Arts

Celebrating ‘the Kate’s’ 10-Year-Anniversary, ‘On Golden Pond’ Runs Through Sunday

January 16, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

OLD SAYBROOK — “On Golden Pond” opens tomorrow at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center – the Kate — in old saybrook as part of the Kate’s 10-year-anniversary celebrations.

The Saybrook Stage Company will be performing this poignant and comedic piece by Ernest Thompson, which inspired the Hollywood blockbuster movie. Appropriately, in light of the theater’s namesake, On Golden Pond was not only one of Katharine Hepburn’s most cherished performances but also earned her a fourth Academy Award for Best Actress.

On Golden Pond is the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the 48th year. He is a retired professor, nearing 80, with heart palpitations and a failing memory—but still as tart-tongued and witty as ever. Ethel, 10 years younger, delights in all the small things that have enriched their long married life together.

They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her new fiancé, who then go off to Europe, leaving his teenage son, Billy, behind for the summer.

Billy quickly becomes the “grandchild” the couple have longed for and Norman revels in taking him fishing and inspiring him with the classics. Norman, in turn, learns some new language and perspectives from Billy and the comedy ensues.

In the final, deeply moving moments of the play, Norman and Ethel are brought even closer together as they find themselves alone again on Golden Pond.

The play originally opened on Broadway in 1979 and then was made into a movie in 1981 starring Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda – both actors won an Academy Award for their respective performances. Jane Fonda played the couple’s daughter.

Thompson was only 28-years-old when he wrote On Golden Pond; he also won a the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1981.

The cast includes Ralph Buonocore and Mark Gilchrist of Madison, Terri Corigliano of Old Saybrook, Jim Hile of Clinton, Amy Kirby of New London and Jake Totten of Granby.

Performances are Jan. 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinée Saturday and also Sunday, Jan. 19.

Tickets can be purchased directly at www.TheKate.org or by calling 860.510.0453

Filed Under: Arts, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Top Story

Two New Exhibitions Open Friday at LAA in Old Lyme Featuring Associate Artists, New Elected Artists

January 14, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

‘Autumn in Old Lyme’ (oil) by Associate Artist Rosemary Webber is onw of thw featured works of ‘First Impressions.” opening Jan. 17 at the Lyme Art Association.

OLD LYME — Two new exhibitions open Jan. 17 at Lyme Art Association (LAA) and an Opening Reception for both will be held Sunday, Jan. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the LAA, 90 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT.

The First Impressions Exhibition is a juried exhibition of work by the Association’s Associate Artist members — accomplished artists who have been successfully exhibiting in selective shows at the LAA for at least four years. This exhibit will include a variety of media and themes including landscape, portrait, and still life paintings, as well as sculpture.

‘Ghosting In’ (oil) by Park Howard is a featured work in the ‘New Elected Artists’ exhibition opening Jan 17 at the LAA.

The second exhibition, New Elected Artists, features works by the six artists who were inducted into the LAA as Elected Artists in October 2019. The artists — Thomas Adkins, Howard Park, Bob Perkowski, Deborah Quinn-Munson, Diana Roberts-Paschall and John Traynor — will present a selection of their work in the LAA’s Goodman Gallery.

Both exhibits run through Feb. 28.

“The Annual Associate Artists Exhibition highlights the range, creativity, and excellence of our Associate Artist members. This exhibition includes a variety of subjects, media, and styles: paintings or sculptures that capture the range of human emotion, the beauty and grandeur of the Connecticut landscape, or the personal objects and surroundings of everyday life,” notes Jocelyn Zallinger, LAA’s Gallery Manager.

She adds, “The New Elected Artists show in the Goodman Gallery also promises to be impressive; our new class of Elected Artists is very accomplished.”

The LAA was founded in 1914 by the American impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community. The Association is located at 90 Lyme St. in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within the Old Lyme Historic District.

Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment.

For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call 860-434-7802 or visit www.lymeartassociation.org

Filed Under: Arts, Top Story

Lyme-Old Lyme HS Graduate, Now Playwright, Emily Zemba Launches Kickstarter to Fund New Play in NYC

January 4, 2020 by Olwen Logan Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — If you’re an aspiring playwright, actually writing a play can be the relatively easy part but finding the funding to produce your play can be a major challenge.

Emily Zemba

Emily Zemba, a 2006 graduate from Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS), is trying a highly original approach to generate some seed money to bring her latest play to life on the stage.

She explained to LymeLine, “I have recently joined forces with two other amazing female writers to form The Pool — and our mission is to “take on the soul of America in rep” with our highly theatrical plays.” Along with fellow playwrights Kate Cortesi and Brenda Withers, Zemba has launched a Kickstarter campaign, which is aiming to raise $6,000 by next Saturday, Jan. 11, to cover the initial costs of putting on their respective plays in the fall of 2020 at the New Ohio Theatre in New York City’s West Village.

Asked about her play, Zemba says, “It is titled Superstitions, and is an absurd, dark comedy that links superstitions to cultural terrors and a collective national anxiety. I know, I know, anxiety is a riot! But I promise that the play is just as fun and ridiculous as it is unsettling. ” She notes that the play was nominated for 2018 Venturous Playwright Fellowship, and also that she has already received a grant from The Artists Patron Fund in support of this production.

After her graduation from LOLHS, Zemba attended Sarah Lawrence College and then went onto Yale University, where she obtained an MFA from the School of Drama in May 2015. Zemba’s parents are former Old Lyme Selectman Kurt Zemba and Catherine Frank, who retired from the position of Exceutive Assistant to Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder in October 2019.

Zemba notes that in addition to the Kickstarter, there will continue to be ways to donate directly through their website. Also, donations of $1,000 or more will be fully tax-deductible if made through their fiscal sponsor: New Georges (simply make the check out to New Georges with The Pool 2020 listed in the memo line.)

