Friday, December 12 2008
A Holiday Garland
Westport Country Playhouse presents "A Holiday Garland," featuring holiday songs, funny stories, poignant readings, jokes and poems compiled to celebrate this festive season and enchant the family.
Directed and conceived by John Tillinger ("Time of My Life," "Relatively Speaking") and Eileen Atkins, and featuring seven performers. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays 4 and 8 p.m.; Sundays 3 p.m. $25, $35, $48. For more information and tickets, call the box office at 203-227-4177, or for out-of-town callers toll-free at 888-927-7529, or visit the box office at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Information available at www.westportplayhouse.org.
Craft USA
November 16 – December 23, 2008 Craft USA celebrates craft as art. It is recognized as an exhibit of merit where original works of art made by hand are showcased. This is the sixth year of the juried craft triennial competition/exhibition. The competition draws over 1000 entries and over 400 artists from coast to coast working in various mediums such as ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, paper, wood, basketry and mixed media. This year’s juror is Gretchen Keyworth, Director of the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA. A notable figure in the world of contemporary craft, she has extensive experience in curating and advising prominent craft shows. The Fuller Craft Museum underwent a re-branding in 2004/05 to become the preeminent craft museum in New England. The museum has recently exhibited Joan Morris, Thomas Mann, Megumi Naitoh, Carter Smith, and Alan Klein. Ms. Keyworth has independently curated many craft exhibitions such as GlassForms, Charles Kaziun Early Works and Traditional Paperweights. In 2005, Ms. Keyworth was named one of ten people to watch in American Craft by The Crafts Report. GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday: 11 am – 5 pm; Sunday: 1 – 5 pm.
c2 = (CP + CL)
Westport Arts Center presents:
c2 = (CP + CL): Creative Connections = Creative Process + Learning Process
Friday, Dec. 5 - Jan. 11
Friday, Dec. 5, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. for Opening Reception
WAC Gallery
Curated by WAC's Education Manager, Danielle Cavanna, featuring Westport Arts Center's teaching artists, who have made signifigant contributions to our Connections program. The works that will be selected will directly relate to each teaching artist's work as an educator. For more information visit www.westportartscenter.org.
For more information, contact WAC at 203-222-7070, www.westportartscenter.org, or visit the gallery, M-F 10-4; Sat/Sun 12-4 at 51 Riverside Ave., Westport.
Artistry on the Shoreline Holiday Sale
Artistry on the Shoreline Holiday Sale
October 20 - January 11, 2009
Visit our website at www.guilfordartcenter.org.
Holidaze: The Real Story of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
Now through Dec. 14 -
Holidaze: The Real Story of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas
Special exhibit at the Henry Whitfield State Museum
Learn why the Puritans did not celebrate Christmas, the myths behind the First Thanksgiving, and how All Hallow's Eve became a night of costumes and candy. The exhibit is available for viewing during regular museum hours and is included with museum admission.
Drop & Shop Night
Children aged 3-10 are invited to a fun filled pajama party at the museum while their parents make holiday preparations. Your contribution of $20 for the first child and $10 for each additional sibling includes a pizza dinner, activities, crafts, and a movie. Jammies are optional, but you may want to bring a pillow, blanket, or teddy bear in case anyone gets sleepy. The event runs from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.
Woodbury painter Matt Wood exhibits "Pentimento"
Woodbury painter Matt Wood returns to nature’s essence
in “Pentimento” exhibition at Good News Cafe & Gallery
Woodbury artist Matt Wood returns to the essence of the subjects he paints from the natural world in his new exhibition titled “Pentimento,” showing through Jan. 5, 2009, at the Good News Cafe and Gallery, 694 Main Street South, Woodbury.
A native of southern California, Wood began his artistic odyssey with painting studies at the University of Iowa influenced by the work of Mauricio Lasansky. Wood notes that his own Polish and Russian heritage, and his marriage to Polish native Joanna Czaderna, have established a natural affinity for Lasansky’s passionate approach to the creative process that seeks to use art as a means to raise personal awareness.
