The Marion Art Center, located at 80 Pleasant Street, Marion, MA 02738 is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition of photographs by Neil Alexander entitled “Portraits” on Friday evening, March 9, 2012 from 6:00 – 8:00PM. The exhibition will be in the Cecil Clark Davis Gallery and runs through April 24th. Mr. Alexander’s photographs are exciting and colorful portraits of children and adults depicted in their everyday life as well as special occasions.
Neil Alexander is a commercial and fine art photographer as well as a documentary filmmaker for over 25 years. His architecture, portrait and food photography has appeared in museum exhibits, books and publications. His award winning films have aired on public television and in festivals, most recently on the National Geographic Channel. In 2006 he was asked to contribute his film, An Eye in the Storm and photographs of Hurricane Katrina to the United States pavilion at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy.
Since September 2005 Neil and his family have resided on the South Coast following the events of Hurricane Katrina. They chose to stay in Massachusetts for the education opportunities presented to their son Calder who had just began his freshman High school year when the storm hit New Orleans.
Neil shares studio space with his wife Nancy at 88 Hatch Street in New Bedford and is a founding member of Gallery 65 on historic William Street in downtown New Bedford.
He is currently working on his latest documentary film Finding Thuy, the extraordinary story about the return of two diaries of a young Vietnamese doctor killed in 1970, that were returned to her mother and sisters in Ha Noi 35 years later by the American soldier who cared for them. www.findingthuy.com.
In 2010 Neil had his first Massachusetts solo exhibition of photographs at New Bedford Museum of Art: Landscapes of Louisiana and the Commonwealth 2005-2010. He continues to work with design professionals in architecture, interior, landscape and urban planning. When not photographing buildings Neil pursues wedding and portrait photography assignments.
In conjunction with Youth Art Month, the art students at Sippican Elementary School, under the supervision of their art teacher, Erin Kirk, will exhibit works also entitled “Portraits”. Mrs. Kirk has assembled a collection of portraits done by the children which includes several works from each grade level and represents various mediums, including sculptures, all of which will be on exhibit in the Patsy Francis Gallery from March 9th until April 24th. There will be a special opening reception for the students and their parents on Friday, March 9th from 3:30 to 5:30.
The main focus of the Art Program at Sippican Elementary School is the production, or making, of art. Most of the projects are introduced with an art history or appreciation lesson in which the students view and discuss the art of a selected period, culture, or artist.
The Sippican Art program emphasizes that learning to be an artist is much like learning a sport. With patience, persistence, practice, problem solving, and a positive approach, every student has the ability to create beautiful and meaningful art.
Photograph by Neil Alexander