Monthly Archives: April 2024

Clark Memorial Library will be participating in the annual Great Give event on Wednesday, May 1 and Thursday, May 2. This 36 hour event raises money and awareness for many causes important to our region, with valuable matching funds and prizes from The Community Foundation, the Valley Community Foundation and other generous sponsors. Please visit the Bethany Library Association’s donation page on the Great Give website during the event to support Clark Memorial Library with a donation – any amount helps!

This Great Give campaign, we are focusing on expanding arts programs that support local artists and reach Bethany citizens of all ages. From Arts@Clark! exhibitions that are available year round in the Community Room, to our Annual Public Art Exhibit, our goal is to showcase the vibrant arts community in Bethany. We hope to continue to offer these free events, as well as bring in local artists for additional workshops and presentations to build on our ongoing commitment to library programming that reaches adults, children and families.

Help us shape the future of Clark Memorial Library!
The Bethany Library Association is creating a new strategic plan and would like your input! Whether you use the Library or not, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and opinions – a short survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/5KTDNL2 or via the QR code above.

Don’t forget! There will be a reception for the Library’s featured artist for April and May, Daniel Eugene Kaminski, on Saturday, April 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Stop by to meet the artist – and if you haven’t already, check out his work in the Community Room!

Arts@Clark! and Clark Memorial Library invite you to join us on
Sunday, July 28th for our 5th Annual Outdoor Art Exhibit!

New this year: we are inviting artists who are interested, to explore a “plein air” experience in the tradition of our famous Connecticut art colonies. Display your art, and if you wish, demonstrate your process and engage receptive audiences from the Bethany community. Enjoy sharing your passion and having conversations that engage and support local arts. This event is our gift to the community and is free to all participants – artists, would-be artists, and those who are simply looking to enjoy, renew and refresh on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Artists working in all mediums are encouraged to apply, regardless of whether or not you paint “en plein air”. Artists can exhibit drawing, painting, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, fiber arts, quilting, installations and more!

Artist set-up is from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The exhibit is open to the public from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. De-installation begins promptly at 5:00 PM.

Application forms, instructions, and exhibit information are available on the Arts@Clark! page of the Library website, which is linked under the Community tab.
For more information, call the Library at (203) 393-2103.

Applications should be sent to artsatclark@gmail.com;
application deadline is Saturday, June 15.

Our book displays this month feature poetry collections, books written in verse, and the biographies of famous poets, and out on the front lawn our storywalk showcases a selection of spring-themed poems and rhymes!

It’s all in honor of National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry’s important place in our lives and poets’ integral role in our culture. Launched by a nonprofit charitable organization called the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world! This year’s National Poetry Month poster features a line of poetry by a former Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, Lucille Clifton, and artwork by children’s author and illustrator Jack Wong.

A reception will be held on April 20th, 2:00 – 4:00 PM for the local artist featured in our Arts@Clark! exhibit for May and April, Daniel Eugene Kaminski.

Eugene is a visual artist, poet, musician, performer and photographer from Bethany. He concerns himself with creative expression as a catalyst for the evolution of human consciousness, exploring how the individual relates to our shared humanity and how this shared humanity exists in relationship to the greater reality of an infinite cosmos.

His work will be on display in the Community Room from Saturday, April 6 to Friday, June 7 as part of an exhibition titled Bethany Photographs that will feature images of the town of Bethany going back to 2016.

On Saturday, April 6, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, the Friends of the Library will be on site to collect new and gently used books for the Library’s ongoing book sale in the entryway. Children’s and adult books in good condition will be considered.