By Emily Schopfer
FAIR HAVEN – Art and history combine this spring as THE ESTUARY returns to Bicentennial Hall for its fourth art exhibition. This year, THE ESTUARY – a women-led traveling art installation – will return to its flagship location to present “THE ESTUARY 2026: WONDER” April 24 and 25.
For the upcoming show, THE ESTUARY is trying something new, according to its recent news release. The members are “experimenting with their art curation strategy,” they said. Artists across all mediums have been invited to submit their work which will be curated by a group of artists from previous ESTUARY shows.
The show will feature works by more than 20 artists, and local businesses will provide music and refreshments.
Emily Billington, founder and creative director of THE ESTUARY – as well as an artist herself – said she was spiritually moved to create the organization in 2024. Without knowing how, where or even why, Billington said she knew she needed to create a space for art and community to thrive. She reached out to her cousin, Ana Anttonen, and the pair soon joined forces with co-creators Peggy Nicolosi and Maggie Ludman. Together, they brought the idea to life in April 2024 at Bicentennial Hall.
The “flagship location” of Bicentennial Hall has both historical and cultural significance for the community, and is the perfect spot for artistic exhibition, said Billington, who hopes the hall eventually evolves into a cultural center. After just one show, artist and community feedback told Billington that the community was craving this – even if they didn’t realize it.
This show provides residents who may not see themselves as artists with a new way to present their work and to be seen by the community in a new light, Billington said. “There is so much heightened energy and emotion in the world right now, and it’s so lovely that people are turning to creative ways to deal with it.”
Billington said there is no “template” this year, but the show needed to stay true to its roots of inclusivity and community. THE ESTUARY team didn’t focus on how things “should” go for this show or on outside opinions. “This time, it felt really exciting to cast a wide net and do an open call to artists,” she said. This led them to make the difficult decision not to invite repeat artists, she said. But those artists were invited to join the Collective of Curators to review submitted work.
Additionally, unlike past years, “WONDER” will also include three artist awards, which Billington feels will be a good way to encourage people to “linger” on the artwork.
“Bask in the creative energy,” is what Billington hopes people take away from this show. “I want people to have an experience that lifts their spirits, awakens their creative senses and sends them off remembering how to see the world with wonder again.”
The exhibition is free to attend, but a portion of proceeds from donations and art sales will be shared with local nonprofit The Shore House and its Art of Recovery initiative.
Visit @estuaryartshow on Instagram for the most up-to-date information on the exhibit.
The article originally appeared in the April 16 – 22, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
