Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

In Litchfield County it truly does take a village…and in each village there are organizations that do a wonderful job helping people and animals in our community. These nonprofits need our help in a range of ways. Of course, there are numerous food pantries, land trusts, schools, arts organizations, pet shelters, and libraries that also need a helping hand. Reach out to your favorites to see how you can help.

ASAP!

ASAP! is a social profit organization reaching families of diverse backgrounds from over 100 different towns. Founded in 1999, their mission is to foster creative, hands-on learning through the arts. Their programs provide opportunities for children and adults from all walks of life. —asapct.org

Steep Rock Association

Steep Rock Association protects property with high conservation or passive recreational value. They currently manage over 5,500 acres of land and promote healthy and functioning ecosystems, preserving working lands, protecting natural resources, and offering recreational opportunities. —steeprockassoc.org

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust saves open space and protects the valuable natural resources of Woodbury and surrounding area towns in the county. They play an active role in identifying opportunities for preserving more land in the future. —flandersnaturecenter.org

Animal Welfare Society

Animal Welfare Society has been a refuge for cats and dogs since 1965. Each year AWS rescues hundreds of animals in our local communities and provides loving care and veterinary services. They offer refuge to homeless and abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving, responsible homes. —aws-shelter.org

Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition

Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition is a nationally recognized model for scientific investigation, municipal assistance, stakeholder collaboration, community education, and volunteer engagement. They promote the use of science and education to maintain and ensure the availability of high-quality water in the Pomperaug Watershed communities. —pomperaug.org

FISH/Friends in Service to Humanity of NWCT

‘Tis the season, yet FISH serves our region’s homeless at the FISH Shelter (35 beds—families, individuals, and vets) and meets the food needs of the hungry at the FISH Food Pantry (643 families) year-round. Support is greatly appreciated! Located in Torrington. —fishnwct.com

Helping Hands for Wildlife

Helping Hands for Wildlife devotes their time, energy, and hearts to give native wildlife a second chance after they are injured or orphaned, and releasing them back into the wild in their natural habitat when they are ready for a second chance at life. —helpinghandsforwildlife.org

Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals

Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals provides access to effective and affordable mental health services in Litchfield County, easing the stress of emotional, behavioral, and psychological issues by providing one-on-one assessments to match people to the resources that can help. —greenwoodsreferrals.org

JP Farm Animal Sanctuary

A safe haven for rescued farm animals. Their mission is to serve as a place of joy and peace for these animals; inspire compassionate living; seed a spirit of kindness for all farm animals through sharing the stories of the sanctuary’s resident ambassadors; and to provide a place of connection where visitors can come to know animals more deeply. —jpfarmsanctuary.org

Project SAGE

Domestic violence affects individuals from all backgrounds. Project SAGE creates a community free of domestic violence and abuse. Donations to this nonprofit go toward staffing the 24-hour hotline; providing emergency shelter, counseling, and safety planning; offering support groups and legal advocacy; as well as teaching violence prevention education for students. —project-sage.org

Food Rescue US/NWCT

Food Rescue’s mission to fill plates, not landfills is alive and well in the Northwest corner. A trio of moving parts, including 39 donors,130 volunteers, and 28 food pantries, are working together to feed the 20,000 people in Litchfield County who are currently food insecure. —foodrescue.us

Loaves and Fishes Hospitality House

“Feed the hungry, empower the weak, nourish the soul” has been the inspiration behind New Milford’s Loaves and Fishes for more than three decades. They have been open for a daily meal every day of every year since 1984 thanks to a team of dedicated and faithful volunteers. —loavesandfishesnewmilford.org

Susan B. Anthony Project

Susan B. Anthony Project provides crisis and support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Give the gift of safety, healing, and growth this holiday season by supporting their efforts on behalf of all survivors. —sbaproject.org 

Litchfield County Creating Hope Corp

LCCH is a nonprofit organization focused on helping those affected by suicide and bringing awareness to mental health issues. Currently they financially assist families who have been affected by suicide and are working on providing scholarships/grants to those furthering their education focusing on mental health. All donations stay in Connecticut! —lcchcorp.org

New Milford Hospital

Help make a difference in the lives of others by joining New Milford Hospital’s team of dedicated volunteers. They need volunteers in the following areas: animal, assisted activities, arts and crafts, music therapy, hospitality cart, book and magazine distribution, the emergency department, family to family emotional support, and more. Email volunteer@nuvancehealth.org or call 203-739-7277. —nuvancehealth.org

CJR Impact

At CJR, They believe every young person should have the opportunity to thrive. Their mission is to provide the necessary therapeutic treatment, education, and support for young people and their families to promote positive change and transform lives. —cjrimpact.org

Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” Will Always Be Magical

By Linda Tuccio-Koonz

Rolf Anderson used to worry that people would tire of hearing “Sleigh Ride” because it’s played so often this time of year. But he doesn’t worry anymore.

