Opening Reception – Pennies from Heaven

The exhibit, “Pennies from Heaven”, opened at the Sargent and Hartson Galleries of the Newburyport Art Association this past Saturday.  The galleries are located at 65 Water Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts.  978-876-4659.  http://www.newburyportart.org/pdfs/CFEpennies.pdf

The opening reception was well attended by artists, guests, and members of the Board of Directors.  The reception was well-presented with lavish hors d’oeuvres, wine, and live music; even the “wait staff” – volunteers and staff of the Art Association – possessed an air of elegance.  The atmosphere was friendly and upbeat as one would expect with such a bright theme for the exhibit.  Guests are welcome to vote for their favorite work and to enter their guess at the number of pennies in a glass vase for a prize at Jabberwocky Bookshop(http://jabberwocky.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp).

I had the pleasure of attending as both artist and photographer.  I had animated and engaging discussions with Jeff Patulak (Treasurer), Robert Pyle (Photographer and Boardmember), and Carol Reynolds, among others.  Carol is the “face’ of the Newburyport Art Association as the Gallery Director.  Professional in all she touches, she is tireless in her efforts to promote an active, dynamic art gallery.  I was impressed with their collective commitment to visual art and to the gallery as an entity. 

The show runs to May 17, 2008.

 

After Action – Newburyport Literary Festival 2008

New York Times bestselling author Cheryl Richardson at her book-signing during the Newburyport Literary Festival

Volunteering [photographing] at the Newburport Literary Festival was as much fun as I can remember having in photography!  I found the whole experience incredibly fun and stimulating: meeting other photographers and volunteers who want to “give back”, listening to reknowned authors, discovering a new pulse of dynamic photography that is unique from my usual solitude in shooting fine art waterscapes and landscapes.  There was so much energy surrounding the events and in the community!  I never knew that Newburyport, a quaint tourist community along the Merrimack River north of Boston, was such a literary center.   Read more at http://nbptlitfest2.wordpress.com/another-successful-festival/

For anyone looking to give back to their Art, I highly recommend volunteering at this event.   The festival is extraordinarily well planned; for volunteers even the “small things” are thought of…nametags, free coffee from Starbucks, publicity for the photographers.  Many thanks to Christine McGarry (www.reflectionsbymcgarry.com) for coordinating the photography.  She did a GREAT job of organization!