Published: Oct 05, 2026 7:00 am
“The Great Art-Doors,” the outdoor art exhibition organized by local artist Annette Womack and Newtown Forest Association for summer presentation at Nettleton Preserve, has been extended to October 10. The exhibition has also been relocated.
Readers are now invited to view the collection of art created by 11 artists from Newtown and surrounding towns, which has been moved to the area outside the southern entrance of Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.
This is the first art exhibit to be shown on the grounds of the municipal center. A pair of clever miniature houses by Tracy Van Buskirk have been staged on benches on either side of the building’s door. Additional pieces have been set up in the grassy area to the east of the sidewalk.
With all signage and promotional material made possible by a grant from Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC), the commission worked with the town and Parks & Recreation to obtain permission to show the artworks at the Municipal Center.
“The purpose for moving the exhibit was to gain more exposure,” said Alexa Skalandunas, an auxiliary member of NCAC who spearheaded moving the exhibit. The exhibition originally opened in late June and continued until mid-September.
“Art is meant to be shared and enjoyed and moving the exhibit to the municipal center created the opportunity for the community to see the wonderful creations of our local artists,” she said.
Patrick Dunne, who uses found and reclaimed materials to recreate natural forms, used wood and copper to build “Dogwood #1.” The piece was inspired by a felled dogwood tree viewed through The Great Art-Doors’ theme of “Open” and is among the works still on view in the extended and relocated exhibition. —Bee Photos, Hicks
A Trolls House is one of at least two creations by Tracy Van Buskirk still on view within “The Great Art-Doors,” now on view outside the southern entrance of Newtown Municipal Center. Eight works from the outdoor summer exhibition originally presented within Nettleton Preserve have been relocated to the grounds of the Municipal Center. —Bee Photos, Hicks
R.T. Eckenrode describes “Chateau Cleyrac (Insect Hotel)” as an example of being one with the landscape. Eckenrode further said that while it was man made, the mixed media work was constructed to serve nature as a place for insects to live and multiply while providing sustenance for nearby pollinator plants and a food source for birds. —Bee Photos, Hicks
Julie Schwartz's "Whales in the Woods," created with woodboard and acrylic paints, has also been moved to Fairfield Hills for the extended presentation of "The Great Art-Doors." —Bee Photos, Hicks
The outdoor art exhibition organized by local artist Annette Womack and Newtown Forest Association for a summer presentation at Nettleton Preserve has been extended to October 10. The exhibition has also been relocated to the lawn near Newtown Municipal Center's southern entrance. —Bee Photos, Hicks
