Community Calendar

Global artists have shared their floral images, film, music and poetry.

for our online art show "Plant Life"

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

Exciting News!

“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

Personaland is an artist-driven global village, transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge geographical and cultural boundaries. This uniquely positions Personaland to create accessible opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and participate. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Personaland takes the form of a virtual entertainment park, where visitors can visit art shows and exhibitions, play art games, watch movies, visit dancing flowers and a wishing well. Since our launch in 2018, Personaland has showcased over 650 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and poets from 61 countries in 25 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions.

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

Any child 12 year old or younger

Bring your own pole and hook able bait!

Free to all participants.

Prizes and food

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is an international men’s march where men and boys lead the way to end sexual and domestic violence by walking one mile in red high-heeled shoes. Created by men, the Walk allows participants to get their communities talking about a difficult subject while increasing awareness of the problem, offering opportunities for healing, and demonstrating men’s willingness to walk with women and children as allies, advocates, and survivors. For more information and to register, visit Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2024 — Susan B. Anthony Project (sbaproject.org)

The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host its annual Homegrown Plant Sale on the weekend of May 18 and 19 from 9AM to 4PM on Saturday, and 9AM to 2PM on Sunday. Falls Village’s own growers, gardeners, and CSAs will provide a wide variety of plants, including a large selection of tomatoes, vegetables, annuals and perennials, and houseplants including potted geraniums and hanging baskets from HVRHS. Proceeds benefit the Hunt Library and HVRHS. For more information, or to donate plants and pots, call the library at 860-824-7424 or visit huntlibrary.org. 

**[The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens](https://judyblackpark.org)** is pleased to welcome an art exhibit featuring works by **[Anastasya Peña](https://www.anastasya-pena.com)**. The exhibit, “Spillover,” will be on view beginning Friday, May 3. The show highlights Peña’s layered abstract paintings. A reception with the artist is being planned. Check our website and social media for updates. Peña is an abstract, color–based painter born and raised in New York City. She received her BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2019 with a concentration in Literary Arts and Studies. While at the Rhode Island School of Design, she participated in the European Honors Program in Rome, Italy. “I explore how paint responds to different surfaces,” says Peña of her painting approach. “I am receptive, driven by the discovery of what paint can do," she says of her process.  Check our website and social media for weekly open hours.

Festival in New Milford

The Voice of Art is thrilled to invite you to its third annual outdoor juried fine art show, “Litchfield Art Festival 2024!  This show will be a highlight for collectors and residents from the Tri-State region, New England and beyond. The Litchfield Hills have a history and reputation of featuring top fine artists from across the country, and also many well-known and beloved New England and CT artists who are widely admired by art enthusiasts.  

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND GALLERY 25 INVITES YOU TO ITS MEMBERS’ SPRING ART SHOW!

The increasingly balmy weather is ushering in Spring 2024, and with it, the Gallery 25 Member’s Annual Spring Show which will run from April 12 to June 9.

Terry Tougas, G25 Director, notes, “The public is invited to view and enjoy some of our member artists’ best work in a wide variety of mediums including paintings, pottery, collages, assemblages, mixed media, photography, wood work, wearable art jewelry and more not-to-be-missed works”.

Our opening reception is on Saturday, April 13 from 4-6 pm and everyone is welcome to attend! Light refreshments and wine will be served. We are holding our reception later in the day so come on by for our wonderful art show and then stop by one of downtown New Milford's delicious restaurants for dinner and dessert.

Get excited for our April Workshops! Adele Moros will be hosting one of her popular Sip & Paint artist classes in which participants will be creating a spring bouquet. This class will be held on April 12 at 6pm. And Bobbi Soares’ “Sound at the Station” will demonstrate an exciting sound bath on April 21 from 11am-12pm. To reserve your place at these workshops and for a full list of our upcoming workshops, visit gallery25ct.com.

New Milford is an exciting destination, offering many enjoyable activities, among them well-reviewed restaurants, pubs and unique shops, as well as an Art Deco movie theater, an innovative playhouse, Theaterworks, and a historical New England green. Plan a fun weekend in our fine town!

Gallery 25 and Creative Arts Studio

New Milford Commission on the Arts

11 Railroad St., New Milford, CT 06776

860-355-6009 \* gallery25ct.com

G25 is open Friday and Saturday 12-6 and Sunday 10-4.

G25 wishes to thank the town of New Milford and the New Milford Commission on the Arts for their continued generous support.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Gallery25 and Creative Arts Studio.

Ironworks Weekend

May 18th & 19th 10:00am – 4:00pm

Immerse yourself in Ironworks Weekend, a new program exploring the history of ironmaking in the Housatonic Valley at the Kent Iron Works site. The event will include special tours, exhibits, and an iron smelting demonstration, marking the first iron smelting on the site since the furnace's closure in 1892. Master blacksmiths Steve Mankowski and Christopher Henkels will smelt iron with a bloomery furnace using traditional methods and techniques. Enjoy free admission to the museum and programs Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 until 4:00.

