Gear - Up for 2023 Summer Camp @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 This summer the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut is offering six weeks of summer camp where Native American history will come alive through fun activities offered by the Educational Department of the Institute. Hiking in the woods, mock archaeological digs, educational games, listening to traditional Native American stories, learning new crafts, and working together to complete a group project are just some of the highlights. This year’s summer camp program encourages children to connect with nature, and appreciate a culture more than 10,000 years old, while enhancing their teambuilding skills and, making new friends. For more information https://www.iaismuseum.org/summer-camp/

 

Six weekly camps with different themes are offered from June 26 - August 11, for children six–twelve, Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is available online. For questions call 868-0518 ext. 453 or email gbenjamin@iaismuseum.org

 

Children that love archeology and wonder what tools archaeologists use to uncover clues will enjoy Puzzles of the Past: Putting it All Together, from June 26- June 30. Mock archaeological digs and learning how to use a variety of tools are part of the discovery in solving riddles from the past! If your child is curious about how to survive in the great outdoors, Take Shelter! One of Your Five Basic Needs runs from July 10 – July 14 and promises to be as fun as it is informative. This week’s programs show campers how important it is to understand the environment and how to construct shelters from it, just as Indigenous inhabitants of the Americas did centuries ago.

 

 For children that think technology is just a modern concept, the July 17-21 session, Learning the ABC’s of Traditional Tech, might change their minds! This week, campers will learn about ancient technologies that were critical to survival and had nothing to do with computers or cell phones. Perfect to encourage the budding ecologist and children that love the environment, Stories of Survival: Native Lifeway’s in the Eastern Woodlands, from July 24-28, shows children how Native cultures have used their understanding and knowledge of the natural world to thrive for thousands of years. 

Ideal for curious campers, Being Resourceful: Gifts of the Natural World, from July 31 – August 4, shares the ecological lessons from Native cultures that are inspiring and timely. This week's highlights include learning animal tracking skills, identifying plants, and much more. If your child is creative and inquisitive don’t miss the final camp, August 7 – August 11, Etuaptmumk: A Different Way of Thinking. Through traditional Native American stories, mock archeological digs, and group projects, campers will learn the benefits of looking at things from two different perspectives - traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western Scientific thought.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Welcomes Baby Golden Lion Tamarin

 onnecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is happy to announce that a baby golden lion tamarin was born to mother Cricket and father Leão earlier this month. Born fully furred with its eyes open, the baby will spend its first weeks clinging to its mother or father’s back. The adult male usually does the largest share of caretaking, with the mother taking the infant only for nursing. Guests in the Rainforest Building may see the baby clinging to its mother’s or father’s back, but the family has free access both to their main habitat in the Rainforest Building and to their inside habitat, so they may not be visible all the time. 

After about five weeks, infants begin to explore on their own but will nurse for 90 days. A small endangered species of monkey from the Brazilian rainforests, often referred to as “GLTs”, these tiny monkeys weigh about one to one and a half pounds and are roughly ten inches tall as adults. The Zoo last had golden lion tamarin babies born in 2006 and again in 2007.

 

Found only in southeast Brazil, the golden lion tamarin is threatened by collection for the pet trade,  habitat loss, and habitat fragmentation. While protection of the species has resulted in an increase in their numbers, they are still classified as endangered. Their forest habitat has been reduced to only two percent of its original area, with habitats fragmented into unconnected areas, each supporting only a small group of monkeys. Deforestation has been ongoing for centuries to make way for sugar cane and coffee production, cattle grazing, logging, charcoal, and urbanization.

 

“There are only about 2,500 golden lion tamarins remaining in the wild, and a third of those are descended from GLTs raised in human care,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho.  “We’re proud of our contribution to the restoration of this species, with babies born here released in Brazil to help stabilize the population.” To see the baby click here

“This new baby is an important part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)’s Species Survival Plan (SSP), helping to preserve golden lion tamarins for future generations,” he said. “All species raised in human care in accredited zoos are important ambassadors, raising awareness of habitat protection and contributing to the survival of their species.”

 

About Golden Lion Tamarins

 

Considered the most beautiful of the four tamarin species, the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is named for the thick mane of hair around their necks, reminiscent of the great cats of Africa. Golden lion tamarins live primarily in the trees. They sleep in hollows at night and forage by day while traveling from branch to branch. Once down to 200 individuals in the wild and on the brink of extinction, intensive conservation efforts helped the population recover. 

 

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Get your ticket to adventure! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 101st year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tiger and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves.  Other highlights include our Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove.  As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org. 

