Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places ___________________________

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St, Ridgefield; 203-438-4519.

Through May 30: “Adad Hannah: Masterpieces in Motion,” first solo US museum exhibition of Hannah’s work features selection of the artist’s recent videos created in relation to historical works of art incl Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights,” Velázquez’s “Las Meninas” & Géricault’s mammoth “The Raft of the Medusa,” while paying homage to 19th Century entertainment of tableau vivant, where models held poses for sev minutes in order to stage a painting.

Through June 6: “Paying a Visit to Mary: 2008 Hall Curatorial Fellowship Exhibition,” work by both emerging & more established artists in a broad range of media incl performance, film, painting, sculpture & installation, all exploring a significant subject in current artistic practice: personal narrative & contemporary storytelling, curated by Maxine Kopsa (second recipient of the Hall Curatorial Fellowship).

Through June 6: “Jeanne Finley and John Muse: Sleeping Under Stars, Living Under Satellites,” site-specific video installation by the collaborative team Finley & Muse that utilizes multi-screen video projections to explore three profoundly different ways of keeping time, using the real working lives of 3 contemporary Ridgefield residents played off the lives of 2 local historical figures (18th Century hermit Sarah Bishop & a wandering vagrant from 19th Century known as “The Leatherman”).

Through June 6: “Jo Yarrington: Ocular Visions,” transformation of museum’s Leir Atrium to replicate a human eye through installation of floor-to-ceiling, full-color transparencies of photographs taken of the inside of the artist’s her eye.

Through June 13: “Tom Molloy,” recent sculptures, drawings & photographs created by the artist, who manipulates found materials & images “to explore the multivalency of symbols.”

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport; 203-331-1104.

Through May 23:  “Awareness – Ending Homelessness: An Exhibition of Photographs by Ronnie E. Maher.”

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St/Rte 61, Bethlehem; 203-266-7596.

Through May 31: “Enchanted Forest Art Show,” presentation of entries received during competition to create artist woodland nymphs, fairies & other magical creatures using natural materials & organic found objects such as pinecones, dried weeds and flowers, sticks, bark, stones, pods, seeds, feathers & wool.

Behnke Doherty Gallery, 6 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot; 860-868-1655.

*(new show) May 21-June 20: “Eastern Elements: Born of Ink and Clay,” woodcut prints by the late Ohara Koson, also by Deborah Weiss & Konan, & works by ceramic artist Robin Johnson; May 22, opening reception, 4-7 pm.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — Through May 9: “40th Annual SCAN Spring Juried Art Show,” annual juried event of works in oils, pastels, watercolors, acrylics, mixed media, graphics & sculpture in library’s lower meeting room.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield; 203-775-4526.

Through May 16: “Creativity 2010: A Celebration of Student Work,” works by 30+ BCC students in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry (incl Rachel Morris of Newtown), metal (incl Travis Hanna & Tyler Hanna, Sandy Hook) & wood; May 16, closing reception, 2-4 pm.

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center; 740-8140.

Through May 31: vintage postcards showing Brookfield & area’s past from museum archives & private collection of George Franklin; May 31, museum will be open 11 am-4 pm (museum usually open only Sat).

Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury.

Through June 3: “Tranquility,” oil paintings by Newtown artist Joanne Conant, who was inspired by quiet, peaceful moments shared with nature.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury; 778-8337.

Through May 23: “The Connecticut and Vermont LEGO® Railway,” an operating model train layout made entirely of Legos by New England Lego Users Group (NELUG) members Bill Probert, Elroy Davis & Steve Doerner.

Permanent exhibitions on railroad history (museum is along old New Haven RR line & housed in former Danbury station & railyard), also original & restored rolling stock incl a New Haven RR Mack FCD railbus, Alco RS-1 diesel locomotive, fully operating turntable, etc.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton; 203-261-0134.

Through May 30: “Places of Rest,” photographs of nature & people taken in CT by John Ulatowski, each accompanied by original poetic verse by the photographer.

The Galleries at The Fraser-Woods School, 173 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown. Gallery hours by appt only; 203-3390 x312.

Through May 25: photographs by Mark W. Lyon from Washington, D.C. & paintings by Johnnie Kunanele & Sonia Mejia from Massachusetts.

