2013 Show Schedule

  

An entire year of shows have been planned and published on our website. This year brings new works by our extraordinary artists, exciting group shows,  as well as new artists showing in our gallery.

 

We hope you will be able to visit us to meet your favorite artist at one of our openings and see the brilliant talent being showcased each month.

 

Click here to view the 2013 show schedule.

John MacDonald Featured in Plein Air Magazine



Winter Dawn, Oil on Linen, 24 x 30 inches



The December 2012/January 2013 issue of Plein Air Magazine has a wonderful article on John MacDonald. In the article, he talks about how plein air painting because a part of his process for dealing effectively with fear, negative "self talk", how he came to become a coach for other painters, and his experiences, joys and fufillment in creating art.  

For a copy of the article contact us here at the gallery. Also, stop by the gallery or check out our website to see the new John MacDonald paintings that are featured in our December show entitled "Riverscapes".

Looking For the Magic at Williamstown Youth Center

Susan Read Cronin's beloved sculpture "Looking For the Magic" was recently installed in the new Williamstown Youth Center's building. This is a wonderful space for such a special piece, sure to be enjoyed and inspire the community.

The piece was installed just days before the ribbon cutting and opening celebration took place on October 27th.

The plaque below the sculpture on the pedastal reads, "Dedicated to the Community Who Made this Magical Place a Reality."

We at the Harrison Gallery are very proud to be a part of the community whose hard work, effort, and team work made this new building possible.  

The Harrison Gallery's Cheesy Party Bites

One Question we get quite frequently at our monthly Artist Receptions is, "how do you make your cheese bites?". And with the spirit of the holidays among us, we thought we would share our recipe with you!

CHEESE PARTY BITES RECIPE



You Will Need: - 1/2 c. mayo - ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese - 1 T. onion, chopped - a splash of Worcestershire sauce - a dash of salt - 10-12 slices thin sandwich bread - paprika

Directions:  Cut crust from bread and cut into squares or diamonds. Spread bread shapes with cheese mix. Spread quite thick. Can freeze at this point, in layers, then when frozen can be combined in freezer bag. Place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at @325 for 12-15 min until bubbly.

You can also prepare these in advance, freeze them, then just place them in the oven when company arrives! A fast, easy, delicious way to entertain!

Mark Davis Sculpture at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Mark Davis is currently working on a number of important public and private commissions, including a major exterior mobile for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.  This large-scale installation will span approximately 70 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 10 feet tall, and will become an exciting and inviting addition to the Hospital entrance. Below is an image of a part of the sculpture being installed.

You can follow the journey of Davis drawing, designing, creating, delivering and installing the custom mobile on the very own blog website made specifically for this purpose, which can be found here!

We are also excited to announce that the Harrison Gallery will be featuring Mark Davis in our June 2013 show. We will keep you posted with further dates and a complete show schedule in the coming months!

Petria Mitchell

Flowing South #1, Oil on Canvas, 10 x 10 inches

An article about Petria Mitchell is featured in the September/October issue of Artscope.

The article gives great insight to Mitchell's creative process and inspiration as a painter. "My paintings begin as an emotional and spiritual response to shapes in the natural environment, " says Mitchell. "Creating a cohesive compositional structure instills a sense of well-being and equanimity in myself and the viewer."

To read the entire article pick up a copy of the September/October 2012 issue of Artscope, or contact us at the gallery.  And don't forget to check out our December show entitled Riverscapes, which will feature new paintings by Petria Mitchell, as well as, Jane Bloodgood-Abrams and John MacDonald

Mark Davis's "Intersection II"

The large Mark Davis mobile that hung in the gallery for over a year has found a new home. While we dearly miss seeing the mobile everyday, the new owners have shared with us just how truly inspired they are by the work, bringing them joy as they had been waiting years for the perfect piece of art to finish their living room.

Recently, Davis shared with us his inspiration for "Intersection II" :

        “For a long time I had wanted to try the idea of a "rainstorm" of little discs.  I must have spent three weekstrying one thing after another, to find a grouping and style that fit my vision.  Finally I felt I had it, the little discs falling in succession, high to low, with the structure it was suspended from being jointed so the whole piece had movement.

       I let it sit in my workshop another week or two, trying to decide what to add to it to give it more substance.  My feeling was that the piece did not seem complete yet.

       Finally one day I cut up large sheets of black poster board and hung them around the upper section, and I felt it was the right direction to go.  It gave the whole piece the feeling of rain but with some kind of landscape or clouds giving it an anchor to flow within.

