Branford artist Martha Link Walsh has been putting her design and paper-cutting skills to work to support local causes for decades, including one of her favorites, non-profit Community Dining Room (CDR), first organized in 1985.

“There’s so much in Branford to be grateful for,” says Martha. “It feels like Community Dining Room has been supporting this community forever, so donating to help them is easy. I’m just happy to be able to help if I can.”

Her latest artful assist aids CDR’s fundraising Dinner and Art Auction coming Tuesday, May 2, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Nataz restaurant in North Branford. Nataz is generously opening its doors exclusively for the CDR event.

CDR executive director Judy Barron is grateful that CDR, which supports those facing food insecurity in the communities of Branford, North Branford, East Haven, and Guilford, can draw on the talents of artists like Martha.

“What a wonderful collaboration for CDR to be able to not only do some outreach in the North Branford area but to also showcase some of our local artists that are supporting the mission of CDR,” Barron says. “The talent they have is amazing, and the kindness they are giving in donating a piece of their work is heartwarming.”

The auction features a diverse range of pieces hitting all price ranges and art interests, notes CDR fundraising coordinator Courtney Rosenberg. It tops off a delicious buffet dinner and complimentary wine tasting. Radio personality John “Cadillac” Saville will be the night’s emcee.

As one of 24 amazing contributing artists from the shoreline and beyond, Martha’s put her well-known design and paper-cutting skills to work to develop a one-piece, all-white floral design for the auction.

A Start in Art

Martha got her start in art during her tenure as a Branford Public Schools’ math teacher at the intermediate school, where she taught for four years. She also has her teaching job to thank for introducing her to her husband, Francis Walsh, the first principal of the intermediate school, for whom the building has since been named.

In 1973, Martha opened her first art gallery in a space at the former Bittersweet Farm on East Main Street.

“I was doing that afternoons and weekends, and I finally asked for a year’s leave from teaching to see if I could make it,” she says.

Suffice it to say, Martha made it.

Today, the Martha Link Walsh Gallery at 188 North Main Street displays not only her beautiful, original works of art, but examples of some notable designs many community members will recognize. They represent but a few Martha’s contributed through the years to celebrate and mark special Branford events and occasions. One is her amazing, quilt-inspired design for Branford’s 350th celebration in 1994. She’s even produced the Branford Town seal, as well as quite a few logos for local non-profits.

Martha’s favorite part of her work is hand-cutting each of her designs.

“The cutting’s the fun part! It’s kind of meditative. You can just kind of get lost in it.”

While her work is both cherished and can be found prominently displayed in many locations and residences, Martha also was instrumental in creating a program that brings art appreciators to visit local artists in their studios—The Shoreline Arts Trail, which opens for a weekend each November.

“There were eight of us who started it—we met in Stony Creek,” says Martha. “We wanted to figure out how we could get our stuff out there, and not always by doing shows—to have the people come to us. So we started the trail, and that has just grown. It’s really exciting how many people are doing it now and how many people look forward to it. It’s really fun.”

Now organized through non-profit Shoreline Arts Alliance (shorelinearts.trail.com), the trail includes artists in Branford, Guilford, and Madison.

Among her recent efforts, Martha has stretched her artistic talents in a new direction which can be seen in her colorful book, Shared Spirits—Connecting with Nature’s Wisdom (self-published November, 2022; available at marthalinkwalsh.net)

Martha wrote and illustrated the book, which features dozens of intricately designed cuttings of animals and birds. She says she began to develop its artwork at the start of the pandemic when businesses had to close.

“Everything shut down overnight. I was home for three days, and Fran finally said, ‘Just go to work!’” recalls Martha, laughing. “So I came here and locked the door. Ninety percent of what I do is custom work, so I don’t do much that’s motivated from me. I now had no orders, nothing coming in, and I had to do something.”

She drew inspiration from the effects so many were experiencing as the world navigated through COVID-19.

“I started off with raccoons because of the mask-wearing. And then I did pandas, which are self-isolating, as we all were. And then I did the Secretary bird because no one could go to their hairdressers, so it was a bad hair day!” she says of the spiky-feathered bird of prey.

“So I started doing the animals and the birds for a reason, and it just grew until I had 32. Next, I had to come up with the text, which took a while. But I’m so proud of it.”

Now in her 50th year as a local artist, Martha says, “I’ve been so lucky, not just with people in Branford, but people everywhere that have supported my work.”

To reserve tickets, $75, for CDR’s Dinner and Auction, May 2, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Nataz, 280 Branford Road in North Branford, call (203) 488-9750 ext. 3 or go to communitydiningroom.org (click on donate, enter ticket amount and select Nataz). For more information, email fundraising@communitydiningroom.org