Wilton Historical Society Offers Two Workshops for Kids to Honor the Ideals of Martin Luther King

In honor of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 16 the Wilton Historical Society located on 224 Danbury Road in Wilton has scheduled two workshops for kids that demonstrate the beauty of diversity.

 The first workshop, "The Seeds of Diversity", will take place on Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Martin Luther King's dream was to see people of all countries, races, and religions living together in harmony

 During this workshop kids will explore his dream during a workshop at the Wilton Historical Society.  Museum Educator Lola Chen will talk about Dr. King’s ideals as the children plant seeds of different shapes, sizes, and colors, which will soon sprout side by side.  The kids will be taking home their planters to watch the seeds grow.  Once the plants are large enough, they can be transplanted into a pot and later to the garden. The workshop includes a "birds of pizza snack that the children will make. The cost for this workshop is $10 per child with a maximum of $25 per family. The fee for non-members is $15 per child with a maximum of  $35 per family.  Please register: info@wiltonhistorical.org or call 203-762-7257. 

 The second workshop will take place on Monday, January 16, there will be a Hands of Friendship drop in workshop from 1 pm - 3 pm for kids ages 1 - 3, that demonstrates that people of all colors are part of one family.  They will be creating outstretched hands, representing diversity in the world.  This is the final day of the Great Trains Holiday exhibition that will be open until 4 pm. 

The Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT  06897   203-762-7257   www.wiltonhistorical.org

New Winter Exhibits @ Mattatuck Museum

The Mattatuck Museum is delighted to present four new art exhibitions  that will remain on view through March 12, 2017. From abstract to representational painting and experimental ceramics, there is something for everyone this winter @ The MATT. 

Components: The Art of Robert Cottingham features subjects derived from cameras, typewriters and machine parts. The "components" are isolated against boldly colored backgrounds in contrasting light and shadow that highlight these manufacturing details in depth, celebrating them as symbols of American industry.

In her lifetime, self-taught artist Linda Nelson produced folksy scenes of simple life inspired by her childhood days on a farm in Illinois. Small towns and country settings provided imagery for the calendars and cards that has made her work familiar. Her estate of original paintings is administrated by the Connecticut Community Foundation which has lent more than 25 works for this exhibit at the Museum, Winter Scenes: Linda Nelson, focusing on Nelson's winter and holiday scenes.

Line and Volume: Mindy Horn and Ann Mallory features work by two contemporary artists who contribute to the rich tradition of ceramic art with vibrant and original expressions in clay. Their works vary in size: some are delicately small, inviting close-up inspection, while others are imposing in scale. These technically and aesthetically ambitious works are experimental in shape and dazzle in an array of glazes.

In the 1970s, James Biederman created minimalist drawings and wall sculptures that examined two-and three-dimensional ways of seeing. In recent years he has moved to painting boldly colored gestural abstractions. This exhibition, Zing! Recent Works by James Biederman, consists of works completed since 2010 that show the current state of the artistic journey, the legacy of both abstract expressionism and minimalism, and the manner in which Biederman has taken these movements and reshaped them in new ways.

For more information on all of the museum's programs, events, and exhibits visit the website www.mattmuseum.org or call (203) 753-0381. Located on the green in Waterbury, CT at 144 West Main Street, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Convenient, free parking is located behind the museum in the lots on Park Place.

Flanders’ "Winter Scape” Photo Contest

Flanders Nature Center located in Woodbury Connecticut is holding a photography contest from January 9th through February 15th with prizes for the best submissions based on composition, image quality, originality and the story the image tells.  

This "Winter Scape” photo contest is an invitation to capture the spirit and beauty of the winter season in all of its beauty with images that might include landscapes, or wildlife pictured in a wintery context. The photos do not need to be taken on a Flanders’ property but instead can be taken anywhere that provides the photographer inspiration. Entries must be in digital formats of 6MB or less in size.  

All the submitted images will be judged by Flanders staff and experienced photography associates and shared in a special gallery on the Flanders web site after the winners have been announced.

The cost for one submission is $5.00, 2/$7.00, 3/ $10.00, 4/$13 and 5/$15. All proceeds to benefit Flanders programming. 

 Entry blanks as well as details on the contest can be found on their website at www.flandersnaturecenter.org or call Flanders at (203) 263-3711; Ext 10.

"Twelfth Night Celebration" @ Derby Historical Society

Mark your calendars and plan to join the fun on January 8, 2017 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at  the Derby Historical Society as they mark the end of the Christmas season with their annual "Twelfth Night Celebration" at the David Humphreys House. This event features tours of the 17th century David Humphreys house by costumed docents. You'll take a trip back to an earlier time in American history when touring this beautifully preserved colonial home.

Try the mulled cider and punch alongside the buffet. Partake in samples of some items which would have been served in this house during the American Revolution. There will also be modern-day baked goods to enjoy.

Colonial skills such as spinning and weaving will be displayed. Before you leave, be sure to visit the Gift Shop, it will be open during this event. This year there will be a Dickens Reading at 3 pm.

