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Gallery on the Green presents 56th Annual Open Juried Exhibition plus a Solo Exhibit by Karl Lund

Canton, CT - Friday, October 11th through Saturday, November 9th

Opening and Awards Presentation: Saturday, October 19th 6:00-8:00 P.M.

Cost: Free – open to the public

Gallery on the Green presents its 56th Annual Open Juried Exhibition. This highly anticipated competition draws artists from all over Connecticut and beyond as they compete for multiple prizes. On display is fine art in a wide variety of styles, media and subject matter including painting, prints, drawing, photography, ceramics and sculpture.

This year’s juror, Francis Estrada, is a visual artist and educator. He was born in the Philippines and is currently residing in Connecticut. Estrada has a fine arts degree in painting and drawing from San Jose State University, and has taught in a variety of studio, classroom, and museum settings to diverse audiences, including programs for adults with disabilities, cultural institutions, and after-school programs. As a museum educator, he enjoys teaching about the amalgamation of art and culture through objects. His artwork focuses on culture, history, and perception.

Estrada is currently the Senior Manager of Community Engagement and Family programs at the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain. From 2017-2023 he served as Associate Educator at the School and Teacher Programs for MoMA in NYC.

Prizes are expected to total over $1,500 thanks to generous donations and include: The Charles & Doris Currier Memorial Photography Prize, Nancy Cloutier Memorial Prize; Mitchell Manchester Award; Maxwell Shepherd Memorial Arts Fund, Inc.; Award in Memory of Peg Douglass; Collinsville Bank/NW Community Bank Prize; Mitchell Auto Group Award; Neu Abstract Award; A&J Quality Roofing, LLC. Award; Jerry’s Artarama Prize; Smith Edwards McCoy Architects Prize; object|resonance Prize; and Rita Q Memorial Award.

Also on display is “Mythical Tilt,” a solo show of paintings by Karl Lund. Lund’s art involves a passion for science fiction and fantasy imagery with a more modern ‘street art’ twist. Many compositions are based on older existing pinball playfield configurations and populated with patterns and imagery from myths of various cultures. In some instances, he has altered the typically male dominant hero roles to female characters in an effort to change stale and outdated archetypes. Hiding in some paintings are modern iconography and classic science fiction imagery. Lund encourages viewers “to open their minds and question past perceptions of myths and themes.” He uses layers of thin acrylic paint, as well as spray paint and markers to created his paintings, and usually works on Masonite panels or heavy acid-free paper.

Lund graduated with a BFA from Pratt Institute in 1990 and an MFA in Computer Animation from The School of Visual Arts in 1997. He has been in several exhibitions at New Britain Museum of American Art including a solo show in the NEW/NOW Gallery.

An opening reception and awards presentation is on Saturday, October 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents “Cornucopia” and Two Other Exhibits

Canton, CT - Friday, September 6th through Saturday, September 28th

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 7th 6:00-8:00 pm.

Step into a vibrant celebration of harvest and abundance with "Cornucopia," an art exhibit that captures the essence of the richness and transition of the fall season. This immersive exhibition transforms the gallery into a bountiful showcase of autumn’s most cherished elements, where the cornucopia—symbolizing nature’s generous harvest—takes center stage. Members of Canton Artists’ Guild have created paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography to reflect the season’s splendor and timeless allure.

On the second floor are “Still Here,” a solo show of paintings by Sarah Regan and a group show entitled, “Seen and Imagined.” Sarah Regan received a B.A. in Art History from the University of Connecticut and a B.S. in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University. She teaches art in West Hartford. Regan creates paintings of joy and playfulness through the balance of vibrants colors and everyday subject matter. Her still lifes and portraits were created before and following her recent experience of childbirth, and she sees them as “a love letter to my old self; a reflection of who I was, what I didn’t know, how proud I am and ultimately a reminder that I’m still here.”

“Seen & Imagined” is an exhibit by a group artists who meet and work together weekly. They have exhibited together and independently in shows throughout New England. Among the most noticeable stylistic differences in this group is the extent of their investigation of abstraction. For some, their subjects clearly refer to the natural environment. Others suggest nature, or transform their first perceptions into something dramatically different. The artists also vary in their materials and methods of execution. Delicate watercolor washes contrast with heavy impasto rendering.

The group consists of six artists. Co-founder Estrid Eklof trained as a professional classical pianist. While performing as a pianist, she took breaks to explore her enthusiasm for watercolor, which she studied at the Old Lyme Academy of Fine Art.

Ann Finholt received her MFA in painting from The University of Iowa. She sees her artistic approach as an investigation of structure, color, light, gesture, and surface in her paintings.

Walter Kendra has devoted more than 60 years to creating work that speaks to his passion for architecture, landscape and nature. "All of my work is abstracted from nature, and there is an echo of representation in them, yet they transcend that. I always like my work to transcend, not mimic color or form."

Lisa Tellier has a degree in art history from the University of Hartford and an MLA from Wesleyan University. Most recently she has been working with collage and has found that its properties have brought new insights and boldness to her paintings of the natural world.

Josa Weatherwax earned her BA degree from Rutgers University and studied at the University of Salamanca, Spain as well as the Hartford Art School. Her work includes abstractions based on traditional landscapes exploiting contrasts in scale, energetic brushwork, and moody color palettes.

Margaret Wilson has degrees in art therapy from Pratt Institute and studio art from Skidmore College. Her aim is to create a spontaneous expression of inner energies where gesture, color and form all tousle for attention to activate the surface.

The reception for the three shows is Saturday, September 7th from 6:00-8:00 pm and will include free refreshments. The public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green presents the August POP-UP Exhibit, an Art Tag Sale, and shows by Kate Emery and Steve Silk
Exhibit: August 9, through September 1
Opening reception: August 10, 6-8PM – Free and open to the public.

Time again for the very popular Pop-Up Show at Gallery on the Green. The Pop-Up is a wonderful opportunity to purchase member art work no larger than 24 x 24 inches and priced at $250 or less. You will find pieces to enhance the beauty of your home and office or to give as a unique gift. For just the three weekends in August, choose from these special prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art by the juried membership of the gallery. At this special show you will be able to take the items at the time of your purchase.

Also on the first floor is an Art Tag Sale with priced-to-sell artwork, art books and art supplies (paints, markers, pencils, canvases, frames, paper, matting materials, camera equipment, etc.) All items were donated by member artists and all proceeds benefit the Gallery.

In the upstairs gallery Kate Emery and Steve Silk are showing “Scale of Wonders: Images of Intimacy and Awe,” depicting places from far away as well as those close to home and dear to our hearts. Both artists are long-time Farmington residents who have shared ideas, locations, and color techniques in their respective creations, whether made by paint or pixels. Different though their work may be, it highlights their shared reverence for and connection to the natural world. These artists are donating a portion of their sales to the Farmington Watershed Association.

Kate Emery began painting three decades ago as a part-time passion that grew with time and is now, after retiring, a full-time pursuit. Emery says that “growing up in New England, with a passion for walking in the woods or along the river, I love places that envelop us, shrinking us back to the small, but connected pieces of a whole. It is from that place, with reverence, that I love to paint.”

Steve Silk is a former newspaper photographer who worked many years at the Hartford Courant, and later at Fine Gardening magazine before transitioning to become a freelance photographer. His work has won scores of state, regional, and national awards. His current photographs represent a new direction: an idealized view of the natural world enhanced by use of photoshop to blend images taken over a period of time. A dedicated traveler, Steve’s images in this show include scenes from Iceland and New England. Silk says that he has “always been drawn to photographing other worldly scenes where humans are either absent or nearly so in the grand scheme of things.”

An opening reception is on August 10, 6-8 p.m. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents the 64th Anniversary Exhibition and a solo exhibit by Cynthia Cooper

Canton, CT - Friday, July 5th through Saturday, August 3rd

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 6th 6:00-8:00 pm.

Cost: Free – open to the public

The Canton Artists’ Guild began in 1960 and has been continuously operating ever since, making it the longest running of any artist guild in Connecticut. The membership, which today draws on artists from 30 surrounding towns, is presenting work in celebration of this 64th Anniversary. Paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography are displayed in two large galleries of the circa 1872 former school house that is now Gallery on the Green.

Also on display is a solo show entitled “Winged Things” by Cynthia Cooper. There is a wondrous combination of whimsy and and beauty in her semi-abstract shaped paintings that were inspired by dragonflies, moths and beetles. Cooper uses pattern, repetition and mathematics to create evocative and rhythmic works of art. Always embracing contradictions, Cooper mixes straight lines that drop into curves, ordered systems with additions of randomness, and solidity with motion to form kaleidoscopic compositions that vibrate with tension.

Cooper has a B.F.A. in printmaking from The Pennsylvania State University and had additional training at University of Hartford Art School. Her work has been widely exhibited and has won numerous awards including Best in Show at recent exhibits at both the West Hartford Art League and at the Bendheim Gallery in Greenwich. Her work is held in many private collections as well as in the permanent collections of Penn State University and The New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain. She lives in Farmington with one other human, two plump cats and two 36 year old cockatoos.

The reception for both shows is Saturday, July 6th from 6:00-8:00 pm and will include refreshments. The show and reception are free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “Great Escape 4” plus two additional shows

DATES: Friday, May 24th through Saturday, June 22nd

Reception: Saturday, May 25th 6-8 p.m.

Cost: Free – open to the public

Join us for our 4th annual “Great Escape” exhibit featuring artistic depictions of exotic places experienced here on earth and in the minds and hearts of members of Canton Artists’ Guild! Take a break from your everyday world and explore the many paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography that will be on display.
Upstairs are two other shows:
“Terra Firma.” consists of paintings and sculptures by David Holzman. His paintings are flashe on panel and are of imagery derived from automatic drawing. The sculptures are based on the medieval form of the Reliquary. Holzman teaches Design at CCSU, having studied at Hartford Art School and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His studio practice integrates painting, printmaking and sculpture and he began to make wood relief carvings 30 years ago, while continuing his involvement with the woodcut novel format. His work has been published in Art Spiegelman’s RAW comics anthology as well as Zero Zero from Seattle and he was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. His work is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Dayton Art Institute and the Racine Art Museum. In his current work of the last ten years known as The Book of Umm, Holzman seeks to revitalize the surrealist practice of automatic drawing as a wellspring of visual energy in a series of gouache paintings. Simultaneously, he has imagined a monumental approach to carved relief sculpture that deploys the automatic process to the spontaneous fabrication of imagery in architectural settings.

The second exhibit upstairs, “Flora and Fauna” features recent pastel paintings by Karen Israel. Israel’s pastels are defined by their dynamic compositions and unique viewpoints. She is influenced by the light and mood of the subject and lets those elements dictate her approach. Rendered with a strong appreciation for the rigors of formal design coupled with a fearless array of color choices, these paintings are rich and vibrant. Among her many awards, Israel’s work placed Fourth in Pastel Journal Magazine’s top 100 juried competition in 2020. She has achieved Signature status with the American Artists Professional League and earned Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America as well as Master Circle with the International Association of Pastel Societies. Locally, Israel’s work is frequently displayed here at the Gallery on the Green, and at the Lyme Art Association, as well as her home studio in West Hartford. Her work can be found in a public collection with the New Haven Paint and Clay Club and in private collections throughout the United States.

The opening reception for all three shows is Saturday, May 25th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited. 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Gallery on the Green is operated by the Canton Artists’ Guild – a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity

Gallery on the Green Presents “Recycled Art/Art Recycled” plus shows by Harriet Caldwell and Stephen Klema

Canton, CT - Friday, April 19 through Saturday, May 18

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 20, 6:00-8:00 pm

Cost: Free – open to the public

In “Recycled Art/Art Recycled” the members of the Canton Artists’ Guild imaginatively explore diverse aspects of the meaning of recycling. Some have made art from recycled materials or created art that reflects the idea of recycling. Other artists have taken a previous piece of work and transformed it into something entirely new. Come see these intriguing takes on recycling in prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art.

