Community Events Calendar
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
Ever wanted to create animations like The Amazing World of Gumball (2011), Steven Universe (2013), or The Owl House (2020)? This class teaches the skills you need to start bringing your own animations to life. Begin with exercises that introduce you to the program and key animation concepts, then use the second half of the class to create your own original animated short. Build on the skills you’ve learned in previous classes and bring your ideas to the screen! By the end, you’ll have a great foundation to keep animating.
This class is great for those that have some prior experience but it is also accessible to those that may be just beginning their animating journey. iPads will be provided or you may bring your own!
The Amazing World of Animation
Bring your creativity to life by designing and sewing your own stuffed animals! In this four-session series, held Sundays from January 4 through January 25, participants will learn the full process—from stitching and shaping to adding expressive features and personal details. You’ll explore both hand-sewing and basic embroidery techniques while learning how to customize existing patterns to make your creations truly one-of-a-kind.
This is a 4-part series held on Sundays January 4- January 25
What to Expect
Across four sessions, students will gain confidence in each step of the stuffed animal-making process, with guided instruction and hands-on practice. You’ll start with basic stitches and appliqué, move into embroidery and shaping, and finish with details like horns, fingers, or facial features. By the end, you’ll have the skills to confidently tackle any stuffed animal pattern you pick up.
Skills You’ll Learn
• Foundational hand-sewing techniques and decorative stitches
• Appliqué and simple embroidery for unique detailing
• Planning and placement for embroidery and embellishments
• Creating darts and gussets for three-dimensional shaping
• Adding features such as buttons, horns, and expressive faces
• Customizing and adapting existing stuffed animal patterns
What’s Provided
• All essential tools and materials for class use
• Pattern templates and reference guides
• Instruction and creative guidance from the instructor
Who Should Attend
Perfect for beginners or anyone interested in soft sculpture and textile art. No prior sewing experience is required—just curiosity and creativity!
4 sessions held Sundays,January 4 - January 25
Instructor: Christina Quinonez
Workshop Ticket Fee:
Standard Ticket: $99.00
MakeHaven Members: 84.00
You must click below and REGISTER to attend at:
https://www.makehaven.org/civicrm/event/info?id=654&reset=1&reset=1
Scroll to the bottom of the page and complete the information under Register (gray box) and hit submit. You will receive an acknowledgement by email. Questions? Email info@makehaven.org
Cozy Creations: Stuffed Animal Workshop Series
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
This fast paced class is all about making a hard cover accordion book on the theme of library or your love of books. You might make a book that holds lists of favorite books you have read, books you wish to read, your favorite libraries, or whatever else you can think of!
There will be demonstrations and instruction on a variety of ways of using the accordion fold in a book format: as a panel, as individual pages, as a board book and as a book spine. After creating samples, students will be guided in choosing a format for displaying old school library pockets and their removable cards and adding text or images if desired. You might even use reclaimed book covers to finish your book. Students will leave with samples of accordion books and a completed artist book of your own!
This class will take place in a studio accessed by a flight of stairs. For any accommodations please send a confidential email to registrar@creativeartsworkshop.org
Accordion Book: Love Your Library
This one-day printmaking intensive draws on America’s rich quilting history and is inspired by the patterns and rhythms of the Quilts of Gee’s Bend. Students will use relief printmaking techniques to create beautiful “quilts” without sewing. Print on fabric and paper to create a stunning patchwork of vibrant hues and innovative textures.
Returning students can experiment with new color palettes, add graphics or linear designs, and incorporate collage elements or natural materials.
The tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Surface Design Series: Inspired Monotype Quilts
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Interested in capturing great images but not sure how to get started? By covering a few basic concepts, you will see your images improve and your confidence grow.
Explore camera exposure settings, smart-phone shooting strategies, and the art of strong composition. Experiment with our Canon Pro 1100 printer and create professional-quality prints that bring your work to life. This offering supports both new and developing photographers. Bring a digital camera to class with your lenses. Be sure to bring a charged battery and memory card installed.
Although the emphasis is on digital photography, the concepts covered here build a solid foundation for anyone curious about moving into film in the future.
Students also enjoy special Saturday photo shoots, personalized guidance, and hands-on printing support. Saturday sessions run 10am–1pm on Jan 10, 17, 31 and Feb 7.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW and includes four 8×10 prints from the Canon printer. Each additional print is $5 for a 4×6 or 5×7 proof plus a final 8×10 payable by cash or check at the time of printing
Introduction to Digital Camera and Smart Phone Photography
Learn how to create digital artwork using Procreate on the iPad.
We’ll cover the essentials—drawing, color, layering, and brush techniques—while exploring how digital tools can enhance your creative process. Procreate’s intuitive features make it easy to blend traditional art skills with modern flexibility.
Designed for beginners or anyone curious about digital art, this class offers a step-by-step approach to building skills and confidence with Procreate.
The Basics of Digital Drawing
Explore the art of block printing with linoleum.
The instructor will demonstrate the process for carving and printing a 4” x 6” linoleum block, as well as a variety of inking and printing processes. Students will focus on developing original designs and concepts to prepare a linoleum block to ink, create a series, and print the results.
All printing will be done with water-soluble inks.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW. Linoleum Blocks and paper will be provided for the first two classes; students will need to purchase their own paper and blocks after the second session.
Exploring Linoleum Block Printing
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
During November 24, 2025– February 4, 2026, the NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway Campus is pleased to present the work of Hafsa Nouman and Sarah Phyllis Smith in their two-person exhibition “You Will Be the Mirror”.
This exhibition includes luminous abstract paintings by Hafsa Nouman, and delicate narrative photographs from Sarah Phyllis Smith. Nouman’s abstract fields are mirrored in Smith’s conceptual photographs and both artists deconstruct space, context, and interpretation with their unique, thought provoking art practices.
