Madagascar: Ghosts of the Past at the Bruce Museum

The Bruce Museum located on One Museum Drive in Greenwich Connecticut has a show through November 8  titled  Madagascar: Ghosts of the Past, that only hints at the intrigue waiting for visitors to the Bruce Museum's science gallery.  Isolated for the last 88 million years, Madagascar is populated by hundreds of remarkable species that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Dinosaur Skull

Cast skull of the Malagasy dinosaur Majungasaurus.

Bruce Museum Collection

Photograph by Paul Mutino.  

Visitors will explore three major phases of Malagasy history and encounter a variety of living and extinct species. The exhibition includes casts of a carnivorous theropod dinosaur suspected of cannibalism and a snub-nosed plant-eating crocodilian.

Visitors will encounter giant lemurs, pygmy hippos and the elephant bird, a giant flightless species with an egg holding the volume of 150 chicken eggs!

_Lemur

Crowned lemur, Eulemur coronatus
Specimen courtesy Duke Lemur Center
Bruce Museum Collection
Photograph by Paul Mutino

The exhibition concludes by touching on the present, following the rapid extinction of many species as humans arrive on Madagascar.

There is a science lecture on June 2 at 7 pm and explores the bizarre and marvelous dinosaurs and other vertebrates of Madagascar. Dr. David Krause is the lecturer. To reserve call 203-413-6757.  There is a 6:30 p.m. reception for both events.

Masiakasaurus

Masiakasaurus knopfleri, a small predatory dinosaur with unusual teeth

Model created by Sean Murtha

Photograph by Paul Mutino

On August 16 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. there is a Madagascar Family Day that will feature fun family activities for all ages and a performance by Erik's Reptile Edventures. See live reptiles and amphibians from Madagascar and learn about their adaptations and the role they play in rainforest ecology and Malagasy culture. 

For more information about the Bruce Museum https://brucemuseum.org

2015 Memorial Day Weekend: HATS,PAINTINGS And POTTERY

Cornwall Bridge Pottery Store located on 415 Sharon Goshen Turnpike in the heart of Cornwall Bridge, just up the street from the historic covered bridge that spans the Housatonic River has once again announced it's annual lamp sale on May 23 and May 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cornwall Bridge Pottery began making lamps back in 1976 for for Bloomingdale's as they hosted an American Craft Celebration
in honor of the nations 200th Anniversary. Since then, 40 years later, Cornwall Bridge Pottery has become world renown for their elegant and stylish designs. They are are now featured in the Shaker Workshops catalog and have even sold lamps to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters! They have customers using their lamps in the Caribbean,Europe and all across the United States.

So, you might say they are in a celebratory mood and this years selection of high quality lamps demonstrate their continued commitment to function, quality, and price. Some lamps will be discounted as much as 75%. But those go quickly so make sure you get there early.

Additionally, Cornwall Bridge Pottery will be formally introducing our partnership with a company called WaterCheck.Biz. This joint-venture is named Terra Water Pottery. There are few things that share a closer relationship than
clay and water. Put together, they not only produce the magnificence, beauty and practicality of ceramics, they also account for the vast majority of the makeup of the Earth's surface. But now, the two are coming together in a different manner. 

As an added incentive there will be a discount of 10% on all sales of Shaker furniture transacted during this Memorial Day Weekend period (good for ordered furniture as well as items from showroom floor). The pottery will also have ongoing
demonstrations of wheel-throwing as well as discussions and in-depth videos of the making and firing process.

In addition to this fabulous sale, there is a new Spring Art Exhibition in the gallery on the second floor. This year the Pottery is featuring painter John Thompson and a first-time-ever viewing of his latest series of Central Park paintings. Alongside of John's work they will exhibit fashion-driven hats designed and handmade by his daughter, milliner Ryan Wilde. There will be an OPENING RECEPTION Sunday, May 24, 2015 from 12 noon thru 3 p.m. Wine and cheese and crackers will be served.

John's works for this show FIFTH AVENUE are from a series he calls CENTRAL PARK. Oils, and giclee prints from watercolor sketchbooks will be on display reflecting the northeast corner of the park, specifically the sites of the Conservatory Garden and the Harlem Meer.

Ryan Wilde is presently employed as the millinery director of JJ Hat Center on Fifth Avenue in New York City,which at 104 years is the oldest hat store in New York. Thru JJ Hat, Ryan crafts for all heads. In particular celebrities such as Donald Trump, Lady Gaga, LL Cool J, Spike Lee and the Metropolitan Opera have sought her counsel, fashion sense and old-world
skills to create head adornment.

