Center for the Arts (CFA) is pleased to announce this year’s May Gallery Stroll will include two new locations: Whipple Hall and Grounds Coffee. There are now a total of six locations during this First Friday Gallery Stroll’s Artist’s Reception scheduled for Friday, May 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at each gallery location.

This event is free and open to the public to meet local artists, enjoy excellent art, and connect with the community. The Center for the Arts is thrilled to offer this event four times a year to benefit local artists and community enrichment.

“This is one of my absolute favorite events that we offer,” said Executive Director Dena Stahlheber. “We are thrilled to partner with Grounds Café and the Town of New London to offer these new spaces for the community to view not only student art but emerging artists. There is so much talent in our area and we want to support all levels of artists in our community.”

From May to the end of August, the following artists will be available for the public to view not only at the opening reception on May 3 but until the next exhibit and opening reception the First Friday of September.

Starting at Whipple Hall this May will be an exhibit of Ruth Wynn’s work as a memoriam of her great talent. Ruth’s work has been in multiple publications and received multiple awards over the years. Her work has expressed creativity in realism and impressionism where she uniquely captures the memory of a moment in watercolors. Her daughter is setting up this momentous exhibit and we look forward to sharing her work with the community. Whipple Hall will be open periodically over each week for viewers or purchasers.

Another new addition to the Gallery Stroll lineup is Grounds Coffee which will host emerging artists such as this May’s artist, Emily Philbrick of Artsy Em Designs. This local artist strives to provoke emotion and transform spaces with her abstract work, landscape scenes, and linework. She sells a variety of products, from prints and stationery to mugs and tea towels. Her work can be observed at the opening reception or at Grounds during their hours every day but Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and open until 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Teen artist Grace Scarlet will be featured at the Bar Harbor Bank. Inspired by Van Gough, Scarlet paints abstract scenes with a palette knife and acrylic on canvas to create a unique texture in each of her works. Some of her works, such as “Sunset Sail,” have been abstract representations of landscapes, while others have been abstract forms of objects. Scarlet’s “Groovy” series shows the Volkswagen Beetle in abstract form. This location is available from 11-4pm most weekdays for viewing and purchasing pieces.

At Blue Moon Bakery, artists Debbie Campbell and Sherie Dowsett will be featured. Campbell is a “plein air painter,” strictly working with oils, who chooses to leave her studio to paint the local mountainous landscapes or seascapes from the New Hampshire seacoast. Dowsett shifted her creative energy from photography to watercolors to showcase her deep admiration for nature through a more experimental medium. Both artists will be available to meet at the microgallery stroll or their work can be viewed at Blue Moon Bakery, located at 12 Lovering Lane, during their hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m Thursday through Sunday.

The Tatewell Gallery will feature works by New York City native Tom Barber. After being drafted to serve as a medic in the U.S. Army in Germany in the late 60s, Barber returned to the States and became a widely recognized illustrator for the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Living in Arizona for several years, the artist gained inspiration from the southwestern landscape and wildlife. Barber has been back in New England since the 90s and continues his artistic exploration.

New London Inn will host artwork from Alison Vernon who has been painting for over 40 years. Utilizing oil paints and a palette knife, Vernon brings a variety of subjects such as landscapes, pets, animals, and flowers to life through vibrant colors and a realistic technique. See Vernon’s art for yourself at the New London Inn at 353 Main Street daily or at the microgallery stroll.

The Fleming Center Connolly Gallery at the New London Barn will host art by Timothy Sievers. After a career in medicine, Sievers began exploring his creative passions. The artist refers to his work as “kinetic,” exploring subjects such as heat, motion, and air through bright acrylics on canvas. This unique gallery space is located behind the New London Barn 84 Main Street and available for viewing by contacting info@cfanh.org.

We are still pleased to share that the New London Hospital offers a variety of CFA Guild Artists on five of the walls there and can be viewed regularly during the hospital’s hours. The hospital is not available to participate in this Gallery stroll at this time so as not to compromise any health of their patients.

This is an event not to miss. The variety of artists and level of talent is an experience for the whole community to enjoy the variety of ways creativity can be expressed in our community. Come to the Microgallery First Friday Gallery Stroll on Friday, May 3 from 5 p.m. to 7pm.

The event is free and open to the public. Appetizers and wine are offered at all locations providing an atmosphere of contemplation and sophistication while enjoying discussion and appetizers in a creative environment.

For more information or any inquiries, please contact info@cfanh.org. Join us for an evening of excellence in arts.