Author: Sheila

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Marblehead Art Assoc. Member Exhibit

Sheila

The Marblehead Arts Association will be presenting a wide variety of their members’ artwork in the Summer Member Exhibit which will run at the same time as the Marblehead Festival of Arts. I was glad to learn that my painting has been chosen to be part of the show.

My painting for the Summer Members’ Exhibit is Marblehead Harbor Panorama, acrylic on canvas, 12″ x 36″. It was painted in 2019 as part of the MF0A Paint the Town Exhibit, a plein air event; and it was chosen for the People’s Choice Award at that time. It is the painting that inspired my 2022 Cod for the MFoA Cod Auction benefit.

The day of the 2019 plein air event, I drove to Devereux Beach in Marblehead hoping to make a painting of the colorful beach umbrellas in the sand. However, when I arrived, the sky had darkened and it had grown cool. Instead of painting the deserted beach, I turned and decided to paint the dramatic view of Marblehead Harbor. The sea was a luminous light green due to the sun just beginning to break through the dark clouds. The white boat masts of the many crafts docked because of the bad weather shone against the glowering sky.

The exhibit will be on display June 25 to August 7, 2022 at Marblehead Art Association, 8 Hooper St., Marblehead, Massachusetts. Call 781-631-2608 for gallery hours.

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ArtBox Salem, MA 2022

Sheila

It has been a tough few years! The City of Salem, MA has decided to brighten up the city and raise citizens’ spirits with their Positive Thoughts Art Box Project. Following the theme of Positive Thoughts, artists will paint their utility boxes with bright cheerful imagery and incorporate uplifting words into their designs.

My utility box is located on the corner of Boston and Nichols Streets in Salem, MA. When I first saw it, the box was dirty and covered in graffiti and stickers. Once it was cleaned, scraped and primed, it was ready for some Positive Thoughts. My design shows a sunflower garden, full of cheerful flowers, butterflies and bumblebees. The sunflowers march around the box on all sides and positive quotes are painted both on the street side and the sidewalk side.

The street side sports a quote I have seen associated with sunflowers. Sunflowers, which always turn their faces to the sun seem made to illustrate this quote. “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.”

I had originally thought this was a quote from Helen Keller, but while doing research I also found it ascribed to Walt Whitman. Diggin deeper, I found that both of these people were using the quote, but had not initiated it. The earliest version I could find is an old Maori proverb, so that is the one I used.

The quote on the sidewalk side is by the Dalai Lama XIV. “To make others happy, practice compassion. To make yourself happy, practice compassion.” I like this quote because sometimes it seems that compassion is lacking in today’s world. But I also like the reminder to also be good to oneself

Exhibitions

Observance: Inspired by PEM 2022

Sheila

Salem Arts Association members reflect on the Zachari Logan: Remembrance exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum and the Covid-19 pandemic to create works in observance of our personal and collective experience.  Members were asked for work that reflects grief, anger and loss in addition to hope and remembrance.

I chose to concentrate on the remembrance aspect and am delighted that my painting, Free Birds Too, was juried in to the exhibit. This painting represents my memories of rearing my three children through good times and bad. Now that my husband and I are in the autumn of our lives, our children are grown and have flown the parental nest to make lives of their own. They are certainly Free Birds, and at first I was heartbroken to see them go! However, I am happy to have learned that this has given my husband and me a new chance to connect as a couple, to live our lives for and with each other again and remember why we fell in love. It turns out that we are Free Birds Too.

Free Birds Too is painted in acrylic on canvas and is 12″ x 15″ framed. The background is painted with many layers of metallic paints and glazes, inspired by the backgrounds on some of the paintings and panels I have admired in the Asian collection at the Peabody Essex Museum. I like this process because it gives the painting warmth and depth and causes it to look very different in various lights. The three trees represent my three children, who can be seen flying into the distance. The swirling leaves represent the passage of time. And the two blackbirds sitting together in one of the trees are my husband and me, snuggled together, free as birds.

The exhibit Opening Reception will be held Friday evening, July 1, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Exhibition Dates are July 2 through August 27, 2022. The show can be seen online at www.salemarts.org and in person at the Salem Art Association Gallery at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01907. Gallery and shop hours are Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 6:00 p.m. 978-745-4850.