For more information about Cornwall Bridge Pottery visit http://www.cbpots.com.  For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Family Feeding Time at the Maritime

 Families can help feed breakfast to the animals, while budding biologists dive into the worlds of turtles and sharks, through fun new public program on Sunday May 31 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

In the "Feeding Time" program, families enjoy a buffet breakfast at the Aquarium and then – prior to the Aquarium's opening for the day – join the marine biologists on key stops of their morning rounds. Feeding time takes place from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Participants take a turn feeding the diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs and rays, and attend a private feeding of the seals. Best of all, they go behind-the-scenes to watch the feeding of the Aquarium's large sharks.

Cost is $45 per adult and $25 per child 12 & under ($40 & $20 for Aquarium members). Advance registration is required for public programs. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, or register online at www.maritimeaquarium.org under the "Fun & Learning" tab.

Food Glorious Food Juried Art Show at the Sharon Historical Society

The Sharon Historical Society located on 18 Main Street in Sharon Connecticut in the Litchfield Hills is hosting a juried exhibition and sale of artworks devoted to the subject of food, running through July 10, 2015 at The Gallery @the SHS. The Opening Reception will be May 16, 2015 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.

Judges who will be selecting the entries and judging the artwork for cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 are Dana Cowin, John Lund and Bowie Zunino.

Dana Cowin, a part-time Amenia resident, has been described as "the first lady of food." Throughout her career she has focused on the intersection of food, style, design, and innovation. As editor in chief of Food & Wine for over twenty years, she has worked with the world's most influential superstar chefs and tastemakers and helped launch the careers of countless rising talents. A self-described "pathologically positive" person with an acclaimed critical eye, Cowin is author of the recent book Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen.

Master printmaker John Lund, a native of Minnesota who now lives in Sharon, was trained in lithography and intaglio printing while in college at St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. Engaged in the field ever since his graduation, Lund spent the first half of his career at renowned fine art print publisher ULAE where he worked with many celebrated artists including Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Jim Dine, Claus Oldenberg as well as then-emerging artists Terry Winters, Elizabeth Murray, Carroll Dunham and Susan Rothenberg. He met and began working with iconic American artist Jasper Johns in the early 1970's and has been Johns' exclusive intaglio printer since 1996. Together, Lund and Johns have a established a notable collaboration resulting in over 70 editions. Lund's technical expertise as a printmaker has been credited with assisting Johns to achieve his creative vision.

Wassaic resident Bowie Zunino is a co-founder and co-executive director of The Wassaic Project, the arts organization based in the hamlet of Wassaic (Amenia), which provides a context for art making through inspiration, promotion and creation of contemporary visual and performing art, advancing the philosophy that art should foster and build community. She has a background in community-based art and education and has worked for a number of non-profits including Creative Time. Zunino has an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in sculpture and holds two degrees from Williams College in psychology and fine art. She has exhibited nationally.

The Gallery is open Wed. - Fri. from noon to 4 p.m. and on Sat. from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Wine Train - Ride the Naugatuck Railroad

The Naugatuck Railroad and Haigh-Brown Vineyard have teamed up on Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. for a scenic ride along the Naugatuck River with a stop at Haight-Brown Vineyard in Litchfield. This unique experience includes a scenic train ride, full wine tasting, food and winery tour.  This train ride is for adults only and the cost is $75 per person. For tickets https://www.dynamicticketsolutions.com/rmne/index.cfm

Participants will spend the afternoon in old-time luxury! Meet at the Railroad Museum of New England's Thomaston train station located on 242 East Main Street just off of Rte. 8, 20 to 30 minutes prior to the 2 pm train time before boarding a 1920s era vintage railroad car.

Guests on the train will enjoy a scenic New England train ride while sipping a glass or two of wine and light appetizers from Haight Brown Vineyard. Upon returning to the train station, ticket holders will return to their vehicles and travel 8 miles to Haight-Brown Vineyard via scenic Route 254, a 10 minute trip.

Upon arrival at the vineyard, participants will continue their wine tasting, paired with generous small plate delights! This special excursion is hosted by staff from the Vineyard and by the volunteers of the Railroad Museum of New England. For more information on the Naugatuck Railroad http://rmne.org.

New at the Vineyard is a new wine that was released on Mothers Day which is called Strawberry Bliss that is a riesling strawberry wine.  For more information about Haight-Brown Vineyard http://www.haightvineyards.com.

