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WINDHAM REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL

RTSPECTRUMVolume #58 Issue #3 Fall 2021

Promoting the arts in Windham and surrounding regions.AMessage from the President

Page 1

Artist on Masthead Page 2In Memorium …Art Show at Jillson House

Young Artist MusicCompetition Page 3

Windham Theatre Guild Page 4Call for Artists - Fletcher LibraryChaplin’s Poet Laureate NamedCoventry Arts Guild Show

Windham Hospital CorridorGallery Page 5

WRAC Member Show Page 6

IN THIS ISSUE Message from the President

Ca��� S���e�, WRAC President

WRAC BoardMembersCa��� S���e�P�e�i��n�

C�r�� Tw�rd�w���-He��Vi�� P�e�i��n�S���l� Cl���Se��et���

Jo���� S��i���T�ea�����

Trish FabishJanet GaylorTom Hurlbut

Lorraine McDevittKaren OlsonGeeta PfauSara Rogers

Yulia TikhonovaMichelle Welles

Dear WRAC Members & Friends,I hope everyone had a restful and healthy summer

season. It seemed to go by much too quickly. I amgrateful to all the dedicated members who attendedthe annual membership meeting (held virtually) on

June 1st . Much was accomplished as the slate ofofficers were elected, the annual Treasury report wasapproved, and outside of the necessary business, itwas a chance for members to meet each other.

On June 25th , we hosted a great musical event at the Shaboo Stagewith a performance by the Windham Concert Band. It was a great ninetyminutes of musical favorites from Broadway to patriotic tunes to kick offthe Independence Day week in Willimantic. A large and appreciativeaudience turned out for socially distanced enjoyment.

The art shows at Windham Hospital continued through the summer,highlighted by a group exhibit in August with “Summer Fun” as its theme.

On the evening of September 1st , I had the honor of attending the“Connecticut Arts Hero” ceremony, hosted by the Connecticut Office of theArts. Due to Covid 19, the 2020 Arts Hero awards were deferred to thisyear, so the heroes for both years were honored together. WRAC memberBrian Cohen, being a 2020 honoree, finally received his overdue award. Itwas very inspiring to witness the accomplishments of all our state’s ArtsHeroes. They come from all walks of life: urban and rural, diverseethnicities, ages and identities. Their dedication to their communitiesthrough the visual arts, music, dance and theater performance isastounding. Brian was honored for his non-profit organization, PositiveExpression 93 and the work he does to bring arts experiences to localstudents. I would like to thank Brian for inviting me to attend. It was anunforgettable evening.

I would also like to thank all our members who have remained steadfastin your support of local arts. Whether you took part in an art show,attended the June concert, donated to WRAC or renewed yourmembership, consider yourself to be an Arts Hero!

Tom Hurlbut has been a professional photographer most of hisadult life. He is the staff photographer and adjunct photographyinstructor at Eastern CT State University. His studio is in Ashford, CTwhere he operates Thomas Hurlbut Photography, mainly doingportraiture and public relations work.

To create this image, Tom used a favorite technique of "paintingwith light". In a darkened room, the camera shutter is locked openwhile Tom uses lights (flashlight) to "paint" the subject.

On the Masthead

ArtSpectrum 2

We are very sad toshare the news thatRichard (Dick) Wolfpassed away onAugust 11, 2021.Dick served as amember of the WRACBoard of Directors for

many years. He also frequently displayed hisartwork at various art exhibits.

We offer our sincere condolences to Dick'swife Lois Wolf, and his childrenand grandchildren. Dick started his 23 yearcareer as Art professor at Eastern ConnecticutState University. He was dedicated to hispassion for art throughout his life. Dick Wolftaught and inspired his students with anunrelenting enthusiasm. Compassionate andaccepting are words that best describe thisgentleman of the arts.

We are very grateful to Dick and his familyfor directing any donations in his memoryto the Windham Regional Arts Council.

I� M�m��i��

Richard W. Wolf1930-2021

TREAT YOU

RSELF

TO A VISIT TO THE

BEAUTIFUL

& CHARMING

JILLSON HOUSE

AND A SHOW OF

Annie Wandellartwork

OCT 10OPENING SEPT 5

THRU

Weekends 1-3 pm

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Save the Date!

Sunday December 5, 2021For the 35th Annual

Young Artists Music CompetitionSponsored by the Windham Regional Arts Council

Piano

Grades 10-12 ONLY:Vocal Ensembles of 2-5 Performers (NEW!)

Location: Burton Leavitt Theater - 779 Main Street, Willimantic, CTTime: 1:00 pm

Wind InstrumentsStringed Instruments

Open to all students in Grades 7-12:

Cash prizes awarded for excellence according to age instrumentcategory as determined by the panel of adjudicators.

The Grand Prize will be an opportunity to perform with theWillimantic Orchestra as a guest soloist in a future concert.

Entry forms and guidelines will be posted mid-October 2021 on ourwebsite, windhamrac.org

The Top Shelf Gallery at FletcherMemorial Library, Hampton, will reopen inSeptember and is once again looking forpainters and print makers willing to exhibittheir work.