Hafsa’s practice focuses on the deconstruction of colonial hierarchies embedded in patriarchal spaces- both monumental and domestic. Her critical focus is rooted in the relationship between ‘object’ and ‘desire’ which often results in visual excavations of architectural thresholds, such as doors, walls, and wrought iron patterns. Through those thresholds, Nouman creates a spatial logic that brings attention to the painted object’s histories, and material realities in a way that they can be re-embodied in the gallery space.
Sarah’s photography follows another deconstruction through abstraction and manipulation of the images. Though her work is deeply personal, themes of loss, longing, and desire permeate throughout her images, and act as both voyeuristic insight and decontextualization. In this examination of her personal experiences the viewer is invited into her both stark and tender space, where deep and slow processing occurs. When we see figures in her work, they are sometimes performative, and sometimes autobiographical. These two directions bring Sarah’s images into their own world. They come from a realistic documentation, but through her perception we arrive at an open-ended meditative place of self-discovery.
Please join us for a reception on Thursday, December 4, 5:00-7:00pm with light refreshments and food. The NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway is open Monday -Friday 9:00am-9:00pm.
Artist Talk:11:00am-12:00pm in the Gallery.
You Will Be the Mirror: Hafsa Nouman & Sarah Phyllis Smith
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
Develop your pottery skills as you focus on wheel-throwing techniques in stoneware and porcelain.
Lessons will cover both functional and decorative pottery with emphasis on classical forms as we know them. Students will be shown how to apply glazes and/or oxide washes to achieve desired results, such as combining glaze colors and the application of wood ash to create unexpected effects on their work. Wear clothes that can get dirty.
Pottery tool kits are available for sale in the studio for $27 and firing fees are $3.50/pound. Payable by credit card, cash or check.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
Intermediate and Advanced Pottery
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Pathway to Trades is a twelve-week pre-apprentice program tailored for individuals looking to start a new career path in the trades industry. Participants choose one of two tracks—Woodworking, or Metalworking— and build a foundation of skills and knowledge to pursue a new career. Through a combination of instructional sessions, shop hours, project-based learning, and guest speaker sessions, participants will receive hands-on experience, practical skills, and industry insights to excel in their chosen trade.
You will need to join MakeHaven as a member to Participate in this program.The program cost does not include membership. To join MakeHaven go to www.makehaven.org/join.
Learn more about the program at:
https://www.makehaven.org/civicrm/event/info?id=328&reset=1&reset=1
Event Fee:
Registration $1,375.00
You must click below and REGISTER to attend at:
https://www.makehaven.org/civicrm/event/info?id=224&reset=1
Scroll to the bottom of the page and complete the information under Register (gray box) and hit submit. You will receive an acknowledgement by email. Questions? Email info@makehaven.org
Pathway to Trades: Cohort 3
Open Mic Surgery is a freeform poetry open mic held at Never Ending Books (Volume Two) on State Street. The weekly event offers a welcoming space where writers of all backgrounds can connect, read their own work, share poems by others, or simply listen and enjoy. Expect an eclectic mix of poetry and spoken word in a supportive, low-pressure setting filled with a wide range of creative voices.
Open Mic Surgery: A poetry open mic
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
During November 24, 2025– February 4, 2026, the NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway Campus is pleased to present the work of Hafsa Nouman and Sarah Phyllis Smith in their two-person exhibition “You Will Be the Mirror”.
This exhibition includes luminous abstract paintings by Hafsa Nouman, and delicate narrative photographs from Sarah Phyllis Smith. Nouman’s abstract fields are mirrored in Smith’s conceptual photographs and both artists deconstruct space, context, and interpretation with their unique, thought provoking art practices.
Hafsa’s practice focuses on the deconstruction of colonial hierarchies embedded in patriarchal spaces- both monumental and domestic. Her critical focus is rooted in the relationship between ‘object’ and ‘desire’ which often results in visual excavations of architectural thresholds, such as doors, walls, and wrought iron patterns. Through those thresholds, Nouman creates a spatial logic that brings attention to the painted object’s histories, and material realities in a way that they can be re-embodied in the gallery space.
Sarah’s photography follows another deconstruction through abstraction and manipulation of the images. Though her work is deeply personal, themes of loss, longing, and desire permeate throughout her images, and act as both voyeuristic insight and decontextualization. In this examination of her personal experiences the viewer is invited into her both stark and tender space, where deep and slow processing occurs. When we see figures in her work, they are sometimes performative, and sometimes autobiographical. These two directions bring Sarah’s images into their own world. They come from a realistic documentation, but through her perception we arrive at an open-ended meditative place of self-discovery.
Please join us for a reception on Thursday, December 4, 5:00-7:00pm with light refreshments and food. The NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway is open Monday -Friday 9:00am-9:00pm.
Artist Talk:11:00am-12:00pm in the Gallery.
You Will Be the Mirror: Hafsa Nouman & Sarah Phyllis Smith
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
Make functional ceramic pieces using the potter’s wheel as our primary tool. We will cover clay preparation, forming pots on the wheel, and glazing. Every class includes both demonstrations and individually-focused instruction. Wear clothes that can get dirty.
Pottery tool kits are available for sale in the studio for $27. Firing fees are $3.50/pound. Payable by credit card, cash or check.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
All levels Pottery A
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Saturday, June 7; Friday, July 4 (Independence Day); Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
In remembrance of Pope Francis, who passed on April 21, 2025, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center is honored to present this exhibit illustrating the pope’s outreach to the peripheries during his 47 international trips.
Learn more: https://www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org/exhibits/francis-pope-of-the-peripheries/
Exhibit | Francis: Pope of the Peripheries
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Many crèches, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, feature a diversity of settings and stable designs — the most common of which is an open-front wood structure. However, many artisans model their crèches after buildings and landscapes that are native to their homelands.
