Category: Connecticut Travel

The Norfolk Library located on 9 Greenwoods Road in this bucolic town located in the Litchfield Hills is hosting an unusual exhibition of the art of Linda Filley. Filly has been has been making her Paper Creations for over 12 years. They grew out of display work she was doing for the store Paper Trail in Rhinebeck, New York. Her Shoes evolved from the signature Paper Dresses she created for the store’s front window.

The Shoes are a transformation of everyday materials such as cardboard, brown paper, wallpaper, old maps and sheet music. Sometimes these are new and sometimes vintage; it depends upon the inspiration. Her work speaks to many themes: recycling, history, and nature with an eye to fashion and whimsy.

Linda is a self taught artist who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in Montreal, Canada. She currently lives in the Hudson Valley.

The library is open Mon. and Thurs. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tues. and Wed. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In October 1912, the Bruce Museum hosted its first exhibition of art. At the time, the Greenwich Press noted that it was a welcome change to see “a long gallery hung with paintings from the best works of local artists.” This exhibition runs through June 11, 2017.

Since then, the Bruce Museum has not only exhibited many paintings and sculptures by local artists who were influential in establishing the American Impressionist movement, such as Theodore Robinson, John Henry Twachtman, Leonard Ochtman, and Frederick Childe Hassam, but has also acquired works that represent significant moments from the history of art.

Featuring 35 paintings and 7 sculptures from the Bruce’s growing collection, Canvas and Cast celebrates long-time favorites and many recent acquisitions representing significant moments in the history of art from the 16th through the 20th centuries. This exhibition, organized by Peter C. Sutton, The Susan E. Lynch Executive Director, and curated by Courtney Skipton Long, Zvi Grunberg Postdoctoral Fellow 2016/17 at the Bruce Museum, examines art historical themes including sculpted and painted portraits, narrative scenes and statues, landscapes, still lifes, and genre scenes.

Canvas and Cast explores artists’ handling of different media – bronze, marble, oil, pastel, acrylic and collage – through examples of 16th-century Dutch portraiture, 19th-century American figural sculpture, academic style painting, and French and American landscapes from the turn of the 20th century.

Exhibition Programs for Canvas and Cast: Highlights from the Bruce Museum’s Art Collection

Thursday, March 29, 6:00-8:00 PM. Evening Lecture

Peter C. Sutton, The Susan E. Lynch Executive Director of the Bruce Museum, will provide a lecture in conjunction with the Bruce Museum’s exhibition Canvas and Cast: Highlights from the Bruce Museum’s Art Collection. Advance registration on Bruce Museum Eventbrite required.

Sunday Afternoon Lecture Series

Sunday, March 12, 3:30 – 4:30 PM. Childe Hassam & American Impressionism on the Connecticut Coast by Dr. Jenny Parsons, Assistant Curator, Florence Griswold Museum. Parsons will focus on Childe Hassam’s art production in Cos Cob and Old Lyme and explore the importance of Connecticut art colonies for the development of American Impressionism. Free and open to the public. Reservations suggested on n Bruce Museum Eventbrite.

Sunday, April 2, 3:30-4:30 PM. Peppermints and Whiskey: Edward Fuller Bigelow, Paul Griswold Howes and the Formation of the Bruce Museum by Tim Walsh, Manager of Natural History Collection and Citizen Science, Bruce Museum. Walsh will discuss the 1908 bequeath of a Victorian stone mansion to the Town of Greenwich for the purpose of a museum for natural history, history, and art, and chart the historical progression of transforming a house into a museum. Guests will learn about the two men who compiled the collections and introduced our unique institution the Greenwich community. Free and open to the public. Reservations suggested on Bruce Museum Eventbrite.

Sunday, April 9, 3:30-4:30 PM. Hidden Treasures: Lessons from the Bruce Museum’s Art Collection by Dr. Courtney S. Long, Zvi Grunberg Postdoctoral Fellow and Curatorial Assistant, Bruce Museum. Long will discuss lessons learned from the Bruce Museum’s Art Collection by focusing on the relationships between artists and objects that help to narrate the history of art. Free and open to the public. Reservations suggested on Bruce Museum Eventbrite.

A new exhibition, Street Smart: Photographs of New York City, 1945-1980 is on display at the Bruce Museum located on One Museum Dr. in Greenwich through June 4. This exhibition provides a glimpse at life in the Big Apple during the post-war period. Featuring 30 black-and-white works drawn from the Bruce Museum’s permanent collection, the show records both cacophonous scenes of urban life and moments of quietude and respite from the chaos. The Museum is open Tues. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In the decades that followed World War II, New York City was a world cultural center hosting a whirlwind of activities from protests and race riots to jazz performances. At the same time, the role of photography in American life was changing. As exposure to wartime propaganda made the public question the objective truth of photographic imagery and as cameras became more affordable and easier to use, many American photographers began to imbue their pictures with a more personal approach. The exhibition features works by the 5 photographers Larry Fink, Herman Leonard, Leon Levinstein, John Shearer, and Garry Winogrand, who record in intimate detail how street-savvy New Yorkers navigate the bustling landscape.

