The diversity of local talent able to produce outstanding works of art in a vast variety of mediums is, in a word, stunning. That reality was on full display at the Rochester Council on Aging, as the members held their first Beachside Art Show on August 24.
Although not a juried exhibit, attendees could vote for their favorite art with three winners announced at the closing of the event. Not only did the artists come out in numbers, the types of artwork spanned fine art to crafts, all executed to perfection.
We were stopped in our tracks by the precision work displayed in wooden pieces crafted by Bob Francis, a carpenter most of his life, he shared, with finish carpentry being his foray. Francis exhibited a serving tray, a serving bowl and a vase, demonstrating the exactitude needed in wood selection and placement to achieve three-dimensional patterns. His entry came in third place.
Bee Bettencourt brought her appliqued quilt. A snow-white field with appliqued quilt stitching over which she patterned a sea of florals. She said it took her two years to complete the enormous quilt and that she had two others in various stages of construction. A labor of love indeed. Bettencourt was awarded second place.
Lynette Torres is a graduate of Vesper George School of Art in Boston. Her still life of a wreath demonstrates her highly honed talent for realistic depiction. She commented in her artist statement that she enjoys working in pen and ink as well as pastel and watercolor. Now that her family is grown, she can fully immerse her energy into what she loves – creating art. Torres tied for first place with Betty Beaulieu.
Beaulieu has been painting “representational” style works of art for many years, primarily in that unforgiving medium of watercolor. Her stated themes are Rochester’s countryside, pastural spaces, homes and barns and images with historical reference to the community.
The festive, evening event was well attended and fun with decorations featuring a beach theme, and there were plenty of hors d’oeuvres and beverages, primarily of the tame type.
Other artists present and happy to discuss their individual artistic pursuits were Jane Egan – she’ll be noted again in this article – Helen Johnson, Doreen Grover, Betty Devincent, Bunny Mogilnicki, Jeri Howland, Wayne Therrien, Millie Morrison, Barbara Allen, Julia Victorino, Sheila Martin, Janet Smith-Flaherty, David Morrison and Theresa Laspesa.
And yet there was still more ripe art to harvest!
Over at the Marion Council on Aging, a show titled Three Friends was simply gorgeous (closing as of August 30.) This show featured the creative work done by long time friends and artists Jane (Fitzgerald) Egan (who seems to have been everywhere this season), Charles “Chas” Wood and Jennifer Cipriano.
Wood brought out his whimsical carousel horses, owl and landscape works. Of the carousel horses, he said he has traveled around the northeast taking photographs of carousel horses and giving them a life of their own. The paintings included horses once spinning, young and old alike at Lincoln Park.
Cipriano, who has been friends with Egan for some 40 years, said that today painting gives her a meditative outlet, that when she is painting everything else going on in her life melts away, and she is free to create. Beauty we might add is the byproduct.
As for Egan, her beachside pastels speak to the variety of inspirational scenes that ignite her imagination. Although not really part of her exhibited pieces, we found her orangutan delightful in its realism and playful appeal.
Want to stay tuned for more arts and crafts? Follow local councils of aging on Facebook or read their newsletters. Better yet, just pop in and find out what’s going on. There’s always something that can bring a bit of joy into your life.
By Marilou Newell