       So ultimately it became two separate mobiles that were joined together.  I was really pleased with the strength and lightness working together.  

       It was a joy to make.”

Stanley Bielen



Paeonia, Oil on Panel, 26 x 20 inches



White & Crimson, Oil on Panel,
18 7/8 x 13 1/4 inches

We are very excited about our September show which will feature the still life paintings by Philadelphia artist Stanley Bielen.

Bielen’s work honors the European heritage of still life painting with high color, lush blossoms placed against almost velvety backgrounds.  His small, intimate oils capture floral elegance with sweeping brushwork, portraying the momentary beauty of a flower in full bloom.

Stanley Bielen, born in Poland, emigrated to Philadelphia and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1980. Bielen is currently a faculty member at the Fleisher Art Memorial of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; he also teaches painting workshops throughout Philadelphia and New England.

In 2006 when the Thomas Jefferson University wanted to sell Thomas Eakins’s“The Gross Clinic”, Bielen organized a demonstration that drew some three dozen Philadelphia artists to help in the fight to keep the masterpiece in it’s hometown of Philadelphia. Today, the painting is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A Visit to Hale Johnson's Studio

As part of our summer events, Hale Johnson hosted a studio visit, opening up his studio in Colrain, MA to collectors and admirers of his paintings.

Johnson's studio is a true reflection of himself : a warm space that is both welcoming and interesting. Filled with books and wooden ships on the shelves, model airplanes suspended from the ceiling, photographs, old ceramic signs, and paintings collected on the walls.

It was a delightful and inspiring afternoon that let visitors explore the artist and the inspiration behind the breathtaking paintings we love.

John MacDonald's Paintings In His Own Words

Our July show features Williamstown artist John MacDonald. At the show opening MacDonald always has great stories and enthusiasm for the stories behind his paintings. He shared with us his inspirations and process of 3 of his paintings in the July show.

The Cascade
"One of the joys, and challenges, of plein air painting is to allow a painting to develop on its own terms, without insisting it stick to a preconceived image in my head. When I began this little oil sketch, I was most attracted to the subtle tones of the rocks along the stream and in the background. But I found that I simply couldn’t resist the immense tranquility of the scene nor the beauty of the water. The rocks became simplified and the subject switched to the beautiful play of light and color in the water and the overall mood of the scene".

November Reflections

"This scene along the Green River which I have painted repeatedly. It never fails to attract and challenge me. The play of the verticals of the trees against the diagonals of the water and hills, the ever-changing and abstract quality of the reflections, the very simple geometric structure underlying the complexity of the scene--they all push me to my limits as a painter. I understand now why Monet was so attracted to scene of trees along a river bank".

Last Light

"The fields and meadows along Sloan Roadhave provided me with a nearly limitless supply of interesting scenes, in every season, at every time of day, and under any sort of weather. Over several winters, while driving down Sloan Road as the sun was setting, I noticed how it caught the end of a far meadow and the trees beyond. There was a tension between the timeless stillness of the scene and the quick, fleeting and fading light that simply demanded being captured in paint. Perhaps more than any work I’ve recently done, this painting shows the influence of one of my earliest favorites, George Inness".

The Story Behind the Painting: Gail Sauter



Stroll, Oil on Panel, 36 x 36 inches

Our June Show show, The Young Collector, featured artist Gail Sauter who always has fascinating stories from her travels that inspire her paintings.

While speaking with her about her new paintings for the show, she told this story about the painting "Stroll": " This was in Venice, at the end of  busy tourist street. The woman was walking past Venitian homes, away from the the tourist, surrounded by buildings built in the 1500's. She is living her life the way people did 100's of years ago; I just saw such tranquility in this scene, this moment, this lifestyle. "

Tjasa Owen and Family in Bali



Inslet, Acrylic on Canvas, 40 x 42 inches

Tjasa Owen and her family are currently in Bali, exploring, learning, and sharing in on the fun and culture. As Owen keeps a blog as well, she has been kind enough to share pictures and blog posts all about her adventures.

Recently while in Bali, she and her family learned all about harvesting rice. Click here to read about it in her blog and to see the pictures she has taken, it really is amazing!

Mixing Contemporary and Traditional

Recently we received this photo from a client who had recently installed their new painting by Tjasa Owen in their Nantucket home. It looks as though the room was built for the painting! I love the mixing of contemporary art with traditional furnishings. It brings a warm, yet quiet, liveliness to the space.

 

Receiving photos from our clients once they have placed their new paintings in their homes is so rewarding. Artists work very long and hard to create their works, alone in their studios with very little positive or congratulatory feedback. It is so satisfying to see how and where the works are placed; you can sense the thoughtful consideration and appreciation that goes into an acquisition.

