Pen Turning Workshop – 2/24/24

Back by Popular demand!
The Central Connecticut Woodturners Club and the
Ashford Area Arts Council will have another pen
turning event on Saturday Feb. 24 from 10 to 2 at
Knowlton Hall. Absolutely no woodturning experience
necessary…and the event is FREE!

Open to all ages: any kids must be at least 10 years old to participate. There will be plenty of skilled woodturners there to guide you in creating a beautiful pen! No reservations needed, just come between 10am – 2pm.

AAAC Artists at the Ashford Farmers Market

The following artists will be vendors at the new INDOOR Ashford Farmers Market. This will be in the Knowlton Hall, Sunday mornings.

Michael W. Hughey, Craftsman and Artist in letterforms and the book arts has had a love affair with beautiful letters and beautiful books since childhood. Originally from Asheville, he lived for many years in NC but now resides in Northeast CT. His calligraphic works are published both nationally and internationally and collected in public and private collections, including the Metropolitan Museum, NYC, and the Bahá’í World Centre, Haifa, Israel. He feels that even in an age of increasing technology, “…there is, indeed, an important place in human society for the warmth, beauty, and grace that calligraphy can bring to our lives.”

He will exhibit note cards, limited-edition prints, and original calligraphy at the Ashford Farmer’s Market, Dec. 3rd & 17th, 10AM to 12:30 PM. He also teaches both calligraphy & handwriting privately.

John Boiano – Oakes Hollow Mud Werks
John is a potter who creates usable art inspired by nature. He is continually delving into new color schemes and design styles that borrow from the past while expanding creative boundaries.

Song baskets

Deb Aldo

Mosaic maker, teacher, explorer, and intrepid traveler.

Deb is a trained Landscape Architect who has spent years focused on the act of creating. She began drawing as a toddler and as she grew she moved on to painting, and finally to dimensional objects and the creation of spaces such as gardens, way-finding, and public art. 


Deb began making mosaics in 1997. Her education and background in art and landscape architecture led her to work on large-scale outdoor pebble and stone mosaic terraces, fountains, and wall hangings. She has completed both interior and exterior works for residential and commercial clients such as hospitals, boutique hotels, and restaurants. Among her clients is the city of Hollywood FL, the town of Killingly CT, and most well-known of all Tom Brady and his wife Giselle Bundchen. 


Deb has received numerous awards for her art and her work has been on exhibit at SAMA Mosaic Arts International, The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, and Galleries in Ireland, Austria, and all across America. She has worked in collections internationally and has taught all over the world including in Guatemala and Europe.

Visit her website

Karrie Kirchner


Karrie Kirchner (she/her) is an Artist, Spiritual Director, Certified Yoga Instructor and Gardener.  Karrie works with all types of media – ink, paint, fibers, textiles, fabric, paper, beads, plant material and found objects. Collage is her favorite; creating sacred space is her passion. She takes a seeker’s approach to life and enjoys playing with metaphors. Her favorite movie is Kung Fu Panda 3.
www.karriekirchner.com

A Summer Palette

Ashford Area Arts Council (AAAC) and Westford Hill Distillers (WHD) are eagerly planning for another successful A Summer’s Palette!  Join us in showcasing our talented artisans on the Saturday, June 24th RAIN OR SHINE from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

The Quiet Corner of CT is home to many talented, and nationally recognized, artisans and authors. 
The idyllic setting of Westford Hill Distillers is rich in colors, views and history and provides for a picture-perfect day for all.  It’s a day to relax and breathe in the natural beauty of the Chatey’s property while supporting 30+ local artists.  In addition, the day will offer:

