
Community Events Calendar

Thinking of others and sharing good wishes for them are two of the most important values of the holiday season, and what grownup can resist a handmade gift from a child! So, the December children’s art classes reflect these values. Children ages 7-11 years old will design snowmen or holiday shaped tree cards decorating the cards with paper shapes and then writing a personalized message inside. The last two sessions will be spent creating handmade ornaments such as trees, snowflakes, stars and festive globes all ready in time for holiday gift giving. All materials included.
Sharon Lee Mullen-Reynolds knew in High School that she was to be an Art teacher. That is exactly what she did; for 36 years she taught Visual Art in the city of New Haven. Her career hi-light was teaching 22 years at the Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School. During her tenure there she was a published Fellow at Yale N.H.Teachers Institute for 2 years, the Department Chairperson for 8 years and creator of As Far As The Eye Can See a school-wide art exhibit.
Since her retirement in 2016, she has been attending numerous art exhibits and installations locally and in NYC, specifically Frida Kahlo’s exhibit at the Brooklyn Art Museum which led her to create Frida- inspired floral headpieces. In 2017 she started The Kindness Rock art installation at the Branford Festival.
Sharon is an artist who believes that art can heal your soul. In 2022 she sold her headpieces at the Ukrainian Roman Catholic church for the benefit of Ukraine’s War effort and donated 5 Ukrainian Strong “Petals for Peace” paintings to raise additional funds. These paintings were showcased on Channel 8 news.
In addition to her headpieces, Sharon works in mixed-media, crafts, collage, and watercolor landscape en plein air. Sharon’s artwork has been exhibited at City-Wide Open Studios, The ARTS Council, Calligraphers Guild, and is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.
Holiday Card Making & Ornaments for Children Ages 7-11
Yale Camerata is holding in-person auditions for experienced singers of the Yale and greater New Haven communities on December 10 and 11, 2025. Soprano, alto, tenor, and bass positions open.
All auditions will be held in The Great Hall (N100), Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven. Registration is required.
For more information and registration link, see the ISM Choral Auditions website.
Yale Camerata is a choral ensemble of approximately 80 singers, with a special commitment to diverse choral music, open to experienced singers from the Yale and New Haven communities. The choir is conducted by Dr. Felicia Barber.
Contact: Don Youngberg
Spring Yale Camerata Choral Auditions
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
Advanced Hand Bookbinding
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
Exhibit Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday, 12 to 5 pm.
From Frank Pepe’s original hat to celebrity-signed pizza boxes (including Gwyneth Paltrow and Yogi Berra!), if you love the crust, the crunch and the char of New Haven apizza, or simply have strong views on what comprises a good pie, you’ll find something to feed your personal pizza passion in the new exhibit “Pronounced Ah-Beetz,” open now at the New Haven Museum (NHM) through October 2027.
“Pronounced Ah-Beetz” examines the fun, the flavor and the history of pizza, including its origin as an affordable means of feeding workers in the fields of Italy, and how it became the food of the poor in the U.S. The Italian migration to New Haven gave way to Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, which gave birth to Sally’s Apizza, while a mile away Tony’s Apizza became Modern. How these three establishments became among the most iconically loved pizza restaurants in the country is a major focus.
While the exhibit highlights the “Big 3” original apizza spots in New Haven, it also extends through the family tree of New Haven pizzerias to present a picture of family, food and community that includes a host of other local pizzerias, including: Ernie’s, Zuppardi’s, BAR, Zeneli’s, Olde World, and the Big Green Pizza Truck, among others.
“Pronounced Ah-Beetz” Exhibit at New Haven Museum
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
Since 1990, Trees of Hope has served as a holiday tradition in Greater New Haven. This event is open to the public daily and will feature over 160 beautiful holiday displays donated and sponsored by individuals, local businesses and community organizations. Raffle tickets are sold for $1 each and attendees will be able to distribute their tickets towards the displays they would like to win on our raffle platform. It is a fun event for the entire family and a perfect way to get in the holiday spirit and kick off this special season. Trees of Hope is our largest fundraising event and therefore, instrumental in securing the funds necessary to support the brave children and families at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
Trees of Hope will be held on weekdays from 11am–7pm and on weekends 10am - 5pm at the Long Wharf Maritime Center in New Haven, CT, located at 555 Long Wharf Drive, from December 6th through December 14th.
https://rmhc-ctma.org/events/ct-trees-of-hope
Trees of Hope for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT and Western MA
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
Using both hand-building techniques and the potter’s wheel, participants learn the foundational skills needed to create basic ceramic cups, bowls, and floral containers. As students refine these skills, they will work on more complex projects. This will enable them to combine techniques, push their creativity, and practice creative problem-solving.
