Hygienic Art XLVI: A 2-week indulgence of art, music, film, for all ages, tastes

After weeks of frigid, dark post-holiday doldrums, it’s once again time for the explosion of culture that is the Hygienic Art Show in Downtown New London – this year on an even grander scale than in the past.

Hygienic Art XLVI will include two weeks of art, music and general creativity with events for all ages.

At the core of course is the free-for-all Hygienic Art Show at Hygienic Art, 79 Bank St., now in its 46^th year – for those who don’t like unscrambling the code of Roman numerals – scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25.

Officially known as the Salon Des Independents, the exhibit is open to all with “no judging, no fees and no censorship.” Organizers have reached out to New London’s newest gallery, The Local, at 114 Bank St., where large-format art, sculpture, and multi-media works will be featured.

Kids can show off their creativity earlier in the day at the Hygienic Young Artists Expo from noon to 3 p.m. at Expressions Cultural Center, 84 Bank St. Billed as “a community immersive art event with craft stations and performances,” the Expo is presented by Katie Fogg and Your HeArt Space, and is free and open to all.

But before any of that gets underway, artists who make music and movies will get folks primed for the main event with two special events on Friday, Jan. 24.

Filmwerks Screening Room, a free Independent Film Festival showcasing short films by emerging and established filmmakers, will start at 7 p.m. at Hygienic Art.

Also on Friday, the annual “Hygienic Art’s Hootenanny” will get underway at 7 p.m. at the nearby Telegraph Autonomous Zone record shop. Featuring eight local and regional bands playing original music, the event is free with donations suggested. On Saturday, the Telegraph will host “Rock Fix 2025” starting at 3 p.m., also featuring local groups.

The full slate of creativity, which runs through Feb. 8, follows:

Hygienic XLVI Events

Friday, January 24th

• Hootenannyat Telegraph Autonomous Zone | 7 PM
  An evening of live music. Free event, donations welcome.
• Filmwerks Screening Roomat Hygienic Art | 7 PM
  A free Independent Film Festival showcasing short films by emerging and established filmmakers.

Saturday, January 25th

• Hygienic Young Artist Expoat Expressiones Gallery | 12–3 PM
  A community immersive art event with craft stations and performances, presented by Katie Fogg and Your HeArt Space. Free and open to all.
• Salon Des Independantsat Hygienic Art | 7 PM
  The flagship event, open to all artists. No judge, no jury, no fees, and no censorship.
• Hygienic Grandeat The Local Gallery | 7 PM
  An annexed exhibition featuring large-format art, sculptures, and multi-media works.

Saturday, January 25th

• Rock Fixat Telegraph Autonomous Zone | 3 PM
  An all-day music event. Free entry.

Sunday, January 26th

• Pie-casso Pizza Box Challengeat Diamond Pizza | 4 PM
  Create art on pizza boxes with the materials provided. Free to enter, with a prize basket for the winner.

Thursday, January 30th

• Art Odyssey Trivia Night| 6–8 PM
  Test your art knowledge with a fun, competitive trivia night. Teams of 2–4, $10 per person, with prizes for top teams. https://square.link/u/MZ0pOv0W

Friday, January 31st

• Hygienic Music Loungeat 38 Green Street, New London, CT | 7–10 PM
  A night of live music featuring experimental and genre-blending performances. Free entry with a $10 suggested donation.

Saturday, February 1st

• Mayfly Playhouseat Garde Arts Center, Oasis Room | 7 PM
  A 24-hour theatrical event where original 10-minute plays are written, directed, and performed in a single day. It’s free to participate (signup in advance required), and Tickets are $20–$32 (+ taxes and fees) https://gardearts.org/events/mayfly-festival/

Thursday, February 6th

• Mic Drop Cabaretat Hygienic Art | 6–8 PM
  An open mic and cabaret night for singers, poets, comedians, and performers. Free admission. Signup starts at 5:30 PM

Saturday, February 8th

• Pints & Palettesat Tox Brewing Company | 1 PM
  A one-hour, fast-paced art challenge where creativity takes center stage. $10 pre-registration required (10 spots only), materials provided, and Tox customers vote for the winner of the prize basket! Free to attend. Artists sign up at https://square.link/u/Nl4RPW2S