Welcome to your free bi-weekly newsletter from Connecticut Explored with the latest stories, the newest Grating the Nutmeg podcast, programs and exhibitions from our partners to see/watch this month, and more!
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Puerto Rican Artists Enliven Hartford’s Park Street
The Lyric Theater, located at the heart of Hartford’s Frog Hollow neighborhood shopping district, suffered a fire in 1979. In 2000, two Puerto Rican artists from Hartford were asked to create murals that would enliven the façade to make a positive contribution to the streetscape.
As reported by Steve Metcalf in a Hartford Courant article on July 31, 2000, painter, graphic designer, teaching artist, and Puerto Rican native Marcelina Sierra was hired by the Greater Hartford Arts Council (GHAC) as a Master Artist to teach and guide high-school students in the creative and technical process of designing and painting a series of murals for the City of Hartford at the GHAC Neighborhood Studios. What emerged was Imágenes.
A second piece was created by painter and sculptor Victor Pacheco on plywood at the first- floor level. Pacheco was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico and raised in Hartford.
Their art lives on. Though the building was demolished to make way for a new branch of the Hartford Public Library (HPL), the work these artists put into beautifying Park Street has not been forgotten. In the Summer issue photo essay, Mary Donohue explores the significance behind the murals’ images and tells the story of how HPL preserved these works of art, incorporating them into the library’s design. The photo essay includes photographs of Pacheco at work on the original mural in 2000 and a sketch he made to plan the mural. We also see Sierra’s Imágenes as they appeared inside the GHAC Neighborhood Studios in 2000.
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The Latest From Grating the Nutmeg
Connecticut at the 1964 New York World’s Fair
It’s almost summertime and kids everywhere are already dreaming about their summer vacation. In 1964, Jimmy O’Sullivan of Cheshire, Connecticut had his heart set on a family outing from Connecticut to the see the World’s Fair in New York City’s Flushing Meadows Park with its futuristic, space-themed exhibits and “Peace Through Understanding” overarching theme. A short drive down Connecticut’s Merritt Parkway and over to Flushing Meadow Park put the O’Sullivan family squarely into the heart of the fair.
The 1964-65 New York World’s Fair attracted approximately 50 million visitors including many from Connecticut during its two April-to-October seasons. The guest for this episode is Dr. Jason Scappaticci, historian and Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Capital Community College in Hartford. Not only does Dr. Scappaticci have a keen interest in all things World’s Fair but he is an avid collector of souvenirs and mementos from the fair.
Listen: Connecticut at the 1964 New York World’s Fair
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Programs and Exhibitions to Enjoy This Month
Juneteenth at the Hill-Stead
June 23, 4:30 - 8 pm | Hill-Stead Museum
Together with Amistad Center for Art & Culture and ShopBlackCT, Hill-Stead is once again hosting this event as part of a month-long series of Juneteenth celebrations taking place throughout the region. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic dinner on the grounds as you enjoy performances by Subira Vs Movement who will be performing “Renaissance Gyalz,” the Tom Cook Chorus, and Khaiim the RapOet, on Hill-Stead’s picturesque grounds. Crab Shack King food truck will be onsite with amazing food for your picnic dinner.
Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington; hillstead.org
Explore Hartford’s Colonial Roots
Sundays, June 18, July 16, & Aug 13 | 11 am - 2 pm
Hartford Ancient Burying Ground (located at the corner of Main and Gold Streets)
Visit the Ancient Burying Ground for fun, family-friendly Scavenger Hunts and an Orienteering Challenge. Find clues and answer questions to discover local lore and the fascinating stories of diverse people from centuries ago! Center Church, located next door at 675 Main Street, and the 1636 Heritage Partnership will have the sanctuary open. Drop by to view the Tiffany windows and to learn more about the history of Center Church and the preservation of its buildings.
Free, donations accepted. Register via email to abgact@gmail.com
Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford; ancientburyingground.com
🎼 Shanties and Sails 🎼
Tuesday, June 20 | Connecticut River Museum
5:30-6:30 Shanties: FREE
7:00-8:00 Onrust: $25. Sail aboard the Onrust with the performers!
Come down to the Connecticut River Museum and enjoy an evening of Sea Shanties. Be on deck to hear talented shanty and sea-song musicians for a FREE one hour live performance. Add onto your evening to continue the fun. Book a trip on the Onrust!
Connecticut River Museum, Essex; Ctrivermuseum.org
Stone Breaker and the Hanging Hills
Thursday June, 29 | 6:30 | Meriden Historical Society
Join the Meriden Historical Society to hear Kathleen Housley, author of Stone Breaker: James Gates Percival and the Beginning of Geology in New England. She will be sharing the life of James Gates Percival. His love of the Hanging Hills was lifelong. It was his realization that the Hanging Hills were volcanic and far older than 6,000 years, the presumed age of the Earth during his time, that helped push geology forward as a science in New England.
Admission is free to members. Suggested donation is $10 for non-members.
Please contact the office to reserve your seat (203-639-1913) or by email: info@MeridenHistSoc.org or click HERE to reserve online.
Editor’s Picks
Want to explore the topics featured in this edition of the e-Newsletter? Check out these stories from the archives.
“María Sánchez: Godmother of Hartford’s Puerto Rican Community,” Connecticut Explored, Summer 2003.
“Richard Welling: Hartford’s Artist Historian,” Connecticut Explored, Fall 2014.
“Connecticut at New York World's Fair,” Connecticut Explored, Summer 2015.
Read Dr. Jason Scappaticci’s article for a deep dive on the topics discussed in this week’s Grating the Nutmeg!
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