Gallery Opening & Meet the Artist: Aidan Neely
First Friday: June 06 | 5 PM
Featuring images from Downtown Chester and the surrounding shoreline area. A mix of line drawings and paintings.

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Aidan Neely is an accomplished artist and longtime resident of Middlesex County in CT, currently residing in the picturesque town of Chester with his loving wife and son. His artistic talents span a diverse range, encompassing both painting and fine line drawing.

Having a background in architecture, Aidan's journey in the world of art started with numerous achievements in design and drawing competitions during his schooling years. Inspired by his mother, who was also an artist, he embarked on a transformative artistic path. Over the years, Aidan honed his skills by participating in various fine arts outdoor festivals, where he had the privilege of learning from and being mentored by local great artists. These experiences helped him cultivate his unique style of drawing and painting, which stands out as a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary influences.

Aidan's acrylic paintings predominantly feature landscapes and objects, with a special fondness for seafood still life compositions and occasional portraits. His masterful brushwork and vibrant color choices bring life and energy to each canvas, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty of the scenes depicted.

In addition to his paintings, Aidan's fine line pen and ink drawings have garnered much attention and admiration, particularly for their focus on local buildings, especially those in Chester. With great reverence for the town's historical charm, he skillfully captures the essence of these beloved structures, evoking a sense of nostalgia that resonates with the locals and visitors alike.

Aidan's art is part of a showing at Little House Brewing, nestled in the heart of downtown Chester, CT, throughout June and July 2025. The exhibition will showcase his exquisite pen and ink drawings of local buildings, providing art enthusiasts with an opportunity to relish the beauty of the town's architectural heritage as well as his acrylic paintings. Limited edition prints of these drawings will also be available for purchase, allowing art lovers to cherish a piece of Chester's essence within the walls of their own homes.

Aidan Neely invites all to join him at the exhibition and experience the passion and love of Chester that permeates his artwork. Through his brushstrokes and pen lines, he weaves a visual narrative that captivates the imagination and celebrates the timeless charm of Chester, CT.

Michele Fischer-Paul (CreatrixCT) is a creative soul with a deep appreciation for nature, the arts and the mysteries of faith. Born in Orléans, France, but a lifelong resident of central Connecticut, she expresses her artistic passion primarily through hand-cut paper collage, photography and storytelling. Her love for organic gardening, beaches, and animals reflects her connection to the natural world, and she actively supports animal welfare through volunteer work at a farm animal sanctuary in North Haven. A dedicated thrifter and museum enthusiast, Michele finds inspiration in both the past and present. She sees beauty in imperfection and hopes her abstract (and often quirky) art will stir emotions, strengthen connections, and create a ripple effect of love in the world.

IG @creatrixct  

Website: https://creatrixct.my.canva.site/

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For more information on gallery space at Little House, please email: events@littlehousebrewing.com.

Rachel Dubreuil is a digital artist whose work captures the beauty of nature and travel through a modern, simplistic lens. Her creations are characterized by clean lines, minimalist compositions, and vibrant pops of color that bring energy and warmth to each piece. Rachel's art extends beyond traditional prints to include stickers, notepads, and other thoughtfully designed goods, making her work both visually striking and accessible. Whether inspired by landscapes, botanical elements, or the essence of a faraway place, her pieces evoke a sense of joy and wanderlust. Rachel sells her artwork through her business, Willows ‘n’ Wildflowers.

Gallery Opening and Meet the Artist
Mr. J’s No Crap Beer
Beertography by Brian Johnston

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Metamorphism. It has come gradually to me since I first discovered craft beer in the mid 90's. The taste. The color. The excitement of it all. Knowing that there was more to life than just Bud, Natural Light and Busch. But most of all, I was intrigued and drawn to the bottle art in what I drank.

Overall, advertising can play a generous part in the discovery of new and wonderful flavor profiles. Thai-Infused Imperial Stouts. Beverages based on ancient Mayan recipes. So called "extinct" beer styles miraculously brought back to life. Then again, back in those early microbrew days it was all still so very new. Back before the term hipsters. Before the battle of New England Style vs. West Coast Style. And before extraordinary beer flights and $30 corked beer bombers.

