Connecticut Travel

Do you know what the common ingredient in peanut butter, laundry detergent, aspirin, ice cream, and fireworks is… it’s Corn! This life nurturing natural grain is called maize in most countries and was first domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mexico more than 10,000 years ago. Since that time humans have deliberately altered and adapted this edible grain to meet their needs making maize the largest production crop in the world.

This summer, the Stamford Museum and Nature Center located on 39 Strickland Road has assembled a new special exhibition celebrating this precious grain. The exhibit, “MAIZE: Mysteries of an Ancient Grain” invites visitors to explore the science and history of maize and find out why it continues to surprise us. Learn about fascinating advances in the science of plant genetics, the process of evolution and how “useful mutations” can address world health and hunger issues. See how maize was adopted by Native Americans through historic and rare, corn-related objects from the Permanent Collections of the Stamford Museum, including archaeological material from the Stamford area that is more than 500 years old.

The Gallery Hours are: Mon.- Sat., 9 am – 5 pm; Sun., 11 am – 5 pm. This exhibition was developed and managed by the Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, N.Y., and produced with funding from the National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program, this interactive exhibition promises fun and engaging enrichment for the whole family.

During the dog days of summer, kids and parents can head over to Stepping Stones Museum for Children for some cool fun. Whether a child’s interests are prehistoric or futuristic, there’s an exciting new theme to explore each week during Mega Summer from now through Labor Day.

From Dr. Seuss to dinosaurs, fairies to astronomy, kids can enjoy related indoor AND outdoor activities to keep them engaged all summer long! Rain or shine, there’s plenty to discover with daily crafts, stories and creative play. Summer is actually the perfect time for kids to delve deeper into a new subject area outside of a classroom. Self-directed learning is crucial to encourage curiosity and develop a life-long love of education.

The full calendar with detailed information is available online. Some highlights of Mega Summer include:

Fairies, Dragons and Wizards July 24-30
July 30 Show Me a Tale: Biblioburro – A true story from Colombia. After the story, children will create a mini pop-up book. For children ages 5 and older. Limited space – tickets available at the Welcome Desk 30 minutes prior to program.

Under the Sea July 31- August 6
August 1 Touch Tank from noon– 3pm – drop-in activity in partnership with Maritime Aquarium. There will be live marine animals in display tanks where visitors can come up, touch, and ask questions.

Music August 7-13

Astronomy August 14-20
August 21 Great American Eclipse 1pm – 5pm Celebrating the solar eclipse! A daytime event to view the partial eclipse that we will be able to witness at Stepping Stones (weather permitting). The celebration will happen regardless of the weather, affecting only the viewing of the solar eclipse.

Renaissance August 21-27

Heroes August 28-Labor Day

Stepping Stones is helping families explore more attractions In Norwalk as a participant in the Sound of Summer program. Simply pay full price at one of the ten participating attractions and receive a special discount at all of the other attractions. As a special perk for Stepping Stones members, simply show your membership card to enjoy all the Sound of Summer benefits – no purchase necessary! For a full list of discounts visit http://www.norwalkct.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1418

ABOUT STEPPING STONES MUSUEM FOR CHILDREN

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. For more information about Stepping Stones, to book a field trip or schedule a class, workshop or facility rental call 203-899-0606 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, exit 14 North and 15 South off I-95. Museum hours are: Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tuesday-Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; and Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Sunday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free

The Washington Art Association & Gallery has announced “Ruth Miller and Andrew Forge”, a comprehensive exhibition bringing together paintings and drawings from their widely acclaimed careers.

Ruth Miller, a painter of still life and landscape, lives and works in Washington Depot, Connecticut. Although working occasionally from memory, the artist paints mostly from observation. For her no two cabbages, no two pitchers are alike; each object has its unique and formal presence, with attention paid to the way forms press against each other and shape the space around them.

Through her keenly observed drawing and sensuous expressive brushwork, her intimate portraits of simple domestic vessels along with fruits and vegetables are infused with life and radiant color which reveal their unique personalities. Forms and shapes are simultaneously specific and suggested; colors are faded and brilliant, capturing and abbreviating details creating an intoxicating atmosphere of simplicity and beauty.