In upstairs galleries are two solo shows. “Mind & Nature” features drawings and paintings in which Harriet Caldwell explores the functioning of the human and animal mind. The incredibly intelligent ravens are a particular focus. Caldwell has a BFA from Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, where she taught for 18 years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in many states. She has received multiple awards for her work, including a 2012 Fellowship from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, a 1996 Painting Fellowship from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, a grant from the Puffin Foundation and a Millay Resident Fellowship. Caldwell’s work has been included in “Tu non uccidere” [Thou Shall Not Kill] published in Bologna, Italy (2008) and in Poetica Magazine, Holocaust Edition (2014).

“Pandora’s Box” series, the second solo show, features abstract and whimsical sculpture of Stephen Klema. Klema describes these as an exploration of “the processes of accretion and loss—one desire to contain against the other desire to expand; the polarization of forces echoing the constant push and pull from order to chaos and back again.” His sculpture is fabricated using abutting, overlapping and interlocking stained and painted elements intricately assembled to yield a coherent and evocative work.

Klema received his MFA from the Hartford Art School, and his BFA from the Atlanta College of Art. He is a highly accomplished artist who has had indoor and outdoor sculpture in juried exhibits across the nation, with permanent installations in New York, Ohio, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Within our region Klema’s indoor sculptures have been shown at the Becket Arts Center, Five Points Gallery, Silvermine Galleries, the Mattatuck Museum, Farmington Valley Arts Center, Limner Gallery, Kehler Liddell Gallery, and Real Art Ways.

An opening reception is on Saturday, April 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

The Canton Artists’ Guild at the Gallery on the Green, the longest continuously-running artist guild in the state, has 3 separate galleries and hosts month-long exhibitions nine times a year. The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.
Gallery on the Green Presents “Member/Guest Exhibition” plus a Solo Shows by Tim Lundgren and Meghan Shanley Waskowitz
Friday, March 15 through Saturday, April 13
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 16, 6:00-8:00 pm

Come enjoy the “Member/Guest Exhibition” at the Gallery on the Green showcasing works by artists who belong to the Guild and their invited guests. Anticipating this annual event, members are continually on the lookout for outstanding artists within their network of friends and acquaintances. The result is inevitably a delightfully rich concentration of talent displayed in prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures, mixed media works, photographs, and fiber art.

Upstairs galleries have two solo shows. Timothy Lundgren’s has an exhibit of paintings entitled, “Portraits, Landscapes, Seascapes.” Lundgren views his painting style as “evocative of an earlier time. My inspiration derives not just from the natural world but also from the works of such nineteenth century painters as Winslow Homer, Thomas Cole, Frederick Church and others. When creating art I seek to balance nature, the painterly qualities of the medium, and the deeper spiritual side of creation. When painting a portrait my aim is to capture not only the physical likeness but also the essence and spirit of the individual.”

Lundgren graduated in 1980 from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. He worked for twenty-five years as a freelance illustrator, creating pen and ink line drawings and watercolors for publishers, advertising agencies, and graphic design firms. Since 2000 he has also been painting commissioned oil paintings including human and animal portraits, historical paintings, and house portraits. He has exhibited locally since 1977. From 2006 until his retirement in 2021 he taught art at Oliver Wolcott Technical High School in Torrington, Connecticut. While teaching he earned a Masters of Science in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University.

Meghan Shanley Waskowitz, the second solo exhibitor, has a show entitled, “Farm to Canvas.” Her engaging and playful animal paintings often incorporate the use of rustic and antique window frames and doors. Although Shanley Waskowitz also paints sea, city, and landscapes, her heart is drawn to painting barns and animals. The emotional warmth and insightful renditions directly reflect her childhood spent living in a centuries-old farmhouse in Pennsylvania. Though previously working in acrylics and pastels, since 2005 she has concentrated on oil painting, perfecting her skills through study with with local, regional and international artists.

An opening reception is on Saturday, March 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “All You Need is Love” plus two additional shows

DATES: Friday, February 9th through Saturday, March 10th 2024

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 10, 6-8 p.m.

All you need is a love of art and a free hour to treat yourself to this wonderful exhibit featuring works exploring this most celebrated emotional connection. Come to “All You Need Is Love” where Canton Artist Guild members have created sculpture, fiber art, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photography designed to fill us with the magical elixir of love.

Upstairs are two additional shows. The first,“Poetry in Pastel and Paint,” features Holly Hall and Margaret Schuster, who invite you to share their deep affinity for nature’s treasures and to discover and reflect upon the beauty that surrounds us. We hope you will quietly ponder and muse on the magical moments that their watercolor paintings and pastels offer in this kaleidoscope of merging images and reflected colors.

A musician, artist, gardener, and poet, Holly Hall brings her love of beauty to all she does. Working out of her New Hartford studio her watercolors have appeared in several solo and group exhibits throughout Connecticut.

Margaret Schuster has been interested in art all her life. After a long career as an educator and naturalist, Margaret retired and began painting the things she loved including flowers, nature, landscapes and farm scenes. She has won awards for her pastels and has had work in several Connecticut exhibits. She is also a member of the board of the Canton Artists’ Guild.

Also showing is “Flora, Light and Space” featuring works by William Kluba, retired college professor and an artist for over 56 years. This exhibition shares a bouquet of William’s inspirations, including his love of nature, intuitive connections and compositional refinement. You’ll discover his exploration of shapes, interpreted and modified in a way that creates a poetic dance, rhythm and encouragement of visual exploration. Kluba is the author of Where Does Art Come From?: How to Find Inspiration and Ideas (2014).

The opening reception for is Saturday, February 10 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green presents “Members’ New Work” exhibition plus a solo show by Christopher Maglieri
Canton, CT - Friday, January 12-Sunday, February 3, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 13, 6:00-8:00 pm
Cost: Free – open to the public

Brighten your mid-winter days at the Gallery on the Green’s “Members’ New Work,” an exhibit showcasing the Canton Artist Guild members’ latest works in painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and fiber art.

Also on display is Christopher Maglieri’s “Beautiful Wood” solo exhibit, featuring a stunning array of handmade serving and cutting boards featuring contrasting wood and exquisite craftsmanship. Maglieri learned woodworking from his grandfather and has, over many years, developed new methods and techniques through research, invention and experimentation in his workshop. A civil engineer by training, he searches out woods from around the world to craft his exquisite objects featuring distinctive tones, colors and grains. His work has been available for purchase in fairs and local shops throughout the state.

The opening reception for both shows is Saturday, January 13th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception, including refreshments, is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green presents a special “Holiday Pop-Up: Support Local Artists” Exhibition plus Two Other Shows

Canton, CT - Friday, November 17th through Saturday, December 16th

Opening: November 18 from 6:00-8:00 pm

Cost: Free – open to the public

Throughout the beautifully decorated first floor gallery are paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography selling for no more than $200. The guild, the longest continuously operating in Connecticut, has a membership from over 30 area towns. Support local artists and find handmade gifts that are perfect for those on your holiday list or for yourself! There is the added convenience of being able to take the pieces immediately at the time of purchase.

Two shows are in upstairs galleries. In “‘Flora’ Walks with Harriet” David Lang presents stunning photographs of plant cuttings collected on field and woodland wanderings with his Portuguese Water Dog. Drawing inspiration from classic botanical photographers and illustrators, Lang takes photos using only natural light in a studio. This allows him to isolate forms and accentuate details. His desire to capture an immediate and intuitive response to light, design, and subject are what led him to choose to exclusively use iPhone and iPhone apps for his work. Lang holds a degree in commercial art from Ferris State University and a degree in photography from Lansing Community College. He has recently been in juried exhibitions at New Britain Museum of Art, Five Points Gallery in Torrington and the Vermont Center of Photography in Brattleboro.

The second exhibition is “Recent Work by Lisa Knaus and Jennifer Knaus.” Lisa Knaus grew up in Kent, Connecticut where she first studied Pottery with her father, an art teacher at Kent School. She also studied at Washington University, in St.Louis, MO. She has apprenticed to and assisted many Studio Potters in Connecticut, N.Y. and California, and now works in her own studio in New Paltz, N.Y. Lisa teaches pottery at Garrison Art Center in Garrison, NY.

The paintings of Jennifer Knaus are imaginary portraits with a distinctly Surrealist quality. Knaus aims to portray an alternative hierarchy of power and beauty in her paintings. She embellishes each one with humorous or absurd elements, and details that suggest a mysterious and atmospheric narrative. She has exhibited at the New Britain Museum of American Art, The Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, and Littlejohn Contemporary in NYC. She received her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and her MFA from University of California, Davis. Since 1994 Jennifer has taught painting and drawing at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain Connecticut.

An opening reception is on Saturday, November 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents 55th Annual Open Juried Exhibition plus a Solo Exhibit by John Hsu

Canton, CT - Friday, October 13th through Saturday, November 11th

Opening and Awards Presentation: Saturday, October 14th 6:00-8:00 P.M.
Cost: Free – open to the public

Gallery on the Green presents its 55th Annual Open Juried Exhibition. This highly anticipated competition draws artists from all over Connecticut and beyond as they compete for multiple prizes. On display is fine art in a wide variety of styles, media and subject matter including painting, prints, drawing, photography, ceramics and sculpture.

This year’s juror is Robert Calafiore, Director of Admissions for the Hartford Art School where he has reviewed tens of thousands of portfolios in a variety of media. He has an MFA in Photography from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a BFA in Photography from Hartford Art School. He has exhibited nationally and internationally and his work has been featured in many publications and collections including the New Britain Museum of American Art.

Prizes are expected to total over $1,500 thanks to generous donations and include: The Charles & Doris Currier Memorial Photography Prize, Nancy Cloutier Memorial Prize; Mitchell Manchester Award; Maxwell Shepherd Memorial Arts Fund, Inc.; Award in Memory of Peg Douglass; Collinsville Bank/NW Community Bank Prize; Mitchell Auto Group Award; Neu/Haviland Award; A&J Quality Roofing, LLC. Award; Jerry’s Artarama Prize; Smith Edwards McCoy Architects Prize; object|resonance Prize; and Rita Q Memorial Award.

Also on display will be “Abstract Water Image Photos” by John Hsu, a naturalized US citizen from Taiwan where he has published 8 books on photography, most of which center on the theme of water. With a science background and a career in chemistry Hsu has still managed to accumulate more than 60 years of photography with 28 exhibits in Connecticut alone. Water is his primary subject of interest. Hsu uses reflections and movement to create abstract, painterly effects. This exhibit includes his photo “Labyrinth – Goodspeed Opera House” which won Best Photography Award at the New Britain Museum of American Art Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition in 2011.

An opening reception and awards presentation is on Saturday, October 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “Falling Leaves” plus a Group Show of Peggy Dembicer and Linda Pearson.

Canton, CT - Friday, September 1st through Saturday, September 30th
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 9, 6:00-8:00 pm

As summer winds down and the the trees begin their transformation into the glorious, flaming autumn spectacle, come to the Canton Artist Guild member exhibition “Falling Leaves” where the artists explore the eternal cycle of change through sculpture, fiber art, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photography. Also on view is “Color Collections” featuring artwork done separately by Peggy Dembicer and Linda Pearson as well as pieces they created collaboratively. The combined pieces include Pearson’s colorful paintings and Dembicer’s paperweaving processes to create unique and complex abstractions.

Peggy Dembicer is a contemporary fiber and mixed media artist noted for intricate beaded tapestries, modern and colorful 2D and 3D paper weaving, as well as the creative application of recycled materials in framed and sculptural artworks.

