Giving Thanks

The Wellesley Society of Artists would like to recognize the following people, organizations and businesses that have helped us promote the visual arts and artists in our community this past year. They have all provided immeasurable support and we owe them a debt of gratitude for helping us to make art a part of our lives. Their help and generosity ensures that the arts continue to bring us together. 

Wellesley Free Library – Jamie Jurgensen and Cara Rothman

Swellesley Report – Bob and Deborah Brown

Paul Falcone

Wellesley Media

Wellesley High School Art Department-Thom Carter and Brian Reddy

Carl Nelson

Wellesley Celebrations Committee

Wellesley Historical Society – Taylor Kalloch and Peter Mongeau

Page Waterman Gallery and Framing – Sturdy Waterman and Ryan Black

Wellesley Weston Magazine

Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank

Wellesley Rotary Club

Paul Simard

Friends of Wellesley Veterans

Lucy Davis at MarketNext Communications

Wellesley Cultural Council / Massachusetts Cultural Council

Beth Sullivan Woods

Gallery Twist

Zullo Gallery

Massachusetts Audubon Society – Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Windsor Press – Tory De Fazio

A very special thanks to all the WSA members who volunteered to support the activities and efforts of the WSA, and to those who donated their artwork for events that helped to support needs and organizations in our community.

“A Taste of Wellesley” sponsored by the Wellesley Rotary Club to raise money for food insecurity in the community was held in May at Elm Bank. WSA artists donated paintings for auction that raised over $2,000. Many thanks to Samantha Eio, Annie Newman, Yale Nicolls, Judy Noonan, Anna Papok, Yvonne Posa, Nancy Present Van Broekhoven, Brenda Rangel, Mark Richards, Robert Savage, Bobbie Suratt, Nancy Treves, and Brian Wallenmeyer.

The “Paint the Town” plein air event and auction co sponsored by the Page Waterman Gallery and Framing and Friends of Wellesley Veterans was a first time event for the WSA. This auction raised over $5000 for Friends of Wellesley Veterans and the artists. Enormous thanks to artists Bev Barnard, Ryan Black (not WSA member) Joanna Dole, Catherine Gruetzke-Blais, Mi Herzog, Janet Montecalvo, Nancy Present Van Broekhoven, Mark Richards, Peg Runcie (not WSA member), Robert Savage, and Nancy Treves.

WSA’s “Celebrating 90 Years of Art and the Next Generation of Artists” Show and Sale to benefit the WSA’s Wellesley High School Art Achievement Award. Many thanks to the over 30 member artists who particpated, and a special thank you to Dayle Bodnar, Margot Hurley, Nancy Treves and Brian Wallenmeyer whose paintings were sold and contributed to funding this award.

Frederick “Fritz” Kubitz WSA member donated a painting for the Wonderful Wellesley Weekend auction on behalf of the WSA and another one to benefit the WSA Art Achievement Award.

Be sure to go and see the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s “Festival of Trees” which is open November 24-December 30 at Elm Bank. Tickets are NOT sold on site. Get your tickets online. The WSA’s tree “Artistic Treasures” coordinated by Dottie Laughlin and decorated with ornaments painted by member artists: Dottie Laughlin, Dayle Bodnar, Yale Nicolls, Deborah Friedman, Felicia Tuttle, Barbara Littlefield, Mary Forte Hayes, Nancy Treves, Janet Montecalvo, Joan Onofrey, Bobbie Suratt, Samantha Eio, Jodi Traub, Nan Daly, Katherine Fast, Nancy Present Van Broekhoven, Yvonne Posa, Bob Glowacky, Margie Michals, Andrea Rex, Robert Savage, Lucy Sur, Nan Rumpf and Janice Savery.

Thank you all for sharing your time and talent!

Best Wishes for a

Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

 

WSA Welcomes New Exhibiting Member Nelson Hammer

The WSA is happy to welcome new exhibiting member Nelson Hammer. Self taught, Nelson rediscovered his love and talent for painting less than a decade ago. He was drawn to the lure of nature, particularly birds, but has recently expanded his subject matter to include landscapes. Nelson’s  highly rendered watercolors, capture the intricate patterns of nature and the subject at hand. To see more of Nelson’s paintings, visit his WSA artist page.