This exhibit includes a variety of crèches that showcase different examples of stables and mangers. In addition, it also highlights a handful of works whose settings have been customized for the figures they contain. One of these is the Neapolitan, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, by Cantone and Costabile of Naples, Italy. In addition, a brand-new crèche will be featured in this exhibit: The Nativity at New Haven's St. Mary’s Church, designed by US-based Navidad Nativities, Inc., with figures made in Italy by Original Heide.
Exhibit | Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes
Christmas Tree Festival open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s Christmas Tree Festival is a seasonal highlight. This popular display showcases the imagination and creativity of Connecticut Catholic elementary schoolchildren. These students create handmade ornaments and trimmings in the theme of The Spirit of Christmas exhibition prior to traveling to the McGivney Center to decorate a school tree.
All 20 trees will be completed and on display to the public beginning December 6, 2025. Explore all the trees and be sure to vote for your favorite Christmas Tree in the People’s Choice Award!
Christmas Tree Festival
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Learn the basics of preparing and operating a loom. Participants will weave a sampler piece combining a wide range of useful weaves. Beginning students will complete one or two simple projects of their choice by the end of this term. Intermediate and advanced students will weave projects with more complex structures using multi-harness looms.
Beginning students have a materials fee of $18 payable to the instructor.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours.
Floor Loom Weaving
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Many crèches, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, feature a diversity of settings and stable designs — the most common of which is an open-front wood structure. However, many artisans model their crèches after buildings and landscapes that are native to their homelands.
This exhibit includes a variety of crèches that showcase different examples of stables and mangers. In addition, it also highlights a handful of works whose settings have been customized for the figures they contain. One of these is the Neapolitan, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, by Cantone and Costabile of Naples, Italy. In addition, a brand-new crèche will be featured in this exhibit: The Nativity at New Haven's St. Mary’s Church, designed by US-based Navidad Nativities, Inc., with figures made in Italy by Original Heide.
Exhibit | Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
For centuries people around the world have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ and numerous traditions have been incorporated into the Christmas season. Advent calendars, Christmas trees, and the display of the crèche, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, are just a few of these traditions. These traditions also incorporate other important Christian figures and events in Christ’s life, such as St. Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Epiphany.
This Christmas, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center presents the exhibit, The Spirit of Christmas, which features crèches and other artwork from around the globe celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and traditions and feast days during the season.
Enjoy the Christmas season at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center through this exhibit, the supplemental exhibit Away in a Manger and a variety of programs, including our annual Christmastime Family Day. Discover more of our offerings at https://www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org/
Make the following offerings a part of your family’s holiday tradition!
Exhibit | The Spirit of Christmas
Christmas Tree Festival open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s Christmas Tree Festival is a seasonal highlight. This popular display showcases the imagination and creativity of Connecticut Catholic elementary schoolchildren. These students create handmade ornaments and trimmings in the theme of The Spirit of Christmas exhibition prior to traveling to the McGivney Center to decorate a school tree.
All 20 trees will be completed and on display to the public beginning December 6, 2025. Explore all the trees and be sure to vote for your favorite Christmas Tree in the People’s Choice Award!
Christmas Tree Festival
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Use circular needles to knit a hat in the round.
We will be covering fundamental skills including casting on, knitting in the round, fixing mistakes like dropped stitches, casting off, and blocking your work. If you can knit a hat, you can knit almost anything! This is the perfect class for beginners and those looking to refresh their knitting skills.
Learn to Knit a Hat in the Round
During November 24, 2025– February 4, 2026, the NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway Campus is pleased to present the work of Hafsa Nouman and Sarah Phyllis Smith in their two-person exhibition “You Will Be the Mirror”.
This exhibition includes luminous abstract paintings by Hafsa Nouman, and delicate narrative photographs from Sarah Phyllis Smith. Nouman’s abstract fields are mirrored in Smith’s conceptual photographs and both artists deconstruct space, context, and interpretation with their unique, thought provoking art practices.
Hafsa’s practice focuses on the deconstruction of colonial hierarchies embedded in patriarchal spaces- both monumental and domestic. Her critical focus is rooted in the relationship between ‘object’ and ‘desire’ which often results in visual excavations of architectural thresholds, such as doors, walls, and wrought iron patterns. Through those thresholds, Nouman creates a spatial logic that brings attention to the painted object’s histories, and material realities in a way that they can be re-embodied in the gallery space.
Sarah’s photography follows another deconstruction through abstraction and manipulation of the images. Though her work is deeply personal, themes of loss, longing, and desire permeate throughout her images, and act as both voyeuristic insight and decontextualization. In this examination of her personal experiences the viewer is invited into her both stark and tender space, where deep and slow processing occurs. When we see figures in her work, they are sometimes performative, and sometimes autobiographical. These two directions bring Sarah’s images into their own world. They come from a realistic documentation, but through her perception we arrive at an open-ended meditative place of self-discovery.
Please join us for a reception on Thursday, December 4, 5:00-7:00pm with light refreshments and food. The NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway is open Monday -Friday 9:00am-9:00pm.
Artist Talk:11:00am-12:00pm in the Gallery.
You Will Be the Mirror: Hafsa Nouman & Sarah Phyllis Smith
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Saturday, June 7; Friday, July 4 (Independence Day); Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
In remembrance of Pope Francis, who passed on April 21, 2025, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center is honored to present this exhibit illustrating the pope’s outreach to the peripheries during his 47 international trips.
Learn more: https://www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org/exhibits/francis-pope-of-the-peripheries/
Exhibit | Francis: Pope of the Peripheries
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
For centuries people around the world have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ and numerous traditions have been incorporated into the Christmas season. Advent calendars, Christmas trees, and the display of the crèche, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, are just a few of these traditions. These traditions also incorporate other important Christian figures and events in Christ’s life, such as St. Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Epiphany.