 

Join us for two hours of phone-free connection, where spirituality meets creativity in a non-religious, open-minded environment. You will be guided through a creative process that integrates our heads, hearts, and hands using art as a tool for exploring new perspectives. Awaken your spirit and nourish your creativity in our Sunday morning sanctuary of communal connection. Space is limited; advanced registration required. Suggested donation $15. Ages 18+.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website. 

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

**Come and knock on our Door - We've been waiting for you to come celebrate the 70's with us... Roper Style!** Grab your favorite Caftan, some chunky jewelry, and your Curly red wig, and  **_Come have a Ball with Us_**  as we celebrate the 70's  **Roper Style**  at Create Escape Studio. **Sunday, May 19th from 11 - 1:30** Enjoy 70's style snacks, a Mock-Mosa Bar, trivia, prizes for best costume, and lots of retro-inspired project inspiration. $15 reserves your spot $10 of that registration will go toward your project for the day. **Mrs. Roper costumes are highly encouraged -** ​  **go as crazy as you dare!** **(**_Stanley, Chrissy, Janet, Larry, and Mr. Furley costumes are welcome too!)_ Scour local thrift shops, Savers, and WalMart, or go online and search for caftans - there are a million of them! And don't forget your curly wig!  Open to all ages BYOB for over 21 is welcome **Register Here:**

# Outsider Perspectives: Self-Taught Art from the Mattatuck Collection ## Munger Gallery May 12, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11AM - 5PM, Sunday 11 AM- 4 PM_ Included in price of admission Outsider Perspectives showcases a recent gift of American Outsider Art to the Mattatuck Museum. Produced by self-taught artists who have no formal training or concern for the conventions of the art world, Outsider Art provides a glimpse into artistic production that is little concerned with external opinions. Employing ready-at-hand materials and often deeply personal imagery, the approximately 30 works in this exhibition explore the power of art as a means of self-expression and as a way to process the world. [https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives/](https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives) Opening Celebration: June 9th

## Stitching the Revolution: Quilts as Agents of Change May 19, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 4 PM_ _Included with museum admission_ Stitching the Revolution explores themes of revolution through quilting, a medium traditionally confined to the domestic sphere and often relegated to the lower status of craft or minor art. This exhibition offers a new approach to understanding the practice of quilting as an avenue through which to express potent beliefs and an outlet to create meaningful change. Tracing the long history of quilts as a medium for communicating revolutionary ideas, the exhibition pairs historic and contemporary quilts spanning over 200 years of production. Stitching the Revolution features approximately 30 quilts from the Mattatuck Museum’s collection, and loans from New England institutions and contemporary artists. _Thanks to the generous support of the Coby Foundation._ _Opening ceremony: June 9_

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.

Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to announce an exhibition featuring two contemporary artists whose work is focused on botany. Battenfield’s meditative painting process begins with the artist’s close attention to the graceful forms of unfolding leaves and blossoms, and to the twisted boughs and branches of trees. This series was inspired by time the artist spent at a rural meditation retreat where spring was slowly awakening the landscape from its winter bareness. Sitting by a window, in meditative silence, the artist was transfixed as tender buds and leaves daily transformed a gnarly elm tree. Battenfield’s paintings evoke the immediacy and beauty of that experience. The images of branches, leaves and blooms are first recorded as photographs, then meticulously drawn onto large sheets of translucent Mylar. Paying close attention to the true form of each natural element, the artist builds her graceful compositions. Battenfield’s paintings draw upon two natural but disparate processes: the gestural unfolding and leafing of a branching tree limb and the physical properties and behaviors of pigments. Battenfield mixes her pigments to an ink-like consistency and generously brushes the acrylic paint onto the smooth Mylar where it forms a puddle of paint. As the paint mixture dries, the pigments reassert themselves, separating and forming unexpected and distinct abstract patterns. An expert colorist, Battenfield creates hundreds of color studies to investigate and consider the different levels of color saturation and the separation affected by the various pigments’ origin and weight. To accentuate the contrast between image and ground, Battenfield leaves the background of her paintings untreated, allowing her botanical forms to float against the pristine white Mylar. Each painting is then mounted on a clear acrylic panel that allows light to play behind the translucent painted surface. Jackie Battenfield was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned an MFA in Visual Art from Syracuse University and a BS from Pennsylvania State University. She is the recipient of a Pollock Krasner Award (1991) and the Warren Tanner Award (1996). Her work is widely exhibited throughout the United States and is in more than 1000 collections worldwide including the New York Public Library, NY; The Zimmerli Art Museum, Montclair Art Museum, NJ; Palmer Museum, University Park, PA; Museum of Art at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; and the United States Embassy Collections, Brazil, Cambodia, Croatia, Jamaica, and Peru. She recently completed public art commissions for New York University, Langone Medical Center, Radiation Treatment Suite and The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts & Design, Avenue P elevated subway station, F line, Brooklyn, NY. Jackie Battenfield lives in and works in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. For Margot Glass the idealization of nature in ornament across cultures is fascinating. Her work explores the tension between natural and synthetic symmetry and pattern in nature and design. How we see and alter nature to suit our aesthetic desires is what draws her to decorative arts traditions for inspiration as much as the fine art traditions of painting and drawing. A central theme in Glass’s work is the exploration of ephemerality, focusing primarily on weeds and other plants generally considered to be undesirable. She draws these specimens to highlight their imperfect beauty and asymmetry. Margot Glass’s subjects are found sprouting through cracks in the sidewalks, and in the margins of public spaces and forest borders. Because of her professional training in metal point drawing and gilding techniques, and because she is inspired by the tesserae of Byzantine mosaics, traditional decorative metalwork and architectural adornments, gold is a natural choice of drawing medium for the artist. Gold has light shifting properties that effect the fine lines and dense details of Glass’s drawing inviting slow, and close viewing. Margot Glass also uses traditional methods and formulas for making organic ink from black walnuts which are collected and dried and brewed. This labor-intensive process is another way to slow time that is integral to her process. In Glass’s drawings of grasses and clover, her interest is in the transcendent power of natural forms to shift from taxonomic specificity to a more meditative visual experience found in repetition of negative space, shape, and line. Margot Glass’s work is shown widely in the US and is in the collections of Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon, PA, Midwest Museum of American Art, Del Coronado Hotel, San Diego, CA, Weatherspoon Art Museum, NC, Allentown Art Museum, PA, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Robert Kushner and other international private collections. Her work has been featured in Wall Street Journal International, art Daily, Artsy, Orion Magazine, American Art Collector and Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, to name a few. Glass earned a degree from Smith College, Historic Artist Materials and Techniques, and B.A. Honors, Brown University | Brown-RISD Reciprocal Program, Providence, RI. Margot Glass lives and works in MA. Please contact Lani Holloway, Associate Director, Lani@kbfa.com, 860 560 3085 with inquires or to arrange a preview of the exhibition.

