The new collaborative exhibition, “The Joys of Summer”, from the Easthampton Art Guild is now open at Easthampton City Hall located at 50 Payson Avenue. The exhibit presents a variety of summery scenes created in a multitude of materials including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel and mixed media. The Easthampton Art Guild showcases its talent with participating artists featuring Elizabeth Chase, Terry Faivre, Eleanor Herman, Debra Hughes, Nancy Nickerson, Lois Peirent, Nancy Perry, Joanne O’Leary, Marjorie Tauer, and Betty Schaffer. The exhibition is open to the public Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm until Sept 29.
The creation of the Easthampton Art Guild was inspired by art classes offered through the Enrichment Center of the Easthampton Council on Aging. The Guild began in 2006 with two goals: first, to provide local artists who are seniors the opportunity to create and share art; and second, to involve the community by bringing art to the community and the community to art. The first goal is met through opportunities to create art, to experience artists’ demonstrations, and to have several art exhibits thorough out the year. To meet the second goal, the guild has written and facilitated several grants. These projects, supported in part by the Local Arts Council, have arranged community visits to art museums in Boston and Hartford; provided artist demonstrations for the public; and created opportunities for high school students to experience our rich local art community through visits to local art studios and by having an art exhibit at Jean Pierre Pasche’s Elusie Gallery, where they also learned how to frame art. This last project continues as an Easthampton High School annual Spring Arts Festival. It involves continuing support from the Easthampton Learning Foundation, the dedication of the Easthampton High School arts departments, in particular Eileen Claveloux, and the continued support of Jean Pierre Pasche’s Elusie Gallery.