Mother’s Day is More Important than Ever @ Tina’s Baskets & Woven Art

 Celebrating Mother’s Day goes back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of mother goddesses. Like Mother’s Day, the art of basket weaving goes back to time immemorial. Tina Puckett, owner of Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art @ Whiting Mills in Winsted, believes that this year, celebrating Mother’s Day is more important than ever. “Today’s mothers are taking on multiple roles and responsibilities as caregivers, mentors, breadwinners, and volunteers in their community. For me, Mother’s Day is a way to honor your mom, or a mother figure in your life, like an aunt, grandmother, daughter or friend for the important work they do every day,” says Puckett.

Visit a working artist studio on Saturdays and Sundays

If you are looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift, head to the working art studio of Tina Puckett, a nationally and internationally award-winning artist, whose woven work is far from ordinary. Each piece is inspired by Tina's imagination and woven with hand-dyed reeds into beautiful dynamic shapes in delightful color combinations that won’t be found anywhere else. What enhances the character of each piece is the addition of the Bittersweet Vine foraged by Tina in the woods near her home in northwest Connecticut. The natural beauty of bittersweet inspires each custom piece and often dictates the form a basket or sculpture will take.

Puckett’s highly collectible baskets and woven art pieces are functional and unusual, with heirloom qualities making them an unforgettable gift for Mother’s Day that will be used and cherished for years to come. If you can’t make it to the working art studio, head to the website 

@ http://www.tinasbaskets.com.

If you are looking to take Mom or that special someone on a road trip, head to Tina’s working art studio in Winsted and make a day of it. Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art Studio is located in Room 305 @ Whiting Mills at 100 Whiting Street in Winsted. The Studio is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you need a special appointment or want to inquire about custom work, please text 860-309-6934 or email tina@tinasbaskets.com.

About Tina's Baskets

Tina Puckett is a nationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven art that is the owner of Tina's Baskets which is located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet, and a variety of objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at a variety of galleries across the United States as well as at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Custom orders are accepted and appointments can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

Cirque Alfonse – Animal: A Farm Story

On Sunday, April 23 @ 7 p.m. the Barnum Museum is partnering with its friends at the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts to bring you Cirque Alfonse: A Farm Story which is a dynamic and exciting show!  Best of all, the Museum has arranged a special discount code for tickets - ANIMAL20 that entitles those that use the code to tickets to this show for just $20. For the discount code, click here.

Animal: A Farm Story takes us on a journey of discovery through a series of slightly surreal farm fables served up with a touch of irreverence, impressive virtuosity, and the irreverent circus company’s familiar comic touch. In this re-invented “farm fantasy,” the farm is turned upside down and the barn is turned inside out. A production for young and old alike, Animal is the Farm gone haywire!

Cirque Alfonse’s founding members have all worked with some of the most renowned “nouveau cirque” companies around the world. The company favors a multidisciplinary approach where circus, song, dance, and theater come together, driven by original live music in an irresistible mix of trad and soul that the troupe calls “agricultural funk.”

ABOUT THE BARNUM MUSEUM: 

The historic Barnum Museum is undergoing a major restoration of the magnificent exterior of the landmark building. To ensure safety, the Museum is closed for general public visitation.  The staff continues to work and is available for questions and inquiries.  Contact us here.  We apologize for this inconvenience, but a new, immersive, 21st-century Barnum Museum is on the horizon!

Bridgeport's Barnum Museum is one of P. T. Barnum's many philanthropic gifts. Completed in 1893, the architecturally significant building boasts a unique combination of styles and terracotta ornamentation and is listed on the National Register. Today the museum proudly shares the history and legacy of the world-famous entrepreneur, showman, and museum proprietor, who was also a state legislator, mayor, real estate developer, and philanthropist. 

The museum is home to thousands of artifacts, many pertaining to Bridgeport native Tom Thumb and his wife, Lavinia Warren, as well as the acclaimed Swedish soprano Jenny Lind. 

Celebrate Earth Day @ Husky Meadows Farm in Norfolk CT from April 21 - 23

 

Husky Meadows Farm, located in Norfolk, Connecticut kicks off its 2023 season of events with a weekend-long Earth Day Celebration from Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23. While primarily an organic market garden, the entirety of Husky Meadows Farm includes 300 acres of mixed native meadows, woodlands, hay fields, and an orchard. Earth Day offers the perfect opportunity for visitors to explore the whole farm ecosystem. 

Guests can join for a full weekend farm stay that includes overnight lodging, meals, a farm tour with farmer Brett Ellis, a wild foods cooking class with Culinary Director Tracy Hayhurst, and a tour of the farm’s apiaries with Dan Watkins of Beeworks, LLC, as well as break-out sessions that are also open to the public. Husky Meadows is delighted to offer these sessions with acclaimed teachers from the community to help guests identify ways to create healthy ecosystems for flora and fauna in their own backyards. 

