On April 15, the Slater library in downtown Jewett City will be hosting the Open House Art show.

The show was originally scheduled for April 2020. But the library closed on March 17 of that year because of the Covid pandemic. Becky Jusseaume, the director and head librarian of the Slater library and Fanning annex, said that it was an effort to re-invent the event. Originally, it was advertised out to the local artists in the Jewett City area and was geared towards adults because, usually only adults had applied. But all ages are welcome to enter, and the library even advertised to the local high schools.

This year, however they also offered artists from surrounding towns to enter. Jusseaume was amazed at the response they received. Artists from Voluntown, Sprague, Preston and other local towns have entered the art show.

For some time the library has had an art group and has been exhibiting local artists work on a regular basis.

The artists exhibiting work in the Slater Library’s Open House Art Show include Nancy Bergeron, who grew up in Lebanon but now resides in Griswold . Phyllis Brown from Jewett City but who grew up in Griswold has some oil and pastel pieces inspired by the forest and farmland landscapes that are dotted with ponds that she grew up with. Cheryl Blanchard is exhibiting oil, pastel and some digital works; Jeff Chaplain, from Cantebury will be displaying photography inspired by his love for nature. Andrew Goldman, AKA Constant Waterman, is a writer of boating periodicals and is bringing books he has written and illustrated.

Michelle Katz Grieder illustrates children’s books. She hand draws, then uses digital methods to finish the illustration. A Park Jordan, who’s from Jewett City, is exhibiting photography. Kristi Joy is an artist that works in watercolors, acrylics and oils. She’ll be exhibiting abstract paintings that aspire to the younger crowd.

The retired butcher from Jewett City, Martin Kozerefski, who paints with oils and pastels, draws with pen and ink and does photography will have pieces displayed. Cecile Lobe, who lives in Plainfield but grew up in Jewett City, will have pieces exhibited.

Tammy Hunter is from New London, but has spent much of her life in Jewett City. She waited for her children to grow up before going back to school and is a student at Eastern Connecticut State University seeking an art degree. She’ll be exhibiting.

The Slater library is located in a stone Romanesque Revival building that was built in 1884 and located at 26 Main St.