Guilford Art Center

Guilford, Conn. (WTNH) - It's destination ART!

"We like to think we are the creative place on the shoreline for people to come and express themselves or learn how to express themselves," says Maureen Belden, program director at the Guilford Art Center , "to have the experience of creating, making and just producing art.

This former lumber mill houses a school shop and gallery. The non-profit organization started 44 years ago with close ties to the downtown Green.

"In 1957 they had the first craft expo on the Guilford Green, and ten years later they founded a school because they found so many people were drawn to the arts. They wanted to make Guilford a place where people could continue to study and learn to create."

From learning to looking the Guilford Art Center is an open canvas for artsy people.

"Pretty much anything you want to study in the visual arts you can learn here," Belden said.

With classes on stone carving, jewelry making, painting and ceramics (which I enjoyed, running the wheel to make a mug) they also offer another rare class.

"Blacksmithing is something you can not do in a lot of places, so we are one of the places on the shoreline in Connecticut where you can do that."

Not interested in a class? Just come down and look around. The gallery changes all through the year.

Currently on exhibit is "On Higher Ground: Contemporary Hooked Art. "Four artists who are from Connecticut and New York State who are using the traditional art of rug hooking in contemporary ways."

And it's a vision of the past that keeps the Art Center's future bright

"There are generations of students from Guilford who have learned here, come to teach here. It's a very beloved community place.

It's waiting for you to stop on by and explore some local art.

Learn more about the Guilford Art Center and when they are open at  guilfordartcenter.org