Paintings by a renowned Impressionist-style painter from the past and artwork by 32 local area contemporary artists will be on display and for sale during the Waterford Historical Society’s fourth annual “Art In Waterford: Past + Present + Future” event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7 on Jordan Green in Waterford. The event is family friendly, free and open to the public.

En plein air artists will be creating artworks on site while visitors tour the historic buildings and observe the blacksmiths working the forge. Vintage cars ranging from 20th century Corvettes to a 1930 Model A Ford will be parked on Jordan Green. The Waterford Public Library will provide an arts-and-crafts booth for younger visitors. A specialty ice cream truck, the Jumping Cow, will offer cool treats. Local musicians will be playing a range of musical styles from jazz to pop throughout the day.

Artist of the Past: Waterford’s Roger Dennis, dubbed “Dean of the American Impressionists,” in Beebe-Phillips House

Roger Dennis, whose skills were highly esteemed by fellow artists and collectors, will represent artists of the past. Sometimes dubbed “Dean of the American Impressionists,” for nearly 30 years he lived on Gallup Lane in Waterford and regularly associated with the somewhat older Impressionists of the Lyme Art Colony and other local artists. Dennis painted local landscapes and seascapes and portraits of his neighbors and traveled to other coastlines and pastures throughout New England. Widely recognized art connoisseurs Jeff and Betsey Cooley have selected many of his paintings for exhibit in the 1838 Beebe-Phillips House. A few of his paintings will be for sale during this event, giving visitors the opportunity to acquire a piece of Waterford’s scenic past.

Present Artists: 32 regional artists in a juried show in Stacy Barn

The juried art show of 35 works of art by 32 regional artists will be on display in the Stacy Barn and Miner Education Center. The works include watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, photography, and sculptures in wood and bronze. One selected contemporary artist creates her art with the unique colonial technique of quilling paper. Earlier this spring, jurors Jack Montmeat and Amy Kurtz-Lansing had a sizeable task considering this year’s extraordinary number of high-quality submissions. Most of the artwork will be available for sale.

Future Artists: students’ artwork on display in Jordan Schoolhouse

Since history is a continuum, artwork by budding artists of the future, local secondary school students from Clark Lane Middle School, Waterford High School and The Williams School, will be displayed in the Society’s 300-year-old schoolhouse on Jordan Green.

While there is no cost for admission to Art In Waterford, to enhance their experience visitors are encouraged upon arrival at Jordan Green to go to the main tent to purchase a program booklet with autobiographies and background on the artists. There they may buy tickets to enter drawings to win a seascape painting, “Lobsterman’s Day Off,” donated by local artist Pat Kelbaugh, or a hand-forged fireplace poker from the blacksmith shop. Proceeds from sale of these items benefit the Waterford Historical Society, Inc.’s programs, activities and building upkeep.

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