Linda Pearson majored in art and art history at Northwestern University. Early in her art career, she worked as a batik artist, creating and teaching in her studio at the Farmington Valley Art Center. In the past decade, her focus has shifted to painting with Prismacolor pencils, watercolors, and acrylics. Her abstracted designs draw inspiration from landscapes, beach scenes, florals and non-representational forms.
The artists exhibit regularly through Connecticut Women Artists, West Hartford Art League, Simsbury Open Studios, New Britain Museum’s Nor’Easter exhibitions and Gallery on the Green.
The opening reception for both shows is Saturday, September 9th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.
The Canton Artists’ Guild at the Gallery on the Green, the longest continuously-running artist guild in the state, has 3 separate galleries and hosts month-long exhibitions nine times a year. The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Time again for the very popular Pop-Up Show at Gallery on the Green, now also including an Art Tag Sale and two other exhibits. The Pop-Up is a wonderful opportunity to purchase member art work no larger than 24 x 24 inches and priced at $250 or less. You will find pieces to enhance the beauty of your home and office or to give as a unique gift. For just the three weekends in August, choose from these special prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art by the juried membership of the gallery. At this special show you will be able to take the items at the time of your purchase.

Ray Olsen has a solo show entitled, “Nature’s Landscapes.” Olsen is inspired by the New England landscape and the natural world. He does paintings and etchings of unspoiled landscape as well as farms and fields. For Olsen the incredible variability in trees and flowers is comparable to what others find in the distinctiveness of people they see around them. His work has been shown in galleries throughout New York and New England. Olsen was educated in NYC, receiving a B.F.A from Parsons School of Design and further study at the Art Students League and the School of Visual Arts.

The second exhibit, “True Colors,” is a group show of oil paintings by Ron Berger, Sandy Feinberg, Beverly Klein and Evy Lipton. Their interpretations of travel scenes and observations from daily life are the content of these color-filled canvasses. Through their mastery of composition and nuanced color each artists conveys a distinctive personal vision. The four artists are friends and have all studied painting with Gay Schempp, who has curated this show. Schempp has been creating art, teaching and exhibiting nationally for over fifty years. She created and led art tours to Japan, Greece and Italy for thirteen years and was an art teacher at New Canaan High School for twenty years, winning national and state art education awards. Now retired, she teaches classes at her studio in Whiting Mills and continues to exhibit nationally and works in a wide variety of media.

The opening reception for both shows is Saturday, August 13th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

At this time the Gallery is also having a tag sale inside the first floor gallery with priced-to-sell artwork, art books and art supplies (paints, markers, pencils, canvases, frames, paper, matting materials, etc.) All items were donated by member artists and all proceeds benefit the Gallery.

Gallery on the Green presents the 63rd Anniversary Exhibition and a solo exhibit by Dave McCary
Canton, CT - Friday, July 7th through Saturday, Aug 5th
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 8th 6:00-8:00 pm.
Cost: Free – open to the public

The Canton Artists’ Guild began in 1960 and has been continuously operating ever since, making it the longest running of any artist guild in Connecticut. The membership, which today draws on artists from 30 surrounding towns, is presenting work in celebration of this 63rd Anniversary. Paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography are displayed in two large galleries of the circa 1872 former school house that is now Gallery on the Green.

Also on display is “Wildlife Through the Lens," a captivating photography exhibit by Dave McCary that will take you on a journey through the natural world, showcasing the majestic beauty of large animals and the delicate grace of smaller birds. The first thing that will catch your eye are the stunning photographs of deer and bison. Each picture captures the raw power and natural elegance of these majestic creatures, allowing you to feel their presence in the room. Moving on, you will be drawn to the smaller birds in the exhibition. The photographs of birds in flight will leave you mesmerized by their graceful movements captured midair.

McCary is mostly self-taught. He began making photographs in 1969 as Staff Photographer and Senior Photo Editor for his high school newspaper and high school and college yearbooks. He studied with various photographers including being accepted into The Arcanum, an online photography community using the Master/Apprentice model for photographic study. More recently he has studied photography at the University of Hartford Art School taking their Color Film Seminar. He is also an Elected Artist at the West Hartford Art League and has exhibited and won awards at the CT+6 shows.

The reception for both shows is Saturday, July 8 from 6:00-8:00 pm and will include refreshments. The show and reception are free, and the public is warmly invited.

The Gallery on the Green has three spacious galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden. The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “Great Escapes 3” plus two additional shows

DATES: Friday, May 26th through Saturday, June 24th

Reception: Saturday, June 3 6-8 p.m.

Cost: Free – open to the public

Spring has finally sprung and art is running wild in yet another "Great Escape" exhibition at the Gallery on the Green! Join us as we break loose through paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography. Upstairs are two other shows.

“Creative Collaboration” reflects the half century of shared life and love of Deborah and Michael Sacks. The Covid years intensified their collaborating with one another. An apartment above their son’s garage at his farm in Chelsea, Vermont proved a safe destination for travel away from their primary residence in Avon. Each season’s change was a rich source of artistic inspiration.

Though they work in different mediums (mixed media digital prints, drawing and painting for Deborah; photography for Michael), the same principles of design and composition structure their work, and there is much that is alike in their approach to subject matter. Observing and imagining is key. Michael aims his camera and adjusts to selectively isolate, clarify and/or obscure foreground and context. Deborah begins by sketching and choosing elements to define the work. Both capture moments of what were an ephemeral interplay of light, color, texture and shape. The myriad tools of digital processing are applied to transform and complete the work. Deborah has incorporated Michael’s photos in her work and often draws on his computing skills; Michael feels his work is profoundly influenced by Deborah’s artistic knowledge and sensibilities.

Deborah and Michael are frequent exhibitors at galleries in Connecticut and Vermont. It is just during the past decade that Michael has fully concentrated on photography following his retirement from a career as a Trinity sociology professor. Dedicating herself to art and teaching since high school, Deborah has degrees from RISD and Wesleyan University and further art training at Trinity College.

The second exhibit upstairs is “Independent Variables,” consisting of recent paintings by Donna Davis. The theme underscores the special energy and distinctiveness of each piece. Davis sees a close parallel between her background in mathematics and the acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings she creates: “There are no themes or hidden meanings, just color, or sometimes lack of it, or motion or stillness. I painted for many years while teaching math. This is not as unusual as it may seem. Calculus is the study of variables affecting each other, of change and motion. Math examines order, symmetry, reflections and even chaos, all of which are characteristics of great art.” Davis has her studio at Whiting Mills in Winsted. She has been in juried shows at Five Points and the New Britain Museum of American Art.
The opening reception for all three shows is Saturday, June 3 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green Presents “Word Art” plus Solo Shows by Suzanne Jill Levy and Brigid Kennedy

Canton, CT - Friday, April 21 through Saturday, May 20

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 22, 6:00-8:00 pm

Word Art Reading: Saturday, May 13, 7:00-9:00 pm

            “Word Art,” a biennial tradition at Gallery on the Green, is now in its 20th year. Writers and artists collaborate to create a visual piece that expresses the synergy between the visual and written arts. Visual artists create a work that is inspired by prose or poetry, while writers create a written response to visual art. Text appears next to the art or is directly incorporated as words or letters into prints, paintings, fiber, drawings, photographs or sculpture. Saturday, May 13 from 7 to 9 pm authors will read aloud their writing as viewers contemplate art that it reflected or inspired.
            Upstairs are two solo shows. In “A Journey Through” Suzanne Jill Levy exhibits large-scale abstract acrylic paintings in which the layering of colors as well as the shapes and rhythms of the composition elicit a sensation of calm and contemplation. Levy is inspired by Piet Mondrian’s use of color and graphic abstraction and by the color fields of Rothko, whose large regions of color burst with possibility. After earning a Masters in Social Work she moved to Manhattan and studied at the Art Students League of New York. While in NYC Levy painted the New York City Marathon mural finish line artwork in Central Park. Her paintings can be seen in gallery and juried exhibitions, corporate and private collections and even on craft beer cans.
   Brigid Kennedy, the second soloist, presents “Inside/Outside.” These paintings represent visual complexity through the intersection of an exterior view with the reflection on glass of the interior space. The images are a metaphor for our layered existence, for what we look at but don't see and the abundance it holds. Kennedy has exhibited her sculpture, drawings and paintings nationally and internationally and has lived and worked in South America and Europe exhibiting unique, site-specific sculptures. Her work is in the permanent collections of The Burchfield Penney Art Center (Buffalo, NY), The New Britain Museum of American Art, Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY), and Trinity College (Hartford, CT). As an artist/educator she has received numerous awards including the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s Individual Artist Fellowship Grant, a Fulbright Scholar Lecture/Research Award to Chile, a State of Connecticut Commission on the Arts Artists Project Grant, a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Award, multiple National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists Grants and fellowships at Yaddo and MacDowell.

An opening reception for the three exhibits is on Saturday, April 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend both this reception and the author reading on May 13. There is no charge for either event.

Gallery on the Green Presents “Member/Guest Exhibition” plus a Solo Show by Terre Lefferts and a Small Group Show

Canton, CT - Friday, March 17 through Saturday, April 15
Come enjoy the “Member/Guest Exhibition” at the Gallery on the Green showcasing works by artists who belong to the Guild and their invited guests. Anticipating this annual event, members are continually on the lookout for outstanding artists within their network of friends and acquaintances. The result is inevitably a delightfully rich concentration of talent displayed in prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures, mixed media works, photographs, and fiber art.

Two additional exhibitions are featured upstairs: dynamic mixed media art by a trio of art educators and a solo show of exquisite oil and pastel works by Terre Lefferts. Lefferts’ exhibit, entitled “Effects of the Sun and the Moon,” is grounded in deep reverence for the natural world. She depicts the moody and often dramatic effects of sunset and moonrise in a variety of natural settings. Included are inland scenes, waterscapes, and cityscapes that span diverse terrain from New York to Connecticut, and from the Berkshires to Down-East Maine.

Lefferts’ pastoral and coastal scenes reflect her immersion in her dual residencies in Connecticut and Maine. Originally a dancer with a long professional career, she has always delighted in painting landscapes and still lifes. Her impressive art career includes numerous commissions and frequent exhibitions, including 23 solo exhibitions.

“Three of a Kind: Adventures in Mixed Media” presents a rich grouping of bold, energetic artworks by Amy Goldbas, Jill Pasanen, and Susan Spaniol. All art educators, these artists share the firm belief that creative process in the arts is essential to our well-being as individuals and communities. Working together for several years, they have continued to share a commitment to a dynamic approach. Each artist begins with spontaneous explorations, grapples with the emerging unknown, and celebrates the unpredictable results of their processes. Despite the similarities of their approach, their art offers a rich diversity of works ranging widely in media, size, and content that is both abstract and figurative.

Each artist has a broad and varied background in arts education and related pursuits. Goldbas enjoyed careers as a museum educator designing arts integrated programming before she became the Associate Director for Program Design for the Connecticut Office of the Arts’ Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools Program. Pasanen has had a career as a dance educator in the UK and Connecticut, including the Community Division of the Hartt School, CCSU, and Trinity College. A featured artist in several galleries, her work has been exhibited widely in the region. Spaniol’s various careers as an art therapy professor, writer, editor, and therapist have contributed to the depth and maturity of her visual art today. She has exhibited widely in solo shows and national exhibitions, earning numerous awards.

An opening reception is on Saturday, March 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “Heartfelt Expressions” plus a Solo Show by Aaron Borkowski and a Group Show
Canton, CT - Friday, February 10th through Saturday, March 11
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 11, 6:00-8:00 pm
Cost: Free – open to the public
Celebrate with a visual treat to share with someone special or as a gift to yourself during a month we traditionally shower loved ones with gifts of chocolate and flowers. Come to “Heartfelt Expressions” where Canton Artist Guild members have created sculpture, fiber art, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photography to stir the magic chemistry of amorous delight.