Good News Cafe & Gallery is open from 11:30 am to 10 pm daily; closed Tuesdays.
CT Plein Air Painters Society Annual Membership Exhibition
The Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society presents its annual members exhibition at Hartford Fine Art, 80 Pitkin Street, East Hartford, beginning with the opening reception and awards presentation on Friday November 7, 2008 from 6-8 pm. This year's juror is David Dunlop, well-known to CPTV viewers for his thirteen-episode series Landscapes Through Time With David Dunlop, which debuted this year to rave reviews. His careful selection of 72 works in oil, watercolor, pastel and acrylic makes this the most exciting show ever for this talented group of artists. The public is cordially invited to the opening reception to share insights and a glass of wine with many member artists. All works will be for sale and a drawing will be held for one lucky guest to win an original painting by a member artist. The exhibit will continue through January 31, 2009. Please go to www.hartfordfineart.com for gallery hours and directions.
In conjunction with the annual exhibit, the Gallery will host a series of artist demonstrations and panel discussions on selected Saturdays in November and December, including a hands-on demo by David Dunlop himself on December 6 from 11-1. This is an opportunity for artists and art lovers alike to gain insights from several artists into the painting process. For a complete schedule of events, please go to www.cpaps.org.
Clare Gallery Art Reception and Musical Performance
Art Exhibition Reception and Musical Performance
Tuesday, November 18th 5 – 7pm
Free and open to the public
Clare Gallery is pleased to present Completing the Journey: The Art of Hospice Care,an extraordinary and powerful multi-media exhibition depicting the use of the arts in hospice care. Artists participating in this exhibition are constituents of The Complementary Therapy Team, a Connecticut VNA Partners organization. Along with the artists, professional musicians from The Complementary Therapy Team will perform original music during the reception.
Along with this exhibition there are also other programs that might be of interest to people dealing with loss. The first program, sponsored by the ministries of Women of Hope and Bereavement from the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry, is “Grief – Shattered and Mended: How Hopeful Women Survive” on November 12th from 5 to 9 pm. This Twilight Retreat includes dinner, a discussion on how women deal with grief, and a hands-on project. The cost is $15.00. The second program, sponsored by several Ministries of Pastoral Care is a “Service of Remembrance” on November 25th from 7-8 pm. If one would like more information on either of these programs, please call the Urban Center at 860-756-4034.
Free parking in Saints Lot across the street. Please bring ticket for validation.
Jacob Marley Tells His Story at Hole in the Wall
So you think you know the whole story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his late partner, Jacob Marley? Then you haven’t seen Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, playing November 14 through December 13 at Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain.
In Tom Mula's funny, irreverent spin on the Christmas classic, Jacob Marley sets out to redeem Ebenezer Scrooge's soul and, in the process, save his own. Accompanied by a jaunty Hell-sprite called a “Bogle,” Marley embarks on a journey filled with laughter, terror, the power of redemption, and the promise of second chances. Four actors play multiple roles in this highly theatrical holiday entertainment. Dennis Hull directs.
Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol runs Fridays and Saturdays, November 14 through December 13, at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, November 23 and December 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main Street, New Britain. Admission is a $20.00 suggested donation. Seating is limited, so please call (860) 229-3049 for reservations. For more information, visit www.hitw.org.
Firehouse 12 Presents The Donny McCaslin Trio
On Friday, December 12th, Firehouse 12's 2008 Fall Jazz Series will conclude with a two-set performance by acclaimed tenor saxophonist/composer Donny McCaslin and his trio featuring bassist Hans Glawischnig (Ray Barretto, Stefon Harris, Miguel Zenon) and drummer Johnathan Blake (Tom Harrell, Russell Malone, Jaleel Shaw). The group will be celebrating its debut release, Recommended Tools, McCaslin's seventh recording as a leader and his first on frequent collaborator Dave Douglas' label, Greenleaf Music. The disc features nine original McCaslin compositions inspired by influences ranging from Bill Frisell to Hermeto Pascoal to Igor Stravinsky.
