Join us for a morning of networking and building relationships with fellow Chamber members in a unique and inspiring location.

This month, we’re meeting at The Wise Apothecary, located inside the Shops of Madison Earth Care. Herbalist Melissa Blundon will be our gracious host, sharing her hand-blended teas and offering insight into the origins and healing properties of tea. It’s the perfect opportunity to start your day visiting a Madison business!

Come share what’s new in your business, discover what others are up to, and build valuable connections that can lead to referrals and new opportunities.

Spring into Art at Susan Powell Fine Art
March 7 – April 26, 2025

Celebrate the changing season with Spring into Art, a breathtaking exhibition featuring works by twenty-five award-winning artists. This vibrant collection explores light in fresh and dynamic ways, offering unique perspectives across a variety of subjects, including landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, florals, and figurative works.

With each brushstroke, these talented artists push creative boundaries—refining, exploring, and redefining beauty in exciting new ways. Whether you're drawn to serene coastal scenes, rich floral compositions, or masterful figurative works, Spring into Art offers something for every art lover.

Participating artists include Thomas Adkins, Kathy Anderson, Del-Bourree Bach, Paul Batch, Paul Beebe, Zufar Bikbov, Kelly Birkenruth, Grace DeVito, David Dunlop, Laurie Flaherty, Vincent Giarrano, Brittany Haynes, Eric Jacobsen, Susan Jositas, Jim Laurino, Sarah Stifler Lucas, Jonathan McPhillips, Leonard Mizerek, Larry Preston, Deborah Quinn-Munson, Shauna Shane, Jeanne Rosier Smith, Kyle Stuckey, Katie Swatland, Laura Westlake, and Christopher Zhang.

The exhibition is on view through April 26, 2025. Visit us at Susan Powell Fine Art, open Tuesday–Saturday, 11 AM – 5 PM, or by appointment.

Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents Good Morning/Good Night, an exploration of the beauty found in the transitions between day and night. From the soft glow of morning light to the mysteries of evening, this show highlights how light and shadow shift throughout the day, inspiring both contemplation and creativity. The exhibition opened March 21 and runs through May 3 at Spectrum Art Gallery, 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut.

This exhibition features both new and returning artists whose work captures the interplay of light and darkness. Among the featured painters is Beth Pite, whose dynamic, color-infused pastels vibrate with movement and energy. Barbara Rossitto explores the interplay between realism and abstraction in her evocative pieces; she works in oil, watercolor and pastel with a variety of subjects, mainly representational.

Joining is also Dianne Gorrick, an award-winning artist known for her luminous depictions of the ever changing light of clouds as they move from night to day. Other painters showcasing their unique interpretations of this theme include Vivian Zoë, an artist and arts educator with a varied background who shows colorful works in oil, while Tatiana Ferraro presents a new watercolor mountainous landscape. Diane Rubacha offers new relief prints, and Ned Farrell, a painter and calligrapher, shows several celestial works in oil and mixed media. Sean Carney is an award-winning artist with a unique style that specializes in painting with Minwax wood stain and a Dremel.

Tom Swimm returns to Spectrum. Born and raised on the East Coast, he resettled in Southern California and was inspired by the landscape of Laguna. His work is recognizable for its exceptional use of light and color. With numerous exhibits and awards and several illustrated children’s books to his credit, his painting methods have been included in several art instruction books. Lori Neumann, a versatile artist from Connecticut, specializes in oils, acrylics, and pastels. Educated at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, she is known for her plein air paintings using a palette knife, capturing rural New England landscapes and farm animals at dawn and dusk.

Laurel Hoynoski, a Connecticut-based artist, is new to Spectrum Gallery and primarily works with oils,
focusing on birds, landscapes, and still life. Mary Alice Landry, an artist deeply connected with nature,
creates vibrant paintings depicting wildlife and landscapes, ranging from abstract realism to whimsy. A staunch advocate for both wild and domestic animal rights, she actively participates in conservation
efforts and animal welfare. Jean Watson, also new to the Gallery, paints landscapes, seascapes, still life, birds, flowers, and animals using oils, pastels and cold wax.