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). 

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

New York Magazine cheers, "Mean Girls delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!”

The show is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, “Mean Girls delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!” The show is recommended for ages 10 and up.

An Invitational and Juried Show of tactile art featuring works in fabrics and fibers

Dive into the world of Art in the English Flower Garden as History of Gardens teacher at Botanical Gardens and Fordham University Professor Caitlin Merritt discusses famous gardens and their connection to the art world. Please join us for this intriguing discussion at Gallery 25. Cost: $10 Register online at Gallery25ct.com by May 18. Space is limited.

Spend an afternoon creating an accent piece for your kitchen with a citrus stamped tea towel! Create your own designs or use existing stamps to decorate. This experience is the perfect Mother’s Day gift. All supplies will be provided and each participant with be able to take home 2 original designs. **$35 per person** , Pre-registration is required due to limited spots. Register Here: [https://www.mattmuseum.org/calendar/adult-art-workshop-citrus-printed-tea-towels/](https://www.mattmuseum.org/calendar/adult-art-workshop-citrus-printed-tea-towels)

Bring a picnic and enjoy a perfect Sunday afternoon in the company of this wonderful guitar ensemble that will perform a variety of genres.

 

Michael Stubblefield (b. 1989) is an American composer, guitarist, and music educator based in Hartford, Connecticut. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael began his higher education studies in music at Diablo Valley Community College, ultimately transferring to California State University, East Bay where he earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music. Michael is also a graduate of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition and a minor in Music Theory.

Michael's interests outside of music include animals (especially exotic reptiles), reading, hiking, cooking, the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and coffee. Michael is currently working throughout New England in a variety of music relation activities, as a composer, a private teacher in guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, voice, composition, and music theory, and at The Hartt School as an administrative assistant and tutor of music theory and music history. 2:00pm , Activity Shed, All tickets: $10.00. Please pre-register online : www.whitememorialcc.org  In the event of cold weather, the concert will take place in the Carriage House.

Great Hollow Call for Artists 2024: A Juried Painting and Photography Show

In Person May 17 – May 19, 2024 at Great Hollow Nature Preserve

Online May 17 – June 30, 2024

 

Deadline for Submissions: April 15, 2024

Calling all painters and photographers who love nature and would like to participate in the seventh annual Great Hollow Photographers Club Juried Painting and Photography Show. Over the past six years, we have raised more than $8500 for Great Hollow Nature Preserve and we hope you will join us for this seventh year of fundraising.

Opening Reception is on Friday, May 17, 2024, 6:00– 8:00 pm and all are welcome. The show will continue for viewing and sales Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19, 2024 10 am – 4 pm, in the barn at Great Hollow. The show will also be online from May 17 – June 30, 2024. The deadline for submission is midnight on Monday April 15, 2024.

Artists are invited to submit up to four (4) digital images of 2-dimensional work for the competition. Accepted media are photographs, paintings, collages, drawings and digitally augmented art. There is no fee to submit. The hanging fee for the show is $15 for each accepted work and the Great Hollow Photographers Club will retain a 25% commission on all works sold during the show. All works must be for sale as the profits from the Art Show support Great Hollow Nature Preserve’s mission of environmental education, research, and conservation.

The artwork should highlight the Great Hollow Nature Center or, more broadly, the richness of nature and/or the rural life of America’s Northeastern states. Prizes will be donations from local businesses. Jurors for the artwork are Linda Puiatti for painting and Justin Goodhart for photography.

