The Avon Arts Association was formed in 1959 by a group of area residents under the leadership of Dr. Carl Westerberg. As one of the oldest ongoing local art associations in Connecticut; it was created to foster awareness of the visual arts in the local community. At that time, few art classes were offered on a casual basis, and there were no community colleges or arts centers providing art education courses. This left little opportunity for the work of local artists to be appreciated.

During the 1960s, the Association sponsored evening programs for the general public at Avon High School. In 1966, the group organized its first outdoor Fall Show for arts and crafts. For these early shows, members strung storm fencing behind the rocking chair in Old Avon Village. Artisans brought card tables to display their crafts; others hung paintings on the fencing using picture wire. When it rained, heavy plastic sheets were used to cover the artwork. If the storm fencing got wet, it would stain the backs of the pictures. Initially, only members exhibited, but over the years the show grew in both size and stature. Mary Wooten, a juror for the Fall Show, worked with Art Chouinard to assure a well-organized quality event. Art could be counted on for keeping the vendor show going on for years, as he had a good relationship with the town of Avon. Mariann Weiss, Roger Niland and Barbara Butterworth eventually took over and ran the show successfully for three years until 2018.

Art Chouinard was recognized for steadily bringing the Association through the thick and thin years. His common sense and calming good humor assured that the group would forever continue to share wonderful art experiences and learning. His success in leadership made it enjoyable for others to grow and shine. Many members took advantage of the opportunity and are all greatly indebted to Art for enriching their lives. According to Carol Day: "Art nearly single handedly held the art group together along with Bob Ronaldes and Carol Stoeke."

Justine Coleman, a recording secretary and member since the 1980s, recalls that Association meetings and demos were once held in the lower level of the Avon Congregational Church. Other meeting places in Avon included: the Library, Middle School, High School and Senior Center. Board meetings were sometimes held in the homes of some Presidents such as Maxine Luther, Dottie Ford, Carol Stoeke and Elinor Warner. Past Presidents have included Rozanne Hauser, who moved the monthly meetings and demos to the Avon Town Hall, Deborah Leonard, and Mary Wooten.

When Carole Day joined the organization, she developed the newsletter for many years, and found a webmaster to publish the news online. Critiques (one by Paul Zimmerman) were scheduled for the last meeting of the year, sometimes lasting over two hours. There were scheduled trips to New York City to see SoHo, the Salmagundi exhibits, and the American Watercolor Society Show. The group had a bus trip to the Clark Museum and will plan for more trips to regional art exhibits.

The Association has a membership of artists and art enthusiasts, mostly from the Farmington Valley. General meetings are held in the Avon Town Hall Program Room at 7pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (Feb. - June, Sept. - Nov.) with a workshop held on the following Saturday (unless otherwise noted). Professional artists demonstrate an individual technique or medium, providing an opportunity for others to explore a new approach to their work. Charles McCaughtry and Art Scholz were two of the demo artists. Workshops have been conducted by Bernie Bourcher, Diane Marinaro, Carla Niehaus, Bob Noreika, Jim Grabowski, among others. Each Spring, the Association arranges an exhibit of member work and a Board of Directors Show at the Simsbury Library. A Holiday Show is held at the Avon Library in December, and there is always member work on display at the Avon Town Hall. During the Covid pandemic the group continued to have monthly demos via Zoom and virtual online shows.

Profits from shows and other fund-raisers make possible a few annual scholarships for art students graduating from the Avon, Canton, Farmington, Burlington, Granby and Simsbury High Schools. The Art Department Director of each school identifies talented seniors who plan to further their art education in a qualified college program. One of the scholarships given was in honor of the late Helen Kilgus of Avon, a Scholarship Chair for many years. In 1996, another was added, a ten-year endowment, in memory of Sharon Stahl. In 2005, a scholarship was given in honor of the late Robert Ronaldes. In 2021, the Inez Faillace Scholarship was established and awarded to a winner from Lewis Mills High in Burlington; another scholarship award was given to a winner from Farmington High. Scholarships are funded by 501c(3) donations, proceeds from our annual calendars, and a July fundraiser event at Canton Flatbread Pizza.

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Any reproduction or retransmission of any of these images without the consent of the artist is strictly prohibited.