The Artist's Garden: American Impressionism and the Garden Movement, 1887-1920

On the Piazza (Circa 1908)   William Chadwick

The Florence Griswold Museum is the only New England venue for the exhibition, The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism and the Garden Movement, 1887–1920. Organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Artist’s Garden tells the story of American Impressionists and the growing popularity of gardening as a leisure pursuit at the turn of the 20th century. Paintings and stained glass from the Pennsylvania Academy are blended with paintings, sculpture, prints, books, and photographs from the Florence Griswold Museum’s permanent collection, as well as selected private loans. Drawing on new scholarship, The Artist’s Garden considers the role of artists and designers in defining a cultivated landscape in an era of new attitudes toward leisure, labor, and a burgeoning environmentalism.

The Artist’s Garden is the first exhibition to situate discussions of the growth of the Garden Movement within the politics of the Progressive era, with which it overlapped at the turn of the twentieth century. The Progressive era was marked by intense political and social change. Along with the surge of nationalism and patriotic optimism came growing concerns over mass immigration, women’s suffrage, and urbanization. The Garden Movement proposed that the creation of public parks and the hobby of gardening could provide beauty and balance within this fast-changing world. The American Impressionist works in this exhibition demonstrate the profound impact of the Garden Movement on the American culture. “Not only is the Florence Griswold Museum an ideal venue for this exhibition because of its history as a boardinghouse for artists and its restored gardens, but also because Connecticut women like Old Lyme’s Katharine Ludington played an important part in Progressive-era causes such as women’s suffrage while also tending a much loved garden,” said Curator Amy Kurtz Lansing.

Many American artists developed their interest in gardens from their travels overseas. The outdoors became a major subject for Impressionists as they embraced painting outside, or en plein air. Not only does Daniel Garber’s Saint James’s Park, London, 1905 (on loan from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts – PAFA) demonstrate the Impressionists’ careful study of light and quick, loose brushwork, but an attempt to capture the tension within urban life between the realities of development and the desire for pastoral tranquility. Public parks like St. James’s were praised by critics as peaceful oases amid the hectic frenzy of city life.

The grounds of the Florence Griswold Museum provide the perfect accompaniment to The Artist’s Garden. After walking through the restored 1910 garden on the Museum’s campus, visitors will see first-hand in the galleries how artists captured nature’s fleeting beauty on canvas. “Miss Florence’s” lovingly tended garden was a favorite subject for many of the artists of the Lyme Art Colony who stayed at her boardinghouse. One of the paintings on view in the exhibition, William Chadwick’s On the Piazza, ca. 1908 (collection of the Florence Griswold Museum) shows a female model posing on the side porch of the boardinghouse. Chadwick first visited Old Lyme in 1902 and soon became a central figure in this artist colony, along with Childe Hassam, Robert Vonnoh, and other painters who sought the colonial-era architecture and gardens of Old Lyme and their nostalgic suggestions of a simpler, earlier time, far removed from hectic, modern city life. A walk to the Lieutenant River, on the grounds of the Museum, provides further examples of vistas painted by the nature-loving artists.

Project: Music Heals Us-Rescheduled from February Date

Molly Carr

Now in its second season, PROJECT: MUSIC HEALS US is a classical music concert series comprised of 11 concerts taking place throughout the 2015-2016 concert season (Sept-May) in the towns of Guilford, Madison, Branford, and Hamden, Connecticut: Five concerts in churches and six in hospitals and retirement homes.  There will be a performance on Friday, May 27 at 7pm at St. George Church on the Green, Guilford. This perfromance was rescheduled from February due to snow.  A pre-show talk will begin at 6:15pm and a meet and greet the artists will take place immediately following the performance. Tickets are $20 general mission and $5 for students and will be available at the door the night of the performance.

The theme of this concert is Intimate Letters and will feature works by Strauss, Janacek and Schoenberg. 

CHURCH CONCERTS: formal chamber music and solo recital concerts in the beautiful old churches of Guilford and Madison, Connecticut, with performances by alumni from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Marlboro Music Festival, the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Perlman Music Program, and more. The series' roster of musicians includes both up-and-coming artists of this generation as well as their performing artist mentors. Additionally, these concert evenings feature 45-minute pre-concert lectures as well as post-concert receptions with Q&A with the musicians. 

HEALING CONCERTS: concerts played for patients in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospices, as well as for those who are incarcerated in prisons and those staying in homeless shelters. These concerts are shorter versions of the formal church concerts with much more discussion and interaction with the audience.

While Guilford and Madison ARE close enough to New York City to take advantage of the high quality of the arts available at Lincoln Center, our desire is to bring the highest caliber of classical music to a population unable to travel or for other reasons take advantage of the arts available in New York City. Studies have shown that art performances in hospital settings not only help create a peaceful healing environment, but also aid in the healing process itself; patients exposed to the arts require fewer drugs, spend less time in the hospital, and have improved mental health.

Because music really IS able to heal, both those that receive and those that create, the main goal of the series is to share this healing power with the underserved of the Connecticut Shoreline, especially the elderly, hospitalized, rehabilitating, incarcerated, and homeless. 

The story of Project: Music Heals Us all comes down to a shard of glass. It was December 5th, 2013, the night before a chamber music concert tour across Israel, and I had decided it was time to attack an ominous stack of dirty dishes that had been collecting in the sink for a few too many days. It was upon completion of this daunting task that, to my horror, a neatly-stacked (and sparklingly clean, I might add!) glass bowl decided to hop off the drying rack and shatter itself into a million little pieces into... my hand.

The ensuing months were a string of somewhat discouraging doctor's appointments and painful probings –  attempts to remove the glass shards from my left-hand middle finger. During this three month long and viola-less process, I moved out to Guilford, Connecticut, to live with my grandparents for a while. I also decided to sign up for a nursing aide course with the American Red Cross in New Haven, Connecticut.

Part of this course included a week-long residency in the Arden House Nursing Center in Hamden, Connecticut, in which all of the students were given the opportunity to work one-on-one with a number of patients. During this time, there was one very special patient with whom I just plain fell in love: her name is Ruth. When it was my turn to work with her for the first time, I was given a preparatory warning of, "She doesn't respond. She can't speak. She's difficult to work with. She can't understand you. She's stubborn…”  But, to my amazement, when I entered her room and sat with her for a few minutes to hold her hand, she looked right at me and asked, "Where are you from? Do you have a boyfriend?" and other such questions. That night I was on cloud nine as I shared the story with my grandparents back in Guilford! I could hardly wait to visit her again. The next day, as I sat with her again, I was overjoyed to hear her speak in short, but complete sentences.  On the last day of the residency, as the students each said our teary goodbyes to the patients, I made sure to save a few extra minutes for Ruth. It was here that the idea of Project: Music Heals Us was born: As I sat with her, I revealed that my alter-ego was that of a classical musician who lived in NYC and hoped very much to be playing the viola again soon - and I promised that when I COULD play again I would come back and play for her.

The next day, I called my mom and said, "I want to start a concert series. I think I want it to be called Project: Music Heals Us." And with that, we started planning Season One...

Why Guilford?  Even though I grew up in Reno, Nevada, then studied at the Juilliard School, and now live in New York City, I feel very much like my second home is actually Guilford, Connecticut. Throughout my childhood, a portion of every summer was spent visiting my Granny and Grandad’s House on Fair Street. This tradition continued into my teen years, when I became a student of the Perlman Music Program and came to stay with my grandparents on my own each summer as I traveled on to Shelter Island, NY, for each session of summer music school. Then, as I entered college, it became my place of refuge from the craziness that is New York City when I made the big move from Reno. And now, although my grandparents have moved from their home of 50+ years to a Madison retirement home, Guilford will forever remain a family "haven" in my heart and mind.

"Giving back" to such a special town and community is an honor and a joy.

The Results Are In!

 

Illustration by Tim Perra from The Dog Who Lost His Rhyme

Board books, picture books, chapter books and novels are many of the works submitted by authors and illustrators in Connecticut for review by a panel of experts in the field of children’s literature.  Children’s books provide a forum to learn about people and places throughout the world by offering an understanding of humanity, inspiring creativity, and giving access to new ideas and concepts

The Shoreline Arts Alliance recognizes the best in children’s books with the New Voices in Children’s Literature: Tassy Walden Awards.  An annual juried competition, the Tassy’s were established in 2001 to encourage and nurture the creation and publication of exceptional quality books for children by unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators. An award of $250 may be presented to winners in each of five children’s book categories as judged by publishing industry experts. The following are this year's winners. Picture Book (Text Only): Linda Zajac of Vernon for Ice Is Speaking: Exploring Ice in Alaska; Illustrated Picture Book: Tim Perra of Unionville for The Dog Who Lost His Rhyme; Middle Grade Novel: Melanie Meehan of Farmington for The Giving Key; and Young Adult Novel: Holly Howley fo Glastonbury for Mad River. Congratulations to all the finalists:

Picture Book Text:
Winner:            Linda Zajac, Vernon for Ice Is Speaking: Exploring Ice in Alaska
Honorable Mention:    Patricia Nozell, Cheshire for Jacky and the Magic Seeds
Finalists:
            Karen Adams, Berlin for Davie & Duck
            Kira Sexton, Guilford for A Tale of Brave Ulysses
            Michael Weiner, Centerbrook for Egbert’s Firehouse
            Linda Zajac, Vernon for Sliders and Gliders: Tracking Penguins with Robots
Illustrator Portfolio:
Winner:            No Winner
Honorable Mention:     Barbara Mansilla, New Haven

Illustrated Picture Book:
Winner:            Tim Perra, Unionville for The Dog Who Lost His Rhyme
Honorable Mention:    Abi Cushman, New London for Aardvark & Zebra Star in Yet Another Alphabet
                                                                                                                          Book
Finalists:
            Charlice Culvert, Guilford for Dae’s Night
            Yvonne Page, Middletown for Stinky Poo
            Catherine Ransom, Riverton for Fantastical Animals A to Z
            Veronica Voorhies, East Haven for A Year of Full Moon Parties
Middle Grade Novel:
Winner:         Melanie Meehan, Farmington for The Giving Key
Honorable Mention:    Pamela Kelley, Simsbury for Finding Home
Finalists:
            Linda Anderson, Fairfield for Mom and John Wilkes Booth
            Dory Berstche, Newtown for Enough Light to See By
            Heather Sherlock DiLorenzo, West Hartford for Sheltered
            Shana Moore, Guilford for The Wicked Christie Sisters: The Mystery at
                                                                                                                       Northnoor Abbey
Young Adult Novel:
Winner:            Holly Howley, Glastonbury for Mad River
Finalists:
            Brianna Agnew-Weber, Niantic for A Noble Lie
            Mark Fitzpatrick, Seymour for The Blaze Arising from Sugar Street
            Miriam Giskin, North Haven for Which Lies to Tell
            Nancy Pfeiffer, Wallingford for My Checkerboard Life
            Rudy Vener, North Haven for Upgrades

 

On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Shoreline Arts Alliance will celebrate the 16th annual New Voices in Children’s Literature competition and bestow the 2016Tassy Walden awards at the James Blackstone Memorial Library, 748 Main Street, Branford, Connecticut at 7:00pm.  The event is open to the public and free to attend. And all are invited to join the winners and finalists at a reception following the awards presentation.

New Voices in Children’s Literature is produced in part with support from dedicated volunteers and generous funding from Jack and Helen Davis, The Walden Family and the CT Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts.  Additional support was received from:  Doe & Tom Boyle, Leslie Bulion & Rubin Hirsch, Mary-Kelly Busch & Daniel Picchioni, Pamela & Andrew Farley, Deborah Freedman & Ben Ledbetter, Barbara & Marvin Gold, and Lorraine Jay.

Special thanks to the Blackstone Memorial Library for the use of their auditorium for the awards presentation and reception and to the members of the Tassy Walden Awards committee for all the dedication in coordinating and overseeing this program each year.

Madison Lyric Stage Presents Richard Strauss’ Opera Salomé May 13, 14, 20 and 21

Madison Lyric Stage, now in its fifth year of bringing professional theatricalexperiences to the Shoreline, will present Richard Strauss’ biblical opera Salomé onFridays May 13 and 20, and Saturdays May 14 and 21 at the Lyric Barn located in Madison, CT. Tickets are $30 and can be obtained by visiting
www.madisonlyricstage.com/reservations.

Richard Strauss’ first blockbuster opera, Salomé, turned the operatic world on its
head when it premiered in 1905. The combination of Christian biblical elements,
the erotic, and the murderous, which so attracted Oscar Wilde to create a play on
the subject, shocked opera audiences from its first appearance. Many people found
the combination of themes highly immoral.
Salomé has become one of the great classics of the operatic stage. While a
performance lasts only 90 minutes, the music and the drama are very intense and
demanding, including the infamous Dance of the Seven Veils and the final scene, in
which Salomé declares her love to the severed head of John the Baptist.
Our first production of the season is in observance of Richard Strauss’ 150th
birthday.
Marc Deaton directs a glorious cast led by Emily Langford Johnson as the princess
Salomé. She is joined by Mark Womack as John the Baptist, Susan Yankee as
Herodias, Jorge Prego as Narraboth, and Marc Deaton as King Herod.
Supper boxes featuring a light buffet supper are also available for the show and can
be reserved on the website.

Nighttime Odyssey with Shoreline Chorale

         The Shoreline Chorale’s concert, “Nighttime Odyssey” on May 14, will express experiences, emotions, creatures, and escapes of the night with a full concert program of choral and instrumental music.  The concert includes renditions of ‘Sure on This Shining Night’ by Samuel Barber, the dramatic ‘Night, Sleep, Death and the Stars’ by Daniel Gawthrop, the comedic Animal Crackers by Eric Whitacre, and spirituals of nighttime escapes to freedom. 

          Featured Guest Artist, harpist Jessie Gutgsell will perform Claude Debussey’s ‘Claire de Lune’ and Alphonse Hasselmans’ ‘La Source’ and will accompany the Chorale in ‘Night, Sleep, Death and the Stars’ by Daniel Gawthrop,  as well as a women’s ensemble singing ‘Come to Me, Mt Love.’  Ms. Gutgsell has been a professional harpist for over a decade. She began her harp studies in Cleveland, Ohio at the age of six.  Jessie received her Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University under the renowned guidance of Susann McDonald and Elzbieta Szmyt.  Jessie has always loved will s classical harp repertoire but also enjoys exploring the jazz and popular music capabilities of the harp.  When she is not playing the harp Jessie enjoys spending time with her husband Joe, hiking, reading and cooking at their home in New Haven, CT.  Jessie will receive the Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School on May 21^st, and she and Joe will be moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan this summer where she will begin serving as Assistant Rector of St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church.

As yet another crowd-pleasing attraction, the popular group, ‘The Shoreliners,’ will perform a rollicking version of ‘In the Still of the Night and the Day’ arranged by chorale member Charles Houlihan. 

This concert marks the inaugural year under Music Director Sarah Kaufold, who also serves as Minister of Music at St. Mark’s Chapel in Storrs.  The Shoreline Chorale is delighted to have Sarah as our Music Director.  Her experience, sophistication, and vocal teaching expertise will helps the Chorale to continue and build our tradition of exploring the choral arts through learning and performing a variety of musical styles and genres.  We look forward to our theme-based concerts, which often include guest artists to present exciting, well-rounded concert experiences.  
            Ms. Kaufold has an accomplished career in solo, choral, voice instruction and choral conducting performance in California, Missouri, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.  She is an experienced conductor, teacher, and singer who strives to interweave the teaching of vocal pedagogy into the choral experience.  Sarah holds a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from University of Connecticut after extensive graduate study in choral conducting at California State University, Los Angeles.  She has studied conducting under Jamie Spillane, Donald Brinegar, William Belan, and Iris Levine.  Before pursuing her master’s degree, she obtained a B.A. in Psychology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona where she also began her studies as a music educator.  Her choral teaching experience includes four years as a choir teacher at the junior and high school level in California, as well as directing the Women’s Choir and Collegiate Choir as a graduate student at UConn.
          Sarah has sung professionally throughout the Los Angeles area and in New England while maintaining a private vocal studio for almost 15 years.  She is currently a member of the professional chamber choir, Novi Cantori, in Springfield, Massachusetts.  She has directed church choirs for over 10 years in Southern California and Missouri, and is currently the Minister of Music at St. Marks Chapel in Storrs, where she has directed the adult choir and coordinated the children’s music program since 2012.  She resides in the “quiet corner” of Connecticut with her husband, Bill, and their three vivacious children.  

Accompanist Joyce Baxter also serves as Music Director at the Clinton Congregational Church.  

The concert will be performed at 4pm Saturday, May 14 at the Madison First Congregational Church, 26 Meetinghouse Lane, Madison.  Suggested Donation is $15-20 with children under 12 free.  A reception will follow the concert.  For more information, call 203-421-4483, email info@shorelinechorale.org, or visit www.shorelinechorale.org.

Since its founding in 1982 by the Shoreline Arts Alliance, The Shoreline Chorale has presented choral arts in a variety of genres for the enjoyment of concert attendees and singers alike.  The Shoreline Chorale will perform “Nighttime Odyssey” at 4pm on Saturday, May 14 at the First Congregational Church of Madison, on the Green.

As yet another crowd-pleasing attraction, the popular group, ‘The Shoreliners,’ will perform a rollicking version of ‘In the Still of the Night and the Day’ arranged by chorale member Charles Houlihan.  This concert marks the inaugural year under Music Director Sarah Kaufold, who also serves as Minister of Music at St. Mark’s Chapel in Storrs.  The Shoreline Chorale is delighted to have Sarah as our Music Director.  Her experience, sophistication, and vocal teaching expertise will help the Chorale to continue and build our tradition of exploring the choral arts through learning and performing a variety of musical styles and genres.  We look forward to our theme-based concerts, which often include guest artists to present exciting, well-rounded concert experiences.