August Concerts at Calf Pasture Beach Norwalk

Each Wednesday night throughout the summer, music lovers can head to scenic Calf Pasture Beach on Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk (06851) to enjoy an evening of free musical entertainment. If you don’t have a parking sticker for this beach, not to worry, there is a  nominal $5.00 parking fee  charged for cars without a Norwalk beach sticker.

Cash Kings

To start off the month of August at 7 p.m. Cash is King is performing. Fans of the Man in Black will enjoy this recreation of performances by Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Three with June Carter Cash.

Deja Vu

The Classic Car Show is back on August 13 and begins at 6 p.m.  This gathering of than 100 vehicles is hosted by the Coachmen Rod and Custom Club, an organization of men and women who enjoy classic cars. Owners of 1981 and older cars can participate in the shows, which attract owners from throughout the tri-state area. Each car show participant is asked to contribute canned food or make a donation to the St. Vincent De Paul food bank.   At 7 p.m., Deja Vu will entertain the crowd.  For ten years, this popular group has been performing “golden oldies” at events from New Haven to New York.  The group includes Dominick Muro (lead vocals), Tony Masi (keyboards/lead vocals), Arthur Armstrong (lead vocals), George Gionios (saxophone/vocals), Rocco Castango (drums/vocals), John Skrensky (bass guitar/vocals) and Sal Salta (lead guitar/vocals).

Desert Highway

Curious Creatures kick off the August 20 event at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a concert by Desert Highway.  This  is a passionate group of six talented professions who perform the rich vocal harmonies and intricate guitar styles made famous by The Eagles. The band includes Mike Green (lead vocals, guitars), Larry Lippman (lead vocals, drums), Carl Bova (bass, vocals), Rich Naso (guitars), Ed Betancourt (guitars, vocals) and Mitch Lieb (keyboards).

On August 27 at 7 p.m. Back to the Garden 1969 will entertain concert goers.  Spotlighting music from the Woodstock era, these seasoned musicians have toured, performed and recorded nationally. Each member of the band – Gary Adamson, Bob Fonseca, Mike Garner, Larry Kelly and Annie Masciando -- plays multiple instruments and also is a lead vocalist.  

For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

August at the Beardsley Zoo a fun way to spend the last month of summer

August at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport on 1875 Noble Ave. has a host of activities that promises fun for the whole family. Take the Rainforest Reptiles for example that are back at the Zoo by popular demand from August 1-17. These reptile shows feature exotic crawlers, unusual slitherers, and fascinating creepers, all of which are creatures of the rainforest. Participants will experience direct contact with live animals, artifacts, and hear fascinating stories about these unusual animals and their natural habitats. There are two shows daily Tuesdays – Thursdays and three shows on Friday – Sunday.

There are two sessions of "Zoo Patrol", the first from August 4-8 and the second from August 11-15. The Zoo Patrol offers children ages 6 – 8 the opportunity to participate in keeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours, animal related games, and crafts. Hands-on lab activities and nature studies may also be a part of the program. Sessions run on zoo grounds Monday through Friday. Each week is $140/child for Zoo members and $165/child for non-members.Advance registration is required. For more information and to register, please call 203-394-6563.

On August 20, the Zoo is hosting a special evening lecture at 7 p.m. on Tree-Top Hideaways. Participants will learn about monkey movement and behavior with this month's guest lecturer Kevin McLean. A highlight is the rush hour report from Panama - it's a jungle out there! The  suggested donation is $5. Refreshments will be served. This lecture, taking place in the Hanson Exploration Station, is part of the Evening Lecture Series, sponsored by Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Volunteer Association.

On September 1, Labor Day, Zoo goers will bid farewell to the Zoo's summertime guests, the three visiting camels. 

About Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Unplug and explore Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo! Connecticut's only zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won't want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tigers and leopard, Brazilian ocelot, Mexican wolves, and Golden Lion tamarins. Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org.

Annual Green Corn Festival in Litchfield Hills

The Institute for American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center in Washington CT is hosting it's Annual Green Corn Festival on Saturday, August 2 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm on the grounds of the Museum located on 38 Curtis Road. The event will be held rain or shine. Adults: $10; children: $6.

Green Corn Festivals are held all over Native America between May and October. The events are both a celebration and a religious ceremony. They celebrate the ripening of the first corn of the year depending on geographic location. The whole idea is to give thanks to the Creator, the Great Spirit, for the corn, the rain and sun that nurture it.

