The Bennett Family Takes Flight in Leonardo Challenge

Lower School art teacher Sue Bennett 1973 and her husband and former faculty member Dave Bennett recently participated in the 27th Annual Leonardo Challenge hosted by the Eli Whitney Museum.

Each year, the Eli Whitney Museum hosts an auction and art challenge that raises funds for its scholarship and outreach programs. Local artists are asked to donate pieces that are auctioned off throughout the night as guests enjoy refreshments and entertainment. The theme for the 2023 art challenge was Leonardo: In Flight as the museum chooses themes that relate to the work of the late artist Leonardo da Vinci.

"We are proud to be annual artistic contributors to such an important mission through the arts,” said Mrs. Bennett. “It is such a fun and meaningful event and very dear to our hearts.”

For their artwork this year, the Bennett’s constructed three whimsical unique birds on an organic log, titled Birds of Paradise which tapped into Dave's woodworking expertise and Sue's painting skills. 

The Bennett's strong connection to both Hamden Hall and the Eli Whitney Museum are the motivation for their yearly colorful, philanthropic contributions.