The 1940s melody—composed by his late father, Woodbury’s Leroy Anderson—remains among the world’s most popular Christmas songs. He and his siblings couldn’t be prouder.

“That our dad’s music brings so much happiness to people around the world is really wonderful,” Rolf says.

“Sleigh Ride,” of course, is the joyful winter standard sprinkled with sounds of jingling bells and clip-clopping hooves. Its upbeat melody glides along like a dream, then swiftly halts with the unbridled glee of a horse’s whinny (created by a trumpet!).

Rolf says “Sleigh Ride” wasn’t meant to be a Christmas song, although it’s certainly associated with the holiday.

“The two things many people do not know are that “Sleigh Ride” was not written as Christmas music, and that the original composition was written for symphony orchestra,” he says, of the piece his father first envisioned in 1946, while living on Painter Hill Road in Woodbury.

Anderson, the son of Swedish immigrants, has said the song was meant to depict a long-ago winter. Ironically, he came up with much of its magic during a July heat wave.

He completed “Sleigh Ride” in 1948, and Arthur Fiedler conducted its premiere with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Lyrics, by Mitchell Parish, were added in 1950; the word, “Christmas,” is never even mentioned.

Although “Sleigh Ride” has been translated into multiple languages, and has frequently been ranked as America’s number one holiday tune, it’s hardly the only piece for which Anderson is known. The composer, who died in 1975, also created such works as “The Syncopated Clock,” which became the theme song for the TV movie series, “The Late Show.” 

“In the early 1950s when my brother and I were born, our dad had already written “Blue Tango” and many other compositions,” Rolf says, adding his father was “a very serious person” with “a great sense of humor.” 

That humor is demonstrated in compositions such as The Typewriter—featuring a typewriter as a percussion instrument.

“When our dad completed “Sleigh Ride,” my parents, sister Jane, and our older brother, Eric, were living on Parade Place in Brooklyn,” Rolf says, of their brief time in New York. Returning to Woodbury, they eventually settled in a residence Anderson commissioned at 33 Grassy Hill Road.

“He was a modernist and wanted to live in a modern home,” Rolf says, of the property known today as the Leroy Anderson House.

Rolf says his childhood home was designated a Historic House Museum in 2018, four years after the death of his mother, Eleanor. “It was my mother who originally had the idea of opening the house to visitors and hosting concerts.”

The Leroy Anderson House features an exhibit of memorabilia from records and posters to handwritten music.

“The living room with dad’s piano (a 1956 Steinway) makes a strong first impression for visitors,” Rolf says. “The large windows in the living room make the outdoors part of the indoor living experience.”

“Dad loved trees and songbirds. He needed it to be quiet to compose music. I know he thoroughly enjoyed living in what he called ‘splendid isolation.’”

Keeping Traditional Folk Songs Alive
By: ML Ball

In spite of the inevitable frantic preparations, what’s really wonderful about the holidays is the way they awaken the senses. The smell of gingerbread cookies. The sight of whimsical shop windows. The taste of spiced mulled wine. The sound of beloved songs and carols.

Folklorist Derek Piotr, based in Litchfield County, is making it his life’s work to collect and preserve old-style folk songs and traditional music, not just those focused on the holidays but all types from around the globe.

It all began when Piotr (pronounced Peter) started recording his grandmother’s stories about her life in 2008. “She was 89 when I started and she lived to be 99, so I have ten years of stories,” he says. “When she passed, I put them all on an iTunes playlist. Then in 2020, I started researching older folk music and got interested in Lena Turbyfill from western North Carolina, who had been recorded in the 1930s. I visited her last living daughter in Elk Park, who, despite the fact that she was on oxygen, pulled off her oxygen mask and sang for me. And I just went from there.”

