Ever wonder how the Artisans Festival began, what they were like in the early days, and even, perhaps, where they are headed? Well, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., Andrea Rogers, the maestro behind what has become a Vineyard institution (and an impressive broom maker too) is giving a talk at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.
The library knows how to treat its visitors too; refreshments will be served following the talk.
There is a new gallery in town, one where you can build your muscle mass or rack up some aces while enjoying the aesthetic pleasures of Island photographers.
The gallery is located at the Vineyard Tennis Workout and Spa, on Airport Road in Edgartown. Serving up the first show is photographer Alida O’Loughlin. There will be an opening reception held on Friday, Feb. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Ms. O’Loughlin is also the gallery coordinator and interested photographers should call her at 508-693-1823.
Renaissance House, a retreat for artists and writers in Oak Bluffs, is accepting applications for its 11th year of operation.
Renaissance House is sponsored by the Helene Johnson and Dorothy West Foundation for artists in need. Both women were writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Ms. Johnson died in 1995 and Ms. West in 1998.
The program is from June to October in Oak Bluffs. A resident can stay for one or two weeks.
The West Tisbury Library will be having an exhibition spanning the month of March of Island artist Wilfrid, Willie, Huntington.
Willie’s career started in the 1920’s and his work spanned six decades and included drawings, lithographs, illustrations, dry points, etchings, oils and watercolors.
The work shown at the library is a sample of his drawings and prints, including his final dry point, Chickadees and Holly.
Al Hurwitz is a world-renowned art educator. He has won numerous awards including a National Art Educator award, a Sir Herbert Read award from the International Society for Education through Art and, most recently, the Eisner Lifetime Achievement Award. He also holds the Chair Emeritus of the Center for Art Education at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and has written the classic art book, Children and Their Art: Methods for the Elementary School with Michael Daly.
Last Sunday at Featherstone Center for the Arts, visitors watched a claymation video where two balls of clay magically morphed into dancers performing a quiet waltz before finally collapsing into each others arms. It was a mere minute-long clip, but the human emotion resonated long after.
The film was part of a photography and multimedia reception for Truda Silberstein, a senior at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.
The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are presenting an exhibit of paintings by Brazilian artist Bella, also known for her work as a musician, singer, songwriter, playwright, and puppeteer. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours through Feb. 4.
Photographer David Welch is the featured artist for the month of March at the Vineyard Haven Public Library’s Art of the Stacks series.
Mr. Welch is an Island native whose work explores social issues using large-format photography steeped in conceptual influences from art history and economic theory. In 2011 he was selected as one of Photolucida’s Critical Mass top 50 photographers. He is also a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned an MFA in photography.
