Tag Archives: Community Room

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

Mark your calendars for another Paint and Sip event organized by the Friends of the Library! Join local artist Zach Chernak on Saturday, April 11, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM; he will guide participants through the creation of a special spring painting, accompanied by wine and light refreshments. All materials will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary!

Space is limited and participants must sign up in advance; cost is $20.00 per person paid in advance. Call the Library at (203) 393-2103 to register, or for more information.

Bedazzled Books

Bring your favorite book to the Library from 12:00 – 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 14 and make it sparkle with bedazzling gems!

This program is open to adults only (ages 21+). You must bring your own book to bedazzle, but all other materials will be provided. Please consider that more detailed book cover designs will be more difficult to accent with the gems.

The program will take place in the Library’s Community Room – space is limited. There will be a maximum of 15 participants and registration is required. Contact the Library at 203-393-2103 or clarkmain@bethanylibrary.org to register; if you register but cannot attend, please let us know as far in advance as possible so that your spot can be opened back up.

 This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

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.

Have you seen the Bethany Bicentennial Quilt?
Created in 1976 by the Friends of the Library of the time and featuring both sewn images of local landmarks and more traditional quilting patterns, it’s a real piece of both the town and the Library’s history! It’s currently on display downstairs in the Community Room, along with a list of the participants and a “map” to help match names to squares. Stop by and take a look next time you’re at the Library!

Santa Claus is Coming to Your Town Library!

Save the date: you don’t want to miss this extra special holiday event.
From 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Thursday, December 4, join Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as Library staff and members of the Bethany Lions Club, in the Library’s Community Room downstairs for holiday crafts and a Christmas cookie – and don’t forget to get a picture with the Clauses!

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!

The Bethany Land Trust:
Its Volunteers & Inhabitants

Local artist Carol Vinick will have her works on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets throughout the months of August and September.

Carol uses fabric collage to tell stories. Included in her body of work are stories of the struggle for social justice, her family history, and the wonders of nature. She has exhibited throughout Connecticut, and has had work in juried exhibitions traveling both nationally and internationally. Her work has also been featured in books, museums, galleries, and private collections. She was co-president of Connecticut Women Artists from 2021 to 2023, and is currently co-chair of the Studio Art Quilt Associates Connecticut regional traveling show for 2026.

There will be an artist reception on Saturday, September 6 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM in the Library’s Community Room.


Local artists Liz Smolinski and Susan Taddei will have their works on display in the Library’s Community Room and display cabinets, respectively, throughout the months of June and July.

Elizabeth Smolinski grew up in New Haven and moved to Woodbridge in 2006. Oil paints and charcoal are Elizabeth’s favorite art media, and she typically works from her own photographs in the style of realism. Making time to create art is a priority for her, and she loves meeting new people via art. She enjoys elevating things that are easy to overlook, like flags hanging above, or the shadows cast by pond lilies, into compelling images of unconventional beauty.

Susan Taddei moved to Bethany in 1974. She is a self-taught quilter who sews on a vintage Universal De Luxe machine that is over 75 years old. Brightly colored batiks are her favorite quilting fabric. She is very grateful for the generosity of the members of the quilt bee she was part of when her children were young, who taught her many sewing techniques and provided endless inspiration, and loves to give quilts to her friends and family to honor milestones of their lives. Besides quilting, Susan’s other hobbies include singing in the Our Lady of the Assumption Church choir and doing jigsaw puzzles.

There will be an artist reception on Saturday, July 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Community Room.


The Library’s chapter of the Silent Book Club will be meeting in the Community Room on Wednesday afternoons, 3:00-4:00 PM going forward. The Silent Book Club is a “bring your own book” activity – no assigned reading and no pressure. Come for light refreshments and an hour of quiet to focus on your latest read. Afterwards you are welcome to chat and share titles, but the hour of reading time is sweet silence.  

Don’t have a book already? Come a bit early to browse our shelves and then dig in! Between our new book, read-alike, and monthly themed book displays, you’re sure to come across something to suit your tastes – or pique your interest.