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15th Biennial Miniature Print International Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: June 1 – August 24, 2025

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking is delighted to announce the 15th Biennial International Miniature Print Competition and Exhibition. This juried competition and exhibition is limited to original prints that are no bigger than four square inches (25.8 sq cm). The miniature format encourages artists to explore the essence of their work and refine it to the most important details. It also provides an opportunity for artists from around the world to exhibit their work, and exposes the public to the most current interests of the international printmaking community. Since its inception in 1997, the competition has attracted diverse entries from thousands of artists across the globe.

For 2025, 416 prints were submitted by 173 artists from 19 countries and 23 states. Juror Ann Shafer selected 89 works by 89 artists from 11 countries and 21 states.

AWARDS JUROR
Ann Shafer is an independent curator, art historian, and a leading expert on intaglio printmaking by Stanley William Hayter and Atelier 17. Formerly Shafer was associate curator of prints, drawings, and photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art, where she curated a variety of exhibitions and hosted myriad classes and visitors. She also organized the museum’s Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair in 2012, 2015, and 2017, featuring an international array of twenty presses, publishers, and dealers. In April 2022, she mounted a new, independent print fair in Baltimore. She hosts the podcast Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem and writes a blog about favorite works of art (annshafer.com). Shafer has a BA from The College of Wooster and a MA from Williams College, both in art history. In addition to the BMA, Ann has worked at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Williams College Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art.

Every person has a unique strength to offer the world, and the greatest gift is sharing that power with the next generation. Over the course of four months, student artists learned important lessons from everyday heroes who impact Bridgeport’s communities and beyond. They run small businesses and grassroots organizations, advocate for equal rights, and raise the next generation. This exhibition is an homage to these secret superheroes who make the world better. Based on the lessons that they learned from these dynamic individuals, the student artists created photographs and paintings for the exhibition with the mentorship of Tyese Williams, Robert Stone, and Alicia Cobb.

The exhibition features original works of art by Alexandra Pascoal, Jasmine Acevedo, Santiago Mota, Alex Echeverria, Jermel Allen and Jaylynd Leon.

The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Housatonic Museum of Art and Catalyst CT.

Special thanks to Noel Sepulveda at Preventive Health Solutions; Kelvin Ayala at Karaoke on Main; Louis Zayas at Bijou Theater; Vanessa Liles at PT Partners; Isaac Redd Vann at YMCA and Daddy Backwards Entertainment, Matilda Rodrigues at Educational Advocate; Don Wilson at Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Inc.; Christopher Hayes Jr.; Fary Palacios at Diamond District Barber Shop; Raquel Rivera at A Pinch of Salt, LLC; Melissa Perez Constantine at Catalyst CT The HUB; Joe and Carol Goss of Gifted Hands Boxing Academy; Chris Velez at Future Painting LLC; Evelyn Medina PT Partners; Brandon Clark at Park City Music Hall; Alicia Cobb at Art Simplicated; Adrian Albelo at Printhouse Custom Apparel; Quason Robinson and Christopher Ramirez at Gifted Hands Boxing; and John Lett at Hip Hop 1001.

Guided art adventures and self-expression—indoors and outdoors

Ages: 9–11
Dates: Monday, July 21 – Friday, July 25
Time: 8:30am–3pm
Teaching Artist: Meredith Arcari Luciano
Partnership: Arcari Floral
Fee: $350

Your child will discover endless inspiration in this hands-on, exploratory program that bridges art and nature. Gathering inspiration from the world around them, they will use tactile materials and natural elements to create artwork. Each open-ended project sparks creativity and self-expression while fostering a deep connection to nature.

Over five enriching days, young creators will:

Create eco-friendly sculptures from natural and upcycled materials.

Transform found objects into 3D artworks.

Learn the art of botanical printing.

Make their own earth-based pigments and paints.

Sketch and journal in nature.

Design wind chimes for the garden.

Build textured pathways using natural elements.

Share their artistic discoveries with newfound friends.

In Dabble, every nature walk becomes an artistic adventure, and every artwork tells a story of discovery.

This is a small group program. Space is limited.
Registration is now open for Dabble!

AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.
Scholarships available. Learn more: https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer-faq#summerscholarships
Explore more Summer @AMP programs: https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer

May 18th is International Museum Day! On this day, we encourage you to explore the incredible array of art and culture right here in Connecticut along the CT Art Trail. From historical masterpieces to cutting-edge contemporary works, our member museums offer something for everyone. Your support, whether through a visit, membership, or donation, helps these institutions continue their crucial work of preservation, education, and community engagement.

Read our latest newsletter to see how you can support CT museums at any of our 30 member museums and cultural sites, and to get the latest news and events from the Connecticut Art Trail, including:

Read the Newsletter

Fourth Fridays
Each month, the Happy Hour Piano Series offers an eclectic mix of musical genres, showcasing the region’s wealth of talented pianists. Held on the fourth Fridays, from 5 to 7 pm, the piano series extends AMP’s exhibit hours. A cash/credit bar offers wine, craft and domestic beer, and assorted beverages.