Vintage Photo Presentation of Images by Ed Brinsko

In the days prior to the digital photography revolution and advanced image enhancing programs such as Lightroom and Photoshop, photography was an expensive and labor intensive endeavor best left to the professionals.

Geralene Valentine and Jay Misencik have created a vintage photography video and slideshow presentation of the work of Jay's uncle, Ed Brinsko, a legend in the world of The Post Publishing Company.  In 1931, Brinsko began to work for this company and his career spanned 43 years.  Like the best of the early to late 20th century newspaper photographers, Brinsko had to carry heavy cameras and rolls and rolls of film in order to capture the perfect shot and then had to spend hours developing images in a dark room.

This presentation is called ReVisit Bridgeport...photographs by Ed Brinsko and highlights the images that were the high points of Brinsko's career.  This photography collection is a treasure trove of images that are important to Bridgeport's history.  The collection includes images of  Malcolm X, Jane Fonda, President John F. Kennedy,  Gregory Peck, Bob Hope, Bette Davis, Lena Horne and Ed Sullivan to name  a few.  In addition to photos of luminaries, many newsworthy historic events that happened over the years in Bridgeport from fires and parades to community events and occasions such as the Barnum Festival were shot.

On Saturday, May 16 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. there will be a photo/video presentation of approximately 150 images, narrated by Mike Daly, Editorial Page  Editor of the Connecticut Post at the Bridgeport Public Library located on 3455 Madison Ave. in Bridgeport. For additional information contact misencik.images@gmail.com.  This event is being presented by the Bridgeport Community Historical Society.

Fairfield County History Treasure Hunt

Seven Fairfield County historical organizations have banded together to continue the tradition with the Second Annual Great Letterboxing History Hunt. The event begins on Friday, May 15 and ends with a festive family get-together at the Wilton Historical Society on Sunday, May 31 from 3-4 p.m. Letterboxing, which originated on the moors of Dartmoor, England in the 1850's, is an outdoor walking or hiking activity that combines elements of orienteering, stamp art and puzzle-solving in a treasure hunt-style quest. This is a wonderful family activity, offering a chance to learn about reading maps, following clues, and local history.

The event is a collaboration between the Fairfield Museum and History Center, the Historical Society of Easton, the New Canaan Historical Society, the Norwalk Historical Society, Ridgefield's Keeler Tavern Museum, the Weston Historical Society, the Westport Historical Society, and the Wilton Historical Society. Complete information about the Great Letterboxing History Hunt can be found at the event's "host" -- the Wilton Historical Society -- at www.wiltonhistorical.org . Contacts, addresses, and links for each of the historical organizations, plus downloadable maps and clues will be posted.

Wilton Historical Society

All you need to get started is a nifty signature stamp and an ink pad. Anytime during the weeks of May 15 – May 31, get your stamp and ink pad, go to one of the historical societies listed, pick up the official Letterboxing History Hunt Map and clues there, or print one out at www.wiltonhistorical.org, and you are on your way!

Be sure to get a fun signature stamp before you start out! Make your own unique stamp or get an unusual one at the Wilton Historical Society. The Betts Store is offering Yellow Owl Workshop's DYI "Carve-A- Stamp Kit" as well as some of their unusual stamps, all made in the USA.

Participants who stamp their official Map at all eight locations will be eligible for a prize, and will be entered in a drawing for a wonderful grand prize. All prizes will be awarded at the Wilton Historical Society closing get-together from 3-4 on Sunday, May 31. (Don't forget to bring your fully stamped map!) A fun, family event, there will be refreshments and live music with Leigh Richards on acoustic guitar.

Keeler Tavern

A Brief History of Letterboxing, from Letterboxing.Info from Silent Doug:

"According to legend, letterboxing began in southwestern England in 1854 when a Victorian gentleman named James Perrott hid his calling card in a jar in a remote area by Cranmere Pool on the moors of Dartmoor (the setting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles). Perrot was a guide on the moor, and he encouraged his clients to leave their cards in the jar, as well. Eventually, visitors began leaving a self-addressed post card or note in the jar, hoping for them to be returned by mail by the next visitor (thus the origin of the term "letterboxing". "Letterbox" is a British term for what we in the U.S. know as a mailbox). This practice ended in time, however, and the current custom of using rubber stamps and logbooks came into use."

Letterboxing did not begin in the United States until 1998, when an article in Smithsonian prompted interest. In Connecticut, there are letterboxes and clues at all 32 State Forests!

