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

This month Kenise Barnes opens an exciting new gallery in Kent featuring contemporary artists. Don’t miss the opening reception! by Daphne Anderson Deeds

People often think of an art gallery as an exclusive place, a white cube accessible only to insiders. Those assumptions should be banished when visiting Kenise Barnes Fine Art in Kent/CT. Her new space in the Kent Barns enclave promises to be as accessible as she is. Though her clients and the artists she represents praise her for her loyalty and professionalism, Barnes’ most valuable asset is her warm personality and calm demeanor.

As a well-established gallerist in Larchmont, New York, the launch of a second gallery comes naturally to Barnes. Five years ago Barnes remarried and moved to Litchfield. During the past year she has considered various locations for a gallery closer to her home. When the Kent Barns opportunity arose, she knew it was the right fit. The new gallery is quite versatile, with a large open space on the ground floor and a mezzanine area that will allow her to show small two-dimensional works, ceramics, and sculpture. French doors open onto a patio that is shared, serendipitously, with a wine vendor and a cheese store.

The inaugural exhibition Thrive – Kenise Barnes Fine Art/CT will provide a good indication of Barnes’ vision. A selection of work by seven of the thirty artists she represents, the show will reveal Barnes’ interest in singular visions and diverse materials. And, like Barnes herself, they are all quite accessible.

Brooklyn artist Jackie Battenfield bases acrylic on mylar paintings on her photographic studies of nature. She then interprets the photography as detailed large scale drawings. Using ink pigments, she carefully articulates her palette on mylar, rendering veils of color washes. The finished mylar painting, like Salt Mist, seen here is mounted on a translucent panel that invites the play of light.

Elizabeth Gourlay is a masterful colorist who lives in Chester, Connecticut. Her artistic practice is a deeply meditative process of considering the nuances of hues, and structure of chromatic relationships. The rhythmic patterns of Gourlay’s compositions have been compared to music but rather than a melodic allusion, B221A suggests rich tonal chords.

Toronto-based artist Janna Watson offers a torrent of colors. The paint of Secrets Falling Out Like Ocean Clouds is applied with rich impasto. Watson has a virtuosic command of her brush, letting her hand work rich, layered areas, but also knowing when to retreat from the bravado. The balance between active passages and quiet spaces is both dynamic and arresting.

Though he is a ceramicist, artist Peter Pincus is also well versed in the painting tradition. His traditional porcelain vessels are swathed in minimalist pastel patterns. This elegant mash-up of pottery and painting is fresh and commanding. The shapes of Warm Container and Cool Container are reinforced by precise bands of pigment, creating an intriguing interplay of two dimensional patterning on three dimensional surfaces. A longtime resident of the Rochester area, Pincus has a studio in Penfield, New York.

Other artists featured in the new Kent space will be Cuban-American Yolanda Sanchez, a painter of sensory experience, Michigan artist Melanie Park who works from memory to create lush still lifes, and Sophie Treppendahl, from Virginia, whose interiors and landscapes are appreciations of the quotidian.

Barnes spent her childhood near Lake Skaneateles, New York, the smallest of the Finger Lakes. Her father was a teacher and her mother the nurse at Trinity Pawling School. By the age of twelve, she wanted to be an artist. After two years at Cazenovia College, she transferred to Temple University as a painting major, but graduated with a BA in Women’s Studies. Barnes moved to New York City in the roaring 80s, and was immediately offered a job in the Bids and Sales Department at Christi’s East. Soon she became the Assistant to the Specialist in Modern and Contemporary Art when she focused on pre-War European painting and sculpture. Shortly thereafter, Barnes was named Specialist in Charge of Contemporary Art, a job that constituted a PhD in real world art.

Barnes moved to Larchmont as an unemployed newlywed with her nine month old daughter and first husband. She found herself in an established town, where young people were buying houses, but not art. As she made friends, she offered to take them to artists’ studios. Her expertise made her advice persuasive, so when she was pregnant with her second child, a son, she opened her first gallery. Three Larchmont gallery locations and twenty-four years later, Kenise Barnes Fine Art is thriving.

Though Barnes follows no explicit tenet when inviting artists to join her gallery, there is a distinct commonality among them. Basically, they share a love of nature, a curiosity about materials, and an enthusiasm for making. One comes away from a Barnes show feeling revived and optimistic. This ebullience might be seen as lacking the challenge and edginess that much contemporary art conveys. But a positive perspective is just as vital as angst, and one responds to the other in order to be fully expressed. Barnes’ ability to identify art that is both complex and life-affirming is her strong suit.

Celebrating 20 years, ASAP! gears up for a night to remember, filled with exquisite performances, great food, and live entertainment. Be there! June 1st at The Gunnery.

Earth’s Palate Farm in Warren is part of a new movement of young farmers who are dedicated to providing natural and delicious organic food to their community.

Renée Giroux and Kevin MacPherson are local farmers. They began their farm business two years ago in Warren on 40 acres of land and named it Earth’s Palate Farm. The farm is small and sustainable and keeps the young couple very busy. In the hydroponic greenhouse, they grow 500 heads of lettuce per week. They can’t keep up with the demand and will be adding three more hydroponic greenhouses to their farm this year.

Renée and Kevin took much care in selecting the types of animals they would have on the farm, putting quality above all else. Their Heritage pork is Berkshire Durock Cross; the Cheviot sheep are from Scotland for meat and fiber (meaning the wool is used for yarn); the Bresse chickens from Bresse, France; the Kosher King chickens for meat and the Auracana chickens for egg laying; and Mulard duck, known for its use in foi gras. Finally, they keep Italian bees for their much-prized honey.

Paying a lot of attention to detail in their farm work, they use holistic approaches with their animals, such as feeding only the purest ingredients and raising them on pasture. They give them herbs and tinctures to boost the animals’ immunity and they follow homeopathic guidelines for treating any ailments that may occur, including herbs in their everyday diet.