Good News Café & Gallery, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury; 203-266-4663.

*(new show) Through July 12: “One Thing… [mostly],” paintings by Matt Wood; May 16, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Gregory James Gallery, 13 Main St, New Milford; 860-354-3436.

*(new show) May 15-June 26: “Water Works,” representational & impressionistic interpretations, also expressionistic & contemporary abstract versions of some of region’s well known bodies of water by Ralph Della-Volpe, Frank Federico, Robert Ferrucci, Thomas Adkins, Chris Magadini, James Coe, Julie Hopkins, Brian Kiernan, Dick McEvoy & Scott Zuckerman; May 15, opening reception, 5-7 pm.

Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, 5 Wykeham Rd, Washington Green; 860-868-7756.

*(new show) May 16-Oct 10: “Life on Lake Waramaug: Past, Present, Future,” photos, stories & artifacts share 10,000 years of history of former home to Native Americans& Chief Waramaug, its life as 19th Century summer resort & anniv of Lake Waramaug Task Force; May 16, opening reception, 1-3 pm.

Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd, Washington; 860-868-0518.

Through May 30: “Crafts and Cookery,” handmade feather fans used for smudging & talking sticks in style of those used in Native Council Meetings to designate the speaker, by CT resident & Abenaki artist Dale Carson; May 15, Meet the Artist reception, 11 am-3 pm.

Koenig Frameworks and Art Gallery, 97 South Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-270-1887.

Through May 29: “Blooms,” spring exhibition of 100+ photos by regional artists focuses on flowering plants, trees, shrubs, etc in bloom.

Mattatuck Museum Art & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury; 203-753-0381.

Through May 30: “Our Beautiful City – Vintage Postcards & Photographs of Waterbury,” turn of the century photos by amateur photographer Frederick Stone & vintage postcards that depict Waterbury at its zenith.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury; 860-350-2181.

Through June 4: “Spring Is Here,” paintings celebrating spring by Carrie Beckmann.

Mocha Coffee House, 3 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook; 203-364-9200.

Through May 31: hand crafted wood creations by Newtown artist Mike Agius.

Sculpture Barn, 3 Milltown Rd (at Rte 39), New Fairfield; 203-746-6101.

Through June 13: “Susan Bradley: The Honey Bee And Its Culture,” sculpture, painting, drawing & monoprints that depict the mythical relationship between humans & bees from prehistoric times to the present.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 800 Main St, Hartford; 860-838-4055.

Through May 30: “Reunited Masterpieces: From Adam and Eve to George and Martha,” paintings museum’s collection & from major schools of European art, which have been separated from their mates, temporarily rejoined through loaned works from around the world to allow a better appreciation of how the paintings were originally conceived and how the artists subtly adjusted one painting to complement the other.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven; 203-432-2800.

Through May 30: “Yale Student Guide Exhibition — Art In Focus: John Flaxman Modeling the Bust of William Hayley,” examination of George Romney’s group portrait of 1795 (depicting John Flaxman sculpting a monumental bust of the poet William Hayley, with assistance from Thomas Alphonso Hayley, Flaxman’s apprentice and Hayley’s son) & exploration of the 4 artists in the portrait to their media and to each other.

Through May 30: “Compass and Rule: Architecture as Mathematical Practice in England, 1500-1750,” examination of the role of mathematics in transformation of architectural design & the role of the architect through works of Inigo Jones, Sir Christopher Wren, et al.

Through June 2: “Art in Focus: Installation, Interpretation, Narration,” look at how the text accompanying works of art may affect the narratives generated by the objects.

Auditions, Juried Events    _________________

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, at Reed School, 3 Trades La, Newtown; 203-364-9772.

May 27: Auditions for “We’ve Got Talent!” variety show, 15-min auditions to run 3-9 pm, reservations necessary by May 24 (visit NewtownArtsCommision.org), seeking musicians, vocalists, dancers, thespians, comedians & other artists of all ages for show to be performed at Newtown High School in the fall, contact Donna Monteleone Randle at above phone # or ndrandle@charter.net for addt’l info.

