environment. Together, their pieces begin a conversation filled with reflective echoes, offering opportunity for intersection around creativity and process. Curated by Joan Baldwin and Terri Moore, Dialogue also includes video and photography by Colleen Macmillan, Ann Villano, and Hotchkiss film students. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

"Tangled in Color": an exhibition of works in oil and acrylic by Kathleen L'Hommedieu.

Kathleen L'Hommedieu, born and raised in Connecticut, finds inspiration through light and color in the landscape and sky. Many years of traveling for business and rowing competitions through Europe are also a major influence.

"We are immersed in light, color and energy from all that surrounds us no matter where we find ourselves."

Layering is nothing new for Kathleen. It is a technique that comes naturally as she builds a canvas and is guided through its evolution. Using a series of tools - from brush to palette knife - she lets the layers deepen, a process that can take years while perfecting a canvas. "The background tells me where to go," is how she explains the method, "and I add color or texture." Recently, the layers have led to new revelations of shadow and light as the colors intermingle and intertwine, creating interrelationships within a work of art informed by past canvases. Her abstracts are often memories of moments she has experienced - inspired by a foggy window after a storm by the sea, the turbulence of winter by the ocean, a still-life in its vivid interplay of color and form, or a grove of young saplings lit by the sun.

This show is a series of explorations in interwoven color to share the journey of an artist's growing perception, but expressing a universal message. Kathleen's quest leads the viewer to experience a deepening vision of fleeting color play and brilliant moments in our surroundings. "Art teaches you to see," she says, "and I strive to capture that energy."

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!

Whittemore Gallery

January 21, 2024 – May 19, 2024

(Re)Work It! Women Artists on Women’s Labor explores the many types of labor that women are often expected to manage – from caring for one’s family to participating in the labor force, from negotiating beauty standards to handling emotional labor, and more. A reprisal of a smaller exhibition from 2022, this new show delves more deeply into the topic by incorporating a wider range of voices and perspectives. Including artwork from approximately 30 contemporary female-identifying artists, (Re)Work It! broadens our definition and understanding of women's labor in 21st century America.

Free with Admission

On View: March 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024

With large-scale and mysterious photographs, screenwriter and film producer Carolyn Marks Blackwood invites the viewer to participate in the creation of meaning. By associating brief caption lines with images of deserted streets, isolated forests, and houses lit from within, visitors are encouraged to supply their own narrative inspired by their unique experiences. Both haunting and profound, The Story Series provides an opportunity for creative engagement and deep reflection.

From April 13 through May 18, The Cornwall Library is presenting Live It Up!, a selection of bold, vivid landscape and abstract works by artist Joelle Sander (1942–2023) that fully justify the name of the show. The opening reception on April 13 from 5 to 7 pm, with registration requested at https://cornwalllibrary.org/events/.

Sander was already an award-winning author in her late 40s when she began painting seriously. She pursued painting with characteristic zeal, putting it on equal footing with writing, and attending studio classes in New York until the week before her passing. Early on, she took to heart a comment by artist Wolf Kahn, who noticed in one of her pastels an unusual color choice. "Ah ha," he said, "You see, you are a colorist!"

Steve Ninteman, a fellow artist and friend, says “Color is what Joelle celebrated the most in all her work. She also pursued themes of movement, fire, scale, trees and light. What is inspiring is that she took whatever idea she was interested in and brought it directly to a large canvas. Joelle did lovely personal drawings around her Connecticut home, in museums and Central Park, but she didn't do many preparatory sketches for paintings. Instead she would make a few simple outlines with her brush and dive in. Her color choices appeared quickly in assured passages…Looking at her surroundings with love and attention, Joelle transformed them with her personal form making, then gave them a life of their own with color choices that only she could imagine. ”

Sander was inspired by painters as diverse as turn-of-the-20th-century Canadian landscapist Tom Thomson and American abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell.

She lived in New York City and West Cornwall, Connecticut. Live it Up! will offer oil paintings for sale, with proceeds benefiting art and poetry programs at The Cornwall Library.

Advanced Beginner Crocheting Class

- Come learn in a class designed just for you…an advanced beginner!!