Traveling throughout the UK and again to the mountains of North Carolina, Piotr recorded people of all sorts singing traditional folk music. But when he turned his attention to his home state of Connecticut and visited the American Folklore Center at the Library of Congress, he was shocked to find that there were no recordings from Connecticut, save for the Flanders Ballad Collection. “Their filing cabinet went from Colorado to Delaware,” he explains. “Connecticut has basically been ignored by field researchers in terms of recordings of traditional music.”

Starting in 2021, Piotr set out to change that. He visited libraries, churches, Quaker meetings, and square dances, asking anyone who was interested to come forward and let him record them singing old family songs. He now has hundreds of recordings from Litchfield, Fairfield, and New Haven Counties. “My dream would be to have a song from every state,” he says. (He currently has recordings from 21 states, as well as British Columbia, Canada, England, Iceland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Poland, Scotland, and Serbia.) “I’m sure I can get there.”

Today, Piotr has over 700 recordings in his collection, prompting him to found the Derek Piotr Fieldwork Archive in 2022. “I really want people to know that this archive of traditional music exists so that anyone interested in these songs can go to my website and hear them, and contact me to add more songs. I want to preserve this incredible art form of folk songs so that all of us can benefit from them.”

This festive season of singing and celebrating seems the perfect time to sample some of Piotr’s recordings. He suggests three with holiday themes: Countdown to Christmas (fieldwork-archive.com/370.html), Cold and Frosty Morning (fieldwork-archive.com/425.html), and The Mistletoe Bough (fieldwork-archive.com/63.html). If you have songs to share, please contact Piotr at [email protected] or 203-460-0576. To access his archive of recordings, visit fieldwork-archive.com.

By Pamela Brown

Photo by Zandria Oliver

Imagine receiving a horse for Christmas. For young horse riders it’s the gift of a lifetime, and for Catherine Ruh, it’s a special highlight of her holiday season. “Our students often receive their first horse or pony around the holidays and we love being a part of the big surprise. There’s nothing more heartwarming than a pony standing in its stall, wrapped in a big red bow, and watching a teary-eyed young rider ‘unwrap’ the best gift they’ll surely ever receive,” says Ruh, owner of Quiet Rein Farm in New Milford. “Christmastime is enchanting with the horses and we get jazzed up this time of year. In the barn community, winter drums up a lot of activities and holiday spirit.” 

For Ruh, an equestrian professional, who has been riding since age six, enjoys sharing her lifelong passion with all ages. “Our goal is to allow the community to experience the magic of horses. We cultivate a very friendly atmosphere that’s inviting to those new to horses,” she says. 

Throughout high school Ruh competed in national competitions in New England and Florida and qualified multiple times for national and local level finals, earning several ribbons. “I have a strong passion for training young horses and helping clients continue to grow and progress in their riding career,” explains Ruh who earned a bachelor of science in animal science with a minor in equine business management from the University of Connecticut where she was captain of the equestrian team. At UCONN, Ruh helped start, coach, and manage an Interscholastic Equestrian Association program in its first year. After college, she worked at ABF Equine in Coventry and as head trainer at Fox Crossing Equestrian in Morris where she coached dozens of hunter/jumper and equitation riders. Today, Ruh continues to compete in show jumping. 

On December 16, Ruh and her husband Timothy will host their sixth annual Holiday with the Horses. Amidst a barn bedazzled in seasonal splendor, the event features a variety of equine activities throughout the day. Attendees can experience pony rides, enjoy a riding and jumping exhibition and a drill team performance choreographed to music, learn how to groom a horse, and take part in arts and crafts. There will be opportunities for a photoshoot with the horses and to vote in a Deck the Stalls competition.

Since opening Quiet Rein Farm in 2017, Ruh finds fulfillment in seeing the farm community evolve. “It’s been fun learning and growing alongside it. We’ve worked hard to develop a community that operates like a family, sharing a passion for horses, and serving as a place of friendship and camaraderie. Litchfield County is unbelievably beautiful,” she says, adding her husband, Tim, has a fondness for the area. He grew up in Warren and is active in the community, serving as a volunteer EMT for Washington Ambulance and the race coach at Mohawk Mountain. “He enjoys giving back to the community, and now it’s become a place where he can raise his own family.”

