Let’s paint the town - Newington Art League lends a creative touch
- Sarah Barr
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
by Sarah Barr
Staff Writer
Photos by Leslie Civitello
The Newington Art League paints the town in a whole new light.
Through a series of meetings and events, it helps people see the community through different lenses. About 40 people belong to this organization whose mission is to increase interest in the visual arts by providing stimulating demonstrations and exhibitions.
Founded in 1983, the goal is to advance the visual arts while fostering a community spirit through participation in these group events. It also facilitates the practice of the visual arts by artists of all levels of ability and interest by providing a creative venue for them.
With that in mind, Ken Rawolle, NAL vice president and publicity chairman, and President Leslie Civitello talked about the nonprofit organization.
Q: What makes NAL so unique?
A: Art can belong to everyone. This means that whether someone has been an artist their entire life, picking up a brush for the first time, or simply have an interest in supporting the arts, they are always welcome to join us.
Q: What are the different offerings — it isn’t all painting, right?
A: Monthly demonstrations and meetings: We have six members’ meetings per year, which include quality demonstrations by regional artists that include techniques in watercolor, oils, pastels, acrylic, and even specialized crafts like collages, leather working, origami, rug tufting and more. They are held at 6:30 p.m. in the ceramics room of the Newington Senior and Disabled Center.
Studio time and workshops: Every Wednesday afternoon from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. we hold a members’ open studio. It’s dedicated time and space to bring your own supplies and work alongside fellow artists. Members from the Newington Senior and Disabled Center are also welcome to join us.
We have coordinated “paint outs” in the community, allowing artists to capture local landscapes en plein air (in open air). “Paint and Sips” are fun events where the general public is invited to join us at a local restaurant to create their own work of art while sipping a favorite beverage.
Specialized workshops are also held throughout the year as are rotating art displays at the Newington Senior and Disabled Center. Exhibition opportunities take place every October at the Lucy Robbins Welles Library and there’s a juried show in the spring.
Community events and fund-raising activities such as the Waterfall Festival Chalk Walk turns Market Square into a temporary gallery. We host social gatherings such as an annual holiday dinner and summer picnic to build relationships. When funding is available, we provide an annual scholarship to Newington High School students pursuing higher education in the visual arts.
Q: Why does art seem so important during these divisive times?
A: It bypasses our defense mechanisms. Verbal communication in divisive times often feels like a minefield. People tend to listen for points to refute rather than points to understand.
Art, however, is a non-verbal language. A painting or a sculpture can evoke an emotional response before the viewer has a chance to apply a political or social label to it. It allows us to feel another person’s perspective before we judge it.
There’s also the power of shared presence. When two people who might disagree on everything else sit side-by-side to create art, they are engaged in cooperation rather than competition. The shared goal of creating builds a bridge that debating often burns down.
Art acts as a pressure-relief valve. In regard to stress reduction, self-expression creates a calm effect and puts you into a state of mind that just makes you feel better. You are in control of something.
These days, you may feel that you have no control over the world around you, but when you create art, you are in control. Finishing a work of art feels wonderful and is rewarding not only for you, but for those who view it.
Q: With so much focus on artificial intelligence and technology, how does art survive?
A: A.I. gives you an image that you share for one evening before forgetting it exists. It did not come from human emotion, no expression, no feeling. Just zeros and ones.
Art is a tool of expression created by humans. It creates whole communities, inspires movements and provokes thought. There is the initial inspiration, the moment that you decided that this moment was worth saving or creating or changing while it still has a pulse.
There is the painting, then the process it took to create the painting including decisions to set one aside, learn from your mistakes and start over. This is always part of the process, including the crumpled paper in the bin. Then, finally, you the artist, have given what you can, this canvas, or this collage, or this mural, which lasts forever.
The act of creating is, in its finest hour, a plunge into the self. It is an exploration, an adventure. And then we share these pieces with those around us, which in turn provokes thoughts and emotions from them as well. This is a wonderful and rewarding experience. A.I. cannot do this. We struggle to envision a future where art created by humans did not exist.
Q: How does NAL build community?
A: The Newington Art League offers the opportunity to bridge the gap between individual creativity and collective identity. The NAL provides an opportunity where like-minded people can meet, have fun and be creative. This is so much more important today in our post-COVID era when people were more isolated. NL
For more information visit newingtonartleague.org or follow the NAL on Facebook and Instagram. The annual membership fee is $30 for individuals, $40 for households and $10 for students.