Glazing, slips, and other surface treatments will be explored. There will be instructor demonstrations and individual consultations. Wear clothes that can get dirty.
Afternoon Clay
In this 3-session class, children ages 7-11 learn to fold, construct and paint 3-dimensional stars for the holidays. Stars can be used as window decorations or as ornaments. Perfect gifts for the season. All materials included. No experience necessary.
Cathy Lovell’s lifelong interest in the creative arts continues to guide her through a gratifying career as both art educator and studio artist. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Wesleyan University, Cathy has taught in the Newton, MA, Greenwich, CT and East Lyme, CT public school systems. She has also taught private classes in various fields including stained glass, jewelry making and silver work, enameling, ceramics, glass bead making, and quilting.
In the interest of furthering her own education, Cathy received a scholarship to attend the Pilchuck Glass School where she worked with Dale Chihuly and Patrick Reyntiens. Her interest in felting began with a workshop led by Lynne Ocone at the Guilford Art Center. Cathy is a member of the Northeast Felt makers Guild where she has had the privilege of participating in classes given by world renowned felt makers. Cathy credits her friend and fellow felt maker Catherine Stebinger with sharing ongoing creative energy, inspiration, and encouragement. Her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.
Get Into the Holida Spirit for Ages 7-11
Yale Camerata is holding in-person auditions for experienced singers of the Yale and greater New Haven communities on December 10 and 11, 2025. Soprano, alto, tenor, and bass positions open.
All auditions will be held in The Great Hall (N100), Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven. Registration is required.
For more information and registration link, see the ISM Choral Auditions website.
Yale Camerata is a choral ensemble of approximately 80 singers, with a special commitment to diverse choral music, open to experienced singers from the Yale and New Haven communities. The choir is conducted by Dr. Felicia Barber.
Contact: Don Youngberg
Spring Yale Camerata Choral Auditions
The BACA Gallery will be open into the evening as part of Branford's Shop, Sip & Stroll event for your holiday shopping convenience. Drop by for festive refreshments, find that special artist-made gift and leave with a complimentary treat for yourself.
Free
Shop, Sip & Stroll at the BACA Gallery
Inaugurated in 1867, Street Hall—today part of the Yale University Art Gallery—housed the first school of art in the country. Its curriculum permitted students from a variety of disciplines to sketch from live models and original works of art. Take part in this centuries-old practice by joining us for an evening of guided sketching.
Open to all ages and levels of drawing experience. Materials are provided.
University students: if you need a break from your studies, join us for an hour of sketching and listening to music, with a takeaway treat at the end.
Sketching in the Galleries
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Supersuckers
Scott H. Biram
King Sickabilly
$23 advanced / $28 at the door
21+
Doors at 7 PM
Music at 8 PM
SUPERSUCKERS
“You’ve heard our name, you’ve seen our records, our t-shirts and our stickers. We’re probably the favorite band of someone you know and yet maybe we’re still a mystery to you. Well my friend, that’s okay, you’re at the right place to get to know the greatest rock-n-roll band in the world, The Supersuckers.
And the next time you see the ‘Supersuckers’ name, whether it’s in the record store, online somewhere, or on the marquee at your local rock club, know that there are some quality, honest, ass-kicking, hard-working individuals behind it all trying to make your life a little better through the “Evil Powers Of Rock-n-Roll” (and the occasional detour into the country music, of course) and we’d love nothing better than to have you there with us as! Just remember to wear clean underwear, ‘cuz we’re gonna rock the pants right off of you!”– Eddie Spaghetti, The Supersuckers
SCOTT H. BIRAM
Scott H. Biram unleashes a fervent display of conviction through, not only the genuine blues, classic country, bluegrass, and rock n roll, but he seals the deal with punk, heavy metal, and frankly, anything else he wants to. He’s The Dirty Old One Man Band. He will still the room with haunting South Texas blues, then turn it upside down, into a truck driver’s mosh pit. Like he says, it might be baptism, or it might be murder, either way…you gonna see the light.