Exhibitions

Cod Auction 2022 MFoA

Sheila

One-of-a-kind decorated codfish are up for bid in the Marblehead Festival of Arts “Festival of Cod” online fundraising auction which begins June 13 and runs until July 4, 2022. I am delighted that the Festival has again invited me to be one of the artists decorating wooden codfish in any medium of my choosing.

My codfish this year is titled Marblehead Panorama and is painted with acrylic paint onto the wooden cod made by skilled local woodworkers at Ware Pond Woodworks and Redd’s Pond Boatworks who volunteer their time to cut and finish blank cods for the invited participating artists. The Marblehead Panorama portrays the view of Marblehead Harbor looking from Devereux Beach. It was inspired by my 2019 People’s Choice Award painting for Marblehead Festival of Arts Paint the Town plein air event.

I had intended to create a painting of the beachgoers at Devereux, but the plein air event turned out to be a cloudy, drizzly morning. So instead, I stood under the beach gazebo roof and turned towards the harbor. The sky was dark with just a hint of sunshine breaking through the clouds. The water was absolutely glowing a stunning pale green. It is funny how sometimes the best paintings come from unexpected places.

To check out all the codfish in the Cod Auction, go to www.marbleheadfestival.org, scroll down and click on “Cod Auction is Open!”, then click “Auction Site”, and scroll down to the “Bid for Good” button. There you will find all the codfish. Click on the cod to find all the information about that cod and the artist who created it.

 “Marblehead Harbor Panorama” is on display at Spotted Hound, 160 Washington St, Marblehead, MA

Shore Lights
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Connectivity / Diversity Show

Sheila

Help Celebrate Arts Days in Salem MA and kick off the Memorial Day weekend! The Salem Arts Association will host an exhibit, Connectivity/Diversity, during the Salem Arts Festival. It is an open-themed exhibit showcasing the diversity of artistic and cultural expressions within the community.

My entry in the show is Shore Lights, acrylic, 16″ x 20″. This painting was inspired by an evening walk along the shore of the beautiful beach which runs from Swampscott, through Lynn and all the way to Nahant. That night, there was no moon and it was very dark. The water and sky were black, and the white foam of the waves was illuminated only by the headlights of the passing traffic and the streetlights. The ocean was brightened a bit by reflections from colorful taillights and traffic lights.

The artwork in this show will be on display from May 21 through June 25, 2022. The opening reception will be held Friday, May 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public at the SAA galleries at 159 Derby Street, and also at the SAA virtual online gallery, the online shop, and on social media. Salem Arts Association gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 6:00 p.m.

The judge for Connectivity/Diversity will be Linda Mullen. Following 15 years in architecture, Linda launched Grace & Diggs in 2016. Grace & Diggs began as a shop on Salem’s Artist’ Row where Linda sold hats made out of paper bags and provided photo backdrops made out of recycled materials. She credits that experience for helping her set down roots in Salem, grow as an artist, and expand her work into the area of public art. She is involved in multiple committees and advisory groups including Salem Main Streets Steering Committee and Culture House Advisory Board.

Exhibitions

Member Exhibit 5/1-5/11/22

Sheila

Swampscott Art Association is proud to announce the Spring Member Exhibit which is being held at ReachArts in Swampscott, where I am the Featured Artist Registry Member this month. Here is how ReachArts describes themselves on their website:

“ReachArts is an artistic hub in Swampscott where the community creates, collaborates, exhibits, performs, educates and learns.

We transcend difference in culture, age, ethnicity and economy by fostering a passion for artistic expression that can be shared, respected and appreciated by all.”

My entry in the exhibit is my painting, Knowles Landing (acrylic, 16″x22″) which I painted en plein air at the beautiful Knowles Landing in Gloucester, MA. My husband Tom and I spent an idyllic afternoon there on a hot summer day. Tom sat in the shade and read while I painted as fast as I could before the tide went out and the sun changed position too much! Just as I finished folding up my easel and was closing the paint palette, those two beautiful birds flew into view. It is as if they saw that my painting needed a little bit more!

ReachArts, 89 Burrill St, Swampscott, MA from May 1 to May 11, 2022. The opening reception will be held Sunday, May 1 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Exhibitions

Go Figure Exhibit 4/9-5/14/22

Sheila

The “Go Figure” exhibit at Salem Arts Association, is an exhibit of figurative artwork, work that represents something in the real world.  Although the main focus of the exhibit is traditional and non-traditional images of people including portraits and nudes – landscapes, cityscapes and still-lives are also on display.