- You will learn 3 ways to begin crocheting "in the round", how to read a yarn label (if you don’t already know how to do this), how to read a crochet pattern, and more!

- Projects include a coaster set as your 1st project and a hat as your ongoing project 

- 6 weekly classes, 1.5 hours each

- Requirements: This is NOT a beginner class! You MUST KNOW the basic crochet stitches -- the chain stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet! Other stitches, including 2 different ways to make a brim on your hat, will be taught

Instructor: Andrea Dener

Residents $110.00, Non-Residents $130.00

Location: Library Children’s Room (Upper Level) Have fun learning how to code with one of our librarians. For Grades 3-12. Younger children may need adult assistance.

Engaging and empowering activities

Open to all high school students

Meets first and third Wednesdays of each month from 5:15 to 7 p.m.

Meets at The Maxx, 94 Railroad St., New Milford

Presented by the New Milford Youth Agency

Register at myyouthagency.com

For more information, contact Sara Wendrow at swendrow@newmilford.org or 860-210-2030

Led by the incomparable Janina Rosa, unleash your inner performer as you dive into the rhythm and passion of Broadway’s most iconic dance numbers. From the dazzling lights of Times Square to the heart-pounding energy of classic show tunes, this class is your ticket to mastering the moves that light up the stage. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just finding your footing, Janina’s expertise and infectious enthusiasm will inspire you to shine like never before. Join us and let your talent take center stage!

Opera on our Theater Screen

Join fellow opera lovers to view and discuss an opera

Running time is 2 hrs and there will be one short interval when coffee will be available.

\* Pre-registration encouraged

Explore how sports can break down barriers and unite communities towards a common purpose. This free CommUNITY event will showcase the transformative impact of team sports, highlighting how working together toward a common goal fosters cooperation, understanding, and friendship among individuals. Through an inspiring keynote speaker and engaging panel discussion, CT-based athletes will share how the skills they developed on the field of play can translate to real-life situations, empowering individuals to challenge stereotypes and build bridges across divides. Together, we’ll discover how we can all play a role in creating a more inclusive and compassionate world, starting here in our own community. Keynote Speaker: Atty. Joe Summa Moderators: Kyle Brennan, Bob Sagendorf Panelists: Willie Davis, Deneen Fryer, Anthony Ireland, Jennifer LaCapra, Loren Luddy

The Sherman Library is pleased to announce the next art show: ”Waters Calming Peace” – Watercolors by Charlene Leichter.   With water as the focal point, Leichter’s paintings capture nature’s colors, moods and beauty. They give a sense of calm, of peace. The opening reception will be Friday March 29, 2024 from 6-8pm. The show will be on display at the Sherman Library from March 29 – May 8, 2024 both at the Library and on their website, [www.ShermanLibrary.org](http://www.shermanlibrary.org). “When I look at a finished painting, I want to feel peace and comfort, then I know it’s ready to provide the same to others.  I want my work to make someone feel warmth, peace and happiness in their heart.” Says Leichter. A native New Yorker, Leichter now resides in Sherman CT. She has a BA in Economics from Stony Brook and a career in Information Technology as a developer and database administrator. Currently she is working part time, being fully retired at the end of the year.  In 2022, post-surgery, needing to find a diversion from the pain and discomfort, she turned to her past love of watercolor painting. Just as she had taught herself database and IT technology, she began to teach herself how to paint. Not having done any drawing or painting since high school, she started watching YouTube videos of drawing, perspective and watercolor tutorials for hours on end.  Luckily, in her house there were art supplies in storage containers that she opened and dusted off.  Followed by practice, practice, practice! Trying and testing different techniques and eventually finding her own style. Through this came a love of landscapes, especially with water as a focal point. No surprise here, as she grew up on Long Island’s great South Bay and was no stranger to the ways of water and how peaceful yet powerful it can be.  What a wonderful way to celebrate her first solo show by paying tribute to water and its calming and peaceful ways. For more information about this show and the Sherman Library, visit: www.[shermanlibrary.org](http://shermanlibrary.org).

Call for Art – “Plant Life” and “Plant Life: NYC - Global”

Celebrate Spring by sharing your flora

image, film, music and poetry.

