Painting by Shawn Pelech

Visit Shawn's website to see more of her work.

Shawn Pelech Open Studio

An Art Collaboration

Don't miss the show titled: "Bending Perception - Exploration & Transition" at the Gafney Libray, 14 High Street, Wakefield, New Hampshire. Works by Art Group members Peggy Brewster and Peter Abate are on display from October 30th through November 30th, 2009.

The artists' reception is scheduled for Saturday November 14th from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm.

Regular library hours are: Tuesday & Thursday from 1:00 - 7:30 pm; Wednesday & Friday from 10:00 am - noon; Saturday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Anita Muise is Featured Collage Artist

Anita Muise (known in the collage world as AnitaNH) tells all about the evolution of her mixed media art and her weblog that features it, AnitaNH: Collage and Life, in an interview by Marty Weil.

Read it on Ephemera: Exploring the World of Old Paper.

Shown above is Zinc Pennies, one of a new series of collages on watercolor paper utilizing vintage newspaper photos from from the 1940's.

Ken Eason at the Gafney

The abstract art of Ken Eason is on display this month at the Gafney Library on High Street in Sanbornville, New Hampshire. Library hours are: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 pm to 7:30 pm; Wednesday and Friday 10:00 am to 12:00 noon; Saturday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Lilac Photo Contest Winner

Mikel O'Brien won 11th place in the Governor's Lilac & Wildflower Commission 2009 Lilac Photo Contest. Her photo was selected out of over 800 entries. All of the winners have been posted to the State of New Hampshire's official site in a lilac photo slide show.

Mikel reports: "My winning photo was taken in the Wakefield Historic District on a lovely Sunday morning in May of this year. The lilacs, New Hampshire's State Flower, were outstanding this year and were a joy to photograph. I feel honored to have had my photograph chosen."

Mikel's photo depicts the property of Art Group member Chris Bozuwa.

Reception Report by Peter Abate

The reception at Willowbrook was well attended and there was plenty of good food, beer and wine and other beverages. All refreshments were donated by the museum and the artists...thank you, thank you, thank you. I would say there were about 30 to 40 people who came out to the museum to enjoy the evening, visit the carousel and exhibits and then socialize. Thanks to musician/singer Pat O'Brien for playing the piano for a while. There were a total of 137 ballots sold and possibly up to 9 pieces of art sold. We may have raised over $400.00 for the Durgin Barn Fundraiser!

Six artists received honors and were selected by the museum visitors over the summer as the favorites. Here are the results:

Best of Show: Beverly Grant for her oil painting "Nutes" (above).

2nd Place: Norman Royle for his acrylic painting "Early Morning" (above).

3rd Place: Eleanor Smith for her watercolor painting "Is This a Handicap Ramp" (above).

Honorable Mention 1: Mary Ann Kennedy for her watercolor painting "Lupine" (no photo available).

Honorable Mention 2: Peggy Brewster for her photograph "Old Tobacco Farm" (above).

Honorable Mention 3: Wendy Jones for her acrylic painting "Dad's Barn" (no photo available).

Thanks again to Amelia and her staff. Thanks also to the museum for the generous gifts for the winning artists.