Upstairs are two additional shows. Aaron Borkowski’s “In My World” is dazzling and surprising. He has found techniques to digitally transform his photographs of the natural world into abstract kaleidoscopic patterns of color and form. His recent turn to concentrating on this type of imagery builds upon strong familial artistic influences and a penchant for applying new technologies.

The second show, “3 Palettes,” features Kathleen DalSanto, Roger Niland and Mariann Weiss. Each of these well-established artists draws upon a distinctive style and training to create landscapes or finely rendered floral paintings of New England and beyond.

DalSanto’s work has been changing from realistic landscapes to more expressive paintings, reflecting the strong influence of her study of the art of Kandinsky, DeKooning, Pollock and Picasso in his cubist period. Her oil and acrylic paintings are characterized by brilliant color, direct brushwork and rhythmic compositions. DalSanto completed a BFA from Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana and has exhibited in a wide range of venues in the Hartford area.

Niland uses his own photographs as a starting point for landscapes that are “inspired by intimate spaces rather than vistas. I try to evoke my own life experience of camping and hiking in the woods, still my go-to therapy. My world is right and bright when walking through a blowing early morning lantern of autumn leaves. Time matters less to me standing at the bottom of a cataclysmic rift in alternating layers of lava and ancient lake beds [and] picking up a pebble, torn and tumbled sometime from somewhere north.” The poetic sensibility is gorgeously evident in his acrylic paintings. Niland took graduate level art courses and earned an M.A. at Wesleyan University. His work has been at many Connecticut galleries including the New Britain Museum of Art.

For Weiss the color and softness of chalk make it an ideal media for expressing what she feels is her “appreciation of belonging in this crazy world.” Pastel painting brings her “happiness and a sense of control,” and viewers will surely take great pleasure in seeing the results. She has a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and took graduate course at The University of Hartford Art School. Her work has been shown at The New Britain Museum of American Art where she won first prize in a members’ show.

The opening reception for all three shows is Saturday, February 11th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “Resolutions” plus solo shows by David McKay and by Christopher Maglieri

Canton, CT - Friday, January 13th through Sunday, February 4th
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 14, 6:00-8:00 pm
Cost: Free – open to the public

On the main floor of the gallery is “Resolutions,” an exhibit where the members of the Canton Artist Guild take up the challenge of expressing this theme via their artistic imaginations. Think of the richness of material here to work with: There are New Year’s expressions of commitment to action. Artists choose colors or contrast that make a work complete or they use variations in clarity and sharpness to separate subject and background. A picture can show conflicts coming together in a harmonious outcome. This is a show that will surely provoke and delight as you explore the multiplicity of meanings and representations.

Upstairs are two solo shows. “Life’s Exquisite Landscapes” by David McKay features seven large paintings and the seven smaller studies that were the starting point for each. The viewer can then appreciate the artistic process entailed and the way that McKay could expand his initial work with larger ideas and emotions.

McKay is a regional landscape painter who works primarily in oils. He has B.A. in fine arts from Dominican University and spent a semester studying painting in Florence, Italy where he was influenced by the works of Giotto and Masaccio. As the curator of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science museum in Chicago, he produced and curated theme-based art and science exhibits that went on to traveling exhibits along the East Coast. In 2009 he returned to Connecticut to paint the landscape he grew up with. His paintings are held in private and public collections in Florence, Milan and Silva, Italy, Chicago, and Oak Park, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

“Beautiful Woods” by Christopher Maglieri features a variety of handcrafted serving/cutting boards. Prizing vibrant colors and unusual patterns, Maglieri purchases woods from all over the world. Each pieces combines different woods and may even include a walnut or apple tree that has fallen locally. A civil engineer by training, Maglieri learned woodworking from his grandfather. Later he taught himself new techniques through experimenting in his workshop, and his early skills at wood turning have evolved into an ability to create finely crafted small furniture. His work has been available for purchase in fairs and local shops throughout the state.

The opening reception for all three shows is Saturday, January 14th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green presents a special “Holiday Pop-Up: Support Local Artists” Exhibition plus Two Solo Shows
Canton, CT - Friday, November 18th through Saturday, December 17th
Opening: November 19 from 6:00-8:00 pm
Cost: Free – open to the public

Throughout the beautifully decorated first floor gallery are paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography selling for no more than $200. The guild, the longest continuously operating in Connecticut, has a membership from over 30 area towns. Support local artists and find handcrafted gifts that are perfect for those on your holiday list or for yourself! There is the added convenience of being able to take the pieces immediately at the time of purchase.

Two shows are in the upstairs galleries. Leslie Landau presents “Atmospheric Shifts,” consisting of paintings “inspired by the ever-changing nuances of weather and time, and how in a moment, the landscape can be altered from our initial impression.” Landau earned her BFA in printmaking/drawing from the Ohio State University and an MS in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University. Her work is held in private collections throughout New England, New York, Ohio, Washington and California. She has been in exhibits at Mattatuck Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, CT Academy of Art, Silvermine Art Guild, Emerge Gallery and Five Points Gallery.

Canton residents John Rohlfing and Peggy Steinway have a combined exhibit of paintings and ceramics. Rohlfing finds inspiration stemming from ceramic sculpture he made as an undergraduate student. “I love the pieces freshness and spontaneity; the work takes me to a time and a place that is still in my heart when youthful inexperience and exuberance guided my art making.” Steinway’s paintings and collages explore her family experiences and recent travel. Global strife is also a significant theme. Rohlfing, an internationally acclaimed artist, has ceramic sculpture at the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His large-scale public sculpture is at the Isador Wexler School in New Haven. Steinway is a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Regional fellowship and the Connecticut Commission of the Arts Individual Artist Grant. A graduate of the N.Y. State College of Ceramics and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, she recently retired from teaching art at The Gilbert School in Winsted.

An opening reception is on Saturday, November 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents the 54th Annual Open Juried Exhibition plus a Solo Exhibit by Donna Namnoum
Canton, CT - Friday, October 14th through Saturday, November 12th
Opening and Awards Presentation: October 15th, 6-8 pm

Gallery on the Green presents its 54th Annual Open Juried Exhibition. This highly anticipated competition draws artists from all over Connecticut and beyond as they compete for up to $1500 in prizes. On display is fine art in a wide variety of styles, media and subject matter including painting, prints, drawing, photography, ceramics and sculpture.

This year’s juror is Brett Abbott, Director and CEO, of the New Britain Museum of American Art. He is a specialist in 20th- and 21st-century American photography and has been awarded the Ansel Adams Fellowship for work on photographer Wynn Bullock at the Center for Creative Photography in 2012 and two Lucie Awards for curator/exhibition of the year. Mr. Abbott previously served as the director of collections and exhibitions at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas.

Prizes are expected to total over $1500. Previous prize funders have included Collinsville Savings Society, Charles & Doris Currier Memorial Fund, Mitchell Auto Group, Mitchell Manchester Memorial, Maxwell Shepherd Memorial Arts Fund, Inc., Nancy Cloutier Memorial, Peg Douglas Memorial Fund, A & J Quality Roofing, Jerry’s Artarama, Smith Edwards McCoy Architects, object|resonance, Neu/Haviland, Rita Q. Memorial, David Leff Memorial and others.

Also on display is “On the Wall: Ceramic Sculpture” in which Donna Namnoum explores forms found growing in nature; plants, pods and other organisms. Each of the individual pieces within a sculpture is formed on the potter’s wheel and then altered and or assembled. Namnoum’s experimentation in making glazes allows her to add texture, interesting layers and colorful surfaces. Forms look alive as if they are growing, twisting, and even wilting.

Namnoum lives and maintains a studio in Canton. She has exhibited throughout New England and nationally and is the recipient of numerous awards including grants from The Connecticut Commission on the Arts and The Greater Hartford Arts Council. Her work has been published in Ceramics Monthly and Boston Voyager Magazines and has been reviewed by several publications including Artscope Magazine, Art New England, The Hartford Courant, The Hartford Advocate, and Clay Times Magazine.

An opening reception and awards presentation is on Saturday, October 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “September’s Song” plus a Group Show, “Quintet.”
Canton, CT - Friday, September 2 through Saturday, October 1
Reception: Saturday, September 10, 6-8:00 pm

Cost: Free – open to the public
As fall approaches, the days grow shorter, and the temperatures drop (we hope). For those of us fortunate enough to live in New England, nature unleashes its colorful magic: a unified sea of green leaves turn to firework like explosions of amazing reds, oranges, and golds. Get in tune with the season with “September’s Song,” where artists play to their inner maestro in works ranging from paintings, drawings and graphic arts to sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography, all created by members of the Canton Artists’ Guild.

Also on display is “Quintet,” bringing together five local artists/professors who share the bond of teaching in the First-year Foundation Program at the Hartford Art School/University of Hartford (HAS). The differences in their work illustrate the enormous variability in today’s evolving art making.
Hartford-based artist Matthew Best received his BFA in Painting from the Hartford Art School and his MFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. An abstract painter in a previous life, his current work explores identity and representation through an abstract and painterly lens.
Terry Donsen Feder does paintings and drawings, and she has had group and solo shows all over the country and in Ireland. Her work is part of many private, corporate and hospital collections and at the New Britain Museum of American Art.
Susan Bogle Finnegan received her B.A. from Smith College and her MFA in Painting from HAS. Finnegan’s work has been exhibited throughout New England, in Louisville, Kentucky and included in an international exhibition in Mainz, Germany. Finnegan was a visiting artist at the University of Louisville, Kentucky and a visiting professor at Trinity College. She has been at the HAS for over 20 yearVal Lyons is a contemporary conceptual artist who uses both ready-made and appropriated materials to create sculptural pieces and installations. She received her MFA from Arizona State University and her BFA from the Hartford Art School.
Mark Snyder holds a BFA from Miami University and an MFA in Graphic Design from RISD. He is Associate Dean at HAS and owns object|resonance, a design firm specializing in work for non-profits in education and fine/performing arts. He has won numerous design awards and has been published nationally/internationally. His mixed media/collage/letterpress fine artwork has been exhibited nationally.
The reception for both shows is Saturday, September 10 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Gallery on the Green is operated by the Canton Artists’ Guild – a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity

Gallery on the Green presents: August POP-UP Show and a Retrospective Solo Show by Mary Louise Pech.
Canton, CT - August 12th through August 28th
Cost: Free – the public is warmly invited

Time again for the very popular Pop-Up Show at Gallery on the Green, now also including an Art Tag Sale and a solo show of work by Mary Louise Pech. The Pop-Up is a wonderful opportunity to purchase member art work no larger than 24 x 24 inches and priced at $250 or less. You will find pieces to enhance the beauty of your home and office or to give as a unique gift. For just the three weekends in August, choose from these special prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art by the juried membership of the gallery. At this special show you will be able to take the items at the time of your purchase.
“Mary Louise Pech: An Artist in Nature” features work by a long-term Canton Artists’ Guild member who died in 2019. Included are landscapes of New England and Southwest characterized by rich use of color and texture.
Born Mary Louise Thompson in 1926, she attended Connecticut College and the University of Connecticut. Pech worked for many years as a social worker for the state and for the town of Simsbury. She shared with her husband Karl Pech a lifetime of exploring the natural beauty of our world. While Karl sought to preserve our environment through legislative and political action, Mary Louise sought through her art work to express her reverence and concern. She stated that “there is so much beauty around us, yet for the first time in history man has the capability to destroy all life on this incredibly beautiful and fragile planet.”
From the 1970s through the 1990s Pech exhibited in gallery and museum exhibits in Connecticut and New York, winning numerous first prize and best in show awards. Her work is in corporate collections, including Hartford Hospital, Cigna Corporation and Aetna.
At this time the Gallery is also having a tag sale inside the first floor gallery with priced-to-sell artwork, art books and art supplies (paints, markers, pencils, canvases, frames, paper, matting materials, etc.) All items were donated by member artists and all proceeds benefit the Gallery.
The Canton Artists’ Guild at the Gallery on the Green, the longest continuously-running artist guild in the state, has 3 separate galleries and hosts month-long exhibitions nine times a year. The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Website: http://www.galleryonthegreen.org
Email address: CantonArtistsGuild@gmail.com
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Cantons-Gallery-on-the-Green-290415973237/
Twitter link: https://twitter.com/cantonartists
Phone: 860-693-4102