No Entry Fee. Deadline: April 29th

https://personaland.com/submit/plantlife.php

“Plant Life” art show launches online on Friday, May 3rd.

“Plant Life: NYC – Global” is an exhibition and digital event at Prime Produce, 424 West 54th St, New York City, May 17-19 featuring selections from the online show!

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

“Homage”

With Respect to Someone or Something

Enjoy the images, films, music and poetry from global artist.

“Homage” art show launches online on Friday, April 5th

https://personaland.com/hut/exhibitions/

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net

This year’s Climate Challenge will run from Earth Day (April 22) through May 31st, and it is part of the State’s effort to meet its emission targets to help prevent further worsening of adverse climate impacts. 2024 Climate Challenge - CTrides

You are invited to visit....

A Showing of Liz Rosiello's Floral Watercolor Paintings

Roxbury Senior Center - 7 South St. Roxbury CT

April 1 - May 31

Artist Reception: Saturday May 4th - 2pm to 5pm

Mr. Stuart’s painting career spans forty eight years. His work has been widely exhibited including at the Highlands Museum of the Arts (solo show), the National Park Academy of the Arts, Punta Gorda National Art Exhibition Visual Arts Center, Connecticut Academy of Fine Art, Hudson Valley Art Association, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Hammond Museum, American Watercolor Society, National Society of Casein and Acrylic Painting , Adirondack National Watercolor Society, North East Watercolor Society and Connecticut Watercolor Society. His college education include the Ringling School of Art, School of Visual Arts and Paier School of Art and he is a Signature Member North East Watercolor Society. His paintings are in the permanent collections of the Kimberly Clark Corporation, Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center, and the Florence Griswold Museum. Mr. Stuart’s work will be on display during regular library hours.

“Atmospheric Abstractions”

Presented by: Edward Muszala

Edward Muszala will be sharing his extraordinary collection of oil paintings. His work will be on display from Saturday, March 23rd -  Saturday, May 18th 2024. 

 

Pilot and artist, Edward Muszala, finds inspiration in the sky. “As a pilot I was aware of the constantly changing play of air and light in the atmosphere, the warmth of the sun, the speed of the wind, the water in the clouds” he says. Through the lens of a seasoned aviator, he captures the ever-shifting tapestry of light, color, and temperature in the atmosphere, translating this awe-inspiring spectacle onto canvas with his mastery of oil and encaustic techniques bringing these atmospheric scenes to life, evoking feelings of calm and awe in every brushstroke.

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/stairwell-gallery/

The Tremaine Art Gallery at The Hotchkiss School at 11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville CT is pleased to present Dialogue: Art in Conversation, featuring works by Valerie Hammond and Nathaniel (Tate) Klacsmann, from April 2 through June 2, 2024, with an opening reception on Saturday, April 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. This exhibition explores the creative processes of two artists whose work reverberates around questions of social inequity, magic, myth, and the environment. Together, their pieces begin a conversation filled with reflective echoes, offering opportunity for intersection around creativity and process. Curated by Joan Baldwin and Terri Moore, Dialogue also includes video and photography by Colleen Macmillan, Ann Villano, and Hotchkiss film students. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Color Me Creative is back!! 

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

Residents $85.00, Non-residents $105.00

Two Sessions

Class 1 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Class 2 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Location: Library Picture Book Room (Upper Level) Join us for interactive stories, rhymes, fables and songs. For ages 2-4.

Kids of all ages are welcome to join us for Bilingual Story Time on Thursdays at 10:30! This program includes stories in Spanish and English, songs, a craft and a snack.

iInvitamos a los niños de todas las edades a unirnos por Hora de Cuentos Bilingües los jueves a 10:30! Esta programa incluye los cuentos en español y ingles, canciones, un proyecto de manualidades y un tentempié.

Whittemore Gallery

January 21, 2024 – May 19, 2024

(Re)Work It! Women Artists on Women’s Labor explores the many types of labor that women are often expected to manage – from caring for one’s family to participating in the labor force, from negotiating beauty standards to handling emotional labor, and more. A reprisal of a smaller exhibition from 2022, this new show delves more deeply into the topic by incorporating a wider range of voices and perspectives. Including artwork from approximately 30 contemporary female-identifying artists, (Re)Work It! broadens our definition and understanding of women's labor in 21st century America.

