“Lily Pond with Egre”t acrylic on canvas by Laraine M. Percoski will be displayed at the Southwick Fine Art Exhibition Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Cultural Council’s 15th Fine Art Exhibition takes place May 3-4 and features a varied and ecclectic selection of works.
The juried show includes paintings in various mediums, sculpture, wood carvings and more.
“We have a lot of variety this year,” said event chairperson Susan Kochanski.
Many well-known local artists are returning this year, including Marie Flahive of Westfield, and Southwick resident Bernadette Johnson. Perennial favorite Joan Steinmeyer, of Westfield, was selected as the feature artist on the exhibit invitations with her “Orange Rose” watercolor.
Art show organizer Ellen Miles noted that many people return year after year to purchase the latest works by their favorite artist.
“We do get collectors,” said Miles.
“We definitely have artists people follow and purchase new pieces every year,” added Kochanski.
“Berries in the Bucket” by Barbara Huntoon will be on display at the Southwick Fine Art Exhibition May 3 and 4 and Southwick Town Hall.
Approximately 40 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 and wood carving as well as many others. There will also be a nonjuried art display by local students.
Every year there is an added feature to the show, and this year it comes in the form of an homage to Southwick’s icy past.
“The Southwick Historical Society will have a display on ice harvesting,” said Kochanski. “And Dan Sleeper – who brought the trains last year – will have a reproduction of an ice house.”
The display is a nod to Southwick’s history as an ice harvesting town in the mid-1800s.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be several demonstrations performed in the new senior center located on the lower level of the Town Hall. Demos include machine piece quilting by Maria Gallo, hand quilting by Carol Geryk, rustic wood craft by Tom Huntoon, stained glassmaking by Christopher Lyons, and basket weaving using recycled materials by Pat Bertone-Gross. Student Tristan Cain will express himself through LEGO® by assembling colorful interlocking plastic bricks for various objects such as vehicles, buildings, and working robots. Tristan’s latest creation, a toucan, will be on display and was recently featured in Brick Journal, a magazine for LEGO enthusiasts.
On Saturday only, demonstrations of thrown pottery by Cooley Buy, jewelry making for children by Trudy Monson, red ware pottery making by Harold White, and bobbin lacemaking by Lynne White will be offered. On Sunday only, the art of painting will be presented by Laura Barrett, a demonstration of a 1917 Tuttle circular sock knitting machine by Seth Blackwell, spinning by Cathy Blackwell, and the art of making of greeting cards by Nancy Zdun.
The art exhibition isn’t just for visual artists, but it is also for musical artists and will feature live music from local musicians.
On Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., Wishbone Zoe, a songwriter and solo performer of alternative rock will grace the stage with a collection of her songs. Wishbone Zoe has performed at some of the area’s most well-known venues either as solo or sharing the stage with performers such as Jim Henry, Heather Maloney, Carrie Ferguson and members of the Sun Parade. In the past two years, Wishbone Zoe has graced several stages and festivals in Western Massachusetts including the Iron Horse, the Rendezvous, the North Quabbin Garlic/Arts Fest, Club Passim, and the Montague Bookmill. Wishbone Zoe’s first album of music and a companion book of illustrations and drawings will release on May 2.
On Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m., members of The Roadhouse Band including Steve Piper, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Carl Hopkins, lead guitar and vocal, and bassist-vocalist Dennis Clark will perform selections from the Allman Brothers, Delbert McClinton, Neville Brothers, James Brown, Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, Ben Harper and Dave Mathews. The trios are described as performers of rhythm and blues and perform regularly at various venues throughout western Massachusetts.
Refreshments and a light lunch will be available in the Senior Center on both days and will be hosted by members of the Southwick Historical Society.
The show, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4: p.m. Saturday and Sunday, is free and open to the public.
Also during the event, the Southwick Home and Business Show will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the lower level of Town Hall.
