The very popular Ashford Area Arts Council’s “Holiday Artist Market” event will be in its 9th year, with more than 20 local artisans both days. With joyful with upbeat acoustic music on the stage, enjoy a holiday shopping experience and see what our ample community of artists and craftsmen has been creating. So much variety and all of it inspired, well-made, beautiful, and unique. Shop local & support our arts community. Continue reading “Holiday Artist Market – Nov. 15th-16th, 2025”
Gretchen Geromin and Lauren Merlo work as a team, collaborating on unique, handmade boards and signs with original wood burned decoration. They are local artists who create their work from local materials, using wood from downed trees. This year, in addition to their charcuterie boards, they are making flower presses and bluebird houses.
Lauren has been working with wood for over forty years, creating beauty and comfort for area homes. He brings his expert eye, fine craftsmanship, and a keen attention to detail to his work. Using his finely-honed carpentry skills, he makes cutting boards and signs that show the rich character of the wood.
Gretchen has been creating art and riding horses since a very young age and wood burning since she was ten years old. She still has her first wood burning tool. Gretchen’s original wood burned art completes the boards that Lauren makes. Her herons, owls, frogs, sunflowers, roses, birds, fishermen, mice, horses, and dragons enhance each piece.
Gretchen and Lauren’s art is beautiful and useful, made in harmony with the environment.
Our monthly council meeting will be held at the Ashford Senior Center.
The public is always welcome to attend – as are any current or potential members who would like to help out!
This meeting will focus on our annual Holiday Artist Market.
Charles McCaughtry will have his Spring Open House on the following dates; Saturday April 27th; Sunday April 28th; Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th. Hours for all days are 10am to 6pm. The studio is located at 44 Portland Drive in Ashford. Phone: 860-429-1016. Studio Gallery is open at other times by appointment.
Valerie Oliver will be giving a talk about her publication The Historical Society of Early American Decoration,
its historical record at the Babcock Library at 10:00 a.m. on May 11th, a Saturday. There will also be a tea, and she will display a few objects decorated using the
historical techniques. She will speak about how she came to write the history and what it revealed about a mostly female led group since its founding in 1946, etc. Valerie was a Society Trustee from 2002-2012 and Pres. 2011 and 2012 and is currently their Historian and asst. editor of their journal The Decorator.
Tony Paticchio will be hosting six new ZOOM
poetry workshop sessions beginning February 5th.
The sessions meet bi-weekly from 6:00-8:00 PM
Eastern Time, generally on Monday evenings.
There are a few openings (2-3) if anyone is interested
in joining. They spend the first hour reading
and discussing a selection of poems, usually from
contemporary and near contemporary poets. During the second hour they
workshop their own poetry and short prose pieces. You do not need to
be a writer to participate. They are looking for participants who have an
interest in poetry and would like to read and discuss poems together with
a group (and if so inclined share their own work with the group).
Contact Tony if you are interested or have questions. They are a wide-ranging group, having several members who join them from as far away as the West Coast.
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.
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.
I’m an artist and Peace Rock spreader. Spreading Peace One Rock at a Time! Mandalas are my fav. It all started on April 1st, 2009. I was having a bad day, so I decided to paint a picture to make it brighter. I took a rock and painted a Peace symbol on it.
My art centers around Peace, Love and Dogs. I love to paint on rocks. I love art that inspires and makes you feel good. I also love to make cards.
Find her on Facebook
Etsy
Instagram
Jane Rackliffe is a fused glass artist from Ashford, Connecticut and North Port, Florida. She is currently teaching fused glass in Florida and enjoys her studios in both locations year round. Her work can be view on her website, and is currently on display at the Moon and the Monocle in Willington, CT.
