Neufeld art to be featured in Tricentennial book

Reprinted from The Spectrum, May 20, 2005

"New Milford Steeples" (featured on our masthead), a painting by the late Woldemar Neufeld, is one of the legendary local artist's works that will appear in a book that will be published by the town of New Milford and the Woldemar Neufeld Estate for the town's Tricentennial celebration in 2007.

For over 50 years, Woldemar Neufeld painted New Milford, capturing its spirit in his unique personal style.

Many of his images serve to remind us of a time that no longer exists, which makes his art such a vital part of the town's history.

In honor of New Milford's Tricentennial celebration in 2007, the town, in partnership with the Woldemar Neufeld Estate, will publish a book commemorating the legendary artist's New Milford body of work.

The book is to include 40 full-page color reproductions, as well as a complete catalogue of his New Milford paintings.

Woldemar Neufeld's son, Laurence Neufeld, is coordinating the book's publication. He believes his father's great legacy is that he was able to document many of the New Milford sights that people had taken for granted over the years.

"His paintings chronicle the changing lifestyle of New Milford," Mr. Neufeld observed, adding that a number of the buildings his father painted are no longer standing. One such structure, an old barn located along Route 202 in the Northville section of town that recently caved in, is represented in an oil painting currently housed in the Marble Dale branch of the First National Bank of Litchfield.

Mr. Neufeld also painted the Carlson Farm, which is now the site of the Carlson Ridge housing subdivision on Route 202.

Noting that the whereabouts of many of his father's New Milford paintings are unaccount ed for, Laurence Neufeld is encouraging anyone who possesses a Neufeld painting to allow him the opportunity to photograph the painting for inclusion in the book.

Thus far, Mr. Neufeld has identified 150 images of his father's New Milford artwork. Two of Woldemar Neufeld's better known New Milford images are the 1983 "New Milford in Winter" and the 1986 "New Milford Railroad Station" block prints.

In the mid-1980s, the artist served on a seven-person Railroad Station Restoration Committee that helped preserve and restore the historic old railroad station. The New Milford bandstand featured in his 1977 block print was used as a promotional poster for New Milford's 275th anniversary celebration in 1982.

Laurence Neufeld said he is in the process of soliciting funds to help pay for the cost of printing the book, which he estimates at approximately $40,000.

He said he plans to print 2,500 hardback books which will be priced in the neighborhood of $35 to $40, and he hopes they will be available for sale some time in 2006.

Profits from the sale of the book will be used to underwrite the cost of a Tricentennial Art Exhibit and for other community purposes.

The commemorative book will include a biographical portrait of Woldemar Neufeld, as well as background and other anecdotal information that will accompany each of the 40 paintings in the book.

According to Laurence Neufeld, one of the more important aspects of the book will be an essay about the paintings and what they tell us about New Milford.

"New Milford is losing its New England charm," he remarked sadly.

Mr. Neufeld said he hopes this book will help create a better awareness of the special aspects of New Milford over the years and foster an appreciation of New Milford's landscape as seen through the eyes of one of its most beloved artists.

For more information about the Woldemar Neufeld commemorative book, or to report the whereabouts of an original Neufeld painting, call Laurence Neufeld at (860) 567-3684 or contact the New Milford Tricentennial Publications Committee at (860) 354-8232.