This legally ordained preacher’s singing, yodeling, growling, leering and brash preachin’ and hollerin’ is accompanied by sloppy riffs, and licks literally yanked, one at a time, out of his collection of crusty, worn out, Gibson hollowbody guitars, and battle axes. All this held down with a pounding backbeat brought forth by his amplified left foot, and self customed stomp board. The remainder of this brutally charming one-man band consists of an unwieldy combination of beat-up amplifiers and old microphones strung together by a tangled mess of guitar cables. Don’t get too close! You gonna get some grease on ya!
Years of compulsive touring, along with a steady diet of down and dirty blues, rock, punk, country, and hillbilly have developed Scott H. Biram’s signature concoction, attracting a hefty array of fans who dig the bizarre and twisted sides of the rock and roll spectrum. His live shows, performed all over the world, deliver a take no prisoners attitude, a stomping, pulsing John Lee Hooker-channeling, and cockeyed tales of black water baptisms and murder, all while romanticizing the on-the-road lifestyle.
SCOTT H. BIRAM IS THE DIRTY OLD ONE MAN BAND.
KING SICKABILLY
Serious songwriting from YEARS of hardship, road experience and inner turmoil.
The way it was supposed to be, but with a new approach.
Over 10 years of relentless touring has cemented SASQUATCH as one of the most high gear, powerhouse band leaders around... his bands, The Sick-a-Billys, Holy Hellraisers, Full Moon Boys and his critically acclaimed King Sickabilly 'One Man Band' have all stayed true as far as vocals, lyrics and his fiery guitar-work. Never giving up his song-writing mission... keeping real music alive and dangerous in the under-underground. Risen from a not so forgotten past, when Live Music still meant something and the scene wasn't a Pre-Apocalyptic Ghost Town... bloody fingertips and a soul-haunting voice will deliver you songs about Sin, Love, Murder, Tornadoes and drinking until you wake up under a random barstool.
Cafe Nine
250 State Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Supersuckers / Scott H. Biram / King Sickabilly
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
Exhibit Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday, 12 to 5 pm.
From Frank Pepe’s original hat to celebrity-signed pizza boxes (including Gwyneth Paltrow and Yogi Berra!), if you love the crust, the crunch and the char of New Haven apizza, or simply have strong views on what comprises a good pie, you’ll find something to feed your personal pizza passion in the new exhibit “Pronounced Ah-Beetz,” open now at the New Haven Museum (NHM) through October 2027.
“Pronounced Ah-Beetz” examines the fun, the flavor and the history of pizza, including its origin as an affordable means of feeding workers in the fields of Italy, and how it became the food of the poor in the U.S. The Italian migration to New Haven gave way to Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, which gave birth to Sally’s Apizza, while a mile away Tony’s Apizza became Modern. How these three establishments became among the most iconically loved pizza restaurants in the country is a major focus.
While the exhibit highlights the “Big 3” original apizza spots in New Haven, it also extends through the family tree of New Haven pizzerias to present a picture of family, food and community that includes a host of other local pizzerias, including: Ernie’s, Zuppardi’s, BAR, Zeneli’s, Olde World, and the Big Green Pizza Truck, among others.
“Pronounced Ah-Beetz” Exhibit at New Haven Museum
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
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
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
Join our volunteer museum educators for an interactive exploration of highlights from our collection. In a New Light: Five Centuries of British Art features works from the sixteenth century to the present, now on view in a reimagined installation.
Tours meet in the Entrance Court by the Visitor Services desk.
Tour of Collection Highlights
🎄✨ Kids’ Night Out! ELF ON THE SHELF ✨🎄
Friday, December 12th | 5–8 PM
Need a few hours to wrap gifts, finish your shopping, or just enjoy some quiet time? We’ve got you covered! 🙌
Drop the kids off for a fun-filled night of:
🎨 Painting their very own Elf on the Shelf
❄️ Making snow slime
🎶 Dancing to holiday music
🎭 Imaginative fun in our creative winter play area
🍕 Pizza included!
It’s going to be a night full of creativity, laughter, and holiday magic at The Giggling Pig New Haven! ❤️
🎟️ Space is limited — reserve your spot now!
👕 Dress for a mess!
👉 Register here: https://www.thegigglingpig.com/events-new-haven
#TheGigglingPigNewHaven #KidsNightOut #ElfOnTheShelf #HolidayFun #CreativeKids #PizzaAndPainting #HolidayMagic #SnowSlime #KidsEvent #NewHavenEvents
🎄✨ Kids’ Night Out! ELF ON THE SHELF ✨🎄
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:
- Dec 13, 2025, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)
- Dec 20, 2025, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
Kick off the holiday season with a magical morning at The Shore Line Trolley Museum! Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast while Santa makes his way around the room to greet families, say “hi,” and spread holiday cheer. After breakfast, hop aboard one of our vintage trolleys for a festive ride through history.
Dates: Saturdays, December 6th, 13th & 20th
Seatings: 8:30 AM & 9:30 AM
Location: The Shore Line Trolley Museum
Space is limited, so reserve your spot early for this holiday tradition your family won’t want to miss!
Pancake Breakfast with Santa
Show up for your creative self this fall with the Saturday Drawing Club. Our theme is illustrate your life!
Draw upon personal stories, family recipes, and favorite places while creating and learning about sequential art, with weekly prompts and materials combined with a mix of conversation, creative time, and feedback.
Saturday Drawing Club: Illustrate your life
Don't miss this holiday gifts bonanza presented by the Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA)! Browse original arts, crafts, jewelry, photography, wood, textiles, leather, and unique gifts galore, all at the old Branford Post Office located at 1111 Main Street from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Meet the artisans and take some selfies with Santa!
Free
BACA’s Artful Holiday Market in Branford
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
Since 1990, Trees of Hope has served as a holiday tradition in Greater New Haven. This event is open to the public daily and will feature over 160 beautiful holiday displays donated and sponsored by individuals, local businesses and community organizations. Raffle tickets are sold for $1 each and attendees will be able to distribute their tickets towards the displays they would like to win on our raffle platform. It is a fun event for the entire family and a perfect way to get in the holiday spirit and kick off this special season. Trees of Hope is our largest fundraising event and therefore, instrumental in securing the funds necessary to support the brave children and families at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
Trees of Hope will be held on weekdays from 11am–7pm and on weekends 10am - 5pm at the Long Wharf Maritime Center in New Haven, CT, located at 555 Long Wharf Drive, from December 6th through December 14th.
https://rmhc-ctma.org/events/ct-trees-of-hope
Trees of Hope for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT and Western MA
Bring the whole family to the Shore Line Trolley Museum this holiday season for a magical Visit with Santa! Running Thanksgiving weekend and weekends in December through December 21st , this festive event is packed with holiday fun.
What’s Included?
- Take a cozy ride to Santa aboard our heated trolley , beautifully decorated for the season.
- Tell Santa what’s on your Christmas list and receive a small gift.
- Take lots of photos with Santa to capture the special moment.
- Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate to warm up!
- Stroll through the museum and check out the holiday-decorated trolleys.
- Visit our museum store for unique and thoughtful gift ideas.
Most of the event takes place outside , so dress warmly and get ready for a fun, festive day filled with holiday cheer!
Dates:
- Thanksgiving Weekend
- Weekends in December until December 21st
Create lasting holiday memories with a visit to Santa at the Shore Line Trolley Museum!
Next Stop: SANTA!
Join our volunteer museum educators for an interactive exploration of highlights from our collection. In a New Light: Five Centuries of British Art features works from the sixteenth century to the present, now on view in a reimagined installation.
Tours meet in the Entrance Court by the Visitor Services desk.
Tour of Collection Highlights
The Schwarzman Center offers student-led tours of Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven, on selected Saturdays from 11am - 12pm, and 12:30pm - 1:30pm. These tours are free and open to the public, and no registration is required. Simply meet inside the Rotunda at the corner of College and Grove Streets!
Group tours are available upon request during our operating hours. Those with a group of ten or more people should contact us at ysc.info@yale.edu to schedule a time.
