A Veterans Memorial Garden is an installation created by Connecticut artist Noelle Carr to honor American Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the global war on terror. "My intent is to express gratitude to our troops and their families and remember all of the men and women who have served in America's Armed Forces, especially our fallen heroes," said Ms. Carr.

A Veterans Memorial Garden  will include an A Million Thanks receptacle for visitors to leave their own letters of thanks to the troops that will be sent at the close of the exhibit. A portion of proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to Wounded Warrior Project.

The works in this exhibition reflect the visions of Swedish women who broke from their traditional roles of women, mothers and homemakers to explore their creativity as textile designers, weavers, painters, sculptors and glass artists. Their art resonates with dream-like images of free-flying birds evoking flight and escape from domestic confinement, year-round idyllic visions of midsummer blossoms, and spare Nordic landscapes filled with greenery, water, space, and light.  

Women's Work, Women's Dreams celebrates a remarkable legacy from a country whose art and artists are little known to American viewers.  The Benton Museum is grateful to Samuel and Ann Charters for sharing their extraordinary collection of Swedish Art and Art Glass and for curating this exhibit.

Gallery Hours: 

Thursday & Friday: 10 am - 4:30 pm

Saturday & Sunday: 1 - 4:30 pm

The Benton will be closed:

November 23 - December 2

Three decades of wars have deeply marked the entire culture of Afghanistan, yet artistic expression, particularly through carpets, has been maintained in spite of hardships including displacement to refugee camps.  

In traditional Afghan carpet-weaving, patterns tended to be geometric or floral, reflecting the Islamic rejection of anthropomorphic depictions.  However, by the mid-1980s, in response to the 1979 Soviet Invasion, Afghani weavers, principally women, were creating carpets that showed Russian tanks, helicopters and guns.  The subtle geometric borders often contained rows of bullets and grenades.  Most recently, these "war carpets" have included references to the American conflict and even to 9/11.  Although many of the carpets have Arabic or Persian woven into their designs, the Afghani who created them found a market for these rugs in the West.  In part this may be presumed anti-war sentiments but also, while the rugs are generally traditional in design and relatively inexpensive, they are nonetheless a contemporary artistic expression of a century old craft.  

In this exhibition of over fifty contemporary Afghan carpets showing both war and traditional designs, the rugs offer a commentary on modern Afghan history and, in their maintenance of a vibrant tradition, a measure of hope for the future.

Gallery Hours:

Thursday & Friday: 10 am-4:30 pm

Saturday & Sunday: 1-4:30 pm

The Benton will be closed:

November 23-December 2

1:00 pm –3:00pm

Enjoy the time-honored tradition of Native American Stories that teach, intrigue and entertain people of all ages.  This year we are honored and excited to feature former IAIS Director of Education and Schaghticoke Elder Trudie Lamb Richmond, her sister Peggy LaConte and Trudie’s daughter and current IAIS Board member, Erin Lamb Meeches. Mother, daughter and aunt,  “The Three Schaghticoke Sisters”, tell the timeless stories of their Algonkian ancestors.  Limited seating, please call for reservations.

26^th Print Triennial, a juried competition/exhibition featuring the finest contemporary prints by established and emerging . To present a show that is in tune with the ever increasing global nature of the contemporary art world, this year Print Americas has expanded its scope to include entries from Canada, Latin America as well as throughout the United States. This year’s juror is Jacob Lewis, Director of Pace Prints in the Chelsea section of New York City. 

Solve infectious disease mysteries by examining interactive patients, analyzing lab tests and identifying culprit microbes. Running Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. through Jan. 31.

The 30th annual presentation of Orchestra New England’s flagship concert, sponsored by Chamber Insurance Trust. Wigs, waistcoats, and candlelight bring you back to a 1782 concert in Olde New-haven. Music of Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and others. A New Haven Holiday favorite!

Hayrides are available every WEEKEND in November as well as SCHOOL holidays. Rides begin at the W.O.L.F. Cabin and are $2.00 each.

Thanksgiving weekend, 9 am – 4 pm 

Hunt Hill Farm invites you to “A Home Town Holiday” at The Silo Gallery, the theme of this year’s 37^th annual Christmas tree beginning Saturday November 7^th, at 44 Upland Road, New Milford, CT.  View the 27 ft. towering tree decorated with hand-crafted wooden ornaments by folk artist Joy Gaiser.  Adorning the tree are 21 well-known New Milford buildings, over 40 snow-capped pine trees and a moon with the silhouette of Santa and his eight reindeer at the top.  Gaiser’s garland of festive picket fences and snowflakes made by 4^th graders at Sarah Noble Intermediate School add the finishing touches to this spectacular tree!  The New Talent Gallery will feature artist Diana Luscombe for a second year, displaying her “Healing Strokes” paintings and a new line of note cards.  Silo tastings from The Silo Cooking School will be served throughout the exhibit’s opening day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Joy Gaiser and her father started “Handmade by Dad and Me” in 1985 consisting mostly of Christmas ornaments, wooden jewelry, birdhouses, home decorations and historic buildings of New Milford.  After her father passed away in 1997, Joy’s husband John took over the task of cutting the wood, formerly her father’s job, so the business could continue and renamed it “Dad and Me Too”.  The husband and wife team with the help of their daughter and Joy's sister worked over a year to complete the ornaments in time for this year’s show.  Over 200 additional ornaments and decorations made by the artist will be for sale in The New Talent Gallery.

