New Exhibition at the Bruce Museum Mianus River Gorge

The new exhibition at The Bruce Museum located on One Museum Drive in Greenwich is hosting a show celebrating Connecticut’s Mianus River Gorge from March 12 through May 29, 2016.
In 2013, in order to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its founding, the Mianus River Gorge organization gave renowned photographer William Abranowicz unrestricted access to the Gorge over the course of a year. This exhibition features selected photos from the book published to mark that anniversary. In his photographs, Abranowicz has captured the profound beauty and myriad faces of this primeval forest in our midst.

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Only forty miles from New York City, the Mianus River Gorge is a 1000-acre island of forest and fields in suburban Westchester and Fairfield Counties, a rare, surviving remnant of this original, primeval forest found by colonial explorers. Steeped in history, the Mianus River Gorge or “the Gorge,” is the first land project of the Nature Conservancy. It is also the nation’s first registered Natural Landmark, as designated by the Federal Government in 1964.
Founded in 1953, Mianus River Gorge, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to preserve, protect and promote appreciation of the natural heritage of the Mianus River watershed through land acquisition and conservation, scientific research and public education throughout the region.
Mr. Abranowicz’s photographs enable viewers who are already familiar with the Gorge a chance to see it year round, including when it is closed to the public for the winter season — when the frozen trails crunch underfoot and the ice-covered river meanders through the deep hemlock valley. They also give viewers who have never visited the Gorge a real sense of what it is like to walk in this protected place, a place of rushing water, abundant wildlife and, of course, ancient trees.

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About William Abranowicz

William Abranowicz has been a photographer for nearly 40 years.
His work is included in public, corporate, and private collections throughout the world, including The National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum, The National Portrait Gallery in London, The Getty Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Menil Collection Library, Bibliothèque Nationale, The International Center of Photography, The Museum of Art at RISD, The Newark Museum, The Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, and the Goulandris Museum in Greece.

His exhibitions include: Bonni Benrubi Gallery (NY), The Witkin Gallery (NY), Photographer’s Gallery (LA), Afterimage (Dallas), The Thessaloniki Museum of Photography (Greece), The Skopelos Center for Photography (Greece), Batagianni Gallery (Greece), and Camerawork (Berlin).

He has been a contributing photographer to Condé Nast Traveler for 25 years, and his work has appeared in nearly every major publication in the United States, Europe, and Asia including The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Vogue, Town and Country, Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart Living, and Gourmet.
A graduate of The School of Visual Arts in New York, early in his career he assisted famed photographers Horst P. Horst and George Tice. As a master printer, Abranowicz printed the work of Edward Steichen, Horst, George Hoyningen-Huene, and Michael Disfarmer. He taught photography at Parsons School of Design and The New School, and was an artist-in-residence at Peters Valley in Layton, New Jersey.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Norwalk’s Ultimate Block Party @ the Stepping Stones Museum

Get ready to party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Norwalk’s Ultimate Block Party that is being hosted by the Stepping Stones Museum for Children on Thursday, May 5 in Mathews Park located on 303 West Street.

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The museum in partnership with Norwalk ACTS and the Ultimate Block Party, Norwalk’s Ultimate Block Party is a FREE outdoor event just outside the museum in Mathews Park featuring games, live music, animals, educational activities and fun for the entire family!

To help establish the link between play and learning, each visitor will receive a “PlayBook” which will help guide families through playful learning activities at home, as well as a printed map of Mathews Park to use as a guide to the activities.

Norwalk’s historic Mathews Park will be transformed into a celebration of the power of play and the important role that summer learning experiences have in preventing summer learning loss. This free, action-packed evening will feature outdoor games, interactive demonstrations, engaging educational activities and live musical and theatrical performances.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Wildflower Walks @ Flanders Nature Center

Flanders Nature Center located on Church Hill Road in Woodbury is offering springtime wildflower walks on their botany trail on three Sunday afternoons, April 24, May 1 and May 8 beginning at 2 p.m. Stroll along this award winning botany trail with members of the Pomperaug Valley Garden Club that will be on hand to point out the beautiful flowers that line the trail.

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The Botany Trail at Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust was developed and is maintained by the Pomperaug Valley Garden Club since 1965. The trail is a refuge for wildflowers and native plants that have been rescued from area development. The trail is approximately one mile in length and features gentle terrain suitable for any age level. Since its inception, this Botany Trail had taken many awards and has delighted wild flowers enthusiasts. Flanders Botany Trail meanders through woodlands and fields and features more than 250 species of native perennials, trees, shrubs and ferns. It is at one of its loveliest times in the spring when there are over 150 wildflowers on the trail blooming at different times.
The walks are offered free of charge to the public but donations are welcomed. The group will meet in the Flanders Sugar House parking lot, which is located off Church Hill Road, approximately 1/4 mile from the intersection of Flanders and Church Hill Roads in Woodbury. In the event of rain that day’s walk will be cancelled. For further information, call Flanders at 203-263-3711, ext. 10 or at www.flandersnaturecenter.org. For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

About Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust
Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that focuses on environmental education, and on the acquisition, conservation, and stewardship of open space. Through its land trust initiatives, Flanders actively works to protect important natural sites and the area’s landscape character and quality of life. Flanders manages over 2,100 acres of preserved land in Woodbury and neighboring towns. Educational programs for children and adults are offered at the Van Vleck Farm Sanctuary, Flanders’ main campus in Woodbury. Trails at its major nature preserves are open to the public at no charge from dawn to dusk. Flanders’ Welcome Center is located at the corner of Church Hill and Flanders Roads in Woodbury. For more information, call 203-263-3711 or flandersnaturecenter.org

Celebrate Independent Bookshop Day @ Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot on April 30

The Hickory Stick Bookshop located on 2 Green Hill Road in Washington Depot will join over 420 other independent bookshops across the nation to celebrate the second annual Independent Bookstore Day on April 30th, 2016.