This Christmas, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center presents the exhibit, The Spirit of Christmas, which features crèches and other artwork from around the globe celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and traditions and feast days during the season.
Enjoy the Christmas season at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center through this exhibit, the supplemental exhibit Away in a Manger and a variety of programs, including our annual Christmastime Family Day. Discover more of our offerings at https://www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org/
Make the following offerings a part of your family’s holiday tradition!
Exhibit | The Spirit of Christmas
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Many crèches, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, feature a diversity of settings and stable designs — the most common of which is an open-front wood structure. However, many artisans model their crèches after buildings and landscapes that are native to their homelands.
This exhibit includes a variety of crèches that showcase different examples of stables and mangers. In addition, it also highlights a handful of works whose settings have been customized for the figures they contain. One of these is the Neapolitan, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, by Cantone and Costabile of Naples, Italy. In addition, a brand-new crèche will be featured in this exhibit: The Nativity at New Haven's St. Mary’s Church, designed by US-based Navidad Nativities, Inc., with figures made in Italy by Original Heide.
Exhibit | Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes
Christmas Tree Festival open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s Christmas Tree Festival is a seasonal highlight. This popular display showcases the imagination and creativity of Connecticut Catholic elementary schoolchildren. These students create handmade ornaments and trimmings in the theme of The Spirit of Christmas exhibition prior to traveling to the McGivney Center to decorate a school tree.
All 20 trees will be completed and on display to the public beginning December 6, 2025. Explore all the trees and be sure to vote for your favorite Christmas Tree in the People’s Choice Award!
Christmas Tree Festival
Each year, the Institute of Sacred Music organizes a series of Zoom lectures that focus on late antique and Byzantine art and architecture. The Late Antique and Byzantine Art and Architecture lecture series is offered in collaboration with the departments of Classics and History of Art and is organized by Robert S. Nelson (History of Art, emeritus), Felicity Harley (Yale Divinity School/ISM), Justin Willson (History of Art) and Vasileios Marinis (Yale Divinity School/ISM).
Free and open to the public, but registration is required.
View the Late Antique and Byzantine Art and Architecture page for specific event dates, titles and presenters.
Contact: Katya Vetrov
Image: Mosaic Floor with Views of Alexandria and Memphis, ca. 540 CE, The Yale-British School Excavations at Gerasa, Yale University Art Gallery
Late Antique and Byzantine Art and Architecture Lecture Series
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
A relaxed, all-levels class for anyone interested in working with clay. Beginners will learn the basics of wheel throwing and hand building, while returning students can continue building skills or explore larger, more advanced projects. Enjoy supportive instruction and plenty of time to practice. Come make what inspires you and grow at your own pace.
Wear clothes that can get messy.
Pottery tool kits are available for sale in the studio for $27 and firing fees are $3.50/pound. Payable by credit card, cash, or check.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours on a first-come, first-served basis and you are encouraged to take advantage of this.
All Levels Saturday Morning Pottery
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
For centuries people around the world have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ and numerous traditions have been incorporated into the Christmas season. Advent calendars, Christmas trees, and the display of the crèche, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, are just a few of these traditions. These traditions also incorporate other important Christian figures and events in Christ’s life, such as St. Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Epiphany.
This Christmas, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center presents the exhibit, The Spirit of Christmas, which features crèches and other artwork from around the globe celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and traditions and feast days during the season.
Enjoy the Christmas season at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center through this exhibit, the supplemental exhibit Away in a Manger and a variety of programs, including our annual Christmastime Family Day. Discover more of our offerings at https://www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org/
Make the following offerings a part of your family’s holiday tradition!
Exhibit | The Spirit of Christmas
Explore and develop designs for relief, intaglio, and monotype printmaking in this hands-on course.
Class time will focus on creating original designs and concepts as students experiment with print plate substrates, including Corian®, Tetra-Pak®, vinyl records, and various recycled and found materials. Examples of different print styles will be shared to illustrate these techniques.
This course is suitable for beginners and advanced students alike.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Experimental Printmaking
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
Celebrate the beauty of winter through painting!
Students will learn easy ways to use color and texture to create glowing, snowy worlds on canvas. This friendly class inspires creativity and helps each child tell their own winter story.
This class welcomes all experience levels, from first-time painters to budding young artists who already love to create.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for materials provided by CAW.
Winter Wonderland Acrylic Painting
Overcome the mysteries of the sewing machine and discover how fun and easy it can be! Learn the basics of machine sewing including threading, operating, and troubleshooting.
Practice using the machine and then move on to simple projects for yourself or for gift-giving. Participants will learn a variety of machine sewing methods including piecing, applique, quilting, and freehand. Potential projects include art pieces, wall hangings, patchwork, quilt patterns, bags, a zippered pouch, table runner, or pillow cover. Tips for altering clothes can also be covered. Previous students are welcome to attend and work on more advanced projects.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $15 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Let’s Get Sewing
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
North America's largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing in New Haven, CT! Solve a hilarious true crime murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!
Join us for an event that is very different from a traditional mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults.
Each ticket includes our signature award-winning mystery dinner theatre show, along with a full plated dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of surprises during the show.
Happens on the following Dates:
Jan 3, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Jan 10, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Jan 24, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
North America's largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing in New Haven, CT! Solve a hilarious true crime murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!
Join us for an event that is very different from a traditional mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults.
Each ticket includes our signature award-winning mystery dinner theatre show, along with a full plated dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of surprises during the show.