But the immediate challenge is to raise $6,000 by Jan. 11. At the time of writing, $4,597 has been raised so these young playwrights are close to the finish line. The Kickstarter page states: “We may still be about 10 months out from production, but there are several up-front costs which need immediate attention, for example:

The New Ohio requires a down payment a year out.
We have hired a PR Rep who will help launch our marketing campaign and assist with project visibility.
The directors who will helm our productions need contracts sooner rather than later, before their schedules get any busier.
We are hiring a creative producer to oversee and coordinate the myriad pieces of this ambitious undertaking.”

If you wish to donate to support these playwrights and help bring their plays to the stage, visit the Kickstarter page for The Pool at this link where there is more information about the project.

Filed Under: Arts, Lyme, Old Lyme, Top Story

See ‘Deck the Walls’ at Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme

December 6, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

‘Janray Thaw’ by John Caggiano is one of the signature works in the Lyme Art Association’s ‘Deck the Walls’ Holiday Show.

OLD LYME — The Lyme Art Association hosts an opening reception for its holiday art exhibition and sale, Deck the Walls, on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. The show will be on view through Jan. 3, 2020. More than 200 original works of art by member artists will be on display and priced to sell as holiday gifts. The public is welcome at the opening reception and admission is free. All painting purchases from 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 through 5 p.m. Dec. 7 will be tax-free.

‘Winter Stream’ by Thomas Adkins of vermont is on view and for sale in the Holiday Show.

“For Deck the Walls, the Lyme Art Association features a wide variety of appealing subjects at affordable prices that are great for holiday shopping. We hope to help solve those gift giving dilemmas – a beautiful piece of artwork is always appreciated!” says Jocelyn Zallinger, Gallery Manager.

“During the holiday season, the Lyme Art Association is a great place to come for a gentle activity for children on school vacation or for visiting guests. Whether you have a few minutes or more than an hour, the gallery is a wonderful way to decompress, stimulate conversation, or simply enjoy yourself,” says Laurie Pavlos, Executive Director.

The Lyme Art Association is free and open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm, and by appointment. The Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, at the corner of Halls Road. Please call (860) 434-7802 for more information, or visit www.lymeartassociation.org.

Filed Under: Arts, Top Story

Enjoy ‘The Magic of Christmas’ at Flo Gris Museum in Old Lyme Through New Year

December 1, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

There are now four palette trees to hold the more than 200 hand-painted palettes on display in this year’s ‘Magic of Christmas.’

OLD LYME — The holiday season is always something special to celebrate at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Conn. – after all, Miss Florence was born on Christmas Day, 1850. The Museum will be decked out in its holiday finery for the Magic of Christmas celebration from Nov. 29, 2019 through Jan. 5, 2020.

This year marks the 200^th painted palette to be added to Miss Florence’s Artist Trees. Since 2004 noted artists from across the country have donated works to this one-of-a-kind holiday icon – so many that now four trees are needed to hold the works of art. The idea of contemporary artists creating paintings on artists’ palettes is a nod to the Museum’s history as the center for the Lyme Art Colony, and alludes to the door and wall panels the artists painted throughout Miss Florence’s boardinghouse over a century ago. The palette artists’ styles and subject matter are as varied as the individuals.

This palette by Kenney Mencher of Palo Alto, Calf., is one of the 2019 additions to the Palette Trees.

Oils, acrylics, watercolors, ceramics, glass, and collage are used to transform the palettes into traditional holiday scenes, delightful landscapes, and more than a few surprises! The palettes are displayed on four trees in the Krieble gallery, along with the current exhibition, “Nothing More American:” Immigration, Sanctuary, and Community—An Exhibition by Matthew Leifheit.

To commemorate the milestone of the 200th palette, the Museum published Miss Florence’s Artist Trees: Celebrating a Tradition of Painted Palettes, which showcases each of the works of art on its own page.

In the historic rooms of the Florence Griswold House, the special installation by artist Jennifer Angus, Silver Wings and Golden Scales, has been held over by popular demand. Visitors to the House will be able to delight in this dream-like scenario of Miss Florence’s home transformed into the site of an insect-themed masquerade party through Jan. 12, 2020.

Angus evokes the bohemian spirit of the Lyme Art Colony through her artistic compositions of preserved exotic insects, including textile-inspired wallcoverings, an elegant cape for Miss Florence, and whimsical vignettes. Through her art, Angus brings to visitors not only the beauty of insects, but their critical importance to our ecology as well. Upstairs, two artists, Betsy Barry and Carol Maynard have created Fantasy Trees, designed to delight and inspire.

All ages can enjoy the beautiful Palette Christmas Trees at the ‘Magic of Christmas’ exhibition

Many special events and programs are held in conjunction with the Magic of Christmas. Christmastime Teas are among the most popular events. Delectable scones with clotted cream, assorted tea sandwiches, and cookies prepared by Gourmet Gallery, a caterer known for their delicious flavors and impeccable presentations, are accompanied by “Miss Florence’s Tea,” a special blend from Sundial Gardens in Higginum.

Miss Florence’s Tea is a special blend of superior Ceylon and China black tea enhanced with a touch of delicate spices. The tea celebrates the camaraderie and creativity of the Lyme Art Colony with each cup. Teas are held Dec. 3 through 28 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3 to 5pm and Saturdays from 12 to 2pm and 3 to 5pm.

Other events and programs include special events for families, including a visit from Frozen sisters Elsa and Anna and hands-on crafts for children and adults.

Unique gifts from The Shop and memberships to the Museum make thoughtful holiday and hostess gifts.

