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In the News

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Melissa had the honor of being on NPR
January 10, 2017

One of two artists interviewed on NPR, Melissa spoke for fifteen minutes about her experience traveling to Jordan first in 2015 and again in 2016-17 to teach Creative Writing and Art to Syrian Refugee Children. She was asked to read something from her upcoming book THE PEACE CHILDREN OF SYRIA Connecticut Artists Reflect On The Global Migrant Crisis

 

Melissa Croghan, POET OF THE MONTH for ‘The Poet’s Corner’ in THE HARTFORD COURANT. November -- December, 2016.

A Poet Among The Refugees: Melissa Croghan Of Simsbury

See the newspaper's video of Melissa reading THIRSTY, the strange story of the vision of a refugee child coming to her while she was in the hospital after a fall off a horse. PLUS, here are seven of her published poems that tell the story of the lives of the refugee children. Available at www.courant.com

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Gril with FlowersMARCH – APRIL / 2016

"No lofty goal of offering the refugee a way out of his tragedy, but perhaps with the passion of art, a way through."

– Melissa Croghan, personal essay published in The Pennsylvania Gazette. http://thepenngazette.com/the-peace-children-of-syria/

 

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FEBRUARY / 2016

Publication of article:

The Color of Peace

in the Valley LIFE magazine

Read Article

 

Author and Artist Melissa CroghanwestministerLogo


JANUARY 15 / 2016

A Poetry Reading & Art Exhibit at Westminster School: Friday, January 15, Melissa is the first poet-artist to have a double act at Westminster, both art show and reading in 'The Gund Reading Room' and in 'The Baxter Art Gallery.' Over one hundred people showed up for the lively event. She is honored to be among other luminaries to read at Westminster, poets and writers such as Billy Collins, Linda Pastan, and Anthony Doerr.

Read Article

JANUARY 16, 2016

A stimulating day teaching a number of classes in Creative Writing to 95 Westminster students. Melissa was able to guide the students in imaginative exercises, re-recreations of scenarios inspired by her paintings hanging in the Baxter Gallery on campus.

REFUGEE ART

Melissa spent the month of May 2015 in Jordan leading art and poetry workshops for the refugees. Coloring Book drawings for the Iraqi and Syrian refugees to bring a little light and art into their lives.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

croghan cover lgCLIFF WALK
Poems & Paintings of Mackinac & Beyond
by Melissa Croghan

Born in Washington, D.C., Melissa Croghan is an award-winning poet and artist whose work has appeared in numerous journals and publications. Her novel The Tracking Heart, published in 2012, has received critical plaudits from Kirkus Reviews and has had popular readership.

A former editor at Boulevard, an English professor, and a Poet-in-the-Schools in Connecticut, Croghan holds Masters and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Pennsylvania. With her “Mother America Series” and her most recent excavations in poetry and art, Melissa Croghan is a poet who breaks new ground in the interdisciplinary boundaries between art and literature.

For more information or
TO PURCHASE CLIFF WALK
Visit Antrim House Books

Art & Poetry on Simsbury Public TV (Cliff Walk)

MACKINAC ISLAND 2014 - SAVE THE DATE

Friday, June 27, 2014 - 4:00pm: A Reading with Artwork from CLFF WALK, Poems and Paintings of Mackinac, & Beyond 2014 Author Series at the Mackinac Island Library

Thursday, July 3, 2014 - 4:00pm: Reception for ‘Environmental Art Show’ The Mackinac Library, Melissa’s oil paintings “Island Weather” and “Mackinac Poetry” will be on view, June 30 – July 30, 2014

Sunday, July 13, 2014, 1:00 - 3:00pm - Book Signing for CLIFF WALK at “The Island Bookstore”, Mackinac Island

Aug. 8, 2014, 7:30pm, Melissa’s “Self Portrait,” lecture on poetry and painting linked to the film, FRIDA, at Mission Point, Mackinac Island Film Series

Book Signing & Artshow Video

Feature Articles in The Hartford Courant

 Hartford Courant - Write Stuff Art & literature   Hartford Courant - A Flock Of Faiths

The Hartford Courant, The WriteStuff: The Tracking Heart “Connecticut author and artist Melissa Croghan will give a free reading from her novel, “The Tracking Heart” (Nepaug Press, $14.95) at Simsbury Library.”
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The Hartford Courant, The Artful Life: Art Show and Book Signing “Many artists have been inspired by the events of September 11, 2001, to create artworks to draw attention to patriotism, grief or healing, Melissa Croghan focuses on all three.”
read more

The Hartford Courant: Charter Oak Cultural Center Melissa’s MOTHER AMERICA “Croghan recently published novel “The Tracking Heart” has been receiving accolades. Professional critics from the Kirkus Review to best-selling New York Times authors have spoken favorably about the book.”
read more

Watch for the exact date and time for these other exciting venues to come.