Let's fast forward to the present. Craft Beer has now become all the rage. And for a price, every style you can possibly want is available in some form or another for you to enjoy. And this second life has generated a drive in me to take beer to the next level. To take the commercial product that we all recognize and change it into an artistic statement.

In part, that is what l've tried to capture for the last 5 years. The process of transforming the immature view of beer to a more adult form. And maybe we can alter the overall stigma of beer being just carbonated yellow water. And to me that is metamorphosis...

Nicholas Shkutzko is a passionate and talented wood artisan, proudly owning and operating Just Wood Crafting in the charming town of Deep River, CT. With a keen eye for detail and a creative flair, Nicholas specializes in laser wood burning and cutting, creating custom wood products that exude both elegance and whimsical charm.

His repertoire includes a wide range of offerings, from exquisite cutting boards to unique household wood products and captivating games that showcase his sense of humor. Nicholas's craftsmanship is particularly notable for its focus on utilizing exotic woods with character and charm, giving his creations a distinct and extraordinary appeal.

When he’s not busy crafting masterpieces in his small shop, Nicholas finds joy in spending quality time with his beloved family—his wife, children, and dogs—sharing the serenity of their home in Deep River.

Woodworking and crafting have been his passions since a young age, and his love for working with wood remains as strong as ever.

To catch a glimpse of Nicholas’s exceptional work, you can visit his website: justwoodcrafting.com; Moreover, he is excited to present his latest creations at Little House Brewing in Chester during the months of June and July 2024. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of finely crafted wood pieces, experiencing Nicholas Shkutzko’s work is sure to be a delight.

Through the month of February and March, Little House will be featuring local photographer, Brenda Dunn and her series titled Veiled Void. The pieces will be on display and available for purchase during opening hours. The series focuses on self portraits in abandoned places featuring an abstract and somber undertone.

Brenda will be in the back of the brewery on Friday March 1 & Friday March 29 from 5-8 PM. She’s available to discuss her works and will be selling candles as well through her project: Alchemist Library, Tea Candles. The candles are hand poured into vintage tea cups.

https://www.brendamdunn.com/

Through the month of February and March, Little House will be featuring local photographer, Brenda Dunn and her series titled Veiled Void. The pieces will be on display and available for purchase during opening hours. The series focuses on self portraits in abandoned places featuring an abstract and somber undertone.

Brenda will be in the back of the brewery on Friday March 1 & Friday March 29 from 5-8 PM. She’s available to discuss her works and will be selling candles as well through her project: Alchemist Library, Tea Candles. The candles are hand poured into vintage tea cups.

https://www.brendamdunn.com/

As part of the Chester Arts & Literary Festival, we will have a pop-up shop and book signing for New England artist and author of Pints and Panels, Em Sauter. Em will be signing books and have merchandise to purchase as well.

Pints & Panels is focused on creating visual beer education materials. She currently has two books in publication, Beer is for Everyone! (of Drinking Age) and Hooray for Craft Beer!

https://www.pintsandpanels.com/

On Saturday Feb. 10th, as part of the Chester Arts & Literary Festival, we will have a pop up featuring local Chester artist Aidan Neely and Deep River Woodworker Nick Shkutzko (Just Wood Crafting). Their works feature images of downtown Chester and beyond from their Little House show this past summer. Neely created the original hand drawn images and Shkutzko burned the pieces onto wood and created beautiful hand crafted frames for each piece.

As part of the Chester Arts & Literary Festival, local photographer Brenda Dunn will be available on Fri. 2/9 from 5-8 PM to discuss her gallery Veiled Void with interested parties.

Through the month of February and March Little House will be featuring local photographer, Brenda Dunn and her series titled Veiled Void. The pieces will be on display and available for purchase during opening hours Feb. 9-11th. The series focuses on self portraits in abandoned places featuring an abstract and somber undertone.

https://www.brendamdunn.com/

Through the month of February and March Little House will be featuring local photographer, Brenda Dunn and her series titled Veiled Void. The pieces will be on display and available for purchase during opening hours. The series focuses on self portraits in abandoned places featuring an abstract and somber undertone.

https://www.brendamdunn.com/

A collaborative gallery featuring downtown Chester and beyond. Aidan Neely and Nick Shkutzo have come together to showcase their favorite building fronts, activities, and furry friends in this showcase. The gallery features fine line drawing, woodburning techniques, and some custom framing. The gallery is open through the end of September.