Traditionally corn has been an integral part of the annual cycle of life for Native American People and this Festival celebrates the first corn of the season. Fun filled activities for the whole family including drumming, dancing, face painting, kids' crafts, and more make this event memorable.

Highlights of the event include exciting Native American ceremonies including traditional Eastern Woodland song & dance with the Native Nation Dancers, Schaghticoke, Objiwa and Lumbee, dancing both Northern and Southern 

Traditional styles. A highlight this year will be the all female drumming group, Spirit of Thunderheart of Schaghticoke, Mohawk, Blackfoot, Cree and Cherokee ancestry;  other performers include musician Allan Madahbee, Ojibwa; Storyteller Janis Us, Mohawk-Shinnecock descent, and Abenaki Chef and Author, Dale Carson.

A favorite of young and old alike are the Native American folktales told by storyteller, Janis Us of Mohawk-Shinnecock descent. Kids will enjoy Native American inspired crafts and facepainting.

Two not to be missed features of the Festival are the crafts for sale by local Native American artisans and a taste of traditional cooking including Pow-wow style food for sale in the outdoor Algonkian Village hosted by Dale Carson, of Abenaki descent.

About the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center

The focus of the Institute has always been stewardship and preservation. In 1991, the name was changed to the Institute for American Indian Studies. With the name change there was a shift in focus to include education in conjunction with research.

The ethnographic collection of the Institute for American Indian Studies contains over 6,000 cultural items. While focusing on the Eastern Woodlands Peoples, the collection represents indigenous communities throughout the western hemisphere. Items vary in raw material composition – textiles, wood, stone, clay, glass, shell and semi-precious jewels – function and style from moccasins, rugs, baskets and leggings to containers, weaponry, personal accessories, recreational objects and fine art.

The Research & Collections Building is artifact-friendly with a climate controlled vault and spacious laboratory. It is home to an abundance of collections, both ethnographic and archaeological. It also houses both an education and research library, containing over 2,000 books and journals and is open only by appointment (860-868-0518 ext.109).

For Museum hours and other special events visit: http://www.birdstone.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

NEGLECTED MANSION TO MODEL MUSEUM: WHITE MEMORIAL CONSERVATION CENTER MARKS 50 YEARS IN THE LITCHFIELD HILLS

Alain White might not believe his eyes. The mansion he once called home has been transformed into a model nature center and museum celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The changes did not come quickly or easily.

Alain, a Litchfield native, and his sister, Mae were pioneer environmentalists, turning their 4,000-acre property into a nature preserve and founding the White Memorial Foundation over 100 years ago.

 However, after the two passed away in the 1950s, their mansion, Whitehall, was left to the elements. The 50th anniversary of the foundation in 1963 sparked a move to do something about the building.

The Conservation Center was incorporated in 1964 with the challenge of converting the rundown manor house to a museum.  Initially it was known as the Litchfield Nature Center and Museum. The founders wanted the best, with many of the early dioramas put together by experts at New York’s Museum of Natural History.

But initially there was little “flow” as the rooms were designed for a home, not a museum space. Visitors came through a front hall and went in and out of rooms to see the displays.   It took over 30 years, but in 1996, everything changed, with a two-year renovation adding a modern exhibit building that puts it into the top ranks of nature centers.

 The Museum Today

Now known as the White Memorial Conservation Center, the building includes a nature museum with state-of-the-art exhibits on natural history, conservation, and ecology, as well as a dormitory, and a nature store and classroom facilities for the many school groups that visit.

The Conservation Center's Nature Museum offers a picture tour with exquisite dioramas and artwork telling the story of this unique 4,000 acre wildlife refuge, its diverse habitats using giant photo murals and animal mounts. A special exhibit on the Art of Taxidermy explains how the mounts were made.

A live snake habitat, beaver dam, fluorescent rock cave, bird sculpture garden, and children's room with books and activities guarantees a fun and informative experience for the whole family. The thousands of surrounding acres add many opportunities for first-hand contact with the natural world.

More than 35 miles of trails are open year-round for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. These include interpretive nature trails and a boardwalk trail for observing the extensive bird life found in a wetland environment.  Bantam Lake and the Bantam River offer fine fishing and canoeing and the grounds have ample scenic spaces for picnicking and camping.

The White Memorial Conservation Center is located at 80 Whitehall Road in Litchfield and is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission to the museum is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 through 12.

