Celtic, Country, Kids and more - for YOU - this weekend at The Buttonwood Tree

The Buttonwood Tree hosts 2 terrific evening concerts this weekend, in addition to an early morning yoga class and Saturday workshops and ... Buster Nelson's photography exhibit opening reception on Sunday at 4pm.

TONIGHT: Acoustic Open Mic with Bob Gotta  starts at 7pm


Ringrose and Freeman (Friday, Sept 7, 8 pm $10.)

Two of Connecticut’s finest celtic musicians, Dan Ringrose (guitar/vocals) and Jeanne Freeman (fiddle/backing vocals) present an enchanting evening of music and songs from the Emerald Isle and Scotland. Traditional jigs, reels, hornpipes and haunting slow airs will be interwoven with poetry, history, laughter and song.



Saturday, Sept 8:
Community Yoga 8:30 - 9:45  Unique and varied Vinyasa Flow style.   Free.  Registration suggested. 860-347-4957

"Aligned with Source" Workshop for Empowerment
10:30 - 12:00pm   Embracing Higher Consciousness – Part I  Your Physical Upgrade. Includes guided meditation.  ($5 suggested donation)  

Go with the FLOW (Freedom, Love, Oneness and Wellness)

 1-2 pm  Free (Donations welcome)

A class combining simple body awakening/dance movements, guided meditation and the opportunity for creative expression through music, writing, dance or drawing for the purpose of reducing stress and rebalancing ourselves for a healthier, happier life.  

Misty Loggins (Saturday, 8 pm, $10.)

From the legendary Ryman Auditorium to The Bluebird Cafe, audiences have fallen in love with Misty Loggins.   Misty has shared the stage with Grammy winners, chart-topping artists & many Grand Ole Opry stars. As she finished her set at the Grand Ole Opry, Misty brought the sold out crowd to their feet at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Whether she's rocking-out on her electric Gretsch guitar or picking a toe-tapping banjo tune, Misty loves to entertain & it shows! With over 1000 performances across the US & Europe, this Georgia farm-girl connects with audiences with her engaging, dynamic personality.  From roars of laughter as Misty sings about the trials and tribulations of a female big-rig driver in “The Truckin’ Song,” to the soulful, bluesy twang of “Red Georgia Mud,” or her tear jerking, true life story about growing up as a farmer’s daughter in “Poor Man’s Floor,” Misty takes the audience on an unforgettable journey down South.  When her self-penned songs combine with the truth in her voice, Misty delivers the honest answer that country music fans have been looking for.

Sunday:
Worship 10 - 11, 11-12
Food Not Bombs 1 pm  Free lunch

What’s Our Frame of Reference? Portraits from the North End of Middletown, U.S.A.” by Buster Nelson

What’s Our Frame of Reference?  Portraits from the North End of Middletown, U.S.A. is inspired by Ali’s words and Bey’s practice.  We are artists, students, teachers, parents, children, neighbors, brothers, and sisters.  As a means of deepening the creative connections, communication channels, and trust within our communities, we have used portrait photography.

Bey reminds us to note the music of Marvin Gaye, “Talk to me/so you can see/What’s goin’ on.”  Indeed, we have begun many new conversations over the course of this project in order to realize our artistic vision.  In this public showing, we look to deepen previous conversations and to begin fresh dialogues.  Bey has stated that portrait photography can create an “implicit hierarchy that . . . has to privilege the photographer or the one who makes and is in possession of the image.”  We have used a digital camera to combat this hierarchy.  We, the artists in front of and behind the digital 35mm camera, shared in an initial viewing of the images we created and captured.  The challenge has been to create a true, collaborative process through feedback, image adjustment, and re-creation.  We have also broken down the hierarchy of portrait photography by using an empty wooden picture frame to draw attention to special aspects of the image and the art of image making.  To succeed, both the photographic frame and the wooden frame must work together in harmony.
The words included with the images are from the artists, both youthful and mature, that have created the portraits.  The quotes are not attributed to any one person in order to invite the viewer to make his or her own connections between the words and the images.  Who spoke which words?  How much truth can we draw from a single statement or image?  How much can we know from Ali’s words quoted above?  In asking these questions and in listening to the answers, one might begin by considering, “What’s in a frame of reference?”

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION:  Sunday, Sept. 9,   4-6 pm   Free   Meet the students involved! Hear their own words and catch a glimpse into their world!  Refreshments provided.

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center is located at 605 Main Street - at the corner of Liberty Street. Free parking on Main, Liberty St. and behind It's Only Natural market after 6 pm and on weekends.  www.buttonwood.org   Bookstore and Art Gallery open Mondays & Fridays 10am - 10pm, Tues & Thurs 12 - 4 and on weekends for events.