Kathy has been mastering the art of quilling since 2018. As an acrylic painter for most of her life, she found a new passion the multidimensional art of quilling, and has even started combining the acrylic painting and quilling together to create some fun multimedia art. Stop by and see at A Summer’s Palette, she’ll be working on a piece, or join her group on Facebook.
Browse through the gardens of this historic property, and talk to more than 30 local artists about their work.
You will find fiber art, basketry, authors, jewelry, pottery, photography, soaps and skin care, paintings, pointillism, wood working, weaving, quilling felting and more!
Enjoy a craft cocktail from Westford Hill Distillers, enjoy a snack or lunch
and even paint en plein air, if you’d like. Children’s activities are available, so bring the whole family. However, while we love pets, please leave them home.
June 28th, 10am-4pm, Rain date is June 29th.
Westford Hill Distillers is located at 196 Chatey Rd, Ashford, CT 06278-1007
Click for map.
Below is a list of attending artists and local venues:
| 1. Kathleen Mittan 2. Marilyn MaKuch 3. Suzy Staubach 4. Joan Archand 5. Joan Blade Johnson 6. Tom Barker 7. Mike Metsak 8. Kathy Dean 9. Alison Ciarlante 10. Pollinator Pathways 11. John Boiano 12. Jason Hilley 13. Mark Drobney 14. Linda Davidson 15. Jay Bartholomew 16. Xiaohong Song 17. Ashford Historical Society 18. Sharon Punty 19. Jen Stone 20. Charles McCaughtry 21. Lauren Merlo 22. Gretchen Geromin | 23. Dan Rackliffe 24. Kathy Weigold 25. Elizabeth Budington 26. Anna Harding 27. Steve Gerling 28. Dan Merlo 29. Joe Burger 30-31. Ashford Area Arts Council 32. Plein Air Painting 33. Artists for Asheville Gallery Artists: Christine Acebo Debra Aldo Nancy Bunnell Dot Drobney Deb Gag Frank Krasicki Bonnie Massey Stacey Palmer Chris Pavliscsak Venue: Westford Hill Distillers |
Every year the AAAC awards scholarships to graduating art students at EO Smith High School – one for the performing arts, one for the visual arts and one for literary arts. In 2024, the Board of the AAAC decided to present an art scholarship to a student at Windham Technical High School as well. These students are chosen because they have taken two or more courses in their area; exhibited enthusiasm, interest, honesty, and integrity; and produced quality work viewed or open to the public. The recipients plan on pursuing their interest vocationally or as an avocation.
Hannah is a graduating senior of E.O.’s Ag-Ed Animal Science program. Outside the classroom, she nurtures her passion for animal care, riding horses and working as a Veterinary Technician. Art holds a special place in Hannah’s heart. Known in the classroom for her pursuit of new artistic techniques, Hannah’s persistence and ambition are hallmarks of her character. As she anticipates the future, Hannah is enthusiastic about continuing her journey in the arts.
During her time in high school, Jaylyn has demonstrated a passion for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writing. She has published some of her work in the school’s literary magazine
and, most recently, in the Young Writer’s book of 100-word stories, SOS Sagas: Hunted. After completing her initial studies at a Connecticut
State Community College, Jaylyn hopes to continue cultivating her craft by pursuing English and Creative Writing at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Lael is in the Information Technologies shop at Windham Tech. Along with his interest in computers, Lael is very interested in animation and digital media art. He has been independently studying drawing, anatomy, and
figure drawing by practicing both tradition methods and digital media.
Lael is a self-motivated learner who has learned several languages on his own. Lael won
the Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award. Next year, he will continue his study of computers and art as he pursues a degree at the
University of Connecticut. Lael’s efforts and amazing work ethic have earned him a full academic tuition scholarship at UConn.
Ella Johnston is a senior, bass player, and theater director at E.O. Smith High School.
After learning to read music during years of piano lessons, Ella was recruited to play double bass in the fifth grade by the orchestra teacher. Ella also participates in the EOS Drama Club. Ella became enthralled by the
performances of theater and became active in the Drama Club as a techie, working behind the scenes on props and set design. This year, Ella directed the play CLUE, and worked diligently to bring the iconic play to life. Next year, Ella is going to the University of Glasgow to study sociology, philosophy, and music.
Dan Merlo makes bowl, pepper mills and tables from “Rescued Wood.” He often accents his pieces with colored resin, enhancing the natural beauty of the wood. Contact Dan to visit his studio in Eastford, CT!
Xiaohong Song enjoys working in various mediums including painting, stitching and crayon. Her cheerful, romantic pieces celebrate flowers and nature. Follow her on Facebook.
Gretchen Geromin and Lauren Merlo work as a team, collaborating on unique, handmade boards and signs with original wood burned art. Working with local downed trees, Lauren makes the boards. Gretchen then wood burns them birds, mice, horses, flowers, cats, dragons and more. They welcome commissions and can be found at our shows.
Jay’s art captures the beauty of nature in bold colors and dynamic textures, created using acrylics on canvas or wood. He invites viewers to experience the joy and serenity of the great outdoors, transforming everyday scenes into lively expressions of color and emotion. If you’re looking to add a splash of inspiration to your space, come and see for yourself! JaNoBaStudios.com
Art has proven to be the most potent means for me to reconnect with my true self. Whether I’m immersed in painting, drawing, or any other creative pursuit, I lose myself in the process, and the external world fades away. In this state, I forge a connection with reality that defies easy explanation. It’s a profoundly soothing experience that enables me to rediscover myself and my surroundings.
While you will find that most of my work is in brightly colored landscapes, I do like to experiment with different styles and subjects as I make my artist journey. My subjects are a mix of being loosely based on actual places along with views straight out of my imagination.
Lori is a watercolor artist who is inspired by sights she sees while traveling, often on her bicycle. At the Holiday Artist Market she will have large framed paintings as well as affordable mini paintings, both framed and on wood blocks, as well as cards and unframed works. Lori will be at our Holiday Artist Market.
Michael Hughey is a WNC native, creative artisan, calligrapher, illustrator, instructor, & author, living in Tolland, CT since June 2020. We reached out to him to help us with ways to give back to artists struggling to recover from Hurricane Helene.
“Thank you for asking and for thinking of the craftsmen, artists, and flood-ravaged folks of western NC (WNC)! These folks are pulling together and helping their neighbors, but the task is to recover from the largest destruction ever seen in WNC, surpassing even the catastrophic floods of 1916!
It may help New Englanders to understand the scope of destruction by comparing WNC to New England: the area of WNC is roughly equivalent to VT, NH, MA, CT, & RI combined.”
Here are a few organizations helping that I recommend:
• Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+)
•Support Hope Mill Inc Hurricane Relief
Helicopter Supply Drops in WNC; based in Charlotte with operations out of Hickory Regional Airport: airdrops to areas otherwise unreachable in remote WNC mountains, cut off by flooded rivers, washed out roads, or landslides.
• Donations, equipment, or questions: email: helenedonations@buncombecounty.org Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County where some of the worst flooding and wind destruction has occurred. It is 50 miles from N to S and 22 miles from Wto E, 660 sq. miles.
• Manna Food Bank : Perhaps the best & largest food bank in the area with many partners throughout WNC. Their main operation on the Swannanoa River was flooded out, but they are back up and operating – all their people survived! Really good people doing very good work!!
• Other agencies can be found on the Blue Ridge Public Radio’s website