About the exhibition:
Installed at the Schwarzman Center, “Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven,” illuminates ongoing research that recovers the essential role of Black people throughout Yale and New Haven history. The exhibition puts back at the center of local storytelling people who have always been central to local history. It celebrates Black community building, resistance, and resilience on campus and in New Haven.
The show includes nearly one hundred images of Yale’s earliest Black students from the 1800s and early 1900s, many of whom had deep New Haven connections. The Schwarzman exhibition features compelling reproductions of photographs of New Haveners who were custodians of Yale. The Luke, Grimes, Creed, Park, and Bassett families, among the many people key to founding and sustaining Yale, and who are heralded in the show.
“Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven” showcases the proposal, made and thwarted in 1831, to build a Black college in New Haven. It also highlights the successful efforts of Black students in the 1960s to establish the Afro-American Cultural Center and Afro-American Studies at Yale.
This exhibition brings forth knowledge kept alive in archives and memory for many centuries—even when the dominant culture chose to ignore, bury, or forget. It extends the work of the Yale and Slavery Research Project and follows from the exhibition, “Shining Light on Truth: New Haven, Yale and Slavery,” at the New Haven Museum from February 16, 2024 – March 1, 2025.
The exhibition team includes David Jon Walker ’23 MFA, lead designer, and Michael Morand ’87 ’93 M.Div., lead curator, with Timeica Bethel ’11, Robert Laird Brown, Jennifer Coggins, Mohamed Diallo ’26, Regina Mason, Hope McGrath, Carlynne Robinson, and Charles Warner, Jr.
Saturday Guided Tours of Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
Exhibit Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday, 12 to 5 pm.
From Frank Pepe’s original hat to celebrity-signed pizza boxes (including Gwyneth Paltrow and Yogi Berra!), if you love the crust, the crunch and the char of New Haven apizza, or simply have strong views on what comprises a good pie, you’ll find something to feed your personal pizza passion in the new exhibit “Pronounced Ah-Beetz,” open now at the New Haven Museum (NHM) through October 2027.
“Pronounced Ah-Beetz” examines the fun, the flavor and the history of pizza, including its origin as an affordable means of feeding workers in the fields of Italy, and how it became the food of the poor in the U.S. The Italian migration to New Haven gave way to Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, which gave birth to Sally’s Apizza, while a mile away Tony’s Apizza became Modern. How these three establishments became among the most iconically loved pizza restaurants in the country is a major focus.
While the exhibit highlights the “Big 3” original apizza spots in New Haven, it also extends through the family tree of New Haven pizzerias to present a picture of family, food and community that includes a host of other local pizzerias, including: Ernie’s, Zuppardi’s, BAR, Zeneli’s, Olde World, and the Big Green Pizza Truck, among others.
“Pronounced Ah-Beetz” Exhibit at New Haven Museum
The Schwarzman Center offers student-led tours of Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven, on selected Saturdays from 11am - 12pm, and 12:30pm - 1:30pm. These tours are free and open to the public, and no registration is required. Simply meet inside the Rotunda at the corner of College and Grove Streets!
Group tours are available upon request during our operating hours. Those with a group of ten or more people should contact us at ysc.info@yale.edu to schedule a time.
About the exhibition:
Installed at the Schwarzman Center, “Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven,” illuminates ongoing research that recovers the essential role of Black people throughout Yale and New Haven history. The exhibition puts back at the center of local storytelling people who have always been central to local history. It celebrates Black community building, resistance, and resilience on campus and in New Haven.
The show includes nearly one hundred images of Yale’s earliest Black students from the 1800s and early 1900s, many of whom had deep New Haven connections. The Schwarzman exhibition features compelling reproductions of photographs of New Haveners who were custodians of Yale. The Luke, Grimes, Creed, Park, and Bassett families, among the many people key to founding and sustaining Yale, and who are heralded in the show.
“Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven” showcases the proposal, made and thwarted in 1831, to build a Black college in New Haven. It also highlights the successful efforts of Black students in the 1960s to establish the Afro-American Cultural Center and Afro-American Studies at Yale.