Free with Admission

On View: March 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024

With large-scale and mysterious photographs, screenwriter and film producer Carolyn Marks Blackwood invites the viewer to participate in the creation of meaning. By associating brief caption lines with images of deserted streets, isolated forests, and houses lit from within, visitors are encouraged to supply their own narrative inspired by their unique experiences. Both haunting and profound, The Story Series provides an opportunity for creative engagement and deep reflection.

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to announce the representation and first solo show of accomplished mid-career artist KK Kozik.

 

“As to me," wrote Walt Whitman in 1881, "I know of nothing else but miracles.” Whitman goes on to list some very ordinary phenomena as miracles, from “stars shining quiet and bright,” to standing under trees in the woods, to observing birds in flight. The vein of American mysticism links the natural world with the spiritual and has found form in artists as disparate as Rockwell Kent and Agnes Pelton and KK Kozik: all artists who process what they see, what they experience and what they imagine into a painted image.

 

Kozik’s minor miracles mostly surface from the rhythms of her day. Prosaic encounters of beauty during hikes, strolls and swims simmer on the back burner of her mind until stirred up and warmed they knock on her door, demanding to be painted. Ideas and images never come out quite the way they went into the pot. Kozik is not a realist, slavishly painting a tree branch by branch, but rather a transcendental hunter-gatherer, a sly burglar of ideas and colors. An island of trees in a lake is what was seen, but Miracle Island is what she painted. The artist releases beauty from the prosaic, her work meeting in the center of the everyday world and the way imagination processes memory and the way her hand executes it.

 

KK Kozik’s work has been exhibited widely in the United States, Greece, Netherlands, and Germany. She has been honored with William and Susan Picotte Award, Albany Institute of History and Art, Connecticut Artist Fellowship in Painting, Commission, “Flights of Imagination,” Fitchburg Art Museum and Fitchburg State University, Commission, MTA Arts & Design, Rockaway Park Beach 116th St subway station, Weir Farm Trust Visiting Artist Fellowship, Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Grant, to name a few. The artist’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Village Voice, New York Magazine, and Art in America among others. KK Kozik earned an MA from Syracuse University, a BA from University of Virginia, and attended Edinburgh University. She lives and works in CT.

 

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

This is a 2 - part workshop. Participants are expected to attend both sessions.

Working on an artistic endeavor, event, or production and not sure where to start? Get an introduction into the basic building blocks of planning, executing, and monitoring a project, no matter the size. Ana Tinajero is an award-winning Afro-Latin dance artist, entrepreneur, and performing arts curator who loves engineering spaces for community connection through the arts. In this workshop, she will cover the fundamentals of crafting a blueprint for success.

PHASE 2: EXECUTION & REFLECTION

Develop systems and processes to help manage and monitor budget and team workflow. Establish parameters of success, analyze results and evaluate impact. Identify practices for nourishment tailored to you and any collaborators.

Suitable to artists of all disciplines. 30 participants max.

Open to artists in Rhode Island and rural Connecticut.

This workshop will be recorded! If you're unable to attend the live session, you can still register via Zoom and, if approved, we’ll send you a link to access the recording after the workshop.

"Tangled in Color": an exhibition of works in oil and acrylic by Kathleen L'Hommedieu.

Kathleen L'Hommedieu, born and raised in Connecticut, finds inspiration through light and color in the landscape and sky. Many years of traveling for business and rowing competitions through Europe are also a major influence.

"We are immersed in light, color and energy from all that surrounds us no matter where we find ourselves."

Layering is nothing new for Kathleen. It is a technique that comes naturally as she builds a canvas and is guided through its evolution. Using a series of tools - from brush to palette knife - she lets the layers deepen, a process that can take years while perfecting a canvas. "The background tells me where to go," is how she explains the method, "and I add color or texture." Recently, the layers have led to new revelations of shadow and light as the colors intermingle and intertwine, creating interrelationships within a work of art informed by past canvases. Her abstracts are often memories of moments she has experienced - inspired by a foggy window after a storm by the sea, the turbulence of winter by the ocean, a still-life in its vivid interplay of color and form, or a grove of young saplings lit by the sun.

