Exhibitions

Library Art Show!

Danvers Art Association is hosting an art show at the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers from 3/16-4/20/24. The reception is free and open to the public on Saturday, 3/17 from 2-4pm. My two completely different styles of paintings in the exhibit are: Children’s Barn, acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 8×10″ framed and Charlie on the MTA, acrylic paint on illustration board, 12″x16″. I hope you can make it!

Children’s Barn was painted in autumn of 2023 at Endicott Park in Danvers overlooking the barn on one of those crisp, sunny fall days. It is acrylic paint on framed gallery-wrapped canvas, 8” x 10”. Perfect for a country kitchen, living room, or kids’ room. 

Charlie on the MTA (shown) was inspired by my daily trips on the T when I worked in Boston many years ago! I loved getting everywhere by using the colorful maps posted on the station walls. Who needed a car? I have added a few new “lines” in my painting. Charlie on the MTA is done in acrylic paint on illustration board in only 6 colors (red, yellow, green, blue, magenta, white), using a lot of color mixing. I hope they get the T up and running right again soon!

The library is in a beautiful wedding cake of an antique mansion! Not to be missed. Free Parking and refreshments.

15 Sylvan St, Danvers, MA 01923, United States

Phone+1 978 774 0554|

danverslibrary.org

www.SheilaBillings.com

artingiving.com

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Taste of the North Shore

My donation to the 20th year celebration of Taste of the North Shore hosted by the Rotary Club of Peabody: My original acrylic painting, Boston Light, 12×24″; inspired by a photo I took on a glorious summer sail! Taste the best the North Shore has to offer while supporting your community. Enjoy foods and more, plus enter their $10,000 raffle. Only 300 tickets sold; you don’t have to be present to win. Tuesday, March 19, 6:00 p.m., Dansversport, Danvers. PeabodyRotaryTaste.com for tickets and more information!

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Member Spring Exhibit 3/18-4/11/14

It’s that time again when artwork blooms in galleries all around the North Shore! On Monday, March 18 from noon until 2:00 p.m. the Swampscott Art Association will start their season with an exhibit of members’ creations. The show will be on display at the Swampscott Senior Center, 200R Essex Street, Swampscott. It is in the back of Swampscott High School and there is plenty of free parking.

Members were encouraged to bring their best work, so there will be a diverse array of all different styles, mediums, subjects and sizes for you to enjoy. The event is free and open to the public, refreshments will be served and live music will be offered as well.

My painting in the show is titled King’s Beach Seawall. It is a realistic depiction of the iconic view along the Swampscott/ Lynn King’s Beach. It was inspired by a photograph I took while walking there last March. The dramatic sky, light reflecting on the water, and hard shadows on the wall caught my eye. The painting is done in acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas, 10″ x 20″, and framed in black.

I hope to see you there!

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Members Showcase 3/1-4/6/24

Join us at the Salem Arts Association Gallery opening reception as we kick off our 2024 season with amazing art exhibits, live music by Christine Baze, and assorted treats and beverages on Friday, March 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Meet the artists and your art loving community at Salem Arts. Also, don’t forget to stop into the SAA Artisans Shop newly stocked with original, one-of-a-kind treasures created by the artists of the Salem Arts Association.

There are two exhibits on display now. The Member Showcase featuring art in many styles and mediums by our talented members. My own creation, which has been juried into the show is Salem Willows Arcade, a framed painting, 11″x14″ acrylic on canvas. It was inspired by a photograph I took one drizzly evening outside the Arcade at the Willows. I love The Willows so much and have spent many happy hours there. Daytime, night time, rain or shine, there is always something fun to do and something delicious to eat! On the night illustrated in my painting it was drizzling a little, and all sensible folk were inside enjoying the games.

Music at the event will be provided by Christine Baze has an energy and light that is unmistakeable. Her velvety voice and love of rhythm and melody combine to create songs that are infections to anyone who listens. Bouncing behind her keys or standing solo singing from her heart, Baze pulls you into a colorful emotional journey that makes you stop, listen, and feel.Enjoy Christine Baze live on Vocals and keyboard.

