Torrington Historical Society Open through Oct. 31

The Torrington Historical Society, located at 192 Main Street, is open for the season and will remain open through October 31st. The Society is home to three cultural attractions: the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, the permanent exhibit, No Place Like Home: The History of Torrington, and the Hendey Machine Shop exhibit Pursuit of Precision: The Hendey Machine Shop 1870-1954. The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum and the two exhibit areas are open to the public Wednesday - Saturday, 12-4 p.m.

Fodor's Guide to New England described the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum as "one of the better house museums in Connecticut". Built in 1900, this grand Victorian mansion was commissioned by Orsamus and Mary Fyler and was designed by New Haven architect William H. Allen. The house was built by Hotchkiss Brothers Company, a Torrington firm. The Torrington Historical Society acquired the home in 1956 when Gertrude Fyler Hotchkiss, daughter of the original owners, bequeathed the house and its contents to the Society. Today, visitors to the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum can see the home as it was when last occupied by Gertrude Fyler Hotchkiss. This grand home is rich in details: mahogany paneling, ornate carvings, stenciled walls, murals, parquet floors and ornamental plaster. Family furnishings include impressive collections of porcelain, glass and oriental carpets as well as paintings by Ammi Phillips, Winfield Scott Clime, E. I. Couse, George Lawrence Nelson and Albert Herter. Guided tours of the house museum are available for $5 per person; children 12 and under are free. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 12-4; the last tour is at 3:30 p.m.

The Torrington History Museum, adjacent to the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, contains an award-winning permanent exhibit, No Place Like Home: The History of Torrington. This self-guided exhibit explores the city's history while showcasing photographs and artifacts from the Society's collection. Audio and video components and hands-on interactive stations are featured in this exhibit. Admission is $2; children 12 and under are free. Another exhibit, Pursuit of Precision: The Hendey Machine Company 1870-1954, is located in the Carriage House. This exhibit features an operational belt-driven machine shop, a video kiosk, and a photographic history of the Hendey Machine Company, a former Torrington manufacturer of lathes, shapers and milling machines. Admission is free.

The John H. Thompson Memorial Library houses archives pertaining to Torrington history. Researchers may visit the library Wednesday-Friday 1-4, or by appointment. For more information about the Society or to become a member, please visit www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org or contact the Society at (860) 482-8260.

Beautiful Nuances of Childhood Captured in Portrait Exhibit at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum has opened a new exhibition entitled, Childhood Portraits: Our Children, Our Future, in collaboration with the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (CSOPA) and Stepping Stones Museum for Children. This exhibit runs through June 28 at LMMM, 295 West Ave., Norwalk, CT.  

The Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum and Stepping Stones Museum for Children have brought together 21 original portraits of children by 21 professional artists into public view. Many of the participating families never dreamed of such an opportunity and kids are sure to be excited to see their photo in the magnificent setting of this museum.

From Ancient Greece's depiction of deities to Andy Warhol's celebrity portraits, not to mention today's selfie craze, the art of portraiture has been a part of society since its inception. This exhibit will explore this enduring artistic form with portraits of children created exclusively by CSOPA members after a "Matching Event" which was held on November 15, 2014 at Stepping Stones Museum for Children. At this event children also explored the art of self-portraiture under the guidance of CSOPA artists and Stepping Stones educators.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark. For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

Shakespeare’s ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ set for Pinkney Park in June

Shakespeare on the Sound has selected "All's Well That Ends Well" as its 20th anniversary presentation and named nationally renowned Mary B. Robinson to direct The Bard's subtle and poetic comedy in Pinkney Park June 11-28.

The provocative challenge to the conventions of gender unfolds under the stars in the natural outdoor amphitheater of the park in Rowayton where a family-festive audience assembles on blankets and low-slung deck chairs with picnic baskets crammed with goodies. Admission is free and so is parking nearby. At the same time, donations are collected at the gate, $20 suggested for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Reserved seating is also available for $50. To reserve: www.shakespeareonthesound.org or call (203) 299-1300.

"All's Well That Ends Well" was selected for the theater's 20th anniversary from Shakespeare's inimitable 34-play palette that poetically synthesizes what it means to be human and crackles with wordplay and wit. The sheer lyrical force of Shakespeare's top layer is engaging but Robinson is committed to adding a dimension that reveals the Bard's intense passion and extraordinary mastery of the rhythms of life and perplexities of human behavior.