Jennifer Hill is a singer-songwriter and pianist whose music blends the soulful influences of Carole King, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin with the modern edge of artists like Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga. Jennifer’s latest solo album, Love Bomb, is a vibrant mix of retro soul and pop produced by the legendary Vic Steffens. Beyond her solo work, Jennifer is the creative force behind the electro-pop act Murderous Chanteuse and the indie rock band Jennifer Hill and Co., both available on streaming platforms. In addition, Jennifer is the founder of SWAN Day CT, the annual Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) event that showcases women in the arts, and has shared the stage with June Millington of the legendary 1970s band Fanny.

Admission: $8 at the door
The piano series is supported in part by the Greenberg family.

Get ready for a hands-on learning experience at The Carousel Museum’s 2025 Conference, where you’ll engage with passionate experts, participate in hands on workshops, and uncover the rich history behind these whimsical attractions. Whether you’re a seasoned carousel aficionado or simply curious, this weekend promises to ignite your imagination and deepen your appreciation for these timeless treasures. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this enchanting gathering; grab your tickets today and let the magic of carousels inspire you!

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Are you traveling from far away? The Double Tree Hotel in Bristol (2 miles from the Museum) has discounted room rates of $199/night.

Book through the link below to receive discounted hotel rate, you must book by April 1, 2025

This July, Grace Farms is hosting Songs of the Summer, a new and free performance series taking place on late Thursday afternoons throughout July.

Held in the Pavilion with doors open, these intimate performances feature smaller local acts, unplugged. The Songs of Summer series invites all ages to experience a moment to pause, sip iced tea (available for purchase), and enjoy lingering summer moments with connection to music, architecture, and the landscape.

These performances are a drop in, family-friendly experience for those enjoying an afternoon at Grace Farms.

Come to the Garden at Grace Farms for a hands-on class that connects families with nature. Learn basic gardening skills and imagine starting your own container or backyard herb garden. This class will naturally spark interest and embolden beginner gardeners to grow, cut and cook with their own homegrown herbs!

Each participant will take home an herb to start a garden.

Learning with Nature

An evolution of our gardening workshops, this series invites all generations to see nature at work with Kimberly Kelly, Director of Horticulture. Through guided walks, Garden visits, and indoor instruction, connect with the purpose of the ecosystems we inhabit, the vibrant life that’s a part of it, and our role in maintaining and adding to it. This summer, Kimberly brings us meaningful ways to connect with the natural world by teaching participants to plant gardens, manage beehives, notice the life of butterflies and dragonflies, and increase biodiversity in the landscape.

Navigate the extraordinary metamorphosis of butterflies through an interactive maze and traveling exhibit in Grace Farms’ indoor Court, created by The Natural History Museum in London in collaboration with Minotaur Mazes. Adventure through the leaves, learn how to move like caterpillar, discover an ant that reaps the reward of an unusual friendship, then transform into a butterfly and take flight!

Don’t miss this summer experience!

Grace Farms is a celebrated Monarch Waystation, a place that provides monarch butterflies the resources they need to survive and reproduce. Enjoy additional programming all summer that will enhance your connection to butterflies and other winged wonders, including summer picnics, Caterpillar Compass, Magnifying Small Wonders, Open Arts Studio, Walk with Dragonflies, and Look at Butterfly Life.

Grace Farms’ Music Director Marcus G. Miller will be performing a full concert with his band IWM as a special treat for the summer. It will feature classics you may remember from his Beauty and Logic Series as well, new music composed specifically for this concert and some surprise guests. This will be your only chance to see his show at Grace Farms this year; make sure you don’t miss out!

Concert is appropriate for the whole family, but not oriented to young children.

Program
4-4:30: Q&A with Marcus and Tea
4:30-6pm: Concert
6-6:15: Meet and Greet with Marcus

About Marcus G. Miller

Marcus G. Miller is the first Music Director for the Foundation. He began studying saxophone at age nine and developed a passion that put him on stage at 13. With gifts extending beyond music, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Mathematics. After a short stint at a major hedge fund he moved to New York City to pursue music. He soon developed a reputation as a versatile and virtuosic player, while studying music production and engineering under Grammy-Winning Engineer “Bassy” Bob Brockman (Notorious B.I.G, Herbie Hancock, D’Angelo).

Marcus has performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In addition, he has worked with jazz giants ELEW and Jazzmeia Horn, as well as major artists like Jon Batiste, The Fugees and Madonna.

Music at Grace Farms

This concert series invites our global community of visitors, musicians, and creators to share in an exceptional live music experience at the intersection of sound, artistry, nature, and intentionally designed spaces.