Category: Kent Historical Society Kent
Visit Seven Hearths’ Summer 2022 Exhibit
New summer exhibit examines chairs from the 17th and 18th centuries
This summer’s exhibit by the Kent Historical Society will explore the differences in style and design among chairs (yes–the furniture) from circa 1600 – 1800, with examples on loan from private collections.
“Put It Down Over There: Musings on Early Chairs” will be presented in the Seven Hearths Museum with a public opening July 30 and continues weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through September 11.
Free admission to the exhibit for members; $5 suggested donation for non-members.
The Kent Historical Society’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and present the rich history of Kent as well as to provide educational and research material to enrich the public understanding of Kent’s artistic and cultural heritage. For more information, see www.kenthistoricalsociety.org or call 860-927-4587.
The Town of Iron Toys
Kent Town Hall @ 2PM
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Faces of Kent
Opening reception June 4, 2022 from 4pm – 7pm Exhibit open weekends June 4 – July 5 Above House of Books
Opening reception June 4, 2022 from 4pm – 7pm
Exhibit open weekends June 4 – July 5
Above House of Books
Tours of Seven Hearths Available by Appointment
Tours of Seven Hearths Available by Appointment
The Kent Historical Society is offering tours of its Seven Hearths Museum by appointment.
Our ongoing restoration of the museum continues. It is something that has been underway since our 1978 inheritance of “Seven Hearths,” a large pre-Revolutionary house in the Flanders Historic District of Kent. The structure dates back to 1751, when it was constructed by the Beebe family.
Seven Hearths was bequeathed to the Society by its long-time owner, noted New York artist, George Laurence Nelson. He had bought the house in 1919, and invested a great deal of time in “fixing it up.” Fortunately for posterity, Nelson respected the ancient bones of the house and documented his process in an essay entitled New Life for Old Timber. He noted where he had removed walls, converted rooms, and even where he had covered up the names of fur pelts chalked on some beams upstairs.
Anyone wishing to visit is asked to make an appointment by phoning the office, 860-927-4587 or by emailing.
Summer Art Enrichment 2018
Summer Art Enrichment Program 2018
The Kent Historical Society will offer five weeks of Art Enrichment Programs for children this summer. There will be opportunities for young artists from ages 5 to 12 to explore their artistic talents. This year will feature new classes in a variety of mediums and new instructor
The Historical Society wants to foster arts education for young people in our area to honor the memory of George Laurence Nelson, a pre-eminent 20th Century artist known for his portraits, landscapes and florals, who lived at Seven Hearths for many years and bequeathed his 18th century home to the Kent Historical Society to operate as a museum.
Some comments from parents: “The instructor was great and the projects were so creative.” “She enjoyed the group creation of comics. The creative interaction was fun for her.” “She enjoyed the chance to immerse herself in painting.”
KHS believes that arts education and other forms of cultural enrichment are essential to a young person’s whole and healthy development. The Society offers Summer Arts Enrichment to encourage children’s innate creativity and boost creative thinking and problem solving, while expanding their experience and appreciation of the arts.
Classes take place in the Kent Historical Society’s “Art Barn,” an indoor/outdoor space on the campus of the Historical Society’s Seven Hearths property, facing gardens and a woodland that will be used as extended classroom space. At the culmination of each class there will be an exhibition to allow parents and family to see all of the creations completed through the week.
Registration is not complete until payment is received, either by check or online. Space is limited in each class. Fees are $110 for non-members and $100 for members per session. Join as a Family member for $50. There is no discount for partial week attendance.
Final registration deadline is June 12. Checks to Kent Historical Society may be mailed to KHS, Art Enrichment Program, PO Box 651, Kent, CT 06757.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds for Summer Art Enrichment will only be made up until 30 days before the child’s class begins, if we are able to fill the space with another applicant, less a $30 deposit/administrative fee. Membership fees are not refundable.
Week 1 Sessions Cancelled (due to low enrollment)
Week 2 Sessions Cancelled (due to low enrollment)
Week 3 What the Art? for ages 5-7, mornings 9 am to noon, July 16-20
Children will explore interesting ways to create something new, like torn paper, collage, shapes and colors, everyday items, photos, and other alternative mediums. We’ll use picture books as inspiration from celebrated illustrators such as Eric Carle and Leo Lionni. Then, expand to other methods, and create artwork based on our own stories. Combining different styles will allow students to create a look of their own. This class is led by Wendy Clery, who has a love of exploring her own creativity and is the owner of Illuminate Life CT, which offers creative-based coaching through classes and workshops. She previously taught art to local veterans at the Danbury Veteran’s Center.
