27th Annual Antiques Show in Litchfield Hills - Washington CT

The 2013 Washington Connecticut Antiques Show will take place October 4-6, opening at Washington Primary School with the traditional Preview Night cocktail party on Friday from 6:30 to 9:00pm.  Cellist Mary Costanza will serenade guests during this opportunity for advance buying and browsing from an impressive assortment of exceptional antiques and contemporary collectibles.

The following evening, the Collectors Party will be held - Saturday, October 5 from 6:30 to 9:00pm.  Visitors will enjoy browsing while listening to the smooth sounds of The Kerry Linder Brazilian Jazz Trio in an alluring setting of curated treasures and modern curiosities from around the world.

Reservations for the Friday and Saturday evening parties are highly recommended and can be made by visiting www.gunnlibrary.org.  Entrance to each party begins at $125 per person.  Daytime show hours are Saturday, October 5, 10am to 3pm and Sunday, October 6, 11am to 3pm.  Daily admission to the show is $10, payable at the door.  For additional information, please contact the Gunn Memorial Library at 860-868-7586 or email gunndevelopment@biblio.org.

Founded in 1985, the Washington Annual Antiques Show consistently draws dealers of the highest quality and offers diverse furnishings and decorative arts for both the period and modern home.  The show features 21 dealers from the east coast.  Visitors will find larger furnishings, works of art, exquisite jewelry, intimate furniture and decorative accessories.

This year the exhibitors includes:
Behnke Doherty Gallery
Washington, CT
www.behnkedoherty.com

Brad Reh Fine Estate Jewelry
Southampton, NY
www.bradreh.com

Brennan & Mouilleseaux
Northfield, CT
www.antiqueseclectic.com

C.M. Leonard Antiques
South Salem, NY

The Cooley Gallery
Old Lyme, CT
www.cooleygallery.com

Dallas Boesendahl
New York, NY

Donald Rich Antiques
New Canaan, CT

Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge
White Plains, NY
www.vandekar.com

Eckert Fine Art
Millerton, NY
<a href="http://www.eckertfineart.com">www.eckertfineart.com</a>

Embellish Antiques
Chapel Hill, NC
www.embellishantiques.com

George Champion Modern Shop
Woodbury, CT

KMR Arts
Washington Depot, CT
www.kmrarts.com

Melody Rodgers
New York, NY
www.melodyrodgers.com

Mountain Thistle Antiques
Waynesboro, VA
www.rubylane.com/shops


Nemati Collection
New York, NY &amp; New Preston, CT
www.nematicollection.com

Nula Thanhauser
East Hampton, NY
www.nulathanhauser.com

Ober Gallery
Kent, CT
www.obergallery.com

R.M. Barokh, Inc.
Bethlehem, CT
www.rmbarokhantiques.com

Roberto Freitas American Antiques
&amp; Decorative Arts
Stonington, CT
www.robertofreitas.com

R.T. Facts
Kent, CT
www.rtfacts.com

Vintage Poster Art
Monroe Township, NJ
www.trocadero.com/vintagepa

The Museum’s current exhibit, “Coming to America: Washington’s Swedish Immigrants,” will be open to visitors free of charge Saturday and Sunday October 5 &amp; 6 and features photographs and artifacts from its collection, on loan from descendants, and from local dealers Dawn Hill Antiques and Eleish van Breems Antiques. Rhonda Eleish and Edie van Breems, noted Scandinavian style experts, will present the lecture "The Elements of Swedish Style" and sign copies of their new book Reflections on Swedish Interiors on Sunday, October 6, at 1pm in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Memorial Library.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

IT’S SUPER OCTOBER … WITH SUPERMAN ON IMAX® AND LIVE APPEARANCES BY MARVEL SUPERHEROES AT THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK

It’s a Super October at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, which is presenting some of the world’s greatest superheroes … both on the giant IMAX^® movie screen and also live and in person.

Superman is defending truth, justice and the American way on weekends in The Maritime Aquarium via the Hollywood blockbuster “Man of Steel,” which has been digitally remastered into the unsurpassed IMAX format.

And Marvel Comics is sending three of its superheroes to Norwalk on consecutive Saturdays to meet Aquarium visitors and pose for photos:  Thor on Oct. 12; Captain America on Oct. 19; and Spider-Man on Oct. 26.  Times for each are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Who hasn’t dreamed of being a superhero; of having super powers to battle bad guys and alien creeps to save the day?” asked Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “Whether you’re young or old, you’ve cheered on Superman, Thor, Captain American and Spider-Man and followed their exploits. They’re truly legends of our culture, and we’re excited to be hosting them here at the Aquarium.”