This show is a series of explorations in interwoven color to share the journey of an artist's growing perception, but expressing a universal message. Kathleen's quest leads the viewer to experience a deepening vision of fleeting color play and brilliant moments in our surroundings. "Art teaches you to see," she says, "and I strive to capture that energy."

From April 13 through May 18, The Cornwall Library is presenting Live It Up!, a selection of bold, vivid landscape and abstract works by artist Joelle Sander (1942–2023) that fully justify the name of the show. The opening reception on April 13 from 5 to 7 pm, with registration requested at https://cornwalllibrary.org/events/.

Sander was already an award-winning author in her late 40s when she began painting seriously. She pursued painting with characteristic zeal, putting it on equal footing with writing, and attending studio classes in New York until the week before her passing. Early on, she took to heart a comment by artist Wolf Kahn, who noticed in one of her pastels an unusual color choice. "Ah ha," he said, "You see, you are a colorist!"

Steve Ninteman, a fellow artist and friend, says “Color is what Joelle celebrated the most in all her work. She also pursued themes of movement, fire, scale, trees and light. What is inspiring is that she took whatever idea she was interested in and brought it directly to a large canvas. Joelle did lovely personal drawings around her Connecticut home, in museums and Central Park, but she didn't do many preparatory sketches for paintings. Instead she would make a few simple outlines with her brush and dive in. Her color choices appeared quickly in assured passages…Looking at her surroundings with love and attention, Joelle transformed them with her personal form making, then gave them a life of their own with color choices that only she could imagine. ”

Sander was inspired by painters as diverse as turn-of-the-20th-century Canadian landscapist Tom Thomson and American abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell.

She lived in New York City and West Cornwall, Connecticut. Live it Up! will offer oil paintings for sale, with proceeds benefiting art and poetry programs at The Cornwall Library.

Are you a writer needing to carve out some creative time?

A non-writer who has always wanted to write?

An artist who wants to venture into a new medium?

This workshop is for you!

Once a week, for six weeks, we’ll pause from our personal and professional obligations to play with words, with a promise that we’ll repeat it as a habit. Each class, I’ll present an inspirational reading, image, or activity and we’ll discuss. We’ll let that prompt us to write for about 30 of uninterrupted time to see what bits of ourselves escape onto paper. Then we’ll reconvene and chat. We won’t critique each other’s work. Instead, we’ll offer encouragement and gratefulness for any bit of our voices and stories we’re willing to share.

No pressure, no judgment, and no homework. The practice of writing is just that—practice. Prompts lead to the discovery of ideas, emotions, characters, and other special bits. My hope is that you will find a comfortable, safe, and brave space that meets you where you are on your own unique journey as a writer.

The Goshen Garden Club will have their next monthly meeting on May 2, 2024 at Camp Cochipianee on Beach Street in Goshen. Guest Speaker will be Lorraine Ballato. Lorraine is an expert horticulturist with many books to her credit. She is an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. The topic for this meeting will be "Home Grown Harvest". The lecture will begin at 1:00p.m. Non-members are welcome at $10 per person.

Join NMPL's Amy and Hannah to find out the newest book releases and get first picks! RSVP www.newmilfordlibrary.org

Join us for a visit with Danielle Mailer, the noted artist behind a number of public art installations in Northwest Connecticut, including Project Fishtales in Torrington.

Live, In-Person & on Zoom: **Artists' Talk on Inspiration & Technique with Sally Frank & Wendy Costa** Come and enjoy a discussion with artists Sally Frank and Wendy Costa who will talk about what inspires their work and the various printmaking and photography techniques they use to create images. Registration & Zoom link is at

Ages 3-6 Years

Nature’s Nursery, Spring 2024

4:00pm

Join us on the first Thursday of each month from April – June for an engaging program 

designed just for your young nature lovers. Every session will last 45 minutes – 1 hour and 

include a story, an encounter with a live animal, and an activity or craft. Some of our 

activities might be outside, so dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes. 