A 3 ½-week-run of the play "Intimate Apparel" at the Westport Country Playhouse last fall—recounting the relationship between an African-American seamstress and a Jewish tailor—is among the 60-plus productions Robinson has directed in New York City and across the U.S. over the past three decades. Judith Ivey has appeared on Robinson's stage. So have Cynthia Nixon, Jeff Daniels and Buck Henry. Her productions have gained her acclaim from Hartford to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, from Louisville, KY to Seattle and from Cincinnati to Milwaukee.

Her book "Directing Plays, Directing People: A Collaborative Art" (Smith and Kraus, 2012, 188 pages) meanwhile has been described by Pulitzer Prizewinner Edward Albee as "an intelligent and useful guide for both the professional and the casual theater lover." Robinson intends to mount "All's Well That Ends Well" in the round," meaning the audience in Pinkney Park would encircle the stage, just as the so-called "groundlings" did at Shakespeare's Globe Theater 400 years ago outside London. As opposed to the Elizabethan era, however, she is setting the play in an Edwardian time bend, the early 1900s.

The production runs Tuesdays through Sundays—Mondays are dark as they say in the theater—with patrons permitted to stake out space on the grounds with a blanket or deck chair starting at 4 p.m., 3 ½ hours before the curtain. Most night, one hour in advance, there is a special preview presentation for children.

A Lecture at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Explores the Gilded Age Conservatory

On Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 11 a.m. at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 295 West Avenue in Norwalk, CT, Curator Jim Donahue will give a talk entitled, Gilded Age Conservatories.

The late 19^th and early 20^th centuries witnessed the culmination of private and public conservatory construction in the United States. Elaborate arrangements of exotic orchids, tropical palms, and a myriad of ferns filled these extravagant glass structures. Private conservatories of the Gilded Age were part of the family’s living space, decorated with specimen plants, and used for entertaining guests. Fueled by new technologies and horticultural discoveries from faraway places, the Victorians displayed their collections while the associated costs of building and maintaining the conservatory and its contents affirmed the occupant’s aristocratic aspirations. Often, the cultivation process did not take place within the conservatory itself, but in an offsite greenhouse.

Elms Conservatory 1901

Jim Donahue is Curator of Historic Landscapes and Horticulture at the Preservation Society of Newport County. He holds a Master’s Degree in Landscape Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design in Massachusetts. He is currently putting together a conservatory-themed exhibit, focused on 19th century collectors' plants, for the upcoming Newport Flower Show, June 19-21 at Rosecliff.

This will be the second in a series of lectures by curators and experts in the field of Victorian era material life. The lectures are $25 for members, $30 for non-members per session. Please RSVP by Friday, June 5, 2015. The price includes lecture, lunch and a first floor Mansion tour. Lunch is courtesy of Michael Gilmartin's Outdoor Cookers Catering & Event Planning.  The chair of the Lecture Committee is Mimi Findlay of New Canaan. Please contact info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com or 203-838-9799, ext. 4 to purchase tickets.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark. For additional information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

June Workshops at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking

he Center for Contemporary Printmaking located on 299 West Ave. in Norwalk is offering a series of programs perfect for novice and master artists interested in the genre of printmaking. 

On June 5-26 for example, the center is offering a 4 week evening workshop from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on painterly etching.  In these workshops you will learn to expand your painting or monotype style into the versatile world of etching. Participants will learn to make painterly marks on copper plates which can then be printed multiple times, allowing for endless color explorations as
well as edition printing. This workshop will cover various aquatint techniques that allow for different kinds of marks: spit-bite for soft, watercolor-like washes, sugar lift and soap-ground for clear brushstrokes, and stopout for flat tonal areas. Elisabeth will also demonstrate a variety of special printing techniques, including multicolor registration, inking and wiping à la poupée, and chine collé. Some experience with intaglio printing is helpful, but not necessary.

On June 6 and June 20, take a class with Roxanne Faber-Savage to learn about old plates and new prints and learn how to revive existing plates and create fresh imagery. The sessions are limited to 8 and take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Using stack of oldies but goodies (etching plates, solar plates, collagraph plates, relief blocks etc), Roxanne will demonstrate a range of ways to print old plates in surprising ways. Demonstrations include traditional & non-traditional inking and wiping techniques, chine collè, overprinting, and printing on unusual paper sizes, textures and colors. Following these demonstrations, participants will explore individual projects in the print shop. Walk away with a variant edition or a stack of unique monoprints made from your own plate collection. Only non-toxic Akua inks will be used.

There will be an introduction to letterpress printing on June 21, 28 and July 12 with Amber Heaton on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Letterpress printing is often thought of in terms of type and text, yet there are a variety of exciting image making techniques open to letterpress printers. In this workshop, participants will dive into two of these techniques: photopolymer plates and relief block carving. Participants will learn the basics of printing on a Vandercook no. 4 letterpress, file preparation for photopolymer
relief plates, and how to carve a relief linoleum block. Don't miss your chance to learn how to incorporate the speed, versatility and precision of letterpress printing into your own art practice.

On June 27 there will be a half day workshop on Figure and the Monotype with Nomi Silverman. Participants in this workshop will work directly from a live model, working with printing inks in much the same manner as Degas. The work is then printed with the assistance of the instructor. Subsequent reworked impressions can also be pulled to achieve depth of color, or, as Degas frequently did, a second paler or ghost impression can be printed and used as ground for later pastel additions.  This workshop is good for all levels and abilities.

For more information about these and other classes and workshops visit http://contemprints.org. 

Two new exhibitions at Fairfield Museum and History Center

The Fairfield Museum and History Center located on 370 Beach Road in Fairfield has organized two special exhibitions that are sure to please art lovers. 

The 7th annual juried photography exhibition, IMAGES runs through July 19 and showcases the exceptional work of talented regional photographers.  The IMAGES photography competition offers a wonderful venue to highlight the work of up-and-coming regional photographers. The exhibition features roughly fifty photographs, usually picked from about 1,000 submissions, of photographers active in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.  Photos are judged in the following categories: landscape, portrait, architecture, nature and abstract to be displayed in this show.  This is a juried show with a jury that is made up of prominent photographers including Howard Schatz, Suzanne Chamlin, LaTanya S. Autry, and Jeremy Frost. 

The Fairfield History Center has also launched a second exhibition called, Howard Schatz: 25 Years of Photographs.  The exhibition celebrates the remarkable twenty-five year career of Connecticut-based photographer Howard Schatz.  This exhibition displays highlights of his work. Schatz is primarily known for his dynamic and intimate portraits of the human body, and his photographs make up a veritable catalog of body types and personalities, from newborns and mothers, to athletes and bodies underwater. His photographs have been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Sports Illustrated, Time, and Life, among others, as well as displayed in museums and galleries worldwide. This exhibition runs through August 31.

For more information visit http://www.fairfieldhistory.org.

Camels Can't Get Enough of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo!

Back by popular demand, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo welcomes three camels to the state's only zoo for the summer. These exotic animals arrived on Monday, Memorial Day, and will call Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo home through Labor Day.

"These animals are foreign to this country so it's no surprise folks want a chance to get up close and personal with them," explained Gregg Dancho, zoo director. "Our kissable camels look great in photos so now's your chance for a selfie that will certainly get people talking!"

Joining Toby and Goliath, who were at the zoo last summer, is Gabriel. All three will be available for rides from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30. p.m. for $5 per person. Visitors are welcome to take photos at no additional charge and may purchase ride tickets at the front gate, gift shop, carousel, and at the camel ride (cash only). While there are no age restrictions for riders, anyone five years old and younger requires an adult rider with them. The zoo also is offering a combo ticket for both a carousel and camel ride for $6.00.

 
Fun camel facts, courtesy of Enviromental Graffiti:

• Bactrian camels have two humps while Dromedary camels have one hump. (Toby and Goliath are Dromedary camels.)
• The name camel comes from Arabic, meaning "beauty."
• A camel's hump stores fat - not water - as many believe.
• Camels can drink up to 40 gallons at one time.
• Camels can go for long periods of time without drinking because of the shape of their red blood cells, which are oval, and allows them to flow easily without clumping. They are the only mammals to have this kind of blood cell.
• Camels can kick in all four directions with each leg.
• Camels can eat anything without injuring their mouths - including thorny twigs.
• Camels can close their nostrils against wind and sand when necessary.
• Their coats reflect sunlight and insulate them from the desert heat.
• "Spitting" is actually a way that camels defend themselves. They don't actually spit but rather throw up a nasty smelling fluid when provoked.

The camels are not the only new addition to the zoo family. Connecticut's only zoo just welcomed six Guinea hog piglets, as well.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is closer than you think and open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $14.00, children (ages 3 -11) and senior admission (62 and older) is just $11.00, and children under 3 years old are free. Zoo members also are admitted free. Parking at the Zoo is free of charge.For more information about Connecticut's only zoo, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org.

For area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com