Artists:

Sachicko Furui, Winchester Artists' Network, Children in theYekaterinburg, Siberian School of Art, Winchester Public Schools Students, Maggie Hsu (W.W. King)

January 2008. Sachicko Furui, Recent Works.

KOTO has a rectangular sound box that is a flat on the bottom with a gently arched top. It is six feet long, ten inches wide and three inches deep. Koto is made out of Kiri wood (pauwlonia imperialis), which grows in Japan. The thirteen strings, which stretch the length of the koto, are suspended on two and one-half inch bridges, which are moved to the right, or to the left to raise or lower the pitch of a particular string. Koto is a long zither and is played by plucking the strings with three fingers of the right hand wearing ivory finger picks. Instrument similar to koto have been played in Japan as far back as recorded history. Yamada School koto music flourished during the Tokugawa period (1600-1868).   Texts are drawn from ancient and modern poetry and literature including such works as Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji) and the Kokin Waka Shu (a tenth century collection of poetry).

Ayakano Cathleen Read holds the urayurushi, nakayurushi, and okuyurushi certificates of performance ability. In 1974 she became the first non-Japanese to join the musician guild of Nakanoshima Kin’ichi. Ayakano performed widely in U.S, Japan, and Africa at museum, Universities, and concert halls, on a radio and TV.

Sachiko Furui has been studying Koto with Ayakano for 6 years now on top of Art which are displayed in Winchester Library in December.

This exhibit of her recent work is made up of collage and woodcut pieces. A number of the woodcuts are from Ms. Furui’s “life project,” 100 Views of America, of which she says, “I wish to enable the viewer to enjoy the beauty of the American landscape through the eyes of a Japanese artist now living in the United States.”

More information available at www.sachikof.com

February 2008. No Exhibition.

March 2008. Winchester Artists' Network,Visions

While the groundhog was seeing his shadow, Winchester artists were creating their “Visions” to share with the community during March. The Winchester Artists Network will feature the works of over 30 Winchester artists in its annual show at the Winchester Public Library.  The exhibit includes -  photography, painting, fabric art, paper sculpture, metal work, and drawings.  An open invitation is extended to a reception to any one interested to meet the artists will be held on March 27th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Meeting Room. Artists featured in this exhibit include Amy Bruch, Ellen Carlisle, Muriel Crum, Ed Davis, Michael Emerald. Peter Engeldrum, Tony Fenn, Mildred Fisher, Mark Flannery, Bob Hesse, Carol Keller, Ruth Lieberherr. Madelaine Lord, Sandra McRae, Gigi Mederos, James Obard, Shukong Ou, Nadine Suhrbier, Doris Surette, Carolyn Stuart, Susan Vrotsos, Sue Clark, Carolyn Sirois, Carolyn Latanissian.

Sandra McRae will be displaying a mixed media collage with incorporating colored papers and water based media.  She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Fine Arts, and is currently participating in a four person show at the Cambridge Art Association show at University Place, Mt Auburn Street.

Winchester  residents are already familiar with the metal work of Madelaine Lord.  Madelaine’s playful metal sculptures are made from cut and painted steel often found amongst the scrap from Winchester’s Transfer Station. Madelaine will be showing  “Mother and Child”, a metal work constructed from an oven door .

Gigi Mederos will exhibit her ‘De Mi Tierra’  which show her playful designs giving a feeling of constant movement now characteristic of her work

Ed Davis, a photographer, is showing “Lum’s Pond”,  which was taken on location. ‘Lum’s Pond’ is typical of the landscapes and nature scenes that he has been taking for many years. His work has been displayed in a number of local shows.

The Winchester Artists Network consists of over 100 local artists and is open to any artist living in, working in and/ or making art in Winchester. The organization is informally structured, and open to all Winchester artists. In addition to the annual Library Show,  the group participates in a Town Day Booth, Art in August, when downtown stores hosts with reception and guided art walks, and Art in the Park, a day long celebration  with activities for all. If you are interested in the Network or would like to join, a downloadable membership form is available at www.winchesterartistsnetwork.org, or call 781-729-4901.

April 2008. Children in theYekaterinburg, Siberian School of Art, Art Works

The works were created by children under the supervision of Natalia Vorojeva who has worked as a graphics teacher for 11 years. She believes that the main purpose of painting is to understand the world around you and your place in this world. The children were to experiment with different media like chalk, ink, water colors and appliqué in order to develop their own artistic language. Some of the works represent psychological graphics. The students tried to express their minds on paper, to explore their thinking patterns, and to look into dualism of human soul. They were also encouraged to use their pictures as an opportunity to study themselves, their feelings and emotions. This exhibit is being presented by Elena Sotnikova.

May - August 2008. No Exhibitions.

September & October 2008. Winchester Public Schools Students, Annual Show of Student Artwork.

The 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 ranging form grade 1 to 12; there are examples of work 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.

November 2008. No Exhibition.

December 2008. Maggie Hsu (W.W. King), My Vision

Maggie Hsu is an avid fine art photographer who uses her camera as a brush to paint and express the beauty of her vision.  With her knack for seeing things that usually go unnoticed, she has captured many close-up, floral, landscape, architectural, and sport pictorials.  She strives for the viewer to sense and absorb the pattern, texture and sometimes abstract nature of her compositions.

Some of her recent highlights include:

• Maggie’s image of a New Orleans band was published in the November 2008 issue of the widely read photography magazine “Shutterbug”.
• She was awarded the coveted NECCC medal for Best New England Entrant in the juried 2008 4th Annual Ocean State Color Projected Image Exhibition.
• In March 2008, three of her images were selected for a Museum of Fine Arts Boston juried exhibition celebrating female artists.
• Ms. Hsu’s photography was selected by the MFA in Boston for its 2007 art auction fundraiser.
• In 2006, she was a finalist in the Boston Globe Photo Contest.

You can send email to: hsuemail@yahoo.com