Concerts, Musical Events   _______________

May 15: Synergy Brass Quintet at Edmond Town Hall auditorium, 45 Main St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, $12, $10 seniors, $8 students/children, performance by acclaimed jazz ensemble will double as fundraiser for The Mary Hawley Society; 203-426-4285.

May 15: “Music of Hope: The CT Choral Society Spring Concert,” First Congregational Church, 164 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, 8 pm, $20, $18 age 18 & under, program to incl works of Rutter (Requiem), Wilberg, Caldwell & Ivory (Hope for Resolution), Schubert (Shepherd on the Rock, Op 129), w/ guests soprano Lori Elway, conductor Patrick Plude & Litchfield County Children’s Choir (performance to repeat 2 pm May 16 in Naugatuck); 203-206-7186.

May 16: Clarinetist Vadim Lando & Cellist Pippa Borisy at Heritage Village Sarah Cooke Hall, Southbury (call for driving directions), $15, 3 pm; 203-264-1102.

May 16: Spring Music Festival at St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 3-5:30 pm, freewill offering, celebration of church’s 175th anniv will incl performances by church’s music directors & organists of past 35 years, also singers & folk musicians, refreshments; 203-743-1494.

May 16: The Quintessentials Ensemble at First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Cross Hwy, Redding, 7:30 pm, $10 (family max $25), elite singing coed group from Manhattanville College will perform energetic, close harmony renditions of popular American standards, reception to follow; 203-938-2004, 203-270-8301.

May 22: Flagpole Radio Café with special guest Peter Yarrow, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, $15, season finale to feature performances by folk icon, also music by regional musicians, comedy & theater, hosted by Chris Teskey; 203-364-0898.

May 22: “Around the World in 80 Minutes: The CT Master Chorale Spring Concert,” St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 8 pm, $20 advance, $25 door, performance by 55-member auditioned chorale will offer music from around the world, with CT Master Chorale Orchestra, pianist Joseph Jacovino; 203-743-0473.

May 23: “Love Songs for A Spring Afternoon,” Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury, 3 pm, free performance by mezzo soprano Judith Kelly, who will be accompanied by pianist Greg Cava, refreshments to follow; 860-350-2181.

May 23: Chip Zellner’s Berkshire Big Band at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, 4:30 pm, free concert by 17-pc band to feature signature works of Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, et al, & Great American Songbook favorites, concert moves to Elmwood Hall Senior Center (10 Elmwood Place, just off Main St, Danbury); 203-744-5144.

Miscellaneous ____________________________

May 14-16: Monroe Historical Society Annual Textile & Tag Sale, at The Eliot Beardsley House, 31 Great Ring Rd, Mon-roe, Fri-Sat 9 am-3 pm, Sun 10 am-2 pm, proceeds to benefit restoration of Beardsley House; 203-268-4823, 203-459-3419.

May 15: “Aliens Invade Newtown: An Invasive Plants Seminar,” Newtown Municipal Center (in Council Chambers), 3 Primrose St, Newtown, 2-4 pm, free workshop hosted by Newtown Conservation Commission to cover identification of invasive plants & their effects on the native environment; 203-270-4350.

May 16: 3rd annual Orchard Hill Nature Walk, Orchard Hill Nature Center, Huntingtown Road, Newtown, 2-5 pm, free guided walks along trails, light refreshments, hosted by Town & Country Garden Club, Newtown Lions, Girl Scout Troop 599 and Parks & Rec; 203-426-5426.

May 16: “Spring Flowering Trees & Shrubs,” The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main Street No/Rte 61, Bethlehem, 2 pm, $7, leisurely stroll through garden led by member of property staff; 203-266-7596.

May 16: “Art For The Cure,” The Lounsbury House/Ridgefield Community Center, 316 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 1:30-5 pm (live bidding begins 2:30), free adm, auction of 140 works of art by 55 artists in watercolor, pastels, oils, acrylic, sculpture, etc, to raise funds for The Children’s Cancer Fund (CCF), sponsored by Kent Art Assn; 203-426-5413.

May 18: “Lunch & Learn: Insights into Successful Aging,” lunch at noon, program to follow, Masonicare at Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Road, free program by Dr Casy Ott (Southbury Geriatric Center), reservations requested; 888-679-9997.

