Winter Happenings at The Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies is offering a series of January events that will help families warm up to this chilly season of the year.  On Tuesdays through February 12 from 10:30 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. for example pre-school children will enjoy the wonders and joy of traditional Native American stories. Why does Bear have a short tail? Who is Gluskabi and from where did his superpowers come? And why is Coyote known as a "trickster?"  An added treat is that the stories are told in a beautifully replicated 16th century indoor Sachem's house.  The story hour is included free with regular museum admission of $5 Adults; $4.50 Seniors; $3 Kids; IAIS Members Free. www.iaismuseum.org

On Saturday January 19 and Sunday January 20 at 2 p.m. guests will enjoy a Winter Film Festival that features a documentary called Reel Injun. Native American peoples have long been a topic in Hollywood filmmaking, but the picture presented of them was not always flattering or accurate. Most westerns of Hollywood's Golden Age presented "Indians" as either ruthless savages with no sense of honor or fools who were lost without the help of the white man. Adding insult to injury, they were usually played by white actors in make up. In the 1960s movies began to show a more positive and realistic portrayal of American Indians and Native American actors were given a greater opportunity to present their story in television and the movies. Director Neil Diamond (a member of Canada's Cree community) offers a look at the past, present and future of Native People on the big screen in this documentary. The film is included free with regular museum admission of $5 Adults; $4.50 seniors; $3 Kids; IAIS Members Free. www.iaismuseum.org

Also on January 26 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. it is time to put on your winter boots and go on a Winter Tracking Walk.   Certified wildlife tracker Andy Dobosof Three Red Trees School of Natural Living will lead you through the winter woods to discover how the animals live in this stark time of year.  He will also demonstrate some of the skills ancient people employed to survive during the winter months. Fee: $8 Adults; $6 IAIS Members; $4 Children. www.iaismuseum.org

About IAIS

Through discovery, research and education, the Institute for American Indian Studies enriches contemporary society by engaging the public and making more visible the history, cultural values, beliefs and living traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere, especially those of the Northeast. With its museum, archaeology, research and unique collection, IAIS creates a focal point for the community by preserving the knowledge of the continuing stories of these indigenous peoples.

ARTSPACE-Torrington Opens First Show of the 2013 Season

ARTSPACE-Torrington, located at 33 Main Street in Downtown

Torrington, begins its 2013 season with an exciting show of one-of-a-kind photographs by West Hartford artist, Robert Calafiore whose work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions.  Most recently, Calafiore’s work has been shown at the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Nina Freudenheim Gallery (Buffalo, NY), Nest (New York City), as well as the  University of New England (Portland, ME), and the University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth, MA).

The series of work shown at the ARTSPACE-Torrington gallery consists of large C-print photographs, 40” x 30”, taken with a pinhole camera.  This particular series features ordinary glass objects which are lit and photographed. The type and intensity of lighting, length of exposure, and color and surface of the subject can be controlled by the artist to produce varying results. The end result is a one-of-a-kind image which is produced without creating film negatives or digital technology.  Part of Mr. Calafiore’s interest lies in the ability of the pinhole camera to transform ordinary objects into items of beauty.

The opening reception for Mr. Calafiore will be held in the gallery on Friday, January 25^th  from 6-8 p.m.  Mr. Calafiore will present an artist talk on Friday, Feburary 8^th at 6 p.m. 

The public is encouraged to visit the gallery during normal hours:  Fridays from 6-8 and Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4.  The gallery is also open by appointment; to schedule an appointment, please contact Executive Director, Judith McElhone (860-309-2932).   ARTSPACE-Torrington may also be open during special downtown events. 

About ARTSPACE

ARTSPACE-Torrington is supported in part by the Torrington Downtown Partners and the Arts and Culture Commission of Torrington (ACT).   33 Main Street, located at the corner of Main and Water Streets in Downtown Torrington, is a former retail space that is now home to the city’s newest gallery.  Each month, a new show of contemporary work by one or more professional artists will be featured in the gallery.     

For further information about ARTSPACE-Torrington please visit www.artspacetorrington.orgwww.artspacetorrington.org.  For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

From Farmington to Sharon: Journey of an 18th c. House

If the preservation, architecture and restoration of early American homes makes your heart flutter, please join the Sharon Historical Society on Saturday, January 12, at 3 pm as the Society welcomes Sharon resident John Baroody, speaking on "The Journey of an 18th Century Home."