During the Marvel superheroes’ visits, youngsters can pose for photos and get autographs too.

Each appearance is free with Aquarium admission: $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for youths (13-17) & seniors (65+), and $12.95 for children 3-12. Kids 2 & under are admitted free.

Meanwhile, over in the IMAX Theater, the Superman story is playing out in the Hollywood film “Man of Steel” at 4 & 7:30 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays and at 4 p.m. on Sundays. Henry Cavill dons the red “S” this time, as a young man who journeys to discover where he came from and what heroic tasks he was sent to Earth to perform. The film’s A-list supporting cast includes Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Dianne Lane and Kevin Costner.

“Man of Steel” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, and also for some language.

Tickets for “Man of Steel” are $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for youths (13-17) & seniors (65+), and $9.50 for ages 12 & under. 

To combine an Aquarium visit with a 4 p.m. screening of “Man of Steel,” tickets are $31.45 for adults, $28.45 for youths & seniors, and $22.45 for children.

For more information about Maritime Aquarium events, exhibits and IMAX movies, go online to www.maritimeaquarium.orgwww.maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

The Gary-The Olivia Theater Announces Summer Season

Side view of the theater

The Gary-The Olivia Theater is located in Bethlehem Connecticut on the grounds of the Abbey of Regina Laudis. This lovely open-air theater built in 1982 seats 300 people. The theater is covered but opens at the back to the woods of the Abbey land, and the trees and birds are often a feature of the theatrical world that is created on stage. The link between drama and monastic life is an ancient one, but The Gary-The Olivia Theater in particular owes its existence to Reverend Mother Dolores Hart, the actress, who in 1963 gave up a successful Hollywood career to become a nun at the Abbey. Each summer several annual performances are given in this theater. 

The Pitman

The Pitmen Painters written by Lee Hall and loosely based on a book written by William Feaver will be performed June 14 – June 23.  The Pitmen Painters is an inspirational story about a close-knit group of miners in Northeast England in the 1930’s who enroll in an art appreciation class as a way of bettering themselves. The story follows members of the group as they interact with a university art instructor, experiment with actual painting and gradually build a body of work that establishes them as The Ashington Group, a briefly celebrated group of painters in the 30’s and 40’s. Receiving critical acclaim in London and on Broadway, The Pitmen Painters is a humorous, thought provoking and moving testament to friendship, human aspiration and the transforming power of art.

A second show, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical Fiorello will be performed from August 1 – 11.  Fiorello follows the dynamic professional and political career of Fiorello La Guardia. Elected to Congress in 1916 and 1918, and again from 1922 through 1930 La Guardia served as Mayor of New York for three terms from 1934 to 1945 and was a major influence in the making of modern day New York. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest mayors in American history. Only five feet tall, he was called "the Little Flower" (“Fiorello” is Italian for "little flower"). The original Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1959, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1960.

General admission seats ($20 Pitmen. $22 Fiorello) for these shows are available now online at www.thegarytheolivia.com! For special group rates (10 or more) please contact Susan Hackel 860 355-5553 or e-mail pr@thegarytheolivia.com.

The opening night gala/fundraiser for The Gary-The Olivia Theater is on June 14th (opening night, The Pitmen Painters-$25 pp) and on August 1st (opening night, Fiorello-$28 pp) with wines from Walker Road Vineyards in Woodbury, CT paired with local farmstead cheeses and a meet and greet with the performers.

Schwenke’s Woodbury Connecticut Auction Features Aronson Folk Art Collection, Heisman Trophy Castings, and Warhol Illustrated Folio

On Sunday June 9^th at 11am, Schwenke’s Woodbury Auction presents its Fourth Anniversary Spring Fine Estates Auction. According to owner Thomas Schwenke, “this will be one of our strongest sales to date, and we are happy to be offering the wonderful American folk art collection of Arnold and Sheila Aronson - 150 lots of carefully selected American Folk Art examples comprising painted furniture, artwork, whirligigs, quilts, weathervanes and accessories.” The Aronson Collection will be auctioned as a special section during the sale, beginning at 12:30 pm.

American Chippendale Chair

One of the prime single lots is very rare cast bronze unawarded production model of the Heisman trophy from the Roman Bronze Works, grouped with an unassembled second model, being offered for the first time having been acquired by the consignor from the late Philip Schiavo, owner of the Roman Bronze Works. Several other bronzes, some from Roman Bronze Works, are also on offer, as well as a Portrait Bust by Elie Nadelman.

