For five years now, the Cape Ann Society for the Encouragement of the Arts — or seARTS — has worked in partnership with Bass Rocks Golf Club in Gloucester for its annual art loan program.
The partnership takes the spotlight again a week from tonight, when the public is invited to attend the Art at Bass Rocks opening reception for a show featuring 27 works by 15 regional artists.
The opening provides a chance for the seARTS members and the general public to view the works and meet the artists.
Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, chairman of the seARTS board, noted that this grass-roots organization is about cultural economic development.
"A show like this matters because we are putting our artists on the map with a new audience. Since we are a virtual organization, it gives artists a chance to get their work on the walls rather than sit in a studio," Ganim-DeFalco said. "Plus there's a great benefit to putting art in everyday environments where people can experience it in new ways, and in unexpected ways, and that's definitely something we all strive for."
SeARTS is described as a coalition of artists, art lovers, cultural institutions, businesses, and municipal organizations, working together to improve the economic base for the arts and the Cape Ann community.
This particular program involves year-round promotion of artwork, and since its inception, artists have sold $8,700 worth of art off the walls, of which a percentage goes to seARTS.
"In return, the Bass Rocks club has enjoyed a vibrant art-filled club house — which is refreshed with new artists and many returning artists each year," Ganim-DeFalco said. "With countless visitors to the club as well as many out-of-town members, this partnership provides broad exposure for the participating artists.
Participating artists are Katherine Coakley, Rob Diebboll, Cheryl Dyment, Anita Freeman, Leslie Heffron, Skip Montello, Michael Oleksiw, Judy Robinson-Cox, Patricia Yarborough Reed, Richard Seeley, Heather Johnson Reid, Juni Van Dyke, Janis Sanders, Heidi Caswell Zander and Theresa Testaverde.
This year's show was juried by John Caggiano, Susie Fields, and Judith Monteferrante. For the first time, seARTS presented jury awards: first place went to Rockport's Rob Diebboll for his work "Winter Beach"; second Place went to Janis Sanders of Peabody for "Banks and Rivers"; and third place went to Gloucester's Judy Robinson-Cox for "Cold Shoulder."
Honorable mentions went to Michael Oleksiw of Beverly for "Get in Line #3" and Leslie Heffron of Pennsylvania for "Zinnias."
Highlighting the event will be an address by Maggie Cavallo, assistant curator of education for the gallery and visiting artist program at Montserrat College of Art. She will talk about the experience of art — what happens between people and art and the resulting impact.
Cavallo received a bachelor's degree in media, society and the arts from SUNY Purchase College and completed coursework in museum education at Tufts University. She has worked with the Neuberger Museum of Art, Institute of Contemporary Art at Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, among others.
For more information, visit www.searts.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-283-7000 x3445 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com.
If you go
What: Art at Bass Rocks, a public art reception
When: Thursday, May 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Bass Rocks Golf Club at 34 Beach Rd. in Gloucester
How much: Free to the public.
Details: If possible, to plan for food, those attending are asked to RSVP by May 28 by leaving a message at seARTS at 978-281-1222 or email info@searts.org. There will be light fare and cash bar.
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