On the farm, they have several types of gardens: a Market Garden (for growing vegetables to bring to the Farmers’ Market), a Backyard Kitchen Garden, an ornate Herb Garden, a Flower Garden,  and long fields of produce.Tending to vegetable processing (such as washing and storage) is an important part of their work in providing produce to local restaurants, farmers’ markets, and grocery stores, such as Ct restaurant, Swift, The Smithy, New Morning, The Northville Market, The Litchfield Winter Farmers Market and others outside Litchfield County.

They provide local vegetables all year round from their hydroponic greenhouse, including four different types of lettuce: oak leaf, red bib, red oak leaf, and green bib—all are of the Salanova variety. During the summer, they grow and sell heirloom tomatoes, sweet peas, heritage onions, shallots, Japanese eggplant, Japanese asparagus, heirloom beans and peas, potatoes, peas, heritage leeks, musk melons, Japanese greens and other specialty produce.Fruit is also in the mix, with a small orchard of apples and pears and a few tart cherry trees.

Having grown up in Watertown, Renée’s family has been in this area for three generations. She received a degree in horticulture from Naugatuck Valley College (at the time there was no such thing as Organic Horticulture). She then worked on organic farms in New Mexico to learn about true organic growing and sustainable living, returning to Connecticut to combine Organic Ag with Horticulture. Shortly thereafter, Renée joined the lecture circuit on organic greenhouse growing and herb production throughout NYC and CT.

The philosophy of living off the earth’s palate was instilled in both partners from an early age. It’s all in the family. Combining the French influence from her family (her parents from French descent and her husband Kevin was born and raised France) with the Japanese influence passed on by Chef David Bouley, Renée understands food trends. While growing up, her parents introduced their children to pâtés and other interesting recipes—her mom was a great home cook. Her sister Alison Berlin is a second level wine sommelier and the wine director at Balantyre Relais & Châteaux in Lenox Massachusetts where Renée’s brother-in-law Chef Jeremy Berlin also works as the Executive Chef.

Both Kevin and Renée have other jobs as the farm is not yet bringing in enough income to sustain their family. Kevin is a French pastry chef and makes baked goods such as breads, croissants (ham and cheese, chocolate, and plain), and desserts for various shops and restaurants in the area. He sells his croissants at the Litchfield Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and at the Smithy in New Preston on Saturdays and Sundays. He also is a consultant for Vine Restaurant in Middlebury.

In addition to running the farm with Kevin, Renée is the manager for the North Western Connecticut Food Hub (NWCTFOODHUB), a service that supports farmers by connecting them with larger and more consistent wholesale and niche markets for their farm products. Currently, the Hub aggregates locally grown food from 20 farms in our region and has the capacity to both pick up and deliver the produce. The Hub also has an online ordering and billing system. The Hub is operated by the local non-profit organization called Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities. “We are working with strengthening our commitment to farm-to-school by bringing fresh, locally-grown produce to our local public and private schools in the Northwest corner,” explains Renée. They are in the process of being approved to bring locally-grown produce to Region 6, in the Torrington area.

Renée Giroux is passionate about horticulture. She has worked as an organic horticulturist for 18 years. She was the head grower for Gilberties in Easton for 7 of those years. She worked in New York City for chef and restaurateur David Bouley—she was his farmer. It was on a trip to Japan with David Bouley that she learned about traditional Japanese produce. During that time, she gave many lectures and talks on produce in NYC and CT. Renée designed the Chef’s Garden at Artisan in West Hartford, which offered their customers a high-end, outdoor eating experience amidst the Chef’s Garden. She was instrumental in getting Gilberties their organic certification and it became the second largest organic greenhouse system in the country. She also started a Cut Herbs line for Gilbertes, Petit Edibles.

Together, Kevin and Renée are part of a new generation of farmers who value natural and organic foods and are willing to put in the hard work to provide healthy products for their neighbors. They give back to their community and feel satisfaction and pride in what they do. Earth’s Palate Farm is a valuable resource to the area—one that we are grateful for.

Accomplished botanical artist Betsy Rogers-Knox has been drawing and painting nature for most of her life. Hollister House Garden presents watercolor classes taught by the artist.

From a young age, Betsy Rogers-Knox has always drawn and painted—and made little things. Her love for nature and plants was nurtured by her British grandparents and her grandfather’s garden here in the USA. She graduated from Garland Junior College with an Associate’s Degree in Fine Art. She also took art classes at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Art has always been a huge part of her life. Betsy grew up in Weston and now lives in Litchfield County.

Betsy and her husband ran an Inn with an gallery in Maine where she sold her art. She also illustrated for two greeting card companies. Years later, they moved to Colorado and there she saw an exhibit by the famous botanical artist Anne Ophelia Dowden, which truly inspired her. She joined an art co-op in the area and soon fell in love with the wild flowers of Colorado. Betsy wrote to Anne and asked for her advice on where she should go to learn botanical art. To her surprise, Anne wrote back to her and she suggested that she study at the New York Botanical Garden. She moved back to the east coast to pursue her dream. In 2006, after taking a 2-year program in Botanical Art at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, Betsy received a Certificate of Botanical Art and Illustration.

The traditional style for botanical art is to feature one plant on a white background, a style Betsy is well-versed in, but she prefers to convey the environment the plant thrives in. “I really enjoy drawing habitats, showing a plant in the woods, or in the bog, and telling a story. I like the complexity of it.” She explains that bogs are beautiful environments, water-fed by rain, with no incoming or outgoing water. She enjoys the lovely peat moss in the bogs, and sphagnum moss, and pitcher plants (carnivorous plants) who trap insects.

Her process is long and detail-oriented. She works from the real plant and often takes reference photos because the plant could die or change. She begins with a pencil drawing, an acurate line drawing on tracing paper. Then the drawing is transferred to watercolor paper— hot pressed which is very smooth. She starts building layers of color, wet wash first and works up to dry brush. She is a purist, sticking with watercolor as her medium and even with the same color palette. Her paint dabs dry and remain intact on her artist’s palette, to be used again. She spends 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours a day painting or drawing, and each painting takes about a month or so to complete.