During the program, Mr. Baroody will share the story of his home, a classic timber-frame Colonial originally built in Farmington Connecticut in the early 1700s and now situated in Sharon. "After more than two centuries the house had fallen on hard times and was going to be torn down for commercial development before I got my hands on it. While it looked beat up from the outside, the bones of the house were still in excellent condition. The frame was constructed entirely of white oak and was joined and assembled with traditional timber frame pegged joinery. Having done this before, I've become familiar with how 18th century houses are built, so the process of deconstructing, moving, and reassembling the parts was fairly straightforward. All of the boards and timbers were marked and mapped out, then loaded one by one onto a truck and delivered to the site where we laid a new foundation and began putting it back together," says Baroody.

This was truly a labor of love. The program is based on a 3-part video series done with Fine Homebuilding about the project and will include hands-on examples of 18th century building materials, plus a question and answer period.

Be sure to mark your calendar for our next winter lecture, on Saturday January 19 at 3 pm, when local author, geologist and historian Ed Kirby presents, "Amesville, Horatio Ames and the Ames Brothers."

The Sharon Historical Society is located at 18 Main Street, on the green, in Sharon, CT. Parking is available on the street in the museum's lot. Feel free to visit the SHS website at www.sharonhist.org for more information on upcoming programs and Sharon history.

Atka the wolf visiting New Canaan Historical Society

On Saturday, January 12 at 3 p.m. Atka, a beautiful white wolf will pay a visit to the New Canaan Historical Society in conjunction with the current exhibit, “Little Red Riding Hood Visits the Historical Society,” on display until March 2.

Little red Riding Hood is a fairy tale that has fascinated generations from the 1800s to the present day. To celebrate this tale, collector, Peg Rice has amassed all things “Little Red” and much of her vast and impressive collection is on display at the New Canaan Historical Society located on 13 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan.

On January 12 at 3 p.m. the Society will welcome a special guest on behalf of Little Red Riding Hood Atka, a wolf ambassador from the Wolf Conservation Center.  The program begins with an informative and entertaining look at the history of wolves in North America, their biology and the mythology that surrounds them. Atka is a beautiful wolf that loves to meet people, and, as a great "wolf teacher," he will educate all in attendance on the importance of his wild "brothers and sisters"!  Atka always receives rave reviews and never fails to impress children and adults alike! 

Atka is the oldest ambassador wolf at the Wolf Conservation Center. He arrived at the center from Minnesota when he was just 8 days old.  The Center's staff, ambassador wolves and Eno raised him.  Eno was the Center's resident German Shepard and ambassador wolf nanny. The Wolf Conservation Center teaches people about wolves, their relationship to the environment and the human role in protecting their future. For additional information http://nywolf.org.

Atka’s visit will be an indoor event and is appropriate for all ages Atka: $10 per person

Seeing Red exhibit: $5 per person Atka + Exhibit: $13 per person. Reservations are not necessary. For additional information http://www.nchistory.org. For regional information www.visitwesternct.com. 

Maritime Aquarium "Festival of Lighthouses" through January 21, 2013

They’re beautiful. They’re funny. They’re clever. They’re intricate. They’re exquisite. Follow a festive path illuminated by 22 lighthouses – creatively built using everything from yarn and stained glass to coffee-creamer cups and personal computers – during the 11th annual “Festival of Lighthouses” at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

The lighthouses were built by local artists and amateurs looking for a challenge, by families that wanted to work together on a fun project, and by students fulfilling an assignment. Now through Jan. 21, 2013, Aquarium visitors can follow these homemade beacons through the galleries and then cast a vote for their favorite. The lighthouse that gets the most votes wins $1,500. The display is free with Aquarium admission.

Rules are kept to a minimum to allow for maximum creativity. Lighthouses must be 3 to 6 feet tall and have a working light, and may not include animal remains (such as shells). Beyond that, it’s up to the creators’ imaginations. The 22 entries include a lighthouse covered in crocheted yarn, a lighthouse with interactive computer animation and a lighthouse that amusingly represents the 12 days of Christmas. (For the partridge in a pear tree, look for a photo of the bus used on TV’s “The Partridge Family.”) There are lighthouses made of intricately cut pieces of stone, of stained glass, of punched tin and of tiny cups of diner coffee creamer.

Two lighthouses are modeled after real lights – the famous West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec, ME, and the historic light in Sandy Hook, NJ.

The  Festival of Lighthouses is free with Maritime Aquarium general admission, which is $13.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors (65+) and $10.50 for children 2-12.

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

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.