On Friday, April 21, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Husky Meadow Farms will host a screening of “What’s the Rush.” The film, presented by co-founder Michelle Alfandari features the work of Homegrown National Park®, a grassroots movement to increase biodiversity one person at a time. In the film co-founder renowned ecologist Doug Tallamy, a New York Times best-selling author and leading voice on solving the biodiversity crisis, showcases the importance of creating new ecological networks by replacing invasive plants with native plants, right in your own backyard. Alfandari will lead a Q&A after the film when light refreshments will be served. This event is open to the public at the Norfolk Hub @ 2 Station Place in the center of Norfolk. 

On Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mike Nadeau will present “Native Grasses and Wildflowers.” There is a limited number of individual tickets for the program, Mike is a leading authority in the field of sustainable and ethical land care strategies and the co-founder of NOFA’s Organic Land Care Program. Mike recently transformed one of the fallow pastures at Husky Meadows into a native grass and wildflower meadow while using only organic methods and materials. He’ll use this meadow as the backdrop for his discussion. 

On Sunday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the farm presents brunch with author and gardener, Page Dickey, well known for her books, "Uprooted" and “Embroidered Ground.” Page has rich experience with classical horticulture and a deep understanding of the interdependent nature of native plants and pollinators. Page will share how these elements can complement each other in one’s home landscape and gardens. For more information, event tickets, and farm stay bookings visit huskymeadowsfarm.com or email tracy@huskymeadowsfarm.com 

About Husky Meadows Farm 

 Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May - October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics.

W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project Announces Finalist Sculptors

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, will hold a press conference and public reception on April 19, from 6-8:30 p.m. to introduce the three sculptors who have been selected as finalists for the creation of a monument to W.E.B. Du Bois that will be placed in front of the town’s Mason Public Library. The event will be held in the main reading room of the library, located on Main Street (Rt. 7) in Great Barrington.

Seventeen artists applied for this commission. The Sculpture Project’s search committee selected Vinnie Bagwell, Richard Blake, and Dana King as finalists. All three are nationally recognized artists experienced in creating public art.

“We were awed at the astounding talent of the applicants to our RFP (Request for Proposal),” said Lauren Clark, a Sculpture Project board member who headed the Search Committee. “Though all of our applicants knew of Du Bois, a few were surprised that he grew up and was nurtured by this small New England town in Western Massachusetts.”

The two other judges for the competition were artists Delano Burroughs and Reginald Madison, both with longstanding ties to the community. The three finalists will be commissioned to create a small model of their Du Bois vision, which will be delivered in June. Those models will be displayed this summer at the Mason Library and The Berkshire Athenaeum so the community can comment.

The finalists are:

VINNIE BAGWELL is a representational and figurative artist who uses traditional bas-relief techniques as visual narratives to expand her storytelling. Her statue of Ella Fitzgerald, “The First Lady of Jazz,” was commissioned by the city of Yonkers. She has also done sculptures for New York City’s Central Park and the city of Memphis, TN. https://www.vinniebagwell.com/

RICHARD BLAKE’S sculpture projects commemorate those who have fought for social justice. Texture, gesture, and composition all contribute to imbuing his works with a spiritual quality. Blake is the 2023 Recipient of The Medal of Honor presented by The National Sculpture Society. His statue of Rosa Parks sits in the U.S. Capitol. https://www.richardblakesculptor.com/

DANA KING is a classical figurative sculptor whose public monuments capture the resilience of famous and everyday Black Americans, ennobling their tenacity and courage. Her sculpture of the women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott is featured at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL. https://danakingart.com/

Donations to the Du Bois sculpture can be made online at www.webduboissculpture.org or mailed to W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, P.O. Box 155, Great Barrington, MA 01230.

About the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project was launched in May 2022 by a volunteer group of local citizens with the goal of recognizing Du Bois’ scholarly achievements in the fight for racial equality. The Project celebrates Great Barrington, a town whose long abolitionist history and powerful commitment to public education helped shape the person Du Bois became. The Sculpture Project is endorsed and supported by the Great Barrington Library Trustees and W.E.B. Du Bois Town Legacy Committee, among many others.

About W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was born and educated in Great Barrington. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. A world-famous sociologist, historian, and founder of the NAACP, he wrote The Souls of Black Folk, a seminal work in African American literature. 

Gone Fishing – Traditional Native American Fishing Technologies & More @ Institute for American Indian Studies

The end of a long winter signals the first in a stream of returning opportunities. It is the time of year when rivers and streams come back to life with the opening of the fishing season. If you have ever wondered what resources Native peoples had access to local waterways, then join Institute for American Indian Studies Educator and Traditional Skills expert, Griffin Kalin, on April 30, at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., for a program along the Shepaug River, which boasts a 10,000 plus year history of Native American communities living along its banks. This event will begin at the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut.

