Throughout the beautifully decorated first floor gallery are paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography selling for no more than $200.  The guild, the longest continuously operating in Connecticut, has a membership from over 30 area towns. Support local artists and find handmade gifts that are perfect for those on your holiday list or for yourself!  There is the added convenience of being able to take the pieces immediately at the time of purchase.

Two shows are in upstairs galleries. In “‘Flora’ Walks with Harriet” David Lang presents stunning photographs of plant cuttings collected on field and woodland wanderings with his Portuguese Water Dog.  Drawing inspiration from classic botanical photographers and illustrators, Lang takes photos using only natural light in a studio.  This allows him to isolate forms and accentuate details. His desire to capture an immediate and intuitive response to light, design, and subject are what led him to choose to exclusively use iPhone and iPhone apps for his work. Lang holds a degree in commercial art from Ferris State University and a degree in photography from Lansing Community College.  He has recently been in juried exhibitions at New Britain Museum of Art, Five Points Gallery in Torrington and the Vermont Center of Photography in Brattleboro.

The second exhibition is “Recent Work by Lisa Knaus and Jennifer Knaus.”  Lisa Knaus grew up in Kent, Connecticut where she first studied Pottery with her father, an art teacher at Kent School. She also studied at Washington University, in St.Louis, MO. She has apprenticed to and assisted many Studio Potters in Connecticut, N.Y. and California, and now works in her own studio in New Paltz, N.Y.  Lisa teaches pottery at Garrison Art Center in Garrison, NY.
The paintings of Jennifer Knaus are imaginary portraits with a distinctly Surrealist quality.   Knaus aims to portray an alternative hierarchy of power and beauty in her paintings. She embellishes each one with humorous or absurd elements, and details that suggest a mysterious and atmospheric narrative.  She has exhibited at the New Britain Museum of American Art, The Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, and Littlejohn Contemporary in NYC.  She received her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and her MFA from University of California, Davis.  Since 1994 Jennifer has taught painting and drawing at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain Connecticut.

An opening reception is on Saturday, November 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.