Betsy has exhibited her work at the Royal Horticultural Show in London and received a Silver Gilt Medal for her Milkweed Series in 2015. Over the years her work has been selected and awarded by many organizations including the American Society of Botanical Artists, The Design Center in New York, The State Museum in Albany, and many more. Lately she has been working on a series of bog wildflowers in all the seasons at Berkley Bog in Norfolk and hopes to enter it in the Royal Horticultural Show this year.

America’s Flora is a worldwide botanical art exhibition in which two of Betsy’s paintings are featured. This show is now circulating the country and is currently at the Botanical Garden in Washington, D.C. She also had two pieces selected for a show at the Botanical Garden in New York named Out of the Woods, Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens, where the focus was on trees from either a Public Garden or Arboretum. The exhibit is also circling the country.

This year, on May 25, Hollister House Garden in Washington is offering a half-day class by Betsy Rogers-Knox on color. It is for students of all levels. On June 28 & 29, Betsy will also teach a water color class on Roses. It consists of a step-by-step instruction, layering washes of transparent color. After the 2 days, the students will leave with a finished piece. Classes are held in the beautifully renovated barn on the premises.

Once a week Betsy drives to the Bronx to teach a drawing class at the New York Botanical Garden. The subject of the three-week program is “Composing a Plant’s Natural Habitat.” This month she is teaching a 4-week course on composition at White Memorial as well. She also teaches at her private studio in Bethlehem. On Wednesdays, from 1 to 4 pm, she holds a class on Botanical and Natural Science in her studio, for all levels. It is a drop-in class (or one can email ahead) and students pay weekly. On Thursdays, she holds an Open Studio where the students may work on any subject matter, such as landscapes or still-life. Betsy joins forces with a friend on Tuesday afternoons. Together, Linda Cookson and Betsy teach a general watercolor class covering many subjects. Betsy has also taught at the American Society of Botanical Artists’ conferences in Denver, Miami, and San Francisco, and is an active member of the ASBA.

Betsy has exhibited her work at garden clubs, libraries and other galleries, museums, and organizations. She likes to participate in shows that have meaning, and that can instigate action and awareness for nature and endagered species like Monarch butterflies and habitats that are at risk of disappearing. She turns her love of nature and art into beautiful paintings can be powerful advocates for preservation in the natural world.

If you would like to purchase a painting, Betsy Rogers-Knox sells her work online (see her website: www.rogersknoxart.com) and occasionally accepts a commission. Her work is also sold on Art Auction at the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA). Her notecards are sold at New Morning and the Bellamy-Ferriday House.

To sign up for Betsy’s classes at Hollister House Garden in Washington, go to: www.hollisterhousegarden.org or call: 860-868-2200

Grey New York Grey New England is a modern luxury accessories brand based in Litchfield County that partners with family artisans in Italy to create beautifully-made products.

Creative Director Simon Kneen’s career reflects his passion for fashion and design. Simon has spent 30 years in the fashion industry across continents, beginning when he graduated from Kingston in 1982 and started his own studio in Italy. His vision has touched an impressive list of luxury brands including Armani, Krizia, GFT, Laura Biagiotti, Pedrini, Chico, Brooks Brothers, Adrienne Vitadini, the Gap’s Banana Republic, as well as in collaborations with MadMen, L’Wren Scott, and Narcisco Rodriguez. He was the Creative Director for the Retail Brand Alliance, VP of Design and Head Designer for the French pret-a-porter house Maison Balmain.

Simon’s newest venture is a fine leather goods brand called Grey New York Grey New England inspired by his lifestyle, traveling between a New York loft in the heart of Manhattan and a colonial farmhouse in the Litchfield Hills. Based in Washington, Connecticut, the company was started in 2016 (only online at first).

The fabulous Grey team is made up of the 3 partners—Simon Kneen is the CCO and Chief Creative Director; Paolo Secchia, CFO and Chief of Production and Operations; and Brandon Ferreira, is the Director of Marketing and Development, originally from Toronto, Canada. Paolo is from Modena, Italy, an ancient city known for its automotive industry with famous cars such as the Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani, and Maserati, as well as its culinary achievement, the production of balsamic vinegar.

Simon and Paolo had worked on Brooks Brothers and Furla together, and Brandon and Paolo had worked together at Vince. Paolo oversees the heritage techniques and production of the Italian artisans and Simon unifies that quality of craftsmanship with his modern silhouettes and designs. Brandon oversees the Public Relations and Marketing presence while maintaining the online store. Together they are a force to be reckoned with.

The Grey New York collection has a dynamic sporty look while the Grey New England collection is more about the refined, quieter life in the countryside. Grey New York is designed in smooth, supreme quality leather and a high-performance, water-resistant neoprene. The Grey New England pieces are designed with unique shapes formed by simple folding and minimal seams in a double-faced, natural pebbled Taurillion leather. The construction is unlined, crafted with hand-finished painted edge seams, hand-tooled palladium hardware, hidden zippers, and detachable straps.

The Italian artisans use a heritage technique for the seams. It is a long process, some bags take 3 or 4 days to make (buffing, painting the edges, etc.). The hand-painted edges of their New England Duffle Bag are patiently stained and dried multiple times over a six-day period. The palladium hardware is all designed by Simon. The brand is timeless and classic, yet modern. Kneen says, “I do not want to think about seasons or seasonality, let alone trends. I want to make beautiful things that people want to own for a lifetime.”

In contrast to mass production, all of the brand’s products are handmade, sustainable (using ethical methods and practices, and the use of vintage, up-cycled furs), and affordable. They use the best materials, the best artisans, using the best finishing by dealing directly with artisans in Italy, they can keep the quality up while making the products affordable. Most of the bags are made with one or two skins, creating fewer seams, making it more durable and less heavy.