Linda Puiatti is a full time artist who paints atmospheric landscapes inspired by the many places where she has traveled and lived. Her favorite locales are the beaches and marshes of the Northeast, Hudson River Valley fields and mountains and the big sky flatlands and farms of Belgium, Netherlands and France where she lived for ten years. These paintings are born in a traditional realism that reaches into the contemporary art world, eliminating minutia in favor of a broad landscape impression. Puiatti’s paintings hang in private and public collections throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Africa and can also be found in several local galleries. For more information regarding Puiatti, visit her website: www.lindapuiatti.com

Justin Goodhart grew up in New York’s Adirondack region and has always had a strong connection to the land and the beauty of the world around us. After having been a casual photographer for many years it was the beauty of the Hudson Valley that served as inspiration for Goodhart to start taking photography more seriously. Focusing primarily on long exposure landscape and nighttime photography he often works to capture not just the momentary scene but also the feeling of our movement through time. For more information on Goodhart, visit: www.justinpgoodhart.com.

For more information, visit the Great Hollow Photographers Club Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GHPClub. Direct any questions to GHPhotoC@gmail.com.

For prospectus & more information: GHPhotoC@gmaiI.com

CT Regional Premiere! Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the now classic film, this streetwise musical will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring a book by Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri, music by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Alan Menken, and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Oscar and Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater, A Bronx Tale is a story about respect, loyalty, love, and above all else: family.

One of the best finger-style guitar players you can find brings his amazing talents to the brewery!

Meet the artist and view a collection of her impressive works here at the Gallery at Jerram Winery. Ms Moore's work will be showing throughout the month of May.

May 19 at 2PM Join us as Jack Sheedy presents his new book "In My Father's Tracks" Jack duplicated his father's 1959 trip in 2021 in order to understand why he did it. Read this book to find out what he learned! "What do you see when you look at this sky?" [my father] says. "Well, just that it's a beautiful sight, and I wish it would last." "But it won't, you see. That's why we look at it. It would be wrong not to. Just like it would be wrong to turn down an offer that won't last. Already, the sun is peeking over the mountains, and the sky is changing. But right now... right now, it's just the right moment." -p. 190 Every place has a story. A bridge in South Carolina crosses the same river three times, and when you cross it you don't even know that it's the only bridge of it's kind in the world. It's as unique as the Golden Gate Bridge, but no one takes selfies in front of it. -p.284

Kent School's Performing Arts Department will present the 2016 Broadway musical Bright Star in their beautiful Mattison Auditorium on May 18th and 19th, 2024. The show, written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, is a powerful drama with exuberant dance numbers and a powerful bluegrass score. Staged with Kent student performers and a live pit band, this is a can't-miss production. Admission is free and the performance is open to the public.

Looking for a way to trigger your relaxation response to reduce chronic stress? Or a way to balance your whole being and feel more grounded? Join Jeanine from Inspired Vibrations while she uses healing sound instruments to awaken and soothe your mind, body, soul, and spirit!

Make sure you sign up for the next Soundbath Meditation Class on March 10th from 4pm-5:30pm. Only $25 for a 1.5 hour class! Held at the Torrington Recreation Hall. Register for classes here: register.capturepoint.com/CityofTorrington

Contact us for more information.

Join us on Sunday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. to welcome the Hotchkiss Chorus. Hotchkiss School students will perform music with the theme of birds. Please register [here](https://norfolklibrary.org/events/hotchkiss-chorus-a-musical-aviary).

**The Hotchkiss Chorus** presents “ **A Musical Aviary: Visions of Birds from Four Centuries** ” at the **Norfolk Library at 9 Greenwoods Road East in Norfolk CT on Sunday May 19 at 5:30 p.m.**  The concert features the 35-voice chorus and guest instrumentalists performing music by Brahms, Grieg, Stanford and Ravel, as well as folk, gospel and jazz works. The Hotchkiss Chorus is led by faculty member Jack Brown and is known for their outstanding annual Lessons & Carols services over the past 65 years. The musical settings examine birds in our world through centuries of poetry. Guest speakers will be Jennifer Rinehart, Hotchkiss Instructor in Environmental and Life Sciences, and Bethany Sheffer, a Sharon Audubon Society naturalist. **This concert is free and open to the public.**

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). 

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

New York Magazine cheers, "Mean Girls delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!”

The show is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, “Mean Girls delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!” The show is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Join us for an Open Mic @ Trinity on SUNDAY May 19 at 7pm. The headliner is poet Sharon Arsego. Our Open Mic boasts talented local writers and musicians. Sign up to perform, or just be part of the audience. This event is free, with light refreshments. All are welcome!

Global artists have shared their floral images, film, music and poetry.

for our online art show "Plant Life"

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

Exciting News!

“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

Personaland is an artist-driven global village, transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge geographical and cultural boundaries. This uniquely positions Personaland to create accessible opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and participate. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Personaland takes the form of a virtual entertainment park, where visitors can visit art shows and exhibitions, play art games, watch movies, visit dancing flowers and a wishing well. Since our launch in 2018, Personaland has showcased over 650 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and poets from 61 countries in 25 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions.

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

**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

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.