Located on a 12-acre site in the historic village of Old Lyme, the Florence Griswold Museum is known as the Home of American Impressionism. In addition to the restored Florence Griswold House, where the artists of the Lyme Art Colony lived, the Museum features a modern exhibition gallery, education center, landscape center, extensive gardens, and a restored artist’s studio.

The Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, exit 70 off I-95 and is open year-round Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1 to 5pm. The Museum is closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 students, and free to children 12 and under. On Saturdays between November 30 through January 5, admission is only $5 when visitors bring in a non-perishable donation for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries.

For more information, visit the Museum’s website at www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org or call 860-434-5542 x 111.

Magic of Christmas Activities

Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2pm
Book Event
Director of Education and Outreach David D.J. Rau speaks about the publication Miss Florence’s Artist Trees: Celebrating a Tradition of Painted Palettes, which was published this October to commemorate the milestone of the 200^th palette added to Miss Florence’s Artists Trees this year. Please reserve your space in advance, $25 includes book. Register online at FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org

Sundays, Dec. 1 through Jan. 5, 1-4pm
Joy in the Making
Each Sunday visitors can experience the joy of making a hand-made card or ornament during the weekly drop-in creative programs. Fun for all ages. This event is free with Museum admission and children 12 and under are free.

Dec. 1-24
Daily Specials in the Museum Shop
One day you might save on all books or art supplies, the next, maybe everything sparkly or all snowmen. Check FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org for a calendar of items and days.

Dec. 3 through 28
Christmastime Teas
Tuesday through Saturday enjoy an elegant tea of savories and sweets overlooking the wintery splendor of the Lieutenant River. Catered by Gourmet Galley. Guests enjoy a 10% discount in The Shop. $40. Reservations required, please call 860-434-5542 x 111 for information and reservations.

Elsa and Anna are always popular performers at the Museum.

Saturday, Dec. 7
Elsa and Anna perform at the Museum
Visitors can enjoy holiday crafting between visits from the beloved sisters. Shows at noon, 1pm, and 2pm. This program is included with Museum admission, and visitors 12 and under are always free.

Thursday, Dec. 12, 5:30 to 7pm
Art•Bar Happy Hour
Combine creativity and cocktails! Enjoy an evening of Christmastime crafting. All materials provided. Get friends together or come make new ones! For adults 21+. $25. Register online at FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org

Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2pm
Gallery Talk
Director of Education and Outreach David D.J. Rau speaks about Miss Florence’s Artist Trees in the Gallery. This event is free with Museum admission.

Sunday, Dec. 29 from 1 to 4pm
Miss Florence’s Birthday Party
Visitors share in this hands-on-creative celebration of Miss Florence’s Christmas Day birthday. Enjoy a piece of birthday cake while making an assortment of fun craft projects. Fun (and free!) balloon sculptures by April’s Balloon Creations. This program is included with Museum admission, and visitors 12 and under are always free.

Faith Leitner will play her harp Sunday, Dec. 29, in the Florence Griswold Museum to celebrate “An Ode to the New Year.”

Sunday, Dec. 29, from 1 to 4pm
Ode to the New Year: Harp Music by Faith Leitner
The harp was Miss Florence’s favorite instrument. Visitors can see the one her father brought back for her from England in the Florence Griswold House. Accomplished harpist Faith Leitner will perform in the gallery. A beautiful way to end the year! This program is included with Museum admission, and visitors 12 and under are always free.

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Old Lyme, Top Story

Where Art Meets Nature: I-Park Hosts Nov. Open Studios & Holiday Party This Afternoon

November 24, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

November Artists Artwork Photo Collage. Top row: Jaynie Crimmins, Miroslaw Baca, Joshua Hey; Middle row: Teresa Connors, Dennis James Sweeney, Shane Charles Smith; Bottom row: Tanya Rey. Photo submitted by I-Park.

EAST HADDAM — The public is invited to come to I-Park this afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. for its final Open Studios of the 2019 season and for some holiday cheer. Visitors will experience a multi-disciplinary group of artists from around the globe and can also enjoy a walk of the art-filled trails.

I-Park has been supporting artists from around the country and the globe since its first residency in 2001 and continues to offer fully-funded residencies to writers, composers, visual artists, film-makers, architects, etc. Visitors will be able to meet these seven talented artists on this afternoon at I-Park, 428 Hopyard Rd. in East Haddam.

Once a month, at the conclusion of each residency, I-Park holds Open Studios when visitors are invited to meet the artists in their studios, attend a presentation featuring some of their work, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and stroll the trails winding through I-Park’s scenic, art-filled campus. Generally closed to visitors, I-Park gives resident artists undisturbed time to work on their creative endeavors.

The event schedule for Sundayis as follows:

1:00 to 2:30 Visitors artists in their Studios

2:30 to 3:00 Artists Presentations

3:00 to 5:00 Holiday Party + Art Trail Walk

The artists are:

Miroslaw Baca is a Polish sculptor focused on abstract form and classical material. He has realized both public and private commissioned sculptures around the world.

Teresa Connors is a Canadian-based creative coder, acoustic/electroacoustic composer, opera singer and audiovisual installation artist. Her creative works have received numerous awards and have been presented at conferences, festivals and galleries around the world.

Jaynie Crimmins a Brooklyn-based visual artist who creates alternative narratives from quotidian materials. Her work has been exhibited at ART on PAPER; SPRING/BREAK Art Show; Governor’s Island Art Fair and many other museums around the country.

Joshua Hey is a composer based in Philadelphia. His work has been performed by musicians such as the Daedalus Quartet, International Contemporary Ensemble, Dal Niente, PRISM, Omaha Symphony and others.