For more information on White Memorial www.whitememorialcc.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Maritime Cruise Experiences on Long Island Sound to Sheffield Island

The recipe for a perfect summer night out is available every Friday night in July and August thanks to a partnership between the Norwalk Seaport Association, Mama’s Boy restaurant and the Norwalk Parking Authority. “Maritime Cruise and Cuisine” Fridays are returning for a third year offering participants a cruise around the Norwalk Islands followed by dinner at Mama’s Boy and convenient, safe parking at the Maritime Garage.

 The Maritime Cruise and Cuisine package includes a Norwalk Harbor sunset cruise with the Norwalk Seaport Association’s “CJ Toth” ferry, leaving from Sheffield Island Dock (located on the corner of Water St and Washington St) at 6:00 pm and returning at 8:00 pm. Guests then walk one block to Mama’s Boy Restaurant, featuring a gourmet twist on Southern food, located at 19 North Water Street, for a three-course meal. The package price is $57 per person plus reduced price parking of $2 for the evening at the Maritime Garage. Cruise and Cuisine Fridays run through August 29^th.

The Norwalk Seaport Association is also offering up plenty of family fun in late July and early August with the pirates at the lighthouse!  The Pirates are coming to Sheffield Island on July 26 and 27 and August 2 and 3. Pirate Weekend activities are free, but participants must purchase round-trip ferry tickets to Sheffield Island. Tickets to the island are $22.00 for adults, $12.00 for children ages 4-12 and $5.00 for children age 3 and under, plus applicable service charge.

Bird watching Tours run through August 10 that offers visitors the experience to understand and explore the importance of Norwalk Islands and it’s many migratorial

bird species.  Larry Flynn, a master wildlife conservationist with DEEP will conduct these informative tours.

Scenic Cruises to Sheffield Island are offered through September. Trips to the island take visitors through the historic Norwalk Harbor area to the Island that offers unique views of the shoreline, a tour of the lighthouse and the chance to explore the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge or picnic on the beach.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the dock.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes with a closed heal or back strap; flip-flops are not allowed due to safety concerns.

The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in Historic South Norwalk. Parking is available adjacent to the dock and at the Norwalk Maritime Center Garage.

For information and reservations, please call the Norwalk Seaport Association, 203-838-9444 or buy tickets online at www.seaport.orgwww.seaport.org.

For special hotel and metro north deals and packages www.visitfarfieldcountyct.com

New Milford Connecticut Village Fair Days Set for July 25th and 26 in Litchfield Hills

Popular Kids Run at New Milford Village Fair Days

The center of New Milford located in the scenic Litchfield Hills is noted for it's long traditional village green laid out in 1872.  Here you will find monuments from past wars as well as a bandstand, first built in 1891 that is a symbol of New Milford's sense of community.

You can also explore many exceptional galleries, boutiques, restaurants and antique shops that are clustered in the heart of this village. Many are located in beautifully restored 18th and 19th century homes and buildings. Town Hall, facing the Green, marks the home of one of New Milford's most illustrious citizens, Roger Sherman, the only Connecticut man whose signature is on all key documents of the founding of this nation.

On July 25 and July 26, 2014 the New Milford Green becomes a hive of activity with the many activities and family fun offered up at the 47th Annual New Milford Village Fair Days.
 
This is the largest annual event in New Milford.  Hundreds of  vendors including local businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs exhibit their unique offerings. If you like crafts, you won't be disappointed as many skillful crafters offer their wares along with antique dealers that offer a variety of sought-after antiques.

Food is a big element of any Fair and New Milford's food vendors won't disappoint.  There is even a dining tent and two days of entertainment that add to the festivities.  Participants in this year's food court include: New Milford Rotary Club, Water Witch Hose Co 2, The Cookhouse, CC's Spiral Potatoes, Crab Cakes & Coconut Shrimp, Alfredo's/Colosseo Restaurants, New Milford Lions Club, Thomas's Ice Cream Truck, American Pie Company, Greek Isle and Primos Deli.

Exploring the south Green you will find a variety of businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs, while the north Green hosts master crafters and sought-after antiques. Food vendors can be found in the mid-section of the Green where fair goers, will find everything from tasty snacks to a wonderful meal that can be enjoyed in the large sit-down dining area.

The Fair opens at 10:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM on July 25th. Among the many highlights on the 29th are the tour of town hall at 2:30 p.m., a performance by Theatre Works from 1:45 p.m. - 2 :15 p.m., historic walking tours at 4 p.m.,  a Children's Fun Run at 6:00 PM and music by Higher and Higher from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m..  

