An exhibition of John C. Traynor’s recent works opens at the Christina Gallery with an artist’s reception Thursday, July 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. All are welcome.
In his oil paintings of Martha’s Vineyard, Paris, Ireland and still lifes, Mr. Traynor uses color and value to impart a feeling of distance, and a progression of light. Nature is a primary source of inspiration, and he makes painting expeditions throughout Europe and the New England countryside. The exhibition continues until July 23.
Inside Gossamer Gallery last Tuesday, Joan Merry pulled out a framed portrait to demonstrate the dire economic situation in Zimbabwe: the colorful image of a man sitting on a chair was painted on a paper “canvas” made from $25 million Zimbabwe dollar notes stitched together.
The Simon Gallery will reopen today at 10 a.m. for its second season. In their newly enlarged and renovated space, Peter and Ronni Simon will celebrate with a special Easter Weekend sale featuring discounts up to 40 per cent on selected jewelry by Ronni and many photographs by Peter, including some of his iconic and recently created Vineyard landscapes and musical legends.
Ronni will also be premiering a new art form: metal and bead sculptures on driftwood.
Les Femmes, a painting/collage exhibit by Jeanette Demeestère, is at the Chilmark Public Library from July 25 to August 14, with an opening reception this Saturday, July 25 from 3 to 6 p.m. An artist who lives in Paris, France, Ms.Demeestère has spent every summer in Chilmark for the past 15 years with her family at their home off Middle Road. She is kn own for her portraits and collages, rendered in watercolor, pastel (both oil and dry), charcoal and collage; as well as her soft, muted colors and strong fine lines.
Benefit Art Show at Agricultural Hall This Weekend
What is art? Find out at the annual Friends of Family Planning art show benefit this weekend at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury, where featured Island artists and craftsmen will show and sell paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry. The weekend-long event began with an opening gala and preview yesterday with food prepared by Jan Buhrman from The Kitchen Porch and music provided by Jeremy Berlin.
For all the sights and sounds that delight the eyes and ears of the Vineyard’s summer visitors, it is a rare event that brings pleasure to multiple senses simultaneously. But today, August 14, visitors to the beautiful gardens of the Decorator Show House in Edgartown will be pleased to hear the chirping of birds and smell the sweetness of the garden’s healthy blossoms as they stroll among the paintings, prints and sculptures of a great many Island artists.
An exhibition of Lisa Vanderhoop’s photography and giclée prints opens today at the Chilmark Sovereign Bank and continues through February.
The wildlife and nature images were shot on the Vineyard, Africa, the Galapagos and Costa Rica. Ms. Vanderhoop’s humorous Vineyard Sea Dog valentine cards also will be for sale.
Artists Traeger di Pietro and Adam Thompson are featured in the Dragonfly Gallery’s new Rising Stars show, which opens tonight and runs through July 12.
Adam Thompson, whose interest in painting began during summers spent with his family at their Trinity Park Camp Ground cottage, studied under the tutelage of artist Charles Danielson. Over the years, Mr. Thompson’s art has evolved from highly textured expressionist landscapes with bold colors and shapes, to a more stark, architectural and graphic style.
When the glossed ponies of The Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs halt their whirling prance, the expressions of the children mounted atop their wooden backs sour. The ride is over. But for Island artist Sandy Bernat, the slowing spin of the merry-go-round on a bright day earlier this summer marked her moment.
As the riders slid down the saddles, Ms. Bernat rushed into the ring to snap a photograph of the bridled horse heads, hooves and mystic aesthetic of America’s oldest operating carousel.
An artist since the 1950s, Jack Greene recently reached into his archives to retrieve a number of airbrush drawings and paintings he created 30 years ago, and will present a small revival of the retro-artistic style for an exhibition opening at Featherstone Center for the Arts in Oak Bluffs this weekend.