Mark Bavolack, who had a fulfilling career in commercial printing and color retouching, embraced painting as a creative outlet several years back. He has a passion for color and beauty and continually seeks to expand his skills through the experiences of others, using the canvas to express his artistic vision. Nita Vitaliano works primarily in acrylics to create landscapes, seascapes, and florals, with a recent focus on birch trees. Kim McGennis, a multifaceted artist and educator, has dedicated her life to exploring and expressing the interconnectedness of humanity through art and explores painting, drawing, photography, and unique hand-painted furniture. She has created numerous mini-paintings for the show.

Other favorite Spectrum painters and mixed media artists include Rosemary Gates, Molly Waite Lund, Linda McCarthy, Maria Johnson, Jena Maki, Jeanette Delmore, Carol Courtney, Sabely Peralta and Christian Kunze. Eileen Clark, also a sea glass jeweler who has now turned to mixed media showcases for the show a stunning crystal, pebbles and gemstone piece called, Luminous. Don Carter and Dora Dylanne-Reyes who have a unique vision again present several graphic design pieces of birds interacting with and enjoying desserts!

Among the photographers exhibiting in Good Morning/Good Night is Bryn Souza, an award-winning photographer who has exhibited throughout New England. Although her primary focus is landscape photography, she is also an experienced pet photographer with her work featured on MarthaStewart.com, Today.com, and USA Today. Also new to Spectrum is Geneva Renegar, renowned for her vivid portrayals of the state’s landscapes, from shoreline vistas to historic dairy farms. Known for her early morning “Sunrise Sequence”sessions, she has been featured in exclusive exhibits throughout Connecticut, with her work also in the International Traveling Exhibition “Water, Water, Everywhere” highlighting the significance of water as a dwindling resource.

Robert Thomas, a returning favorite photographer at Spectrum, is known for his ability to capture dramatic landscapes and fleeting light in exquisite compositions. Jake Barba returns with a new work on metal. His preferred subject matters range from landscapes to wildlife and travel photography to astrophotography. Dianne Roberts also presents a unique composition called Window that captures a sunset through an interior window. George Fellner, a fine art photographer, returns to Spectrum Gallery to unveil new work including a stunning aurora borealis image and a church in Iceland located on a small piece of land in the middle of a large body of water. And Luke Giroux presents his latest photographic interpretation of a location at sunrise and sunset.

Other talented photographers in this exhibit include David Zeleznik, an underwater and nature photographer based in Essex presenting lunar and solar images. Carole Drong, new to Spectrum,is a versatile photographer and graphic designer whose compelling photographs have been featured in calendars, magazines, and brochures. Gary Connolly, also new to the Gallery, is an award-winning photographer, who captures for the Good Morning/Good Night show a powerful image of a total solar eclipse. And Donna Spencer drawn to photography for its expressive potential in capturing animals, flowers, and natural scenes presents a primarily black and white waterscape for the show.

Visitors will also find an exciting collection of fine artisans’ works, including handmade jewelry, glass, pottery, textiles, and home décor available at the Spectrum Artisans Store. These include clothing and fabric artisans Dale Gardner-Fox and Anna Mastropolo; potter Hannah Leckman, and ceramicist Niko Scharer. Roger Harvey, new to Spectrum is a wood turner, who crafts his pieces on a lathe using primarily local wood destined for disposal. He specializes in spalted wood, which features unique patterns created by fungal activity during the early stages of decay.

Carol Hawes rekindled her passion for art after retirement, exploring air-dried clay and watercolor, to create mini-sculptures of pets, birds and other animals. Marianne Dietz offers whimsical collages of bunnies and flowers; Diana Eastwood shows memorable paper folding art books. Kate Street presents innovative mixed-media home décor items created with resin, mica pigments, shells, beads, gold leaf, and paint. Leigh Graham, a lifelong fiber artist from Western Connecticut, creates dramatic textile and bead embroidery jewelry. Her beadwork, characterized by vibrant colors and intricate textures, features unique jewelry designs that never repeat.

Elaine Sych presents her intricate fabric bags and playful seasonal critters, while Maureen Maalouf offers painted seasonal glassware. Lynelle Abel, a pressed flower artist, shows several botanical prints and keepsakes encased in glass and ready to hang. Michelle Beauford is a fiber artist who specializes in crocheted items, a skill she learned as a young child from her mother. She creates a variety of shawls, wraps, baby blankets, and more in bright color palettes. Sharon Lee Mullen-Reynolds, a former art teacher, crafts Frida Kaholo-inspired spring headbands. Maryann Flick presents new seasonal-stained glass work, perfect for the upcoming holidays. Linda Saucier and Lisa Fatone offer striking handcrafted jewelry, with Fatone also showcasing mini-paintings in acrylic on wood panel.

Innovative jewelry design is well represented by Beth Terhaar, Joanna Biskupski, Gloria Nilsson, Sandra Huber, Kristie Foss, and Barbara Hernandez-Froehlich who offers new jewelry pieces, rosaries, and charms.

Spectrum Art Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday (12-6 pm) and Sunday (12-5 pm). For more information call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online 24/7 at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US – a perfect choice for convenient gift giving all year long, with gift cards are also available in the Store and online.

Gaylord Physical Therapy, Madison presents this talk on getting yourself ready for golf season!

Topics will include warming up before a round, keeping the “high stress” areas of your body resilient, and having more fun! Physical therapist Corey Podbielski will perform demonstrations and refreshments will be served.

Always wanted to make your own pottery? We have just the thing! Our Sip n’ Slab courses are a fun way to learn a little hand building skills! No experience necessary. If you are 21 and up, you can BYOB! Enjoy your beverage and an evening of making with one of our amazing artists who will guide you through the steps! Each person will be able to keep one object they make, and pick a color from our shop glaze selection to create a finished product. Friday & Saturdays at 7PM.

You are creating and sculpting this piece in class. Clay takes time to dry and once dry goes into our kiln. At the end of class you will choose your glaze color and the studio will glaze and fire the piece. Estimated time of pickup is 3 to 4 weeks. We will text you or email you once your piece is ready.
* Min 3 students to run. $60+ tax per person.

 

3/7 Wall Vases
3/8 Private Event
3/14 Appetizer Boards
3/28 Mugs!
3/29 Egg Holders
4/11 Animal Plate
4/12 2 Cup Set

“The Coffee House we hold whenever we feel like it” welcomes singer songwriter Sam Robbins, Friday, April 11 at 7pm.  Sam Robbins is a New England-based singer-songwriter known for his "old soul" style, with a reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in the national folk music community. A regular at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, where he was voted 2022’s “Most Wanted to Return,” Sam is one of Atwood Magazine’s 2025 Artists to Watch. His music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, with a modern, painterly style. “One of the most promising new songwriters of his generation” — Mike Davies, Fateau Magazine, UK

Register at www.mercybythesea.org or call Guest Services at 203.245.0401 ext. 114 for details. 

Always wanted to make your own pottery? We have just the thing! Our Sip n’ Slab courses are a fun way to learn a little hand building skills! No experience necessary. If you are 21 and up, you can BYOB! Enjoy your beverage and an evening of making with one of our amazing artists who will guide you through the steps! Each person will be able to keep one object they make, and pick a color from our shop glaze selection to create a finished product. Friday & Saturdays at 7PM.

You are creating and sculpting this piece in class. Clay takes time to dry and once dry goes into our kiln. At the end of class you will choose your glaze color and the studio will glaze and fire the piece. Estimated time of pickup is 3 to 4 weeks. We will text you or email you once your piece is ready.
* Min 3 students to run. $60+ tax per person.

 

3/7 Wall Vases
3/8 Private Event
3/14 Appetizer Boards
3/28 Mugs!
3/29 Egg Holders
4/11 Animal Plate
4/12 2 Cup Set

Palm Sunday Worship.  This first day of Holy Week, we will celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem with our children carrying palms and pussy willows.  

Chris Whipple, "Uncharted" in conversation with Cynthia McFadden

Tenebrae means “shadows.” We will read the story of Jesus’ walk to the cross and crucifixion as we extinguish candles, accompanying him into the darkness of the tomb. 

As the dawn breaks and we lift up our hearts with music, readings and prayer, celebrating together God’s gifts of new life and wholeness at Summer Hill Cemetery. 

Join us in this service of celebration of resurrection and new life.   Our sanctuary will be filled with beautiful flowers, joyous music, inspired scripture and a special message of hope celebrating God’s love.
 

Promote Your Business in the Spring 2025 Edition of Experience Madison

Get your business in front of over 4,300 local subscribers with an exclusive spot in the spring edition of Experience Madison, the Madison Chamber’s member-exclusive digital magazine.