The broad range of product styles offered in the collection is a crossbody, tote, purse, messenger, duffel, backpack, men’s and women’s shoes in slip-on, high-top, sneaker, wallet, passport case, billfold, document case, music case, and belts. Everything has a gender-friendly appeal in naturally inspired tones.

They now have a new line of bags made from up-cycled furs (mostly unwanted coats and jackets). They use vintage furs from Italy and recondition them to bring back their beauty and life. It’s a time-consuming process because of sewing together the small skins using a very specific technique, but well worth the beautiful results.

Grey New York Grey New England sold out at their first trunk show in Barney’s New York last year. Recently, they just relaunched a new set of trunk shows with Barneys at Madison Avenue and Downtown.

Grey New York New England is available at Barney’s in New York City and Beverly Hills; J. Seitz & Co. in New Preston; Richards in Greenwich and Mitchell’s in Westport, CT; and Blue Carreon Home in Long Island.

Also online at www.greynewyorkgreynewengland.com

info@greyluxuryprojects.com
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Instagram @greynewyorkgreynewengland
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Twenty-five years ago, singer, composer, pianist, and violist Sharon Ruchman made discoveries about her great uncle Rudy — a virtuoso violinist — that would transform her life.

One day, Sharon Ruchman received a stack of violin sheet music that belonged to her great uncle Rudolph Fuchs, who was a musical prodigy in the 1930s. She grew up hearing about Rudy and his life as a gifted violinist but didn’t know too much about him or his untimely and tragic death. In 1933, he was a concertmaster at a radio station in Los Angeles. Just as his career was taking off, he was killed in a plane crash above the Chicago World’s Fairgrounds. In the following years, she came across his letters, viola, a recording, recital programs, and photographs. With every new piece of information, she learned that she had a lot in common with Rudy, especially his love of music.

Even though she had never met Rudolph Fuchs, in 2016, Sharon decided to find a writer to document her great uncle’s remarkable life. It was suggested to her that she would be the best person to tell the story. And so began the journey that changed her life. Through every discovery about her great uncle’s past, Sharon Ruchman found that she came closer to finding her own true identity and musical creativity. The inquiry led to her learning how to write and how to play the viola. “I am now pushing those boundaries without restraint and this unexpected journey is transforming my life.”

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Sharon moved to New Haven to attend the Master’s program at the Yale School of Music while her husband began his first year at Yale Medical School. Sharon Ruchman has been living in Litchfield County since 1980. Her husband’s work brought them to the area. Sharon had studied vocal work at music school, so when she moved to Washington, she began singing at St. John’s, while raising her children. When Sharon was 23 years old, she spent a year in Nepal with her husband working for the World Health Organization. They participated in a program involving tuberculosis vaccination work. It turned out to be an important part of her life journey. “To break from those family ties that were holding me back.”

The result of Sharon Ruchman’s search for her great uncle’s past has resulted in an engaging book called The Gift of Rudy, published in 2018. It has also led to a recording of a musical composition called Another Time which Sharon wrote in honor of her inspirational great uncle. When she acquired Rudy’s actual viola, she began taking viola lessons. The influence of Rudolph Fuchs’ fascinating story has been profound for Sharon.

Sharon Ruchman wants people to hear her music, she wants to share her story. Even though she learned how to play the piano at 8 years old and continued during her formative years, she wasn’t motivated and didn’t have the joy of making music as a child. It wasn’t fun. Ruchman was classically trained, yet she felt incapacitated as a musician growing up. She never received the support and encouragement she needed to develop confidence in her skills as a musician. Sharon says, “Now I am tapping into what was there—through my composing, through the joy of the viola. I freed myself.”

Sharon went to Buenos Aires several years ago with her husband and they fell in love with Tango dancing and the music. She just recently composed two new Slow Tango songs for the Portland Oregon dance company Tango Berretin. The director is Alex Krebs (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/travel/portland-oregon-tango.html). They shot a video for Youtube with her songs “Tango in G Minor “ and “Swept Away” recorded in December of last year. Jill Pellett Levine of the New Haven Symphony plays Viola and Mary Costanza of Washington Depot (also a teacher at Hotchkiss) plays Cello. Sharon plays the piano. They recorded the two songs at Costanza’s studio in Washington Depot.

Other pieces Sharon composed on Youtube with just piano and the same dance company are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XywTdT2NQQ. “Tango has brought joy to my musical experience,” Sharon explains.

Sharon continues to fulfill her musical journey. She is very inspired to keep playing music, composing and recording. She is presently studying viola with Jill Pellett Levine, a violist with the New Haven Symphony. As well, Sharon has teamed up with Susan A. Katz, teacher, author and poet to create music for two children’s book series Little Brown Bear and Wanda Wannabee.

Ruchman will be taking part in a Chamber Music program this summer at The Blue Hill Concert Association in Blue Hill, Maine which brings world-class chamber musicians to coastal Maine, presenting concerts and educational programs that entertain, enrich and inspire. She will be participating in learning and with the coaches. Sharon also performs with Mary Costanza at the Gunn Library and at other local events.

The Gift of Rudy is a good read, a mesmerizing story of two musicians with parallel lives, intertwined in family, music, and passion. It will leave you pondering about your past, present, and future.

The Gift of Rudy is available on amazon.com and at The Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot. An audio version of Another Time can be downloaded at thegiftofrudy.com

Sharon is available for commissions and can create custom music for special events, occasions, and projects. To arrange a consultation or discuss your needs, please send an email with details to sharon@sharonruchman.com

To learn more about Sharon Ruchman, go to:
sharonruchman.com

Songwriter, guitarist, and producer are a few of the roles that Roxbury resident Marc Wager Weisgal has mastered in the world of music and entertainment.

Marc Wager Weisgal, son of Susan Blanchard and Michael Wager (Emanuel Weisgal), grew up on the Upper West side of New York City in the worlds of theatre, music, and art. He was surrounded by great personalities and accomplished individuals. His step-grandfather was lyricist Oscar Hammerstein. His father Michael Wager was an actor who performed in many plays and movies, as well as in spoken word productions with his life long friend Leonard Bernstein such as ‘Kaddish’.