In photographs like Stan Getz, Birdland, from 1949, Herman Leonard places the viewer in the center of the action, in the audience or right on stage,to see some of the most important musicians in American history perform. “The vibrancy and the excitement in the jazz clubs are palpable’” explains Mia Laufer, exhibition curator and PhD candidate at Washington University in Saint Louis.

In pictures of anonymous strangers like Leon Levinstein’s Man Holding Cup, where the heads are cropped and the camera angle tilted, the impression may appear candid and off-the-cuff, but Levinstein carefully composed this photograph to create the impression that we are walking down the street ourselves.
“Photographers working in New York were fascinated by both the glamorous lives of the rich and famous, and the darker undercurrents of urban poverty,” notes Laufer. “Despite the drastically different settings and circumstances surrounding their work, the photographers whose pictures are showcased in this exhibition.

The Connecticut Audubon Society’s annual Adirondack Night returns on Saturday, March 11 with a new feature that will enhance this virtual escape to the North Country via the north woods of Fairfield.

Come savor the unique Adirondack experience as the Center at Fairfield on Burr Street is once again transformed for one night into a rustic mountain lodge. A highlight of this year’s event will be the introduction of craft beers provided by local breweries including New England Brewing Company and Two Roads Brewing Company. Traditional favorites of the evening will be back too including hearty cuisine, Audubon’s special recipe chilies and lively music performed by Matt Miklus and his String Band.

This casual flannel and fleece occasion will also include a silent auction featuring getaways to Nantucket Island and an exquisite Adirondack cabin, in addition to many other enticing items. And staff naturalists will also be on hand introducing some of the Center’s resident animal ambassadors to guests.

Adirondack Night takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Center at Fairfield, 2325 Burr Street in Fairfield. To be transported to the wilderness for this evening, the cost is only $45 per person. Proceeds will support The Connecticut Audubon Society’s conservation and education programs. Tickets are available at: http://www.ctaudubon.org/center-at-fairfield or by calling 203-259-6305, ext. 109.

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Westport Historical Society proudly presents a new exhibit, “Westport School Days 1703-Present” in our Sheffer Gallery. The opening reception will take place on Sunday, January 29, from 3 – 5 pm immediately following our Annual Meeting. This exhibit highlights the evolution of formal education in Westport. The story begins with the 1650 Code of Connecticut which describes the educational requirements for the parishes in Connecticut. Beginning with the first formal teacher in Green’s Farms in 1703; the exhibit will chronicle what the eight public and several private schools of Westport were like.

There will be a progression map from 1858-2016 detailing each school’s earliest location and development. A brief history of the benefactors who initiated new schools, memorabilia, and early photos will also be displayed. Group photos of student classes from the late nineteenth century to the present day will also be highlighted. This comprehensive exhibit will include lively tours of Westport’s own Adams Academy, on North Morningside Drive, which was built in 1830 as a private school, and shows you an actual one-room schoolhouse and exemplifies early education in the community.

The Mollie Donovan Gallery will highlight the Westport Public Library from its original building on Post Road to what the future plans hold for an ever changing community resource. Westport Historical Society hopes this exhibit will bring back many fond memories, as well as focus an educational light on Westport’s growth as an exceptional center for learning. The Sheffer Gallery is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm. Saturdays from Noon – 4 pm. The exhibit runs through March 24. There is no charge, however donations are always welcome. For more information, call 203-222-1424 or visit westporthistory.org.

It’s a sweet New England tradition—toasting old man winter out the door with delicious new maple syrup. As soon as days are above freezing and the sap begins to run, the annual spring ritual begins. Turning thin sap into thick, fragrant syrup is a fascinating process and Western Connecticut, where sugar maple trees abound, is one of the best places to see it in action. More than a dozen sugar houses in Fairfield County and the Litchfield Hills invite visitors to see how it is done, from tapping the maple trees to collecting the sap to boiling down the thin watery sap until it turns to the thick, fragrant syrup.

A variety of settings, from farms and nature centers to museums are among the maple possibilities, most offering tastes as well as show and tell, and many have take-home syrup for purchase as a sweet souvenir. While many sugarhouses invite visitors anytime during the first three weekends in March (see list below), some locations plan one festive day to celebrate the season.

