WESTERLY John Craig, Janet Maher and the Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly are the featured artists in this month’s show “Environment Between Sea & Sky.”
Helen Roy, the gallery’s curator, stated that the show will include “a vibrant variety of work” by its juried artists. “Art lovers will be able to view tranquil seascapes, peaceful winter scenes, handcrafted artisan wood tables, photographs of New England during the calm season, and multicolored earrings and necklaces.
Roy said that the fine art collection includes an extensive selection of oils and watercolors, acrylics and cold wax, as well as oil and cold wax, and oil.
Roy stated that the gallery has celebrated its 30th anniversary of being a cooperative gallery.
Roy stated, “The stunning Rhode Island and Connecticut coastlines offer the perfect subjects year round for artists.”
“This is the perfect season to enjoy the quiet magic of Winter,” she stated. “Art lovers are invited visit the Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly to discover what artists love most about February’s show.”
Roy stated that Craig started painting later in life after a long career working in the “highly structured and regulated world” of finance.
Roy says Craig “found painting and broke freedom.”
He uses acrylic, oil on paper, panel, and canvas as his media and tools. She also added that fanciful digital photography is used to explore the emotion range in abstract art.
Roy said that his themes ranged from “dystopian visionscapes to classic abstraction expressionism to colorful still lifes.” His style is simple, unfiltered, and sometimes surprising. Craig has participated at group shows in New Jersey and Connecticut, and was the 2021 resident painter at Stonington Vineyards.
Roy stated that Mahers concerns about the planet led her to work with materials that aren’t inherently valuable or clearly beautiful.
Maher said that she creates spontaneously, or through multiple steps. Sometimes, Maher also uses collage. “I try to create a cohesive conclusion that pleases my own eye, and I hope it will be interesting to others.”
Maher stated that art is a multilayered building process. He suggested that it requires slowing down and paying more attention to details. It also serves as meditation.
Maher has been working on a mixed media series called “Prayers for the Earth” since moving to Rhode Island about a year ago. Roy explained that the series includes “her handmade paper and work in Photoshop, archival printing, archival inkjet printing, colored pencils, and images from nature.”
Maher said, “Continuing making art in this time such intense human suffering and environmental suffering is my prayer for a better tomorrow while I continue my lifelong habit of living and working simply, sustainably in the moment.”
Friday will see the exhibit open. The opening night reception is scheduled for 5-8 p.m., and guests are encouraged to wear red.
Roy pointed out that the opening coincides with “National Wear Red Day” and that, since February is American Heart Month the gallery wanted to participate in this event “in order raise awareness in hopes to help eradicate heart disease and stroke among millions of women across the country.”
Roy stated, “Everyone who attends First Friday Opening will be able to choose one of a variety of red items made by member artists in keeping with the ‘WearRED’ theme.”
Nancy Burns Fusaro