Marc’s father was also very well-known for his voiceovers on commercials. He was the voice of the Calvin Klein Obsession ads which featured quotes by D.H. Lawrence, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway (directed by David Lynch). Click here to hear Marc’s father’s voiceover for the Clavin Klein campaign. Marc’s paternal grandfather was Meyer Weisgal, a key figure in the founding of the State of Israel and a founder of the Weizman Institute of Science in Rehovot. Marc’s mother Susan Blanchard was a successful interior decorator in NYC (once married to actor Henry Fonda as well as actor Richard Widmark). She founded and operated the Susan Blanchard Gallery for women artists (one of the first of its kind).

The first school Marc attended was Ramaz Yeshiva in Manhattan, but he wasn’t there long. He was kicked out of the Yeshiva for telling his teacher that he ate eggs and bacon for breakfast. He then attended PS166 on 89th Street, followed by Columbia Prep School, and spent his last year of high school in Israel. When he returned to the United States, he went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston and studied composing and arranging, and principal guitar. After graduating from Berklee he went back to Israel for 8 years to play with a Jazz band called ‘Jazz from the other side’. This was a valuable experience for Marc in that it was non-stop rehearsing and performing in a country where the art form of Jazz is highly respected. So far, his colorful childhood was far from typical — a good start for an emerging artist who would become a successful musician/producer.

Once back in the United States, Marc moved to Roxbury, Connecticut in 1990, a place he knew well (his parents had a country house in the town) as he grew up spending time there. He briefly worked at the East Coast Music Mall in Danbury. Shortly thereafter, he started his first music studio and rehearsal facility in the nearby town of Seymour. But everything changed one day when Marc received a call that the Four Tops needed backline support (musical instruments, amps keyboards, drums etc.) at the Hartford Civic Center.

His studio was outfitted with all of the equipment, tools, and musical instruments required to do it but he didn’t know what to charge as a fee. So he called one of the rental companies in Manhattan to get an idea on pricing. Once he discovered it was a viable way to earn a living, he decided to start a business providing backline services to venues in Connecticut and greater New England. He took it seriously, from arriving with all of the equipment required (and extras) for each concert, setting it all up according to the musicians’ preferences, testing, staying backstage during the performances (in case he was needed), and of course, packing up at the end. Marc never left anything to chance and within 8 months he took over the market in Connecticut. He became the one to provide backline for national acts from all over the country performing at all of the venues in the state of Connecticut and the surrounding regions.

During this period, Marc had the opportunity to work with big names such as The Rascals, Tito Puente, Dave Matthews, Edgar Winter, Isaac Hayes, Bon Jovi, Roberta Flack, Blood Sweat And Tears, Chuck Mangione, Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, John Scofield, Jose Feliciano, Donna Summer, Judy Collins, and the Mamas & the Papas, to name a few. For a list of the performers that he provided backline support to during that period, click here.

In 2002, after 12 successful years, Marc sold his company to David “Lefty” Foster, the owner and manager of the Shaboo Club, a legendary 1970s and 80s blues and rock concert dance hall, in Willimantic — it was the place to hear and dance to great music. Foster brought many top artists to the club including Bonnie Raitt, Miles Davis, The Police, Aerosmith, and Tom Waits. Foster is now the leader and frontman of the Mohegan Sun Allstars.

At this point in his career, Marc felt it was time to go back to running his own studio again and of course, always a musician, he played in many bands. He had a warehouse space on his property in Roxbury that housed the equipment from his backline business and once the building was empty, he converted it into a professional recording studio, naming it Roxbury Station Recording Studios. The recording studio’s gambrel roof has acoustic benefits to it because it breaks up standing waves. The interior walls are made of rough-hewn pine. There are two recording rooms—Studios A and B— and a control room where Marc Weisgal handles the engineering. The vocal studio is enclosed in glass just outside the control room. All rooms are electronically connected to the control room. There are many interesting shapes on the walls and hanging from the ceiling professionally known as “specialized acoustic treatment” called diffusers, absorbers, and broadband absorbers. Roxbury Station Recording Studios has a great vibe, with a steady flow of musicians and songwriters booking sessions, creating great music. With Marc’s experience in a broad scope of contemporary and historic styles, his guidance and direction are invaluable in helping these artists reach the sound they’re looking for.

After 2002, he was asked to be on the Board of Rodgers & Hammerstein alongside Mary Rodgers Guettel, Ted Chapin, and a few lawyers. Marc mentions a very important lesson he learned from Ted Chapin, who said to him, “One of the things we don’t do here at Rodgers & Hammerstein is that we don’t generally license the use of our music outside the context of the dramatic work as it dilutes the value of the dramatic intent and therefore dilutes the catalogue as a whole.” Whether it is for a high school or college, or a theatre, the folks at Rodgers & Hammerstein still provide all of the scores, parts, posters, aides, and tools to execute the shows properly. That’s what keeps the value of the property up.

Another message along the same theme was from Marc’s cousin Andy Hammerstein who said, “The music must follow the cadences of the libretto, not the other way around.” The words stayed with Marc and he applied it to his own work. “This lesson started to sink in with me. All of my life I have wanted to be a virtuoso guitarist. But I realized that people don’t care as much as I think they do about that. People only care about being moved, about having a great experience.” Marc explains, “We are not musicians, we are storytellers. We just happen to use music to do it.” Marc says his concern is not in creating beautiful melodies and rhythms or high production values. “The high production values are of absolutely no use to me other than to the extent to which they serve the telling of the story or in conveying the message.” He adds, “You don’t write an intro first, you write the message first, then you work backward. Just like you don’t write a preface before you write the book. As a producer in the recording studio, when we are evaluating whether we are doing a good job on a particular piece, one of the things we ask ourselves is: Is it believable? It is not a question of being melodically beautiful or rhythmically satisfying, but is it believable? ”

During the early years of running his backline business in Roxbury, Marc had to learn how to build custom software in order to run his production business. In 2007 he became involved in software and digital signage business with two partners Jeff Mele and Josh Peters. They all had sound and entertainment backgrounds and they created the software and installation of the signs that featured the marketing data of events for Lincoln Center. These LED and LCD structures were situated in the exterior and in the lobbies all over the Lincoln Center campus. Later they did the same for BAM, The New Whitney Museum, The Schomburg Center as well as CT venues such as The Bushnell Theater, Hartford Stage and the XL-Center. Marc is still involved in servicing these clients.