Happens on the following Dates:
Jan 3, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Jan 10, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Jan 24, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of independent artists and makers. The community is invited to the free Opening Reception event on Friday, Nov 14 from 5-7pm.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo Shopping at Guilford Art Center
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Many crèches, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, feature a diversity of settings and stable designs — the most common of which is an open-front wood structure. However, many artisans model their crèches after buildings and landscapes that are native to their homelands.
This exhibit includes a variety of crèches that showcase different examples of stables and mangers. In addition, it also highlights a handful of works whose settings have been customized for the figures they contain. One of these is the Neapolitan, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, by Cantone and Costabile of Naples, Italy. In addition, a brand-new crèche will be featured in this exhibit: The Nativity at New Haven's St. Mary’s Church, designed by US-based Navidad Nativities, Inc., with figures made in Italy by Original Heide.
Exhibit | Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes
Christmas Tree Festival open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s Christmas Tree Festival is a seasonal highlight. This popular display showcases the imagination and creativity of Connecticut Catholic elementary schoolchildren. These students create handmade ornaments and trimmings in the theme of The Spirit of Christmas exhibition prior to traveling to the McGivney Center to decorate a school tree.
All 20 trees will be completed and on display to the public beginning December 6, 2025. Explore all the trees and be sure to vote for your favorite Christmas Tree in the People’s Choice Award!
Christmas Tree Festival
In this seven-week studio course, students will explore the art of printmaking through a focused challenge: creating works strictly within a 12” x 12” format. Participants may work in relief, intaglio, monotype, or monoprint, using primarily water-based inks (other solutions are permitted).
Through guided instruction and experimentation, students will develop original designs and concepts that reflect current trends and innovations in contemporary printmaking—all within the creative boundaries of the one-square-foot format. The square format, historically uncommon until the rise of abstraction, presents unique compositional and expressive challenges that foster precision, visual order, and formal structure.
This course is designed to support the creation of final works suitable for submission to The Center for Contemporary Printmaking’s Footprint International Competition 2026. All skill levels are welcome.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $10 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Bound by the Square: Modern Printmaking in 12″x12″
Yes, kids can safely sew on a machine! Learn all about how the machine works and then get sewing with simple projects like a pin cushion and small bags. Students will also learn hand stitching utilizing embroidery threat and felt to create cute animals like a teddy bear, dogs and cats. Embellish your project with fun buttons, sequins, bling, and fancy stitches.
Choice of projects will include small pillows, bags, stuffed animals and more. You’ll be speeding along in no time!
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Sew Easy for Young People
Creativity meets skill-building for young artists!
Young artists discover the basics of drawing and painting through playful, hands-on projects that make learning exciting. Using pencils, pastels, watercolor, and paint, they’ll explore composition, color, line, and value while developing strong observational skills and artistic confidence. Each activity builds coordination and creativity. Together, students will learn to see the world like an artist.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Drawing & Painting: Foundations for Young Artists
The Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo returns November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026, offering an extraordinary selection of handcrafted gifts from hundreds of local and regional artists and makers.
For the season, the GAC Shop doubles in size, filling both the shop and the gallery space with one-of-a-kind treasures: jewelry, home goods, clothing, accessories, ornaments, specialty foods, and more. Each piece is handmade with care, making the gift as unique as the person receiving it.
New this year, the Holiday Expo will also feature a special section of work by members of the Lyme Artisans Guild , known for their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their beautiful, locally made creations alongside other Holiday Expo artists. The Guild’s mission closely aligns with GAC’s, making for an exciting seasonal partnership.
“The Holiday Expo is a celebration of creativity and community,” says Maureen Belden, Executive Director of Guilford Art Center. “When you shop here, you’re not just finding a beautiful, handmade gift—you’re supporting local artists, investing in their livelihoods, and helping to sustain the arts in our region. Every purchase makes a difference.”
Lyme Artisans Guild President Carol Stanland adds, “Handcrafts are very much about community and making connections with people in a community, making any acquisition more meaningful than it would otherwise be. We at LAG very much enjoy sharing our process as well as our products. Knowledge about process gives our products depth.”
New items arrive throughout the season, so there’s always something fresh to discover. Personal shoppers are available to help with selections, and businesses can arrange custom gift packages for employees.
Events:
- November 14: Opening Reception, 5–7pm
- November 15: Egyptian Coil Chaining Demo (for wire jewelry) with Michelle Pearson
- November 22: Gel Printing on Paper Demo with Barbara Eaglesham
- December 13: Color and Pattern Matching in Fabric Design Demo with Carol Stanland
Proceeds benefit the artists and fund Guilford Art Center’s educational and community programs.
Holiday Expo Hours:
November 14, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm | Sun, 12–5pm
Location: Guilford Art Center, 411 Church Street, Guilford, CT
More information: www.guilfordartcenter.org | facebook.com/guilfordartcenter
Phone: 203-453-5947
Holiday Expo at Guilford Art Center
Explore the art of Hew Locke in this docent-led tour focused on the artist’s powerful visual commentary on identity, migration, and history’s enduring impact.
Join our volunteer museum educators and see three decades of Locke’s work in sculpture, photography, and found materials that the artist uses to question and unravel symbols of empire. Discover how he reimagines the iconography and legacies of colonialism.
Tours meet in the Entrance Court by the Visitor Services desk.
Tour of Hew Locke
Bring your creativity to life by designing and sewing your own stuffed animals! In this four-session series, held Sundays from January 4 through January 25, participants will learn the full process—from stitching and shaping to adding expressive features and personal details. You’ll explore both hand-sewing and basic embroidery techniques while learning how to customize existing patterns to make your creations truly one-of-a-kind.
This is a 4-part series held on Sundays January 4- January 25
What to Expect
Across four sessions, students will gain confidence in each step of the stuffed animal-making process, with guided instruction and hands-on practice. You’ll start with basic stitches and appliqué, move into embroidery and shaping, and finish with details like horns, fingers, or facial features. By the end, you’ll have the skills to confidently tackle any stuffed animal pattern you pick up.
