“Connectivity” – A National Juried Exhibition
Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street, Attleboro
June 15 – July 13, 2022
Summer Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 18th, 2:00-4:00pm
Eddie Bruckner’s painting, “Roy Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl” was selected for this national exhibition by juror, Craig Bloodgood, Contemporary Curator at the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA.
“Roy Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl” , Acrylic on Canvas, 30×30
May Artist of the Month
Meet Maria Babb
Maria Babb was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she first began to love the vibrant colors that are celebrated throughout her culture. She was always drawn to art but did not think it would become such a big part pf her life. Babb was president of her high school art club, but had no formal training as a child or young adult. She briefly thought about majoring in Commercial Art in college but practicality took over. She married right after college, and started a family as well as a successful career in banking. Needless to say, she did not have a lot of time to pursue art, but even then she used the time after her children were in bed for therapeutic crafting; “It was such a relief of tension and I have always been a night owl.
Babb had a very fulfilling career in commercial banking and then running business development for her bank. In 2012, she began having some memory issues and was finally diagnosed with a rare neurological disease (called CADASIL) for which there is no treatment or cure. When she was no longer able to work in banking, she turned to art to regain a voice; “Art allowed me to express myself in a different way. I immersed myself in it.” She first started taking watercolor classes with Sarah Alexander and Nan Rumpf, “an absolutely wonderful teacher.” She painted in watercolor for three to four years but was drawn to acrylic painting for its ability to provide the vibrant colors that were so important to her and reflective of her Puerto Rican heritage.
In 2016, Babb began studying with Leslie Graff of the Danforth Museum. “I learned a great deal from her.” She quickly became very proficient in her own eclectic style of painting: “I do a little bit of everything: landscapes, still life, flowers and figures. I tend to enjoy detailed realistic paintings the most, but I have tried some abstract painting.” In some of her recent works she mixes realism with abstraction very successfully. “I get so absorbed in the process. I often think Mozart must have felt this way as he composed.” Her compositions are absolutely stunning and she has won multiple awards for her distinctive and unique paintings.
Babb is an active and exhibiting member of the WSA, Arts Worcester, the Danforth Museum and the Attleboro Art Museum. She has a studio in her home and enjoys painting there-“It is my outlet.” Her growing family is another great love for this artist, who has two sons and now has two grandchildren. One of her most recent paintings captures one of her sons proposing to his fiancé. At the wedding of her other son, she presented the couple with a painting that was a collage of their favorite places and moments. She has also painted her granddaughter in a work that is cherished. Aside from passing her works onto family, Babb sells a great deal of her paintings on Facebook and at exhibits. She recently sold a sunflower painting at the Awakenings Show at the Webster Bank in Wellesley to benefit the Relief Fund for Ukraine. “The buyer purchased the piece for double the cost when she realized the cause.”
The WSA board of directors recently voted to award Joan Griswold and Suzanne Lingeman with Honorary Lifetime Memberships. Joan and Sue were nominated in recognition of their contributions that have helped to make the WSA what it is today, as well as their commitment to creating fine art.
About Joan Griswold…
Joan studied art at the University of Wooster in Ohio. Before moving to Wellesley, she taught art in the Philadelphia area, then managed a gallery in Chatham NJ, where she continued to study art, concentrating exclusively in watercolor. Joan and her husband Peter spent 8 years living in Latin America, where she managed an art gallery, taught painting classes, and at the same time, entered and won awards in many National and regional shows.
Upon her return to the Boston area, Joan exhibited with the Copley Society, New England Watercolor Society (where she is a Signature Member), Concord Art Association and galleries in Maine and on the Cape. Joan studied with Nicholas Reale, Tom Hill, Ruth Wynn and George Shedd, among others.
She joined the Wellesley Society of Artists in 1980, and continued to exhibit her award-winning watercolors. From the moment she joined the WSA, she also devoted her time to serving on the board, taking on any job that needed filling, from hospitality to new jury, to President. She was our treasurer for many years, keeping the WSA on the straight and narrow. She gave selflessly of her time and always fought for what was in the best interests of our organization. Joan and Peter now spend most of their time in Maine now, but her years of devotion to the WSA are immensely appreciated. Although Joan is no longer an active member of the WSA, her legacy remains.
About Suzanne Lingeman…
Sue has been a member of the WSA since 1977, and continues to exhibit her work with the WSA. Over the years, she has won numerous awards. She also has been on the board for many of those years, doing various jobs, and always has been the one working behind the scenes, ready to jump in to help with a show or act as an advisor. Sue’s spirit of generosity has been central to the WSA’s endurance and continued growth.
Sue studied at the Museum of fine Arts. She also studied with Irmgard Arvan, of Nantucket, George Dergalis, and Maris Platais, among others. She has exhibited with the WSA, Concord Art Association, Copley Society of Artists, and the Artists Association of Nantucket, where she is an Artist Life Member, having been active there for over 50 years.
