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Art in Giving Exhibit

Sheila

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

Sheila

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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Rock Voices Benefit

Sheila

The amazing organization, Rock Voices, will be holding its concert performance on January 6, 2024. It has been thrilling to sing in four-part harmony with so many wonderful people. The director is a gem, the line-up of golden oldies songs has been a delight. It has been funny to find out after all these decades to find out the REAL worlds to the songs I have loved so long! Best of all, we will be backed up by a 4 piece rock band. Wow!

The concert will take place Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at Higgins Middle School. 85 Perkins St., Peabody, MA 01960. It will feature the songs of Tina Turner, Sinead O’Connor, Chicago and more!

Before the show and during intermission, we will be selling chances to win baskets — donated by all of the members of the Rock Voices chorus — for Voices of Hope, a chorus that performs to benefit victims of pediatric cancer. The Voices of Hope will also perform some songs with us!

I have been happy to be able to donate four of my matted prints to be placed in the prize baskets: First Snow, Smart Phones, Fireworks, and Snow Surfer. Each basket is themed with lots of goodies to surprise and delight the winners. I hope to see you there.

Tickets available at the door & online at EventBrite.com
$15/$12/$8 (children 12 & under are free)
www.ROCKVOICES.com

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Salem Children’s Charity 2023

Sheila

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

Sheila

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

Sheila

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!

Sheila

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

Sheila

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

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Kids’ Art Workshop 4/20/23

Sheila

Galleries at Lynn Arts (GALA) will be offering art workshops for kids during the April vacation 2023. My workshop is called Creating Op Art and will be held on April 20, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Kids from 8-13 will be able to try their hands at Op Art, an eye-popping style that uses optical illusions to make a two dimensional painting appear almost 3-D. During the 2-1/2 hour workshop kids will learn some tricks to get them started with this busy, dizzy type of art. Each participant will go home with their own matted Op Art creation.

For more information, please check www.galleriesatlynnarts.org/workshop.

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Green Gallery Exhibit

Sheila

An eclectic mix of subjects, mediums, sizes, and styles has resulted in an amazing alchemy of sixty paintings — all painted predominantly in the color green! The Slow River Gallery presents Green Gallery for the Green Belt which will benefit The Essex County Greenbelt, and I am excited that my painting Summer Afternoon has been juried into the show.

Summer Afternoon is a 12″ x 36″ acrylic painting on stretched canvas which I painted en plein air at the lovely Forest River Park in Salem, MA. On summer afternoons as the sun sinks below the tree crowns, long shadows stretch over the velvety green hills and slopes. It is a colorful and peaceful time to enjoy the beauty of this sea side park.

The gallery opening will be a community event with art, music, and light refreshments; it will be held on Saturday, March 4 from 4:00 till 7:00 p.m. The Greenbelt will make remarks about their organization at 5:00 p.m.

Slow River Studio is located at 17 Main Street, Topsfield, MA 01983. The gallery is open when studio classes are in session, generally Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. They will also open the gallery for viewing the Green exhibit from 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 11 and Sunday, March 25.

www.slowriverstudio.com

@slowriverstudio

#slowriverstudio