Skills You’ll Learn
• Foundational hand-sewing techniques and decorative stitches
• Appliqué and simple embroidery for unique detailing
• Planning and placement for embroidery and embellishments
• Creating darts and gussets for three-dimensional shaping
• Adding features such as buttons, horns, and expressive faces
• Customizing and adapting existing stuffed animal patterns
What’s Provided
• All essential tools and materials for class use
• Pattern templates and reference guides
• Instruction and creative guidance from the instructor
Who Should Attend
Perfect for beginners or anyone interested in soft sculpture and textile art. No prior sewing experience is required—just curiosity and creativity!
4 sessions held Sundays,January 4 - January 25
Instructor: Christina Quinonez
Workshop Ticket Fee:
Standard Ticket: $99.00
MakeHaven Members: 84.00
You must click below and REGISTER to attend at:
https://www.makehaven.org/civicrm/event/info?id=654&reset=1&reset=1
Scroll to the bottom of the page and complete the information under Register (gray box) and hit submit. You will receive an acknowledgement by email. Questions? Email info@makehaven.org
Cozy Creations: Stuffed Animal Workshop Series
Creativity grows with confidence!
Students will build on their drawing and painting skills through fun, hands-on projects that spark imagination and self-expression. Using pencils, pastels, watercolor, and paint, they’ll explore color, composition, texture, and perspective in exciting new ways. Along the way, students strengthen technical skills, try out fresh techniques, and discover even more confidence in their artistic voice.
Perfect for anyone who has already taken a drawing class at CAW or elsewhere and wants to keep growing as an artist!
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Drawing & Painting: Beyond the Basics
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
This fast paced class is all about making a hard cover accordion book on the theme of library or your love of books. You might make a book that holds lists of favorite books you have read, books you wish to read, your favorite libraries, or whatever else you can think of!
There will be demonstrations and instruction on a variety of ways of using the accordion fold in a book format: as a panel, as individual pages, as a board book and as a book spine. After creating samples, students will be guided in choosing a format for displaying old school library pockets and their removable cards and adding text or images if desired. You might even use reclaimed book covers to finish your book. Students will leave with samples of accordion books and a completed artist book of your own!
This class will take place in a studio accessed by a flight of stairs. For any accommodations please send a confidential email to registrar@creativeartsworkshop.org
Accordion Book: Love Your Library
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Get ready to sketch the world around you! In this fun and inspiring class, students will learn how to turn everyday moments into colorful works of art using markers. Whether it's a favorite toy, a family pet, or a scene from the park, young artists will be encouraged to observe their environment and express what they see through drawing. Students will learn: • How to sketch quickly and confidently • Marker techniques for shading, texture, and blending • How to create scenes that tell a story • Developing their own creative style Great for both beginners and experienced young sketchers! All levels welcome. Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for materials provided by CAW.
Drawing with Markers
Interested in capturing great images but not sure how to get started? By covering a few basic concepts, you will see your images improve and your confidence grow.
Explore camera exposure settings, smart-phone shooting strategies, and the art of strong composition. Experiment with our Canon Pro 1100 printer and create professional-quality prints that bring your work to life. This offering supports both new and developing photographers. Bring a digital camera to class with your lenses. Be sure to bring a charged battery and memory card installed.
Although the emphasis is on digital photography, the concepts covered here build a solid foundation for anyone curious about moving into film in the future.
Students also enjoy special Saturday photo shoots, personalized guidance, and hands-on printing support. Saturday sessions run 10am–1pm on Jan 10, 17, 31 and Feb 7.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW and includes four 8×10 prints from the Canon printer. Each additional print is $5 for a 4×6 or 5×7 proof plus a final 8×10 payable by cash or check at the time of printing
Introduction to Digital Camera and Smart Phone Photography
Learn how to create digital artwork using Procreate on the iPad.
We’ll cover the essentials—drawing, color, layering, and brush techniques—while exploring how digital tools can enhance your creative process. Procreate’s intuitive features make it easy to blend traditional art skills with modern flexibility.
Designed for beginners or anyone curious about digital art, this class offers a step-by-step approach to building skills and confidence with Procreate.
The Basics of Digital Drawing
Explore the art of block printing with linoleum.
The instructor will demonstrate the process for carving and printing a 4” x 6” linoleum block, as well as a variety of inking and printing processes. Students will focus on developing original designs and concepts to prepare a linoleum block to ink, create a series, and print the results.
All printing will be done with water-soluble inks.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW. Linoleum Blocks and paper will be provided for the first two classes; students will need to purchase their own paper and blocks after the second session.
Exploring Linoleum Block Printing
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
Develop your pottery skills as you focus on wheel-throwing techniques in stoneware and porcelain.
Lessons will cover both functional and decorative pottery with emphasis on classical forms as we know them. Students will be shown how to apply glazes and/or oxide washes to achieve desired results, such as combining glaze colors and the application of wood ash to create unexpected effects on their work. Wear clothes that can get dirty.
Pottery tool kits are available for sale in the studio for $27 and firing fees are $3.50/pound. Payable by credit card, cash or check.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
Intermediate and Advanced Pottery
Learn basic metalsmithing for making jewelry, developing new skills, or strengthen existing ones. Weekly demonstrations introduce tools and techniques required for working with nonferrous sheet metal and wire. Demonstrations may include sawing, filing, cold-connecting, soldering, surface embellishment, forging, shaping, fold forming, finishing, and patina coloring.