Having recently added to their family, this Christmas will hold more meaning. “Our newborn baby girl, Juliette, will make the holidays even more magical,” says Ruh. 

The holiday spirit is abundant at the farm. “Quiet Rein Farm is a magical place for so many families and riders,” she says, adding, “The loving atmosphere and strong passion for horses evident during the holidays is present in this special place year-round.”

December 16, 12 pm – 4 pm. Open to all ages.

8 Wells Road, New Milford, quietreinfarm.com

For its 27th year, the Woman’s Club of Woodbury hosts their annual Holiday House Tour. The tour has been enjoyed by thousands of local and distant visitors. This year, five festively decorated homes will be open to the public on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Refreshments and holiday treats will be served throughout the day. A time-honored tradition of holiday baskets, with fresh greenery and bows will also be available for purchase. Advance purchase tickets are $30. Tickets, including maps, may also be purchased on the day of the tour for $35 at the Woodbury Senior Center. For house tour information, contact co-chair Kris Atwood at 203-313-2639 or co-chair Claudette Volage at 203-419-5208.

The Woman’s Club of Woodbury, established in 1896, is the oldest, continuously operating GFWC in the state. The club supports scholarships for Nonnewaug High School students and deserving women who are at a crossroads in their careers. In addition, we support the food bank, local arts, community projects and shelters for the homeless and domestically abused. Since 1995, the proceeds from the annual house tour have provided over $260,000 towards these community causes.

One-of-a-Kind Holiday Gifts from Dumais Made

By Zachary Schwartz

Photos by Ryan Lavine

It all started while on a dreamy summer holiday in Puglia, Italy. Husbands and business partners Charlie and Kevin Dumais were touring pottery studios when they unexpectedly recognized the Arethusa logo. It turned out that this particular ceramicist designed the dishes displayed throughout Bantam’s Arethusa al Tavolo. This serendipitous encounter evolved into the inspiration for Dumais Made’s 2023 holiday collection.

Charlie and Kevin Dumais are the Litchfield-based founders of Dumais Made and Dumais Interior Design. Dumais Made is their ceramics studio, specializing in made-to-order lights and accessories crafted from rolled clay slabs dipped in earth-toned glazes. Dumais Interior Design is their interior design firm, specializing in residential interiors with an unpretentious and mid-century aesthetic.

“Our sensibility to design and the way we think about furnishing a home is that it has to be very practical and sensible, but also beautiful and refined. Our interiors feel very tactile and approachable,” says Kevin Dumais. Together, Charlie and Kevin are building a creative collective within the Bantam Arts Factory that offers expertly designed interiors with in situ pottery.

Their stunning Bantam studio is where they roll, mold, fire, and glaze their one-of-a-kind pottery. “Aesthetically, a lot of our forms and shapes are driven by architecture that I love, like Bauhaus and Brutalist, with the scale of mid-century,” explains Charlie Dumais. “We really want them to be tactile, and you can see the construction. A signature of our pieces is that we expose the seams.”

For their 2023 limited edition holiday collection, Dumais Made introduced pottery inspired by their trip to Puglia. Pomegranates are a popular motif in southern Italy that symbolize gratitude and bounty, so they created clay pomegranates. “The overall aesthetic for this holiday series is structures we saw while in Puglia, like smoke stacks or textures of stonework. We wanted them to feel cohesive, and we have never done something whimsical like the pomegranate before,” says Charlie Dumais.

Other specialty pieces in the collection include trays, candlesticks, lamps, and champagne buckets. They all exhibit signature codes of the design studio, like textured grooves embossed by antique rolling pins and fabric-like qualities from the canvas that the clay is rolled in. Most of the objects are finished in a soothing neutral shade of gray called parchment.

While these ceramic accessories complement any holiday tablescape, they also make for splendid gifts to be used beyond just the holidays. “I always hope that whatever we make makes somebody smile. That’s why both of us do what we do. I hope this collection makes someone feel special,” says Charlie Dumais.

For the holidays this year, Charlie and Kevin Dumais will decorate their own Litchfield home with festive decor of DIY pine cone garlands, fresh greenery, and Ukrainian glass ornaments on their Christmas tree. Their ceramic pomegranates on the holiday dinner table are certain to be a harbinger of gratitude, benisons, and bounty in the coming new year.

