The Marion Art Center is pleased to present its newest exhibition, the Pastel Paintings of Janet Schwartz & Dave Kaphammer, which features two artists working in pastels. The exhibit runs April 5 through May 16 with an artists’ reception on Saturday, April 5 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the MAC, located at 80 Pleasant Street, Marion.
Although trained as an art teacher, Janet Schwartz initially put off her artistic interests to pursue a corporate career. During her lengthy work commutes, she was inspired by the energy and chaos of highway lights and reflections and began painting in earnest in her free time. In 2021, she traded in her corporate career for a full life of painting and teaching painting – and she hasn’t turned back.
Schwartz is a pastel artist but also enjoys working in oils and charcoal drawings. She is a Master Circle Member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), a Copley Artist with the Copley Society of Art, a juried member of the Rockport Art Association and the North Shore Art Association; a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA) and Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod (PPSCC) where she has actively served on the board for six years. Her work is represented at the Sidoti Gallery of Fine Art in Rockport, MA and she exhibits at the Copley Society of Art, the Concord Art Association, Rockport Art Association and Museum, the North Shore Art Association, the Salmagundi Club in NY and other New England locations
Strong light and cast shadows can make the most ordinary scenes appear magical in the works of Dave Kaphammer. He is inspired by late afternoon light breaking through trees, reflecting off water, or falling across an old tractor, casting interesting shadow shapes. Recently his interest has expanded to the old New England architecture in his neighborhood.
Kaphammer has been painting in pastel for about 20 years – starting from taking weekly classes, then setting up a home studio and painting several times a week, and eventually teaching regular classes and workshops for over seven years. He also works full time as an engineer for Bose. Dave Says “Exercising my artistic passion makes the engineering be more creative, while time spent working and commuting definitely fuels my hunger for making art.”
Kaphammer is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod (PPSCC), a Master Circle member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), and an Artist member of the Copley Society of Art, the Rockport Art Association, and the North Shore Art Association. He has won numerous awards in national and international juried shows.
More information on the exhibit can be found at marionartcenter.org/on-exhibit.