Gallery on the Green presents the 62nd Anniversary Exhibition and a Solo exhibit by Richard Allen Cohen
Canton, CT - Friday, July 8th through Sunday, Aug 6th
Cost: Free – open to the public
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 9th 6:00-8:00 pm.
Come celebrate the 62nd Anniversary of Gallery on the Green in an exhibition of paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography all created by members of the Canton Artists’ Guild. Also on display is a solo photography show by Richard Alan Cohen entitled, “Microcosmic Landscapes.” The Guild began in 1960 and has been continuously operating ever since, making it the longest running of any artists’ guild in Connecticut. Today’s membership is comprised of over 80 juried artists from 30 surrounding towns.
The Gallery on the Green is located in an iconic former schoolhouse circa 1872
In “Microcosmic Landscapes” Cohen presents grand panoramas made by photographing small natural niches. The result is a changed perspective highlighting how even the smallest parts of nature are under threat. Cohen is a conceptual landscape photographer whose images highlight his reverential relationship with the environment through which he walks daily. Taking a novel perspective of mossy rocks, small waterfalls, and mere rivulets, he makes grand hyper-realistic landscapes that emphasize the importance, fragility and incredible beauty of these environmental niches. His imagery appears otherworldly, imparting a respectful distance from the ordinary reality in which the landscape is threatened by effects of global warming.Cohen grew up in Portland, Maine, and attended Bowdoin College where he co-majored in art and science. Having always maintained an avid interest in art, he has now transitioned from a 40-year career in cardiovascular research to being a full-time fine art photographer. Cohen has exhibited his photographs in numerous solo and group shows in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and San Allende, Mexico.The opening reception for both shows is Saturday, July 9th from 6:00-8:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.The Gallery on the Green has three spacious galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden.
The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.
Tel. 860-693-4102 / www.galleryonthegreen.org / e-mail: cantonartistsguild@gmail.com.
Website: http://www.galleryonthegreen.org
Email address: CantonArtistsGuild@gmail.com
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Cantons-Gallery-on-the-Green-290415973237
Twitter link: https://twitter.com/cantonartistsPhone: 860-693-4102

Gallery on the Green presents “A. Walter Kendra: A Life in Art” plus a Group Show, “Down to Earth”
Canton, CT - Friday, April 22 to Saturday, May 21, 2022

The Gallery on the Green presents a retrospective of prints, paintings, and drawings by Connecticut artist A. Walter Kendra, who has devoted more than 60 years to creating work that speaks to his passion for architecture, landscape, and nature, especially nature. The exhibition displays the evolution of his studio practice over the years, revealing startling differences as well as continuity as Kendra transforms his direct observations of the world around him into abstractions. “All of my work is abstracted from nature, and there’s an echo of representation in them, yet they transcend that. I always like my work to transcend, not mimic color or form.”

Kendra, professor emeritus of art and gallery director at Central Connecticut State University, received an M.A. from Columbia University. Kendra studied at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Art School at San Miguel del Allende, Mexico, Positano Art Workshop, Italy and the Hartford Art School. He was the recipient of Connecticut's Higher Education Art Educator of the Year award in 1993.

Kendra has exhibited widely, in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia in solo and group shows. He was the president of the Maxwell Shepherd Memorial Arts Fund in Canton during its duration and served on the Board of Trustees for the Art School at the University of Hartford where he is currently a Corporator.

Also on display in two upstairs galleries is “Down to Earth,” a group show by five Litchfield County artists. Specializing in different techniques and mediums, each finds inspiration in the shapes, colors and contours of the natural world. Aaron Borkowski uses digital photography and software editing tools to create dazzling abstract montages. Kathleen Borkowski’s work begins with writing down words or sounds and morphs into an image. An early obsession with medieval manuscripts led her to study with master calligraphers and artists from the US, Britain and Europe. Justine Ickes, a soloist in the previous Gallery show, exhibits new mixed media and collage works. Heather Neilson is an abstract artist and art educator and has pursued the study of art history and direct art making for 25 years. Andy Pyle is an artist of 3D blown and sculpted hot-glass (furnace work), alone and in combination with lost-wax kiln-cast glass objects. Originally from Reading, UK, he now lives and operates Nunwell Glass in Lime Rock, CT. Join these artists at a closing meet/greet on Saturday, May 21 from 2:00-4:00 pm.

On April 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm there will be an opening reception for the Kendra exhibit. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.
Gallery on the Green presents “Member/Guest Exhibition” plus solo shows by Justine Ickes and Rob Loebell.
Canton, CT - Friday, March 18 through Saturday, April 16th

Over many months in anticipation of the annual “Member/Guest Exhibition,” artists of Canton Artists’ Guild have been on the search for extraordinary talent in their networks of friends, family and acquaintances. The result is an exciting and vibrant display of sculpture, fiber art, print, drawing, painting, mixed media and photographs produced by many of the very best local artists.

Also on display are two solo shows. In “LIFE, Still!” Justine Ickes exhibits mixed media collages made with hand-painted paper. Ickes intuitively plays with color, pattern and shape to create compositions that capture the wondrous beauty and wildness of the natural world. With an M.A. in Anthropology from Columbia University, it is not surprising to see the broad cultural influences in her work: “I love to combine contemplative practices and hands-on activities — personal mapmaking plus Japanese sashiko … [a] handmade book with Turkish ebru, or creating a mandala.” She has studied painting, drawing and printmaking in Washington, DC, upstate New York, and Madrid, Spain. Ickes leads retreats for the “culturally-curious” online and in-person at her studio in Winsted, CT.

The second solo show is Rob Loebell’s carved relief sculpture exhibit, “Short Stories.”Each “story” is a response to a specific event – Covid, January 6th, a wedding, a safari, an art opening spilling into a Provincetown street. Loebell draws primarily on personal photographs to create carved wood compositions that are burned and painted in oil or encaustic. A member of the New York Sculptors Guild and The Silvermine Guild of Artist, his work has been exhibited at the United Nations, the Mystic Art Museum, Weir Farm in Wilton Connecticut, Governors Island and Plaxall Gallery in New York, Pearl Street Gallery and Real Art Ways in Hartford. He has received grants from the Greater Hartford Arts Council and won many awards for his work. Loebell has a BFA in Sculpture and a Masters in Art Education from Temple University and has been teaching art in West Hartford public schools since 1985.

Gallery on the Green presents “Be Mine!” plus solo shows by Stephanie Rogers and by Susan Bradley
Friday, February 11 through Saturday, March 12th
It’s love at first sight when the Canton Artists’ Guild members interpret and explore this show’s “Be Mine!” theme through sculpture, fiber art, print, drawing, painting, mixed media and photography. So come and join the love fest at the Gallery on the Green and find the perfect gift to express your amorous affection.
Also on display are two solo shows. “In the Stillness” by Stephanie Rogers features paintings that gently invite you to pause, relax and refresh. Her luminous landscapes capture the beauty of the Connecticut Valley and other idyllic spots throughout new England. This remarkably talented artist is largely self-trained: “I am passionate about art and I paint nearly every day. As of a few years ago, I had never drawn a picture or touched a paint brush. Fortunately for me, a woman from my yoga class offered me an ‘energy healing’ to ‘open up my creativity’. After a session with the her, I ran across some of my daughter’s old acrylics and I decided to give painting a try. I was immediately addicted and began my journey as an artist.” Rogers has widely exhibited her award-winning work in Connecticut.

While there is no opening reception for these exhibits, However, Stephanie will greet guests on Friday, February 11th and Saturday, February 12th from 1-5 pm.

Susan Bradley’s solo exhibit, “Family Album,” is her exploration of family memories both past and present. Bradley’s moody and evocative oil paintings express undercurrents of fear, uncertainty, and control as well as the joys of family. The composition is shaped by her drawings of live models and by old family photographs that triggered her mood and memories. “Isolation during the covid pandemic along with aging in general mark the beginning of these ongoing blasts from the past, bringing to light where I’ve been and where I’m going.“
Bradley earned a B.F.A. in Art Education and Printmaking and an M.F.A. in Painting. She has been an Art Educator at the Renbrook School, Cobb School Montessori and University of Hartford. Bradley has worked with a variety of mediums and techniques both two and three-dimensional.
While there is no opening reception for these exhibits, However, Susan will be at the Gallery on Saturday, February 12th from 1-5:00 pm to meet and greet visitors.

Gallery on the Green presents Members’ Themed Exhibit: “Icebreaker” plus a Solo Show by Don Sexton Canton, CT
Friday, January 14th through Sunday, February 5th

Soloist reception: Saturday January 15th 2-5 pm

Cost: Free – open to the public

Just when we seem to be reaching new peaks of frustration with obstacles to travel and restraints on our social engagement, Gallery on the Green presents “Icebreaker”! Step into a warm and welcoming gallery to view literal and figurative cutting through ice blocked passages. “Icebreaker” will surely spur conversation and engagement with fellow viewers as you experience Canton Artists’ Guild member interpretations in sculpture, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photographs.

Also on display is "Places & People I Know,” Don Sexton’s painted and mixed media scenes that tell the stories of people going about their lives with their families, at rest and at play. The paintings draw from his experiences over substantial periods of time in Australia, China, India, Japan, France, Russia, Portugal, South Korea, Italy, Brazil, Greece, Iran, and Mexico.

His mixed media techniques are based on a special approach which he developed. After drawing the scene with black ink, Sexton employs oil pastels and water-based inks that produce vivid hues and make intriguing and exciting what at first glance might seem to be an ordinary scene. Guests at his shows always praise his lively colors and his unusual compositions.

A professional painter for more than 30 years, Sexton has exhibited in solo shows and group shows in New York City, Connecticut, and New York State. He has won many awards such as Best in Show and Best in Mixed Media, and his paintings are in collections in the United States, Europe, and Australia. He is frequently engaged for commission projects.

Sexton studied painting and drawing at Wesleyan University and at the New School, the Stacy Studio Workshop, the Koho School of Sumi-E in New York City and at the American Center for the Arts in Paris. He has served on the boards of JAM Gallery (NYC), Artwell, and the Kent Art Association and is a member of the Canton Artists Guild, the Housatonic Valley Art League, 14th Colony Artists, the Voice of Art, the Washington Art Association, and the Mamaroneck Artists’ Guild.
Sexton is having a reception at the Gallery for his solo show on January 14 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm

“Holiday Pop-Up/Support Local Artists” plus solo shows by Renée and Patrick Hughes and by Patty Weise.
Canton, CT - Friday, November 19th through Sunday, December 18th
No supply chain problems at Gallery on the Green! At the exhibit, “Holiday Pop-Up/Support Local Artists,” shelves and walls are filled with paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography — all cash and carry and $200 or less. Decorate your home and find gifts that reflect the abundant artistry, craftsmanship and imagination of artists from the over 30 Connecticut towns represented in the Canton Artists’ Guild.

There are also two other exhibits. The first is “Our Current Practice” featuring paintings and monotype prints by Renée Hughes and paintings by Patrick Hughes. Renée Hughes’ mixed media abstract paintings at times suggest landscapes and show a joy and confidence in the use of line, shape, color, composition and technique. “My paintings develop much the same way my prints do. I work on several paintings at once, my process is an intuitive one, and I begin each print or painting with a vision and experimentation but no expectations!” Patrick’s abstract paintings are powerful and bold. Patrick graduated from CCSU with a degree in Art Education, and he has been painting for many years.
Renée Hughes has participated in national and international exhibitions. In Connecticut her work has been at the Slater Museum, The Mystic Museum, The Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, The Mattatuck Museum, Silvermine Art Center and The New Britain Museum of American Art. Renée and Patrick both had work on exhibited at The Gallery of 20th Century Art, a part of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.

