Commemorating not only a 40th anniversary, this year's Hygienic Art Show is also dedicated to James Stidfole, who passed away earlier this month and is remembered as the Thomas Jefferson of Hygienic Art — and, by extension, a founding father of the city's flourishing 21st-century arts scene.

What once was a one-night-only, all-are-welcome art show is now a full-blown winter arts carnival taking place over two weeks and comprising 11 different events, concerts, presentations and spectacles. Still at the heart of it all is Salon des Indépendants, the original and bigger-and-wilder-than-ever art exhibition opening at 7 p.m. Saturday inside the Hygienic building and running through Feb. 9.

The iconic and founding philosophy is still in place: any citizen can hang one piece of art in a "no judge, no jury, no censorship" show. Over 500 Creative Folk are expected to participate, and display space is on a first-come/first-install basis. In that spirit, it's best for artists to get there early to be ready when the Hygienic doors open at 8 a.m. 

Salon des Indépendants, opens 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Hygienic Art, Bank Street, New London; art drop-off 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.; show runs through Feb. 9, and hours are noon-4 p.m. Sun., 2-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri. and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.; free, donations accepted; (860) 443-8001, hygienic.org.