"A brilliant take on the hallowed tenor trio tradition," writes AllAboutJazz.com reviewer Troy Collins, "Recommended Tools is not only a high water mark for McCaslin, but one of the most beguiling records of the year." DownBeat's John Corbett agreed, writing, "It's a terrific outing, with solid original material at the service of a ferocious player and a great rhythm section. There's nothing frivolous, no errors of judgment—just energizing jazz in a lean setting with lots to love." "McCaslin's blowing may be brawny," added Steve Greenlee in JazzTimes, "but it is equally thoughtful. His work is blistering and beautiful, sometimes in the same moment."
Inspired by his musician father, McCaslin began playing tenor saxophone at age 12. Early in his professional career, following studies at the Berklee College of Music, he toured for four years with the Gary Burton Quintet before moving to New York in 1991, where he quickly found work with Eddie Gomez and the jazz fusion group, Steps Ahead. He has since performed and recorded with a long list of notable bandleaders, including Pat Metheny, Danilo Perez, Maria Schneider, George Schuller and Luciana Souza among many others, though he is perhaps best known for his recent membership in the Dave Douglas Quintet. In addition to his extensive work as an in-demand sideman, McCaslin has led his own groups for the past decade, recording for the Arabesque, Criss Cross, Naxos and Sunnyside labels.
2008 Fall Jazz Series Schedule:
09/19: Steve Lantner Trio
09/26: Conference Call
10/03: Ned Rothenberg's Sync
10/10: Shakers n' Bakers
10/17: Josh Roseman's Execution Quintet
10/24: Bad Touch
10/31: Magic
11/07: George Schuller's Circle Wide
11/14: Jamie Baum Septet
11/21: Taylor Ho Bynum & SpiderMonkey Strings
12/05: The Flatlands Collective
12/12: Donny McCaslin Trio
Tickets and more information available at:
Visions from the Mundane Traveler - Paintings by Mario Pires
Mario Pires will be showing a solo exhibition of his new series of paintings, titled "Visions from the Mundane Traveler." This series has a direct link to his Masters Thesis, which focuses on imagery from everyday society. There will be an Opening Reception on December 6th, 2008 from 2-4 p.m. at the Gallery at the Barney Library, located at 71 Main Street in Farmington, CT. The show will run through the entire month of December. For more information about Mario Pires and his artwork, the artist will be available to take questions and comments at his exhibit Opening on December 6th. You may also find more information in the itowns section of the hartford courant online. Type in Itowns cover art to search article. Also, you may courant.comcontact him at mariopires@yahoo.com.
Westville Art Expo and Co-op
Jennifer Jane Gallery has organized an art exposition with a cooperative of local artists in New Haven.
The best place around this holiday season to buy handmade, original gifts.
Original photography, paintings, stained glass, giclees, watercolors, jewlery, etc.
Located at ArLoW
838 Whalley Ave.
The Westville Arts District
New Haven, CT 06515
Hours: Wed - Sat, 12 - 6 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Annual Holiday Fair
Support the Arts!
With the holidays coming, what better way to honor the spirit of the season than to support the Arts and Crafts Association of Meriden/Gallery 53 and its artists.
Give a unique, hand crafted gift to all the special people in your life.
Fabulous holiday items include oil paintings, pottery, jewlery, accessories and more.
Dec. 6 - 24
Reception on Dec. 6 from 2 - 4 p.m.; Holiday fun and hors d'oeuvres!
Gallery Hours: 12 - 4 p.m. Tues. - Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Free parking is available across the street and there is easy access from I 84 and I 91. For more information visit www.gallery53.org or call 203-235-5347.
Stellar Scholars Star Search: Connecticut's Best Young Writers
Connecticut high school students are challenged to write mainstream, mystery or fantasy fiction from source photography for the $1000 Grand Prize and publication with your byline in our e-magazine: Cum Laude, The Scholarly Evening Post. GOOGLE: stellar scholars aurora awards