The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Activities, exhibits for children, adults
WATERBURY » The Mattatuck Museum has announced its exhibits and activities for children and adults for the month of July.
Most events require registration; some require a fee.
For information and registration, call the museum at 203-753-0381, ext. 130 or visit mattmuseum.org.
••• The public is welcome to attend to join workshops meant to inspire work for the upcoming exhibition “#IBelieveInWaterbury,” on view at the museum Sept. 10-Dec. 13.
“#IBelieveInWaterbury” is a juried exhibition that focuses on the city of Waterbury. Artists are challenged to identify those unique aspects of the city that resonate for them. The museum invites artists to share their inspiration in works that demonstrate the beauty, prosperity and momentum of Waterbury. The deadline for submission is Aug. 1. Submit works digitally to chelsea@mattmuseum.org. The exhibition will be celebrated with a reception on Sept. 10, 1-3 p.m.
On Thursday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., explore the Victorian-era home of Carrie Welton at the Rose Hill Estate and Campus with opportunities for painting, drawing and photography. Artists will have access to both the interior and exterior of the property.
Both workshops are $7 per person and pre-registration is preferred.
••• “The Shape of a Girl,” presented by new Zenith Theatre, with three performances on Friday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m.
“The Shape of a Girl” is written by Joan MacLeod and directed by Ed Wierzbicki. This dynamic, onewoman play examines the frightening realities of teenage relationships, and a young woman’s battle with inaction. Told through a series of conversations, memories and events in Braidie’s world, award-winning playwright Joan MacLeod has created an insider’s view of a teenager struggling in home and at school. Tickets are $15 each or available in a four pack for $50. Seating is limited; recommended for ages 12 and up.
••• Encaustic Workshop — July 23, 2 to 4 p.m., with artist Leslie Giuliani. Encaustic painting is a process where images are created with pigments burned into a hot wax and then pressed on a surface.
Learn beginner and intermediate techniques using R&F Encaustic (hot wax) paints and oil-based pigment sticks.
Participants will have the opportunity to create their own monotype, a oneof-a-kind print, during this workshop.
Giuliani has been an arts instructor for more than 25 years, specializing in encaustic artworks. She is a Core Support instructor for R&F Handmade Paints.
Cost for this workshop is $25 for Members and $40 for guests; registration is required.
••• Story Time with Snoopy — For ages 3 to 5, July 26, 10 a.m. Children will listen to Do Your Happy Dance, Snoopy! told by a professional storyteller and learn to dream big, try their best, and then do a happy dance with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang!
Story time will be followed by an art activity in the studio. Cost is $3 per child; call to register.
••• Music @ The MATT — Claudia and Bob Hughes with the Mark Templeton Trio, July 27, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy an eclectic blend of jazz standards and original songs composed by Claudia. Bring a snack to enjoy; a cash bar will be available. Admission $10 members, $15 guests; call for tickets.
••• Exhibition openings — Winslow Homer: American Life 1857-1875 and Passing By: Laure Dunne will be celebrated with an opening reception on Sunday, July 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.
Docent-led tours of both exhibits will be available beginning at noon.
Winslow Homer: American Life 1857-1875 features about 100 prints from illustrated weeklies and journals by American Master, Winslow Homer.
MIXMASTER winner Laure Dunne will also open her new exhibition of photography, Passing By, on July 30. This exhibition of 25 photos includes shots from Oregon, Maine, New York and Connecticut. Thematically organized between two subjects, trains and trees, Dunne’s clear, clean aesthetic is evident in these compositionally strong and dramatic images.
••• Announcing Accessing Autism Family Days — July 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Aug. 27, 12-2 p.m., Sept. 24, 12-2 p.m. Children with autism and their families are invited to explore the Museum’s art and history galleries with trained Museum Educators and experience hands-on activities related to the collection. The program is free for Museum Members and children, and $10 for guests. Registration is required.
••• Located in the heart of downtown Waterbury’s architectural district, the Mattatuck Museum is a vibrant destination, known locally and regionally as a community-centered institution of American art and history. For more information on all of the Museum’s programs, events, and exhibits visit the website at mattmuseum.org or call 203-753-0381.
The Mattatuck Museum is operated with support from the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development/CT Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, a group of 18 worldclass museums and historic sites (ctarttrail.org).
Located on the green in Waterbury, CT, at 144 W. Main St., the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Convenient, free parking is behind the museum in the lots on Park Place.