Sue works in a variety of mediums, experimenting with techniques and subject matter. Sue says, “I enjoy experimenting with color and form to create a particular mood. By using complimentary color, light against dark and warm against cool, I try to create contrast and excitement. My subjects, medium and techniques vary widely as I find stimulation in exploring new directions”.
Don’t miss spring open studios…visit friends, brings friends and support the arts by visiting local open studios!
*WSA Member Participating
Gorse Mill Gallery 31 Thorpe Road, Needham, MA
Needham Open Studios 2022 Artists’ Exhibition
April 4, 2022 – May 15, 2022, Artists’ Reception: April 24, 2022 at 5 pm.
* Eddie Bruckner
Needham Open Studios, Saturday & Sunday, May 14th-15th, 2022: 11 am-4 pm
*Find Eddie Bruckner at Location #6: First Baptist Church, 858 Great Plain Ave, Needham
*Find Joan Onofrey at Location #4, 28 Maple Street, Needham
*Find Mark Richards at Location #9, 58 Falcon Street, Needham
*Find Naomi Wilsey at Location #4, 28 Maple Street, Needham
Newton Open Studios 2022 May 21 & 22, 11am to 5pm, indoor and outdoor locations
*Nan Rumpf at the New Art Center, 61 Washington Park
*Anna Rejoyce at the Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave.
Somerville Open Studios 2022, April 30 and May 1 and more
The WSA is happy to welcome Brian Wallenmeyer as a new exhibiting member. Classically trained as a musician and artist, Brian’s paintings are beautifully rendered. He creates a powerful still life through his thoughtful use of color. To see more of his work, visit his WSA artist page.
Welcome to the WSA Brian!
April Artist of the Month
Meet Nancy Present -VanBroekhoven
Artist Nancy Present-VanBroekhoven has been making dreams come true for a very long time and for many people. For over 40 years she was a social worker helping populations with special challenges. At the Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston, she worked with children, teens and adults to develop programs where they could come together for enriching activities: Music and Movement for Parents and their children, Karate for Children with Developmental Challenges were a few. “The parents might come up with ideas or I would see a need and I would make it happen.” When she decided to retire, she wanted to find another way to bring meaning to her days. “What gave me permission to pursue painting was that one of the boys with whom I had worked for many years started exhibiting his art and I would go to all of his shows. I saw not only what he put into his art, but also what he got out of sharing his work.”
Present-VanBroekhoven saw a notice about a watercolor class given by Sarah Alexander at Broadmoor. She called ahead to make sure that the class would not be too intimidating and was pleased to find a very supportive and talented group with whom she still paints. She credits both Alexander and Artist Nan Rumpf, “a gifted teacher,” for helping her to develop her voice as a watercolorist. When COVID hit, she and her peers began a Critique Group meeting weekly on Zoom for the last several years. She joined several organizations and has donated her time and talents to all of them: the WSA where she has been coordinating membership, the Needham Art Association where she coordinates the art work hung at the Center at the Heights (the Needham Senior Center). She also belongs to the Newton Watercolor Society and has been involved with the Dedham Art Association. Using know-how from her career, she spearheads events such as plein air painting outings and she takes advantage of learning opportunities that each group has to offer.
In the relatively short time she has been painting, Present-VanBroekhoven has participated in numerous group shows including WSA, Dedham Art, and NAA Exhibits as well as group shows sponsored through the Natick Public Library, Grace Chapel in Lexington and the 5 Star Show in Watertown, A taste of Wellesley at Elm Bank. In addition to group shows, Present-Van Broekhoven has hosted private or semi private shows at the Wellesley Public library with Yvonne Unger, shows at Broadmoor Sanctuary, and Christ Episcopal Church . In December she will be having another show at the Wellesley Public library with Mi Herzog. In keeping with this artist’s spirit of giving, many of these shows have supported charities. At Christ Episcopal Church, artists are asked to choose a charity close to their heart and Present-VanBroekhoven chose to support Silent Spring, which researches environmental causes of breast cancer.
When travelling with her husband, Present-VanBroekhoven paints endemic scenes and wildlife; “when we were in Florida, I painted pelicans; in Scotland I painted highland cows; in New Zealand I paint water scapes. Watercolors are easy to pack and very portable so I always have them with me.” She also enjoys capturing special family events in her artwork to share with loved ones. She loves that her art can be enjoyed by others and admits “my daughter has taken most of my favorite pieces.” She now has four grandchildren with whom she shares the gift of art.
“I am inspired by all the artists in my local organizations,” says Present-VanBroekhoven. She is also inspired by nature and loves painting animals, especially birds. Her paintings are lovely reminders of the places she has been. “Art gives me a sense of time and place; my personal art reminds me of the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met and the things I’ve done.”
Notes from an Artist in Residence, February 28 through March 12, 2022 at the Truro Center for the Arts at Edgewood Farm from Mark Richards.
From a young age Mark J. Richards learned to paint from a plein air realist and impressionistic tradition. Being a Truro Artist in Residence allowed uninterrupted time to create and practice these skills.