The programs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. include an informative hike to the banks of the Shepaug River that borders the Institute’s grounds and runs through Steep Rock Reservation.  Through hands-on experiences and engaging demonstrations, participants will get their feet wet with traditional fishing methods including learning how to make and maintain a fish house, and how to make a fish trap from the surrounding environment. Participants will also learn about the production and function of fishing weirs, a technology used by Native American communities that is still widely used today.

Participants will also wade into discussions about the role that turtles, crayfish, freshwater mussels, and edible and useful aquatic plants played in Native American communities that lived along rivers and streams.

 

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Visit the website to register, call 860-868-0518, or email events@iaismuseum.org. Tickets are $15 for non-members and $5 for IAIS Members.

 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Mercury Glass Votives Workshop @ Wilton Historical Society

 

Dating back to the mid-1800s, mercury glass was originally created as a replacement for sterling silver, yet actually contains neither silver nor mercury. As traditionally practiced, the process of blowing mercury glasses utilized a double-walled technique which involved pouring the silvering solution in between two glass layers. Mercury glass remains a popular material for Christmas ornaments and other decorative household goods. Today, this art form can be mimicked on glass objects using common household vinegar and a spray-can technique. 

On Saturday, April 22, from 11 am to 12 pm, the Wilton Historical Society located at 224 Danbury Road in Wilton is holding a mercury glass votive workshop with museum educator Catherine Lipper. Participants will create their own decorative votives complete with candles, and enjoy a snack of sugar cookies decorated with silver confectionery. Suggested for ages 6-10. Members: $10 per child; Non-members $15 per child. To register email info@wiltonhistorical.org 

 Did You Know? 

 Silvered “mercury” glass originated in Germany as an inexpensive alternative material for candlesticks, vases, goblets, and other objects. The name “mercury glass” may have originated from early attempts to create a silvery appearance using actual mercury, but the practice quickly disappeared due to the toxic nature of the element. 

W.E.B. DU BOIS SCULPTURE PROJECT AWARDED $15,000 BY ADAMS COMMUNITY BANK

 The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, has received a donation of $15,000 from the Adams Community Bank of Adams, MA. The funds will be used to finance a monument to W.E.B. Du Bois, a native son of Great Barrington, and to renovate the plaza in front of Mason Public Library, where the statue will be sited.

 

“The Adams Community Bank will be opening a branch in Great Barrington this summer,” said bank president Charles O’Brien, “and we believe this is an excellent way to support our new friends.”

 

The Adams Community Bank donation joins a $10,000 grant from Berkshire Bank and a $10,000 donation from The Whitehead Foundation to bring our totals to $175,000,” said Julie Michaels, co-chair of The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project.

 

The group will introduce the three finalists for the sculpture commission on April 19, 2023, at an evening reception at the Mason Library.

 

Donations to the Du Bois Sculpture Project can be made online at www.webduboissculpture.org or mailed to W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, P.O. Box 155, Great Barrington, MA 01230.

 

About the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project was launched in May 2022 by a volunteer group of local citizens with the goal of recognizing Du Bois’ scholarly achievements in the fight for racial equality. The Project celebrates Great Barrington, a town whose long abolitionist history and powerful commitment to public education helped shape the person Du Bois became. The Sculpture Project is endorsed and supported by town officials including the Great Barrington Select Board, the Great Barrington Library Trustees, W.E.B. Du Bois Town Legacy Committee, among many others.

About W.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was born and educated in Great Barrington. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard.  A world-famous sociologist, historian, and founder of the NAACP, he wrote The Souls of Black Folk, a seminal work in African American literature.

 

On the Hunt for Daffodils in Litchfield and Bridgeport

We are looking for the first signs of Spring in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County so we decided to watch for daffodils that herald spring with their bright yellow blooms.  We expect spring's blooming bonanza to erupt in color over the next three or four weeks.

In the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, thousands of daffodils will bloom in the next three to four weeks over ten acres of woodlands and fields at Laurel Ridge Foundation in Northfield and we will be there to check their progress.

A walk among the daffodils at Laurel Ridge Foundation is a rare early spring outing in an unspoiled oasis. The wild natural landscape of gently sloping woodland, fields, and aged stonewalls overlooks a small lake dotted with two tiny islands. The parkland and one of the islands are completely carpeted with gold and white blossoms, a glorious sight that is nirvana for photographers.

The Colorblends House & Spring Garden in Bridgeport will be open April 1- May 7, 2023. In spring, visitors to the Colorblends House & Spring Garden can  stroll through an evolving display of color as snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and other spring-flowering bulbs come into bloom. Design ideas and creative blends abound in this intimate garden, which is a collaboration between Bridgeport-based Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs and distinguished Dutch  garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet.

The garden and restored 1903 Colonial Revival  mansion  are at 893 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport’s  Stratfield Historic District. Access is easy from I-95, the Merritt Parkway, and US Route 1, and street parking is plentiful.