Winter Halts, Spring Has Sprung Forward - Myth or Legend

As Winter comes to a halt, Spring has definitely made every effort to show us her resilience. Look at each tree, you can see the buds starting to appear; daffodils are sprouting as is the crocuses. And all of this is neither myth nor legend, it is truth, it is fact, it is the Law of Mother Nature.

And yes, the Second Art Stroll is fast approaching us at the same time as the Spring Event Mother Nature is displaying.

Firehouse Gallery at 81 Naugatuck Avenue will be presenting an exhibit entitled "Myths and Legends." The exhibit will be juried by Susan Clinard, sculptor and art instructor. A graduate of University of Michigan, she has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Palette and Chisel Academy of Art and Gallery 37, and currently is an instructor at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven.

Accepted entries will be exhibited from march 10th to April 7th. The Opening Reception will take place on Thursday, March 10th starting at 6:00 pm.

"Butterfly Garden" Oils by Marcia Delaney-Wilsie

As their event winds down at 8:00 pm make sure you head down Naugatuck Avenue (actually 7 doors down on your right) to SoBoBo gallery where Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie is exhibiting as March's Artist. Her work is mindful of Monet...

"Gerdan" by Lara Sendich

While there, meander about and see the works by artisan Lara Sendich - her gerdans remind you of something Nefertiti would wear...see the abstracts by Lisa Salerno, the deco work by Allan Dudek, the pottery by Angela Alvisi, watercolors by Vinita Manjunath, the jewelry by Daliah Fowler, Teru Rexroad, Keelin Brett, Kate Davoli, and more. Paintings oils/acrylics by Rona Harris, Frieda Howling, Matt Roe, Arlene Capozzi, Joan Fresher, Rick Senft, Betsey Writght and more...sculptures, wood carvings, quilts, and fiber art by Mary Anne Lagana!


After visiting and meeting Marcia, you might want to go three doors down from SoBoBo to Alpha's Jolly Jug and try the wines they are presenting to taste. Take a sip, let it roll over your taste buds...Delicious! After trying their vino, and perhaps pick up a bottle or two for home...

...do not forget to go down to the stop sign and turn right onto Broadway, as you turn the corner you may hear music playing. Follow the sounds and you will find yourself sitting in Wild Expressions, sharing space with Collected Stories...They too have local artists showing work...from jewelry to paintings to photos!

Enjoy the evening!

March Winds Play A Prelude As They Usher In Spring...

"Self taught, I come from a long line of artists. It has been around me all of my life. On retiring I decided to take up oil painting. I love it! My oil paintings seemed to get a good response so I continue. It is a great expression of my love of nature. My paintings have been shown in Firehouse Gallery, SoBoBo, and recently at Gilded Lily all in Milford, Connecticut. In December of 2010, I had exhibited with Traveling Art Gallery - T.A.G. during its stay in Bridgeport, Connecticut. My "Audubon" painting won Peoples Choice at Firehouse Gallery. Also, "Hemlocks" had taken Honorable Mention at Firehouse Gallery. I participated in "The Doors of Milford" in 2010. My door and other pieces were shown at Tranquility Spa also in Milford."

-- Marcia Wiltsie, 2010 --


Marcia Delaney-Wiltise - oil painter, has an impressionistic style that envelopes you, bringing you into the world of Monet! Remember, it is said that when the winds blow change is afoot and magical things can happen; their melodious howling sounding like a symphony.

As you peer around Marcia's opened door "Mulberry on Oak" you can hear a whisper taunting you to walk through. One would think "Alice in Wonderland?" No, no, after all Alice fell down a rabbit hole...remember, as the winds blow, many odd things take place...

One quickly realizes that it's the sound of her paint brush sliding across the canvas, swish, swish, and you know you have to follow the sound. The sound pulls you through, into the painting even if you resist you become part of the world of color and splendor!

You check to see if what your eyes are envisioning is Monet, but yet you know it was Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie's "Mulberry On Oak" you were looking at. Perhaps, magic is in the air?

"Butterfly Garden" - Oils - by Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie

A dirt path is beneath your feet, you can smell the freshly tilled garden and oh! the fragrances, the scents of the "Butterfly Garden" sends your senses into a whirlwind...

You hear birds chirping; there is "Gary" sitting on the branch of a white birch, and "Robin" near the Hydrangeas.

"Gary" - Oils - by Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie

You know that the garden is near the sea, for you can smell the salt riding on the "Summer Breeze" lending you a place to lay in the hammocks and sway back and forth all the while looking at "Beach I & II."

You hear children giggling and you look up to see "Kate & Lexie" sitting on the porch stoop, telling each other secrets. "The Girls" slightly whimper letting someone know inside "Let us in."

"The Girls" - Oils - Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie

You quickly get to your feet, when all the while you have been standing gazing at Marcia's paintings...for, when the winds blow change is afoot and magical things happen; whirling through the trees and around buildings playing a prelude to Spring.