Locally, Marc is very involved in the music scene of Litchfield County. He and his band Lux Lounge perform at local venues, fundraisers and community events. Felicia Michael is the singer of the band and Frank Brockelhurst is the music director and bass player. Marc has also been playing with Soul and R&B legend Kenny Hamber for the last 10 years or so performing at Foxwoods and other larger venues and is the co-founder with Roxbury resident Doug White (jazz saxophonist) and producer of the Roxbury Jazz Festival. He produces the Roxbury Station Music Festival with his studio partner Roger Filgate and actor (also Roxbury resident) Michael Lombardi. “With the music festivals that I produce in the area, I want people to feel like they are getting a world-class show and spectacle. And I want to bring people of diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds together,” he says. Indeed the times call for such togetherness. We think Marc Wager Weisgal is onto something.

Marc Weisgal and friends perform at The Makery Co-Working on the second Saturday of every month. Makery Co-Working is located at 20 Bank Street in New Milford. On Saturday, February 16, 5 to 7 pm, the theme will be R&B/Motown/Soul with Kenny Hamber.

Marc will also be producing a special performance with Michael Lombardi at The Washington Montessori School on Saturday, April 6. Check back with us in the GOINGS ON section of Happening in the Hills for further details.

The Roxbury Jazz Festival will be in August and the Roxbury Station Music Festival will take place in late August-early September. Check back with us in the GOINGS ON section of Happening in the Hills for further details.

You may contact Marc Wager Weisgal at:
Roxbury Station Recording Studios
facebook.com/roxburystation/
email: mwager@mac.com

Norfolk resident Babs Perkins documents the stories of cheese makers, beekeepers, farmers, food producers, and cities through her powerful photographs and her insightful writing.

Writer and photographer Babs Perkins loves the outdoors, food, and travel. She spends a great deal of time in the Balkans, and through these visits, she has been able to combine those three passions into stunning photographs depicting another world. Her focus is on cultural documentation and preservation. She captures the soul and essence of traditional food producers, farmers, shepherds, cheese makers, and beekeepers. She titles these works Cheese Stories (from Bosnia), Face of the Balkans, and Beautiful Bosnia.

Babs was born and raised in Norfolk, Connecticut and after living in NYC and North Carolina, has been back in Litchfield county for 12 years. Her first love was food and she wanted to be a chef. Her culinary education began at age 14 when she worked for owners of a local gourmet food store. The husband and wife—both accomplished gourmet chefs—took note of her budding talents and gave her an apprenticeship of sorts. Exposing her to all aspects of cooking and baking, including recipe development.

In high school, Babs was the head baker at the old Litchfield Food Company. She continued to have jobs in restaurants and learned from the chefs she worked with. All through high school and college, she catering for cocktail parties. She became immersed in design, from the perspective of food, of the plate, and the presentation. After college, Babs worked as a wilderness guide. While learning survival skills and hiking the trails, she also cooked the food for the hikers. She became interested in creating trail-food recipes and came up with the idea to create a menu that sustained a seven-day trail hike. Her motto has always been, “If somebody else can do it, I could probably figure it out.” Then, at age 26 she was in a car accident which left her temporarily in a wheelchair, and it derailed her culinary career.

Years later, with a full recovery behind her, she embarked on a journey that would take her to jobs in branding, public relations, the outdoors and of course, food. While in college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she switched majors from Film to Hospitality. After graduation, she pursued further culinary education to round out her existing knowledge base. She has become involved in the Slow Food movement and continues her love of food through her Cheese Stories and other projects.

In early 2008, while working with a client in Slovenia, a woman who had circumnavigated the globe on her motorcycle, Babs got her first taste of the Former Yugoslavia. That experience would lead to more clients in the region and additional trips to the region. On one of those trips in 2012, Babs read an article in The Guardian about how traditional cheeses in France were in danger of going extinct. She became curious about the traditional cheeses from the Balkans and decided to research the cheese situation in Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia and Croatia.

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Babs Perkins did extensive research and learned there wasn’t much information available in English online. After months of sending emails and writing letters and requests for information to appropriate government agencies and other officials, her efforts went unanswered. Undeterred by the lack of information she decided to make another visit to the region—remembering that so much of the business happened in person, that being in the field talking to the people was the only way to gather knowledge. She asked many questions of the locals, following threads and leads, discovering that certain methods of cheese making were also in danger of disappearing in the area. She documented the story through her writing and photography resulting in a fascinating and important body of work.

Even though Babs was a Hospitality Business major with a minor in Art during college, she is basically a self-taught, self-directed photographer. Ever since she was a child, she has had a camera in her hand, but back then she wasn’t confident in her skills. She was an extremely shy and anxious person and the camera gave her permission to observe and provided an acceptable reason to be outside. She was compelled to take pictures. “Babs is outside standing, waiting for the light,” her sister would often say to the rest of the family. Indeed the light in her photography has an ethereal quality to it, evidence that all the time she spent “waiting for the light” was worth it.

Writing comes naturally to her. Both of her parents were teachers and they embedded in their children the philosophy of learning for learning’s sake. Photography gives her the ability to get close to her subjects. In 2012 while traveling the greater Balkan region, she found that she really loved “street portraiture.” Capturing people honestly and naturally, as they were—without staging, posing or coaxing—felt right to her. Babs Perkins brings these two elements—writing and taking pictures— to everything she does: observation and storytelling. With her cross-disciplinary background, you can’t put her into a box, to one way of seeing. Her goal is to tell a more faceted story.