Welcome to the WSA Nelson!

Food for Thought-Using the Visual Arts to Help Train Physicians and Healthcare Workers

For most artists and art lovers the impact of art is well known. That knowledge is now being tapped in healthcare to help both healthcare workers and patients alike. The Center for Visual Arts in Healthcare at Brigham & Women’s Hospital  focuses on visual arts education for healthcare workers and is the first of its kind within the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. The Center, based in the Department of Medicine at BWH, trains healthcare workers using visual arts methods that build essential skills of a humanistic provider, including empathy, teamwork, respect, curiosity, and cultural responsiveness. Learn more about this amazing program.

Don’t Miss the Cow Parade!

What is CowParade? A public art event for people of all ages and backgrounds, featuring life-size cow sculptures, which are painted and transformed by local artists, displayed in pastures throughout cities for residents and tourists to visit, and sold for the benefit of local nonprofit organizations.CowParade New England presented by Herb Chambers includes 75 life-size cows, designed by a range of artists throughout New England, to high trafficked landmarks throughout Greater Boston to celebrate 75 years of progress and impact made possible by the Jimmy Fund community. All proceeds directly benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s efforts to defy cancer.
 
 
WSA member, Lori Mehta (pictured above) is one of the participating artists. Lori’s cow, “Undercover Cow” stands proudly in front of the Copley Society of Art on Newbury Street. Congratulations Lori on this stunning work of art. “Undercover Cow” has already SOLD!

Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Recap

After several months of planning the WSA’s 90th Anniversary Celebration took place during the Wellesley Wonderful Weekend at the end of May. Despite the heavy rain on Saturday which forced the cancellation of a couple of events, all of the events were salvaged.  It was a big disappointment that the show at Simons Park was cancelled, but an unexpected opening in the Wakelin Room at the Wellesley Free Library for the summer is the perfect place to share the “Celebrating 90 Years of Art and the Next Generation of Artists” show. The show/sale is also online until September 7. Voting for the People’s Choice Award (online) will continue through the summer.

Celebrating 90 Years of Art and the Next Generation of Artists

Everyone loves a parade and the 55th Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade was no different. The WSA was a parade honoree and as such was given a special car complete with signage and candy to throw along the route. Our parade volunteers Kristin Conant (who carried her father’s military uniform in her backpack), Donna Ticchi, Nancy Treves, Yvonne Unger and Nancy Present Van Broekhoven represented the WSA. 

 

The plein air painting took place throughout the weekend with nine WSA members participating as well as  three non members. Despite Saturday’s afternoon downpours, everyone found time to paint and capture some iconic scenes in Wellesley Square. The charity auction of the paintings  at the Page Waterman Gallery several days later proved to be a lot of fun. Even as many paintings were still wet, the attendees enthusiastically bid with the help of the fabulous auctioneers Dan Lothian (Former CNN White House Correspondent) and Blake Lothian (NASCAR Driver) , and Bob and Deborah Brown (Swellesley Report). An enormous thanks to everyone who made the first “Paint the Town” event a great success.

And finally, the weather really delivered for the town picnic on Sunday evening.  Bob and Diane Savage ensured the WSA was well represented for the town picnic on Sunday evening. A debt of gratitude is owed to both Bob and his wife Diane for setting up the WSA table and manning it and chatting with prospective members. The WSA history was on full display along with a few paintings of current members. 

Food for Thought…”Your Brain on Art”

Susan Magsamen, Executive Director, International Arts + Mind Lab, Pedersen Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, co-authored with Ivy Ross, the recently published book “Your Brain on Art” based on their research. Magsamen has spearheaded a transformative movement to bring the arts to communities and institutions in the hopes of strengthening our well being. Learn more.

Some more news to explore…

“Drawing, making music and writing poetry can support healing and bring more humanity to health care in US hospitals”

How a blend of science and art is improving neurological health