Jamie Young Painting offers Serenity at Baystate Medical Center



Dawn, Connecticut River, Oil, 40 x 96

   

Jamie Young is one of the unsung heros of the Harrison Gallery. With her health restored, Jamie is giving back to the institutions whose talented and compassionate staff nurtured her back to wellness.
   

Dawn, Connecticut River, is a 4 x 7 foot painting that now hangs in the cardiology waiting room at Baystate Hospital, bringing comfort and a sense of spirituality to family members while they wait.



Dawn Connecticut River - Study 9, Oil 4 7/8 x 15



Dawn, Connecticut River - Study 1, Watercolor, 2 x 5 1/4







These sketches bring Jamie’s process to us. She uses watercolors and oils en plein aire to capture the light, the palette, and the essence of her composition. Jamie has the most capable of visual and visceral memories. Once in the studio, she works very large, with a sense of freedom and movement. Jamie once shared with me, “I just try to get out of the way, and then let it rip!”



Apple Alamode, Oil, 48 x 74

Apple a la Mode is Young’s newest large scale work, currently included in our Young Collector show.



Williams College Reunion Weekend



The town is flooded with loyal purple-wearing alumni of all ages who dedicate one weekend a year to tromp down Spring Street in the reunion parade. I say “dedicate” as though it were an obligation, when in fact we all LOVE to return to Williamstown, to see old friends and meet new ones. (I am a member of the Class of ’79). There is always such a sense of connection and intellectual compatibility in the extended Williams community. Those of us with local establishments are grateful for the enthusiasm and support offered by this group.

Gurhan Trunk Show



You don't want to miss out on this exclusive event to view the new designs and one of kind pieces in silver and gold!

Mary Sipp Green

Mary is a featured artist in the latest issue of “The Complete Painter’s Handbook”! The article features favorite color mixtures, recipes for painting medium, as well as tips and tricks from many nationally-recognized professional artists. Mary describes how she gives her paintings their even, warm glow, which are her favorite brushes, and how she keeps her studio a safe, healthy environment!

Hanging a Show

One of the best parts of this “job” is that every month is different! We start with blank walls. Then I pick and choose from the new works available for a show, deciding which are my favorites, and which will hang best on what wall. Our art handler, Roger, does all the math!

The Young Collector show was particularly challenging, as it is a group of six artists, 5 painters and 1 sculptor, most with LARGE works.

We had a wonderful opening. The best part was the artists had the chance to get to know each other, their families, and each of their special techniques and secrets.

Tjasa Owen paintings arrive from San Francisco

It is always exciting to receive new works from an artist, especially when they arrive in a large crate shipped all the way from San Francisco! Tjasa Owen, an artist who has been in our collection since we opened in 2001, is one of the six artists exhibiting in The Young Collector show opening Saturday, June 2^nd. Joe Gitterman, a sculptor included in the show, was polishing work from his Gesture series.

Stephen Hannock Show in NYC

I wanted to share with you the news of his exhibition, Recent Paintings: Vistas with Texts, currently on display at the Marlborough Gallery in New York.

The exhibition showcases new large scale paintings, including two compositions, each eight feet high by twenty feet wide, Hannock’s largest works to date. Hannock’s painting, “Moving Water for Frank Moore; Niagara Falls (Mass MoCA #170)” is now on my list of Top 10 favorite artistic experiences of my life!

The exhibition also includes a room documenting Hannock’s process and the evolution of his present style. The exhibition will close June 2^nd. It is a major show, which would be well worth the trip.

Cronin Maquettes

Runaway Pea

Susie Cronin shared her new ideas with us. She is forever coming up with new, playful yet profound, sculptural friends who touch our life experiences. We hope you will enjoy these maquettes in clay; the first stage of the lost wax casting process.

Bonzai

Sitting For a Spell

Great Article on Paul Caponigro



Reflecting Stream, Redding,CT 1968



A loyal client of ours was kind enough to inform us of this wonderful article entitled "The Landscape of Feeling" featured in the magazine Maine Home + Design. The article explores Paul Caponigro's  connection to nature, in his work and in his life. Caponigro is one of the foremost landscape photographers of our time.

When speaking of his work Caponigro says, “I realized I had to be in a state of love at all times,” he says. “That whatever my eye fell on, I had to be the lover that communes with whatever is out there. I even had to learn to love traffic. So now my eye is always roving and I am lovingly drinking in what’s there.”

To read the entire article click here.