Her architectural images are also documentary. And her most recent exhibition called Moving Landscapes is a totally different body of work, a collection of landscapes from Ireland. It was a very rainy time and the weather inspired her. She took long exposures of the horizon and created impressionistic scenes, using the camera as a means of expressing less definitive ideas, more like a paint brush.

Prior to Moving Landscapes, she created her SoundScapes: Incidental Music series. The pictures, using two versions of the same photograph are composed in such a way as to create and new wholly possible landscape that doesn’t actually exist in nature. She has always thought the reflections of trees on the water looked like and visual representation of sound files. She mounts the images on cold-rolled steel or galvanized steel and feels “the presentation makes the whole fabrication feel more of an ‘art object’ than a boxed-in picture in a frame.”

Whether it is through her writing, photography, or a dinner party, Babs Perkins uses her creativity to build experiences and to tell stories that can be accessible to everyone, but her images are more than that— they are important portholes into other worlds and authentic works of art with a cohesive thread: the light of those worlds.

With the New Year comes resolutions to better oneself and What Works is a studio and wellness center that provide the training, guidance, and support for those at all levels.

Cheryl Malloy’s mission is to inspire others to learn, perform, and work toward a renewed purposeful life at her fitness studio What Works and at What Works Next Door, an events and learning center where she helps people live healthier lives through fitness, wellness, community, caring, and relationships.

A Litchfield County native, Cheryl Malloy, owner and founder of What Works, grew up in Bethlehem, then lived in Litchfield, and returned to Bethlehem twelve years ago. After college, she began working as a dispatcher to the police department and then embarked on a long career as a state trooper. In 2009, she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, after serving for twenty years. She enjoyed the work helping people live safe lives.

In 2014 Cheryl decided to take a new approach to helping people, and got her AFAA certification for group and personal training. She continued to take fitness courses in TRX, Spinning and Barre. Her wellness studies include Reiki Level One. She is a graduate of The Institute for Integrated Nutrition as well as a certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition from the International Sports Sciences Association. She is a triathlete and marathon runner who also works with young and seasoned athletes for sport specific training.

Cheryl explains her journey towards the focus on wellness after her departure from her position as a state trooper, “At the tail end of my law enforcement career I was very interested in organizational leadership and how to lead through a changing work environment. I enjoyed learning more and did so taking several master level classes at Quinnipiac University in the school of Organizational leadership. While exercise has always been part of my lifestyle, this was the beginning of my journey with delving deeper into self and all the various components which comprise wellness.”

“Several years after retiring, I decided to take the next step and became certified as a beachbody coach, a group exercise instructor, and then a personal trainer. Then, I took it a step further and studied at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, which was life-changing. So much exposure to other ways of eating, and a deep dive into learning about self, which is paramount prior to working and helping others, right?! Most recently, I too have a certification as a specialist in fitness nutrition.”

After working several years at a big gym, Cheryl realized she eventually wanted more and so she launched the startup What Works. The studio is located in Bethlehem on her property which abutts the corn maize and apple orchard of March Farm. Having a small studio allows Cheryl to work with people whose fitness requirements vary greatly. This includes those faced with sports injuries and physical disabilities. “The studio provides me the ability to work with people 1:1 and in small groups, which is so valuable in that I­—and other instructors who teach here—are able to really get to know each person and help them meet their goals. We know their physical and health concerns and are able to adapt the training to fit their needs.

Hence, the name What Works. The philosophy instilled here is for all to find what works for them. This is not just about their physical exercise but also meant to influence a new way of thinking in that we are all individuals and we each have to find what works for us personally, whether it be our physical activity, how we fuel our body, our relationships, careers, and our spirituality. All of these components impact our overall wellness.”

“Wellness covers much more than just food and exercise. You need to be mindful of all of the pieces in your life.” She sees that her clients connect with each other and have bonded as a supportive group. On the internet (facebook and instagram), she offers them coaching on self-reflection and challenges such as the Push-Up Challenge last year, adding one more push-up each day. Or the Kitchen ReBoot Challenge to prepare a meal that is comprised of all whole foods, and post a picture and recipe. Another Challenge was What is Your Why. This is about finding your purpose, your meaning in life, and fulfilling your dreams. She also uses the Mind-Body software on her site. The response from the community is great. For this upcoming year, Cheryl is planning on bringing in a chef for retreat-style kind of events and for cooking classes.

The studio and center offer Small Group Training, Personal Training, and Nutrition coaching. Some of the classes and sessions at What Works are: yoga, spin classes, breathing, stretching, and strengthening classes, HIIT classes (high-intensity interval training, which are total body conditioning classes, Row & Grow classes (erging or rowing), Surprise Mash-Up classes (core and strength training) cardio, biking, ropes, obstacle training outside, boxing (heavy bags, weights and gloves, mitts, etc.), as well as pop-up classes which were a request to have certain types of classes on a Friday night. There are now 5 co-ed instructors at the facility. These classes can take place inside or outside, depending on the weather. Cheryl points out, “While the instructors are guiding and leading you, it is your work-out.”

In addition to running the studio and center, once a week Cheryl helps teach young adults with special needs (just out of local high schools) in a transitional program to learn life skills through physical training. Last year she also worked with a Boy Scout program. “I get more out of it from seeing what people accomplish than they do. To make a difference means a lot to me.”

“I’m blessed to have had the ability to begin this venture, and none would have been possible without my husband, family, friends, and the team which makes What Works what it is. I am very, very grateful.

Her strength is how she connects with people. Her hope is that her members find what works for them at What Works.

Another Litchfield County success story: Melissa Evans launched a company with an organic, throat-soothing lollipop for children suffering from a cold or cough… then came the next product.