May 18: “Guide To A Green Home,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, free program by Brian & Kim Danziger (Danziger Homes) will help homeowners interested in learning how to have a “green” home, save on fuel costs & and qualify for federal tax credits; 203-426-9100, 203-426-4533.

May 19: “John Adams: His Trials, Tribulations and A Little-Known Brookfield Connection,” Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 7:30 pm, free lecture by Dr Raymond Sullivan will cover the second President of the US & a little-known connection between his wife & the town of Brookfield, refreshments to follow; 203-740-8140.

May 21: 9th Annual Kitchen Tour, Ridgefield (directions & map w/ ticket purchase), 10 am-2 pm, $40 ($85 incl Patron Breakfast, 8:30 am), self-guided tour of 7 homes, w/ samples from area caterers & restaurants at most homes, proceeds to benefit Ridgefield Playhouse, Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, Maimonides Academy, et al; 203-240-6413.

May 22: Strut Your Mutt, 10:30 am, Fairfield Hills, $20/dog, $5 each additional dog, one mile dog walk to benefit future dog park in Newtown, contests after walk, sponsored by New-town Parks & Rec; 203-270-4340.

May 22: Flagpole Radio Café with special guest Peter Yarrow, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, $15, season finale to feature performances by folk icon, also music by regional musicians, comedy & theater, hosted by Chris Teskey; 203-364-0898.

May 22: Town Wide Tag Sale, Southbury Green, 775 Main St South, Southbury, 9 am-3 pm rain or shine, wide variety of vendors, hosted by & benefit for Southbury Volunteer Firemen’s Assn Ladies’ Auxiliary; 203-262-0615.

Active Singles. Call 203-271-2125, 860-489-9611.

Singles hikes, 9 am, 3 skill levels available, no dogs or kids – events are for adults, wear hiking boots, bring water, optional lunch follows each hike: May 16, Squantz Pond, New Fairfield (***call for meeting location).

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

May 17, Sierra Club/Housatonic Valley group meeting, 7 pm, non-members welcome (call 203-775-9644); May 20, Evening Book Discussion, 7:30 pm, discussion of Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy; May 20, Flagpole Photographers Club meeting, 7:30 pm, public welcome.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

(FILM) May 14-19: Percy Jackson & the Olympians(PG), Fri 7 & 9:15 pm, Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat & Tues 1 pm, Sun 1 & 4 pm.

Flagpole Photographers Camera Club, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-2316.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: May 20, program on portrait photography by professional photographer Brad Stanton, also member competitions on City or Town skylines.

Newtown Hikers. Call 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am (spring & fall start), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: May 15, East Rock Park, New Haven, easy to moderate (Minnie Ingardia, 203-801-8343); May 22, Bee Brook, Roxbury (Pat Callan, 203-264-2153); May 29, Lovers Leap, New Milford (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level, use rear parking lot), 45 Main Street, Newtown; 203-270-4377.

Shop is open every Wed 12-3 pm & Sat 9 am-noon, access is from town hall’s back parking lot, shop carries discounted items from local businesses & private donors incl clothing, sm home accessories & more.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6224 (ask for Betty) or 203-264-3728 (ask for Krista).

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6:30-7:30 pm (weigh-ins 5:45-6:15, meetings 6:30-7:30), meetings $2/week, membership $24/year.

Wednesday Night Poetry Series, at The Blue Z Coffee House, 127 South Main St, Newtown. Call 203-426-6242, 203-364-0631.

Open mic 7:30, featured poet follows: May 19, Crush Anthology by Faith Vicinanza book launch event, readings by contributors; May 26, Lorraine Schein.

Theatre __________________________________

Sherman Players, Sherman Playhouse, Rte 37 at 39 (behind firehouse), Sherman; 860-354-3622.

Enchanted April, through May 15, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 2) 2 pm, tickets $20.

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown; 203-270-9144.

Move Over Mrs Markham, through May 23, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $20, $10 ages 10 & under; note May 14 show is a benefit, contact box office for details.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time. At the time of printing, the information here is accurate as presented; a call ahead is always a good idea to be safe.

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Press releases for the Enjoy calendar of events or the Enjoy section must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to the attention of Shannon Hicks, Associate Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or to shannon@thebee.com. Photos are welcome and can be black & white or color, but must be in sharp focus. Please call 203-426-3141 for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.