For area information www.visitwesternct.com

Three new exhibits at Litchfield Historical Society

It is hard to believe that 2015 marks the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment in the United States. To commemorate this landmark event that extended the right to vote to women, the Litchfield Historical Society will be presenting a new temporary exhibition examining the topic.

Ballots for Both! The Fight for Equal Voting Rights will explore the battle for woman suffrage in Litchfield and the state of Connecticut. The exhibit will also look at the larger movement in the state, the pro- and anti-suffrage organizations in Litchfield during the 1910s, activities of the groups, and local leaders. Also featured will be a selection of objects on loan from the Museum of Connecticut History.

In addition to this major exhibit, "The Lure of the Litchfield Hills will be on view through November 2015. This exhibit details the Colonial Revival period in Litchfield and the impact it had on this town in the 19th and 20th centuries. It traces the way residents embraced their ancestral past, developed the community to how it looks today, and experienced a time of change in architecture, fashion, and home decoration.

In addition to these two special exhibitions, The Litchfield Historical Society has been busy this winter adding new objects to view in their permanent gallery, which tells the story of Litchfield's history through different periods. Cases feature history of Litchfield's districts of Bantam, Morris, East Litchfield, and Northfield.

The Litchfield History Museum and the Tapping Reeve House & Law School are open Tuesday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5 adults, $3 seniors and students, Free for children under 14 and Law School students. For additional information, please visit www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or call us at (860) 567-4501.

Two May events at White Flower Farm in Litchfield Hills

White Flower Farm dates back to the late 1930's when two journalists from New York bought the property and took up gardening. With the curiosity of journalists, and the resources of New York at their fingertips, they quickly realized that American gardening in the 40's was, with few exceptions, an intellectual backwater with little or no interest in new plants, original design ideas, or even modern cultural practices. It was, in short, a marketplace waiting for new leadership and White Flower Farm was born.

Today, White Flower Farm continues to collect and evaluate plants from around the world, discarding the fakes and weaklings and propagating commercial quantities of the very best for sale through three seasonal catalogues.  The farm also maintains extensive trial and display gardens at the nursery and welcome thousands of visitors every year, many of whom take home plants selected at The Store.

This May, White Flower Farm is hosting two exciting events perfect for garden lovers.  On May 9 at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. White Flower Farm is hosting a container gardening workshop.  At this "make and take" workshop participants can select their pots and plants and watch as the professional staff of White Flower Farm assembles your creation. Prices start at $45, which includes 5 annuals of your choosing and a decorative container. Other choices available for additional fees.

On May 15-17, White Flower Farm is once again celebrating the 10th annual "Great Tomato Celebration"  where there will be over 100 tomato varieties to choose from in addition to vegetables and herbs. 

White Flower Farm is located on Rte. 63 in Litchfield.  For more event information  at White Flower Farm http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/store-event-calendar.html

For more event information on all there is to see and do in Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

National Train Day and Mother’s Day at the Danbury Railway Museum

The Danbury Railway Museum has joined in the celebration of National Train Day on Saturday, May 9.  At the Danbury Railway Museum this promises to be a day full of educational activities and FREE train rides for the whole family. The fun will begin at 10:00am and end at 4:00pm. Museum admission is $6.00 for adults; $5.00 for seniors; $4.00 for ages 3-12; under 3, free.
However, current and former railroad employees will receive free museum admission (proper ID required). Trains will begin running hourly at 10:30 with the last train departing at 2:30.

The museum's Rail Yard Local will be operating — a short trip on a vintage train pulled by a 68 year old locomotive, with locomotive cab rides also available. As a National Train Day gift to all the friends of the Danbury Railroad, all train rides will be free on this day! As a special educational treat, periodically during the day, demonstrations of railroad signaling and coupling/uncoupling train cars will take place, and other educational talks will be given. In addition, the historic New Haven Railroad Cedar Hill forge is expected to be operating with a blacksmith making various items, and train riders will have an opportunity to take a spin on the
operating turntable, followed by a tour of the water tower pump house.

In the Danbury museum building, visitors can explore railroad history exhibits, operating electric train layouts, static model displays of the station and rail yard, many one-of-a-kind artifacts of railroading history, a wonderful gift shop, a coloring table and other children's activities, and many other items of interest. The museum's Research Library will hold a used book and model sale
with some great bargains.

Outside in the historic rail yard, guests will find walk-through exhibits, and a vast assortment of train cars and locomotives -
many that ran in Danbury during its railroading heyday.