I am proud that my painting, Moondance (acrylic, 8.5″ x 6/5″ framed, $135.) was juried into the exhibit. It is a joyous little painting that celebrates dance and movement and simply being alive!

#SalemArts is located at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970 in the lovely antique yellow house right beside Derby Wharf where the famous Friendship is moored. The Salem Arts Association Gallery is open weekends from noon till 6:00 p.m. and this exhibit runs from the reception on April 9 until May 14, 2022.

Exhibitions

Go Away Exhibit 4/9-5/14/22

Sheila

Salem Arts Association is proud to announce  “Go Away”, an exhibition of images inspired by travel and transportation. It’s the journey not the destination. During this time when travel has been restricted for so many people, artists were invited to take us on a journey that captures the experience and adventure of going away.

My entry — Starship Tripping, acrylic, 11″ x 14″, $225 — is a lighthearted take on the theme. I painted it using bright colors and a playful style. With the serious events we see every day in the news — war, pandemic, climate crisis — I liked the idea of portraying Earth as a united, welcoming place. From my paintbrush to God’s eyes!

The exhibit is located in the gallery spaces on the second floor of the Salem Arts Association’s beautiful antique yellow house right beside Derby Wharf and the Friendship, 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970. Hours are noon to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The exhibit will run from the opening reception on April 9 until May 14, 2022.

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Environmental Awakening Show

Sheila

My small painting, Nasturtiums (watercolor & ink, 10″x12″) has been curated into the GALA Environmental Awakening exhibit! The show will be up 4/1 – 5/12/22 at Galleries at Lynn Arts, 25 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901.

The curators were Emmanuelle Le Gal, Stefanie Timmermann and assistant curators Nathan Hammerschmitt Le Gal and Nathanial Boyd. Many thanks to all the behind-the-scenes volunteers as well as the cleaning and hanging crews!

The Opening Reception for Environmental Awakening is Friday, April 1st from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Three special guests will be attending. The first two, Lisa Wallace and Richard Valine, are founders of The Community Path Coalition. The association gifted us a bench made out of 100% recycled plastic waste that can be purchased at the exhibit. All proceeds will support GALA. Our third guest is Nathan Gray, owner of House Factory US, who worked with The Community Path Coalition. He’ll show us how he recycles plastic waste by shredding it, melting it, and then molding it into new objects. Creating small gifts made on-site to take home, Nathan will be located in the back of the LynnArts building (parking lot), so make sure to stop by! At 6:30PM all special guests will share insight on their collaboration and what’s coming next for them.

Additionally, Curator Stefanie Timmermann will present a unique installation out of recycled materials. She built an igloo-style prototype out of all the recycled milk and juice cartons donated by members of the community. At nearly 6 feet across, this dwelling is big enough to crawl inside, and once installed, she invites you to do just that… She’ll even provide a blanket!”

Due to Covid restrictions this will be a casual drop-in affair with no refreshments or food. We’ll return to our usual lively fun filled affairs as soon as we are able! Masks are strongly encouraged.

We’re asking attending guests (not artists) for a suggested donation of $5 if they are able. These funds help keep our ALL-volunteer organization going! Please invite family and friends and help spread the word about the show.

Exhibitions

Salem Arts Show: 3/5-4/2/22

Sheila

Salem Arts Association is excited to open our 2022 exhibition schedule with a showcase of our member artwork. Our current Salem Arts members are exhibiting their best and newest work showing the community what we have to offer in all of our diverse styles and artistic disciplines.

My entry in this exhibit is Changes, a 4-panel acrylic painting of stylized tree branches with each 12″ wide by 24″ high canvas panel showing one of the four seasons. The total size is 48″ wide by 24″ high. The painting was inspired by the Asian panels at the Peabody Essex Museum and the background is done in many layers of different metallic paints and glazes which gives it a rich and varied look as the light in a room changes.

The Salem Art Association Gallery invites you to the Opening Reception on Friday, March 4, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Exhibition dates are March 5 through April 2, 2022. While you are there do not forget to visit our beautiful Gallery Shop located as you come in the front door. So many one-of-a-kind handcrafted treasures by local artists! I have a selection of 8 smaller paintings, miniature original acrylics with tiny easels, and matted prints of my work in the shop.

Salem Arts Association Gallery and Shop are located an antique yellow house by Derby Wharf at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon until 6:00 p.m. www.SalemArts.org 978-745-4850 #SalemArts Info@SalemArts.org