Artists:

Catherine Ezell, Joanne M. Borstell, Library Art Committee Members, Winchester Artists Network, Lee Winslow Court, Mary Chugh, Norman Gautreau, Winchester Students, John McConnell, Susan P. Vrotsos.

January 2006. Catherine Ezell, Portraits of Authors

Combining a passion for literature and a passion for portraiture, Catherine Ezell relied on photos to render drawings of the faces of prominent writers for her "Portraits of Authors" exhibition at the Library. Her drawings, mostly monochrome, mostly pen and ink, capture the intellectual and artistic intensity reflected in their faces.

The exhibit is on display throughout the month of January during regular library hours.

The artist's website is: http://www.ezellportraits.com

February 2006. Joanne M. Borstell, Paintings

Artist's statement: After completing my formal studies, I worked full-time in the art field while learning more to improve my skills as a painter. My focus was mostly on watercolor painting in attempts to paint pictures that capture the beauty of natural forms, such as flowers, animals, and the human figure. Many styles are present in this exhibit and come from continual experimentation, life changes and growth. Most of the paintings shown are from the last ten years. Approximately twenty pictures are exhibited in acrylic paint and measure 8" x 10". Some still life and landscape paintings as well as representations of birds and various studies are presented to the viewer. I have fit and matted the pictures myself.

Studies in portraiture resulted in a show of 20 portraits at the Burlington Library, September, 2005, as well as many of the pictures in this exhibit.

Presently I am trying out new media such as print making and stitching and am trying to keep the ideas spontaneous.

I am grateful for the chance to live a creative life and thankful to the people who have helped me along the way. My involvement with art has brought me in directions I never would have dreamt of.

March 2006. COMMITTEE WORK: An exhibition of artwork by members of the Library Art Committee

Featuring works by Ann Bannister, Bob Hesse, Carolyn Latanison and Alexandra Richardson.

April 2006. Winchester Artists Network, "Color"

More than 25 local artists are represented by pieces in oil, watercolor, acrylic, photography, textile and wood. The subjects range from Wedge Pond to Kuala Lumpur, from an ice cream stand in Puebla to a door in San Gimignano. On display throughout the Library, the exhibit will be available for viewing through April 29 during regular library hours. The public is invited to a reception with the artists on Saturday, April 29 from 2 - 4:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room.

May 2006. Lee Winslow Court, Oil and Watercolor Paintings

Lee Winslow Court (1903-1992) was a highly talented and much honored New England artist who lived in Winchester and attended school here. He later attended the Massachusetts School of Art in Boston and majored in drawing and painting. His work is familiar in private and public collections and he won recognition awards locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Through the generosity of his daughter, Pat Bonnell, his oils and watercolors will be on exhibit through the month of May.

June 2006. Mary Chugh (1933-2005), A Gentle Eye: A Memorial Exhibition of Paintings

Mary's interest in painting started during a high school watercolor class. Her teacher encouraged Mary to paint and visit museums. She studied at The Museum School in Boston. Although painting was her first passion, Mary worked, traveled and took cooking lessons for quite some time. She always mentioned cooking as her second passion.

During the month of June, a memorial exhibition of paintings by Mary Chugh (1933-2005), "A Gentle Eye," will be on display throughout the Library. The public is cordially invited to attend a reception in the Meeting Room on Thursday, June 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Mary Chugh's interest in painting began in a high school watercolor class, and she continued her studies at The Museum School in Boston. Then, for many years, other interests and obligations occupied her time-she worked, traveled, and took cooking lessons. Upon moving to Winchester, she met many local artists and was inspired to start painting again. She saw the opportunity to fuse painting and food, depicting the wonderful shapes and passionate colors of fruits and vegetables.

Mary saw beauty and warmth in ordinary things and events of life, converting them into works of art. As she said, "Learning to observe shapes, colors, textures and the many moods of nature and transforming these observations to canvas is an ongoing process, both exciting and fulfilling." The exhibit includes street scenes from near and far, pears and turnips, pantries and cloisters.

Mary appreciated the richness and variety of Winchester arts community. She was a member of the Winchester Studio Guild as well as the Winchester Artists Network (WAN). From Guild members she received both inspiration and instruction and WAN provided her opportunities to exhibit her paintings in Winchester, both at the Library and at the annual Arts in August celebration.