On Saturday, July 26 the Fair opens at  9:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM.  Highlights on the 30th include: the 47th Annual 8 Mile Road Race & 12th Annual Fair Days 5K at 9:00 am, and Old Fashion Pie eating contest from 2 p.m. - 2:45, historic tours at 2:30 and 4 PM and Steppin Out with Curtis T band from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

For further information, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 860.354.6080 or visit http://www.newmilford-chamber.com for up to the minute information.

Vintage Children's Book Fair in Southport Connecticut

Over 300 vintage children's books from the early-19th – mid-20th centuries will be included in Pequot Library's 54th Annual Summer Book Sale, including more than 100 different editions on Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Variations on this classic children's book offered at this sale include multiple versions produced by different publishers of Robinson Crusoe rewritten in one syllable words, as well as unusual adaptations of the story, including Dog Crusoe, Little Robinson Crusoe of Paris, and Arctic Crusoe. Typical of what is being offered is a beautifully illustrated 1882 edition.

Robinson Crusoe was first published on April 25, 1719. The first edition credited the work's fictional protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a travelogue of true incidents. Despite its simple narrative style, Robinson Crusoe was well received in the literary world and is often credited as marking the beginning of realistic fiction as a literary genre.

Pequot Library's 54th Annual Summer Book Sale runs from Friday, July 25 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014. It is known as "The Best Book Sale in New England." Admission is free and all Sale proceeds help fund Pequot Library's over 400 yearly inter-generational programs and events. High quality books at reasonable prices, with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

Over 40 categories, including the favorites: Children's Books; Art and Photography; Business; Biography; Several sections of History (USA, European, World, and Military); Computer Software and Books; Cooking; Crafts and Style; Foreign Language; Gardening; Mystery and Thriller; Romance; Science; Sports; Science Fiction; Current Fiction; Classic Fiction; Poetry and Drama; Trade Paperbacks; CDs, DVDs, records, tapes, and Audiobooks; Sheet music, music books, comic books, prints.

Please visit www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15.  The Pequot Library is located on 720 Pequot Rd. in Southport, CT.

After enjoying the book fair, be sure to stop in at the Delamar in Southport http://delamarsouthport2-px.trvlclick.com/dining.html for lunch, dinner or a thirst quenching beverage!   The restaurant combines local, seasonal flavors through New England inspired cuisine. Dine in the elegant yet relaxed dining room or on the outdoor patio with a lovely garden that is the perfect place for dining al  fresco.  For more information 203-307-4222.

New Exhibition at Brookfield Museum of Vintage Ladies Apparel

The Brookfield Historical Society and Museum has put together a fascinating array of vintage ladies apparel for their summer exhibition that can be visited from noon to 4 p.m. on each Saturday in August. This display, put together is composed of apparel that period dresses once worn by Brookfield women.

For visitors viewing the exhibition it is like looking at images from a turn of the century hand tinted Godey girl fashion print. A formal dress worn by Brookfield's Eleanor Stuart Terrill in 1892 still looks as if it just came out of a box purchased last week and is a highlight of the display. Most of the items on display are part of the Museum's collections although a few pieces have been loaned to the Museum by private parties.

On display, visitors can admire vintage wedding and morning dresses, formal evening wear, early high button and dress shoes, lingerie, veils and Victorian and early ladies handkerchiefs.

For more information www.brookfieldcthistory.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

About the Brookfield Historical Society and Museum

The Brookfield Museum & Historical Society maintains a collection of more than 13,000 dated artifacts dealing with Brookfield. To help researchers and to better share our collection, they utilize the revised and expanded version of Robert G. Chenhall's system of classifying man made objects. Please contact them at 203-740-8140 if you have an interest in a particular artifact.

The Research Center has books on the history of Brookfield, surrounding towns and the State of Connecticut. There are genealogy items - books, diaries, compact discs, and cemetery records.  Old newspapers, maps, deeds, and old tax records are also available. Additionally books on collecting antiques, dating old photographs and preservation can also be found as well as many old photographs and videos of Brookfield.

The Research Center is open during the times that the Museum is open and by appointment. The materials are not available for loan and must be used in the Museum building.

Beatles festival "Danbury Fields Forever" at Ives Concert Park

The New York/New England regional Beatles festival, "Danbury Fields Forever," will "come together" Saturday, July 26 & Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, Connecticut. Doors will open at noon, and the music will continue until 8pm daily.