Patty Weise has a solo show entitled, “Interior Life: Recent Gouache Paintings.” . The paintings focus on everyday domestic routines, some including plastic bags and gloves that capture the anxiety of our times. Weise finds “enjoyment in bringing order, even harmony, to a random arrangement of objects, shapes and colors…. On another level, the objects depicted — teakettles, dishes, pots and pans, cups and glasses — can be seen as stand-ins for the deep human connections made in conversation in the kitchen.” She has exhibited at the New Britain Museum of American Art, Five Points Gallery in Torrington, Silvermine Art Center in New Canaan, the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven. Weise is an adjunct professor in art at Central Connecticut State University and Northwestern Connecticut Community College.

Gallery on the Green presents the 53rd Annual Open Juried Exhibition plus a Solo Exhibit by Suzan Scott Canton, CT - Friday, October 15th through Saturday, November 13th
Opening and Awards Presentation: (Tentative) October 16th, 6-8 pmGallery on the Green presents its 53rd Annual Open Juried Exhibition. This highly anticipated competition draws artists from all over Connecticut and beyond as they compete for up to $1500 in prizes. On display is fine art in a wide variety of styles, media and subject matter including painting, prints, drawing, photography, ceramics and sculpture.

This year’s juror is Dr. Ricardo Reyes, currently the Gallery Director and Curator of Collections at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He previously served as the Edith Dale Monson Gallery Curator and Director at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford. Dr. Reyes also has a distinguished career as an artist and cultural theorist, with recent exhibits at the Filipino American Museum at the Ace Hotel Gallery in New York, Mills Gallery of the Boston Center for the Arts, and in GartenStudio in Berlin, Germany. He has a BA in Sculpture from UC Berkeley, an MFA in New Genres from UCLA, and a PhD from the Centre for Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Previous prize funders have included Union Savings Bank, Collinsville Savings Society, Charles & Doris Currier Memorial Fund, Mitchell Auto Group, Mitchell Manchester Memorial, Maxwell Shepherd Memorial Arts Fund, Inc., Nancy Cloutier Memorial, Peg Douglas Memorial Fund, A & J Quality Roofing, Jerry’s Artarama, Smith Edwards McCoy Architects, object|resonance, Neu/Haviland, Carrie Simon Memorial, Rita Q. Memorial and others.

Also on display is a solo show by Suzan Scott entitled, “summerfields.” During the isolation of the Covid lockdown, Scott intensified her focus on her immediate natural setting and produced paintings in which there is sharpened clarity and depth to sunlight, shadows, field and sky, giving them an accentuated abstract quality. “I found a rich abundance and diversity in the seeming sameness and simplicity offered each day.” Scott has been in numerous juried exhibitions and has had solo shows at Five Points Center for the Visual Arts, the University of Connecticut, Wesleyan University, and many other locations. She has B.A. in Painting and Art History at CCSU.

Gallery on the Green presents “Fall Art Harvest” plus solo shows by Arleen Pomaski and by Margaret Wilson
Canton, CT - Friday, September 3rd through Saturday, October 2nd

Gallery on the Green presents a member show entitled, “Fall Art Harvest.” Created with their brushes, chisels, cameras, scissors and other artistic tools and media, members of the Canton Artists’ Guild bring to market autumn’s bounty. Some pieces reflect the season’s distinctive color, light and shape. Others are more diverse but all show the fruits of imagination, experimentation and continual aesthetic nurturing.

Also on display are two solo shows. “Escape in Watercolor” by Arleen Pomaski draws heavily upon her artistic coping with restrictions imposed Covid. This work, however, is the culmination of training over many years under the tutelage of established watercolor and mixed media artists plus coursework at the College of Marin and Sonoma State University. She perfected her skills painting on her trips to Corsica, Italy and Greece. Pomaski relishes natural settings and the way in which built structures within them enliven shadows, textures, shapes and colors. She shows how beautifully this can be captured with the flow and transparency of watercolor.

The second solo show is “Out of the Blue 2” by Margaret Wilson. The starting point was a small piece she created for the recent Gallery on the Green member show “Out of the Blue.” In mostly small paintings (6” x 5”) charged with intimacy and tension, Wilson takes off from the originating inspiration to create an image with a sudden, surprising, and unanticipated element. Her appreciation of the emotional nature and function of art are strongly evident and stem from her education as an art therapist at Pratt Institute and a studio art degree from Skidmore. She has exhibited widely in Connecticut over the past 20 years, in both solo shows and group exhibitions.

Gallery on the Green presents: August POP-UP SHOW
Canton, CT - August 13th through August 29th
Cost: Free – the public is warmly invited

The first Pop-Up show was in August 2019. After having to skip last year, this highly successful show is once again at Gallery on the Green. It is a wonderful opportunity to purchase member artwork no larger than 24 x 24 inches and priced at $250 or less. Throughout our three galleries you will find pieces to enhance the beauty of your home and office or to give as a unique gift. For just the three weekends in August, choose from these special prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art by the juried membership of the gallery. At this special show you will be able to take the items at the time of your purchase.
The Canton Artists’ Guild at the Gallery on the Green, the longest continuously-running artist guild in the state, has 3 separate galleries and hosts month-long exhibitions nine times a year. The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Gallery on the Green presents the 61st Anniversary Exhibition Plus Solo Show by Jill Pasanen
Canton, CT - Friday, July 9th through Saturday, August 7, 2021

The Canton Artists’ Guild began in 1960 and has been continuously operating ever since, making it the longest running of any artists’ guild in Connecticut. The membership, which today draws on artists from 30 surrounding towns, is presenting work in celebration of this 61st Anniversary. Paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography are displayed in two large galleries of the circa 1872 former school house that is now Gallery on the Green.

In a third gallery is “Let’s Dance! A Dancer’s Imaginings,” a solo show by Jill Pasanen that is clearly rooted in her past career in her native England as a dancer, choreographer and dance educator. Her images resonate with the body positioning, movement and sensation of dance: “Sometimes, I focus on the complex linear relationships of choreography and sometimes on the translation of physical energy into visual form. I am loving this journey and I hope that this work captures it well.” Passanen started doing watercolor painting shortly after migrating to the US in 1992. Over several decades her painting style evolved into the prize-winning mixed media and collage of this exhibit. She won prizes at the West Hartford Art League, the Underground Gallery, the New Hartford Art League and Gallery on the Green. Her solo exhibits have been throughout Central Connecticut including Hartt Dance and Opera Center, the Charter Oak Cultural Center, Magna Physical Therapy and TheaterWorks.

The Gallery on the Green continues to follow the State of Connecticut COVID-19 guidelines. For this show, we recomend that visitors continue to wear a mask and show consideration on social distancing. Protocols are subject to change in accordance with state guidelines. There will be no opening reception.
The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible. Tel. 860-693-4102 / www.galleryonthegreen.org / e-mail: cantonartistsguild@gmail.com.
Gallery on the Green presents a Member Exhibition “Great Escapes” plus two other shows
Canton, CT - Friday, May 28th through Saturday, June 26, 2021
As our long winter gives way, Canton Artists’ Guild members let their imaginations take off to bright and wondrous places in “Great Escapes.” Follow along to exotic and familiar destinations through paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography.

In an upstairs gallery David Holzman of Avon and Donna Namnoum of Canton are showing “Viral Conspiracy: An Exhibit of Collaborative Sculptural Ceramics made in Quarantine.” Having met in 1979 in a ceramics studio at Hartford Art School, they have followed each other's work for decades. Namnoum has always worked three dimensionally in clay and Holzman’s work ranges from sculpture to painting and printmaking. Their process entailed texting, making drawings and photographing them, more texts, mysterious cartons dropped off on front stoops, long weeks of separate focus. Namnoum’s concentration on the exploration and evolution of pottery vessels and anthropomorphized forms meets Holzman’s stream of consciousness imagery.

Holzman studied at Hartford Art School and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He began to make wood relief carvings 30 years ago, while continuing his involvement with the woodcut novel format. His work was published in Art Spiegelman’s RAW comics anthology as well as Zero Zero from Seattle and he was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. Namnoum received degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford. Over the 40 years of making art Donna has exhibited throughout New England and nationally and is the recipient of numerous awards including grants from The Connecticut Commission on the Arts and The Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The second show upstairs is entitled, “Focus on Art.” It is an exhibition of work by students and staff of FOCUS Center for Autism in Canton. The Center is committed to helping children and young adults achieve their full potential, and art plays an important role in promoting their social and emotional skills.

The Gallery on the Green will be following the State of Connecticut's COVID-19 reopening guidelines. All visitors inside the gallery are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing protocol. Given the circumstances, the above protocol may change in accordance with CT State guidelines. There will be no opening reception.

Gallery on the Green presents Word Art
April 23-May 22, 2021
The “Word Art Show” is a biennial Gallery tradition since 2003. Writers and artists collaborate to explore the synergy between the visual and written arts. Visual artists create a work of art that is inspired by prose or poetry, while writers create new work in response to visual art. Written text appears next to the art when installed at the gallery, or is directly incorporated as words or letters into the prints, paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture. As part of the show (please check for updates on Gallery website), we hope to have a virtual evening of readings and performances.
One of the two solo shows is “Simsbury Open Studios – Here in Canton.” This group show is comprised of artists who share the goal to inspire, educate and allow the public to see art and learn about the creative process. It replaces their pre-pandemic open studio event and allows you to see in one place the stunningly diverse talents of a lampworker, a ceramicist, painters and printmakers. Artists include: Rita Bond, Amy Conover, Karyn de Punte’-Sweezy, Catherine M. Elliott, Grace Epstein, Renée S. Hughes, Ruth Jacobson, Deborah Leonard, Claudia Ludovici, Linda Madin, Julie Parker Post, Linda Pearson, Ken Picard, Lori Racicot-Burrous, and Richard Schlicher.
(For additional information visit SimsburyArtists.org, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.)
The second solo show, “A Murder of Crows” by Gay Schempp, consists of encaustic paintings and pen and ink sketches. Schempp has been captivated by crows’ intelligence and quirky gestures and has long sought to capture their personalities in work that combines drawing, painting, and composing visual stories. “The encaustic wax medium,” Schempp explains, “allows me to work in layers, trapping fragments of color, memory and message in time. Working with the molten wax on birch panels is engaging a mix of alchemy and jazz. Colors are worked like chords until the metamorphosis of substance and meaning cools to a finished statement.” Her book, 2020 Through a Crow’s Eye, was created during the lockdown period of last spring through last summer. It illustrates her response to what happened daily through this pandemic time through the eyes of a crow persona. It is a visual document of their shared experiences of last year with commentary on what prompted the sketch that day.

Gallery on the Green presents an exhibition of “Members’ New Work” plus Solo Shows by Mark Rich and Judy Cantwell Canton, CT - Friday, March 19th through Saturday, April 17, 2021
Canton Artists’ Guild members exhibit their work in this “Members’ New Work” exhibition. For many members the current constraints on travel, employment and social interaction have served to intensify their effort and concentration. See the results in paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography. The membership consists of 100 plus artists from over 30 area towns forming one of Connecticut's long established fine art guilds.

Mark Rich has eighteen new paintings in his show entitled, “Less is Never More.” In studio space partially supported by Five Points Gallery, Rich had the opportunity to closely observe downtown Torrington. He was struck by the distinctive signage, old buildings and “post manufacturing decay in the air” reminiscent of neighborhoods he had known in New York City in decades past. He created these paintings in October 2020 through February 2021 as a tribute that “resists the melancholy of Corona and political angst with optimism and humor.” Sale proceeds from five paintings will be donated for the benefit of the Fish Homeless Shelter and Torrington food bank.