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 Residents $100, Non-residents $120.00 Two Sessions: - Ages 3-4, 9:30 to 11:30 AM - Ages 4-5, 12:00 to 2:00 PM

Please support the Children's Community School this May by participating in our 6th Annual Golf Outing. Please contact Sue Mellitt, Community Outreach Coordinator if you have any questions. Thanks!

# Outsider Perspectives: Self-Taught Art from the Mattatuck Collection ## Munger Gallery May 12, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11AM - 5PM, Sunday 11 AM- 4 PM_ Included in price of admission Outsider Perspectives showcases a recent gift of American Outsider Art to the Mattatuck Museum. Produced by self-taught artists who have no formal training or concern for the conventions of the art world, Outsider Art provides a glimpse into artistic production that is little concerned with external opinions. Employing ready-at-hand materials and often deeply personal imagery, the approximately 30 works in this exhibition explore the power of art as a means of self-expression and as a way to process the world. [https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives/](https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives) Opening Celebration: June 9th

## Stitching the Revolution: Quilts as Agents of Change May 19, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 4 PM_ _Included with museum admission_ Stitching the Revolution explores themes of revolution through quilting, a medium traditionally confined to the domestic sphere and often relegated to the lower status of craft or minor art. This exhibition offers a new approach to understanding the practice of quilting as an avenue through which to express potent beliefs and an outlet to create meaningful change. Tracing the long history of quilts as a medium for communicating revolutionary ideas, the exhibition pairs historic and contemporary quilts spanning over 200 years of production. Stitching the Revolution features approximately 30 quilts from the Mattatuck Museum’s collection, and loans from New England institutions and contemporary artists. _Thanks to the generous support of the Coby Foundation._ _Opening ceremony: June 9_

"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."

**Hacksaw Ridge** The amazing true life story of Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector ever to be awarded the Medal of Honor. A 7th Day Adventist who believed WWII was a just cause- even though killing was not- Doss was the only American soldier to serve on the front lines without a weapon and single-handedly saved the lives of 75 men. R - 2H 19 _Registration is required: **[www.gunnlibrary.org](http://www.gunnlibrary.org/programs)**_

The New Milford Youth Agency's Safe Place

a place where neurodiverse youth and their families find community and connectedness.

All are welcome

• Give and receive support
• Celebrate joys and challenges
• Create safe and understanding social opportunities for youth and families

Meets first and third Monday of each month through June 3, 2024

Meets from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Maxx, 94 Railroad St., New Milford

For more information, contact Marie Leo at mleo@newmilford.org or 860-210-2030

Knowing how to protect yourself, especially during these uncertain times, is so very important! We have just the course to arm yourself with the information and tools to effectively protect yourself against any physical threat.

The class will begin with a ten minute discussion on being proactive in preventing a possible attack - employing Situational Awareness - using our heads before using our hands, elbows, knees, feet and the environment to protect ourselves. We will then discuss combat breathing and having a solid foundation and proper stance.

Following that, the course becomes hands on. You will learn to feel comfortable, confident and relaxed in keeping yourself safe while having a fun time learning. Everyone should know the basics of self defense.

Our instructor, Matt Brinckerhoff has been involved in martial arts and self defense for over 40 years; teaching since 1998. His studies of the arts are Tae Kwon Do/Hapkido, Krav Maga and other mixed martial arts. He also hold a master's degree in psychology and is a Clinical Director for a non profit agency, serving individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. He's a master trainer in Physical and Psychological Management training. He has worked as a Behavioral Consultant for DCF, DDS and school systems, specializing in working with individuals with challenging/aggressive behaviors.

He is also a volunteer Fireman for Bantam Fire Company and a member of the Region 5 Dive Rescue Team.

This course is a 4 - hour program, meeting over the course of two weekday evenings. Attendance at both classes is highly recommended.

Monday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 22, 2024

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Community Hall at the Morris Town Hall

Donations accepted to the Bantam Fire Company, Region 5 Dive Team and / or the Morris Fire Company upon arrival

Advance registrations required - please email us at Activities@townofmorrisct.com or give us a call at 860-567-7437

This month’s selection is Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad. Books are available to borrow. Join us!

Woolhats at Camp Cochipianee, 291 Beach Street Monday, May 6 6p-8p Rain or shine

Global artists have shared their floral images, film, music and poetry.

for our online art show "Plant Life"

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

Exciting News!

“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

Personaland is an artist-driven global village, transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge geographical and cultural boundaries. This uniquely positions Personaland to create accessible opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and participate. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Personaland takes the form of a virtual entertainment park, where visitors can visit art shows and exhibitions, play art games, watch movies, visit dancing flowers and a wishing well. Since our launch in 2018, Personaland has showcased over 650 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and poets from 61 countries in 25 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions.

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

Pre-season Park Pass sales will be at the John Pettibone Community Center in the semi-circle in the front of the building. Please not the following to be able to purchase your pass: - Vehicle must be present and registered in the applicant's name. - Two (2) proofs of New Milford residency is required. Accepted proofs include driver's license, car registration, mortgage, property lease agreement (1 year minimum), utility bill, cell phone bill, tax bill. - Payments - cash, check, Visa/MasterCard accepted. for additional information regarding pricing, please visit newmilfordct.myrec.com. Programs->Programs & Events->Park Pass Information

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

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest course for drivers age 50 and older. The program has helped millions of drivers protect their safety on today's roads. AARP has offered its classroom course since 1979.

