Fair Haven Community Arts Center

Looking for a unique gift idea? How about one or both of our Fair Haven Retrospective books? The original Fair Haven Retrospective book (volume 1) or Fair Haven Retrospective 2020 (volume 2). The books are $20 each and are available at the Hardware Cafe & General Store - which is open daily, next door to the Arts Center. For a $5 shipping fee we can mail a book anywhere in the U.S. Contact us by email to arrange shipping and payment. The purchase of this book(s) is a w...ay for you to support the Arts Center. It is a look back in time to the Fair Haven of Yesterday and was released in September 2020 at our Fair Haven Retrospective Show. The book contains artwork from local artists as well as stories written by our local writers - stories of the early settlers in Sterling, early businesses in Fair Haven and how they evolved, village characters and life back in the day. This year's book has a section on some of our Foremothers as well as one on our "First" Pandemic. Yes, it was just over a hundred years ago that the Spanish Flu caused such devastation in Fair Haven -- you might be interested to read what recommendations the health professionals had back then! Stop by the Hardware Cafe or email us at [email protected]. See more

Normally, this time of year we are getting ready for our Winter Photography contest in February - something we are not going to be able to do this year due to Corona virus safety concerns. However, many of us love the winter photography exhibition -- there is something so special about our winter scenes. So we came up with another idea. One of the things I love about spring around here is seeing the world re- awken after the "death" of winter. Looking outside in the winter... when everything is frozen and grey/white it's hard to imagine that just a few months away we'll be seeing life emerge once again. But it does -- every year, that miracle happens. And so it will this year. And so we got the idea that this year we would "re-imagine" our "Winter" photo contest. We will instead have a photo contest in the Spring,. In this show people could capture the beautiful cold winter scenes and then capture that same scene as it comes to life in the Spring.. And we'll name our show "Re-Awakening". So when you see a beautiful scene this winter (and I'm sure we won't be disappointed -- the snow will come ) - take that pic and save it .. Then think about the life that is dormant waiting its' time to emerge in the Spring.. Appreciate the dormant stage as it gives us time for rest and allows us to be ready for reawakening in the spring. Then, as life starts to re-emerge in the spring take another pic of that scene. And perhaps, as you observe nature you may see how you can use this dormant time in your own life and realize that there is hope that life will re-awaken in the not too distant future! So photographers this is a wonderful opportunity to capture our changing world! We will also be extending our show to writers. - to capture what re-awakening this spring means to you. Speaking of writers -- there will be a zoom meeting of our Writer's Group this Wednesday, January 13 at 6:00 pm. If you would like to attend, but have not done so before, please email us (can just respond to this email) and we will send you a link to the meeting.. So let's move together into 2021 with hope of better things to come! Susan

Due to the increasing number of Corona Virus cases locally we have decided to temporarily suspend in person activities at the Arts Center. We will be transitioning the "Let's Talk " classes to zoom sessions, starting with the next class which is the first Monday in December. More information on that to come. The Writer's Group is already meeting via Zoom and that will continue, with the next session on December 2 at 6:00 pm. The Paint With Friends class, normally schedule...d for Thursdays is being suspended until further notice. Also, in the interest of community safety, we have decided to cancel our plans for the Holiday Expo, This is a disappointment to many - but, at this point we just don't think it is worth the potential risk. We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving -- that you find true things to be thankful for, in the midst of these uncertain times. And we will stay in touch with more ways to connect and share and create as move forward into winter - See more

Thanks to all who participated in this year's Leaf Peeper Weekend/Sterling Art Show. We had a terrific amount of really good entries - making it hard in some cases for judges to pick the "best" in each category. Here are the 1st place winners in each category. Woodworking: John DeMarco. Acrylics: Sarah Irland Drawing: Amber Paige... Fabric Arts: Marie Fitzgerald Photography: Kyle Meddaugh Digital Photography: Kyle Meddaugh Oil: Lois Luber Watercolor: Millie Newshan Mixed Media: Michelle Patterson See more

Well Leaf Peeper weekend is over; another successful event. The People's Choice winner is Marie Fitzgerald and her lovely cross stitch "A Beautiful Bounty". Marie also won 1st place in Fabric Arts. Congratulations Marie!

Update: And the winner of the gift basket is: Carol Woollis. Congrats Carol, hope you enjoyed visiting our local shops! Just a reminder that Leaf Peeper Weekend is here. All completed trail cards are eligible for the gift basket drawing. The gift basket contains a prize from every stop on the trail($200 value) The Sterling Art Show gallery hours are 10-4 Sat & Sun. Location is the Fair Haven Arts Community Center for adult entries and OnePhoto for the youth entries. Stop in at each location and vote for your favorite artwork. Each location will have their own People's Choice Ribbon awarded on Sunday at 4pm.

Reserve your seat. You get to be the jury.

Reminder to Save the Date.

Registration form for Sterling Art Show - Leaf Peeper Weekend, October 24 & 25. Available on our website or email and request a form. Registration deadline is Monday, October 19th.

Save the Date: October 24th & 25th. Leaf Peeper Weekend & Sterling Art Show. Details and Call for Entries to follow.

Nice turnout for "The Fight of our Foremothers"-- readings of letters between Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Lady Stanton describing the fight for women's rights.

FAIR HAVEN RETROSPECTIVE ART SHOW REGISTRATION - Register by September 1st. Show Dates: September 5th to September 13th 2020 Categories ... Notes for the Art Show: Please email [email protected] by September 1st if you plan to participate. Registration form can be provided at time of drop off or downloaded from https://www.fairhavenarts.org/event No entry fee. Art must be dropped off on Wednesday, September 3rd between 2 pm and 6 p.m. Art work must be picked up on Sunday, September 13th between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Please Email: [email protected] with any further questions.