Elie Nadelman

Also featured is Andy Warhol’s “Wild Raspberries” a hand colored folio of 18 hand-colored lithographs created in 1959 and signed by Warhol to/for the original purchaser; along with the book “Pre-Pop Warhol”, published by Panache Press of Random House, which was written in part using this folio, and including two letters of thanks from the publisher to the original owner.

The sale also includes property from various estates and consignors from Litchfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York, and the Native American collection of a New York gentleman, including Navajo folk art carvings, New Mexican painted retablos, Hopi, Zuni and Laguna pottery, kachinas, artwork, and baskets.

Other decorative arts lots of interest include a thirteen piece Tiffany “Venetian” pattern desk set including the inkwell, blotter, pen holder, calendar, notepad, letter hold, pen tray, postage scale, stamp box, paper clip are being sold individually and are fresh to market from original owner’s family; a 17^th C. framed, silk trapunto English needlework of Romulus and Remus alongside a lion; and a Kathe Kollwitz, Etching, “Frau Mit Totem Kind”.

Seven distinctive pieces of Indian jewelry, including five Muhgal style 20K gold examples, are offered on behalf of a New York State private collector.

Many fine lots of American and English furniture are being sold as lots 502 to 614. Prime American examples include a Portsmouth inlaid mahogany swell front chest with fan inlays, a circa 1810 Federal tiger and birdseye maple server, most likely New Hampshire, an American Chippendale mirror with phoenix, an inlaid mahogany corner cupboard, a Sheraton figured maple drop leaf work table, and a Philadelphia Chippendale carved mahogany side chair. English featured pieces are a George II concertina card table, a George III mahogany pie crust table, possibly Irish, a signed London bracket clock, a Regency mahogany cellarette, and a pair of Sheraton brass mounted hall chairs.

George III Maghogany Pie Crust Table

This sale also will feature many estate oriental carpets including Persian and Caucasian room and scatter sized rugs, and other regional Asian rugs of varying sizes.

This sale is being held at the firm’s auction hall at 710 Main Street South, Middle Quarter Plaza, in Woodbury. Preview times are Sunday, June 2th from 11am to 4:00 pm; Friday June 7^th from noon to 5 pm; Saturday, June 8th from 10am to 5pm; and Sunday, June 9th from 8am to sale time at 11:00 am, with the Aronson Collection being sold at 12:30 pm.

The catalog for the sale is viewable at www.woodburyauction.comwww.woodburyauction.com. Absentee and phone bidding are available for this live gallery auction, and the sale will be broadcast live through Live Auctioneers.  To register or arrange for absentee or phone bidding, please call Woodbury Auction at 203-266-0323. 

For area information www.litchifeldhills.com

Annual Spring Show of the Kent Art Association in Litchfield Hills

Daskam - Dock and Dory

The Kent Art Association was founded in 1923 by nine well established artists who knew each other when they lived in New York before moving to Kent: Rex Brasher, Elliot Clark, Floyd Clymer, Williard Dryden Paddock, F. Luis Mora, George Laurence Nelson, Spencer Nichols, Robert Nisbet and Frederick Waugh. Six of these artists were National Academicians. 

When the Kent Art Association was first founded, these nine artists held an annual show in which only their work was exhibited. Later, more artists were accepted into the Association and others were invited to be associates.  Today the Kent Art Association invites emerging and established artists to display their artwork to a wide audience in their gallery’s several times a year.

Inside this well lite and spacious gallery, located on Rte. 7 (Main Street) in Kent about 100 yards south of the intersection of Rte. 7 and Rte. 341, you will find two stories of exhibition rooms.  In addition to the works exhibited on the walls, all of which are for sale, there is a Portfolio Gallery offering unframed work by members of the Association.

To kick off spring in the beautiful Litchfield Hills, the Kent Art Association is holding its first juried show of the season that runs Sunday, April 21 through Monday, May 27. The Gallery is open April- May 17, Friday – Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and May 21 – Oct. 18, Thursday – Sunday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.  

Visitors will also enjoy the work of Juror Rick Daskam, chairman for Oils at the Hudson Valley Art Association and a a graduate of Paier College of Art in Connecticut where he studied with Rudolf Zallinger and Ken Davies.  Daskam was honored with the “Most Outstanding Illustrator Award in addition to the Dumond Award from the Hudson Valley Art Association, Collectors Award from the Butler Art Institute, and the Larry Newquist Award for Excellence at SCAN.

The Judges for this exhibition are Marc Chabot, Diane Dubreuil, and Rick Daskam and $1000 in prizes will be awarded.   All work must be original and for sale.  A copy of the prospectus can be found at www.kentart.org. For more information call the Gallery at 860.927.3989.  

For area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com.