In this class you will have the opportunity to tune up your driving skills and update your knowledge of the rules of the road. Also to learn defensive driving techniques and discover ways to handle left turns, right-of-way, highway traffic and blind spots.

The course is $20.00 for AARP members, $25.00 for non-AARP members. Checks made payable to "AARP" are required upon registration for the class. Call us to register!

Did you know that upon completion of the course, you may qualify for an automobile insurance discount given by your insurance company?

Tuesday, May 21

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Morris Senior Center

$20, Members / $25 non-members

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

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! 

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.

In May, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will host the exhibition A Star Danced: The Paintings of Mary Anne Carley and Theresa Kenny. The exhibition features the work of two Sharon-based painters who happen to be mother and daughter. Mary Anne Carley uses a multitude of media in her abstract and impressionist paintings and monoprints including acrylic, watercolor, and ink. Carley’s daughter, Theresa Kenny, focuses on figurative works in pastel that capture the color and movement of birds, animals, and children. The exhibition’s title is from Shakespeare and evokes the astrological happiness of a star at the birth of a daughter. It will be on display at the library during operating hours through June 7.  

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!

# Outsider Perspectives: Self-Taught Art from the Mattatuck Collection ## Munger Gallery May 12, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11AM - 5PM, Sunday 11 AM- 4 PM_ Included in price of admission Outsider Perspectives showcases a recent gift of American Outsider Art to the Mattatuck Museum. Produced by self-taught artists who have no formal training or concern for the conventions of the art world, Outsider Art provides a glimpse into artistic production that is little concerned with external opinions. Employing ready-at-hand materials and often deeply personal imagery, the approximately 30 works in this exhibition explore the power of art as a means of self-expression and as a way to process the world. [https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives/](https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives) Opening Celebration: June 9th

## Stitching the Revolution: Quilts as Agents of Change May 19, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 4 PM_ _Included with museum admission_ Stitching the Revolution explores themes of revolution through quilting, a medium traditionally confined to the domestic sphere and often relegated to the lower status of craft or minor art. This exhibition offers a new approach to understanding the practice of quilting as an avenue through which to express potent beliefs and an outlet to create meaningful change. Tracing the long history of quilts as a medium for communicating revolutionary ideas, the exhibition pairs historic and contemporary quilts spanning over 200 years of production. Stitching the Revolution features approximately 30 quilts from the Mattatuck Museum’s collection, and loans from New England institutions and contemporary artists. _Thanks to the generous support of the Coby Foundation._ _Opening ceremony: June 9_

Get creative with innovative and inspiring art projects for homeschoolers. Each week we will focus on a different medium to create unique and colorful masterpieces. Using both traditional and alternative materials, students will enjoy being artistic and social! This month’s theme is Curate a Mini Exhibit. Join us as we create our own museum, from the exhibition on view to marketing the opening – it’s all up to you! Register Here: [https://www.mattmuseum.org/calendar/home-away-from-homeschool-curate-a-mini-exhibit/2024-05-07/](https://www.mattmuseum.org/calendar/home-away-from-homeschool-curate-a-mini-exhibit/2024-05-07)

Want to connect with other writers and get feedback on your work in a casual setting? Come to NMPL's writing club with editor Michelle Baird. RSVP www.newmilfordlibrary.org

Join Historical Storyteller and author John Cilio for a look into the history of photography! Photography was formally invented in the 19th century. But it existed long, long before the days of telegraphs and typewriters. Over the last 200 years the process to produce prints changed dramatically. Color arrived in 1908 and today the majority of photographs are not even printed. Smart Photo editors said that every two minutes, humans take more photos than ever existed in total 150 years ago. A vintage photograph from 50 years ago or two years ago can tell a story. John Cilio is a historical storyteller, author and a member of the Organization of American Historians and the Association for the Study of Connecticut History.

Why are pollinators important and how can we help? Elizabeth O'Connor will explore these question, and discuss how to make your yard pollinator-friendly. RSVP www.newmilfordlibrary.org

**Live, In-Person:** **Calling all poets!**  Have you been in search of constructive feedback to help further your poetry endeavors? Then OWL’s new Poetry Critique Club is for you. Each month we will focus on poetry surrounding a specific prompt, so write your poetry ahead of time and come prepared to share! Each attendee should limit themselves to one poem per meeting. Bring 10 hard copies of your work to share with other members. If you are unable to print copies at home, we can help you make copies at the library. **5/21 Prompt - Catharsis** _Note: This is a critique group focused on providing constructive feedback, so come prepared to hear a variety of comments about your work._ Registration link is at

Global artists have shared their floral images, film, music and poetry.

for our online art show "Plant Life"

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

Exciting News!

“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

Personaland is an artist-driven global village, transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge geographical and cultural boundaries. This uniquely positions Personaland to create accessible opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and participate. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Personaland takes the form of a virtual entertainment park, where visitors can visit art shows and exhibitions, play art games, watch movies, visit dancing flowers and a wishing well. Since our launch in 2018, Personaland has showcased over 650 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and poets from 61 countries in 25 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions.