Tanya Rey is an Oakland-based writer. Her writing has appeared in Guernica, Granta, Catapult, Roads & Kingdoms and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, among others.

Shane Charles Smith is a visual artist from Brooklyn and Maine. He creates mural-sized painting installations. His work is informed by his father, a lifelong land surveyor and Penobscot Nation member, and his grandfather who was a mapmaker.

Dennis James Sweeney is a writer and poet currently living in Amherst, MA. His fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have appeared in Crazyhorse, Five Points, Ninth Letter, The New York Times, and The Southern Review, among many others.

Although admission to Open Studios is free, advance reservations are requested. To reserve your space, visit i-park.org.

For additional information, write events@i-park.org or call 860-873-2468.

I‐Park is an artists-in-residence program offering fully funded residencies in visual arts, creative writing, music composition/sound art, moving image, and architecture/landscape design. Since its founding in 2001, I-Park has sponsored almost 1,000 residencies, and has developed cross‐disciplinary projects of cultural significance and brought them into the public domain.

Set within a 450-acre nature preserve, I-Park encourages dialogue between the natural and built environments, and has been the setting for exhibitions, performances, symposia, and programs that facilitate artistic collaboration. For more information, visit i-park.org.

Filed Under: Arts

Cooley Gallery’s Holiday Show on View Through Jan. 7, 2020

November 21, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

OLD LYME — The Cooley Gallery ‘s annual holiday sale featuring an eclectic mix of art and objects in all sizes is on view at 25 Lyme Street in Old Lyme through Jan. 7, 2020.

Located in the beautiful little village of Old Lyme, The Cooley Gallery is an ideal spot to enjoy among the best of American art while celebrating the season with a great New England tradition.

Founded in 1981 and located in the heart of historic Old Lyme, the Cooley Gallery specializes in fine American paintings from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, including the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and select contemporary artists.

Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday 12 to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 4 p.m. or online anytime at www.cooleygallery.com

Filed Under: Arts

Sophia Griswold Named to All-National Honor Jazz Ensemble

October 28, 2019 by Admin 1 Comment

Sophia Griswold is not only a talented trombonist but also an acclaimed guitarist. She is shown here playing in a file photo from June 2019.

OLD LYME — During the 2018–19 school year, along with other accomplished music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools, trombonist Sophia Griswold from Lyme-Old Lyme High School practiced with dedication to gain a chair or part in her local, district, and state music honor ensembles. The band director at Griswold’s high school is Jacob Wilson

Griswold will now join the “best of the best” for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) 2019 All-National Honor Ensembles November 7–10, 2019, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Previously, Griswold played at the Newport Jazz Festival through a scholarship with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. In addition, she has performed at various venues including Silvana & The West End Lounge (New York, NY), Black Eyed Sally’s (Hartford), The Side Door Jazz Club, Penny Lane Pub, Bee & Thistle Inn and Black Hall Grille. She is also thrilled to be a current member of the 2019-2020 Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra under the facilitation of jazz great, Wynton Marsalis.

Griswold will join 19 other talented musicians as a member of The Jazz Ensemble. These select students will be rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the direction of six of the most prominent conductors in the United States. All participating conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.

Here at LymeLine.com, we send heartiest congratulations to Sophia!

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online or onsite.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.nafME.org/ANHE

Filed Under: Arts, Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Top Story

Vote for Old Lyme’s Rhyleigh Russell in the ‘Celebration of Music National Competition’!

October 28, 2019 by Admin 1 Comment

Rhyleigh Russell

OLD LYME — Rhyleigh Russell of Old Lyme is a finalist in the Celebration of Music National Competition. She is 14-years-old and a freshman at Lyme Old Lyme High School (LOLHS), where she is one of the varsity goalkeepers on the LOLHS soccer team.

Russell has four siblings and notes in her biography on the Celebration of Music website, “My whole family runs on music never going a day without it or discussing it in some manner.”

She also explains her passion for music in her biography, saying, “My goal with every performance is that I’m making someone proud or connecting with someone who may be uplifted in some way. My purpose is to help as many people as I can through music and performance whether its a smile on my parents face, a tear rolling down someone’s face because they don’t feel alone or to uplift a spirit. Everything I sing is with purpose and emotion.”

The contest is a talent search that showcases the best young musical talent across America. Singers, musicians, bands, and dancers between the ages of four and 25 are all encouraged to enter in their city by submitting an audition tape.

The Celebration of Music concept was inspired by Ethan Bortnick and his desire to give young musicians the same opportunities PBS afforded him. The winner will be announced Nov. 3 by Bortnick at the Bushnell in Hartford.

Voting is still open in the contest and Rhyleigh and her family would love LymeLine.com readers to vote for her.

Read Rhyleigh’s biography at this link and vote for her at the link at the foot of the page!

Good luck, Rhyleigh!

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Old Lyme, Schools, Top Story

Final Performance of Salt Marsh Opera’s ‘Pagliacci’ to be Presented This Afternoon in Westerly, RI

October 20, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

WESTERLY, RI– Salt Marsh Opera presents Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci Saturday, Oct 19, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. at the George Kent Performance Hall, Westerly, R.I. starting at 7 p.m.

Based on a case of true crime, Pagliacci tells the riveting tale of a man swallowed by feelings of love, betrayal and jealousy. Set in the late 19th century, actor Canio and his wife Nedda lead a band of traveling carnival players across Southern Italy. Canio may play a clown on stage, but when he discovers evidence of his wife’s affair, it’s only a matter of time before his ferocious anger boils to the surface.

Pagliacci features one of the greatest tenor arias of all time, “Vesti la giubba,” so although you may not know the opera, you will almost certainly recognize that song.

A few tickets are still available at $20 (balcony) or $50 (table seating.) To purchase or reserve tickets, call 860.535.0753.