For more information call 203 735 1908 or visit  www.derbyhistorical.org. Limited parking is available in back of the house. Additional on-street parking is available on Elm Street (on the same side as the Humphreys House) and nearby Thomas Street.

Admission prices for 12th Night: $5.00 per adult/ $3.00 per senior citizen and child under 8 years old. 

January Seal-Spotting and Birding Cruises @ Maritime Aquarium

On Sat., Jan. 7 (12 p.m.) & Sun., Jan 8 (1 p.m.)  cruise out with staff members of the Maritime Aquarium in hopes of spotting some of the seals that come into Long Island Sound each winter.  Together with the staff you will seek out the seals to observe them near the Norwalk Islands as they “haul out” to rest on rocks exposed at low tide.

Photo credit Patty Doyle

These cruises will be offered many weekends through March 26. Dates and departure times vary by low tide.

During the 2.5-hour cruises, educators will talk about the seals’ natural histories and use artifacts to discuss seal anatomy. And they’ll discuss what happens with the Sound’s marine population during the winter: who stays, who migrates out and who migrates in (besides the seals).

These cruises also give birders unique “on-the-water” access to see and photograph visiting winter waterfowl, such as buffleheads, mergansers, Brant geese and long-tailed ducks.

Binoculars will be provided.   R/V Spirit of the Sound has a climate-controlled cabin.  All participants must be at least 42 inches tall.

Tickets are $29.95 ($24.95 for Aquarium members).  Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Walk-up tickets will be sold, space permitting.  Reserve your tickets by calling (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

An Eye to the East: The Inspiration of Japan @ Greenwich Historical Society

The Greenwich Historical Society located on 39 Strickland Rd. in Cos Cob has organized a new exhibition called, An Eye to the East: The Inspiration of Japan that will be on view through February 26, 2016. Through paintings, prints, photographs, carvings, ceramics and textiles, An Eye to the East looks at the influence of Japanese art and culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with a special emphasis on the Cos Cob art colony. There will also be a special exhibition in a separate gallery of the work of Genjiro Yeto, who studied under John Henry Twachtman at the Art Students League in New York and spent part of each year from 1895 to 1901 at the Holley House. The work in this gallery features a recent donation of his work to the Greenwich Historical Society by his granddaughter.

Genjiro Yeto (1867–1924). Untitled [Young Girl Practicing Calligraphy], 1914 Gouache and pencil. Museum purchase with donor funds in memory of Noboru Uezumi, 2008.04

During the early to mid 1800s Japan was a closed nation to the rest of the world and it wasn't until 1854 when Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry established a treaty that opened trade between the United States and Japan that the west began to discover the culture of Japan.  Perry could never have imagined the far-reaching effect that this trade document would have.

Within a year, French artist Félix Bracquemond "discovered" the woodblock prints of Hokusai and circulated them among his Paris art circle. Their influence was immediate, and visiting Cos Cob artists John Henry Twachtman, J. Alden Weir and Childe Hassam all took note. The introduction of Japanese art and culture made a splash at International Exhibitions in London (1862), Paris (1867) and Vienna (1873), and resulted in Europe's captivation with all things Japanese.

The American Civil War delayed the introduction of Japanese art and culture in this country, but upon its introduction at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the "exotic" Japanese aesthetic was enthusiastically embraced. This exhibition traces the development and influence of Japanese art with a special look at the Cos Cob art colony.

A special tour, "the Curator's Eye" is being offered with this exhibition and will take place on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m.  This will be a 20- to 30-minute docent-led gallery tour that will focus on exhibition highlights, themes and background stories that provide a framework for better understanding the art and objects on display. Docents will also answer questions and help you zero in on particular points of interest. These value-added tours are included in the price of admission.

For more area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Holiday Trains @ Fairfield Museum and History Center

A long awaited tradition in Fairfield County, the Holiday Express is  now open through January 8, 2017 at the Fairfield Museum and History Center located on 370 Beach Road in Fairfield. This year features even more tracks and set-ups where the trains can zip around and weave their magical spell. Kids and adults alike will delight in the magic of the train show.

A Fairfield Museum holiday tradition! Kids and adults alike will delight in the magic of this wondrous display of model trains winding around a spectacularly decorated tree and through beautiful holiday scenery. 

Holiday Express Schedule is Weekends:  Sat. & Sun. through January 8: 10am - 4pm and Weekdays: Monday, December 26 – Monday, January 2: 10am – 4pm. (including Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve) Thursday, December 29 & Friday, December 30: 10am – 7pm Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day Thursday, December 29 & Friday, December 30: 10am – 7pm Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

A special build a train workshop for kids ages 6 to 10 is taking place on Dec. 27-30 from 11 am to 12 pm. Kids will put together wooden parts with glue to construct a mini model train. They will finish their toy by painting it with colorful and creative designs. It is recommended that participants bring a smock for painting.

To sign up for a monthly newsletter on travel tips and events for Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Flanders Nature Center Plans Bald Eagle Program Jan. 7

The Bald Eagle is our national symbol, and the subject of strong conservation efforts in Connecticut.  As their numbers here are increasing, how much do you know about the Bald Eagle? 