Advanced registration is required. To register, visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-

0857. Space is limited. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. We require that one parent/caretaker 

stay for the duration of the program, but our room cannot accommodate more than one 

adult per child. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $9/child per 

session or $24/whole series, Non-Members: $13/child per session or $36/whole seri

Educate to Navigate – Advocacy services for assisting elderly with the complexities of aging, by Art Mulligan and Sara Lynn Leavenworth of Senior Advocacy Services and Jade LaBella of Berkshire Hathaway

This group of specialists has united to assist you and your family in gracefully navigating the aging journey with dignity. The process can be overwhelming and intimidating, but the team is dedicated to providing guidance and support along the way.

The team will talk with you about how to plan for your later years, short and long-term. They will also provide information to guide your decision about whether to age in place or sell your home and choose a senior living community that is right for your lifestyle needs. They will also discuss navigating the complexities of our healthcare system and insurance coverages and how to partner with financial and legal advisors as well as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® to answer your questions and provide you with information based on their collective experience.

Registration is required:  www.gunnlibrary.org/programs/

Location: Library Auditorium (lower level) New members welcome. Books are available to borrow from the library. This month’s book is “The Unsettled” by Ayana Mathis.

Location: Library Auditorium (Lower Level) Come relax with a weekly board game night. Bring a friend or make new friends!

Join Leigh Graham as she walks you through how to make a pair of bead embroidered earrings for yourself or as a gift!

This class is being offered just in time for Mother's Day!

Registration is required. Please sign up at Gallery25CT.com

Event details:

Thursday, May 2

6:30pm-8:30pm

Gallery 25 & Creative Arts Studio

11 Railroad Street, New Milford, CT

Cost: $40

Advanced Beginner Knitting Class

- Come learn in a class designed just for you…an advanced beginner!!

- You will learn how to knit "in the round" using circular needles, how to knit cables, how to read a yarn label (if you don’t already know how to do this), how to read a knitting pattern, how to fix mistakes, and more!

- 6 weekly classes, 1.5 hours each

- Projects include your choice of 3 hat patterns and cable ear warmers 

- All materials and supplies will be provided at the 1st class

- Requirements: This is NOT a beginner class! You MUST KNOW the basic knit stitches -- the knit stitch and the purl stitch – all other stitches and techniques will be taught!

Instructor: Andrea Dener

Residents $110.00, Non-Residents $130.00

Meet Rev. John Dear as he signs your books at Wisdom House.

The Gospel of Peace by Rev. John Dear is the first ever commentary on the Synoptic Gospels from the perspective of active nonviolence, in the tradition of Gandhi and Dr. King. In this new and original work, John walks us through every line of the three synoptic Gospels pointing out Jesus’ practice and teachings of nonviolence each step of the way and invites us to become practitioners of creative nonviolence like Jesus. John Dear’s Jesus is like Gandhi and Dr. King—nonviolent to the core, a disarming, healing presence toward those in need and a revolutionary disrupter of the unjust status quo and a political threat to the ruling authorities who succeed in killing him, only to push Jesus to the heights of nonviolence through his death and resurrection. This original commentary brings a fresh new approach to the Gospels that will help us all to carry Jesus’ global campaign of nonviolence for justice, disarmament and creation.

Copies of The Gospel of Peace will be available for purchase at Wisdom House in the bookstore before and at the event.

Torrington High School Student Theatre will be presenting Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon on the Little Theatre stage at Torrington High School on May 2, 3 and 4. This classic musical tells the tale of the magical Scottish village of Brigadoon which only appears to outsiders once every hundred years. Brigadoon show dates are Thursday May 2, Friday May 3, and Saturday May 4 with show times at 7 p.m. and an additional matinee on May 4th at 2 p.m.  The Saturday, May 4th evening show is designated Alumni Night and all THS alumni are encouraged to attend. Tickets may be purchased in advance at thsstudenttheater.ludus.com or by contacting czwart@torrington.org.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Tickets will also be on sale at the door the night of the performances.

The Warner Theatre will host Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth, a live, in-person event that will explore questions as old as the planet itself: Have extraterrestrials visited Earth? Are they here now, and when will they reveal themselves? 

The ninety-minute live experience celebrates the long-running program Ancient Aliens on The HISTORY Channel and features Ancient Astronaut theorist Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, investigative mythologist William Henry, aerospace engineer, UK government UFO investigator Nick Pope, and real-life Indiana Jones, David Childress, as they discuss thought-provoking extraterrestrial theories on fan-favorite topics from Ancient Egypt to the moon, and paves for us the long road to Disclosure.  

Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth is an experiential extension of Ancient Aliens that explores the theory that extraterrestrials have visited Earth for millions of years. Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth will bring the same curiosity and in-depth examination to the questions, speculations, provocative controversies, first-hand accounts, and grounded theories surrounding this age-old debate.  

In addition to engaging panel discussions and an audience Q&A, the event will also offer attendees the opportunity for VIP meet and greets with the stars, and exclusive Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth merchandise. 

The Warner Theatre will host Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth, a live, in-person event that will explore questions as old as the planet itself: Have extraterrestrials visited Earth? Are they here now, and when will they reveal themselves? 

The ninety-minute live experience celebrates the long-running program Ancient Aliens on The HISTORY Channel and features Ancient Astronaut theorist Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, investigative mythologist William Henry, aerospace engineer, UK government UFO investigator Nick Pope, and real-life Indiana Jones, David Childress, as they discuss thought-provoking extraterrestrial theories on fan-favorite topics from Ancient Egypt to the moon, and paves for us the long road to Disclosure.  

Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth is an experiential extension of Ancient Aliens that explores the theory that extraterrestrials have visited Earth for millions of years. Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth will bring the same curiosity and in-depth examination to the questions, speculations, provocative controversies, first-hand accounts, and grounded theories surrounding this age-old debate.  

In addition to engaging panel discussions and an audience Q&A, the event will also offer attendees the opportunity for VIP meet and greets with the stars, and exclusive Ancient Aliens LIVE: Project Earth merchandise.  

The Sherman Library is pleased to announce the next art show: ”Waters Calming Peace” – Watercolors by Charlene Leichter.   With water as the focal point, Leichter’s paintings capture nature’s colors, moods and beauty. They give a sense of calm, of peace. The opening reception will be Friday March 29, 2024 from 6-8pm. The show will be on display at the Sherman Library from March 29 – May 8, 2024 both at the Library and on their website, [www.ShermanLibrary.org](http://www.shermanlibrary.org). “When I look at a finished painting, I want to feel peace and comfort, then I know it’s ready to provide the same to others.  I want my work to make someone feel warmth, peace and happiness in their heart.” Says Leichter. A native New Yorker, Leichter now resides in Sherman CT. She has a BA in Economics from Stony Brook and a career in Information Technology as a developer and database administrator. Currently she is working part time, being fully retired at the end of the year.  In 2022, post-surgery, needing to find a diversion from the pain and discomfort, she turned to her past love of watercolor painting. Just as she had taught herself database and IT technology, she began to teach herself how to paint. Not having done any drawing or painting since high school, she started watching YouTube videos of drawing, perspective and watercolor tutorials for hours on end.  Luckily, in her house there were art supplies in storage containers that she opened and dusted off.  Followed by practice, practice, practice! Trying and testing different techniques and eventually finding her own style. Through this came a love of landscapes, especially with water as a focal point. No surprise here, as she grew up on Long Island’s great South Bay and was no stranger to the ways of water and how peaceful yet powerful it can be.  What a wonderful way to celebrate her first solo show by paying tribute to water and its calming and peaceful ways. For more information about this show and the Sherman Library, visit: www.[shermanlibrary.org](http://shermanlibrary.org).

Call for Art – “Plant Life” and “Plant Life: NYC - Global”

Celebrate Spring by sharing your flora

image, film, music and poetry.

No Entry Fee. Deadline: April 29th

https://personaland.com/submit/plantlife.php

“Plant Life” art show launches online on Friday, May 3rd.

“Plant Life: NYC – Global” is an exhibition and digital event at Prime Produce, 424 West 54th St, New York City, May 17-19 featuring selections from the online show!

Personaland - our online global arts village.

https://www.personaland.com

Enriching the internet with an invigorating blend of entertainment, enchantment and culture. Persona Horseback and Dragon rides to our online art shows, showcasing over 625 artists from 60 countries in 25 group and 56 individual art shows, artist profile videos, movies, Art Shop, dancing flowers, wishing well and challenging art games.

For more info:

Stewart Wilson

personaman@snet.net