This exhibition brings forth knowledge kept alive in archives and memory for many centuries—even when the dominant culture chose to ignore, bury, or forget. It extends the work of the Yale and Slavery Research Project and follows from the exhibition, “Shining Light on Truth: New Haven, Yale and Slavery,” at the New Haven Museum from February 16, 2024 – March 1, 2025.
The exhibition team includes David Jon Walker ’23 MFA, lead designer, and Michael Morand ’87 ’93 M.Div., lead curator, with Timeica Bethel ’11, Robert Laird Brown, Jennifer Coggins, Mohamed Diallo ’26, Regina Mason, Hope McGrath, Carlynne Robinson, and Charles Warner, Jr.
Saturday Guided Tours of Shining Light on Truth: Black Lives at Yale & in New Haven
Join our Student Guides to learn more about In a New Light: Five Centuries of British Art. Each tour is created by a Student Guide to explore a specific theme in the museum’s collection.
Tours meet in the Entrance Court by the Visitors Service Desk
Tour of Collection Spotlights
Taylor Mac ’s beloved annual holiday extravaganza, Holiday Sauce blends music, burlesque and random acts of fabulousness in the most subversive and cathartic event of the season. Ibsen Award winner and MacArthur Fellow Taylor Mac (who uses “judy” as a gender pronoun) invites long-time collaborators (including Matt Ray as music director with looks and appearances from Machine Dazzle ) and surprise special guests to celebrate the holidays in all of their dysfunction. There is more to the holidays than rampant gift giving—in Taylor’s world, creativity and imagination are their own spirituality. Taylor Mac reminds us of the collective power of our chosen families, a message that rings true in spite of capitalism’s attempt to hijack the holidays. Holiday Sauce is produced by Pomegranate Arts.
"‘Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce’ will cure your Christmas blues... plies acerbic wit, subversive politics, circus pageantry, sartorial riot and boundless compassion to the holidays"
San Francisco Chronicle
Meet the Artists:
Theater-Maker, Composer, Pianist, Singer, Songwriter, Arranger, & Music Director.
Creative and Executive Producer
"Tremendously charismatic...an extravagant celebration of queerness and chosen family"
Bay Area News Group (Mercury News, East Bay Times)
'Holiday Sauce' with Taylor Mac
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
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
Since 1990, Trees of Hope has served as a holiday tradition in Greater New Haven. This event is open to the public daily and will feature over 160 beautiful holiday displays donated and sponsored by individuals, local businesses and community organizations. Raffle tickets are sold for $1 each and attendees will be able to distribute their tickets towards the displays they would like to win on our raffle platform. It is a fun event for the entire family and a perfect way to get in the holiday spirit and kick off this special season. Trees of Hope is our largest fundraising event and therefore, instrumental in securing the funds necessary to support the brave children and families at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
Trees of Hope will be held on weekdays from 11am–7pm and on weekends 10am - 5pm at the Long Wharf Maritime Center in New Haven, CT, located at 555 Long Wharf Drive, from December 6th through December 14th.
https://rmhc-ctma.org/events/ct-trees-of-hope
Trees of Hope for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT and Western MA
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
Bring the whole family to the Shore Line Trolley Museum this holiday season for a magical Visit with Santa! Running Thanksgiving weekend and weekends in December through December 21st , this festive event is packed with holiday fun.
What’s Included?
- Take a cozy ride to Santa aboard our heated trolley , beautifully decorated for the season.
- Tell Santa what’s on your Christmas list and receive a small gift.
- Take lots of photos with Santa to capture the special moment.
- Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate to warm up!
- Stroll through the museum and check out the holiday-decorated trolleys.
- Visit our museum store for unique and thoughtful gift ideas.
Most of the event takes place outside , so dress warmly and get ready for a fun, festive day filled with holiday cheer!
Dates:
- Thanksgiving Weekend
- Weekends in December until December 21st
Create lasting holiday memories with a visit to Santa at the Shore Line Trolley Museum!
Next Stop: SANTA!
EveryBody Dances @ Yale Schwarzman Center brings local and visiting dance artists to our Dance Studio to teach masterclasses in jazz, hip hop, salsa, modern, contemporary, precision dance and more! All community members are welcome.
Details coming soon.
Read Why Don't We Dance More, in The New York Times.
Read 'You Think, So You Can Dance?' Science Is on It., in The New York Times.