The MAPLE Calendar

Visit Any Weekend

The sugaring season starts early at large facilities like Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington, where the public is invited to see how syrup is made every weekend through March 30. This family owned operation began as a hobby with seven taps and has grown to over 4500 taps and a year-round showroom. Their shop offers a tempting array of unusual foods like maple mustard and maple apple butter plus original maple-themed items from embroidered aprons, decorating sets, and cupcake shaped rubber spatulas to a cupcake carrier in the shape of a big cupcake. www.Lamothesugarhouse.com

Another sugarhouse open to the public on weekends is Brookside Farm on 79 East Chestnut Hill Road in Litchfield. Started in 1999 as a second act to corporate careers, the owners’ overall goal is to promote the resurgence of sustainable agriculture in Connecticut. On their 30 acres farm, they produce hay (for horses) and maple syrup (for people). Their maple syrup won 3 rd place in the 2014 International Maple Syrup tasting contest. Call (860) 567-3890 before setting out to confirm the syrup operation. They are open for visits through March 30.

March 4-5
The Plymouth Maple Fest takes place this year on March 4 on the Plymouth Green, 10 Park St, on Rte. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be maple syrup boiling on an outdoor fire, live music with Fiddlin’ with Down Home Frolic, crafts for kids, maple ham and baked beans to snack on and even horse drawn hay rides. Best of all admission is free.

The Stamford Museum & Nature Centers starts the month in gala fashion with its annual Maple Sugar Festival slated for March 4 and 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Every year, the Museum places buckets on more than 200 maple trees on its 118-acre site, collecting sap to produce maple syrup in the little red sugarhouse on its Heckscher Farm. Visitors will see firsthand the process of tapping and collecting the sap. Kids can make a maple-themed craft, go on a scavenger hunt, have their face painted and join in the fun on Saturday for the Chef’s Challenge, using maple syrup to make delicious treats. On Sunday everyone can join in the popular pancake brunch. www.stamfordmuseum.org

The Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington will have a different take on sugaring at its annual Pancake Festival on March 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Demonstrations will show how local Native Americans traditionally made maple syrup and its importance to their culture. Pancakes will be served with local maple syrup and there will be special activities for children. New this year is the Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club’s dog sledding and mushing demonstration. www.iaismuseum.org

Pancakes are also on the menu on March 5 from 8 a.m. to noon at the annual all you can eat pancake breakfast to benefit Flanders Nature Center at the Woodbury Emergency Services Building on Quassuk Rd. in Woodbury. Flanders Nature Center is also hosting maple sugaring demonstrations at the Sugar House located on 5 Church Hill Rd. in Woodbury on March 4 and 5, 11 and 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. http://www.flandersnaturecenter.org

March 8 – 11

For those who can’t make the first weekend, March offers many other special events. The Greenwich Land Trust is hosting two maple sugar events.
The first is the Sugar Maple Winter Walk on March 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Duck Pond Hill on 12 Burning Tree Rd in Greenwich. Stroll through the American Chestnut Sanctuary and learn about their comeback in Connecticut. The highlight of this event is to watch a maple tapping to learn what goes into making the sweet stuff! Walking conditions may be a bit tricky because the walk will be on uneven terrain. The second event takes place on March 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greenwich Land Trust located on 370 Round Hill Rd. in Greenwich.There will be an afternoon of of demonstrations on maple tapping and syrup boiling – learn what goes into making the sweet stuff! Many family fun activities are planned. The Rain Date: Sunday, March 12. Pre-registration required www.gltrust.org.

The Annual Maple Festival at Sweet Wind Farm takes place in East Hartland on March 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The busy day will include tree tapping, maple syrup and maple sugar making demonstrations with free syrup samples, a narrated slide show and video, tours, live music, and –almost everyone’s favorite activity– a sugar-on-snow candy making demonstration. www.sweetwindfarm.net

March 18
The annual Open House at the Great Brook Sugar House on Sullivan Farm in New Milford takes place on March 18 from 10 am to 5 pm and is one of the programs provided for the community’s young people by the New Milford Youth Agency. Some 1600 trees are tapped on property donated by local residents. Dozens of high school and college students assist in the collection, processing, packaging and sales of the syrup. At the Open House guides will escort visitors around the farm to various sites to see demonstrations reflecting a 300-year history of maple sugaring. Syrup and other maple products will be available for purchase. Everyone is invited to visit the Sugar House anytime smoke from the chimney says that the syrup kettles are a-cooking.

Syrup Saturday at the New Canaan Nature Center on March 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is always a festive day. Events include tree-tapping demos, a maple sap boil down at the Sugar Shack, and a look at historic methods of making maple syrup plus a delicious Pancake Brunch. Visitors are invited to join naturalists for a hike along “Maple Lane” to learn tree identification tips, then warm up around the campfire to share tall tales, and make a Maple craft to take home. www.newcanaannature.org

March 25 is also the date of the annual Maplefest! at the Sharon Audubon Center. From 12 noon. to 4 p.m. guided tours of the center’s sugaring operation that includes at working sugarhouse and a re-creation of Native American and early colonial sugaring methods. Watch as pure sugar maple sap is collected from the trees and turned into delicious maple syrup. Fresh syrup will be available for purchase, while supplies last, as well as locally made maple candy. http://ct.audubon.org

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