MARY JANE Q CROSS
SOUTHWICK – Southwick Cultural Council’s 16th annual juried Fine Art Exhibition and Sale will offer a glimpse into the varied world of local artists.
Chairperson Susan Kochanski said the show, set for Saturday and Sunday at Southwick Town Hall, has become a tradition and a place for artists and craftspeople to share and sell their work. For the Cultural Council, the exhibit helps keep the arts alive.
“It’s a great way for people to see local art, including student work,” said Kochanski, noting that Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School students will exhibit as well. “Last year we had quite a few families come to see student art.”
Artists from northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts have been selected to display their art in the form of photography, oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, pencil, egg tempura, fabric, wood, pottery, soapstone, glass, sculpture, and wood carvings as well as many others. The student display is nonjuried.
Favorite artists such as Westfield’s Marie Flahive will exhibit once again. Cultural Council member Ellen Miles said many people attend the exhibit specifically to purchase pieces from certain artists.
‘We definitely have collectors who come to see particular artists,” said Miles, who does not collect a particular artist herself but has an affinity for floral artwork.
This year’s poster art is oil on panel entitled “Amazing Grace” by Mary Jane Q Cross from Newport, New Hampshire.
Cross received formal training at The Worcester Art Museum school in the early 1970s where she said she was a closet realist in a time of expressionism.
“I looked long and hard as to where my heart as a painter lay. Quietly I have trained myself under the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites, French Academic Salon tradition, Art Students league Vincent Dumond and his student Fran Hoyt who mentored me for many years,” said Cross. “These influences can be seen in the realism and clean pallet parts of my work. Out of necessity since loosing so much of my ability to do brushwork, I have explored a few impressionist styles. The resultant dreamy quality of the two styles has melded into a voice that is my own. They become my own paintings that wrap me with arms I have never seen.”
Cross is known for paintings of three main subjects: The Genre figure (usually women) in Lyrical activities, Lilies in reflective water, or landscapes in soft light effect.
A special exhibition will be displayed honoring the work of Don Desmond, a local artist and founding member of the Southwick fine art exhibition.
Desmond is also a gifted singer, and visitors will get a glimpse as to why he is often referred to as Southwick’s “Renaissance Man”. Don credits Arno Maris, a retired faculty member from Westfield State University, who taught him to see and work with artistic integrity. Maris’ artistic legacies and foresight resulted in the introduction of the college’s bachelor program in fine arts.
Desmond retired from the Southwick school system in 1989 after teaching for 36 years. He originally taught biology for a number of years and then taught art, drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. Don says he never had a bad day. His sunny attitude and love of nature will shine through his extraordinary paintings.
Each year, the Southwick Historical Society offers adds something unique to the event, and this year is no exception.
“They will have an ‘Old Time Job Fair’ display,” said Kochanski.
The display will feature images and stories about local residents in various trades and occupations.
The Society will also offer refreshments and a light lunch in the Senior Center on both days.
On Saturday, there will be several demonstrations performed in the new senior center located on the lower level of the Town Hall. Demos include quilting by Maria Gallo, jewelry making by Trudy Monson, scroll sawing by Arnold Paye, scrapbooking and cards by Nancy Zdun, and painted floor cloth by Carolyn Mills.
On Saturday from 1-3 p.m., Them Otters will perform acoustic classics with spots on vocals; piano and guitar will perform hits from the 70s – James Taylor, Van Morrison, Harry Chapin, and many others. On Sunday from 1-3 p.m., Wishbone Zoe (Saera Kochanski), a songwriter and solo performer of eclectic organic rock, will grace the stage with a collection of her songs.
The show is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
