750 Main Street, Willimantic, CT · 860-423-1898
OPEN
Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm
Our Members
MARY G. BAUM FOLK ART
Mary's career in Folk Art began when she painted primitive style scenes for friends on "pieces of olde" such as cutting boards, tin trays, wooden antiques, old jugs and the like. Through the years she has done custom folk art painting on just about anything. For Mary art comes from the heart and expresses feelings from within that today are often hidden by daily routines. Having been born and raised in New York State and having spent several summers on Cape Cod, her art reflects the simple farm life of the common man and colorful paintings of the sea. The New England landscape is an inspiration and treasure for an artist. Her originals are exhibited in galleries on Cape Cod and have been purchased by people from all over the United States and Europe. She enjoys doing custom house portraits of country and primitive homes and especially likes doing winter scenes. Painting is putting your heart and soul on display for everyone to see, creating the world, not as it is, but as you would like it to be ffer
Margaret Burgess
DAVID CORSINI
David Corsini makes assemblages from objects discarded by others and found in flea markets. Some of his assemblages are intended for outside display as garden adornments while other assemblages are of a more whimsical nature and intended for inside display. The majority of his work arises from inspiration generated by the objects themselves rather than a preconceived creative intention. His interest in natural history is evident in many of his creations. Although he comes from a family of artists, he has no formal training in art, began his artist career only after his retirement and thinks of himself as working in the folk art tradition.
Betsy Gonzalez
Betsy is an elementary teacher and part time photo-journalist for the Reminder News. She has always enjoyed photography, and after a recent field trip to Linda Gebhardt's farm was inspired to offer her work to the public. After being accepted at Swift Waters she has become a ardent supporter of the cooperative, and of the artistic community in Willimantic. It is her belief that these are the people who are doing the most to revitalize the town. She hope that through her involvement she can be supportive of the arts in Willimantic, and specifically, the artists who show and sell their work at Swift Waters.
Maggie Kendis
Batik and More!
(Click above for the full story!)
Lynn A. Lajoie
A trip to California in 2000 and beautiful photos of the coastline and Yosemite inspired Lynn's first scrapbook, which was done entirely from a kit. Another trip two years later, and her second book was completed. What a difference between the two. After making books for family and friends, she began receiving request to make items for sale. "I had accumulated many tools and supplies, and just loved designing and creating items. After a few sales, I was off and running and L. L. Joys by Lynn Lajoie was born". Because scrapbooking has taken off, Lynn is lucky to have a limitless supply of papers, embellishments, stickers, tools and ideas at her disposal. She can often be found perusing the isles of local scrapbooking stores, has many favorite web sites she orders from and belongs to a scrapbooking group that passes ideas back and forth. She has also attended Scrapbook Design University and continues to takes classes to learn new methods. She has served as a Board member and Treasurer for Swift Waters Artisans Cooperative in Willimantic and works as a paralegal for a law firm. "I enjoy my job, but look forward to retirement so I can devote more time to the craft I love". She spends as much time as she can on the golf course, and lives with her husband and four cats in South Windham.
Ellen Marshall
Glass As Art
(Click above for the full story!)
Sandy Reevess
Sandy started knitting four years ago and has barely put her knitting needles down since! Shortly after starting to knit she discovered that she could turn knit objects into felt, and a whole new world opened up. Most of Sandy's work available in Swift Waters is felted, including knitting bags, purses, guitar straps, baby shoes, potholders, drawstring bags, cell phone holders, and more. She also has a wide variety of scarves and children's hats available. About a year ago Sandy started recycling wool sweaters by felting them and turning them into all sorts of things such as purses, tote bags, eyeglass cases, hats, even mittens.
About a year after discovering her passion for knitting, Sandy's lifetime love of photography took off, resulting in a great assortment of photo greeting cards and matted photos. Most recently Sandy has turned her love for photography into a small home business, Kandid Kids Photography Services.
Sandy is a stay at home, homeschooling mom, living in Coventry with her husband, daughter, and pets too numerous to list!
Arthur A. Roberts (A. A. Roberts)
A. A. Roberts
(Click above for the full story!)
Jean Rotter - Studio #5
Jean Rotter
(Click above for the full story!)
Suzanne (Suzy) Staubach - Willow Tree Pottery
Suzy Staubach
(Click above for the full story!)