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

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

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!

# Outsider Perspectives: Self-Taught Art from the Mattatuck Collection ## Munger Gallery May 12, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11AM - 5PM, Sunday 11 AM- 4 PM_ Included in price of admission Outsider Perspectives showcases a recent gift of American Outsider Art to the Mattatuck Museum. Produced by self-taught artists who have no formal training or concern for the conventions of the art world, Outsider Art provides a glimpse into artistic production that is little concerned with external opinions. Employing ready-at-hand materials and often deeply personal imagery, the approximately 30 works in this exhibition explore the power of art as a means of self-expression and as a way to process the world. [https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives/](https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/outsider-perspectives) Opening Celebration: June 9th

## Stitching the Revolution: Quilts as Agents of Change May 19, 2024 – August 25, 2024 _Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 4 PM_ _Included with museum admission_ Stitching the Revolution explores themes of revolution through quilting, a medium traditionally confined to the domestic sphere and often relegated to the lower status of craft or minor art. This exhibition offers a new approach to understanding the practice of quilting as an avenue through which to express potent beliefs and an outlet to create meaningful change. Tracing the long history of quilts as a medium for communicating revolutionary ideas, the exhibition pairs historic and contemporary quilts spanning over 200 years of production. Stitching the Revolution features approximately 30 quilts from the Mattatuck Museum’s collection, and loans from New England institutions and contemporary artists. _Thanks to the generous support of the Coby Foundation._ _Opening ceremony: June 9_

Pre-season Park Pass sales will be at the John Pettibone Community Center in the semi-circle in the front of the building. Please not the following to be able to purchase your pass: - Vehicle must be present and registered in the applicant's name. - Two (2) proofs of New Milford residency is required. Accepted proofs include driver's license, car registration, mortgage, property lease agreement (1 year minimum), utility bill, cell phone bill, tax bill. - Payments - cash, check, Visa/MasterCard accepted. for additional information regarding pricing, please visit newmilfordct.myrec.com. Programs->Programs & Events->Park Pass Information

In May, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will host the exhibition A Star Danced: The Paintings of Mary Anne Carley and Theresa Kenny. The exhibition features the work of two Sharon-based painters who happen to be mother and daughter. Mary Anne Carley uses a multitude of media in her abstract and impressionist paintings and monoprints including acrylic, watercolor, and ink. Carley’s daughter, Theresa Kenny, focuses on figurative works in pastel that capture the color and movement of birds, animals, and children. The exhibition’s title is from Shakespeare and evokes the astrological happiness of a star at the birth of a daughter. It will be on display at the library during operating hours through June 7.  

Live, In-Person & on Zoom:

Mark Schenker returns to the Oliver Wolcott Library to lead discussions on two 20th c. American novels by women: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943) by Betty Smith (1896-1972) and The Optimist’s Daughter (1972) by Eudora Welty (1909-2001). Despite their differences in setting—Brooklyn in the early decades of the 20th century and rural Mississippi in the mid-20th century—these two prize-winning novels use autobiographical material to engage issues of family life, the complex nature of the past, and the transcendence of grief.

The result: an old-fashioned coming-of-age tale of young Francie Nolan and a more complex belated coming-of-age story of 40-something Laura McKelva Hand. 

Dr. Mark Schenker is a retired dean from Yale College. Born and raised in New York City, he received his PhD in English Literature from Columbia University and has taught at Columbia, New York University, Trinity College (Hartford), and Yale University. He was the recipient of the 2001 Wilbur Cross Award for Outstanding Humanities Scholar, presented by the Connecticut Humanities Council.

Books will be available at OWL to borrow at least one month prior to the event plus instant e-book and e-audio copies will be available as well.

Registration and Zoom link are at https://www.owlibrary.org/adult-events.aspx

For the club, we will play 3-hour-long one-shot games once a month beginning in April! So, if you miss a session then no worries. The session will be 3 hours long with a break in the middle. For ages 12+. Please Register. Space is very limited.

Knowing how to protect yourself, especially during these uncertain times, is so very important! We have just the course to arm yourself with the information and tools to effectively protect yourself against any physical threat.

The class will begin with a ten minute discussion on being proactive in preventing a possible attack - employing Situational Awareness - using our heads before using our hands, elbows, knees, feet and the environment to protect ourselves. We will then discuss combat breathing and having a solid foundation and proper stance.

Following that, the course becomes hands on. You will learn to feel comfortable, confident and relaxed in keeping yourself safe while having a fun time learning. Everyone should know the basics of self defense.

Our instructor, Matt Brinckerhoff has been involved in martial arts and self defense for over 40 years; teaching since 1998. His studies of the arts are Tae Kwon Do/Hapkido, Krav Maga and other mixed martial arts. He also hold a master's degree in psychology and is a Clinical Director for a non profit agency, serving individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. He's a master trainer in Physical and Psychological Management training. He has worked as a Behavioral Consultant for DCF, DDS and school systems, specializing in working with individuals with challenging/aggressive behaviors.

He is also a volunteer Fireman for Bantam Fire Company and a member of the Region 5 Dive Rescue Team.