The Music, Foods & Arts Festival is in its third year, with 10 bands per day playing the music of The Beatles, solo material and songs from the 60s. The full line-up of performers has been announced. Acts include The Hofners, The Oh-Nos, The Mystery Tour, AfterFab, Fools On The Hill, Charlie Guitar, Studio Two, Beatlehead, Thunder Road, The Way-Back Machine, Rotary and the national touring group Beatlemania Again. There will be live tributes to George Harrison by Pete Santora (formerly of Broadway's "Beatlemania"), Sir Paul McCartney by Mike Miller's "One Sweet Dream," John Lennon by Dave Pal in his "Lennon Legacy" show and to Elton John by Bill Connors. Students from School of Rock in both New York and Connecticut will have their star students performing sets of Beatles classics. Also, the winners of the web talent search project StarOnTheWeb.com will be performing.

o celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles' U.S. arrival in 1964, one-day "Ticket to Ride" admissions to the Festival start at only $19.64, but these special discounted early-bird advance prices are good for a limited time only. Advance ticket available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/danbury-fields-forever-iii-tickets-11495548495. There are also V.I.P. tickets available, discounted two-day passes and hotel packages. Tickets will be higher at the door.  For guests staying overnight, there is a reduced rate hotel package.

Ives Concert Park is located at 43 Lake Avenue Ext. on the campus of Western CT State University in Danbury, CT. This year there will be more Beatle and memorabilia dealers and vendors, exhibitors, along with a larger variety of food options available.

"Danbury Fields Forever lll" is presented by Charles F. Rosenay!!!'s Liverpool Productions, the same company that presented "NYC FAB 50," The Beatles' 50th Anniversary Celebration in New York City in February, and organizers of the annual Magical History Tours to Liverpool & London (www.LiverpoolTours.com). A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit a designated charity.

For further info, visit website: www.Fab4Musicfestival.com, or phone (203) 795-4737.

Contemporary Crafts Gallery presents exhibition of original prints from around the world

Revel in a professional display of recent works by local national and international printmakers; landscapes, portraits, animals, botanicals, representational and abstract original artwork, created by hand using traditional and contemporary printmaking methods. Over 210 diverse images, each print one-foot square, are on view this summer at the 4^th Biennial Footprint International Exhibition, Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP), 299 West Ave., in Mathews Park, Norwalk, Connecticut 06850, www.contemprints.org, 203-899-7999.

Waving Goodbye

The call for entries for the “Footprint International” exhibition is sent all over the world, to printmaking ateliers, gallerys, schools and individuals, at least 6 months before the exhibit opens. A juror is designated to reviews the original artworks after they arrive at the gallery, to select works for inclusion in the exhibit and award prizes. The Biennial Footprint International Exhibition is held on even-numbered years, alternating with the Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition, which is held on odd-numbered years.

Cavemen/Kaliedoscope

The exhibition runs  through Sunday, August 31, 2014 and the hours are Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 12 to 5 pm. The Center is closed on July 4. Admission is free, and the gallery is handicapped accessible.  This biennial exhibition is an opportunity for visitors to acquaint themselves with current trends in the art of the original print from around the world. All artwork is for sale. The “footprint” in the exhibition title refers to the size of the artwork on display; each image is a one-foot square print.

The Great Expectation

Prize Winners 

Juror Elisabeth Hodermarsky, Sutphin Family Senior Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, Photographs at the Yale University Art Gallery awarded Best in Show to Miriam Rudolph, (Minnesota) for her artworks, Waving Goodbye, 2012, intaglio/ chine colle/hand coloring, and Return, 2012, intaglio /chine colle. Elisabeth awarded two Juror Prizes: to Anne Desmet (United Kingdom) for Cavemen/Kaliedoscope, 2014, lithograph/engraving/ collage, and Changing Perspectives – Homage to Piero della Francesca, 2014, engraving/ collage; and to Josef Werner (Germany) for The Silence, 2014, etching/drypoint/embossing and The Great Expectation, 2014, etching/drypoint/embossing.

Two Connecticut artists, both CCP members, received Honorable Mentions: DeAnn Prosia (Newtown,) and Karen Kalkstein (Stamford). In addition, the juror awarded Honorable Mentions to 11 other artists including: Daniel Chiaccio, Kate Higley (New Hampshire);  Katerine Kyselica, Sigita R Pranevicius (New York); Ellen Price (Ohio); Daniela Zekina (Canada); Christa Manz-Dewald (Germany); Aoiffe Layton, Bernadette Madden (Ireland); Adam Czech (Poland); and Kirsty Olivier (South Africa).

