Gallery Opening

“2026 VCA National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Candidates”
Opening Reception: June 6, 6:30–8:00 PM

The National K–12 Ceramic Exhibition, presented in conjunction with the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference, has showcased some of the most exceptional young ceramic artists from across the United States.
Village Center for the Arts, (VCA), chooses artwork created during the year by our students that are exceptionally successful and unique works of art, a select few are chosen through a competitive juried process.

At VCA, that journey begins long before submission. Throughout the year, students dedicate hours of focus, experimentation, and persistence to develop pieces that reflect both technical skill and personal expression. From these, VCA selects a group of standout works to be submitted for national consideration.

While only a small number of pieces are ultimately accepted, every student selected for submission has already achieved something meaningful.

This special exhibition celebrates the creativity, commitment, and courage of all our VCA students whose work was chosen. We recognize not just the students that were juried into the exhibition but the students who’s work was chosen from hundreds of pieces of ceramic artwork that was created at VCA over the year.

“What people see in a finished piece is only part of the story,” says Sharon Kaufman, VCA’s pottery teacher. “Behind every work is time, persistence, and the willingness to keep going through trial and tribulation. We’re proud of every student who reached this level”.

This is a free event. refreshments will be served.
June 6, 6:30–8:00 PM
Exhibition Dates: June 7–27, 2026

https://www.villagecenterarts.org/eventscalendar

Gallery Opening

Village Center for the Arts Presents: “Where the Light Lingers” Paintings by Alison Litke
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 2 | 6:30–8:00 PM
Exhibition on view through May 30

Village Center for the Arts is pleased to present a solo exhibition of recent work by Connecticut artist Alison Litke, opening Saturday, May 2 from 6:30–8:00 PM. This free event is open to the public, with additional viewing available through May 30.

Alison’s work is rooted in a deep appreciation for the quiet beauty of the natural world. Inspired by the ever-changing light playing across Connecticut’s landscapes and waterways, her paintings capture fleeting moments. The fog lifting off the water, morning dew catching the sun, and the shifting drama of stormy skies.

A lifelong Connecticut resident, Alison began drawing at an early age, sketching trees, flowers, and animals as a child before expanding into sculpture in clay and wood during her high school years. She continued her artistic studies at Wesleyan University, later turning her focus to painting in 2008. Working primarily in acrylics, she found the medium allowed her to quickly and intuitively respond to the subtle nuances of light and atmosphere.

Daily walks through local hills and farm roads, as well as time spent kayaking on nearby lakes, provide an ongoing source of inspiration. Her work reflects not only what she sees, but what she experiences in moments of stillness, movement, and connection within the natural environment​.

This exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to experience, reflect, and reconnect with the familiar yet ever-changing landscapes that surround us in the light that lingers.

Village Center for the Arts is located at 12 Main Street, New Milford, CT.

For more information, please visit villagecenterarts.org or contact us (860) 354-4318.

Gallery Opening

We’re excited to invite you to our newest gallery exhibition at Village Center for the Arts.

Evoking Contrast
Ceramics by Matt Denning
Paintings by Beatrice Rossi-Landi

Gallery Opening
Friday, April 4th
6:30–8:00 PM
12 Main Street, New Milford
Free and open to the public

This two-person exhibition brings together the elemental presence of clay and the luminous quality of paint in a dynamic exploration of contrast.

Matt Denning, a Bridgewater-based ceramic artist with over 40 years of experience, presents wood-fired and salt-glazed works shaped by flame, texture, and tradition.

Beatrice Rossi-Landi, a Roxbury painter with an international background in design and fine art, draws inspiration from the landscapes of Litchfield County, capturing color, atmosphere, and subtle shifts in light.

Together, their work creates a compelling visual dialogue within our gallery space.

The exhibition will remain on view through April 26th.

We hope you’ll join us for the opening and experience this powerful pairing in person.

(860) 354-4318 for more information.

villagecenterarts.org