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The Hickory Stick Bookshop will sell exclusive merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors. There will be in-store activities throughout the day featuring a table of prizes to win, a dance party and much, much more! Additional activities will include:

A Literary Costume Contest – ALL AGES – Don your favorite bookish character or author costume and join us for a parade around the bookstore and prizes awarded to crowd favorites at 4pm!

TWO Storytimes: At 11am and 3pm, The Hickory Stick Bookshop welcomes all children to come and enjoy a Duck and Goose and Curious George storytime!

Rad American Women Dance Party- Join us for a dance party featuring the Rad American Women vinyl album (an exclusive Independent Bookstore Day item) at 5pm right here in the store! Even if you are not a Rad American Woman, you are welcome to this party!

A Bookish Scavenger Hunt! – Think you know books? Challenge yourself with our literary scavenger hunt through the bookshop and enter to win prizes!

Make Your Own Bookmarks – ALL AGES – We have the supplies, you just need your imagination!

SO MANY PRIZES!! – All day long (until 4:30pm) you can earn tickets to enter to win one of their many prize packages. For every book purchased in our store on Independent Bookstore Day, you earn 1 ticket. Buying an Independent Bookstore Day exclusive item? You get two tickets! Drawings will be held at 4:30pm.
This event is free and open to the public. For further information about this event please visit www.hickorystickbookshop.com or email books@hickorystickbookshop.com. For more area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Lockwood Mathews Mansion celebrates 50 years with new photography show

– In collaboration with Silvermine School of Art, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum kicks-off its 50th Anniversary with a new exhibition by artist and professor of photography Bruce Dunbar. The exhibition titled, Endangered & Re-envisioned: Iconic Landmarks and Interiors will open to the public on April 7, 2016, 12-4 p.m. at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

“From Stately House to the City and Back,” 2016, archival ink-jet print
“From Stately House to the City and Back,” 2016, archival ink-jet print

This exhibition will feature some of Mr. Dunbar’s analog and digital work focusing on several Connecticut structures built between 1870-1940, both private residences and public spaces, seeking to place them in their contemporary context of adaptive reuse. “I am seeking to unite the past history of the landmark with the present context in which it exists,” said Dunbar, “including both images of interiors and exteriors, in order to draw attention to the rich history of each landmark, it’s various past import and current status as landmark.”

Born in Stratford, CT, Mr. Dunbar received his BA from Boston University and his MA from New York University. His photographs and mixed media have been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows in Connecticut and New York City. Currently, he teaches black and white and digital photography courses at Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, CT, as well as several workshops exploring different aspects on the art of photography.

Bush-Holley House, front & side view with addition”, 2016, archival ink-jet print
Bush-Holley House, front & side view with addition”, 2016, archival ink-jet print

Click! Snap! Like! From April 7, 2016 through May 1st, visitors are invited to participate in a photo contest sharing their talent and favorite photo of the Mansion on the Museum’s Facebook wall. All photos must be of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum’s exterior and submitted no later than May 1st. The winner will be announced on May 3rd. Prizes will be awarded on May 18.

The exhibit will be on view as part of LMMM’s tours, Wed.-Sun. at noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. General Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children and young adults, ages 8-18.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a National Historic Landmark since 1971, reopens to the public on Wed. April 6, 2016. For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799. For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Spring Arts & Fine Craft Show at New Milford’s Historic Merwinsville Hotel

The historic Merwinsville Hotel, located on 1 Browns Forge Road in Gaylordsville is holding its first annual Spring Arts & Fine Craft Show on April 30th and May 1st from 10am – 5pm. to celebrate spring and Mother’s Day. This event is in Gaylordsville is conveniently located 15 minutes from Kent, Sherman, New Milford and the Harlem Valley/Wingdale Railroad Station.

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Just in time for Mother’s Day shopping this show will feature exceptional pieces of work from over 50 local artists and artisans representing glass, jewelry, blacksmithing, woodturning, painting, photography, pottery and more. For the first time, they will be offering live artist demonstrations throughout the weekend that will include blacksmithing, woodturning and metal smithing. Fairgoers will have an opportunity to watch local artists in action, ask questions and discuss their craft. There will also be a fine selection of locally grown delights from Meadowbrook Garden and The Village Farm Shop and Greenhouse!

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A $2.00 donation per person is requested. Children under 12 are free. For further information, please call 860-350-4443 or visit www.merwinsvillehotel.org. For more area event information visit www.litchfieldhills.com

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