Diana Luscombe’s acrylic paintings continue to be inspired by scenes from nature.  Her study on birds has progressed with more sensitivity to detail compared with last year's paintings which were derived primarily from memory and imagination.  After a serious car accident over two years ago resulted in Diana being paralyzed, painting became an emotional release for her.  She is having fun with her new endeavor and is amazed at what flows from her paintbrush!  Prior to the accident, being an artist had never crossed her mind.  The gift of painting, Diana says is “an emotional and spiritual place for me to heal and let go because it’s peaceful.”   It also is much needed “me time” for the painter who is married with two young children, all who are extremely supportive of her efforts.  “Hannah is my biggest fan!  With Cole, I just have to keep his fingers out of the paint!”  Donations from her “Healing Strokes” exhibit will go towards a handicap accessible van for Diana.

This holiday season, plan on spending some extra time on the farm to see all that The Henderson Cultural Center has to offer.  Find your traditional Silo favorites like Marzipan Stolen and Holly Berry Wreaths under the tree.  View a slice of Skitch’s life touring The Skitch Henderson Museum.  Stop by The Silo Cooking School to register for a holiday cooking class including; Gingerbread House Making, Rick Rodgers’ Thanksgiving Bash, Christmas Cookie Workshops for all ages and more!  A Home Town Holiday is free and open to the public.  Hunt Hill Farm hours are Wed. through Sat., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday’s noon to 5 p.m.  For more information, please call Valerie Culbertson, Silo Gallery Director at (860) 355-0300 or visit their website www.hunthillfarmtrust.org. 

Stanwyck Cromwell

Journey (2):  A Renewed Consciousness

Downtown Library, 3rd Floor

November 6, 2009-January 15, 2010

Artist Reception November 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The American Mural Project will create the single largest piece of indoor collaborative artwork in the country.  A mixed-media painting and relief sculpture, it will ultimately be housed in the Whiting Mills Complex in Winsted, CT and measure 120 feet long, 5 stories high, and up to 10 feet deep. This exhibition features some of the huge finished pieces of the mural, a scale model, drawings and plans for elements in progress, and an eight-foot sculptural element.

Downtown Library

October 26-November 29, 2009

Artist Reception Friday, November 13, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Railroad Museum of New England for the first time, is unveiling our new “Northern Lights Express to Santa's Train Workshop™”. Board the train at the Thomaston Station in Thomaston, CT.

Our first ever "Northern Lights Express to Santa's Train Workshop™” will be a festival of lights, with light displays inside and outside the train taking passengers on a journey to Santa's Train Workshop where we will stop and see if Santa has a few minutes to come aboard and greet everyone. Advance Reservations Only.  This special train will operate on November 28, December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19. 20, 26 27. Departure times are 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Tickets are $22.00 for Adults, Seniors and Children. Children under 2 ride free, but MUST be seated on an Adult's lap.

At the conclusion of your train ride, visit our gift shop inside the historic 1881 Thomaston Station, where you can find that perfect gift for that special someone this holiday season!  We have a large selection of railroad books and memorabilia to choose from as well as plenty of children’s gifts including Thomas the Tank Engine™ merchandise! 

Buy your tickets for any of these trains, anytime online at www.rmne.org., or call 860-283-7245. Special events such as this are very popular, so buy your tickets early! Pick up pre-purchased tickets at the Thomaston Station's on the day of the event. Pre-purchased tickets are non-refundable/non-exchangeable. Thomaston Station is located in historic, downtown Thomaston, CT, between Exit 38 and Exit 40, Route 8 North from I-84.  

See the full schedule for The Railroad Museum of New England at www.rmne.org. The Railroad Museum of New England is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is operated by its volunteers with the support of friends in the community.  

Opening Reception: Pegasus Gallery Wednesday, December 2, 5:30-7:00 PM

Middletown Artist Cooperative resident, Erika Arneson is a MxCC Fine Art Alumnus and recent B.F.A. graduate from the Hartford Art School.   Arneson’s paintings address the symbolic and introspective nature of self-portraiture and the expressive vehicle of color.  The personal nature of this series explores the dynamics of self as an interdependence of past and present.

Opening Reception: Pegasus Gallery Wednesday, December 2, 5:30-7:00 PM

Middletown Artist Cooperative resident, Erika Arneson is a MxCC Fine Art Alumnus and recent B.F.A. graduate from the Hartford Art School.   Arneson’s paintings address the symbolic and introspective nature of self-portraiture and the expressive vehicle of color.  The personal nature of this series explores the dynamics of self as an interdependence of past and present.

Pegasus Gallery is located within the library on the first floor of Chapman Hall

Hours: Monday & Wednesday 5pm-8pm & Saturday 9:30-1:30pm when classes are in session.

Imagine if "NYPD Blue" had been written 60 years ago. Beginning November 20, Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain presents the prototype of the modern cop drama, Sidney Kingsley's "Detective Story." "Detective Story" chronicles one steamy summer night in the lives of detectives at Manhattan's 21st Precinct in 1949. Amid cases small and large, Detective James McLeod confronts his own self-righteous ideas of good and evil as a steady parade of criminals both naive and dangerous come through the Precinct. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, November 20 through December 19, at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, December 6 and 13, at 2:00 p.m. Hole in the Wall Theater is located at 116 Main Street, New Britain. Admission is by a $20 suggested donation. Please call 860.229.3049 for reservations, and visit www.hitw.org for further information.

This exhibit is ONGOING through Feb. 27, 2010. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday noon to 5 p.m.

The New Haven Museum announces the opening of a new exhibit, “East Shore Reflections,” a shining review of this neighborhood’s evolution from agrarian farm area, to seaside resort, to modern day family enclave and residential setting.