  • – Plein air painting – bring your own chair & easel & capture this beautiful setting on canvas! 
  • – A Summer’s Palette signature cocktail created by Westford Hill Distillers, plus other craft spirit beverages.
  • – Meet the distiller, Louis Chatey, and learn about 25 years of Westford Hill Distillers and this historic property.
  • – Sweet Lil Details baked goods https://www.sweetlildetailsllc.com/
  • – Live music
  • – Poetry readings by local poets  
  • – Kids activities (incl. a plein air table w/supplies)
  • – Pollinator Pathways and Garden Club table
Suzy Staubach, Potter and Author – suzy@willowtreepottery.us
Dan Merlo, Wood turner – dlm3817@gmail.com
Steve Gerling, wood carver, colored pencil, watercolor artist –segerling@snet.net
Dan Rackliffe, potter – DanRackliffePottery@gmail.com
Jane Rackliffe, glass artist – janerackliffe@gmail.com
Kathy Weigold, hand woven fabrics – www.swiftwaters.org
Gretchen Geromin/Lauren Merlo, decorative wood – Art at Thistle Run
Joseph Burger, watercolor – joseph-burger.pixels.com
Michael Metsak, goat’s milk soap and lotions – Hy-Hopefarm.com
Joan Blade Johnson, fabric artist – www.jbjfiberart.com
Mark Drobney, wood and laser cutouts
Anna Harding, stained glass – Annas Infinity Art on Etsy
Sue Muldoon, woven baskets – www.reduxforyou.com
Debora Aldo, mosaic artist – www.pietreduredesign.com
Marylin MaKuch, Metal Jewelry – Artist Open Studio page
T-Shirts with a Purpose, artist designed shirts – Facebook Page
Here’s the PDF of the artists, schedule and event layout:

Come for the art, the setting, the spirits, the food, the music, the camaraderie & fun… Whatever your inspiration, we welcome you!  

Although we adore pets, we ask that you do not bring them to this event. Thank you!

More than 25 artists will be exhibiting and selling their artwork, plus enjoy live music, observe or participate in plein air painting. Woodturning and woodcarving, pottery, authors, fiber art, fairy houses, hand-made soaps, basketry, mosaics, musical instruments, photography, weaving, and more.

Desserts by Sweet “Lil Details, plus craft cocktails available for purchase.  All this fun is taking place on the grounds at Westford Hill Distillers, New England’s first craft distiller.  Westford Hill Distillers is located on a 200-acre property that has been under the stewardship of the Chatey family since 1919. Enjoy the mature gardens, learn about craft distillation. Live music includes performances by Ashford’s Babcock Cornet Band, the longest-performing cornet band in the country. This is what a day in June should be–bring along your friends, enjoy art, hear great music and drink in an authentic New England experience in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner.  

Dan Rackliffe

Dan Rackliffe

Dan has been an active potter since 2014. He teaches hand building techniques and working on the potters wheel in a retirement community in Florida during the winter and works out of his studio In Ashford from May through September.

Some of his work work can be seen at DanRackliffePottery.com or contact him by email.

Steve Gerling

Steve Gerling has been doing relief woodcarving since the mid-1970’s. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UConn, with a major in sculpture. After school, he was drawn to the additional challenges of relief carving. Not only did an object have to be sculpted but it had to be skillfully distorted
in scale, perspective, and space to create an image convincing to the viewer.
Traditionally, most relief work was intended as decoration or embellishment to works of architecture or fine cabinetry. Steve chooses to make the carving the primary object. While much of the work were objects of fine woodworking, using them as a utilitarian frame, the main focus of attention has always been the carving.

Contact Steve via email.

Joe Burger

After retiring from a Mechanical Engineering career in 2009, I began my art journey with drawing and painting classes with a number of local instructors. I dabbled in pastel, oil, and colored pencil, but my preferred medium is watercolor, and my works are usually in the traditional realistic style. I belong to a number of art groups and am grateful for the many friends and acquaintances that art has brought my way. Sometimes I do commissions, everything from fighter jets to homesteads to puppy portraits and anything in between. Currently I teach watercolor at the Windsor Locks Senior Center.   

“The Vermonter,” traveling northbound over the Warehouse Point railroad bridge.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 20 x 26

“Wave Watchers,” a scene on a Florida beach.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 23 x 19
Price:  $250

“Somethin’ Fishy,” a work boat returning with the day’s catch.
Medium: Watercolor
Size:  26 x 21
Price:  $300


“The Art Show”
Medium: Watercolor
Size:  14 x 18, framed
Price: $270

“Old Dogs,” buddies on Crane Beach in Ipswich MA.
Medium: Colored Pencil & Watercolor
Size: 14 x 17
Price:  $500

“The Ocean Calls,”
Medium: Watercolor
Size:  16 x 20, framed
Price:  $300

“Glory Days,” a Lockheed Super Constellation in Lufthansa markings.
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 39 x 14
Price:  $400

To purchase originals or prints, please contact Joe directly.
Click on a pic above to see slideshow.

Sold Works by Joe Burger: