Each year, Litchfield Montessori School presents an exhibit of students’ artwork in the gallery at the Oliver Wolcott Library, with an opening the first week students are back from winter break. The art on exhibit revolves around a central theme students learned and practiced during the previous semester.
This year’s exhibit of mixed media works, “Expressions of Art,” will be on view from Jan. 6 to 31, with an opening reception scheduled for Jan. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The exhibit offers a look into the power of creative expression, according to Litchfield Montessori. It opens with an homage to French artist Henri Matisse, best known for his painting, sculpting, drawing, and collage. Matisse broke free from the classic art world and ushered in a time of intense color, bolder and simplified forms, and decorative patterns, according to Litchfield Montessori. Toward the end of his career, due to his health and lack of mobility, Matisse turned to the art of collage, or cut paper. He painted his own paper and then designed a composition from forms that he cut from the paper. He called it “drawing with scissors.”
The elementary level students of Montessori mimicked Matisse’s collage process by painting pieces of paper and then designed a composition on canvas with cut paper. From fun, colorful, whimsical forms to intricate patterns, the students created their own unique compositions.
From the world of collage, the students moved into the three dimensional art form of mosaic work, according to Litchfield Montessori. Students designed intricate pictures and carefully placed the pieces in the mortar to create their mosaic. The pieces are abstract, colorful, and a thing of beauty.
Another influence for artwork in the exhibit is Norman Rockwell, the American painter and illustrator who embraced the happenings of everyday life. He is most famous for his illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post, Litchfield Montessori noted. The themes that are common throughout his paintings are children, family, Santa, dogs, friendships, and heartfelt moments. He is the quintessential New England artist and portrays many scenes that pull at our heart strings or bring a smile to our faces.
Students were asked to sketch a moment from their life that embodies a time of love, joy, or gratitude. Once sketched, they drew the final piece on watercolor paper and then used mixed media (colored pencil, crayon, watercolor, and black sharpie) to bring their image to life.
The gallery is open during library hours listed below. Call the library at 860-567-8030 for more information. Litchfield Montessori School is located at 5 Knife Shop Rd. in the Northfield section of Litchfield and may be reached at 860-283-5920.
| Monday | 10 AM to 5 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM to 9 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM to 5 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM to 9 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM to 5 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM to 2 PM |