Mark Rich has been working with oil paint and wax for over forty years. His style is abstract, improvised and sometimes random. The work is dense and multilayered and pays homage to his New York School and Post New York School abstract expressionist influences.

“Smalls” by Judy Cantwell is a second solo show on exhibit. It includes a collection of small works, some utilizing colorful semi-transparent gel transfers layered one over another to meld into scenes that are both familiar and yet exotic. In addition, three-dimensional, shadow box works utilize found objects and industrial-based pressed, gilded and painted components. A past President and Board member of the Canton Artist’s Guild, she first showed her art at the Gallery on the Green in 1967. Her award winning art has since been shown in dozens of locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. She’s an Elected Artist of the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts and the Kent Art Association, member of the Housatonic Valley and New Hartford Art Leagues and part of the mixed media artist’s group called MIXUS.

Gallery on the Green presents a Members’ Themed Exhibit: “Love, Love, Love”
plus a solo show by Edith Skiba LaMonica

Knowing all you need is love, come view a celebration in art that will make you want to break out in song! The Canton Artists’ Guild is one of Connecticut’s oldest guilds and home to over 100 artists from throughout the Greater Farmington Valley. Inspired by the show’s theme of “Love, Love, Love,” members have created many splendid things: sculpture, fiber, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photographs.
Edith Skiba LaMonica’s solo show “Reflections and Musings” presents a selection of recent oil paintings inspired by her curiosity about nature and love of color. Combining real with abstraction, she recreates the atmosphere of woodland and ponds in her surroundings. She has a BA in Painting and Masters in Art History from SUNY Stony Brook and has taught college courses on painting and on art history. From 2003-2009 her work was carried by the ARTWORKS Gallery of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Solo exhibitions in Connecticut include Five Points Gallery in Torrington, Tunxis Community College and the Underground Gallery in Collinsville. Her paintings are in many public collections including the UCONN Health Center.

The Gallery on the Green will be following the State of Connecticut’s COVID-19 reopening guidelines. All visitors inside the gallery are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing protocol. Given the circumstances, the above protocol may change in accordance with CT State guidelines. There will be no opening or closing reception.

Gallery on the Green is operated by the Canton Artists’ Guild – a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity
Gallery on the Green presents a Members’ Themed Exhibit: “Out of the Blue” plus Solo Shows by Janine M. Kearns and Walter Schuppe.
Canton, CT - Friday, January 8th through Sunday, February 6th
In a themed exhibition guild members respond to the challenge of creating art that is “Out of the Blue” in its many shades of meaning: facing something entirely unforeseen, the release from woes to laughter or beauty, deliberately working with a suitably reduced color palette….or something else that equally tweaks the imagination. Come delight in the resulting sculpture, fiber, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photographs from a membership that consists of over 100 juried artisans from one of Connecticut's oldest artists’ guilds.

Drawing from over three decades of nature scene photography, Janine M. Kearns presents her solo exhibition entitled, “Treat the Earth Gently.” Kearns states that “the collection includes macro views of nature’s most delicate expressions as well as some deeply personal moments when the air was filled with spirit.” She first learned black and white film photography and darkroom work at then Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), before going on to study at Rutgers University. She completed a communications degree which included courses in photography and graphic design. While her professional career went in a different direction, photography has ever since remained her passion and private pursuit.

In “The Faces of Freedom” Walter Schuppe’s aims “to preserve some personal histories and create awareness of the sacrifices that military personnel make for the civilian population.” The project combines his black and white photographic portraits of male and female war veterans with a brief bio about the individual’s service and life before and after the military. Schuppe has been forwarding the photos and bios of World War II veterans to The National World War II Museum for them to preserve in their archives and he aspires to accumulate a collection appropriate to offer to schools, colleges, civic organizations, libraries, etc.

The Gallery on the Green will be following the State of Connecticut's COVID-19 reopening guidelines. All visitors inside the gallery are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing protocol. Given the circumstances, the above protocol may change in accordance with CT State guidelines. There will be no opening or closing reception.

Holiday Pop-Up SUPPORT LOCAL Artists

Gallery on the Green presents a special “Holiday Pop-Up: Support Local Artists” exhibition and a solo show by John Hsu
Canton, CT - Friday, November 20th through Saturday, December 19th
Cost: Free – open to the public
Throughout the Founders and Spotlight galleries are paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography selling for no more than $250. The guild, the longest continuously operating in Connecticut, has a membership of over 100 juried artisans from over 30 area towns. Support local artists and find handcrafted gifts that are perfect for those on your holiday list or for yourself! There is the added convenience of being able to take the pieces immediately at the time of purchase.

The Upstairs gallery features the the photography of John Hsu in a show entitled, “Images in Water.” Hsu has been taking pictures for 60 years and is drawn especially to vivid coloring and infinite variability that he finds in outdoor water reflections. He strives to capture through his lens the precise moment when continuous surface undulations produce an ideal abstract artistic composition. He has published seven photography books in Taiwan, six of which were devoted to images of water reflection. Hsu has had many solo exhibitions Connecticut, and his photo, “Labyrinth – Goodspeed Opera House,” won the Best Photography award at the New Britain Museum of American Art Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition in 2011.
The Gallery on the Green will be following the State of Connecticut's COVID-19 reopening guidelines. All visitors inside the gallery are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing protocol. Given the circumstances, the above protocol may change in accordance with CT State guidelines. There will be no opening or closing reception.

Gallery on the Green presents an exhibition of “Members’ New Work.”
Friday, October 16th through Sunday, November 14th
Canton Artists’ Guild members exhibit their seasonal and new creative work in this “Member’s New Work” exhibition that is located in all three of the galleries. For many members the current constraints on travel, employment and social interaction have served to intensify their effort and concentration. See the results in paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography. The membership consists of 100 plus juried artisans from over 30 area towns forming one of Connecticut's long established artists’ guilds.

Gallery on the Green presents a member’s exhibit on the theme “ The New Normal“ and a solo show by Nancy Greco
Canton, CT - Friday, September 4th through Sunday, October 4th
The Gallery on the Green is pleased to continue our season with a members’ themed exhibit entitled, “The New Normal,” plus a solo show by Nancy Greco. Visit an historic gallery and view newly created fine art from the artist guilds’ 100+ members. The shows provide an array of stunning work from paintings, drawings, graphic arts and sculpture to ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography.

Nancy Greco’s solo show “Reflections” explores what it is that makes one object or thought more memorable or important than another and what makes something seem lasting rather than fleeting. The dream and symbolic imagery in her drawings are an attempt to open a dialogue with viewers, to encourage them to reflect upon their own memories and connections regarding the changeable way we evaluate what we look at or experience both present and past.
Greco went to Southern Connecticut State University and Wesleyan University and has an M.F.A. from Ohio State University. She received a Ford Foundation Grant, an Individual Artist's Grant and a Visiting Artist's Grant for Lithography Workshops for educators and students from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. Early awards include the First Award in the Pratt Graphics 6th International Miniature Print Exhibition in NYC and a First Place in The Connecticut Women Artists Open Juried Exhibition. In late 2017 she received an Individual Artist's Grant from the Artist's Resource Trust of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Last year, Greco was awarded The Maxwell Shepherd Prize at Gallery on the Green.
Greco’s solo exhibitions include Martin Sumers Gallery in New York City and the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, Connecticut. In 2018, Trustman Art Gallery at Simmons University was the venue for a solo show “Recurrence” that traced the appearance and transformation of symbolic imagery through nearly five decades of Greco's prints and drawings.

Arts and Tarts Exhibit
The concept for the show was “cooked up” by Mary Tomolonius and Kent McCoy. Mary is well known as a caterer and for her exquisite desserts, especially her tarts. This exhibit is like our biennial Fine Art and Flowers Show but in reverse. Rather than floral artists reacting to and interpreting a piece of art through flowers, the visual artists will react to the design of a tart!
The artist were free to interpret the image of the tart any way they liked: color, rhythm, texture, scale, finish, etc.…enjoy this mouth watering exhibit.
The Gallery on the Green is very please to reopen on July 31,2020 with a combined 60th Anniversary Exhibition and Pop-Up Show July 31-Aug 20, 2020. Come see newly created fine art works from the 100+ members of our artist guild. Two large galleries host the exhibition, and Richard Allan Cohen’s solo show, “Climate Falls,” can be seen in the Spotlight gallery. The shows combine to provide a stunning array of paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography. As a Pop-Up show, items can be taken at the time of purchase.
The images in his solo show, according to Cohen, “are part of my effort to reinterpret the reality I find when I discover a place of natural beauty. I think of making them as opening a door to a separate, improved world. The title, Climate Falls, refers to not only the waterfalls in these pictures. It also implies the magnified perspective of the images as well as the real potential of the serious consequences that threaten our world by changes in climate. To suggest the impermanence of the environment and therefore its vulnerability, I have introduced stellar nebulae obtained from NASA, stormy clouds, or smoke into these images to truly set them apart from what we normally experience. Making these imaginary landscapes gives me a way to envision a better future for the landscape that I see.”
Cohen grew up in Portland, Maine, and attended Bowdoin College where he co-majored in art and science. Having always maintained an avid interest in art, he has now transitioned from a 40-year career in cardiovascular research to being a full-time fine art photographer living in northwest Connecticut. Cohen has exhibited his photographs in numerous solo and group shows at venues including 555 Gallery, Panopticon Gallery, the Griffin Museum of Photography, Galatea Fine Art Gallery, Kingman Gallery, Sohn Fine Art and Five Points Gallery.

Gallery on the Green presents Members’ Themed Exhibit: “The ______ We Love”
plus Solo Shows by Anne Sheffield and by John Rohlfing and Peggy Steinway.
Canton, CT - Friday, February 14th through Sunday, March 15th

See what has fired artists’ passion and imagination in a show entitled, “The _____ We Love.” Canton Artists’ Guild members respond to this theme with sculpture, prints, drawings, paintings, mixed media and photographs. The membership consists of over 100 juried artisans from one of Connecticut's oldest artists’ guilds. There will be an opening reception with free refreshments on Saturday, February 15th from 6 – 9 pm.

Anne Sheffield’s solo show entitled, “Cascades,” consists of wall hangings of braided, knotted, fringed and twisted fabrics. These abstract, conceptual works reference the body inside and outside as well as DNA helixes. Sheffield, a Wethersfield resident, is retired from a career of teaching art and writing. Her background in art history, museum education, studio workshops in textile arts and sculpture culminate in her current creations. Recent participation in juried group shows includes Connecticut Women Artists (Slater Museum), Spectrum (Centerbrook), Connecticut Art Education Association (Mill Gallery, Unionville), New Britain City Hall, Mandell Jewish Community Center, Art League of New Britain, and Wethersfield Art League.

John Rohlfing and Peggy Steinway have a joint show entitled, “Together Again: New Ceramics and Paintings.” Both have studios in their home in Canton. Rohlfing’s ceramic vessels encompass the human figure, sexuality and landscape. The art and craft of the maker’s touch here transforms clay into a celebration of humanity and connection to the environment. Rohlfing sees these pots as his attempt to understand the balances in life. The work of this internationally acclaimed artist is in many public and private collections including the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His large-scale public sculpture is at the Isador Wexler School in New Haven. Rohlfing twice received fellowships from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts and is Professor of Art at Post University in Waterbury.

Steinway’s theme is a half glass of water situated in urban and pastoral landscapes. Looking through the glass and water the image refracts and arranges itself into a new reality. The same subject matter is also in her whimsical ceramic sculptures and plates. Steinway is a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Regional fellowship and the Connecticut Commission of the Arts Individual Artist Grant. Her work was chosen for a nationally distributed ABSOLUT vodka ad. A graduate of the N.Y. State College of Ceramics and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Steinway teachers art at The Gilbert School in Winsted and is a Canton resident.

