Category Archives: Arts@Clark

Updates on anything involving or sponsored by Arts@Clark.

Local artist Yan Jennifer Zhang will have her works on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets throughout the months of October and November.

Yan Jennifer is a Wallingford-based animal artist who captures the soul and character of wildlife and pets. Working primarily in acrylics and oil, she combines vibrant colors, meticulous detail and confident brushstrokes to bring domestic animals, exotic wildlife and local birds to life.

Yan has always been fascinated with animals. She loves their quirks, head tilts, little paws, and soulful eyes, and she strives to convey the spirit she sees in animals and give a glimpse into their character: sometimes sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes peaceful. Her art has been featured in local exhibitions, collected internationally, and recognized by local libraries, galleries, flower and coffee shops. Through her expressive portraits, Yan’s ultimate goal is to bring a smile to the viewer, raise awareness for animal welfare, and highlight the fragile beauty of nature.

Artist Statement: “My art is a celebration of the raw energy and untamed personalities of the animal kingdom. By breaking away from realistic color palettes, I aim to capture the invisible essence, playfulness, and hidden emotions of my subjects. Through vibrant hues and expressive brushstrokes, I invite viewers to pause and experience a sense of childlike wonder. My goal is not just to paint an animal, but to translate its unique spirit onto the canvas, turning every piece into a colorful dialogue of life, joy, and connection.”

Summer 2026 Invitational Art Exhibit

Rooted in Community

Arts@Clark! celebrates its seventh summer exhibition with a special invitational. This exhibition honors the artists, craftspeople, and artisans who have come together year after year to build a supportive and creative community of shared artistic expression. The Library’s Summer Art Exhibit has taken root and flourished, growing beyond its origins as a meaningful response to the pandemic into a vibrant, interconnected network that spans artistic mediums, generations, and neighboring towns beyond Bethany. At its heart, Clark Memorial Library is a place where people come to engage, connect and grow – making it the perfect home for a community built through art.

There will be an artist reception in the Community Room on August 29, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Be sure to stop by and meet some of our longtime artistic contributors!

Featured Artists

The works of the Bethany Quilting and Friendship Group (also known simply as the Bethany Quilters) will be displayed at the Library during June and July. Their exhibit, “Quilting with Friends”, will display some of the quilts made by members during their time in the group. The exhibit will include both small and large quilts in the Community Room, as well as other fiber crafts in the hallway display cases. There will be an artist reception in the Community Room on Saturday, June 27 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.

The Bethany Quilters have been gathering weekly for over 10 years, spending time together to create quilts and other textile crafts. Some members were already expert quilters the first time they attended, some had never sewn a stitch. It doesn’t matter what project members work on: the biggest benefit is the conversation, support and friendship from the group.

The Bethany 250th Committee worked with the Bethany Quilters and the students of Bethany Community School to create the Bethany 250th Quilt for this year’s national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signature of the Declaration of Independence. Students created artwork based on the prompt “What Does American Mean to You?”, and the Committee selected 20 winning entries to be worked into a quilt design by the Bethany Quilters. The Bethany 250th Quilt is currently on display in the main stairwell of the Library.

Exhibitors:

Bernadette Lowen
Carol Hotz
Ditas Benipayo
Eileen Ede
Jane Tintachart
Linda Seaholm
Marcia Cohen
Susan Varanka
Wendy Frieden

The art teachers of Amity High School and the Bethany and Orange branches of Amity Middle School are collaborating with Arts@Clark! to display student artwork at the Library during February and March. Stop by any time during Library hours to see the work of a new generation of artists downstairs in the glass art displays and the Community Room!

An artist reception will take place on Wednesday, March 4, from 5:00 – 6:30 PM in the Community Room.

Our workshop series with local artist Susan Taddei is back!

The second run of the Library Quilt Bee will take place over 5 sessions on January 24, 2:00 – 4:00 PM; February 5, 4:30 – 6:30 PM; and February 21, March 7, & March 21, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. No prior experience is necessary! Susan will be teaching participants fabric preparation and ironing, rotary cutting, strip piecing, easy triangles, layer tying, and edge binding. The result will be a 9″ x 9″ square sampler.

You must attend all 5 sessions to complete the sampler. We supply all materials – come free your inner quilter in a relaxed afternoon atmosphere! Space is limited; call the Library to register at 203-393-2103.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Saturdays, January 10, 17, & 24 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Join local artist and comic maker James Vanderberg in January for a three-part workshop exploring cartoon drawing, narrative storytelling, and autobiographical comic making. Participants will work with simple tools and no-fail prompts to ignite their creativity, help them create their own characters and tell their own stories.

No previous artistic experience needed! All supplies are provided. Whether you love reading graphic novels, making comics, or simply reading the Sunday funnies, you’re sure to find this program fun and engaging!

This program is intended for ages 10 and up. The workshops are drop in events, but space is limited!

Local artists Liz Orsini & Ann Wiley will have their work on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets throughout October and November.

Liz Orsini’s artistic journey has led her through four decades of diverse life experiences and has included watercolor, pastels, acrylics, and collage study. She is particularly drawn to the interplay of color and contrast. Each piece becomes a meditation on balance – between planning and spontaneity, between the known and the discovered. Her current work focuses on abstract compositions that marry original collage materials with acrylic paint and expressive mark-making.

Ann Wiley‘s creative adventure began with designing homes, both inside and out, like her dad did, and learning about fabrics, patterns, and designs with her mom. Art classes, art teachers, local art shows, museums, and fellow artists have all influenced her; after trying out many mediums, acrylic painting and collage have proven to be both her favorite and most enduring courses of study. The pieces of hers being shared have been created over the course of 15 years.

There will be an artist reception on Saturday, October 25th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM in the Library’s Community Room. Stop by to meet the artists and see their work!

Curious about quilting?

Join us for a special four-part workshop with Susan Taddei, one of our recent Arts@Clark! exhibitors. The Library Quilt Bee will be held in the Community Room from 2:00 – 4:00 PM on Saturdays every other week, starting Saturday, September 20th. Check the Library’s Calendar of Events for more information.

No prior experience is necessary – Susan will be teaching about preparing fabric and ironing, rotary cutting, strip piecing, easy triangles, tying layers, and binding edges. The result will be a 9″ x 9″ square sampler. We supply all materials – come free your inner quilter in a relaxed afternoon atmosphere!

Space is limited; call the Library at 203-393-2103 to register!
Participants must take part in all four sessions – each will cover different skills and steps in the quilting process.

The webpage for Spellbound, the Library’s Sixth Annual Public Art Exhibit, is finished! A video showcasing the Exhibit is still in the works, but you can visit the page by clicking the image above or this link to read a brief summary and see a collage of some of the great pictures taken during the event, as well as a list of the participants with examples of their work, and even some bonus poetry.

Thank you once again to everyone who made this year’s Public Art Exhibit possible!

Meet Rocky the Rock Snake! Rocky was created by visitors to the Sixth Annual Art Exhibit, and is currently on display in the garden to the left of the Library’s side entrance. Keep an eye on the Library’s Calendar of Events: we will be giving patrons the chance to help Rocky get even longer during September – Library Card Sign-Up Month!