Currently On View

*New Fairfield resident Lisa Orleman, who has studied with the renowned Russian painter Krill Doron, has an exhibition of her original paintings on view in the library’s lower meeting room until March 30. Lisa paints exclusively in oils on canvas and wood.

Her paintings have been shown at Bethel Art Junction and The Barn Gallery, and are part of several private collections. Lisa has exhibited in the Regional Hospice Art Festival, and the Cendant Mobility Art  Exhibition.

She is a graduate of Sacred Heart University and has studied at Trinity College in Dublin.

*Scrapbag Quilters, Also On View: The Scrapbag Quilt Artists have put together their annual exhibition for the library. “Juxtapositions: Differing Interpretations of Divided Images – an exhibit of contemporary art quilts” is on view until April 15.

This year members worked in groups of three or four people, and re-created an image – landscapes, flowers, etc. An original image was divided into three or four portions and then each quilt artist reinterpreted the images in fabric and additional materials. The pieces were not put together until it was time for the group to hang the show at the library a few weeks ago.

 

Children’s Programs

*Story Time Registration: Registration for the next series of story times will take place March 24 to April 2.

Classes are offered for 2-year-olds and their caregivers on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings from 10 to 10; and 3-5-year olds meet on Tuesday at 11, or Wednesday or Thursday at 1 pm.

Children must to at least 2 or 3 years of age on or before the first session on April. This is a free program open only to residents of Newtown.

You must register in person; no phone registrations will be accepted.

*Let’s Discuss: The new 2006 Nutmeg list has been revealed.

If you want to read all of the titles before voting for next year’s winner, pick up a copy of Trouble Don’t Last by Shelley Pearsall and join us in the first of ten Nutmeg book discussions to take place at the library between March and December.

Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for historical fiction, Ms Pearsall’s book has been called “one of the best Underground Railroad narratives in years.” The discussion, for students in grades 4-6, will take place on Wednesday, March 30, from 6:30 until 7:30.

The Underground Railroad program that was originally planned for February 28, and has been rescheduled for March 28, would be a perfect prelude to this book discussion. See program details under Adult Programs.

 

Young Adults

*Poetry Returning: Signups are now open for the spring session of the ongoing Young Adult Creative Writing Group: Poetry at the Library. Liz Arneth, a retired English teacher and a well-known Newtown resident, will lead the group.

Meetings are Mondays from 6 to 8 pm: April 11 and 25, and May 9, 23 and June 6. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions.

There is no fee, but space is limited to 15 young people in grades 6 and up. Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk or by calling the library.

*New Nutmeg News: The venerable Nutmeg Award has been expanded this year to include a second set of books for older readers – those of you in grades 7 and 8. The books are shelved next to the bicycle in the Young Adult area.

We will have several book discussions based on these nominees throughout the year, as well as other exciting YA books.

The first one will be Wednesday, April 13, from 4 to 5 pm, when we will discuss Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney.

Sign up at the Main Floor Circulation Desk or by calling the library.

 

Adult Programs

*Indie Film Series: Come in and enjoy some first run award winning independent films on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm. The next film in the series, on March 29, will be Witnesses.

*“Freedom Quilts” Rescheduled: “The Freedom Quilts & The Underground Railroad” program originally scheduled for February 28 has been rescheduled for Monday, March 28, at 4 pm (for students) and 7:30 pm (for adults).

Trish Chambers, a Civil War re-enactor, will offer a lively performance in period dress. Her presentation will include a brief history of The Underground Railroad, and more detailed discussion of quilt patterns as a method of communication by slaves seeking freedom.

This event is being co-sponsored by the library and Newtown Historical Society.

*Book Discussions: Upcoming book discussions include April 1, In An Uncertain World by Robert E. Rubin, at 1 pm; April 11, The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, also at 1 pm; and April 21, Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, at 7:30 pm.

*Rembrandt’s Spiritual Art: Art historian Heike Stucke will give a talk and slide show on “Rembrandt’s Late Religious Portraits” on Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 pm.

This talk will offer a unique opportunity to explore one of the most fascinating aspects of Rembrandt’s artistic career: his brooding and pensive religious portraits painted in the late 1600s and early 1660s. The men and women in these powerful images peer out of the dark recesses of dimly lit interiors, burdened by the weight of their spiritual and emotional concerns.

A variety of interpretations exist and yet the existence of these portraits has yet to be adequately explained.

*Beyond Spring Cleaning: Stephanie Dalfonzo will be at the library on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 pm, with a how-to workshop on conquering clutter. Come find out why we clutter and how cluttering affects us emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually.

Stephanie will then share some clutter busting techniques and finish the workshop with some guided imagery including suggestions on how to reinforce techniques.

C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached at 426-4533. Winter hours are in effect: The library is currently open Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm, Friday from noon to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.