THE TRACKING HEART 2013 Speaking Engagements to Book Clubs

  • March: The Hartford Book Club
  • Early Fall: The New Britain Museum of Art, BREATHE FREE, lecture by Dr. Croghan, who will tie the theme of "Women in Nature" to the fabulous art collection at NBMAA

Melissa Croghan's Novel: THE TRACKING HEART

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Melissa's novel The Tracking Heart has really taken off. Read about it here or on AMAZON, a professional book review and reader review.

Find out about forest ranger Callie Major and the bear, not to mention her old best friend, Newton Denman who is on the run from an accusation of arson and the death of a beloved art teacher in Callie's and Newton's home town. This is a suspense, a love story, and a hymn to nature.

The book is available at SELECTED book stores, libraries, and amazon.com

First Saturday Open Studios

Melissa Croghan's studio is located at the Farmington Valley Arts Center, Studio 4A, artsfvac.org. Each month the Studio Artists open their doors on the first Saturday for a FREE visit. Tour the twenty studios, shop and collect pieces from painters, printers, photographers, sculptors, potters, jewelry artists and seat weavers.  Come, visit and browse or Contact Melissa if you would like to schedule a visit.

FVAC, Studio 4A
27 Arts Center Lane
Avon , CT 06001
Directions

In the Sanctuary at The Charter
Oak Cultural Center visting artist
Melissa Croghan gets a discussion
going with young minds who were
very interested in her paintings
from The Mother America Series.

Melissa Croghan At Charter Oak

Previous Events

  • Friday, May 23, 2014 - 7:30 pm: Poetry Reading with Art from Melissa's new release: CLIFF WALK at The Arts Café, 9 Water St., Mystic, CT
  • October 5, 2013 - 10:15 am - In the classroom at FVAC, A medley of Prose and Poetry – a lively Reading By Melissa Croghan
  • OCTOBER. 4, 2013 - First Friday @ THE New Britain Museum of American Art, WOMEN IN NATURE, From Corset Bound to Breathing Free
  • June 29 - July 29, 2013, The Character of Mackinac at the Mackinac Island Public Library
  • February 7, 2013, The Simsbury Library Solo Art Show and Book Signing for The Tracking Heart
  • November 29, 2012 - January 4, 2013 Charter Oak Cultural Center
  • November 27 - Reading from the Tracking Heart, Avon Public Library
  • October 21 - Lecture/Reading on Storytelling Art, The Hartford Art & Framing
  • September 25 - October 19 - Signs of the Four, an exhibit of work by 4 women painters, Hartford Fine Art & Framing Co.
  • August 12 - A READING from THE TRACKING HEART on Mackinac Island
  • August 14 - Melissa's oil painting, "Portrait of Daisy" becomes part of premier American art collector, Richard Manoogian's collection.      
  • August 15 - Melissa's Book Signing at The Island Bookstore, Mackinac Island
  • August 21 - Melissa's workshop: Narrative Art at the Mackinac Island Museum
  • September 9 - Participation in annual book fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with THE TRACKING HEART

Mother America

2011 - Melissa's The Real and the Marvelous Mother America Series has been attracting attention in the press, shows, and in her interactive exhibits.

Croghan was a featured artist several times in The Hartford Courant, with a write-up and photo of her oil painting "Walking Wounded" in CT NOW, and an article on The Real & Marvelous Mother America art show reception at the Drezner Gallery in ITOWNS, along with an earlier publication online and in print, of "Childhood."

Town News

SIMSBURY PATCH Article "Exhibit of Paintings Inspired by 9/11 at Farmington Valley Arts Center"

AVON PATCH Aritcle "Words and Images, Real and Marvelous: The artwork of Melissa Croghan"

UCONN Hospital

2012 - Exhibition: Melissa Croghan The Branches of Humanity. Read article about the show

2011 - Croghan's oil painting "Bridge of Colors, Essex" has become part of The Connecticut Collection at The The Hartford UCONN Hospital, a permanent collection of art, including work by Sol le Wit and Alexander Calder. 

Painting & Poem

Croghan's painting and poem of the same title, BLUE TREE, was published in the fall/winter issue of the journal Verse Wisconsin.
Blue Tree Poem