Filed Under: Arts, Old Saybrook

Explore, Enjoy ‘Supertopia’ Wee Faerie Village at FloGris in October, Host of Associated Events During Month Will Also Delight Visitors

October 7, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

‘Faerie Thor’s Viking Realm’ by Lori and Rich Lenz from Deep River is one of the 29 Faerie Houses on display in ‘Supertopia’ at the Florence Griswold museum during October.

OLD LYME – The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme presents Supertopia– Wee Faerie Superheroes’ Headquarters and Hideaways on the grounds of museum’s 12-acre campus currently through Oct. 27. Visitors follow a map of Supertopia to explore where superhero faeries live (when they’re not saving the universe) in 29 hand-crafted, faerie-sized hideouts. This annual event has come to signify an enriching, not-to-be-missed outing for visitors of all ages. Last year over 15,000 visitors enjoyed the month-long event.

This year’s Wee Faerie Village is the 11th anniversary of the Museum’s annual outdoor creative installations. In keeping with the superhero theme, visitors will travel to Silver Surfer Faerie’s Surfboard Beach Bungalow, Blank Panther Faerie’s Futuristic Utopia, the Woodland Hideaway of Black Widow Faerie, and even Notorious RBG’s Supreme Faerie Court, among a host of others.

Artists, designers, and faerie-aficionados are selected from across Connecticut and a few from outside the state. Challenged to create their scenes using natural materials, most artists work for months on their creations. The artists based in Connecticut are from Amston, Branford, Broad Brook, Chester, Cromwell, Danbury, Deep River, Essex, Hamden, Hebron, Ivoryton, Killingworth, Mystic, Niantic, Old Lyme, Salem, Stratford, Voluntown, Waterford, West Hartford, and the Windsor area.

‘Captain America’s Lighthouse’ by Steve Rodgers of Hamden will delight all visitors to ‘Supertopia’ at the Florence Griswold Museum.

“It took me a few weeks to figure out how to intertwine my love of building natural material fairy houses with a superhero theme,” notes Steve Rodgers (yes, that’s right, like Captain America but spelled differently) of Hamden, Conn. “I gather most materials that I use while hiking with family and friends. I hope all who see it will be transported into the wonderful, magical world of the fairy realm.”

As part of its Wee Faerie Village exhibition, adults and families with children can enjoy a month of faerie-themed activities. Events include, parties, performances, book discussions, and craft activities. Many events are included in Museum admission.

Find details of many of the events below. Visit www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org for a complete list.

Every Sunday through Oct. 27
11 am to 4 pm
Free with Museum admission
Superhero Crafts
Museum Educators present a superhero or faerie-inspired hands-on project for families to enjoy during their visit. A different project each Sunday.

Tuesdays, Oct. 8, 15, and 22
3:30-5 pm
$10 Fee
Make a Wee Faerie House
Dress in your faerie best for an afternoon immersed in imagination. Decorate your very own wee faerie house with an assortment of creative supplies. For makers aged 8 and up.

Sunday, Oct. 13
1 to 3 pm
Free with Museum admission
Caped A Cappella Super Singers
Singing is their super power. Enjoy the captivating voices of the caped Co Co Beaux, Connecticut College’s all-male a cappella group. These talented superhero singers will wander the grounds, serenading all with their super-power voices.

Monday, Oct. 15
Museum open 10 am to 5 pm, activities from 11 am to 4 pm
All events are free with Museum admission and kids 12 and under are always free.
Columbus Day Fun
Behold the sculpture of mighty Thor, frozen in place until “danced” alive by wee faeries and little superheroes. L’Ana Burton leads faerie/superhero dance lessons at 11:30am. Then, join our fun parade featuring the Sailing Masters of 1812 at noon. Cosplay enthusiast encourage to join in the fun. All are welcome to wear masks, capes, tiaras, and wing. Hands-on crafts.

Thursday, Oct. 17
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Fee: $25
Art•Bar Happy Hour: Wee Faerie Houses
The Museum’s Art•Bar combines creativity with light fare and libations. Join the Museum’s educator for a fun and creative night of making a wee faerie house filled with faerie furniture. All materials included.

Saturday, Oct. 19
11 am to 4 pm
Free with Museum admission
Pirates! The Supervillians of Yesteryear
Ahoy Mateys! The pirates have come ashore and set up camp at the Museum. Come meet the Free Men of the Sea, re-enactors who bring the myths and history of pirates and privateers to life. Pirate crafts.

Saturday, Oct.26
11 am to 4 pm
Free with Museum admission
Heroic Halloween Fun
Halloween fun lasts all day with treats and hands-on crafts. Dress up as goblins, faeries, or superheroes to march in our costume parade which begins at noon. Craft-bag prizes for all participants.

The Florence Griswold Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, exit 70 off I-95. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The Museum will open on Columbus Day, Monday, October 14 from 10am to 5pm. Admission during the exhibition is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $13 for students, $5 for members. Children 12 and under are free thanks to the support of an anonymous donor. Admission includes the outdoor walking tour of the faerie village as well as the Florence Griswold House, Chadwick Studio, Rafal Landscape Center and the Krieble Gallery special exhibition.

Filed Under: Arts, Old Lyme, Top Story

Old Lyme BOF Allocates $6,250 to Lyme Academy to Assist “Reinvention” Process

September 21, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

File photo of the Chandler Academic Center, which comprises part of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. The new management of the Academy is considering renting out the Chandler building as office space.

OLD LYME— Deemed an economic development driver for the town, the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts this week was allocated $6,250 by the Board of Finance to help fund a “strategic plan” to reinvent itself as it moves forward without an affiliate.

The school had asked for $15,000.

