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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.

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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

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Champion for Kids

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem is holding its 2023 Champion for Kids Celebration this year at Ledger Restaurant in Salem, MA on Wednesday November 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The evening will include a five course dinner, open bar, an Art Auction, and other fun and games. This is all to benefit the kids who go to the Boys & Girls Club in Salem. The early part of the night will give guests a chance to meet the artists of the work to be auctioned later in the evening.

Two of my original paintings are donated to the event. The first is my oil painting Sheehan’s Pond which is 21″ x 25″ framed (shown). This painting was inspired by a live painting demonstration by well-known local artist Dennis Sheehan, and is named in his honor. It is a dreamy, misty forest scene familiar to New Englanders, which would be peaceful in any room of your home.

The second painting I am donating to the great cause of supporting the B&GCGS is titled Log Cabin Quilt, acrylic on illustration board, 11″ x 14″ framed. This painting employs optic color mixing. Although it seems to use many colors, it is really our eyes “mixing” only five colors which are painted in tiny dots and lines close together. This fun painting would be great for a sewing room — it is a quilt after all. But it would also be perfect for a child’s room or nursery, or in any room that calls our for a bright pop of color.

I also have continued my tradition of working in person with the boys and girls of the club to inspire and guide them to create their own 8″ x 10″ paintings which will be auctioned to help support the club that they love so much. I met with them to talk about the theme of “Fun and Games” and gave them images of numerous game boards. The kids each chose their own board, then chose just a section of the design to inspire their colorful, bold acrylic on canvas paintings. I am always inspired by the fun and energy the boys and girls bring to this project. The kids are proud to show their work and will each earn a gift card for their efforts and the proud knowledge that they are helping the cause!

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Falling for Art Sale

The Manchester Public Library is hosting its first art sale to benefit the library. The Friends of the Manchester Public Library have put together the extensive exhibit which features the works of over 25 local artists and includes many scenes of beautiful Cape Ann locations. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the library.

On Friday October 20 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. come to the library to meet the artists and view the beautiful framed art and photography. There will also be matted originals ready for framing available in bins. Wine and cheese will be served at the reception. The exhibit will be on display for only two more days, on Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22 during regular library hours, so hurry!

I have three paintings juried into the Falling for Art show. Marsh Reeds (shown), acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 16″ x 20″ framed, was painted en plein air this September overlooking the marshes behind Woodman’s in Essex. The reeds were making an interesting diagonal pattern against the strong horizontals of the marshes and dramatic clouds.

Knowles’ Landing, acrylic on deep gallery wrapped canvas, 16″ x 20″ was also painted en plein air — my favorite way of creating art. This was done on a languid summer day in Essex. I painted as my husband relaxed and read in the shade at this quiet landing. It was lucky for me that two beautiful herons flew in just as I was finishing the painting, so I was able to add them to the composition.

Sunrise Cattails, pastel, 19″ x 25″ framed, was inspired by many morning drives when the serenity of the marsh is emphasized by the soft sunrises. Each day is different and each one is beautiful.

I hope you will get a chance to visit this exhibit. You will be helping the library provide so many services to the town, and supporting the work of local artists.

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Cape Ann Plein Air Group!

I am so happy to have been invited to join a group of plein air painters based in Gloucester, MA! These talented artists meet each Tuesday morning at various locations around Cape Ann to paint, then they meet at noon for a critique session.

Sometimes they are able to obtain permission to paint in locations not usually open to the public. So far, I have been able to meet with them to paint on the grounds of the Eastern Point Yacht Club where I was excited to be close enough to the Eastern Point Light House to get some details I could not see when painting it before. (Painting shown: Eastern Point Light House, acrylic, 10″ x 20″) We also met in a private area of Rust Island, and I was relieved when the drizzle held off long enough to allow me to paint Cormorant Cove.

On a really hot day, we painted at Cripple Cove in Gloucester. The tide was low and the view was of many moored boats. The day we painted on Bear Skin Neck in Rockport was just the opposite – cold, damp, and very windy. I had to abandon my half-finished painting of Motif #1 for another day! My fingers were getting stiff from the cold and my canvas would not stay on the easel. On a perfect painting day, we all met at the Gloucester Loop where I had a nice, close view of the Old Paint Factory, and finished the painting.

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New for Art in Giving

My newest painting for the Art in Giving charitable foundation! This painting is titled Free Birds. It is 36″ x 48″ and is done in acrylic paint. The technique includes many layers of translucent metallic paints and glazes in golds, bronzes, and coppers. The finished effect is one that seems to change color according to the light and where the viewer stands, so it is a new painting from different angles in the room.

The inspiration for this painting was my kids’ leaving the nest as they journeyed out into the world. Married in 1974, first baby in 1975. Second and third babies in 1978 and 1980. Parenthood was a full time commitment! Disco? What was that? Extended maternity leave? Yes, please! Life was hectic and warm and wonderful. And exhausting. The kitchen calendar was packed with doctor’s appointments, PTA, youth sports, on and on. As time went by, the calendar was still full, but with college visits and college application deadlines.

Then, suddenly, quiet. The last little bird had flown away. I did cry all the way home from dropping her off at college. But the next day, my husband and I looked at each other and realized we had all day, all week, all month to fill in the calendar with plans just for us. The kids were still there, but not here!

For more information about Art in Giving, and to visit my Gallery Page there, please check their website, www.artingiving.com