Gallery on the Green presents “Members’ New Work” and a solo show by Margaret Schuster

Canton, CT - Friday, January 10th through Sunday, February 9th

Opening Reception: Saturday, January 11th 6:00-9:00 pm

The main floor and the large upstairs gallery feature newly created work by artist members. Enjoy the diverse creativity of talented local artists in an intimate and historical exhibition space. On view are prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, fiber, mixed media and ceramics by the over 100 members in Connecticut’s longest running artists’ guild.

Margaret Schuster is the solo artist in the spotlight gallery. Her show entitled “Farm & Nature” includes landscapes, animals and nature scenes done in pastel or oil. Schuster notes that “my career as a teacher and naturalist have taught me to look closely at everything and that is reflected in my work. I especially enjoy painting scenes from my farm.”

Shuster currently works primary in pastels. She honed her skills through workshops with Liz Haywood Sullivan, Karen Israel and Alain J. Picard. She has exhibited at the McClean Home, Seabury of Bloomfield, Squire Tavern in Barkhamsted, West Hartford Art Gallery, Avon and New Hartford Town Halls and many local libraries. Her work has been in numerous juried shows including the East Granby Public Library, Kent Art League, Gallery on the Green, Underground Gallery, Lost Acres Vineyard, West Hartford Art League and New Hartford Art League (winning honorable mention). Schuster is a member of the Canton Artists’ Guild, New Hartford Art League and the Connecticut Pastel Society and a board member of the Avon Arts Association.
The opening reception for these shows is Saturday, January 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

Holiday Show & Sale
Nov. 15-Dec.15th
Gallery on the Green presents the Holiday Show and Sale and solo exhibits by Peggy Dembicer and Sue Robinson

Canton, CT - Friday, November 15th through Sunday, December 15th

The Gallery on the Green Annual Holiday Show and Sale plus solo shows by Peggy Dembicer and by Sue Robinson are on display from November 15 to December 15. The Festive Holiday Opening Reception is on Saturday, November 16th and the Holiday Party is on Saturday, December 14th. Both events are from 6 to 9 pm and the public is warmly invited. The Holiday Show has gift items by guild artists and invited guests. These include fine arts, beautiful hand-turned wood, ceramics, jewelry, knitted wear and crafts. They make presents that are truly special. You can take the items at the time of purchase.
The gallery will be open for extended hours during the Holiday Show (Fridays -1:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Saturdays and Sundays - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, “Black Friday” November 29, 11 am-6pm ).

Peggy Dembicer has a solo show entitled, “Free Forms: Finding Repurpose.” She is a self-taught fiber and mixed media artist noted for intricate beaded tapestries, modern and colorful 2D and 3D paper weaving, as well as the creative application of recycled materials in framed and sculptural artworks. Fiber and beads are a consistent and cohesive element in her works, which contain countless thousands of beads and stitches. This exhibit focuses on her recent explorations using found objects and vintage items, giving new life to fractured mirrors, game boards, tee shirts, old books, commercial packaging and much more. Dembicer exhibits regularly as a member of Connecticut Women Artists, Silvermine Art Guild, Canton Artists’ Guild, Art League of New Britain, West Hartford Art League and Saatchiart.com. Her work has been shown at The New Britain Museum of American Art, the Fuller Craft Museum, The Stanford Museum and Nature Center, SEFA Gallery in New York and is included in collections throughout the United States.

Sue Robinson has a solo show entitled, “GeoMetrix.” Her photos are characterized by a symmetry, balance and patterning that she often serendipitously captures. “The added surprise,” Robinson says, “is the joy of discovering images my subconscious saw at that moment in time.” She has had art instruction at Boston University and Central Connecticut State College as well as photography coursework at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Her work has been exhibited at the Artist’s House Gallery in Nantucket and appears in Signs of the Times Magazine and the book, Accidental Courage, Boundless Dreams.

The Canton Artists’ Guild at the Gallery on the Green, the longest continuously-running artist guild in the state, has 3 separate galleries and hosts 9 month-long exhibitions each year. The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible. www.galleryonthegreen.org / canton artists@att.net / 860-693-4102

Tom Cameron’s solo show, “Dip-Trip-Polytych,” features over 30 digital images that develop pictorial ideas through multi-image combinations. Though typically a realist photographer concentrating on nature-based water subjects (often via kayak), he also experiments with images in which the tonality or composition can be more important than image details. This exhibit takes the viewer through several subject areas that examine the way multi-image compositions expand or complete an idea. Included are images of Maine’s Monhegan Island, Venice, floral subjects and others.
His photography has been influenced by master photographer and printer George DeWolfe, a student of Ansel Adams and Minor White. Cameron has studied photography at Tunxis Community College and developed his style over the last 15 years. His presentation methods continue to challenge current conventions with innovative mounting and surface treatments.
He has BS in Mechanical Engineering, a PhD in Materials Science and 40 years of product development experience. He is a member of the Canton Artists’ Guild and is coordinator for the LaSalle Market Gallery in Collinsville. He has been featured in numerous solo shows throughout the area and has won awards in four juried exhibitions.
An opening reception and awards presentation will be held on Saturday, October 12th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The public is warmly invited to attend this free reception.

Gallery on the Green presents “Autumn Member Exhibition” plus solo shows by Lynne Anstett and by Carol Chaput and Rachel Miller.
Canton, CT - Friday, August 30th through Sunday, September 28th

The Gallery on the Green presents the “Autumn Member Exhibition” consisting of fine art by the over 100 juried members of the Canton Artists’ Guild, Connecticut’s longest continuously running artist guild. This former historic schoolhouse (circa 1872) has three spacious galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden. Come see a stunning array of newly created prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art.
An opening reception with free refreshments takes place on Saturday, August 31st from 6 – 9 pm.

Lynne Anstett’s solo photography exhibit is entitled, “Iconic Architecture and the Surrounding Landscape....Through My Lens.” Anstett captures the magnificence and beautiful natural setting of historically important structures ranging from the Keystone Arch Bridge in Massachusetts to the Eiffel Tower. “Photography, to me, is a way of paying visual attention and tribute to what is otherwise often missed or taken for granted – the quiet dignity of buildings, the magnificence of sky, water and land, the mystery of old things.” Anstett is the author of a book of poetry and photography entitled, “Love Bound: The Journey.” Since 2011 she has been producing and selling versions of her photos as calendars, day planners and note cards.
Also on view is “Ebb and Flow,” an exhibit of work by Carol Chaput and Rachel Miller. Chaput has images of the natural world which she created using oil, acrylic, graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, silverpoint, metal leaf, and powdered earth pigments. Other pieces are from a series of assemblages created with found, inherited, and collected objects. Chaput’s art has appeared in exhibits throughout New England, in the mid-Atlantic states, New York and Washington DC. Her work is included in private collections as well as various state and corporate collections. Throughout her career as a sculptor, Miller has worked in a variety of different mediums. In the last several years, she has focused on the art of paper making and has perfected techniques that allow her to wall mount her delicate flower sculptures. Recently she has explored wire sculpture and has incorporated it into her work. Known for her sinuous line, form and texture, she has shown widely in New England and has work in many collections both private and corporate.

**There will also be a special event on Sunday evening, September 15th when the gallery hosts an evening of readings by David Leff. Leff is the poet laureate of the town of Canton and will be reading from The Breach, his new novel in verse inspired by life in Collinsville. The event will be held at 5:00 p.m followed by a book signing and reception.

Members’ Small Works POP-UP SHOW 2
August 9th through August 25th

After the success of the first Members’ Small Works Pop-up Show last August, Gallery on the Green is having the show once again this summer. It is a wonderful opportunity to purchase member art work no larger than 24 x 24 inches. Throughout our three galleries; you will find pieces to enhance the beauty of your home and office or to give as a unique gift. For just the three weekends in August, choose from these special prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, collages and fiber art by the juried membership of the gallery. At this special show you will be able to take the items at the time of your purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on August 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. with free refreshments (donations are always welcome).

Gallery on the Green presents the 59th Anniversary Exhibition and a solo exhibit by Marlene Mayes

Canton, CT - Friday, June28th through Sunday, Aug 4th
Opening Reception and Summer Party: Saturday, June 29th 6:00-9:00 pm

The Gallery on the Green presents its 59th Anniversary Exhibition — newly created fine art works from the 100+ members of one of Connecticut's longest running artist guilds. Two large galleries host the exhibition and Marlene Mayes presents a solo show in a third gallery. The shows combine to provide a stunning array of paintings, drawings, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, fiber/beadwork and photography.

In “Nature Scape” Marlene Mayes attempts to capture the quiet moments in nature where one can feel the moisture of the woods in morning or the twilight chill of an oncoming snow. Her inspiration derives from her experience of seasonal challenges from spring preparation to final harvest in her garden, backyard woodlands or the 4H Farm. Nature has been her teacher. Mayes finds inspiration with the planting of spring bulbs, from an old stump along the road or a trail or pasture. Trees, foliage, and weather become part of her watercolors or acrylics.

Marlene pursued a career in teaching and educational administration. She was fortunate to obtain a position in “post-retirement” at the Institute for Living with the Grace Webb School. She participated in the University of Connecticut Master Gardener Program, which required 30 hours of fieldwork outreach. This lead to an assignment in the 4H Educational Program at Auerfarm. The demonstration gardens and the 124 acres for farmland, pastures and woodlands paths have been the major creative source for her paintings.

Gallery on the Green presents the Member/Guest Show and solo exhibits by Holly Hall and Mark Snyder

Canton, CT - Friday, May 24th through Sunday, June 23rd
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 25th 6:00-9:00 pm

The main floor of the gallery features newly created work by artist members and invited guest artists. Come see the creativity and talent of diverse local artists in an intimate and historical exhibition space. On view are prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, fiber and ceramics.
In her solo exhibit, “Breaking Free: Magical Moments Caught in Watercolor and Ceramics,” Holly Hall conveys the beauty she sees in outdoor scenes. Hall describes some of the images: “Sun melts a pattern of crossing twigs in the ice and warms the crest of a hill. In the next it hides behind opalescent clouds. Or two ducks crest through the snow where soft reflections waver on the ice as winter melts to spring. In another the promise of asters and butterflies is found in a bouquet or in the island breeze.”
In her career as an art teacher, Hall worked with students from kindergarten through college. As an undergraduate she focused on ceramics at the University of New Hampshire and concentrated on printmaking for her masters degree at Wesleyan University. Her work has been widely exhibited in venues across Connecticut including Lost Acres Vineyard in Granby and the West Hartford Art League where she received a prize in watercolor. She had a solo show at the Jerram Wine Tasting Room.

Mark Snyder’s solo show, “Old, New, Borrowed, Blue: Inspired by Iceland,” features work in various media including: letterpress printed collages, archival digital type and image prints, mixed media works and gouache paintings on paper. A frequent visitor to Iceland, Snyder finds inspiration from the island’s landscape, color, light and forms as well as the amazing inhabitants and the stories they share.
Snyder’s art work is in the collection of corporations, institutions, and many private individuals in the south and northeastern United States. His work has been published in regional, national and international publications. Snyder has a BFA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and MFA in Graphic Design from RISD. Since 1994 he has been a professor at Hartford Art School. He also runs a firm that creates design and marketing for non-profits in the arts. Clients include Hartford Stage, Hartford Art School/University of Hartford, Wadsworth Atheneum, Columbia Teachers College, The Hartt School and Trinity College. He has been awarded artist residencies in Two Rivers, Wisconsin; Columbus, Ohio; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and the Netherlands.
The opening reception for all three shows is Saturday, May 25th from 6:00-9:00 pm. The reception including refreshments is free, and the public is warmly invited.

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