Normally shows will run for twomonths, but shorter times can be arranged.The library is especially anxious to featurearea artists, and we will do our best topromote their work. More information aboutexhibition opportunities are available on ourwebsite, www.fletchermemoriallibrary.org,click on Top Shelf Gallery link, or bycontacting John O'Brien(johnobrienart@yahoo.com), who is in chargeof exhibitions.

Top Shelf GalleryFletcher Memorial Library

ArtSpectrum 4

The Town of Chaplin will celebrate itsbicentennial in 2022. A dedicated committeehas been busily preparing for this milestoneyear for many months now. Among itsaccomplishments to date, the committeeconducted a search for a poet laureate.

Entries weresubmitted and theselection was made forAdelaide Northrop,who has lived inChaplin since 1965.

A celebration washeld outdoors on abeautiful Fridayevening in Septemberon the grounds of the library. Many townresidents, members of Adelaide’s family andpoetry lovers turned out for the event.Adelaide recited her winning poem, whichchronicled her early days as a new residentwith a young family, her vivid descriptions ofthe natural beauty that surrounds her andthe treasured friendships that developedthrough the years. We congratulate Adelaideon her new position as poet laureate. It took199 years, but it was worth the wait!

Chaplin has a Poet Laureate2021 Series -Live On Stage

Burton Leavitt Theatre -779 Main St, Willimantic, CT

Please visitwww.windhamtheatreguild.org

for performance times and ticketinformation

Coventry Arts Guild hostsMembers Open Show

The Coventry Arts Guild annual membersshow will be held from October 9 – 11 at MillBrook Place, 1267 Main Street, Coventry. Aftera long hiatus, members will be showing their

work in various visual media. The generalviewing will be Saturday, Sunday and Monday

from 1:00 – 5:00 PM, with a reception onSaturday October 9, 6:00 – 8:00 PM.

Now and Then (dramady)November 15,16 & 17

Windham Hospital Corridor GalleryUpcoming shows at the Windham Hospital Gallery include:

October - Tom and Jane Horsman Potter (photography and mixed media)November - Karen Olson and Nancy Bergeron (oils and watercolors)December - WRAC group show: “Small and Affordable Art”

There are many open months in 2022 for solo or group artists to exhibit at the hospital gallerynext year. There will be a sign-up sheet available at the check-in desk on Oct 15 when yourartwork is delivered to the East Brook Mall for the annual group show.

The annual group show will take place on October 16 thru 30 at the East Brook Mall in theSpace once occupied by Radio Shack. Space is limited to 1 or 2 pieces depending on size. Hoursfor the show are limited to weekends only (see your “Call to Artists” for details) Please considerUpdating your WRAC membership at this event. We welcome new members to join WRACjust use the above form.

If you would like to have your artwork/photography featured on the ArtSpectrum mastheadplease submit a jpeg of your artwork and a brief bio to Trish Fabish at ftwart@gmail.com.

Please keep in mind that the image will be black and white on the mailed version of thenewsletter and in color on the WRAC website. Images will change with each issue depending on thenumber of submissions.

Masthead Art Wanted

Name

Address

Town Zip Code

Phone (H/C) Email:

Membership Categories (circle one): New / Renewal

(check one) $15 (individual) ___ $20 (Family) ___ $100 (Group) ___ Date

Your area of artistic skill (circle one): Visual Art / Music / Writing /Drama / Dance

Your Donation helps WRAC continue to promote the ARTS in the Windham and surrounding regions. If you wishto help promote the ARTS further, please consider enhancing your membership to one of the following levels:

(check one) Benefactor $100 ___ Patron $50 ___ Donor $30 ___Please make checks payable to the Windham Regional Arts Council (WRAC) and mail to

P.O.Box 847, Willimantic, CT 06226

WRAC invites you to join or renew your membership and receive the ArtSpectrum

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P.O. Box 847Willimantic, CT 06226

The Windham Regional Arts Council (WRAC) was founded in 1983 to help organize community arts activities for the 50th birthdayof the city of Willimantic. The Council is a non-profit volunteer organization with over 250 members. The ArtSpectrum is published threetimes a year and highlights are events and people actively involved in the arts community.

The organization that financially supports the Willimantic Orchestra and the Burton Levitt Theater. It sponsors an annual art showfor member artists. April, August and December feature a group show at the Windham Hospital Corridor Gallery. Members have theopportunity to exhibit their work at the Windham Hospital Corridor Gallery. Each year the WRAC holds a juried music competition forstudents aged twelve to eighteen and the overall winner performs a solo at the Willimantic Orchestra’s spring concert.

We welcome new member and creative ideas to promote the arts in Windham and surrounding regions.

Has your membership expired?

Find us on

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Any member who would like to receive the ArtSpectrum (in color) via email pleasesend your request to Contactus@windhamrac.org

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We are very pleased to bring back our in-person Members ArtShow at the newly re-opened

Coffee Break Galleryat the

East Brook Mall, Mansfield

Show dates will be October 16 - 30.Fridays 5-8:00 pm / Sat. & Sun. 12-5:00pmAll member artists are invited. New members are welcome.

WRAC Members Show