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Community Events Calendar
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65 homes will be holding tag sales from 8:30am until 2:30pm on Saturday Sept 7! Maps can be found at Cromwell Town Hall or on www.cromwellcreativedistrict.org
Cromwell Town Wide Tag Sale
In 2024 the world celebrates the sesquicentennial of the first independent exhibition of the French Impressionists, marking 150 years since the “Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers, etc.” opened in Paris on April 15, 1874.
The FloGris Museum’s permanent collection contains many treasures through which to tell the story of Impressionism, how it traveled across the ocean, and how audience reactions shifted over time. Impressionism 150 will locate the role of Connecticut artists and settings in this narrative.
Impressionism 150: From Paris to Connecticut & Beyond
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Grab your guitar or lawn chair, shut the front door, and join us on porches throughout downtown Guilford on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from noon to 5 pm, for Guilford Porchfest 2024: Guilford's first-annual FREE celebration of musical creativity and community!
Guilford Porchfest 2024
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.
It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme.
Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.
Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments. Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing. He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature.
Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool. Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.
Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.
Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery. Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.
New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick.
Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.
Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver.
A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone.
Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Play, Pastimes and Recreation
"Two Rooms" is a love story in the midst of a hostage crisis. Michael, a professor at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon has been taken hostage by terrorists. Lainie, his wife, has removed the furniture in a room in hetheir house in the United States to wait out the ordeal. A conflict arises when a reporter tries to convince Lainie to go public to put pressure on the government and a woman from the State Department who tries to get Lainie to see "the bigger picture". This is a moving and highly theatrical evening of theatre.
"Two Rooms" a play by Lee Blessing
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In 2024 the world celebrates the sesquicentennial of the first independent exhibition of the French Impressionists, marking 150 years since the “Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers, etc.” opened in Paris on April 15, 1874.
The FloGris Museum’s permanent collection contains many treasures through which to tell the story of Impressionism, how it traveled across the ocean, and how audience reactions shifted over time. Impressionism 150 will locate the role of Connecticut artists and settings in this narrative.
Impressionism 150: From Paris to Connecticut & Beyond
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.
It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme.
Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.
Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments. Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing. He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature.
Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool. Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.
Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.
Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery. Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.
New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick.
Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.
Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver.
A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone.
Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Play, Pastimes and Recreation
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
Auditions are September 9 and 12 in Middletown for actors and movers ages 14 - 20 looking for an exciting and dynamic performance experience this fall.
Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company 2024, announces auditions for “Peter & the Starcatcher”, created by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. Directed by Travis Kendrick-Castanho.
This work is a wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels. “Peter and the Starcatcher” upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair...and the bonds of friendship, duty and love.
Audition dates are September 9 and 12, 6:30 - 9 pm at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown.
Anyone wishing to audition should:
*Register for one of the two evenings at www.oddfellows.org
*Arrive on time, dress to move, and be prepared to stay the entire 2.5 hours
*Open to anyone ages 14 - 20
*Everyone who auditions and commits to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast
*There is no cost to audition
Rehearsals begin September 16 and will be Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm.
Performance dates are November 14 - 16 and November 22 - 24.
Tuition for Teen Rep is $325. Financial aid or work-study are available for all who need it. Email info@oddfellows.org to register for one of the two auditions, or call (860) 347-6143 for more information.
Auditions for "Peter and the Starcatcher"
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.
It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme.
Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.
Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments. Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing. He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature.
Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool. Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.
Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.
Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery. Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.
New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick.
Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.
Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver.
A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone.
Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Play, Pastimes and Recreation
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.
It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme.
Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.
Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments. Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing. He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature.
Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool. Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.
Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.
Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery. Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.
New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick.
Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.
Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver.
A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone.
Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Play, Pastimes and Recreation
Come sip, nibble, mingle and celebrate the opening of our new fall exhibition showcasing the work of 50+ artists in a variety of media including painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and artisan crafts.
