We’re all seeking moments of serenity these days, and I found a perfect one last week. I made a reservation to see the new exhibit Fresh Fields at the Florence Griswold Museum. It’s not often that the galleries are hung only with works from the permanent collection, and now is the time to see the superstars. I was on the board of the museum for many years and was thrilled to return to some familiar pictures that were acquired during my tenure, like Willard Metcalf’s masterpiece, Kalmia, and the stunning portrait of Cecelia Beau by Ethel Saltus Ludington. Other personal favorites include Chadwicks On The Piazza, Will Howe Foote’s A Summer’s Night, Childe Hassam’s Apple Trees in Bloom, and Metcalf’s Summer in Hadlyme. With descriptions by an ecologist and scholars of local history, the paintings offer the viewer a comprehensive vision of the Lyme and Old Lyme landscape from an environmental and historical perspective. It’s engrossing, and I’ll be back for another visit before it closes on November 1.

Good to know: Make your timed reservation at least 24 hours in advance. The museum is strictly limiting the number of guests in the galleries. There was only one other party while I was there. Masks required. The admission desk is now located in the Landscape Center, but don’t miss the Museum Shop on your way out! I highly encourage you to time your admission with lunch before or after at Cafe Flo.
View a virtual tour of Fresh Fields, American Impressionist Landscapes here.

Reserve tickets and find out more here.

You may also like An Exquisite Lunch at Cafe Flo