Each day Richards was able to explore draw and paint. This is a brief record of his time in Truro.
The blue of the Atlantic Ocean is a breath of fresh air and was his first sojourn after arriving. Richards was able to create the first beach scenes in oil in preparation for the large canvas he had brought with him.
Balston Beach was where in 1991 the Atlantic Ocean breached the Cape. That breach through the dune barrier made Provincetown a temporary island. This has happened previously in geologic history and the Pamet River and The Little Pamet are remnants of this history.
The light was beautiful the wind fierce. Ukraine had been invaded a few days previously. The Pitch Pine creatures attracted Mark’s attention immediately. A blue and gold statement. Color as a political statement.
The Pamets offer long meandering walks over giant dunes covered with flag worn defiant physiognomies of Pitch Pine and Scrub-Oak. Forests that defy the winds. Twisted Birch and Alder crowd the marshes before giving way to cat tails and marsh grasses. The occasional crackled bark of Plum trees limbs are broken from the direct assault of winter storms.
Nothing man made lasts. Only change persists.
In sketches and drawings the stroke of his pen addresses some of these ideas: jagged, sharp, graphic and dark enduring strokes. Like the scarf of the dunes etched constantly by surf.
Thanks to Goya for personal guidance in drawing and expressing emotions.
Thanks to Marsden Hartley for writing Cleophas and His Own, A North Atlantic Tragedy.
The WSA is happy to welcome new exhibiting member Andrea Rex. She is a painter and printmaker that brings her observations to life in a powerful and unexpected way. To see more of Andrea’s work, visit her WSA artist page.
Welcome to the WSA Andrea!
March Artist of the Month
Meet Margie Michals
From the time she was a young girl, Michals was exposed to the arts. She grew up with her family in North Cambridge, Massachusetts in a neighborhood built with culture, an inspiration for a budding artist. She lived amongst a calligrapher, photographer, sculptor, writer and an entertainment lawyer. On Sundays one of her neighbors would open his windows and play piano for everyone to hear. Bob Slate Stationer, where her older brother worked, was at the top of the street; for Michals this was the equivalent of a candy shop where she could buy her art supplies. Whenever she was tasked with sitting still, she used her new purchases with excitement.
Michals always dreamt of being an artist but, at that time, thought that meant a “starving artist” struggling to get jobs. She took her parent’s advice and started her liberal arts education at U Mass Boston. She eventually left U Mass to become a certified dental assistant at Tufts University. While working full time as dental assistant Michals attended evening classes at Northeastern taking chemistry class for her entrance into the Forsythe Dental School (located next door to the Museum of Fine Arts!) and a graphic design course. She still had hopes of finding her way into the Arts. She eventually switched directions and attained her degree in Interior Design while still working full time. She learned perspective drawing and fell in love with creating renderings. When her boss retired, she took the leap and worked at the Boston Design Center as an art assistant for the Diana Levine Fine Arts Gallery.
Michals and her husband began their family and, during this period of her life, she still had the passion to learn creatively so took photography courses at New England Photography School. She used her photography and graphic design skills for the family hockey business. As she used social media to promote the business, she decided to start her own social media page on Instagram and created Small Cup Designs intended as a fun way to share Interior Design photos while decorating their new home. She had two very unexpected experiences. Gail Davis, an Interior Designer in New Jersey reached out to Michals to do a house portrait of Grace’s House for a Charitable Show to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Foundation in honor of Grace, a brain cancer survivor. She was featured in the article “How 21 Interior Designers Rallied Around a Young Girl with Cancer” in House Beautiful Magazine in April 2019. Next, Interior Designer Ana Vera of Newton contacted Michals to donate her paintings to the “One Room Challenge” featured in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.
Michals charitable work has brought her many gifts. “I really believe that when you give you receive.” With all this interesting publicity, Michals gained the confidence to do more marketing of her own work, but also gives back by supporting women artists everywhere to promote themselves. “You’re never too old to start!” Her work is now shown at local stores and she began creating an online shop at Margie MArtwork which is growing every day. Her latest trend is putting her whimsical artwork on everyday items, such as handbags, stationery and décor. Michals continues to educate herself by taking business course and hopes to create a workshop for other artists to share her marketing skills and to help others make their work profitable. She is an exhibiting member artist of the Wellesley Society of Artists and associate member of the New England Watercolor Society.
As far as her brilliant watercolor painting, Michals has developed her own style of painting and listens to her heart when she paints. She is inspired by animals, nature, architecture and her surroundings to create pieces that will bring a smile to the viewer’s face. “I don’t always follow the rules-I think they can sometimes restrict our creativity. I practice every day and I do what brings me joy….I love when this brings joy to others as well. When I create art, that little girl in me comes out. I have always wanted to create art and connect with people and I am able to do both.”
Michal’s greatest desire is to create a promising future for her children. She hopes that they learn from her to “always start your day with a positive mindset, have faith, never give up and do what makes you happy. Dreams are possible!”
WSA member Michelle Lavallée’s paintings have been included two recent European exhibitions.