This exhibit will run from Sept. 12 - Nov. 17
Gallery Hours: Wed – Sat. 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Inquires: (203) 433-4071 / baca06405@gmail.com
ART OPENING RECEPTION: BACA Gallery Fall Exhibition - Branford
Auditions are September 9 and 12 in Middletown for actors and movers ages 14 - 20 looking for an exciting and dynamic performance experience this fall.
Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company 2024, announces auditions for “Peter & the Starcatcher”, created by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. Directed by Travis Kendrick-Castanho.
This work is a wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels. “Peter and the Starcatcher” upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair...and the bonds of friendship, duty and love.
Audition dates are September 9 and 12, 6:30 - 9 pm at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown.
Anyone wishing to audition should:
*Register for one of the two evenings at www.oddfellows.org
*Arrive on time, dress to move, and be prepared to stay the entire 2.5 hours
*Open to anyone ages 14 - 20
*Everyone who auditions and commits to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast
*There is no cost to audition
Rehearsals begin September 16 and will be Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm.
Performance dates are November 14 - 16 and November 22 - 24.
Tuition for Teen Rep is $325. Financial aid or work-study are available for all who need it. Email info@oddfellows.org to register for one of the two auditions, or call (860) 347-6143 for more information.
Auditions for "Peter and the Starcatcher"
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.
It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme.
Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.
Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments. Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing. He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature.
Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool. Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.
Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.
Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery. Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.
New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick.
Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.
Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver.
A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone.
Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Play, Pastimes and Recreation
"Two Rooms" is a love story in the midst of a hostage crisis. Michael, a professor at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon has been taken hostage by terrorists. Lainie, his wife, has removed the furniture in a room in hetheir house in the United States to wait out the ordeal. A conflict arises when a reporter tries to convince Lainie to go public to put pressure on the government and a woman from the State Department who tries to get Lainie to see "the bigger picture". This is a moving and highly theatrical evening of theatre.
"Two Rooms" a play by Lee Blessing
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Don’t miss BACA’s Autumn Artisans’ Market under the great white tent on the Branford Town Green. Shop 35+ booths featuring an array of original art, jewelry, crafts, clothing, plus homemade goods at the farmers’ stand.
BACA’s Autumn Artisans’ Market ‘Under the Big Top’ - Branford
Discover new and original art at Spectrum Gallery’s newest exhibit, Play, Pastimes & Recreation. The seven-week exhibit, at 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut, runs through September 14.
It’s the height of the Summer and a time of fun, travel, barbecues, family gatherings, hikes, swimming, and sitting on the porch with a lemonade enjoying all nature has to offer. At Spectrum, discover established and emerging artists who present new paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and photography that explore this theme.
Returning favorites and new artists at the Gallery include award-winning painter June Bisantz who is known for her detailed watercolors that preserve the characteristic signage and architectural details of American cities and towns. Italian-born Louie Pisterzi began his artistic exploration at Vanier College in Montreal where he immersed himself in a curriculum encompassing architecture, painting, drawing, and photography. His work focuses on human experiences and layers of the psyche. He offers several childhood scenes in oil on canvas.
Returning to Spectrum is Vickie Williams who through her colorful paintings hopes to bring quiet serenity, joy, and optimism with images often including gardens and water-related environments. Mitchell Rodbell shows his Dreaming on a Swing. He is stimulated by color, shape, texture, and movement found in nature.
Also returning to Spectrum Gallery is Linda McCarthy, an artist who creates mixed media abstracts and acrylic impressionistic pieces on canvas and aluminum, focusing on color and texture. New to Spectrum is Christina Cowan, a full-time artist who is currently a student with the Milan Art Institute in their Mastery Program; she focuses on the beauty of women and femininity, using glamorous colors, texture, and fashion to bring happiness, empowerment and joy to viewers. Also new to Spectrum is painter, Marjan Babaie Nasr, who displays detailed and charming portraits of several children enjoying a swimming pool. Jacqueline Benoit returns with oil paintings of whimsical scenes of animals in soft, pleasing colors. Whitney Prentice presents several serene seaside scenes captured with oil on board and canvas.