EveryBody Dances @ Yale Schwarzman 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
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 Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
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.
Lets Get Sewing
In this workshop make five holiday unique craft home décor projects to display or for gift giving. Create and learn the techniques to make an origami paper wreath, an upgraded to go coffee cup as a snowman holiday candy container, a unique gift bag, a paper tree and a triangle snowman box. Take home a detailed instruction workshop sheet, list of supplies, information about the techniques and photos of the projects. To make more holiday home décor projects, you will receive a kit which will include cardstock, die cut pieces, coordinating colored cardstock and any other supplies needed to make more of these projects on your own. No experience is necessary for this workshop just holiday spirit!
Introducing Nancy Souza, a teacher, mixed media artist and crafter. Creating unique cards and paper projects using a variety of techniques, colorful cardstock and card layouts including inks, stencils, collage, upcycled vintage items, and more. Souza is a certified teacher, teaching at the elementary & high school levels and graduate level courses at Sacred Heart University Griswold High School campus, including her 6th Year post graduate level.
Twenty-six years ago, a teaching colleague suggested Nancy sign up for a local card making class and the rest is history. It’s been an interesting and rewarding crafting journey both taking classes, sharing with crafting friends and teaching fellow crafters. Souza is a proud Certified Educator, completing 85 cards/projects posted on her Blog and a virtual class demo. Now she is creating samples for Altenew using new release items…and of course, her favorite color is glitter!
Souza’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.
Holiday Home Decor Workshop
TEDxProspect Hill is an independently organized TEDx event licensed under the global TEDx platform. Rooted in the Prospect Hill neighborhood of New Haven, this event brings together voices from the community, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and academia to foster dialogue, build connections, and create opportunities for meaningful partnerships. By bridging gaps between groups, TEDxProspect Hill seeks to amplify diverse perspectives and strengthen collaboration across sectors. ​​ This year, we are exploring the theme "What If?", inviting the community to share perspectives that spark conversation and reimagine the systems we live within.
TEDxProspect Hill 2025
New and experienced students will focus on making pottery on the wheel.
Start by using methods of wedging, centering, hand and finger positioning for raising a vessel, and positioning one’s body for dealing with a mass of clay on the wheel. Demonstrations will cover the importance of trimming techniques and various forming processes.
Wear clothes that can get dirty.
Techniques for Wheel Throwing
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
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
Don’t be intimidated any longer—come learn to paint. This class will unfold the mysteries of painting by introducing students to the basics: selecting materials, setting up a palette, handling paint, and composing a picture. The class will emphasize learning to see what you wish to paint with the goal of rendering form clearly in terms of color and design. Come to the first class ready to paint.
CAW does not supply paint, brushes, or canvas. Please see the list below for what students need to bring.
Introduction to Painting
This class is for beginners eager to learn all aspects of pottery, as well as returnees who wish to hone their skills. Although the primary focus is on wheel throwing, we will also explore hand-building and ways to combine the two disciplines. Time will additionally be spent on the importance of trimming and glazing.
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 and you are encouraged to take advantage of this.
Beginning/ Intermediate Pottery
Legendary balladeer Engelbert Humperdinck brings his timeless voice to the Shubert for a special holiday performance where romance and nostalgia meet beloved seasonal classics. Experience an unforgettable evening where cherished memories meet the magic of the season.
Engelbert Humperdinck: A Winter World of Love
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
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
Look closely at a single artwork through the ongoing research of our residential fellows, research students, and staff. Susie Beckham, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Research Department at the YCBA. She will share how Victorian satirist Florence Claxton played upon the popular understanding of Pre-Raphaelite art in 1860 in her humorous, visual critique of the principles of the movement, its leaders, notable pictures, and perception of a horrifying aesthetic of beauty.
Preregistration is required for this program. Please contact ycba.studyroom@yale.edu to register.
To learn more. please visit: https://britishart.yale.edu/exhibitions-programs/research-action-choice-paris-idyll
Research in Action: “The Choice of Paris, an Idyll ”
RE:Imagine!