On Sunday, May 10, the Danbury Railway Museum is offer free rides on the Rail yard local to commemorate –Mother's Day. Trains will run from 12 noon to 4 p.m. 

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about, railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT. For further information, visit the Web site at http://www.danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337.

New programs at the Maritime Aquarium Norwalk

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering two new programs on May 9 as part of their new public programs initiatives for kids and their families that fall out of the realm of formal education because they let kids and families choose activities that interest them; which might be different from what is offered by a school field trip.

Turtle Town is being offered on Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. and will be of interest to budding herpetologists. Kids are invited to compare compare turtles of land and sea in order to discover how the creatures are adapted to their different lifestyles. They will examine the look and feel of real turtle shells, learn how baby sea turtles get to the ocean and, best of all, meet and touch a live terrapin. Cost is $25 per child ($20 for members). This is a "drop-off" program; parents or care-givers do not participate.

A second program, the Shark Safari! is also being offered on May 9 at 1 p.m. and invites young adventurers to examine real shark jaws, skin and other artifacts, and learn how superb adaptations have allowed sharks to survive for millions of years. Kids will visit the "Ocean Beyond the Sound" exhibit for a close look at the Aquarium's large sand tiger sharks, and get a true feel for sharks and their cousins, the rays, at the Shark & Ray Touch Pool. Cost is $25 per child ($20 for members). This is a "drop-off" program; parents or care-givers do not participate.

Aquarium admission is included for all registered program participants. Advance registration is required for public programs. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, or register online at www.maritimeaquarium.org under the "Fun & Learning" tab.

For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

"Two the Point" Pairs at Gregory James Gallery

A new exhibit, "Two the Point" Pairs Works by Joel Spector and Banjie Getsinger Nicholas At Gregory James Gallery on 93 Park Lane Rd. in New Milford is running through June 7.  This show brings together two established local artists who share a passion for the medieval medium of silverpoint. Though tied together by their interest in this delicate and unforgiving art form, and the fact that they both chose to make their home in Litchfield County, the artists have disparate focal points for their work and are not limited to the medium.

Banjie Getsinger Nicholas

Banjie Getsinger Nicholas has lived most of her life in rural northwest Connecticut, drawing inspiration from the natural landscape that surrounds her. Her art is based on her observation of birds, plants and insects and informed by her work as a licensed wild bird rehabilitator for 20 years. In 2012, she published "Silver Linings," a beginner's guide to silverpoint, which requires the artist to draw a thin sterling silver wire held in a stylus across a ground that is abrasive enough to remove and hold small amounts of the silver. Nicholas prefers to work with natural materials and creates her silverpoint drawings and egg tempera paintings on traditional gesso panel, which is composed of marble dust and rabbit skin glue sanded to smooth finish. This ground has been used by egg tempera painters since the 12th century and is also ideal for silverpoint. In her book, she noted the delicate strokes produced when working in silverpoint reveal the hand of the artist. The intimacy and detail of the medium draw the viewer closer.

Banjie Getsinger Nicholas

Joel Spector is an award-winning portraitist whose subjects range from close family and friends to CEOs and celebrities who have commissioned his work. Born in Havana, Cuba, he arrived in the United States at the age of 12 with his sister, Dorana. The two settled in New York City with an aunt and were later joined by their parents, who had manufactured women's apparel in Cuba.

Joel Spector

Spector knew from an early age that he wanted to be an illustrator. He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and attended the Art Students League. Before he even finished his degree, he found work as an illustrator for Women's Wear Daily, the Daily News Record and other trade journals. He also began freelancing as an illustrator for department stores and fashion designers, including Christian Dior Menswear. While working on an advertising campaign for Bill Blass Menswear, he met his wife, Rowena, a menswear designer. The couple moved from New York to New Milford in 1990 and raised four children there.

When the fashion industry shifted from illustration to photography, Spector made the natural progression to general illustrator and enjoyed a successful freelance career. In 2008, he turned his attention to portraiture. He studied under Aaron Shikler, who is perhaps best known for his iconic White House portrait of President John F. Kennedy.

Joel Spector

A few years ago, he began working in silverpoint, which he sometimes combines with watercolor or pastel to add a tint of color to a subject's lips, cheeks or eyes. An exacting art form, silverpoint demands confidence, especially if one is sketching a live subject, as Spector does.

The Gregory James Gallery is located at 93 Park Lane Road (Route 202) in New Milford, about 100 feet from the intersection of Route 109. For more information, please call (860) 354-3436 or visit www.gregoryjamesgallery.com.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com