Litchfield County December events include art openings, book signings, concerts, cookie decorating, wreath making, and of course everything else holiday!

December 6

Free Verse Paradise Cha Cha, KENT
Kenise Barnes Fine Art is pleased to announce a new exhibition featuring new paintings by Gabe Brown and Josette Urso. Through December 10.

Flanders Artisan Market, BETHLEHEM
Looking for one-of-a-kind distinctive gifts that will truly be appreciated by the special people on your list?
Decked out in festive style, the Van Vleck House is the setting for their  annual “Artisan Marketplace”. Through December 22.

PRIME FINDS Pop-Up Store, LITCHFIELD
PRIME FINDS Home for the Holidays, now in its eighth year, is a pop-up store located in the greater Litchfield area. 100% of the proceeds benefit the mental health programs at Prime Time House. Through December 30.

December 8

Friday Feast & Dancing Feet, LITCHFIELD
Good food and good company! Don’t forget your dancing shoes! Pre-register.

Prindle Art Opening, FALLS VILLAGE
Painter and art educator, Warren Prindle will exhibit a retrospective of his work at the Kearcher-Monsell Gallery (HVRHS) opening on December 8th. The salon-style exhibition covers twenty-plus years from Prindle’s oeuvre…plein air sketches, graphite studies, drawings and larger accomplished pieces, will be on exhibit and for sale with a portion of sales benefiting the HVRHS Fine Art Society.

Kent Messiah Sing-In, KENT
Let St Andrew’s Parish’s “Music In The Nave ” Concert Series get you in a holiday mood with the 12th annual performance of Handel’s beloved Messiah. As always, Orchestra New England’s Director James Sinclair will conduct four rising vocal soloists, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble and a chorus from the audience. You too can sing along, or just sit back and enjoy the show. Either way, a great time will be had by all!

Holiday in the Depot, WASHINGTON DEPOT
Don’t miss the beautiful Holiday in the Depot celebration. At the Judy Black Park in Washington Depot there will be fire pits with make-your-own s’mores with National Iron Bank, hot apple cider from Averill Farm, fresh donuts thanks to Ericson Insurance Advisors, and other treats from the Mayflower Inn & Spa. Gunn Memorial Library will provide a fun activity for kids, too.

Standard Space Gallery, SHARON
Whether you are seeking home décor accents, thoughtful holiday gifts, or simply appreciating art, check out DBO Home’s pop-up at Standard Space. Through December 10.

Unfolding- Art Show, TORRINGTON
Twenty2 wallpaper + textiles will debut their sophomore group exhibition, “Unfolding”, featuring the diverse and interdisciplinary art practices of members of their creative team.

December 9

EVB Store Opening, NEW PRESTON
Please join Eleish Van Breems Home for a Holiday Open House as they welcome you inside their new location in New Preston! Come sip and shop on Saturday and take a look at their home furnishings, gifts, and antiques with a Scandinavian twist.

A Rose In Winter, KENT
The Kent Singers will present “A Rose in Winter” concert. A gentle and beautiful program of music expressing joy, hope and peace. The favorites you love and some new songs, too! The concert will be
conducted by Music Director James Knox Sutterfield. Through December 10.

3D Printing Workshop, NEW MILFORD
Have you ever wanted to learn 3D printing? Now is your chance! Both holiday workshops are themed. The 9th will be focused on ornaments, and the 29th will be a toy making theme. Also offered December 29.

Wreath-Making Workshop, LITCHFIELD
Experience the magic of holiday crafting at this Wreath Making workshop led by floral stylist Rex Rogers. Join Rex at the Litchfield Inn for a session filled with festive treats, cheer, and creativity!

Opening Reception: Ed Muszala, WASHINGTON DEPOT
Check out artist Ed Muszala’s exhibit, “Atmospheric Abstractions” at an opening reception on Saturday. This show highlights the artist’s sublime paintings inspired by his career as a pilot. Through December 31.

Woman’s Club of Woodbury Announces 2023 Holiday House Tour, WOODBURY

For its 27th year, the Woman’s Club of Woodbury hosts their annual Holiday House Tour. The tour has been enjoyed by thousands of local and distant visitors.