Judging the show was Liz Nofziger is a site-specific installation artist whose work examines relationships to space within the physical, architectural, political, and pop-cultural landscape. Employing a broad range of media including video, sculpture, light, audio, found material and text, viewer investigation completes her work. Nofziger received her MFA from the Studio for Interrelated Media at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, MA. She currently teaches at Montserrat College of Art.

The second exhibit opening March 1 is called This is Trans and it is a photo journey of awareness and love by Mx. NV Gay. Salem Arts is proud to bring This is Trans to the Salem community. It is a timely and important subject for our time and our community. The artist reception will feature a meet and greet with Miss Trans Massachusetts 2023, Chelsea Page Moses and special guests. Reception is sponsored by Miss Trans Global USA. Please check out the Salem Arts Association website www.salemarts.org for more information.

The Salem Arts Association Gallery is located at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970. Contact SAA at:

www.SalemArts.org

info@SalemArts.org

#SalemArts

978-745-4850

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Art in Giving Exhibit

I am delighted that four of my paintings have been included in the Gallery Art in Giving exhibit at the BioMed Realty lobby, located at 210 Broadway, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sales of the paintings in this showing and also many more paintings in the online gallery at www.artingiving.com support pediatric cancer research. Since 1999, Art in Giving has granted nearly $2.5 million for basic research, while also supporting the work of accomplished local artists.

The paintings I have included in this exhibit reflect my love of the sights I have enjoyed my whole life living in the Boston area. There is so much to see in this great city, towering skyscrapers, antique architecture, sweeping ocean views, and many iconic sights. Here are the paintings currently at BioMed Realty lobby:

Boston Swan Boats, acrylic, 36″ x 36″ framed, was inspired by my many visits and photos through the years of this lovely spot. There is nothing more peaceful on a summer day

Three Boston Bridges, acrylic on deep stretched canvas, 48″ x 36″, was inspired by countless drives (and long stops in traffic which give me a chance to snap photos) into and out of Boston. Graceful bridges grab my attention every time.

One early spring day, I took a trip to the Boston Public Library to watch the NPR show being broadcasted. Walking back to the train station, I took a photo of these interesting shapes, shadows, and reflections and used it to inform this painting, Copley Square Skyline: acrylic, 43″ x 30″ framed.

Skyline Boston, acrylic, 28″ x 40″ framed, was the lucky fruit of a LONG traffic jam. Frustrating, but it gave me a chance to admire the magnificent view and shoot some reference photos through my windshield! This painting was done by mixing only 3 colors: titanium white, ultramarine blue, and burnt sepia.

Exhibitions

Kids in Community Benefit

Don White is performing at St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. (Don White)

A concert with Don White — Lynn’s own singer and folk storyteller

I was proud to have a matted print of my mixed media creation, Smart Phones, included in the benefit raffle to help with programs for this great program for local Lynn children!

Lynn Item, January 8, 2024 by For the Item

Kids in Community (KIC) invites you to an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling as we welcome Don White, Lynn’s very own singer/songwriter, to St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church in Lynn. Get ready to be captivated by his soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss thisopportunity to experience the magic of live music in an intimate setting at St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church. 

White is a local legend, known for his unique blend of folk, blues, and storytelling.With his guitar in hand, he will take you on a musical journey that will touch your heart. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to White’s music, this concert will be a night to remember. 

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased through Eventbrite.com. Tickets will be sold at the door also, subject to availability. If you cannot attend, you can still support KIC by purchasing a ticket that we will donate to someone else.

Kids in Community’s summer day program is free for the participants, ages 6-13. The program has been serving Lynn kids for years but took a hiatus during the pandemic. Last summer, KIC returned to its literacy-based summer camp program. Activities include reading, art, games, music, sports, and field trips. KIC is looking forward to summer 2024 to continue the positive outreach to Lynn’s children in grades 1 through 6. 

Mark your calendars for Jan. 27 and join us for an evening of music and incredible community spirit. We can’t wait to see you there!

