West Tisbury catboat sailor Jim O’Connor has come out with his fourth annual calendar. Each month gets a photograph. Mr. O’Connor is a professional caterer and runs ChefWorks. When he is not cooking up meals in the summer he and his wife Kim, an educator at the Oak Bluffs School, and their black labrador retriever Marshall are out sailing in their 22-foot catboat Glimmer. They like to cruise about Southeastern Massachusetts waters with the purpose of having a good time and taking pictures for the next calendar.
Stan Murphy’s art on the Vineyard really needs no introduction. His images have become iconic; think Moshup emerging from the waters off of the Aquinnah Cliffs, and his portraits of Islanders, including himself.
The kids at the Garden Gate Child Development Center, ages two to five, are having an art exhibit at Featherstone Center for the Arts. The reception is today, Jan. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Okay, perhaps a bit late for the little tykes but the rules are off when it comes to artists.
The kids have been working on sculptures inspired by Dr. Seuss, as well as a study in faces centered on collage exploration á la Picasso.
There will also be music, champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
Oil paintings by Susan Johnson are on exhibit this month at the Chilmark Bank. Ms. Johnson studied en plein air painting in Tuscany with Boston University last summer. She has since utilized this style with a focus on Beetlebung Farm. Eighteen landscape paintings will be on display.
This winter Ms. Johnson will continue this project with the Vermont College of Fine Art, and she has been accepted into the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, a distance learning program with international residencies.
Calling all Island artists, the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Visual Arts (MVCVA) has declared that supporting and encouraging creative endeavors is the new focus of this arts organization. And they are putting money where their mouth is with grant money available for artists of all mediums..
Applications are being accepted until April 1 and are available on the MVCVC Web site at artmv.org or by contacting Renee Balter at 508-696-7643 or rebalter@yahoo.com.
Ever wonder how the Artisans Festival began, what they were like in the early days, and even, perhaps, where they are headed? Well, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., Andrea Rogers, the maestro behind what has become a Vineyard institution (and an impressive broom maker too) is giving a talk at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.
The library knows how to treat its visitors too; refreshments will be served following the talk.
There is a new gallery in town, one where you can build your muscle mass or rack up some aces while enjoying the aesthetic pleasures of Island photographers.
The gallery is located at the Vineyard Tennis Workout and Spa, on Airport Road in Edgartown. Serving up the first show is photographer Alida O’Loughlin. There will be an opening reception held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Ms. O’Loughlin is also the gallery coordinator and interested photographers should call her at 508-693-1823.
Renaissance House, a retreat for artists and writers in Oak Bluffs, is accepting applications for its 11th year of operation.
Renaissance House is sponsored by the Helene Johnson and Dorothy West Foundation for artists in need. Both women were writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Ms. Johnson died in 1995 and Ms. West in 1998.
The program is from June to October in Oak Bluffs. A resident can stay for one or two weeks.
The West Tisbury Library will be having an exhibition spanning the month of March of Island artist Wilfrid, Willie, Huntington.
Willie’s career started in the 1920’s and his work spanned six decades and included drawings, lithographs, illustrations, dry points, etchings, oils and watercolors.
The work shown at the library is a sample of his drawings and prints, including his final dry point, Chickadees and Holly.
