PLAN ON IT
Best of the arts in the weeks ahead
BRANFORD
Visual Arts
Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance, presents “The Painted Doors of Branford,” Nov. 7, 8. Over sixty decorated doors will be displayed on Main St. as a symbolic reopening of our community. Visit the display, vote for your favorites, and participate in the silent auction to purchase and bring your favorite door home. All monies raised fund college scholarships for deserving & talented students who will be furthering their education in the written, visual & performing arts. Jeanettemobeck@yahoo.com
BRIDGEPORT
Films
Art-inspired film series presented by the Housatonic Museum of Art and curated by Connecticut Film Festival, online Nov. 6, 7 p.m. Line-up concludes: “With Dad,” Nov. 6. For film links visit housatonicmuseum.org
Visual Arts
Bridgeport Art Trail, city-wide arts celebration runs Nov. 5-15. Ten day calendar of online and onsite programs adapted to comply with Covid19. BAT Kickoff Party, Nov. 7, 6-9:30 p.m. will include visual art, music, and projections indoors and outdoors. Attendees can safely assemble outdoors near the Read’s ArtSpace building and Peacock Alley and indoors at the Arcade Mall. Face masks and physical distancing protocol required. Full schedule posted on website and social media platforms. bridgeport-art-trail.org
“Winter Wonderland” at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave. Zoo grounds will have 10 one-of-a-kind snowpeople sculptures from local artists on display at the Zoo from Dec-March. Online public vote to choose a first, second, and third place winner with cash prizes of $250, $125, and $75 respectively. beardsleyzoo.org jtaylor@beardsleyzoo.org.
“Scream and Shout,” the art of Carlos Bautista Biernnay, absurd fiber art influenced by the artist's personal reactions to events on 9/ 11 in the United States and in Chile, Now online on the City Lights website. citylightsgallery.org
“Photorealism: Fixing the Fleeting Moment,” Housatonic Museum of Art on the Housatonic Community College Campus, 900 Lafayette Blvd. New exhibit on view through Dec. 2021; “The Roots of Abstraction,” exhibit on view through Aug. 31, 2021. An appointment to visit the museum is necessary, and visitors must be prepared to comply with social distancing rules and wear protective face masks. Housatonic Museum of Art will also make the exhibit available as a slideshow, virtual tour and as a print-on-demand catalog. 203-332-5052, housatonicmuseum.org
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo online Zoo Photography Exhibit, “Photography Goes Wild.” beardsleyzoo.org
“Postcards to an Island” Photo collages by Ann Nicholson Brown, Gallery at Still River Editions, 128 E Liberty St. Through Dec. 18. Regular gallery hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Open to 1 or 2 visitors from the same household at one time, masks required. 203-791-1474, stillrivereditions.com
Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut is hosting an online show meant to uplift and show the strength of community members during crises of the past year. “Arts Are > Greater Than” is open to artists in Connecticut and New York. Exhibit will run through Jan. cawct.org
DARIEN Films
“Hometown Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home,” virtual film screening hosted by Darien Land Trust, Darien Pollinator Pathway, and Darien Library on Zoom, Nov. 10, 5 p.m. Registration required at darienlibrary.org sskerrett@darienlibrary.org
FAIRFIELD
Comedy
Rachel Feinstein, Fairfield Theatre Company StageOne, 70 Sanford St. Nov. 7, 7:45 p.m. $34. fairfieldtheatre.org
Lectures
Open Visions Espresso l: Johnathan Petropoulos, PhD with “Herman Göring’s Man in Paris: The Story of a Nazi Art Plunderer and His World,” online lecture presented by Fairfield University Art Museum, Nov 10, 7:30-9 p.m.; Open Minds Institute with Erik Novoa,
“Opera: Who Cares? And Why Should We,” Nov. 11, 1-2 p.m. Both lectures available at thequicklive.com 203-2544010, quickboxoffice@fairfield.edu
Festivals
Fall Family Fest Sunday, Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road. Nov. 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free with admission. Pumpkin painting and sock skating, live animal shows and apple cidering demonstrations. 203-322-1646, stamfordmuseum.org
Films
Avon Theatre, 272 Bedford St. InPerson screenings: James Bond series with Sean Connery-“Dr. No,” Nov. 6; “From Russia with Love,” Nov. 7. Both screenings are 7:45-9:45 p.m. $9 Avon members, $14.50 public. avontheatre.org
Specials
Friends of The Ferguson Library and the Mystery Writers of America/New York Chapter host “CrimeCONN Express,” series of five one-hours virtual sessions for writers and mystery lovers on Zoom, through Nov. 19. Sessions take place Thursdays 7 p.m. Line-up: The Art of Writing, Nov. 5; Finding New Ways to Stay Connected, Nov. 12; How Bestsellers Got That Way, Nov. 19. Free to attend. Registration required for each individual session at fergusonlibrary.org/crimeconn-express 203 351-8231.
Stage
Avon Theatre Film Center & Greenwich Theatre Company present “A Journey-A Musical One-Woman Show” written and performed by Kimberly Wilson, Avon Theatre Film Center, 272 Bedford St. Nov. 11, 2:30 & 7 p.m. $20. Tickets at avontheatre.org
Visual Arts
“BIOPHILIA: A Dialogue with Art, Nature and Science,” Museum & Nature Center’s Bendel Galleries, 151 Scofieldtown Road. Through Jan. 10. 203-977-6521, stamfordmuseum.org
“Faber Birren National Color Award Show,” online exhibit presented by Stamford Art Association, through Nov. 8. stamfordartassociation.org
Loft Artists Gallery, 575 Pacific St. “Multiplicity-Psyche, Culture and Change in 2020,” virtual exhibit only runs through Dec. 1. Gallery hours: Fridays 5-7:30 p.m.; Saturdays 1-4 p.m. Facemasks required. 203-247-2027, loftartists.org
“Faces of Pandemic Front Lines” presented by The Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (CSOPA) in collaboration with Stamford Downtown, currently offers an online gallery, and a storefront display, 170 Bedford St. csopa.org
WEST HARTFORD
Dance
Ballet Theatre Company’s “Through the Tulle,” exhibit showcases its vast collection of tutus and performance costumes in museums and galleries throughout New England. Open in its entirety at the West Hartford Art League, through Nov. 22. finally to the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, through the end of the year. dancebtc.org
Music
Online Organ Recital Series, on live video-stream via St. John's YouTube channel and St. John's Facebook page featuring local musicians: Edward Clark, organ, Nov. 11; Ezequiel Menendez, organ, Nov. 18; Christa Rakich, organ, Nov. 25. All concerts are 12:1512:45 p.m. No charge. Listeners are encouraged to donate to Hartford-area organizations that are assisting hungry and homeless people affected by COVID-19: Loaves & Fishes, Journey Home, and/or Food Share.reddoormusic.org/events/
Specials
Whiskey Tasting, taste 4 exclusive whiskeys with nationally known and well-respected Level 3 Whiskey Sommelier Irene Tan from Whiskey Mentors in Canterbury, on Zoom, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. Tickets are $150 (includes a whiskey sample kit). Ticket holders will be required to pick up their sample kits at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT, prior to the event. Pick up times TBA. Tickets at playhouseonpark.org, by phone at 860-523-5900 ext. 10, or in person at 244 Park Road, West Hartford, CT. 06119.
WESTPORT
Lectures
Malloy Lecture in the Arts with guest speaker, Anna Deavere Smith, virtual event hosted by Westport Library on Zoom, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. Register at westportlibrary.org