In 2016, Washington resident and mother of four Melissa Evans launched a company based on a simple product—a throat-soothing lollipop for children suffering from a cold or cough. Lolleez® are made from USDA Certified Organic ingredients like natural fruit pectin and organic honey. The key ingredient to ease sore throats is natural fruit pectin. Pectin is an ingredient that naturally occurs in and is derived from fruit. Pectin is also a natural demulcent, which means that as an active ingredient, it temporarily relieves swelling and irritation. Lolleez® are also Non-GMO, as well as gluten, dairy and nut free. The pops are flat and on a stick versus a round ball, which is a potential choking hazard, and they come in three delicious flavors: Watermelon, Strawberry and Orange Mango.

Melissa’s next product is a similar pop for tummy aches. Tumeez™ are made from USDA Certified Organic and Organic compliant ingredients like organic cane sugar and organic honey. What makes it different from a regular lollipop is an active ingredient called calcium carbonate which is found in other antacid products. “We infused delicious organic ingredients with 200 mg of calcium carbonate (80mg of calcium) and a small dose of organic honey. Tumeez™ was created to help relieve heartburn, acid indigestion and an upset stomach. Knowing the sensitivity of kids, we wanted to create a product that offered a lower dosage per pop, with the hope that after one or two pops, they begin to feel better.” Similar to Lolleez®, Tumeez™ are flat and on a stick versus a round ball, which is a potential choking hazard. Tumeez™ comes in two delicious flavors: Apple and Grape.

“As a mom, trying to keep life simple and healthy can be tricky. What do you do when your little one gets sick? Band-aids and Ice packs are miracle workers for scrapes and bruises, but what does a mom do for a sore throat or an upset tummy? I needed remedies that were organic, fun and most importantly effective. Lolleez® are great for soothing sore throats and Tumeez™ will ease that upset tummy,” says Melissa Evans.

Here’s what Melissa Evans, founder of Lolleez® and Tumeez™ had to say about how the idea for the products came about and how the company was started:

Where are you originally from? How did you end up living in Litchfield County?

I am originally from Washington, CT. After high school, I moved away for college and then spent many years traveling. When my husband and I decided to start our family, we agreed the best place to live was back home, in Washington.

Do you practice Health Coaching in Litchfield County?

I did until this past August. I ran 2 workout classes at Judy Black Park in Washington. It was a great group from the community and I look forward to someday getting back to it. For now, four kids and a start up company are keeping me busy.

What is your background? You went from social services to health coaching?

I have a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Human Relations. I worked as a social worker with youth and teens for many years. When my twins were about 8 months old, I decided to make the transition to stay at home. As my four little ones grew older and more independent, I was ready to find something of my own again. I established a great network of friends all passionate about health and wellness. I attended a local bootcamp class that really peaked my interest in training. I was lucky to have a supportive group that encouraged me to go out on my own. This was the beginning of my Get Fit classes that I taught twice a week. By far, my favorite two days of the week. Great people and tons of fun!

The connection from social services to health coaching and now to your products points to an affinity towards taking care of people. Would you say that your concern for others carries through in your work?

Yes, especially kids. My graduate and post-graduate work was always focused on at troubled youth. I worked for many years as a social worker and as a Director of group homes for children and teens. I was very passionate about this work.

When it was time to re-enter the workforce, I was ready for a change. I was having so much fun in the community workout classes, I decided to create my own. There was a lot of satisfaction in seeing people challenge themselves for the better. I was lucky to be apart of their transformations.

How did you come up with the idea for the first product?

My daughter was sick and we were driving to the doctor. I remember looking in the rearview mirror and feeling so bad that I couldn’t do anything to make her feel better. She had strep and pneumonia; a double whammy. I thought how nice it would be to have a cough drop in the form of a lollipop. That’s when the idea for Lolleez®, an organic throat-soothing lollipop, became my mission.

Lolleez® was an idea created out of concern and love for my kids. I never imagined it would grow into what it has, but I am so happy it did. Our team really values the comfort this simple idea brings to little ones and their families.

When we began to develop the idea for Lolleez®, other ideas naturally came to mind. The question was always, what can we do to make kids feel better while putting parents’minds at ease. Something for nausea and upset tummieswas at the top of our list. No parent enjoys motion sickness and upset tummy complaints… About a year after launching Lolleez®, we launched Tumeez™, organic tummy soothing pops for kids. I am very excited to have both on the market today at major retailers like Target, Stop & Shop and CVS – it’s beyond my wildest dreams.

When did you actually start the Lolleez company?

The idea for Lolleez® happened in February of 2016. It was a very humble beginning that included drinking wine and brainstorming in my kitchen with family. My brother in law, who has a strong business and sales background, and I did a lot of research on products, branding, and talking with the experts on ingredient profiles. We would literally cut and paste to create packaging ideas. We spent hours tasting samples, dissecting packaging, brainstorming content and receiving feedback on all of the above from close family, friends and partners. There is a lot that goes behind building a brand, but the most important piece is a strong foundation.

Your company is based in Washington Depot. Where are your products made?

Lolleez® and Tumeez™ are both manufactured in the Mid West. We are proud to say that our ingredients are USDA certified organic and made in the U.S.A.

How have your products been received? Do you get feedback from the stores that carry your products? Or from parents and children?

The consumer experience is the most important part to us. We value our customers opinions and are always trying to learn from them to grow and better our business. I really appreciate parents taking time out of their busy schedules to share a personal story or picture of their little one. The whole thing is all still very surreal and humbling. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can personally speak to each consumer whether its through email or a social media message.

Your marketing and packaging is great. Who created it?

Thank you! We have a great team that puts a lot of time and love into everything we create. I really can’t claim any one or two people who are responsible for it. In addition to our Lolleez® team, we pull in ideas from friends and family. It’s a group effort with the guidelines of simplicity, humor and heart.

How do you get the exposure to build more awareness of Lolleez products?

Social media has been one of our greatest assets for building awareness. We have worked with many mommy bloggers and influencers to help spread the word (not the germs!). We also have an incredible PR consultant. If you’ve seen Lolleez in InTouch, People, Scary Mommy or on Fox News, it’s because of her!

Do you have ideas for other products to develop in the future?

We do, but you will have to wait and see!!!