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Silver circle gallery
Curating Art. Inspiring Community. Enriching Creative Space. since 2008.
Founded in 2008, Silver Circle Gallery has been a cornerstone of the visual arts community in Northeast Connecticut for 18 years. Originally established as part of the Downtown Putnam Arts Renaissance, Silver Circle has evolved from a traditional storefront gallery into a more fluid and vibrant model—now located within BLOCK 134, a dynamic arts and wellness collective in Downtown Putnam.
While we no longer operate with fixed retail hours, our commitment to showcasing meaningful, contemporary local and regional art remains unwavering. We now curate the walls of BLOCK 134’s Community Event Room and Community Lounge, transforming the space into a living gallery that celebrates creativity and community. Exhibitions and rotating art displays are viewable during public events, workshops, and private rentals—or by appointment. Contact us to make arrangements!
Gallery Rental Opportunities
Silver Circle Gallery offers a unique opportunity for artists to showcase their work in a beautiful gallery space with a rich 18-year history in downtown Putnam. Whether you’re an emerging artist or a seasoned creator, our flexible gallery rental options cater to solo exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, and more.
How to Apply: All exhibitions are by application only. If you’re interested in showcasing your work, email us with a brief description of your work, your exhibition idea, and a portfolio or samples of your art along with bio and CV. All submissions are reviewed for quality and fit with the gallery before approval — we’ll follow up with next steps, including rental pricing and available dates.
Perfect downtown location — open space with exposed brick, natural light, overlooking the river
Access to docent services
Host artist talks or workshops during your exhibition period
Supportive, established community
Apply now: info@silvercirclegallery.com (subject: “Gallery Rental Inquiry”)
Visit Us
Carly Sage, MS | Founder
Hours: By appointment or when Block 134’s doors are open — please email to make arrangements.
Parking: Available in front of the building or in nearby downtown lots (we suggest the large lot at the corner of Kennedy Drive).
Follow us: Instagram | Facebook
Whether you’re an artist looking to exhibit, a collector seeking local talent, or an organization interested in hosting an art show, Silver Circle Gallery at BLOCK 134 is a unique and inspiring space where art and community meet.
gallery exhibits
Contact us to see the current exhibit
Gallery Artists on Display
Silver Circle Gallery is proud to represent a talented circle of local and regional artists, each bringing a distinct voice and story to their work.
Lynita Shimizu — Woodblock printmaker
Originally from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. After studying for a year at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, she earned a Fine Arts degree from Westminster College. Her work draws on landscapes and memories from her travels, rendered in traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques.
William Hays — Printmaker
Landscape is the foundation of his inspiration, often worked more from memory than a particular place. Using reduction printing techniques and multiple blocks, he layers colors in rhythmic patterns to create mood and harmony. In 2023, William was accepted into the prestigious Copley Society of Art in Boston — the first printmaker in the Society’s 146-year history to receive the honor.
Elisabeth McGinn — Oil painter
An oil painter for 20 years, specializing in still life, portraiture, and land/seascapes. Growing up on a family farm, she’s drawn to agricultural scenes; as a longtime Navy spouse, she’s also drawn to coastal waterways. She creates work to raise awareness for causes including homelessness.
Terry Cardinal — Watercolor artist
Born and raised in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, Terry’s art education began in childhood and continued through two semesters of graphic design study in her late twenties.
Alecia Underhill — Painter & illustrator
Based in Thompson, CT. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, Alecia channels her lifelong love of horses into paintings of equines and farm animals. Known for her “Horses from A to Z” and “Alphadogs” alphabet posters, and illustrator of For Horse Crazy Girls Only. She has exhibited at the International Museum of the Horse and Churchill Downs.
Lynita Shimizu — Woodblock printmaker
Originally from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. After studying for a year at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, she earned a Fine Arts degree from Westminster College. Her work draws on landscapes and memories from her travels, rendered in traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques.
Dominic Malizia — Painter
Works in an expressionistic manner, inspired by micro-organic design elements found in the environment. His nonrepresentational, extreme close-up landscapes are exaggerated through color, texture, line, and shape.
Doug Hockman — Landscape photographer
Doug Hockman is a New England fine-art photographer specializing in nature, landscape, and abstract photography. Inspired by dramatic weather, changing light, and the natural beauty of the Northeast, Doug captures everything from stormy coastlines and quiet forests to unexpected details found in everyday surroundings. His work is available as traditional matted prints and photographs mounted on wood panels, giving his imagery a distinctive, contemporary presentation.
Susan Rosenstone Larrow — Painter
Raised in New Haven, CT. Graduated from Southern CT State University (1971) and earned a Master’s in Art Education from University of Hartford (1978). She taught high school art for 35 years at Killingly High School and Woodstock Academy. Now painting full time, her focus is on people, flowers, and landscapes rendered in vibrant color.
Shirley Bernstein — Printmaker & painter
Born in Philadelphia; earned her BFA at the University of the Arts and MFA from Indiana University, majoring in printmaking. After years in New York City, she moved to Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, where she became captivated by the sky and has since created oil pastels and prints exploring it. A dedicated art teacher for decades (including at UConn and Cooper Union), she received the Teaching Excellence Award at Quinebaug Valley Community College.
Frances Kornbluth (1920–2014) — Abstract Expressionist painter
Born in New York City; studied at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and earned her MFA from Pratt Institute. For 57 years, Kornbluth summered on Monhegan Island, Maine, a place that shaped much of her abstract imagery alongside the Dominican Republic, where she was an artist in residence in 1985. A charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, her work is held in public collections including the Portland Museum of Art.
Bill reis - paintings & works on paper
Bill Reis is an accomplished artist and educator whose work explores color, texture, and a wide range of materials. His paintings, drawings, sculpture, and printmaking have been exhibited throughout the United States and are held in private, corporate, and institutional collections, including Morgan Stanley, Tufts Medical Center, Harvard University, and Boston Children’s Hospital.
Throughout his career, Bill has taught at institutions including Salve Regina University, Providence College, Rhode Island College, Cooper Union, and Pratt Institute. He has also served as Executive Director of the Wickford Art Association and has contributed to numerous public art and community projects.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College and a master’s degree in art from Rhode Island School of Design. He is currently represented by Hera Gallery in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
contact us: info@silvercirclegallery.com
Visit us during BLOCK 134 public events or by appointment
Hours: *by appointment*
134 Main Street, 2nd Floor|Putnam, CT| block134community@gmail.com
Parking: Parking can be either in front of the building, or in one of the multiple parking lots in downtown Putnam