The tuition for this class includes a fee of $40 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Metalsmithing/Jewelry
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Pathway to Trades is a twelve-week pre-apprentice program tailored for individuals looking to start a new career path in the trades industry. Participants choose one of two tracks—Woodworking, or Metalworking— and build a foundation of skills and knowledge to pursue a new career. Through a combination of instructional sessions, shop hours, project-based learning, and guest speaker sessions, participants will receive hands-on experience, practical skills, and industry insights to excel in their chosen trade.
You will need to join MakeHaven as a member to Participate in this program.The program cost does not include membership. To join MakeHaven go to www.makehaven.org/join.
Learn more about the program at:
https://www.makehaven.org/civicrm/event/info?id=328&reset=1&reset=1
Event Fee:
Registration $1,375.00
You must click below and REGISTER to attend at:
https://www.makehaven.org/civicrm/event/info?id=224&reset=1
Scroll to the bottom of the page and complete the information under Register (gray box) and hit submit. You will receive an acknowledgement by email. Questions? Email info@makehaven.org
Pathway to Trades: Cohort 3
Deepen your understanding of traditional photographic processes while refining darkroom techniques. Explore toning, medium and large format photography, and alternative processes such as cyanotype and palladium printing. Emphasis is placed on developing a cohesive body of work through regular critiques and group discussions, fostering both technical growth and conceptual clarity. Most classes will be divided between demonstration, discussion and critique and lab time. The class also includes an optional Friday evening open darkroom practice session where students can work on and refine the techniques discussed in class. Tuition for this class includes a fee of $40 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Intermediate and Advanced Black and White Analog Film Photography
Open Mic Surgery is a freeform poetry open mic held at Never Ending Books (Volume Two) on State Street. The weekly event offers a welcoming space where writers of all backgrounds can connect, read their own work, share poems by others, or simply listen and enjoy. Expect an eclectic mix of poetry and spoken word in a supportive, low-pressure setting filled with a wide range of creative voices.
Open Mic Surgery: A poetry open mic
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
Toni Dove: Sunjammer 6 – A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze
During November 24, 2025– February 4, 2026, the NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway Campus is pleased to present the work of Hafsa Nouman and Sarah Phyllis Smith in their two-person exhibition “You Will Be the Mirror”.
This exhibition includes luminous abstract paintings by Hafsa Nouman, and delicate narrative photographs from Sarah Phyllis Smith. Nouman’s abstract fields are mirrored in Smith’s conceptual photographs and both artists deconstruct space, context, and interpretation with their unique, thought provoking art practices.
Hafsa’s practice focuses on the deconstruction of colonial hierarchies embedded in patriarchal spaces- both monumental and domestic. Her critical focus is rooted in the relationship between ‘object’ and ‘desire’ which often results in visual excavations of architectural thresholds, such as doors, walls, and wrought iron patterns. Through those thresholds, Nouman creates a spatial logic that brings attention to the painted object’s histories, and material realities in a way that they can be re-embodied in the gallery space.
Sarah’s photography follows another deconstruction through abstraction and manipulation of the images. Though her work is deeply personal, themes of loss, longing, and desire permeate throughout her images, and act as both voyeuristic insight and decontextualization. In this examination of her personal experiences the viewer is invited into her both stark and tender space, where deep and slow processing occurs. When we see figures in her work, they are sometimes performative, and sometimes autobiographical. These two directions bring Sarah’s images into their own world. They come from a realistic documentation, but through her perception we arrive at an open-ended meditative place of self-discovery.
Please join us for a reception on Thursday, December 4, 5:00-7:00pm with light refreshments and food. The NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at CT State Community College, Gateway is open Monday -Friday 9:00am-9:00pm.
Artist Talk:11:00am-12:00pm in the Gallery.
You Will Be the Mirror: Hafsa Nouman & Sarah Phyllis Smith
An exhibition that traces a remarkable artistic Journey defined by precision, imagination, and reinvention.
Precision Dreaming: Dalia Ramanauskas Works Across Fifty Years
Make functional ceramic pieces using the potter’s wheel as our primary tool. We will cover clay preparation, forming pots on the wheel, and glazing. Every class includes both demonstrations and individually-focused instruction. Wear clothes that can get dirty.
Pottery tool kits are available for sale in the studio for $27. Firing fees are $3.50/pound. Payable by credit card, cash or check.
Includes one 3-hour weekly practice session during monitored practice hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
All levels Pottery A
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Many crèches, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, feature a diversity of settings and stable designs — the most common of which is an open-front wood structure. However, many artisans model their crèches after buildings and landscapes that are native to their homelands.
This exhibit includes a variety of crèches that showcase different examples of stables and mangers. In addition, it also highlights a handful of works whose settings have been customized for the figures they contain. One of these is the Neapolitan, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, by Cantone and Costabile of Naples, Italy. In addition, a brand-new crèche will be featured in this exhibit: The Nativity at New Haven's St. Mary’s Church, designed by US-based Navidad Nativities, Inc., with figures made in Italy by Original Heide.
Exhibit | Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes
Christmas Tree Festival open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s Christmas Tree Festival is a seasonal highlight. This popular display showcases the imagination and creativity of Connecticut Catholic elementary schoolchildren. These students create handmade ornaments and trimmings in the theme of The Spirit of Christmas exhibition prior to traveling to the McGivney Center to decorate a school tree.
All 20 trees will be completed and on display to the public beginning December 6, 2025. Explore all the trees and be sure to vote for your favorite Christmas Tree in the People’s Choice Award!
Christmas Tree Festival
Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
For centuries people around the world have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ and numerous traditions have been incorporated into the Christmas season. Advent calendars, Christmas trees, and the display of the crèche, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, are just a few of these traditions. These traditions also incorporate other important Christian figures and events in Christ’s life, such as St. Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Epiphany.
This Christmas, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center presents the exhibit, The Spirit of Christmas, which features crèches and other artwork from around the globe celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and traditions and feast days during the season.