• Reach a wide audience: Shared on social media, the Chamber website homepage, and in our weekly newsletter distributed to over 4,300 subscribers.
• Affordable advertising: A half-page ad is just $75, and a full-page ad is only $125.
• Highlight your business: Showcase your products, services, and promotions during one of the busiest seasons in Madison!
• Click on the following link to see our 2024 Spring issue: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/1ea7510bc1.html

Don't miss the chance to be featured in this exciting, seasonal publication!  

Sign up now to secure your spot!

Join Erin Schuster for a Gentle Yoga class that is suitable for students of all abilities. Experience is not necessary to enjoy this 50-minute class, and all props will be provided for you. This special Fundraiser Yoga Class benefits the Women & Family Life Center and will take place in April—Sexual Assault Awareness Month—a time dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for change.

Women & Family Life Center’s mission is to support and empower women and all families during changing life transitions. They provide vital resources, guidance, and advocacy for those facing challenges such as sexual violence, financial hardship, and family transitions. Through this class, we honor their work and the resilience of those they support.

This gentle yet empowering practice will focus on breath, movement, and mindfulness, creating space for self-connection, healing, and strength. Whether you come to support, reflect, or simply move, your presence contributes to a meaningful cause.

Book Launch Event: Blaze Needs Berries, by Amanda Russell

Join us for special events, exciting giveaways, and meaningful initiatives that support literacy and our local communities.

City Color: A Solo Exhibition by Vincent Giarrano
Opening Reception: Friday, May 2, 5–8 pm | Meet the Artist
On view through May 31

Step into the vivid world of City Color, Vincent Giarrano’s electrifying new solo exhibition, on view this May. Known for his masterful sense of atmosphere and narrative, Giarrano captures the energy and nuance of urban life with remarkable immediacy and depth.

Whether it’s a sunlit New York streetscape buzzing with movement or a quiet moment of reflection featuring a self-possessed woman in her daily rhythm, each painting tells a story—contemporary yet timeless. With striking color, light, and a cinematic sense of place, Giarrano invites you into scenes that feel at once intimate and alive.

His work has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC (part of the Smithsonian) and in London’s National Portrait Gallery—and now you can experience his latest collection right here.

Collector Sharon Jarboe puts it best:
"To step inside a Giarrano painting is to unlock your own experiences and memories of the city."

Don’t miss the chance to meet Vincent Giarrano in person at the opening reception on Friday, May 2, from 5–8 pm. The exhibition runs through May 31. New works will be added weekly, so check back often for the latest additions to this must-see show.

As the wheel of the year turns and we transition from Spring to Summer, we gather to celebrate the vibrant energy of Beltane, a time of passion, fertility, and blossoming new life. Join us at Tea & Tarot Boutique for an enchanting Beltane celebration seeped in sacred rituals and ancient crafting traditions. Together, we'll cast spells of love, commitment, abundance, and creativity.

The evening will begin by delighting in our bewitching seasonal tea blends and exploring the history of Beltane. As we settle into the evening, we'll participate in opening sacred space, welcoming guides, ancestors, and the spirits of the sabbath into the circle. Once our circle has been set, participants will engage in a community card reading to receive wisdom for the upcoming season. Following this, we will craft fresh flower crowns, allowing us to infuse each petal with our individual hopes, dreams, and aspirations. After the festivities have commenced, we will close the circle and bid farewell until the next turning of the wheel.

What to Bring:
- Anything you would like to add to include on our alter (crystal, figure, herb or plant, etc)

Disclaimer: This class is for educational and personal growth purposes only. It does not promote harmful or unethical practices. Witchcraft is a diverse and spiritually rich tradition, and we respect all paths and belief systems.

About Your Host: Kaza, your mystical guide for the evening, brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to our Beltane celebration. With a lifelong dedication to the craft, Kaza's intuitive approach to magic and ritual draws from diverse traditions, creating a transformative and inclusive experience for all participants. Kaza's expertise is rooted in dream magic, astral projection, kitchen witchery, and the arts of green magic. As a seasoned practitioner, Kaza infuses her gatherings with wisdom on "everyday witchcraft" to guide attendees on their journeys of self-discovery and connection.

Join us for an exclusive, curated five course dinner menu prepared by our culinary team under the direction of Executive Chef Peter Hamil with wine pairings selected by sommelier Tanya Raisz.

Special guest Town of Madison Poet Laureate Ed Lent will share readings inspired by the five course dinner menu.

Event begins promptly at 7 p.m. | Attire: Jackets
This ticketed and exclusive event has limited seating.

Shoreline Greenway Trail First Saturday Walk
Today we will walk or roll the beautiful trails of Hammonasset Beach State Park skirting
Long Island Sound to Meig’s Point. If time permits, be sure to visit the Nature Center
while there. The full distance round trip is about 4 miles but you can opt for a shorter
outing if you prefer. Meet at 10:00AM in the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking lot off Route One
just east of the park’s main entrance. Questions: 203-318-9649

Zentangle turns drawings into artistic designs while reducing stress and improving focus.  Learn hand to eye coordination, manual dexterity, problem solving and turn mistakes into positives to enhance your creativity.

Participants create 1, 2 or 3 Zentangle “Tiles”.  Tiles are 4X4 inch smooth white card-stock.  Learn to draw 12-15 basic and specific “tangles” or unique patterns on the tiles.  Copies of the book “Zentangle Basics” will be provided as well as pencils, card-stock, assorted permanent markers, mini canvases and miniature wooden easels.

The final Zentangle piece will be drawn on a white or black 4X4 mini-canvas using a variety of colors, including metallic permanent markers.  You will also receive a wooden easel to display it on!

Sharon Lee Mullen-Reynolds knew in High School that she was to be an Art teacher.  That is exactly what she did; for 36 years she taught Visual Art in the city of New Haven.  Her career hi-light was teaching 22 years at the Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School.  During her tenure there she was a published Fellow at Yale N.H.Teachers Institute for 2 years, the  Department Chairperson for 8 years and creator of As Far As The Eye Can See a school-wide art exhibit.

Since her retirement in 2016, she has been attending numerous art exhibits and installations locally and in NYC, specifically Frida Kahlo’s exhibit at the Brooklyn Art Museum which led her to create Frida- inspired floral headpieces. In 2017 she started The Kindness Rock art installation at the Branford Festival.

Sharon is an artist who believes that art can heal your soul.  In 2022 she sold her headpieces at the Ukrainian Roman Catholic church for the benefit of Ukraine’s War effort and donated 5 Ukrainian Strong “Petals for Peace” paintings to raise additional funds. These paintings were showcased on Channel 8 news.

In addition to her headpieces, Sharon works in mixed-media, crafts, collage, and watercolor landscape en plein air. Sharon’s artwork has been exhibited at City-Wide Open Studios, The ARTS Council, Calligraphers Guild, and is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Are you using a pendulum to answer important questions in your life?

Answers to questions such as...

• Is it time to switch jobs?

• How much of a pay raise can I request?

• Where should I go on vacation this year?

• Is this the right house for me, etc?

Pendulums have been used to answer important questions since before the time of the ancient Egyptians. Learning to use a pendulum will help you to connect to your higher self, and to other realms to get the answers to important questions in your life. Once you learn how to access the information that flows to you from Universal Wisdom, you will not be confused about what you need to do in life.

In this hands-on class, Barbara Yager, Akashic Record Mentor and Coach, will show you how to tap into the power and potential of your pendulum. You will learn the basics of how to choose and use a pendulum, where the guidance comes from, how to ask the right questions, and so much more. 

So, grab your pendulum and sign up for a life-changing experience.

(If you don’t have a pendulum, Tea & Tarot has pendulums you can purchase.) 

See you in class!

About Your Instructor: Barbara Yager is an intuitive consultant, coach, and author who provides spiritual seekers with powerful tools to create a life aligned with who they are at soul level. Using the power and potential of the Akashic Records Barbara shows her clients how they can unlock their potential and live the life they want to live.

Barbara says, “There are many tools available to help us connect to our inner guidance, our divine essence, to our higher self but few tools deliver as much potential and power as the Akashic Records.” Over the past 10-plus years Barbara has guided her clients to find the answers they were seeking, leading them to change and transform their life’s path and journey. Barbara is a certified Soul Realignment Practitioner with over 11 years of experience coaching individuals and businesses in how to align their energies for the greatest impact.