Finance board Chairman Andy Russell said the allocation, approved in a unanimous vote, was only possible after his board discovered that leftover funds previously designated to the academy from last year’s budget were never awarded. He said the town typically allocated $12,500 to the academy annually, but …

Read the full article titled, Old Lyme gives art academy $6,250 as it reinvents itself, written by Mary Biekert and published Sept. 19 on theday.com.

Filed Under: Arts, Old Lyme, Top Story, Town Hall

See America’s Favorite Comedy Whodunnit ‘Shear Madness’ at Ivoryton Playhouse Through Oct. 6

September 18, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Patrick Noonan (left) and Jordan Ahnquist play the lead male characters in ‘Shear Madness’ opening at the Ivoryton Playhouse, Sept. 18. Photo courtesy of Shear Madness.

IVORYTON – Shear Madness, one of the most popular comedy productions in the world, is opening in Ivoryton on Sept. 18. This iconic production was first produced in Boston in 1980 and has been delighting audiences ever since with its unique blend of madcap improvisation and spine-tickling mystery.

This unique comedy-whodunit takes place today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon and is chock full of up-to-the-minute spontaneous humor. During the course of the action, a murder is committed and the audience gets to spot the clues, question the suspects, and solve the funniest mystery in the annals of crime. The outcome is never the same, which is why many audience members return again and again to the scene of the mayhem.

Voted “Best Comedy of the Year” seven times by the Boston Globe and recipient of the title “Best Play of the Year” by both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Enquirer, Shear Madness has also received the Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America and has been inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame, the first play ever to receive that accolade.

Shear Madness is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running play in the history of the USA. The flagship Boston company has given birth to 50 productions in the U.S. and Shear Madness has been translated into 23 foreign languages, playing worldwide in a host of cities including Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Paris, Rejkavik, Rome, Tel Aviv, Melbourne, Johannesburg and Seoul. Over 12.5 million people worldwide have joined in the fun.

The production features veteran performers Jordan Ahnquist*, Patrick Noonan*, and Lisa McMillan* who have performed these roles many times – most recently in the off-Broadway production. They will be joined by Ivoryton Playhouse alum Bill Mootus* and Siobhan Fitzgerald* and Lev Harvey will be making his Playhouse debut.

The production is directed by Robert Lohrmann with set design by Daniel Nischan, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Liz Saylor.

Shear Madness opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse on Sept. 18 and runs through Oct. 6. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $55 for adults; $50 for seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org

(Group rates are available by calling the box office for information. Discounted tickets after 6pm on Thursday evenings – get half price adult ticket (subject to availability). Six-Tix are only available at the Playhouse Box Office window and do not apply to special events. Limit 4 Six Tix per person.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

*denotes member of Actors Equity

Filed Under: Arts, Essex, Top Story

Lyme Academy Relaunches Itself with Fall Program of 33 Classes

September 10, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

There will be opportunities to paint ‘en plein air’ for all ages in Lyme Academy’s Fall Program.

OLD LYME – Whether with brushstrokes or keystrokes as their instrument of choice, artists can learn and hone their craft at the renamed Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, which is reinventing itself with the launch of a full slate of courses for the upcoming fall semester. The first classes start Sept. 23.

In an effort to define itself anew while staying true to its core values, the academy will offer 33 courses covering traditional arts curriculum and new digital offerings – the best of art traditions and the newest innovations.

File photo of the Chandler Academic Center, which comprises part of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts.

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts announced in July that its campus will remain open and a rebuilding initiative is underway in the wake of the school’s disaffiliation from the University of New Haven (UNH). The UNH decision to end its relationship with the academy was made public in August of 2018.

The incorporation of new intensive courses in digital art with a focus on the Adobe Creative Suite is part of efforts to modernize offerings in a world where many use digital programs in their careers and artistic endeavors.

Innovation classes will train students on Adobe programs including Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign and Premiere to offer those of all generations career advancement training in the Internet age.

These offerings will also include a Social Media for Creatives course taught by Maria Miranda, the Creative Director and Founder of marketing agency Miranda Creative, Inc., who is excited to join the staff as it works to train artists in all mediums including emerging digital ones.

“As principal and creative director of a brand management firm with a degree in fine arts, I have long understood that there is a relationship between the traditional arts and innovative arts,” Miranda said. “As a result, I could not be more excited or honored to be immersed in the best of both worlds in teaching at the Lyme Academy.”

Though art is always evolving and changing, particularly in a computer-driven world, the foundation of art and its teaching remains a guiding force for the academy, which is staying true to its roots by offering comprehensive courses in figurative and representational art.

Fall offerings include core curriculum courses such as Foundations in Drawing, Anatomical Drawing, Figure Drawing to Painting, Figure Sculpture, Printmaking, and weekly classes open to the public including Open Figure Drawing and Watercolor.

In addition, the fall will bring portfolio prep weekends with instructional focus on building skills to develop a body of work. These will be:

Drawing: Art of the Cast Sept. 28 & 29 and Oct. 5 & 6
Sculpture: The Skull Oct. 19 & 20 and Oct. 26 & 27
Value Painting: Shades of Grey Nov. 2 & 3 and Nov. 9 & 10.

Stephen Shaheen, a former faculty member at Lyme Academy College, and Kellie Pereira, a BFA graduate of Lyme Academy College, will teach the stone carving class., which runs from Nov. 7-10.

Masterclass workshops with nationally known artists will be open to both novice and skilled artists and offered in:

Animal Sculpture
Encaustic
Stone Carving
Painting the Human Image
Large Scale Figure Painting
Painting En Plein Air & In-Studio: 4 Steps to Successful Painting
Digital Photography for Beginners
Photography: Insightful Portraiture
The Expressive Photograph and the Landscape.