________

Aidan Neely is an accomplished artist and longtime resident of Middlesex County in CT, currently residing in the picturesque town of Chester with his loving wife and son. His artistic talents span a diverse range, encompassing both painting and fine line drawing.

Having a background in architecture, Aidan's journey in the world of art started with numerous achievements in design and drawing competitions during his schooling years. Inspired by his mother, who was also an artist, he embarked on a transformative artistic path. Over the years, Aidan honed his skills by participating in various fine arts outdoor festivals, where he had the privilege of learning from and being mentored by local great artists. These experiences helped him cultivate his unique style of drawing and painting, which stands out as a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary influences.

Aidan's acrylic paintings predominantly feature landscapes and objects, with a special fondness for seafood still life compositions and occasional portraits. His masterful brushwork and vibrant color choices bring life and energy to each canvas, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty of the scenes depicted.

In addition to his paintings, Aidan's fine line pen and ink drawings have garnered much attention and admiration, particularly for their focus on local buildings, especially those in Chester. With great reverence for the town's historical charm, he skillfully captures the essence of these beloved structures, evoking a sense of nostalgia that resonates with the locals and visitors alike.

Aidan's art is part of a collaboration showing at Little House Brewing, nestled in the heart of downtown Chester, CT, throughout August and September 2023. The exhibition will showcase his exquisite pen and ink drawings of local buildings, providing art enthusiasts with an opportunity to relish the beauty of the town's architectural heritage. These have also been fused with a collaboration with local wood working artist Nicholas Shkutzko to bring new dimension to the drawings and a warmth not found just with ink and paper. Limited edition prints of these drawings will also be available for purchase, allowing art lovers to cherish a piece of Chester's essence within the walls of their own homes.

Aidan Neely invites all to join him at the exhibition and experience the passion and love of Chester that permeates his artwork. Through his brushstrokes and pen lines, he weaves a visual narrative that captivates the imagination and celebrates the timeless charm of Chester, CT.

________

Nicholas Shkutzko is a passionate and talented wood artisan, proudly owning and operating Just Wood Crafting in the charming town of Deep River, CT. With a keen eye for detail and a creative flair, Nicholas specializes in laser wood burning and cutting, creating custom wood products that exude both elegance and whimsical charm.

His repertoire includes a wide range of offerings, from exquisite cutting boards to unique household wood products and captivating games that showcase his sense of humor. Nicholas's craftsmanship is particularly notable for its focus on utilizing exotic woods with character and charm, giving his creations a distinct and extraordinary appeal.

When he's not busy crafting masterpieces in his small shop, Nicholas finds joy in spending quality time with his beloved family—his wife, children, and dogs—sharing the serenity of their home in Deep River. Woodworking and crafting have been his passions since a young age, and his love for working with wood remains as strong as ever.

To catch a glimpse of Nicholas's exceptional work, you can visit his Facebook page, "Just Wood Crafting LLC." Moreover, he is excited to present his latest creations at Little House Brewing in Chester during the months of August and September 2023. Whether you're an art enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of finely crafted wood pieces, experiencing Nicholas Shkutzko's work is sure to be a delight.

For more information: www.littlehousebrewing.com/events

Craig Gilbert is a New Haven, CT artist with a long-standing history of expression, dating back to his toddler stage, dragging crayons along the walls of his bedroom. Later he was a writer/illustrator of stories for local newspapers and for many years worked as a beer label illustrator/designer for the New England Brewing Company.

Craig’s work has been shown in galleries, coffee shops, breweries, on many beer labels, and upon the walls of households across the country.

His concept and the name of his work, FLOW, is non-descriptive and allows the viewer to see what they want without being told what to see. Some people view comforting ease while others see manic obsession. Is it spit or is it star dust? One sees fractals and maps while another sees viruses.

…and all interpretations are correct.

If you’re interested in owning a commission piece (thanks!), Craig can be emailed at crgglbrt13@gmail.com.

Venmo - @Craig-Gilbert-15

PayPal - @FLOW13

IG - @that-craig_guy_13