Week 3 Homes of the Wee Folk for ages 8-12, afternoons 1-4 pm, July 16-20
Learning aspects of architecture and sculpture, students will imagine a tiny woodland creature and build a home based on its needs and likes. We will plan out the structure by sketching ideas, then use clay, sticks, stone, plants, and/or found objects to make it come to life. Students will include accessories and plants to create a piece of their creature’s world. If weather permits, we will use the garden for a fun photo shoot. Students will use their sketchbooks all week long to imagine what the structure could be and transform their ideas into reality. This class is also led by Wendy Clery. She is modeling this session on a workshop that she’s offered to children in the New Milford area.
Week 4 Transforming Paper Into Art for ages 5-8, mornings 9 am to noon, July 23-27
Joy Gaiser is a retired music and special education teacher and was honored to be chosen the Teacher of the Year in New Milford for the 2010-11 school year. She also was the president of the New Milford Historical Society for 7 years and ran the summer colonial crafts program at their one-room schoolhouse with a fellow teacher. She will teach the children to make paper from recycled paper, learn about color utilizing a variety of mediums such as crayons, markers, and watercolors and techniques such as mosaic resist. They will also do some creative paper folding activities and have a chance to embroider one of their own drawings or sew a catnip mouse if they prefer. Each child will be given a sketchbook to explore their own creative ideas.
Week 4 The Art of Paper: Creating, Using, Folding for ages 8-12, afternoons 1-4 pm, July 23-27
Joy Gaiser will also lead these students in paper making from recycled paper, petals, glitter, grass, etc. She will show the children how to turn this paper into greeting cards and thank you notes. Calligraphy will be introduced, and each child will receive a calligraphy pen. The class will make an agamograph with premade pictures or pictures that they created themselves which will require careful measuring, folding, and cutting. They will learn to draw some 3-D shapes and designs which will include a review of the color wheel and how to use it. A variety of mediums will be used throughout the week and ways to use each. Each child will design a simple stencil to use on a papier mache item they decorate, and each will be given a sketchbook to make notes and for their own ideas and sketches.
Week 5 Session Cancelled (due to low enrollment)
Online Registration Here
Seven Hearths Revealed Sponsors and Paint Out
Seven Hearths Revealed Sponsors and Paint Out
The Kent Historical Society invites all to Seven Hearths Revealed, an evening celebrating our beloved 18th century home and museum, April 21, 2018. We are grateful to our Underwriters, Sponsors and Friends who’ve helped support this fundraiser.
Attendees will tour Seven Hearths, view George Laurence Nelson’s artwork and and enjoy wine, and hors d’oeuvres, as well as celebrate spring with fellow KHS supporters, history buffs and friends.
Deborah Chabrian, KHS Trustee and well-known watercolorist, is again organizing a “Paint Out” with a group of local artists to create beautiful artwork that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the George Laurence Nelson Scholarship Fund. This is the second year for the painting fundraiser, and Chabrian said that the artists all enjoyed the camaraderie of painting together in the historic Seven Hearths. Invited artists are creating paintings this year inspired by the interior rooms of the unique house museum. The resulting works of art will be offered in a silent auction during the party.
“We want to draw attention to GLN’s light-filled studio here at Seven Heaths, to bring life and art back into the house,” she said.
The party will provide an opportunity to discover more about the house’s rich legacy. Trustee Jeffrey Morgan continues to remove paint layers, particularly in the South Parlor, adding to the Society’s knowledge of what the interiors looked like through the years. The stairs (c. 1940), which previously gave access from the Fur Trading Post to the attic, have been removed to allow for better appreciation and understanding of this recently discovered historical gem. A new stair has been reconstructed in the original location from period materials and hand wrought nails. It is located at the top of the stairs from what was originally the general store and was later used by George Laurence Nelson as his painting studio. Several wonderful examples of Nelson’s interior watercolors will be on display throughout the house.
The fundraising party will provide needed operating funds for the Society. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the ongoing changes that have been happening at the 1751 house museum and celebrate the fascinating history of the building.
Patrice Galterio hired as Acting Director
The Kent Historical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Kent resident Patrice Galterio as its acting director.
Patrice joined the KHS staff in September 2017, replacing long-time assistant Lyn Stirnweiss, who resigned to devote more time to her job at the Kent Chamber of Commerce. Patrice took on her new role as acting director in March, taking over from Brian Thomas, who resigned from his role as executive director after serving for three and a half years.
Patrice was a founder and the creative director of the Kent Film Festival with her husband, Frank Galterio. She is a graphic designer and continues to do freelance work for clients part-time. She looks forward to helping guide the Historical Society in her new role.
Summer Art Enrichment Registration
Register Below With Payment link
Select session (either member or nonmember) and Click add to cart. Scroll to bottom for checkout.
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