Arts festival to return to New Milford Green

By Deborah Rose

A celebration of the arts will take center stage on New Milford’s picturesque Village Green June 29.

Nearly 50 artists from a handful of mediums will unite to showcase and sell their art as part of the second annual New Milford Arts Festival.

In addition, music, theater, and dance performances will be featured throughout the day.

The event, sponsored by the Town and its arts commission, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lou Mandler, chair of the New Milford Arts Commission and the festival, said organizers hope the festival will shine a spotlight on the town and all it offers, and the arts.

Participating artists agree.

“I love participating in events that are close to home as I can really connect to people in my own community,” said New Fairfield pen and ink artist Steven Habersang. 

“It’s also hard to beat the setting,” he said. “The New Milford Green is such a great spot to celebrate the arts. It’s a scenic location and a vibrant town. Events like this just enhance it.”

The festival will feature 49 fine artists from the region, including Litchfield County, and part of Fairfield and Hartford counties.

Watercolor, oil, acrylic, drawing, photography, woodwork, pottery, jewelry, resin, and sculpture are among the mediums to be highlighted.

Live music, theater and dance performances, and visual art displays will also be featured.

“It’s such a well-organized, well-curated event that celebrates all avenues of the arts - from painters to illustrators, fiber artists, wood workers, musicians and dancers,” said Habersang. 

“Every year it just gets better and better,” he said. “And you can tell all the organizers and volunteers are passionate about creating a great event for both the town and the artists.”

Shelton photographer Teri Dyer said she is returning to the festival this year because the venue is unique, and sales were positive.

“We sold a lot of photography (and) the crowds were strong all day long,” she said of last year's event.

She said in the past she thought about how the Green would be a “great place for an art show” while dining at a downtown Italian restaurant.

After some research, she discovered the inaugural festival last year and registered to participate.

Another returning artist will be Matin Malikzada, a seventh-generation Afghan master potter and a humanitarian refugee recently resettled in the U.S.

In addition to the sale of art, entertainment will be offered. 

The lineup will include family movement with Pilobolus at 10:30 a.m.; dance with Studio D at 11:30 a.m.; TheatreWorks Kids at 12:30 p.m.; steel drum music with Chris Merwin at 1:30 p.m.; and music with Bearclaw’s Academy of Music students at 2:30 p.m.

The Bob Stump Bluegrass Band will perform live music at the bandstand at 7 p.m. – two hours after the festival ends.

Mandler said organizers hope patrons will explore the downtown restaurants during the day and after the festival ends before coming back to hear the music at 7.

A list of restaurants is printed on festival handouts, Mandler said. 

“We want to encourage patrons to discover New Milford,” she said. “There are lots of places to eat….and we want them to come back for other events (in town).”

In case of rain, music will be moved to the First Congregational Church at 36 Main St.

“We hope the weather to be good,” Mandler said. “Last year it was so hot, which is why we moved the festival to June this year.”

Habersang said he looks forward to connecting with festival patrons. 

“Especially in New Milford, I have so many interesting conversations with everyone who stops by the booth, whether we chat about art in general, or about why my art resonates with them,” he related. 

“As an artist it’s so gratifying to have the opportunity to be face to face with people who appreciate not only my work but art in general in all its forms,” he summed up.

Courtesy of Matin Malikzada/Works by Matin Malikzada, such as “Nested Turquois Bowls,” will be displayed and sold at the festival.

Courtesy of Andrew Armas/Paintings by Andrew Armas will be featured at the June 29 event.

Courtesy of Judith Secco/Photography by Judith Secco will be showcased.

Courtesy of Skip Marsh/Skip Marsh, whose work is shown above, specializes in realistic work, including landscapes, seascapes, and birds.

Courtesy of Studio D/Among the performing artists will be dancers from Studio D, which just marked its 20th anniversary.