Simsbury Public Library Displays Work of 3 Local Artists

Three local artists, including one from Granby, are having their work displayed at the Simsbury Public Library through the end of the month.

Avis Cherichetti of Granby, Geoff Houghton of East Windsor and Simsbury’s Rita Bond were all present at a reception Sunday at the library, which frequently displays work of artists in its downstairs hallway and meeting rooms.

Cherichetti creates mostly functional pottery (you can use it in your home), Houghton is a painter of a genre called SteamFolk and Bond primarily paints abstracts, landscapes and maritime scenes.

Cherichetti, who makes about 1,000 pieces a year, said that her bowls, plates and other pieces are fired to a stoneware temperature above 2,500 degrees that “creates ware that’s durable and useful.”

“It’s food-safe; it’s meant to be used,” she said. “The great thing is that it connects me to people who use it. It’s who I am.”

In addition, Cherichetti also has about 10 or 15 “fairy doors” that people can display in places like their gardens.

All of the pieces are for sale and range in price from $10 to $135.

If you’re familiar with the look and feel of the movies “Wild Wild West” or “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” then you know what SteamFolk art is, according to Houghton.

“It’s sort of Victorian or Edwardian era art that’s gone down a different path,” Houghton said.

The 18 paintings on display at the library were created over a period of 10 years, Houghton said. All but two of them are for sale for between $225 and $2,250.

Bond, who works primarily with oil and acrylic paints and depicts New England landscapes, said that she was thrilled that the library supports local artists.

“I think it’s great that the Simsbury Library does this,” said Bond, whose work has been featured in numerous shows, including one most recently at the Ethel Walker School. The Simsbury Open Studios, of which Bond is a founding member, is having a show at the library in March. Its weekend open studio event is April 14-15.

For more information, visit Cherichetti’s website here, Houghton’s website here and Bond’s Simsbury Open Studios website here as well as her personal website here.