Spectrum favorite Gloria Nilsson also returns to the Gallery with her new summer jewelry line and the painting Drawn which features children sketching in a museum. Mixed media artist Regina Thomas whose work ranges from representational to abstraction is also showing; she is in private collections throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. Artist Kim Kordonowy exhibits a lively and amusing mixed-media triptych in oil and fabric. Painter Kristine Schiavi, who paints land and seascapes, still life subjects, and portraiture, shows a nostalgic and peaceful image of a child at the seashore while returning favorite, artist John Murray presents several vibrant and adventurous sailing scenes in watercolor.
Also presenting is Amy Valiante, a painter and illustrator who creates landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animal depictions, and still-life. Painting with acrylic on a smooth canvas, she emphasizes brush strokes and uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity. Patricia Parente returns with a delicate watercolor of an older gentleman enjoying reading a favorite book on his porch surrounded by Summer greenery. Lynelle Abel, a botanical artist, displays her framed botanical fine art pieces. Other fine artists include Barbara Rossitto, Patricia Corbett, Diane Rubacha, Rosemary Gates, Ned Farrell, Pat Damiani, Molly Waite Lund, Tammy Blais and Ceal Swift.
New and returning photographers presenting include award winners Carol Lowbeer, Dianne Roberts, Larry and Faith Bilansky, Mallorie Ostrowitz, Robert Thomas and Maryann Flick.
Spectrum fine artisans include fabric artist Elaine Sych who exhibits stylish sunhats and ceramic potted dried flower arrangements; Anna Mastropolo who delights with her summer line of repurposed, embellished pieces and Gloria Mazzeo who designs, repurposes, and upcycles home décor items in eclectic styles. Janet McCready brings to the Summer show one of her larger beach stone orbs, a dramatic addition to any coffee table. Jillian Nielsen is a fabric artist, and costume designer who also creates bespoke fabric necklaces embellished with glass beads and Swarovski crystals. Lorraine Lapman ran a bridal consignment shop and then had thoughts of her grandmother who wore aprons every day. This sparked her imagination to design and make these garments for adults and children. Returning to Spectrum is Pamela Chandler who breathes life into damaged or vintage treasures and transforms them into striking, lyrical pieces of fine folk art. Also showing is Kristen Owens, a fabric and home décor artist, who offers lavender candles, felted summer bookmarks and decorative boxes in the artisans’ store.
Maryann Flick displays whimsical creations in stained glass for picture frames, decorative summer boxes and contemporary stained glass window panels. Others include lampwork artisan Sandra Huber and new to Spectrum is mixed media, quilling artisan extraordinaire, Jennifer Avallone, who shows intricately quilled designs of a Lighthouse, Mermaid and Scuba Diver.
A wide mix of unique fine jewelry can be had in multiple styles created in semi-precious stones, fused glass, beads, polymer clay, and fine metals. Jessica Pack specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry, incorporating ethically sourced crystals and semi-precious stones which she offers as healing pieces. Jewelry designer Marjan Babaie Nasr presents her natural shell earrings embellished with pearls and wooden beads in the Store for the first time. Beth Terhaar and Kristie Foss show their new summer selections of polymer clay jewelry designs. Other jewelry designers with new creations include Joanna Biskupski, Linda Saucier, Michele Kleiman and Lisa Fatone.
Also, in the Store is “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self”, an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Saybrook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, gift cards are also available in the Store and online. To join the community conversation, follow us on social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, twitter.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Play, Pastimes and Recreation
"Two Rooms" is a love story in the midst of a hostage crisis. Michael, a professor at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon has been taken hostage by terrorists. Lainie, his wife, has removed the furniture in a room in hetheir house in the United States to wait out the ordeal. A conflict arises when a reporter tries to convince Lainie to go public to put pressure on the government and a woman from the State Department who tries to get Lainie to see "the bigger picture". This is a moving and highly theatrical evening of theatre.
"Two Rooms" a play by Lee Blessing
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is currently being constructed in Westerly, Rhode Island and is expected to open in 2025. Established by philanthropists and art collectors Thomas P. and Cynthia D. Sculco, the museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of artworks created by American Impressionists from the 1880s-1920s.