Andrew Forge, born in England, spent his early career in London. In the 1970’s, he married the painter Ruth Millerand moved to the United States, where he continued painting, writing and teaching. For over two decades he served as dean and professor at the Yale University School of Art.
The paintings of Forge “stand as poetic meditations on the process of perception,” wrote Lisa Russell in 2001. He worked in dense but nuanced arrangements of dots, derived from close observation of ”places, seasons, times of day, conditions of light.” The dots usually cannot be read as specific imagery, but sometimes they hover on the edge of representation, evoking trees, a pond or other aspects of nature. These paintings were made, it seems, to be soaked up rather than simply looked at. Their colors resonate in the mind, poetically echoing moods of nature.

Andrew Forge is also celebrated as a writer on art. He is best known for his writings on Degas, Monet, Manet, Klee and Rauschenberg.
Ruth Miller and Andrew Forge will begin on Saturday, July 1 and run through Saturday, August 5, 2017. An opening reception will be held on May 6 from 4:00- 6:00PM. Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat, 10 am – 5 pm.

For more information, please contact the Washington Art Association & Gallery by telephone at 860.868.2878 www.washingtonartassociation.org

The Westport Historical Society, located on 25 Avery Place in the center of Westport is presenting an art show, Magical Thinking through September 2. This exhibit showcases the work of Westport artist Trace Burroughs, who sold over 300 of his abstract expressionistic paintings by age 15. One of Burroughs’s early works is part of the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection, alongside works by internationally renowned artists including Picasso, Matisse, Calder, Motherwell, and others. His new collection of digital art is exhibited in galleries and art shows throughout Fairfield County

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“The subject matter in my new show, ‘Magical Thinking,’ is varied in theme and style,” Burroughs says. “The works are created utilizing digital art, retouching, and enhancement, and are then composited to create a single image. I try to create each work so that it is different from the others in the way it elicits a response from the viewer. In general, I try to create art that engages the mind and the eye, and that is thought-provoking, visually appealing, and sometimes with a mystical nuance.”

A former drummer with the two popular Westport bands, The Rogues and Styx, Burroughs broke the Guinness World Record for marathon drum soloing in his 20s, garnering national attention and an interview with David Frost. Since then, in addition to creating art, he has worked as an author, radio-show host, and animator whose work has been shown on television and in film. Learn more about Trace Burroughs and his work at traceburroughs.com/Artworks.com.

The Housatonic Museum of Art located on 900 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport is hosting a new show featuring the work of painter Sherri Wolfgang from June 1 – July 31. There will be an opening reception on June 15 from 5:30 p.m. -8 p.m. in the Burt Chernow Galleriese.

Wolfgang is known for her figurative works which utilize Renaissance painting traditions in combination with painting techniques developed by the Dutch Masters. Historically, Wolfgang portrayed her nude figures as examinations of the various female archetypes found in visual culture, with a caricatured sexuality and affected emotions. She applies different subject matter and genres that she has passionately embraced, such as anatomy and figure drawing, Expressionism, and portraiture with the interplay of light, color, and texture.

All of Wolfgang’s recent work has been done with a wide variety of media, including charcoal, Conte’ crayon, graphite, oil and resins on canvas, paper, and wood. This series includes portraits of a male dancer using 16th Century Mannerist aesthetics, while her upcoming series will combine Renaissance sensibilities with contemporary cultural figures

The Gallery is open June – July – August, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening until 7 p.m. The gallery is closed on Saturday and Sunday in summer. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on things to do and see, special events and travel tips in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.litchfieldhills.com or www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

There is nothing that says summer and romance like a sunset cruise through Norwalk Harbor to Sheffield Island on the 45 ft. C.J. Toth catamaran for a relaxing two hour cruise. Along the way you will see the beautiful coastline of Norwalk and seabirds as you head out into Long Island Sound. This season the sunset cruises begin on June 23 and run every Friday evening through August 25.

Don’t forget to bring your camera and binoculars, snacks and a beverage. During this unforgettable adventure tour of the outer reaches of Norwalk Harbor you will see unique views of the city, surrounding waterways and picturesque Islands.
Boat Boarding begins at 6:15 p.m. and the vessel sets sail at 6:30 p.m. and returns to the dock at 8:30 p.m. Although walk-up tickets are sold, it is best to reserve your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. The U.S. Coast Guard sets a limit of 49 passengers on board.

The limited number of people on this cruise adds to the intimate feel of this very special tour.
This year the Seaport Association is offering a dinner package after the cruise for an additional $35 at Sono Seaport Seafood that is in easy walking distance of the dock. Parking is best at the Maritime Garage.

For a free monthly newsletter on things to do and see and travel tips on Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com