You can smell the "Farm Fresh" vegetables that were just picked, and "Apples I & II" make your mouth water has you can hear the crispness when someone bites into them. You can touch the wool on "Shabby Sheep."

"Shabby Sheep" - Oils - by Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie

Before you know it, you come upon "Winter Trees" and "Hemlocks" bringing you back to reality, to the cold, blustery winds of March..."Oh, wait" you say, the winds are ushering in Spring, blowing the clouds in for April Showers so that May Flowers can bloom...bringing you full circle to "Days End" in the "Butterfly Garden" your senses reeling with the floral fragrances mixed with the smell of the earth...guiding you once again through the opened door "Mulberry On Oak."

You step back and wonder, "where was I just then?" "Was that truly a whisper I heard?" "Who or what guided me through?" Was it perhaps Monet, or was it truly Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie sharing the wondrous splendors and colors she sees every day which we take for granted; or just March Winds playing us, stirring up the energies, creating this magical event?

Marcia's style is authentic. Some may say a bit primitive, others feel definitely impressionism, and yet others you hear speak of her as possibly a student of Monet. Marcia's talent is blooming, her brush strokes are deliberate, yet each one has a sensuous flow allowing our own senses to become intertwined. That is how we were able to hear the whisper of each brush stroke, that is why we followed the sounds, that is why we smelled the fragrances of the garden, that is why we thought we were swaying in the hammock, hearing the children giggling, the dogs whimpering. That is why we felt the cold snapping us out of the mythical sense we were experiencing, bringing us back to now.

It is said that when the winds blow change is afoot and magical things happen...so it is safe to say we just experienced "The Prelude To Spring..." as we are being played by the March Winds; and for sure it is one we won't forget.

Marcia Delaney-Wiltsie will be exhibiting at SoBoBo Gallery from March 1st to March 31st. Visit us at 42 Naugatuck Avenue and feel the connection that draws you into each painting. Enjoy the experience of being played by the March Winds!

Marcia's Exhibit Reception is Thursday, March 10th from 7pm to 9pm....the same night as the Art Stroll and Firehouse Gallery's Opening Reception for their exhibit "Myths & Legends."

See you sooner than you think....

Artisan, Sam Rawls On Exhibit During February & Beyond...

"Variation of Hearts" by Sam Rawls

"Each time I hold new beads in my hands, designs flood my mind and my hands fly into action. In the beginning, I designed beaded jewelry as gifts for family and friends. They encouraged me to sell my designs and jewelry design became my passion. Each piece is designed with a different flair to satisfy the diva inside each woman and hand crafted to last for a hundred "ahhhs.""

-- Sam Rawls, 2010

"Heart" by Sam Rawls

Sam's creations are from the soul. It is as if her soul directs her to create...like a muse. Her work is impeccable..she takes care as she creates each piece. From casual to professional; from classy to natural; she designs for all desires.

Come see for yourself, and I am sure you will find something - if not for you, for someone else! The work moderately priced makes it easier for everyone to own a piece of "wearable art" designed and constructed by Sam! You swear, she made the necklace, or bracelet, or earrings with you in mind!

Sam is February's Artisan/Jeweler...her work is featured for the month of February; however you will still find her here after February...for she is one of SoBoBo's favorite artisans for jewelry by our visitors!

"New England Weather Changes with the Blink of an Eye"

"Blink Of An Eye" - drawing - by Nancy Helfant

You know the saying "New England weather changes with the blink of an eye...," well, it certainly has! Did you hear about the weather for Thursday, February 10th? We are actually going to have beautiful weather, perhaps a bit cold, but sunny and NO SNOW OR RAIN!

"Goddess of the Meadow" by Croshen

Was the weather change due to the blessings from the gods to show us Spring is on her way? Who knows? Who cares? - We got a break...

...So you must come and join in the Art Stroll....visit Firehouse Gallery at 6:00 p.m. for their opening reception of their new juried exhibit "Interiors." Stop and visit, meet the artists, and Rosemary Gordon, who judged the entries. You can even vote for your favorite piece now that "People's Choice Award" has returned.

When the reception is over at 8:00 p.m. meander down to SoBoBo at 42 Naugatuck Avenue and meet Marian Doherty, February's Artist...she will explain how order actually converses with chaos instead of being at odds.

While you are at SoBoBo, make sure you try, award winning chef and owner of Lazy Lobster, Scott Wiseman's soup which will warm you up!

Once you leave make sure you go three doors down to Alpha's Jolly Jug. They are having a wine tasting...inhale the aroma of the wine, sip it, let it roll over your taste buds and ENJOY! It will warm you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.

Afterwards, go down around the corner onto Broadway and head to Wild Expressions who is our new neighbor, sharing space with Collected Stories...to listen to Tim Payson as he plays his melodious tunes!

Visit us, have some soup and wine and join in lively discussions as you break the cabin fever you have been experiencing...

See you soon...