In this pop-up exhibition at the FloGris Museum, select paintings from WMAI’s collection will provide a glimpse into what the museum’s galleries will offer.
At First Glance: Highlights from the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
On Sunday, September 22nd, The George Flynn Classical Concerts series is proud to present Celebrating Sondheim , a production of the Opera Theater of Connecticut. Stephen Sondheim is regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater and is credited with reinventing the American musical. Sondheim's Broadway musicals tackled unexpected themes that ranged beyond the genre's traditional subjects, while addressing darker elements of the human experience. His music and lyrics are tinged with complexity, sophistication, and ambivalence about the many aspects of life.
Celebrate Sondheim’s amazing and brilliant career with Opera Theater of Connecticut and five professional singers through an exciting selection of moving pieces from his acclaimed and insightful shows, including Sweeney Todd, Company, Follies, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Narrated by OTC’s Artistic Director Alan Mann, with music direction by Eric Trudel, this is a concert for the whole family. Photo of Stephen Sondheim courtesy of: Jerry Jackson/HBO
FREE tickets must be ordered via the georgeflynnclassicalconcerts.com website.
Clinton residents can order on a first-come, first-served basis one month before each concert. Non-residents can order two weeks before each concert depending on availability.
For further information visit: www.georgeflynnclassicalconcerts.com
www.facebook.com/GeorgeFlynnClassicalConcerts
Celebrating Sondheim
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Storytellers Denise Page and Jennifer Munro will perform at Guilford Art Center on Thursday, September 26, as part of the GreenStage@GAC series of live events that bring together the performing and visual arts. Showtime is 7 p.m. Kids under 12 are free.
GreenStage Presents Storytelling at Guilford Art Center
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
In this class learn techniques to make unique art journal pages. Participants will alter their pages with stamping, tissue paper and stencils using modeling and fiber paste. Learn to create transparent imagery using mark making with black gesso, stencils, stamping onto tissue paper and staining pages with Distress ink pads. “Snippet Strips” will be created with small elements to enhance the journal pages. To create dynamic eye appeal, unique “impressions of people” are taught as will the use of floral napkins overlaying vintage script and documents. Of course, for sentimental creatives “cut out poetry” with embellished stenciled imagery can be added to the mix!! All levels welcome. Material list available upon registration.
Regina Thomas’ collage and mixed media art is a mélange of visual stimuli, colors, and shapes involving different genres from the representational to the abstract. These multi-layered works portray her view of the world, never realistic, injecting her own narratives, metaphors, and icons. Regina works instinctually, and her desire is to stimulate and intrigue the viewer, make a connection, bringing their own experiences to the work.
Regina has lived and traveled throughout Asia and Europe. While in London, she attended Richmond University concentrating on the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes. Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, CT, Yale University and The British Art Museum.
Regina has been included in many juried exhibitions in New England. Thomas shows in private galleries and has private collectors across the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. Her most recent shows have been at The John Slade Ely House in New Haven, and The Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook where she also holds classes in collage and mixed media art.
Art Journaling Moves On - On ZOOM
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this class learn techniques to make unique art journal pages. Participants will alter their pages with stamping, tissue paper and stencils using modeling and fiber paste. Learn to create transparent imagery using mark making with black gesso, stencils, stamping onto tissue paper and staining pages with Distress ink pads. “Snippet Strips” will be created with small elements to enhance the journal pages. To create dynamic eye appeal, unique “impressions of people” are taught as will the use of floral napkins overlaying vintage script and documents. Of course, for sentimental creatives “cut out poetry” with embellished stenciled imagery can be added to the mix!! All levels welcome. Material list available upon registration.
Regina Thomas’ collage and mixed media art is a mélange of visual stimuli, colors, and shapes involving different genres from the representational to the abstract. These multi-layered works portray her view of the world, never realistic, injecting her own narratives, metaphors, and icons. Regina works instinctually, and her desire is to stimulate and intrigue the viewer, make a connection, bringing their own experiences to the work.
Regina has lived and traveled throughout Asia and Europe. While in London, she attended Richmond University concentrating on the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes. Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, CT, Yale University and The British Art Museum.