Participating Artists

Fairfield and New Haven Counties Well Represented by Area Artists
Other Connecticut artists in the exhibition include: Karen Vogel (Darien); Susan Newbold (Fairfield); Nomi Silverman (Glenville); Marian "Bing” Bingham (Greenwich); Anita Soos (Guilford); Thomas Stavovy (Hamden); Cynthia MacCollum (New Canaan); Oi Fortin, Evie Lindemann, Liz Pagano (New Haven); Binnie Birstein, Karen Brussat Butler, Katharine Draper (Norwalk); Allison Meyler (Ridgefield); Betty Ball, Hanneke Goedkoop, Mindy Green (Rowayton); Lou Hicks (Stamford); Kathleen DeMeo (Wallingford); Brenda Giegerich, Ruth Kalla Ungerer, Cecilia Moy Fradet (Westport); Renee Santhouse (Wilton); Margot K Rocklen (Woodbridge); and Karen Sorensen (Woodbury).

National and International Artists in the Exhibition
Stateside. In the USA, art by other printmakers from New York State towns and cities were by far the largest group, including: RM Gallimari (Astoria); Jane Cooper (Katonah); Christine S. Aaron, Ellen Lazarus, Annette Lieblein (Larchmont); Katharine Dufault, Lynne Lederman (Mamaroneck); Richard Sloat, (New York, New York); Lenny Librizzi (Staten Island); Susan Miller (Sparrow Bush); and Mitchell Visoky (White Plains). Printmakers from other states included: Liz Lyons Friedman (California); Dakota Nanton (Colorado); Sal Sidner (Florida); Karl LeClair (Idaho); Christine Beneman, Scott Schnepf (Maine); Steven Matthews (Maryland); Paula DeSimone, Cheryl Sutton Adams (Massachusetts); Jean Allemeir Boot, Andrew Jagniecki (Michigan); Rachele Unter (New Jersey); Joan Potkay (New Mexico); Anne Cushman (Ohio); Carrie O'Coyle (Oregon); and Sergey Zlotnikov (Pennsylvania).

Overseas. International artists also included a good showing from our neighbors in Canada: Marie
Ange-Brassard, Daemon Baldwin, Peter Barron, Lysandre Donaldson, Ingeborg Jurgensen Hiscox, Louise Simard, Robin Smith Peck; and Cleo Wilkinson (Australia); Savina Montovska, Roland Shneevays (Bulgaria); Gerda Muehl, Marianne Riss (Germany); Aidan Flanagan, Joan Gleeson, Paula Pohli (Ireland); Adiana Lucaciu (Romania); Angus Buchanan, Gervasio Robles, Michele Rolstone (South Africa); Raul Ceville (Italy); Kristina Norvilaite (Lithuania); Toshinori Tanuma (Japan); Bo Cronqvist (Sweden); and Neala Glass (New Zealand).

Westport Arts Festival

This year marks the 41st for the popular Westport Arts Festival that is taking place this year in the center of Westport in Parker Harding Plaza and on Gorham Island on July 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on July 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Festival goers can expect original  juried works in Painting, Watercolor, Photography, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking, Mixed Media, Glass, Ceramics, Fiber, Jewelry, Wood and Digital Art dispayed along the lovely Saugatuck River in the heart of this charming riverside community. 

Best of all, visitors will experience more than just the visual arts at the Westport Fine Arts Festival: there will be unique street performances, live music, hands-on art activities, and delicious food from local restaurateurs. As for kids, they will enjoy the special Beach Bonanza Children's Tent Zone provided by the Westport Arts Center. This area will feature both collaborative and individual hands-on projects, all with a seashore inspired theme! From string murals to large-scale jellyfish, kids will be sure to have a blast; just look for the the palm trees to find the Kid Zone.

As for entertainment, there is plenty with an exciting line up as follows: 

Saturday July 19

10:15 – 11:30 Chris MacKay and the Tone Shifters

11:45 – 1:00 Shiny Lapel Trio

1:15 – 2:30 Paul Brockett Roadshow Band

3:00 – 4:30 Mill River Band

5:00 – 6:30 Dr. B and The Brotherhood

Sunday July 20

10:15 – 11:30 Josi Davis and Hot Damn!

11:45 – 1:00 Pete Herger Band

1:30 – 2:45 Dylan Conner

3:10 – 4:30 Washboard Slim and the Bluelights

 For More information visit www.westportfineartsfestival.com.  For information on Fairfield County www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

Photos Westport Arts Festival