Registration is open for all fall courses.

For more information or to enroll in a course, visit lymeacademy.org.

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is located at 84 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, Conn.

Filed Under: Arts, Old Lyme, Schools, Top Story

Billy Boyle is Back! Join Jim Benn’s Latest Book in Best-Selling Series is on Sale Now

September 7, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

LYME — Lyme Public Library hosts local resident and best-selling author James R. Benn on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m., when Benn will present “When Hell Struck Twelve: The 14th Billy Boyle Mystery.” This is the latest book in Benn’s series of popular Billy Boyle World War II mystery novels, which the New York Times Book Review has called “spirited wartime storytelling.”

Benn will be on hand to sign and sell copies of his book. This event is free and all are welcome.

In the 14th Billy Boyle mystery, US Army detective Billy Boyle and Lieutenant Kazimierz travel into the heart of Nazi-occupied Paris on a dangerous mission: ensure a traitor to the French Resistance unwittingly carries out a high-stakes deception campaign.

It is August, 1944, and US Army detective Billy Boyle is assigned to track down a French traitor, code-named Atlantik, who is delivering classified Allied plans to German leaders in occupied Paris. The Resistance is also hot on his trail and out for blood, after Atlantik’s previous betrayals led to the death of many of their members.

But the plans Atlantik carries were leaked on purpose, a ruse devised to obscure the Allied army’s real intentions to bypass Paris in a race to the German border.

Now Billy and Kaz are assigned to the Resistance with orders to not let them capture the traitor: the deception campaign is too important. Playing a delicate game, the chase must be close enough to spur the traitor on and visible enough to ensure the Germans trust Atlantik.

The outcome of the war may well depend on it …

James R. Benn

Critics have given extremely positive reviews of Benn’s latest book.

The Publisher’s Weekly said,“Stellar … The author makes the most of the tense and dramatic backdrop to this high-stakes whodunit. Benn has surpassed himself with this installment,” while BookPage noted, “I’ve read every book in James R. Benn‘s series, reviewed most of them, loved all of them, and this is the best one yet.”

Booklist wrote, “This consistently strong series has jumped to another level, with this volume clearly the hands-down best so far . . . Benn’s portrayal of the gallimaufry of competing Resistance groups, whose bullets, Billy learns, kill you just as dead as the Germans’ more powerful weaponry, adds a fascinating dimension to this exciting story of the sometimes-deadly chaos that accompanied the liberation of Paris.”

If you cannot attend on Saturday but would like to order a signed copy of the book, email Benn at jrb@jamesrbenn.com. Visit this link to order a copy online.

Filed Under: Arts, Lyme

Gil Boro of Old Lyme’s ‘Knot Theory’ Exhibition on View at Lyman Allyn Through Oct. 27

September 6, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Sculptor Gil Boro in his studio in Old Lyme.

OLD LYME/NEW LONDON — The Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London will host an opening reception this evening from 5 to 7 p.m. for Gilbert Boro’s exhibition titled, Knot Theory: Sculptural Works by Gilbert Boro. All are welcome.

Boro, who lives and works in Old Lyme, is a sculptor, architect, educator, and international design consultant, whose sculptures focus on the interplay of space, place, and scale. His studio is located at 80-1 Lyme St., where his private residence is also found. Both are set within four and a half acres of beautifully landscaped grounds on which more than a 100 sculptures are on display. The majority of the sculptures are by Boro himself with the remainder being by guest artists. The Sculpture Grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offer free admission.

‘Flat Bar Knot’ is one of the featured sculptures in ‘Knot Theory’ on view at the Lyman Allyn Museum.

Knot Theory is the latest exhibit in Lyman Allyn’s Near :: New contemporary series. As the name suggests, Knot Theory will highlight Boro’s knot sculptures, exploring their intricate shapes and figures. The exhibition will be on view in Glassenberg Gallery through Oct. 27.

‘Bowline Knot’ by Gilbert Boro.

Knots have dual associations for Boro: their indispensable applications in sailing, which he learned as a teenager living on Long Island Sound and their symbolism of unity, which is seen in the synergy created from weaving different strands to form a strong bond. Boro’s knots simultaneously expose the inherent power and strength of their construction with the smoothness and elegance of their grace.

A sailboat cannot navigate challenging weather without a crew working in unison to ensure the knots and lines are correctly placed. It is this dual bond between strength and grace that creates a universal harmony — as in art and in life. Unlike the tautness of a sailor’s knot, the voids floating between Boro’s strands recognize that we still need space to expand and thrive while exploring our common bonds through sculpture.

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is located at 625 Williams Street, New London, CT 06320.

Filed Under: Arts, News, Old Lyme

‘Fresh Expressions’ on View at Lyme Art Association through Sept. 30

August 16, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

‘Kayak rack’ by Neil Ruenzel is the featured work of the ‘Fresh Expressions’ exhibition, which opens Friday at the Lyme Art Association.

OLD LYME — The juried member show titled, Fresh Expressions: Late Summer Painting and Sculpture celebrates portraits, landscapes, still life paintings and sculpture and is on view through Sept. 30.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am-5 pm, and by appointment. Admission is free but a $5 donation is suggested.

Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme.

For further information, call (860)434-7802 or visit lymeartassociation.org

Filed Under: Arts, Old Lyme, Top Story

‘Cabaret’ Opens at Ivoryton Playhouse, Runs Through Sept. 1

August 9, 2019 by Admin 1 Comment

Katie mack stars in ‘cabaret’ at the Ivoryton Playhouse as Sally Bowles.

IVORYTON – “There was a cabaret and there was a master of ceremonies and there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany. It was the end of the world … and I was dancing with Sally Bowles and we were both fast asleep.” So begins the international classic musical and winner of eight Tony awards – Cabaret– which opened last night in Ivoryton to rave reviews. The show runs through Sept. 1.

Join other members of the audience at the Kit Kat Club as the Emcee takes us back to those tumultuous times with unforgettable musical numbers including, “Wilkommen,” “Cabaret,” and “Maybe This Time.”

This Broadway classic is set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. Cabaret focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer, Sally Bowles, as the world spins out of control.

The original 1966 Broadway production became an instant hit, winning eight Tony Awards in 1967 and four in 1998. The show has inspired numerous subsequent productions in London and New York, as well as the 1972 film of the same name.

Cabaret is an unusual musical that has changed many times over the past 50 years to reflect the changes in the world, but the musical’s implicit warning about the temptations of fascism, nationalism and prejudice — the way they can sneak up on you when you’re having fun — has never seemed dated or irrelevant.

“It’s such an important piece of theatre, in what it says about the world and how quickly things can change,” says Playhouse Artistic Director, Jacqui Hubbard. “I think it is even more relevant today than when it was first performed over 50 years ago. Underneath the humor, the sex and the fabulous music is a constant alarm sounding, telling us to pay attention.”

Sam Given takes the lead male role in ‘Cabaret.’

The production stars Sam Given* as the Master of Ceremonies. Sam has appeared in Ivoryton in Godspell, A Chorus Line, I Hate Musicals: The Musical and in his own one-person show with his alter ego, Millie Grams. He has recently been seen as Ziggy Stardust inRebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie.

Katie Mack* as Sally Bowles and Andy Tighe* as Cliff will be making their Ivoryton debuts. The cast also includes Will Clark, Carlyn Connolly*, Corrie Farbstein, Taavon Gamble*, Jade Genga, Aliah James, John Little*, Amanda Luppachino, Amani Pope, Carolyn Popp*, Renee Sutherland, Emerson Valentina, Max Weinstein and Jayke Workman.

The production is directed and choreographed by Todd Underwood and musical directed by Michael Morris with set design by Daniel Nischan, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Katie Bunce.

Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Additional matinee performances are on Saturday, Aug. 17, and Aug. 31, at 2 p.m.

(Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

Pictures courtesy of Ivoryton Playhouse

*denotes member of Actors Equity

Filed Under: Arts, Essex, News, Top Story

Kidz Connection Presents its ‘Outdoor Summer Theater on the Lawn Season Finale’ in Clinton, Aug. 23-25

August 6, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Join a cast of 43 aspiring advanced musical theater actors as they get groovy with the beloved tracks of ABBA in this fun full length musical production on the lawn at Kidz Konnection Shoreline Theater Academy, Clinton.

Don’t miss this entirely free event to be held Friday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m., Aug. 24, at noon and 6 p.m. and Aug. 25, at 4 p.m. Bring your picnics, lawn chairs/blankets and get ready for some summer close-out fun!

For more information, contact kidzkonnectionct@gmail.com/860-227-2363 or go to kidzkonnectionct.org.

Filed Under: Arts, Community

Old Lyme Joyfully Celebrates the Magic of Midsummer Festival

July 28, 2019 by Olwen Logan Leave a Comment

Smile, please! Ryan Catucci of Old Lyme snaps a photo of his daughter Olivia, age 3, and five-year-old son Jameson, who had seized the opportunity to step inside a classic painting on the grounds of the Lyme Art Association during Saturday’s Midsummer Festival. All photos by Suzanne Thompson.

OLD LYME — Oh, what a day! The 33rd Old Lyme Midsummer Festival was deemed a roaring success judging by the huge crowds drawn to the town yesterday to celebrate the event.

The day began with LYSB’s 5K run …

…and then moved to vintage cars photographed by the young …

…and the not so young!

The Bohemian Fair at the Florence Griswold Museum sported tents in a variety of shades …

… while the gardens drew scores of admirers.

There were tall folks …

… and smaller folks, here working on the community sculpture at Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds …

… and four-legged folks! This is Boomer, who won the Best Trick contest in the Parading Paws competition, posing for a photo!

Photo by Kim Monson.

Sales of art by alumni at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts were brisk …

Photo by Kim Monson.

… while artists took their time to draw or paint the delightfully-clothed model.

In front of the Lyme Art Association, the Old Lyme Land Trust hosted a wonderful display of native pollinator plants and …

… another of live reptiles! The latter was presented by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.

Members of the Halls Road Improvement Committee were on hand to discuss the various proposals that are still in the development stage for making Halls Road an altogether better place. Howard Margules is seen here hard at work.

Old Lyme Emergency Services Technicians were on hand to answer questions or spring into action …

… as were board members of the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce. From left to right, Jean Wilczynski, President Rich Shriver, Heather Gagnon and Dan Henderson.

Kristen Thornton (right) of the Florence Griswold Museum helped youngsters create all sorts of wonderful arts and crafts. Her ‘customers’ included Faye Casey (left), who, with her father James Casey (center), had come all the way from Brooklyn,NY, to attend the Festival.

Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women’s Club was ready to sign up new members …

… and The Moonshiners Trio was one of many bands that entertained as part of the Lymestock Music Festival down on the banks of the Lieutenant River.

Big bubbles were the order of the day at the Children’s Museum booth and Jolee Caldwell of Ivoryton clearly excelled at the task.

The range and quality of vintage cars on display at the Lyme-Old Lions Classic Car Show were nothing short of amazing —

… as were the ladies collecting the fees! Hard at work are, from left to right, Bev Pikna, Lesley Chick at the cash register, and Marianne Szreders. All funds raised at the Car Show are used to fund scholarships awarded annually to Lyme-Old Lyme High School seniors.