Regina has been included in many juried exhibitions in New England. Thomas shows in private galleries and has private collectors across the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. Her most recent shows have been at The John Slade Ely House in New Haven, and The Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook where she also holds classes in collage and mixed media art.
Art Journaling Moves On - In the Gallery
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
Create beautiful illustrations in watercolor pencil! Students will learn the techniques of using watercolor pencil, including color observation, color mixing and layering. Watercolor pencil will be combined with colored pencil to create detailed, vibrant drawings. Each week will focus on a different color palette and botanical subject. Instructor will supply flowers. Week one will focus on You will leave the four-week course with framable art and the skills to create future masterpieces!
Nancy Bentivegna is a botanical artist who received her training at the New York Botanical Gardens through the Botanical Art and Illustration Program. After completing the program in 2010, she relocated to Boston. For the past eleven years she has been teaching a variety of botanical art classes in Boston and the greater Boston area. These courses are based on the instruction she received at the NYBG and include colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink and watercolor pencil.
Nancy prefers to work in watercolor pencil combined with colored pencil for depth and detail. She does custom pieces for clients both in the Boston area and New York. She recently relocated to Essex and will be offering classes at the Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook.
Botanical Illustration in Watercolor Pencil
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
This class provides step-by-step instruction for those seeking the fundamentals in watercolor painting. For those participants with previous experience there will be individual continued development as well as beginner attention i.e. more emphasis on introduction to the principals of watercolor painting & techniques through demos and structured exercises.
We will cover mixing colors, dark and light and some basic color theory principals. Different brush stroke techniques will be addressed for specific effects i.e. wet on wet, dry stubble applications & blotting. There will be still life set ups and/or photo references from home to paint from. An ongoing homework assignment can be brought in the last day for an open critique session. Material list available upon registration.
Chris Kunze graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Painting/Illustration. He has had a long & successful career in Advertising and Promotion. His illustrations and designs have been used in books, magazines, newspapers, product packaging and logo design.
Chris’ fine art has always remained important throughout his career as a commercial artist.
He has had many solo and group shows in New York City, Westchester County and lower Connecticut, showcasing his oil paintings and illustrations, and more recently his watercolors. Chris was part of an ongoing show at the Arthur Kalaher Fine Art in Sag Harbor, NY
from 2011-2019. In 2018 he had a solo show of his watercolors at Teatown Lake Reservation.
In 2019 Chris began his participation in Arthouse.NYC’s “Healthcare Heroes Show”.
He has memorialized several healthcare workers who lost their lives during the height of the Covid pandemic. These oil portraits were given to their families and were on view at the
Big Plaza Screen in New York City.
Teaching is a passion that has come to the forefront in the past 15 years for Chris. He has been teaching a plethora of subjects among them drawing, oil painting, watercolors, and more at local Westchester art schools. He is currently teaching at Scarsdale Adult School.
Chris grew up in Europe and Westchester County. He currently resides in Salem, Connecticut.
Watercolor Class - Beginner and Beyond
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this class participants practice gradating color from dark to light. Everyone paints together from a provided landscape photo reference. Demos are performed periodically throughout the class, and individual as well as group instruction is given. Participants learn dry brushing technique using a mop brush and flat bristle brush. Knowing how to mask a horizon line will be taught to establish perspective. A scrunching technique is taught to block in areas of the canvas. A palette knife technique will also be demoed to carve out areas as well as to blend. The palette knife allows painters to glide and skip areas down the sides and slopes of the mountain areas to give a realistic illusion in one fell swoop. Layering colors will be key in this landscape as will learning which areas to highlight as participants continue the painting process to completion. All levels welcome. For those with previous experience with the acrylic medium, instructor will work with participants at their own level so continuing your journey into the use of the acrylic medium will be addressed. Material list available upon registration.
Amy Valiante’s love for art started at a young age as an art major at the Walnut Hill School of the performing arts. From there a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration was obtained at Syracuse University. Her paintings consist of landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, animals and still-life subjects. She enjoys inviting the viewer to see the wonder of a scene or subject.
Every piece has brought Amy comfort in knowing she will bring the viewer serenity. Painting with acrylics on a smooth canvas allows the artist to paint with illustratively realistic brush strokes. She uses delicate glazes to create depth and luminosity in her work.
Her work has been selected to be on display at the Monastery Gallery in West Hartford CT and she also exhibits at the Aqua Turf Convention Center Shows in Southington CT, and the Elephant Trunk Shows in New Milford CT. Valiant’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.
Acrylic Art Class - Beginner and Beyond
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
This workshop uses words and images to explore everyday ways of boosting personal creativity. Participants examine the contents of a pocket-size bag as a way of building awareness, enjoy imagination stretching exercises and look at ways to use color, temperature and sound to enrich their creative environment to best suit creative output.
Participants will use the classic American Indian Circle poem tradition of connecting everyday objects with nature and the Japanese haiku poem of only 17 syllables as simple practices that encourage self-expression. Playing the Squiggle Game as did the artists of the Lyme Art Colony will demonstrate the use of simple doodling images to open the mind and free blocked thoughts.
Participants leave with a greater understanding of the everyday connections and possibilities of creativity, along with fun and simple thoughts and exercise to develop their own creative bones. Please bring a notebook, pencils and pen. Each participant receives a signed copy of “Say Yes! to Your Creative Self.”
“Say Yes! to Your Creative Self” is an invitation to creativity. Written by Old Say brook author, poet, painter and lover of nature, Mary O’Connor, this full-color, self-help book is filled with tips and prompts, photos and inspirational writings on ways to boost our ways of being creatively stimulated. Intrigued by the magic of the commonplace, Mary seeks to capture its delight through her paintings and writing. Her joy-centered books include Passing Shadows–Images and Words of Inspiration; Life Is Full of Sweet Spots, as well as Dreams of a Wingless Child, a collection of award-winning nature and inspirational verses. She often complements her work with photographic images as well as paintings in watercolor and acrylics. Her paintings have been exhibited by area art associations, and her people and pet portraits are treasured by individual owners. A former instructor of poetry at the York Correctional Institution, Niantic, she currently serves as a docent at the Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme. O’Connor’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.
Say Yes! to Your Creative Self and Make Creativity Yours Workshop
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
In this class learn techniques to make unique art journal pages. Participants will alter their pages with stamping, tissue paper and stencils using modeling and fiber paste. Learn to create transparent imagery using mark making with black gesso, stencils, stamping onto tissue paper and staining pages with Distress ink pads. “Snippet Strips” will be created with small elements to enhance the journal pages. To create dynamic eye appeal, unique “impressions of people” are taught as will the use of floral napkins overlaying vintage script and documents. Of course, for sentimental creatives “cut out poetry” with embellished stenciled imagery can be added to the mix!! All levels welcome. Material list available upon registration.
Regina Thomas’ collage and mixed media art is a mélange of visual stimuli, colors, and shapes involving different genres from the representational to the abstract. These multi-layered works portray her view of the world, never realistic, injecting her own narratives, metaphors, and icons. Regina works instinctually, and her desire is to stimulate and intrigue the viewer, make a connection, bringing their own experiences to the work.
Regina has lived and traveled throughout Asia and Europe. While in London, she attended Richmond University concentrating on the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes. Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, CT, Yale University and The British Art Museum.
Regina has been included in many juried exhibitions in New England. Thomas shows in private galleries and has private collectors across the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. Her most recent shows have been at The John Slade Ely House in New Haven, and The Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook where she also holds classes in collage and mixed media art.
Art Journaling Moves On - On ZOOM
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
In this class learn techniques to make unique art journal pages. Participants will alter their pages with stamping, tissue paper and stencils using modeling and fiber paste. Learn to create transparent imagery using mark making with black gesso, stencils, stamping onto tissue paper and staining pages with Distress ink pads. “Snippet Strips” will be created with small elements to enhance the journal pages. To create dynamic eye appeal, unique “impressions of people” are taught as will the use of floral napkins overlaying vintage script and documents. Of course, for sentimental creatives “cut out poetry” with embellished stenciled imagery can be added to the mix!! All levels welcome. Material list available upon registration.
