October Art Exhibit: The Intergalactic Beets Project
On display in our Gallery for the month of October is an exhibit unlike anything we have had before. Come and experience The Intergalactic Beets Project. It is an art/music/prose project that imagines an intergalactic record label distributing music from alien artists from distant planets and galaxies. Incorporated with each piece of art (or album cover) is a playable song from the album, along with liner notes that share information about the fictional artists and the creation of the album. As you walk through the Gallery, we invite you to read about each album’s unique history and scan the accompanying QR codes to hear sounds from the far reaches of our galaxy and beyond. There are also free print copies of an accompanying ‘Zine called Heart Beets, along with stickers and pins and coloring sheets. This is a mixed media experience you will not want to miss!
The Intergalactic Beets Project is the brainchild of
Joey Rodriguez. Inspired by the possibilities of the universe, his hybrid art and music adventure is constantly evolving and now encompasses over 250 original songs. He is also the author of four novels, two novellas, and several short stories. Joey lives in New Milford with his wife and two children, where he works as a non-profit consultant. To learn more about this amazing project, please visit
The Intergalactic Beets Project.
August/September Art Exhibit: Gabriella Colletti
On display in our Gallery is a collection of work by Gabriella Colletti. The beautifully curated exhibit features a variety of animal portraits using several different techniques and styles. Gabriella has not only studied painting and drawing for 13 years, she also earned two masters degrees (one in cybersecurity engineering for AI systems and one in computational machine learning mathematics) along the way. This gorgeous and unique exhibit will be on display in our Gallery during August & September.
July Art Exhibit: Shepherd Myers – Ants: Earth’s Terrestrial Landlords
~An exhibit of scientific illustrations of ants found throughout the world~
On display in our Gallery this month is a collection of technical illustration prints by Shepherd Myers of ants that can be found throughout the world. The drawings reveal in great detail the characteristics and uniqueness of these small but mighty insects. More commonly noticed as pests when they interfere with human activity, these scaled up illustrations of ants reveal the vast array of morphology (morph = form, ology = to study) of all the individual species. This exhibit is educational, informative and beautifully rendered. It will be on display in the Gallery for the month of July.
ARTIST RECEPTION ~ Monday, July 22nd ~ 5:30-7:30pm
Meet our July artist, Shepherd Myers, at an opening reception on Monday, July 22nd from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in our Gallery. Light refreshments will be served. Learn about Shepherd’s experience as an entomologist, and how his curiosity and creativity gave rise to these beautifully detailed illustrations currently on display.
About the exhibit & the artist:
Ants are among the most dominant organisms of the world and make up 10 to 15 percent of the entire animal biomass. The approximately 8,800 known species can be found from the arctic circle to as far south as Tasmania – only some Polynesian islands east of Tonga have no native ant species. Their role in terrestrial ecology is vast: they turn more soil then earthworms, are channelers of energy, and dominatrices of other insects as lead predators of other insects and invertebrates. As invasive pests they are some of the most destructive insects of Central and South America, damaging crops to hospitalization from stinging. As eusocial colonies or superorganisms they live in complex caste systems, with division of labor including a queen for reproduction, soldiers, workers and minors who strictly tend to the brood.
Shepherd Myers is an entomologist and illustrator who previously was the Collection Manager at the The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for over a decade in Honolulu. At fourteen million specimens, it is the largest Pacific Rim and the third largest insect collection in the United States. He has done extensive science outreach with school groups, class room visits, at fairs, festivals, etc, and enjoys teaching as much as working with research and collections. He has also had his illustrations, photos and technical figures published in peer-reviewed journals.
Avon Arts Association ~ Holiday Art Show Reception
Saturday, November 9th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Please join us in the Gallery for an afternoon reception featuring holiday music and refreshments! The Avon Arts Association invites everyone to join us to celebrate the opening of their Holiday Art Show, on display in our Gallery during November. There will be light refreshments and music, featuring pianist John Brighenti. Stop by and meet the talented members of the Avon Arts Association!
June Art Exhibit: Sandhya Paladugu
Our June exhibit features multi-media artwork by Sandhya Paladugu. Her beautiful and exquisitely detailed pieces will be on display in our Gallery through June 28th.
ARTIST RECEPTION ~ Saturday, June 15th ~ 12:00-4:00pm
Meet our June artist, Sandhya Paladugu, at her opening reception on Saturday, June 15th from 12:00 – 4:00 pm in our Gallery. In addition to the framed pieces that are on display in the Gallery, Sandhya will be bringing additional painted items including bottles, eggs and small seeds!
Artist statement:
My name is Sandhya and I immigrated in 1992 to Windsor, CT, during which I studied to receive my masters at UConn in civil engineering. After finishing my studies, I traveled around the States, including Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota. However, my love for the New England seasons brought me back to Connecticut and I have loved being a resident of Farmington over the past two decades. While working as a software engineer at Aetna, I discovered a new passion and hobby during the COVID. I became very interested in acrylic canvas art and miniature/jewelry art. From last year I expanded my art to include painting on egg shells ( Pysanky) and also into painting on small seeds.
‘Annapurna Creations’ is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and after the Hindu Goddess Annapurna ( goddess of nourishment). My grandmother’s name translates to “full of food”, signifying her desire to ensure everyone that came across her path was taken care of and had the proper necessities. Food is considered sacred in Hinduism, and prayers are offered before consuming it. Annadanam, the donation of food, is highly praised in Hinduism. I am planning to contribute some of my proceedings to charity. In my art, I hope to translate the message of ‘Annapurna’ to others especially because it helped support and raise the majority of my childhood. I hope you enjoy my painting in your home as the values it represents contribute to a major part of my upbringing. Please contact me at AnnaPurna.Creations.USA@gmail.com if you are interested in any of my art prints.
ARTISTIC EDGE STUDIO presents: Seeing Takes Time
A student art show featuring over 100 pieces of artwork by 50 artists
On display in our Gallery: April 1 – April 28, 2024
Fine artist Heather Bondorew Sawtelle is the founder and sole teacher at Artistic Edge Studio.
“Teaching art and sharing what I have learned has been one of the great joys of my life. Most of my time over the past 25 years has been dedicated to teaching students the fundamentals of art and showing them how to expand their vision and grow in their knowledge of technique and materials to produce realistic artwork that is truly spectacular.
Talent is overrated. Patience, diligence, and acquiring the correct thought process enables each artist to attain the true skill of seeing, observing, and creating masterful works of art.
We all have creativity inside us, but learning the techniques to showcase our creativity and skill is imperative to achieve quality artwork. Most people don’t know where to begin, but EVERYONE CAN CREATE MEANINGFUL ART. This show is a celebration of aspiring artists of all ages.”
You can learn more about the studio by visiting www.artisticedgect.com.
