691 Morehouse Road, Easton, CT 06612. Phone: 203-261-0175.

The Easton Arts Council's Annual Art Show will take place January 10 to February 26, 2012 in the Community Room of the Easton Library.  Entry fee $15.  Drop off art January 7th from 10AM to  1PM.  Artists photographers, sculptors, and artisans welcome.  Check the website for further information.

39 Strickland Rd, Cos Cob, CT 06807. Phone: 203-869-6899.

Exhibit will bring to life the stories of 10 ordinary people from Greenwich whose lives were impacted by the Civil War and whose personal observations reflected the tenor of the times. It will explore the lives of four soldiers on the frontline including an African-American and a prisoner of war. On the home front, additional observations on the events come from an abolitionist, a war opponent, a female social activist, a young widow, a wife and mothe,r and a teenaged girl coming of age. Their words, taken from actual letters and diaries, create a rich portrait of life in the community at this pivotal juncture in our national story. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, Noon to 4:00 pm.  Admission: Adults $10, Seniors and Students $8, Members Free, Children 6 and under Free.

295 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850. Phone: 203-838-9799 ext.18. Fax: 203.838.1434 .

The Opening on April 8 at noon will commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial with the unveiling of the exhibition, Mansion Fragments: Innovations in Architecture, Design, and Technology from the Civil War Era, featuring objects drawn from the museum’s permanent collection.

1494 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT Phone: 203-336-4468.

Opening Date:   ( 5:30 pm  to 7:00 pm ) The Fairfield Arts Center, The Cardinal Shehan Center, and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo will present Kids & Kritters: Wild Inspirations, an art exhibit featuring 28 original works by the talented children of The Cardinal Shehan Center and local "Pigcassos" from Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. An opening reception with the human and animal artists will be held on Friday, April 15, 2011 from 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at The Cardinal Shehan Center, 1494 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT. FREE and open to the public. Please RSVP by calling The Shehan Center at 203-336-4468. The exhibit will be on display through July 3.

13 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT Phone: 203-966-9577.

An exhibit of the work of Edmund M. Ashe, including paintings, posters and personal artifacts in the Silvermine Room. Edmund Ashe was a painter, illustrator and educator born in Staten Island, New York. He was distinctly an American painter, drawn toward the people - the mountain people of the Smokies in Tennessee, the steel workers in Pittsburgh, and the river people of the South as well as family portraits. He moved to Westport, CT in 1905 and was one of the founders of the Silvermine Group of Artists, remaining one of its leaders as long as it existed.

199 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840. Phone: 866-811-4111.

Tickets on Sale Now.  New for the season:  Art, Architecture and Landscape Focus Tours detailing the site's core elements, and Conversations in Context, an evening program series hosted by leading minds in architecture, art, history, design, and preservation.  Book online or call 866-811-4111 to make your reservation.

370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. Phone: (203) 259-1598.

This is the Third Annual Juried Photography Exhibition With Cornerstone Exhibit of award-winning photojournalist Photojournalist Bill Eppridge's Work. Eppridge's iconic collection of work for magazines, in addition to Life and including National Geographic and Sports Illustrated, captures many of the most defining political and cultural moments in the last half of the 20th century, from Robert Kennedy's campaign and assassination and the Civil Rights movement, to the Beatles and Woodstock among others. The exhibition celebrates the exceptional work of talented, serious amateur, professional and student photographers from New York, Conn., Rhode Island and Mass. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors. Members of the Museum and children age 5 and under are free of charge. Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12 noon - 4:00 p.m.

151 Brookdale Road, Stamford, CT 06903. Phone: 203-322-6971.

Starting May, 9 am - 3 pm Mon-Thursday, and 9 am -12 Noon Friday. Having a plant or gardening dilemma? Bring any questions or plant samples to the UCONN Master Gardeners for help. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday throughout the growing season. This is a FREE service. Call 203-322-6971, x24 for questions, visit www.bartlettarboretum.org or email admin@bartlettarboretum.org

295 West Main, Norwalk, CT

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in cooperation with Fairfield County Arts Association will present Summer in Fairfield County, a juried exhibition judged by award-winning artist Laurel Stern Boeck. The exhibition will be held at the Mansion from  May 7 through Aug. 18, 2011, with an opening reception on Thurs. May 12, 5-7 p.m. Juror and award-winning artist Laurel Stern Boeck has been characterized as one of the nation’s foremost portrait painters.  The Fairfield County Arts Association is a support group for both professional and amateur artists.  Its programs give members the opportunity to grow by sharing their work, expertise, and talent and to serve as a forum for comment, critique, and advice.All media are included under the term “arts,” including the various forms of painting, sculpting, photography, and almost any creative visual form compatible with the term “art” as determined by the association.  One of the artists submitting artwork at LMMM is Howard Aaron, who discovered the joy of painting in watercolors at the age of 50. The opening reception will feature a performance by solo pianist and composer Nengbin Fred Shih and pianist/organist Jeb Dennis.  For those who have already viewed the Mansion and are solely interested in the art exhibit, viewing hours are 12 to 4 p.m. Wed.-Sun.  Admission is free. During the season, full tours at the mansion are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children and young adults ages 8-18. Children under 8 are admitted free. Tour hours are 12- 4 p.m., Wed.-Sun. Tours are on the hour, and the last tour is at 3 pm. For information on educational programs, events and rentals, call 203-838-9799 or e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.

77 Washington Street, South Norwalk, CT 06854. Phone: 203-246-6958.

Open: May-October, Saturday-Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM. Admission: Free, donations appreciated! Several quilts with transportation themes that illustrate the impact of transportation technology on American life, which begins at a young age, will be displayed in this hands-on museum that allows visitors to experience an overlooked side of railroading. Signal Station 44 was built in 1896 by the New Haven Railroad to accommodate the newly expanded and elevated right of way through South Norwalk. The purpose of the exhibits and programming comprising the Norwalk Quilt Trail is to create awareness and appreciation for a form of Americana that combines elements of art, local history and culture.  Approximately 40 quilts will be on display at diverse cultural heritage and tourism sites around the City of Norwalk.  This is the first major collaboration between the city's museums and will lay the foundation for sharing resources in future projects.