Enjoy the Christmas season at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center through this exhibit, the supplemental exhibit Away in a Manger and a variety of programs, including our annual Christmastime Family Day. Discover more of our offerings at https://www.michaelmcgivneycenter.org/
Make the following offerings a part of your family’s holiday tradition!
Exhibit | The Spirit of Christmas
Explore the exciting process of Mokulito, a contemporary printmaking technique that combines elements of woodcut and lithography. Developed in Japan, Mokulito (meaning “wood lithography”) allows artists to draw directly onto a wood surface using greasy materials, then print the image using traditional lithographic principles.
In this hands-on workshop, students will learn how to prepare wood plates, draw and process images, and print using water-based or oil-based inks. The natural grain of the wood adds a unique texture, merging drawing, painting, and printmaking into a single expressive process.
Participants will experiment with line, tone, and layered color while discovering how the medium bridges the immediacy of drawing with the tactile beauty of wood.
No prior printmaking experience is needed—just curiosity and creativity.
Includes one 3-hour practice session per week during monitored practice hours.
The tuition for this class includes a materials fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Mokulito Workshop
Registration is now open for Winter Programs at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning January 5, weekly classes in theater, circus and other performing arts will be offered for toddlers to 20 year olds.
Saturday Classes with Meg Berritta begin on January 10 and serve children from 15 months to eight years old. Classes include Acrobabies (ages 15 months - 3 years with caregiver; 9:15 - 9:55 am); Faerie Tale Theater Presents: Stories Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson (ages 3 - 6, 10 - 10:55 am); Circrobatics (ages 3 - 6, 11 - 11:55 am); and Circobalance (ages 5 - 8, Noon - 1 pm). All Saturday classes culminate in a Share Day for parents on March 7.
The Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus provide training and performance opportunities for young people ages 13 -20. This winter teens interested in either theater or circus can choose from 4 different 6-week classes starting the week of January 5 and culminating in a Teen Winter Showcase on Friday, February 13. These are offered in preparation for an original Spring Spectacle, created and directed by Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, combining theater, circus and Commedia dell’ Arte in a comic history of the world.
All Teen Winter classes meet 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Mondays will be Foundations to Performance: Teen Acting Intensive with Leland Williams. Tuesdays offer Performance Acrobatics with Naja Muller. Wednesdays is Circus Skills for Actors with Joel Melendez. Thursdays provide Commedia dell’ Arte with Dic Wheeler. Students may enroll in one, two three or even all four classes, and tuition is incentivized to encourage taking multiple classes.
After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 begin January 5 and will run for eight weeks this winter, culminating in a “Share Week” March 2 - 5. Most classes run 4:50 -5:50 pm.
Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Imagination Field Trips on Mondays , Circus I on Tuesdays, Art-Tastic Acrobatics on Wednesdays and Who Knows Jack? on Thursdays.
Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Musical Theater: Matilda! on Mondays, Circus II on Tuesdays, Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) on Wednesdays, and Acting for the Stage on Thursdays.
Stage Three, for ages 12 - 14, includes the Junior Rep Mainstage production of Charlotte’s Web , for which students must audition on either December 15 or 18. Rehearsals will start January 5 and performances are March 12 - 14. Stage Three students may also enroll in Slapping and Slapstick (for ages 9 - 14) which meets on Wednesdays, 4:50 - 5:50 pm.
For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Oddfellows Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; Liberty Bank Foundation; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Tinty Foundation; Maximilian & Marion Hoffman Foundation; George and Grace Long Foundation; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Middlesex United Way; CT Humanities (DLF); Eversource Energy Foundation; and many generous individual donors.
Photo attached by Carolina Villamizar of the 2025 Teen Repertory Company production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Classes in Theater, Dance and Circus start January 5
Step into a dynamic, hands-on photography workshop designed to boost creative skills and spark fresh inspiration.
Explore the power of Lightroom on the iPad and discover how continuous lighting can transform any shot. Participants will experiment with professional lighting setups and tripods provided onsite, gaining practical experience through lively demonstrations and guided practice. Expect an engaging, fast-paced session filled with discoveries, creative problem-solving, and plenty of “aha” moments—perfect for both newcomers and experienced photographers eager to expand their toolbox.
Shaping Light in Photography
Veteran book arts expert Gisela Noack brings her many years of skill and experience in restoration and conservation to students working on their own advanced bookbinding or restoration projects.
Enrollment in this class includes one 3-hour monitored open bench session per week.
This class will take place in a studio accessed by a flight of stairs. For any accommodations please send a confidential email to registrar@creativeartsworkshop.org
The tuition for this class includes a fee of $5 for basic materials provided by CAW.
Advanced Hand Bookbinding
Toni Dove , internationally known innovator in the field of emerging technology and pioneer of interactive cinema presents Sunjammer 6: A Tale Blown by a Solar Breeze. This innovative fusion of sculpture, game, cinema, and performance invites viewers into a poetic and dreamlike experience. An AI driven instrument tells the story of Hypatia, a Hellenistic astronomer and philosopher, who returns as a ghost ten years in our future and encounters a NASA engineer building an off-world power station. They connect across time using mathematics and physics. The core of Hypatia is a hybrid AI that interacts with viewer-operators, creating the illusion of a complex personality. Set in the Schwarzman Center’s iconic Dome, by day the work engages audiences in a dynamic narrative installation activated by their movements, making them part of the story. A longer narrative version is performed by dancer/operators for two evening events. January 5-15, 2026.
"In all the conversations surrounding virtual space and meatspace, what could be more relevant?"
Art News - Barbara MacAdam
Amelia Heintzelman moves the Solar System. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Amelia Heinztelman with Kepler. June 2025 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo: Jack Pearce
Meet the Artist:
"You might think the robots have finally taken over..."
Herald Tribune - Marty Fugate