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Outer Space Exhibit

Come on down to the new, improved Outer Space Exhibit at the North Shore Children’s Museum! When the NSCM opened in 2022, I was delighted to be asked to paint two walls for an Outer Space exhibit, and the spectacular black light effects on the special fluorescent paint really sparked the kids’ imaginations. The museum invited me back to paint the rest of the room, creating a 360 degree outer space mural. Even better, they secured the students at the North Shore Tech School to design and build a hands-on space station.

The museum is operated by the City of Peabody and is the pride and joy of Peabody Square. It was inspired by the pre-Covid pop-up CuriousCity Children’s Museum which had a temporary home at the George Peabody Museum and Leather Museum. CuriousCity attracted over four times the number of visitors that were anticipated. Many of the ideas at CuriousCity have been carried over to the NSCM. For example, my mural of some iconic buildings in Peabody Square has been installed in the hall at NSCM. Other old favorites are the dress-up room, the sensory room, the bank and more. Lots of new ideas: Construction Corner, Comic Heroes, Baby Playroom, Craft Room, etc.

Check their website nschildrensmuseum.org, email for information, hours and tickets. Contact North Shore Children’s Museum at nscminfo@peabody-ma.gov, call at 978-538-5765.

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Salem Children’s Charity 2023

You can retire the teacher, but you can’t take the students out of her heart! Coming up Tuesday, December 12!!! The Salem Children’s Charity event at Hotel Hawthorne. This festive event offers hors d’oeuvres, a live bar, a live auction, raffles and much more, the proceeds will benefit Salem schoolchildren all year long.

You helped the Salem Children’s Charity to survive the COVID year! They are still tremendously worried that their efforts to be the “superhero” for Salem schoolchildren will come up short in this post-COVID period of inflation hurting struggling families and serious stress on schoolchildren.

They want to remind you that the sole purpose of Salem Children’s Charity is to provide year-round assistance to Salem’s schoolchildren in times of need without bureaucratic red tape or delay. They hope is that this knowledge will once again drive you to help them overcome significant obstacles in the lives of Salem children.

My donation to the charity event is Snow Berry Cardinal, acrylic on canvas, 8x10x1.5″. Many people believe that a cardinal is a visit for a loved one who has passed on to Heaven. This painting is a nice size to display on a shelf, and the deep 1.5″ canvas allows it to stand without an easel. It is also wired for hanging.

If you are unable to visit the event in person, you can bid online; the hugely popular hybrid silent auction www.biddingowl.com begins when doors open to the live event December 12 at 6:00 p.m. and continues through Sunday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m. For tickets, please contact the charity at www.salemchildrenscharity.org

Exhibitions

Member Exhibit – 1st prize!

Danvers Art Association is proud to present the Member Exhibit from November 18, 2023 until January 6, 2024. It will take place at the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, 15 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923.

My entry in the show is titled Snowy Gables, and is an original hand pulled screen print done in two colors on white rag paper. The screen print depicts a snowy night, a cozy gabled cottage on a little hill, and a crescent moon shining above. It is meant to celebrate the start of the cozy season on this week before Thanksgiving.

This is an unthemed exhibit with each artist member of DAA entering a piece that speaks to them. The works are in various mediums, many sizes, and as many different subjects as there are artists. All of this hanging in a lovely fireplaced room in the Georgian Revival building originally dedicated in 1892.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday afternoon, November 18, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

The show will be open for viewing during regular library hours: Mondays – Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call the library at 978-774-0554 or email them at danversref@noblenet.org.

Exhibitions

Holiday Showcase

Coming up! Salem Arts Association Holiday Showcase, unthemed exhibit of members’ creations. My entry is an original acrylic painting on canvas, Frosty Dawn, 12″ x 24″, framed. It was painted from inside my warm house, looking out over my old neighborhood in Gallows Hill Salem at my neighbors’ beautiful yards. I just left out all the houses, cars, street lights, and everything except the lovely snowy scene.

Opening reception this coming Friday, November 17, 6-8pm — SAA openings are always a good time! While you’re there, check out the SAA Shop on the first floor and the Masters’ Circle show going on upstairs. 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA www.SalemArts.org #SalemArts These shows will be on display through December 16, 2023.