RE-Imagine. An interactive (and contemporary) art exhibit. Pairing system-
SURVIVING (and thriving) artists with system-SURVIVING artists (rappers with painters; poets with photographers; etc.). Taking place on December 16, 2025 at Da Legna at NOLO 687 State Street New Haven, CT 06511 from 5-10 pm. Proceeds from the event will be used to assist Newhallville Fresh Starts Inc. in their continued efforts (and mission) to eradicate food insecurity, and supply other necessary supports to the struggling citizens of the city of New Haven (and surrounding towns). It is not limited to those who are system impacted. It is a platform for the platformless- in a formal setting.
This is for the: marginalized musicians; and the ostracized artists!!!!
RE:Imagine is a Black Tie Affair
RE:Imagine
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
Back by popular demand.
Two Dates: December 9 and December 16 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Take some time for you and your friends and join us to decorate GIANT house-made Gingerbread Cookies while sipping wine. (This is an Adult Event 21+)
Each Attendee will receive four 6″ GIANT Gingerbread Cookies to decorate and take home. Enjoy sipping wines while you decorate your cookies.
Each event will include a 15 minute pre-decorating mini workshop with our Pastry Chef Lily.
Ticket includes 1 glass of wine.
$50 per person
Gingerbread Cookie Decorating & Wine Night
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 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
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
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
The Art of Dreaming Holiday Show
Thinking of others and sharing good wishes for them are two of the most important values of the holiday season, and what grownup can resist a handmade gift from a child! So, the December children’s art classes reflect these values. Children ages 7-11 years old will design snowmen or holiday shaped tree cards decorating the cards with paper shapes and then writing a personalized message inside. The last two sessions will be spent creating handmade ornaments such as trees, snowflakes, stars and festive globes all ready in time for holiday gift giving. All materials included.
Sharon Lee Mullen-Reynolds knew in High School that she was to be an Art teacher. That is exactly what she did; for 36 years she taught Visual Art in the city of New Haven. Her career hi-light was teaching 22 years at the Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School. During her tenure there she was a published Fellow at Yale N.H.Teachers Institute for 2 years, the Department Chairperson for 8 years and creator of As Far As The Eye Can See a school-wide art exhibit.
Since her retirement in 2016, she has been attending numerous art exhibits and installations locally and in NYC, specifically Frida Kahlo’s exhibit at the Brooklyn Art Museum which led her to create Frida- inspired floral headpieces. In 2017 she started The Kindness Rock art installation at the Branford Festival.
Sharon is an artist who believes that art can heal your soul. In 2022 she sold her headpieces at the Ukrainian Roman Catholic church for the benefit of Ukraine’s War effort and donated 5 Ukrainian Strong “Petals for Peace” paintings to raise additional funds. These paintings were showcased on Channel 8 news.
In addition to her headpieces, Sharon works in mixed-media, crafts, collage, and watercolor landscape en plein air. Sharon’s artwork has been exhibited at City-Wide Open Studios, The ARTS Council, Calligraphers Guild, and is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.
Holiday Card Making & Ornaments for Children Ages 7-11
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).
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
The Art of Dreaming - Spectrum Art Gallery Holiday Exhibit Opens November 21
With the holidays approaching, Spectrum Art Gallery presents The Art of Dreaming. This season find imagination, memory, and hope especially alive as this exhibit explores the boundless world of dreams—where fantasy, romance, and the surreal converge. Discover fine art and photography by established and emerging artists, alongside the Artisans Store filled to the brim with holiday items and seasonal gifts such as pottery, glass, fiber, jewelry, home décor, paper art, and handmade ornaments displayed on Spectrum’s two 6-foot holiday trees. Start the holidays right at an Open Gallery Reception on Friday, November 21 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy fine art, crafts, wine, and refreshments that evening and all throughout the Open House Weekend, Saturday, November 22 (1 to 6pm), and Sunday, November 23 (1-5pm). The Art of Dreaming runs through January 10, 2026. Spectrum Gallery, voted Best Gallery and Best Jewelry Store on the Shoreline, is located at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, CT. Regular Gallery Hours are Wed-Sat (12-6pm) and Sun (12-5pm). Between December 6 - 24, Gallery is open Mon-Sat. 12-6pm; Suns. 12-5pm and on Dec 24, 11am-2pm. For more information about exhibits and classes, workshops, and summer camps for adults, teens, and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at SpectrumAnytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211