She was also a member of the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, the Concord Art Association, the Reading Art Association, the Copley Society and the Manuscript Club of Boston, which met regularly at the Boston Public Library to read the writings of members.

A selection of her paintings is part of a permanent collection at Parmenter Community Care in Wayland, as well as private collections in the U.S., Quito, Ecuador and New Delhi, India.

July & August 2006. Norman Gautreau, Paintings of Historic Revere

Revere Beach, 1930

Norman Gautreau's artwork will be on display at the Winchester Public Library through August. Best known for his series of paintings of historic Revere Beach, the exhibit of his work is one of the events scheduled for WINCHESTER READS and its book for 2006, In Revere, In Those Days by Roland Merullo.

Norman Gautreau started drawing as a young boy, and one of his favorite pastimes was going to the movies after which he would sketch his favorite scenes from the big screen. At the age of 89, he is blind in one eye and suffers poor vision in the other, but he still spends much of his time painting by using magnifying glasses to overcome his disability.

His paintings have appeared on magazine covers, and they have been exhibited at the State House as well at colleges and galleries in the Boston area.

September & October 2006. Winchester Students, School's In

A Reception for the artists, parents, art teachers, Friends of Art, and the general public will be held in the Library Meeting Room Reception from 6-8 p.m. on September, 18.

The 8th Annual Show of Student Artwork is presented by the Winchester Friends of Art, a non-profit organization devoted to the appreciation and support of the K-12 Art programs in the Winchester Public Schools. Winchester is blessed with one of the finest art programs to be found in any school system. Students at all levels and in all programs are encouraged and have the opportunity to pursue an interest in the arts. An unmatched faculty inspires and guides them in developing imagination, expression, and their individual creative voices. These skills, developed through pursuit of art, endure and enrich all areas of life.

The Winchester Friends of Art is proud to showcase a glimpse of the student art, a small tribute to the dedication of the faculty, the support of the Town, and the crucial efforts of all the individuals and organizations who labor to ensure funding to continue this vital program. This show features the works of student artists from all grades and all of Winchester's Schools. Enjoy this sample and note how these young hands, informed by hearts and eyes and encouraged in their creativity can open new views and restore our sense of wonder. We are specially grateful to Frame Haven and Winchester Art and Frame for the generous donations of the professional skill, time, and materials needed to present these pieces, professionally framed, in a way which respects the creativity of the artists who created them.

November 2006. John McConnell, Atmospheres, Landscape Paintings

Sunset, Great Meadows

The public is invited to an opening reception in the Library Meeting Room on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

A practicing architect, Mr. McConnell has devoted himself to oil painting since 1990, specializing in traditional landscape painting. His paintings are representational and usually depict special qualities of light, atmosphere, or sky-moods in different seasons, often towards early morning or late in the day. He uses his art to investigate a natural world he finds charged with spiritual values. For him, the urge to create art starts with a perception of beauty in the presence of nature. This strong emotion then compels an attempt to create an image that can reawaken the same feeling, both for himself and for others.

John studied portrait painting with David Lowrey and landscape painting with Dennis Sheehan, both members of the Guild of Boston Artists. With the latter, he developed his love of late 19th century American “Brown School,” Luminist and Tonalist landscape painters, such as George Inness and Alexander Wyant.

In addition to his painting, John is a principal of McConnell+Partners Architects Inc in Boston, specializing in residential and small-scale institutional and commercial design. He is adjunct professor of American architectural history at Boston College, a lecturer in architectural history at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a Lecturer-in-residence for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Finally, he is a Director of the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester.

December 2006. Susan P. Vrotsos, Abstract Obsession

Painting on exhibit at the Library

The show Abstract Obsession is a collection of large and small paintings full of color, geometric shapes, references to nature and memories of travel. Susan Vrotsos paints in her home studio and also works as the Director of Sales and Rentals for Cambridge Art Association and as a gallery instructor at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Her professional career has included prizes at national exhibitions as well as exhibitions in the Boston area, Connecticut, New York City, France and Italy.

The most memorable exhibits for her have been as part of group shows concentrating on the environment, women's choices and creativity and the upcoming "Trauma and Tranquility", a four person exhibition planned for February, 2007, in Cambridge. She has also taught art in Boston, in her studio, and on trips she organized to scenic places including Italy, France and the American Southwest.

To see more of Susan Vrotsos's paintings and read her artist's statement, go to her website at http://www.susanvrotsos-artist.com