Regina Thomas’ collage and mixed media art is a mélange of visual stimuli, colors, and shapes involving different genres from the representational to the abstract. These multi-layered works portray her view of the world, never realistic, injecting her own narratives, metaphors, and icons. Regina works instinctually, and her desire is to stimulate and intrigue the viewer, make a connection, bringing their own experiences to the work.
Regina has lived and traveled throughout Asia and Europe. While in London, she attended Richmond University concentrating on the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes. Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, CT, Yale University and The British Art Museum.
Regina has been included in many juried exhibitions in New England. Thomas shows in private galleries and has private collectors across the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. Her most recent shows have been at The John Slade Ely House in New Haven, and The Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook where she also holds classes in collage and mixed media art.
Art Journaling Moves On - In the Gallery
Artist Kristen Ambrosi is a graduate of Bowdoin College, with a degree in Visual Arts.
Formal training paired with organic exploration inspire and inform Kristen's current work themes of fluidity and freedom celebration color and calm.
Journey through the Liminal
In this immersive exhibition contemporary artist Adrien Broom (born 1980) invites audiences to experience the mysterious world of the forest and imagine themselves at faerie-scale. A photographer, set designer, and filmmaker, Broom invites visitors to enter a darkened gallery to encounter a magical installation inspired by the natural environment, faerie folklore, and legends. The artist activates the space with an oversized faerie ring—a circle of mushrooms that grows in the wild—and a cavernous tree that beckons visitors to enter. Drawing on medieval European folk beliefs and superstitions, faerie-friends are enticed to step inside the colossal mushroom ring, which triggers entrancing songs that infiltrate the circle and seduce guests to dance beyond time.
Newly commissioned examples of Broom’s mythical photography, shot in a forest in nearby Guilford, Connecticut, encircle the installation. Born and raised in Old Lyme, Broom’s work frequently draws inspiration from childhood, fantasy, surrealism, and themes evoking wonder. Her unique, enchanting vision for the Krieble Gallery is the perfect complement to the Museum’s outdoor Wee Faerie Village celebration this fall.
Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted Environment by Adrien Broom
To increase access to the Museum’s wonderful artworks, the Niblack Gallery in our Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery will be dedicated to a long-term installation of selections from the permanent collection. From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection presents highlights in three thematic clusters.
Community: the Lyme Art Colony and Beyond includes artworks by Matilda Browne, William Chadwick, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and others that attest to the creative community centered around Florence Griswold’s riverside boardinghouse circa 1900.
Connecticut and the Environment features paintings, sculpture, video, and material culture objects from the permanent collection that encourage us to consider how artists, their clientele, and the societies from which they sprang from the 19th century to the present, viewed and interacted with nature.
As a museum founded by artists who first came to this place to channel inspiration into creativity over a century ago, we honor The Creative Spark in the exhibition’s third thematic grouping. Using both artworks and objects from our collection of artists’ tools, this section encourages visitors to consider how artists tap into and express creativity.
From Art Colony to Connecticut Collection: Highlights from the Florence Griswold Museum
Create beautiful illustrations in watercolor pencil! Students will learn the techniques of using watercolor pencil, including color observation, color mixing and layering. Watercolor pencil will be combined with colored pencil to create detailed, vibrant drawings. Each week will focus on a different color palette and botanical subject. Instructor will supply flowers. Week one will focus on You will leave the four-week course with framable art and the skills to create future masterpieces!
Nancy Bentivegna is a botanical artist who received her training at the New York Botanical Gardens through the Botanical Art and Illustration Program. After completing the program in 2010, she relocated to Boston. For the past eleven years she has been teaching a variety of botanical art classes in Boston and the greater Boston area. These courses are based on the instruction she received at the NYBG and include colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink and watercolor pencil.
Nancy prefers to work in watercolor pencil combined with colored pencil for depth and detail. She does custom pieces for clients both in the Boston area and New York. She recently relocated to Essex and will be offering classes at the Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook.