Neufeld’s Art At Gregory James Gallery

Continues New Milford’s Tercentennial Celebration

NEW MILFORD —  A new art show celebrating New Milford’s 300th anniversary has opened at Gregory James Gallery featuring the work of the late Woldemar Neufeld, an American artist who made his home in New Milford. The exhibit will remain on view until Sunday, July 29.

The show features many watercolor paintings from the mid 1940s through the early 1990s, including scenes from New York City and Litchfield County. A few rare oil paintings as well as the artist’s linoleum cut block prints will also be included. All paintings and prints are available for purchase, as well as many limited-edition giclée prints published from book New Milford Portfolio – Woldemar Neufeld’s Paintings and Blockprints. The book was edited by the artist’s son and daughter-in-lawn, Laurence Neufeld and Monika McKillen, and it was published by New Milford’s tercentennial commission and the Neufeld estate.

Woldemar Neufeld was born on November 10, 1909, in Waldheim, a village of German speaking Mennonites in Russia. His earliest artistic efforts often centered on imitating the bridge building designs of his engineer father and the farm implement machinery produced by his industrialist grandfather.

Following his father’s political execution in 1920 and his mother’s remarriage, Mr Neufeld fled to Waterloo, Canada, with his new enlarged family at the age of 15. Thereafter, he began a relationship with Waterloo and the surrounding cities, towns, and countryside that he wove into his artistic career for more than 60 years.

In 1945 Mr Neufeld moved to New York City, where he began a new phase of his career, as a New York City and New England artist. Between 1945 and 1948 he had a summer studio on Painter Hill Road in Roxbury, where he explored the backcountry roads and painted the surrounding landscapes. By 1949 he established a studio and art school in New Milford.

Following some of his interest as a child, Mr Neufeld depicted 65 bridges crossing Housatonic River through Connecticut and Massachusetts; several of those in the series hang at the Cornwall Bridge headquarters of Housatonic Valley Association.

Mr Neufeld is best known for his watercolors and oils. His work hangs in many private collection, as well as in many prominent public museums and galleries including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and others.

Gregory James Gallery-New Milford is at 13 Main Street. Hours are Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday by appointment. For more information, call Greg Mullen at 860-354-3436 or visit GregoryJamesGallery.com.