This course is a 4 - hour program, meeting over the course of two weekday evenings. Attendance at both classes is highly recommended.

Monday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 22, 2024

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Community Hall at the Morris Town Hall

Donations accepted to the Bantam Fire Company, Region 5 Dive Team and / or the Morris Fire Company upon arrival

Advance registrations required - please email us at Activities@townofmorrisct.com or give us a call at 860-567-7437

The Litchfield Coordinating Committee for America's 250th has scheduled an affinity group meeting for anyone interested in discussing what will happen in town the "day-of" July 4, 2026. 

The meeting is on May 22, 2024 from 6-7 p.m. at the Litchfield Historical Society.

Registration is required at https://forms.gle/dav3UeFKdnnGz6ZH7 

Those who want to be actively involved in implementing an event or events on July 4, 2026 in Litchfield are invited to this initial meeting. Anyone may come to weigh in, however, broad idea generation already occurred at previous community convenings during 2023. A list of the MANY ideas already generated can be found at: https://www.litchfieldpatriots.org/Americas250th/a250-idea-list.  

Participants on May 22nd will focus on any events that will likely occur on the "day-of" July 4th so the committee can identify who is going to do what, and when.  

Groups that traditionally hold events on Independence Day are strongly encouraged to participate to honor the town's existing traditions while making the semiquincentennial something special that young adults and children will remember in 50 years.

There are many wonderful ideas brewing about how to unite Americans behind the vision and values of liberty, equality, and justice embodied in the American Revolution while helping the nation progress towards securing that vision for all. 

For more information visit LitchfieldPatriots.org/Americas250th/

Dan is back and he’s singing just for you!

FREE / Donations Welcome

Pre-reg Encouraged

An Evening with Johannes Brahms

Pianist Joseph Jacovino and clarinetist Vincent de Luise will perform selections from Brahms’ Lieder and the piano Rhapsodies, and a Brahms chamber music masterpiece for clarinet and piano.

Johannes Brahms was a fascinating and complex musical genius. His compositions represent the peak of romanticism, and yet were also inspired by the classical works of Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn. Brahms was intensely private and reserved, expressing his emotions through music.

Brahms’ Songs (Lieder) and chamber music are wondrous excursions into his feelings for the friends he admired and the women he loved. 

Beginner Crocheting Class

- Come learn in a class designed just for you…a beginner!! You will learn the 6 basic crochet stitches, how to start a project and end a project, how to read a yarn label so you can buy yarn on your own after classes end, how to read a crochet pattern, and more!

- 6 weekly classes, Wednesdays, 1.5 hours each

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

- Requirements: None

Resident $110.00, Non-resident $130.00

Beginner Knitting Class

- Come learn in a class designed just for you…a beginner!! You will learn the basic stitches of knitting – the knit stitch and the purl stitch – as well as how to read a yarn label so you can buy yarn on your own after classes end, how to read a knitting pattern, and more!

- 6 weekly classes, Thursdays, 1.5 hours each

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

- Requirements: None

Resident $110.00, Non-resident $130.00

Instructor: Andrea Dener

Do you have a list of people you wish you were more in touch with? Do you keep meaning to write that card or letter? Do it in community with others who value the art of thoughtful expression. Stationary and stamps provided. Arrive at 7 to participate in a brief opening circle where you can share what you’re working on and hear what others will be doing; arrive after 7:30 if you prefer to drop in! Suggested donation: $5. Ages 12+. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website. 

Are you ready to be part of something truly beautiful and unifying?! Every week, synagogues around the world come together to study the same weekly Torah portion. Let's unite in our love for Torah and join this incredible global community.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect in spirit with the world and with friends from all over Northwest CT and deepen your understanding of our shared heritage.

Join us every Wednesday at 8:00 PM for an unforgettable journey into the teachings of the Torah. From the comfort of your own home, you'll discover how to love to the greatest of heights and live a life filled with purpose and meaning. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn and grow with us! Tune in via zoom at chabadnw.org/live or on facebook live at fb.com/chabadNW. See you there!

Global artists have shared their floral images, film, music and poetry.

for our online art show "Plant Life"

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

Exciting News!

“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

Personaland is an artist-driven global village, transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge geographical and cultural boundaries. This uniquely positions Personaland to create accessible opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and participate. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Personaland takes the form of a virtual entertainment park, where visitors can visit art shows and exhibitions, play art games, watch movies, visit dancing flowers and a wishing well. Since our launch in 2018, Personaland has showcased over 650 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and poets from 61 countries in 25 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions.

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.

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.

In May, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) will host the exhibition A Star Danced: The Paintings of Mary Anne Carley and Theresa Kenny. The exhibition features the work of two Sharon-based painters who happen to be mother and daughter. Mary Anne Carley uses a multitude of media in her abstract and impressionist paintings and monoprints including acrylic, watercolor, and ink. Carley’s daughter, Theresa Kenny, focuses on figurative works in pastel that capture the color and movement of birds, animals, and children. The exhibition’s title is from Shakespeare and evokes the astrological happiness of a star at the birth of a daughter. It will be on display at the library during operating hours through June 7.  

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.