December 10

Roxbury Church Classic Christmas Celebration, ROXBURY
The Roxbury Congregational Church will be provide The Olde Tyme Christmas service open to all. Complete with a church adorned with evergreen, seasonal ribbons, and lights, recalling a slower pace of yesteryear as we are reminded of the wonder of this season.

Book Signing, WASHINGTON DEPOT
The Hickory Stick Bookshop welcomes award-winning writer Douglas J. Cohen who will sign copies of his recently released book “How To Survive a Killer Musical” at 2 pm. 

Family Holiday Party, LITCHFIELD
Enjoy a magical afternoon at Litchfield Community Center! Meet Santa and enjoy holiday crafts and delicious snacks. Pre-register.

December 13

Live, Learn, and Lunch, LITCHFIELD
Live, Learn, and Lunch: Secrets Your Parents Never Told You About The History of Christmas Carols and Songs at the Litchfield Community Center.

Cookie Decorating at The Edward, SHARON
Wanna learn how to use a piping bag? Do you like wine and/or cocktails? Domanie, a CIA-trained pastry chef, will be joining owner Tracey in hosting a warm and convivial get-together where Domanie will teach everyone how to decorate cookies like a BOSS!

Culturally Curious Art Lecture Series “A Very Rockwell Holiday”, LITCHFIELD
Jane O’Neail will present artist Norman Rockwell’s depictions of the humorous and heartwarming aspects of people coming together for the holidays. Rockwell’s Christmas images have helped to shape American ideas about “the most wonderful time of the year.”

December 15

McKrells Live Holiday, LITCHFIELD
The McKrells Live Holiday Concert

December 16

Winter Interchange, WASHINGTON
Join for theatrical entertainment & cocktails in support of the newly formed non-profit Connecticut Theatre Exchange.

Psychedelic Solstice, SHARON
Enjoy music by Pocket Vinyl and a live painting with Elizabeth Jancewicz. You will also work collectively to create VCA’s first-ever ‘zine series. Guests are welcome to contribute in a relaxing and inclusive atmosphere. No experience necessary.

December 17

Carols for the Earth, LAKEVILLE
The Crescendo Chorus, its soloists, and instrumentalists will present two concerts with a timeless message for this holiday season: peace, not from heaven, but on earth. Crescendo will celebrate in the music of our nativity, and of our home here on Earth.

A Christmas Carol LIVE, LITCHFIELD
Join actors Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby for a funny, heartfelt journey through Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol.

By Elizabeth Maker

The 42nd annual Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival is set for Dec. 1 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting with a tree lighting on the village green. The 85-foot-tall Norway Spruce is the biggest around, even taller than the one at Rockefeller Center. Other attractions include carols, bell choirs, hayrides, Santa’s workshop, crafts by local artisans, food from area nonprofits, a scavenger hunt, and a 5k “Santa Made Me Do It” road race for all ages.

Another favorite in Bethlehem is the crèche at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. Heralded as “the Rembrandt of Creches” by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 18^th century Neapolitan nativity scene draws thousands of visitors from around the world.

Many who make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem engage in two other traditions: buying the town’s annual pewter Christmas ornament made by local artist Matt Gonzalez—sold at the festival and at area stores; and stopping at the local post office to mail holiday cards, to get a “Bethlehem” postmark and the Christmas Town cachet stamped on their envelopes. “We handle hundreds of thousands of pieces of mail around December,” says retired postal clerk Vera Rosa. “These days with everything being electronic, this kind of tradition is amazing.  Everyone who comes in is so incredibly cheery. It’s absolutely contagious.”

Gregory James Gallery moved to a larger new home on Park Lane Road in New Milford in the summer of 2022, creating more space for owner Greg Mullen to exhibit paintings and sculpture by his coterie of superb regional artists. Thomas Adkins of Southbury, among the finest landscape artists in the Northeast and one of Mullen’s stars, is represented by a wall of paintings that refreshes every time pieces sell, which is often. Lyrical, evocative, and quietly rhapsodic, Adkins’s paintings capture evanescent moments in time when the atmospheric conditions and lighting bring a bit of magic to the landscape—and more than a few of Adkins’s fans consider winter his finest season, when his plein air paintings of western Connecticut, Vermont, and Maine embody the moods and mystery of the beauty around us so well it gives you chills—the good kind.

Gregory James Gallery, 149 Park Lane Rd., New Milford 860-354-3436