FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2016
Contact: Tamar Russell Brown, Gallery Sitka — 978.425.6290
Merrimack Valley Artisans to Exhibit Works in Various Media at The Bull Run in Shirley
SHIRLEY, Mass. — A team of artists can accomplish a lot by supporting each other with their own organization. Such is the case with the adventurous group, Merrimack Valley Artisans, whose works will be exhibited during April, beginning with a reception at The Bull Run in Shirley on April 10.
Fiber artist Tarja Cockell, a native of Finland, notes that her work has “that Scandinavian style of simplicity,” developed in her early work as a weaver but expanded into other “textile media such as quilting, appliqué and dyeing” in a variety of art forms, “from still life and nature to abstract coloration.”
Photographer Meredith Powers Ferreira excels in capturing images from the natural world that involve “unusual perspectives, vivid colors and intriguing textures,” as well as images from the outrageous poses her two young daughters always seem to be striking.
Photographer Julie Marin Grant is an “accidental equine artist” who combines her love of her art with her love of the seven horses she and her husband and three children tend to on their small family farm, creating photos from many “living history” reenactments of famous American battles.
Fine artist Janet Clingerman Hsiao works in oils and acrylic, interpreting the beauty she finds in the New England countryside and seashore, and draws on experience as a graphic designer in the commercial art field and from teaching art in private lessons and in middle and high school classrooms.
Biomedical scientist/photographer Ku-chuan Hsiao began his adventure photographing birds when shooting reference shots for his wife and fellow Artisan, Janet, and later capturing birds in flight and in close-ups that display their “faces” and individuality.
Jewelry Designer Betsy Keeney, an adjunct faculty member at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, works with metals by “twisting, weaving and shaping wire.” She also likes to forge and form silver and gold.
Mixed media artist Sue Landsman finds herself to be much too restless and creative to work in only one medium, delving into ephemera and color, paper, metal and wood, photography and image transfer, all in the service of “telling a story and bringing beauty into the world.”
Fine artist Linda Malone is an artist and teacher, producing many paintings that capture “the energy of water,” especially in waterfalls and in crashing surf at the seashore. She teaches painting to adults at Fitchburg Art Museum in Central Mass. and also teaches at the Wild Salamander in Hollis.
Fine artist and metalsmith Janice Toth has painted landscapes in settings all over New England as well as in Britain and Italy. She also designs sterling and gold jewelry embellished with gemstones and beads.
This exciting event will take place at The Bull Run, 215 Great Road in Shirley, Mass., on Sunday, April 10, 1 ̶ 3 p.m. Visit sitkacreations.com and merrimackvalleyartisans.org for more information about Merrimack Valley Artisans.
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