Come and learn about the Bald Eagle’s size, its history in Connecticut and the US, what it eats, and how it lives.  Included are fantastic photographs from DEEP of the Bald Eagle at different stages of growth, and the banding efforts here in CT, and nationally.  

You will also learn about ‘Bald Eagle etiquette’ and when, where, and how it is safe to view them, and what NOT to do, that can disturb them and threaten nests, chicks or adults. 

Join Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Master Wildlife Conservationist Peggy Zabawar on Saturday, January 7th as she discusses this protected species.

Peggy has been an educator and planner for CT state agencies for over 20 years.  Her conservation projects include banding wild geese, the annual butterfly survey, and assisting at the Bald Eagle viewing site at Shepaug Dam. 

The program will be held at 1 p.m. on January 7, 2017 in the Flanders Studio located at the corner of Church Hill and Flanders Road in Woodbury. The program fee is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. 

Weston Historical Society Memories of World War II

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of WWII, the Weston Historical Society located on 104 Weston Rd. in Weston has put together a new exhibition called Memories of World War II. This exhibition celebrates our Weston's contributions to the war.

In 1940, the Town of Weston was a small rural community of about 1,053 people. When war was declared Weston's citizens responded. During the war 155 men and women left our town to join the services, becoming fighter pilots, rifle marksmen, bomber and transfer pilots, administrators, and radio operators in every branch of the military.

The exhibit opens to the public on Saturday November 11, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Society's museum, 104 Weston Road, Weston. On that day only, World War II Collector Ken Boughton will display one of the state's largest collections of World War II military equipment, vehicles and armaments on the Coley Homestead grounds.

This exhibition runs through March 26, 2017  and displays powerful prints by Weston artist Doug Leigh, depicting his experiences in the Battle of the Bulge as young staff sergeant, plus photos of war materiel representing land, air, and sea forces, and actual uniforms worn by our GI's. The exhibition also includes  a wide range of personal memorabilia that ties Weston residents, past and present, directly to the conflict. There are even large military artifacts on display including a 50 Caliber Machine Gun, a Army Jeep
 and a Military Motor-cycle with sidecar.

Memories of World War II will be open to the public on Sundays from 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. from Sunday November 12th, until Sunday March 26th, 2017.

New Year's Eve @ Maritime Aquarium

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk wants its final hours of 2016 to be among the best – and longest – of the year, so the popular attraction is staying open later on New Year’s Eve and offering special family entertainment.  For “Maritime ExtraTime: New Year’s Eve,” the Aquarium will stay open two extra hours – until 7 p.m. – and is welcoming a magician, “bubble-ologist,” juggler and other bonus guests and activities to help bid adieu to 2016.

All the bonus New Year’s Eve offerings are from 3 to 7 p.m.  They include these special guests:

•  strolling street magic by The Great Dubini

Using cards, coins and borrowed objects, New York-based magician Gregory Dubin will perform amazing sleight-of-hand magic and mentalism.  

•  “bubble-ologist” Kim Winslow

Winslow developed his skills with bubbles as a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, which entertains patients in hospitals in New York and around the world. Simple soap and water become delicate kinetic sculptures that spin, glide, bounce and move in ways that will delight.

•  strolling family comedy and juggling by Peter Straus

Straus has toured America as a clown with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and worked extensively with the Big Apple Circus. He also has had numerous appearances on TV, including several spots on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and has been a featured comedian and fire juggler at New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

In addition, Aquarium guests can squeeze into a giant arcade-style photo booth and commemorate the night – and the end of 2016 – with free photo strips of their funniest faces. Face-painting by Picasso Parties of West Haven will make faces even funnier. ($5 cost for face-painting.) And a DJ will provide the beat.

As another special treat (literally), Forever Sweet Bakery of Norwalk is supplying a selection of free cookies and cake pops, while supplies last. Plus, guests can choose from a variety of free non-alcoholic drinks at a special Aquarium mocktail bar.

And of course the entire Aquarium will be open until 7 p.m., with its amazing exhibits of sharks, harbor seals, sea turtles, jellies, river otters and other animals native to Long Island Sound and its watershed. Aquarium admission includes a classic IMAX movie. Titles and showtimes on Dec. 31 are: “Secret Ocean” at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; “National Parks Adventure” at noon and 4 p.m.; and “A Beautiful Planet” at 1 p.m.

Aside from optional face-painting, there’s no extra cost for the “Maritime ExtraTime: New Year’s Eve.” Admission to The Maritime Aquarium is $22.95 for adults, $20.95 for youths (13-17) & seniors (65+), and $15.95 for children 3-12.   Kids under 3, and Maritime Aquarium members, are free.

Also showing on Dec. 31 is the animated holiday IMAX movie “The Polar Express” at 5 p.m. Because it’s one hour and 40 minutes long, it’s specially priced with separate admission at $11.95 for adults, $10.95 for youths and seniors, and $9.50 for children 3-12. Kids under 3 are free.

Can’t make it on New Year’s Eve? The Maritime Aquarium is open for regular hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on New Year’s Day. Get more details about all upcoming events and programs at www.maritimeaquarium.org.